News: Broken Bells, incoming indie rock darling the result of James Mercer, Danger Mouse collaboration
James Mercer, lead man for The Shins, and Danger Mouse have put together a soothing and funky collaboration: Broken Bells. “The High Road” is a tantalizing peek of what will likely be one of the better albums we see this year. The single, the first from the upcoming self-titled album, is the current iTunes Single of the Week.
Snippets of the entire album are available on the iTunes, along with the entire first track, “The High Road.” At this time, we can only speculate the possibility of a tour; if tour dates are set, we will promptly update that information here. For more on Broken Bells, visit brokenbells.com.
As a side note, James Mercer will also be appearing in filmmaker Matt McCormick’s film, Some Days are Better Than Others. The film will be screening at South by Southwest Film Festival, which will take place from March 12–20 in Austin, Texas. More information may be found at somedaysthemovie.com as well as sxsw.com/film. Specific screening dates have not yet been announced.
Tags: electronic, indie
By Scott Mathews 
Feb 12, 2010 
MusicGeek.org, News, Video 
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Brief: 900x – Music for Lubbock, 1980
This is the first post in the Albums in Brief series on MusicGeek.org. Albums in Brief aims to inform quickly, offer a preview, and call it a day: No over-the-top aggrandizing here, for better or worse.
Music for Lubbock, 1980, the first full release from Asthmatic Kitty artist James McAlister, known primarily for remix and soundtrack work, is a refreshingly bold work of electronic music that still slots nicely into a regular listening slot for those interested in more “traditional” methods of music creation. Of course, it’s closer to a Stereolab than, say, most things you’d hear at a club with flashing lights and pounding music, and some would say it fits well into the growing folktronica movement — regardless, it’s engaging enough for me.
900x – “101805″ (remix) | download
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While this album as a whole may lack a bit in coherency — the tracks don’t always mesh with the greatest of ease — they’re individually solid, and the diversity makes for fun active listening. Don’t go into this expecting the latest and greatest in experimental exploration, because it’s not, and I don’t think it claims to be. Don’t get me wrong: Music for Lubbock, 1980 is great from start to finish, and I wouldn’t hesitate to drop into my regular rotation.
Tags: asthmatic kitty, electronic, folktronica, instrumental
By Matthew Montgomery Sep 27, 2009 Album Reviews, Albums in Brief Comments (0)
Concert Photos: Neon Trees, Location Location, The Robot’s Guide to Living perform in Cedar City
Neon Trees, a Provo-based electronic-infused indie rock, performed at The Grind Coffee House in Cedar City, Utah, tonight; the band performed with locals The Robot’s Guide to Living and Salt Lake City-based group Location Location. More photos after the jump.
Neon Trees
Tags: electronic, indie rock, the grind
By Matthew Montgomery Aug 28, 2008 Photos, Southern Utah Comments (0)
Spotlight: MEN
JD Samson and Johanna Fateman of Le Tigre fame are making music under another name: MEN. Funny, I thought only one was a man. All bad joking aside, MEN produce a distinctive, fun electronic sound. “Make It Reverse” and “Shake Off,” both posted below for listening and download, are fun, addictive tunes that safely balance a modern perspective (or is it post-modern?) and a 1980s throwback feel (you know, in the vein of electroclash.) MEN are currently touring North America with Hey, Willpower.
MEN — “Make It Reverse” | download
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MEN — “Shake Off” |download
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Tags: electroclash, electronic, indie rock
By Matthew Montgomery Feb 25, 2008 Artist Spotlight, Downloads Comments (0)
Review: Palmer’s Medic – In a House, Surrounded
Palmer’s Medic, an electronic recording project of a certain Seth David-Andrew Hubbard from southern Utah — Cedar City, Utah, to be precise about things — produces young, fresh music vaguely encapsulatable under genre titles of ambient house, trance, trip hop — terms of that nature. Ambiguous, isn’t it? But that’s the beauty of electronic music, I suppose. At any rate, from the get-go, In a House, Surrounded is an adventurous album: It doesn’t much fit under most specific categorizations (though some would argue that about all music, I am not one of those), which is a bit of a refresher from what’s come to be expected. Of course, most specific genres and descriptions are applied post hoc, so it may be a bit early to consider things of such a nature.
Palmer’s Medic — “M-900″ | download
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Tags: ambient house, electronic, trance
By Matthew Montgomery Feb 20, 2008 Artist Spotlight, Downloads, Reviews Comments (0)
Spotlight: Plastic Operator
Plastic Operator are an electronic indie pop duo out of the U.K. made up of Mathieu Gendreau and Pieter Van Dessel. Their music is a refreshing change from the typical guitar-drums-bass combination that has dominated the music scene for so long. The beats are thumping and the vocal melodies entrancing throughout their entire debut album, Different Places, which was released on May 14th, 2007 in Europe. They focus mainly on upbeat and catchy songs with an ’80s synth feel, but show their diversity in the song Another Sound, which features a riff ridden guitar solo. In the end, Plastic Operator is one of those bands that’s just fun and enjoyable to listen to. You can check out more of their music and a new video for the song, “Home 0207,” at their myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/plasticoperator.
Plastic Operator — “Peppermint” | download
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Plastic Operator — “Another Sound” | download
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Tags: electronic, indie pop, uk
By Jared Montgomery Feb 13, 2008 Artist Spotlight, Downloads Comments (0)
Music Geek #7: Chiptune — Is there anything better?
Editor’s Note: The track previously included in this post was not written or recorded by Brandon Harrod of Laromlab, who has recently come forward and admitted to having essentially stolen the tracks and called them his own. More information is available at www.mushpotrecords.com.
That’s a brave question, isn’t it? I thought so. So often my questions are lacking in, well, braveness, so I thought I might give it a try. Still, I’m not sure how brave it really is, though, as it is still a question and not a bold statement. After all, I’m willing to admit some wrong in this.
Anyhow, I’ve been venturing into electronic music lately, as it has been something I’m woefully under-educated in. My good friend Derek, a veteran (of sorts) of electronic music, has been instrumental in this, and perhaps we might call him the catalyst. At any rate, It’s happened.
Tags: chiptune, electronic
By Matthew Montgomery Feb 10, 2008 "Music Geek" by Matthew Montgomery, Artist Spotlight, Downloads Comments (0)
