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Indie Rock

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Manchester Orchestra Record Store Day Collaboration

Split Cover
Manchester Orchestra have collaborated with both Grouplove and Frightened Rabbit to produce a 12″ vinyl for release on Record Strore Day. The first of the two tracks, Architect by Manchester Orchestra and Frightened Rabbit, contains the layered vocals of Andy Hull and Scott Hutchison. Throughout this acoustic number you identify with the despondency of the lyrics but are left in awe of the talent of both bands. However this is then juxtaposed with the second track Make It To Me, the Manchester Orchestra and Grouplove collaboration. It is a much more upbeat indie pop song with a sudden influx at various times throughout the song of electronic techno-esque synth which seems out of place. You can stream the collaboration below and tell us your opinion in the comments. It will be available to buy on Saturday, April 20 at participating independent record stores that you can find about here.

Stream: Fall Out Boy – “Save Rock and Roll”

SaveRockAndRoll
Fall Out Boy has leaked their extremely anticipated comeback album Save Rock and Roll in its entirety as a set on Soundcloud. The album features a range of guest vocalists, from Courtney Love to Sir Elton John. Laden with synth and upbeat catchy melodies, the album comes across as heavily pop-oriented and radio friendly, a large departure  from the band’s pop-punk roots. However, it feels like a natural progression for the Chicago quartet, who have created overall, a very solid record. Check it out here or below, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Listen: Brave Bird – “You’re Not Quite Ready”

BB
Brave Bird have put together a sixteen song compilation including full-length demos, covers, the Ready or Not EP and bedroom recordings. You can stream the tracks below, or help the band out by purchasing the album on their Bandcamp page. To hear the tracks from Maybe You, No One Else Worth It stripped down and acoustic provides a sense unrefined allurement that you only get from demos.

 

Chris of Brave Bird about this release, “A lot of these recordings you can find floating around the internet, but a lot of them haven’t been heard before.These old recordings of Maybe You, Should I Give In, Too Late Now, and I’ll See You at the Ring of Fire really pull on my heart strings. We have a lot planned for this summer and if we get it all done you’ll get blown away. (the art is a design done by our good friend Rachel check out some of her stuff at http://thewackattack.com/)”

Stream: The Strokes – “Comedown Machine”

Comedown Machine
The Strokes have now unveiled their fifth studio album Comedown Machine. The album has already had mixed reviews, as it was streaming on Pitchfork’s website, however the stream is unfortunately no longer available. Critical judgement of this album is inevitable with a band that produced phenomenal earlier releases. You can stream the track All The Time below which sounds more like their roots compared to their synth filled single One Way Trigger

Fans have the chance to enter-to-win an exclusive vinyl test pressing of Comedown Machine by letting them know your favorite track from the album on Twitter using the hashtag #ComedownMachine. More details and official rules about the contest can be found here. To purchase the album you can either buy it from iTunes or order the CD, 12″ vinyl, and T-shirt from their official store.

Watch: mewithoutYou – “February 1878”

mewithoutYou
mewithoutYou have released a video for their song February 1878 from their album released last year Ten Stories. Now a completely independent band, their music video was thus self-funded. You can donate to the band on a “Name Your Price” basis and recieve a DRM-free HD copy of the video here. The footage was shot by The Ely Bros and Arsenal AV and edited by  Andre Comfort with special thanks to Daniel Gauthier. Watch the video below, and donate if you can.

My Chemical Romance Broke Up

MCR
My Chemical Romance, punk rock band from New Jersey, after four studio albums have ended. The announcement was made on their website alongside a tweet from frontman Gerard Way. After recently releasing their compilation album Conventional Weapons it seemed as if there was promise for the future, but the time has come for the band to break up. Your memory will carry on, so long and goodnight.

The official statement from their website, “Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.”

 

Beyond any sadness, what I feel the most is pride. twitter.com/gerardway/stat…
— Gerard Way (@gerardway) March 23, 2013

Review: Ambassadors – “Litost”

Ambassadors – Litost

Litost

Released: January 16, 2012
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: iTunes

I am surprised by the absence of publicity for Ambassadors and their most recent record Litost. In 2006, the band started to get going, when unfortunately their keyboardist Casey Harris ended up in the hospital, needing a kidney transplant to survive. During that time, the members separated temporarily and Sam Harris went on to write much of what is now Litost.

This release appeals to indie rock fans as it provides both calm tunes such as Litost, and head nodding tracks like Unconsolable. The standout feature from this album is the raw emotion implemented in the songs, as I have always been a fan of vocalists who mean the words that are being sung. Once word spreads about this album, people will acknowledge this underrated band, and help propel them to the recognition they deserve.

 

Standout Tracks: “Falls”,“Unconsolable”,“Lay Me Down”

8.0

Tracklisting:
1. Weight/Lightness
2. Falls
3. Unconsolable
4. Litost
5. (O Death)
6. Lay Me Down
7. Caged Animals
8. Bodybag

Wildlife Release “…On The Heart”

Wildlife
Previously mentioned before when they put out their single Born To Ruin, Wildlife now have released their sophomore album with the help of Wax Records. This record is everything it was hyped up to be both musically and thematically; all about moving forwards, and not looking back. As a Lost in The Sound exclusive, here is our favorite song from the album for your listening pleasure, Lightning Tent.

 

Vocalist, Dean Povinsky words about the album. “It keeps us going, keeps us living and gives us a place to be free. Don’t stop believin’? Follow your dreams? Sure. But it seems to me that the heart is too complex to be summed up in a catchphrase. I think it would be fair to say that this new album was created to try to make a little sense of that complex, mysterious, vital muscle. Maybe with a couple catchphrases thrown in for good measure. We buried our hearts deep inside this thing, and we hope you love it as much as we do.” Watch the music video for their track Born To Ruin below, and buy the full album in digital, CD, or 12″ form from their Bandcamp page.

Listen: Dirty Green Vinyl – “Another EP”

Dirty Green Vinyl
Dirty Green Vinyl, indie punk three piece outfit from Huddersfield, England have released their third EP accurately titled Another EP. The band’s sound is reminiscent of both the early Arctic Monkeys’ albums and The Modern Age-era of The Strokes. The songs on their previous release, Just Because It Has Tinsel On It Doesn’t Make It Pretty could easily be mistaken for B-sides from Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.

 

After only being together since September of 2011, this band has produced a lot of exceptional tracks in a short time frame, and are constantly playing shows. It seems as if they are going to have a promising future too. You can stream Another EP below [Edit: Stream no longer available], and download the other EPs on their Bandcamp Page. For tour dates go to their website or their Facebook Page.

Stream: Born Ruffians – “Needle”

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Born Ruffians is an indie rock band out of Ontario, Canada. On April 16, they will be releasing their third LP, Birthmarks. Physical copies  are now available for pre-order through their website. Birthmarks steers away from the previously more dominant indie rock sound and presents a much more upbeat folk feel with momentary resemblances to Fleet Foxes. Their previous LP Say It, was a beautiful indie record filled with sweet melody and a groovy riffs. With an alter in the vocal ranges of lead singer  Luke Lalonde, I’ve become were interested in their progression. You can stream and download “Needle” below, a track that is featured on their upcoming record. Following the release, Born Ruffians will be going on a US tour. Dates and tickets are available on their website or soundcloud. Needless to say, these guys are well deserving of a listen. Check them out.