So in thinking to myself the other day, I started to put too much weight behind thinking I was an “indie” music blogger.  I was thinking about the fact that I do consider myself an “indie” blogger more or less, if in fact that term is still relevant this day (for example, when is “indie rock”, just going to be “rock”?).  What I mean is the fine line between simply being indie and enjoying it and being indie with an elitism edge.  I have found myself discovering that I might be an indie elitist.  Being an indie style band isn’t enough, you have to be ultra indie – as in very few people even know of your band at all in order to be independent.  Am I contributing to worthy bands not getting their fair due?

What I am getting at, is that I find myself staying away from artists that become mainstream indie.  Bands that (in blogger circles) might be an “it” band.  “What is all the fuss?” I say, “Why is everyone posting that same song?” I am found uttering to myself.  I think I might on purpose ignore a band that is getting too much blog press in some bastardized version of thinking it is now mainstream, and hence I can’t like it.  There is much talk on this topic over many a forum board, but I think the fact that I am even thinking it, simply makes me guilty.  Oh well, guilty I am – I am an Indie Elitist.  Not that it makes a difference coming from some dude in Canada on his mellow singer songwriter blog…

“Make it up to the bands I don’t cover” Mixtape

“Zero” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Pillar of Salt” – The Thermals
“Meddle” – Little Boots
“Get On Your Boots (Justice Mix) – U2
“Cheerleader” – Grizzly Bear
“1901″ – Phoenix
“Daniel” – Bat For Lashes
“Miss It So Much” – Royksopp

*I just couldn’t bring myself to put Kanye on…I mean I don’t mind a bit of Kanye once and a while, but I just couldn’t do it.

So I am having this be my on the road playlist for my weekend (to and from only, not at destination) – and you never know, I just might like most of it – and try not to ignore bands just because of the blog hype.  Honestly I don’t mind the Bat For Lashes and Grizzly Bear already.  The rest can be an okay listen, but maybe just not Slowcoustic enough for this blogger…but can’t I electro-rock out once and a while?

In the end, promoting or discussing music on it’s merits alone is what I am here for right?  …Oh, wait, that and talking about unknown bands that actually need the hype…maybe next week for them.

~Smansmith

“John Wayne Gacy Jr. / Specialize (f. Pete Rock & CL Smooth)” – Tor / Sufjan Stevens
“The Dress Looks Nice on You / Make You Feel That Way (f. Gift of Gab)” – Tor / Sufjan Stevens

~Smansmith

Montreal Quebec’s ambient power trio Torngat create majestic instrumental music that is at times as breathtaking as the glorious Quebec mountain range from whom they take their name. Torngat return with “La petite Nicole”, the follow up to the critically acclaimed 2007 effort, “You Could Be”. This time around the band is sporting a grittier, propulsive sounding record that more closely resembles the bands live sound.

New album for my Easterly friends has just hit the online and CD/Vinyl market on March 3rd over on Alien8 Records.  The new album is “La Petit Nicole” and is described as below:

“La petite Nicole” offers forays into dub-heavy elements of post rock as well hints of kraut rock and the occasional miniature freak-outs. Aside from these flirtations in new directions, the same sound that has made them popular in Canada and festival stages remains. One gets the feeling that the band is creating music for yet-to-be-made films; while cinematic references may be considered standard when describing instrumental music, Torngat’s creations are particularly evocative of the medium.

I also know I say this a lot, but damn it people, listen with headphones with this band, it is well worth it to get all the layers out of it.  Torngat make beautiful music that, like mentioned above, might be looking for you to give it vision.  Not saying that the sound lacks focus, I just think that there is soo many ways to hear their music.  Soo many ways to decide that they made it just for you and your headphones.

Torngat
“La Petite Nicole” (mp3)
from “La Petite Nicole”
(Alien8 Recordings)

More On This Album

Visit this trio from “La Belle Province” on MySpace or check them on their Website.

~Bonus~

Torngat
“Celebrating New” (mp3)
from “You Could Be”
(Alien8 Recordings)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

It’s not always melancholy-ville around Slowcoustic HQ…well often it is, but not always.  Sometimes you need to tap your toes and even possibly nod your head to something fun.  As pained as I am to say, it isn’t always about a down on his luck guy with an acoustic guitar.  To prove it….FAUNTS!

Description:

With its effervescent guitars, mathematic loops and synthesizers, surging drums, and seemingly nomadic bass lines, Feel.Love.Thinking.Of., the second full-length from Canadian up-and-comers Faunts, is both more ambitious in its conception and more focused.

An even greater description from their website:

Now Faunts’ latest articulation, the full-length “Feel. Love. Thinking. Of.” (out February 17th, 2009 on Friendly Fire Recordings) stands as the culmination of two years of touring, recording, and crafting of another uniquely original sonic soundscape. At once orchestral and sprawling; ambient, yet driving, “Feel. Love. Thinking. Of.” encompasses perfectly Faunts’ ambitious devotion to sculpting not only a musical moment, but an entire atmosphere which accompanies that moment.

Faunts

“Explain” (mp3)
“Fell.Love.Thinking.Of.” (mp3)
from “Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.”
(Friendly Fire Recordings)

More On This Album

New Album out today, so yeah, think about picking up my Albertan (Edmonton – city of champions) brethren’s newest album.

Visit Faunts on their Website of MySpace as well to fall into the indie-electro soundscapes!

~Smansmith