Sweetbob's Hipster Music - August 2012

I keep an ear out for new music. I got used to discovering new bands when I was a music journalist. Even though this is mostly a sports blog, I still add quite a bit of music and pop culture content.

I received a lot of great feedback from my my hipster music post in July. A lot of emails came in from readers who recommended new tracks to me, which I love. I hope that continues for months to come.

I have been called a hipster on more than one occasion. I like indie music more than any other genre of music. Don't get me wrong, I can rock out to Bon Jovi or Carley Rae Jepsen (depending on the amount of alcohol in my system).

I've decided to write a monthly post dedicated to introducing ten great, new indie songs I'm currently listening to. Your ears will thank you for clicking on this post.

Cub Scouts - "Do You Hear?"

Catcall - "The World Is Ours"

The Lighthouse and the Whaler - "Venice"

Jukebox the Ghost - "Somebody"

All We Are - "Cardhouse"

The Crookes - "Afterglow"

PK - "Berelain"

The Griswolds - "Mississippi"

Husky - "Tidal Wave"

Slow Magic - "On Yr Side"

Music recommendations are always welcome. Follow me on Twitter by clicking the box below...maybe we can share Spotify playlists.

Mumford & Sons Announce New Album, 'Babel'

Mumford & Sons announced that their highly anticipated sophomore album, "Babel," will be released on September 25th and include twelve songs.

The album will be produced by Markus Dravs, who worked with them on their debut album and has worked with Arcade Fire in the past.

Even though they toured for three years on the success of "Sigh No More", I'm surprised they had enough time to churn out a new album. They have been extremely busy.

I have the track listing for "Babel" along with a live version of "Whispers In The Dark", which will appear on "Babel"...it's all after the jump.

1. Babel
2. Whispers In The Dark
3. I Will Wait
4. Holland Road
5. Ghosts That We Knew
6. Lover Of The Light
7. Lovers' Eyes
8. Reminder
9. Hopeless Wanderer
10. Broken Crown
11. Below My Feet
12. Not With Haste

"Babel" is said to be a darker album with no singles that pop out. They wanted to make an album that is solid throughout and had a natural progression. They told Rolling Stone that fans will not be disappointed with the updated sound.

They kick off their U.S. tour on August 1st in Hoboken, NJ. If you want a full list of their tour dates, visit the band's website.

Here is a live recording of "Whispers in the Dark", which will be the second track on "Babel."

New Music: Bloc Party - "Octopus"

I love this time of the year. The summer weather is in full swing and great new music begins to leak in advance of the late summer/early fall releases.

I have been a fan of Bloc Party since "Silent Alarm" came out in 2005. The the two releases that followed didn't live up to their debut, but after listening to "Octopus", I'm excited about their upcoming album, "Four".

"Octopus" sounds like it could have been a B-side from "Silent Alarm" recording session. I love that they went back to guitar-driven music, which was lost in the last two albums that focused on a more electric sound.

Bloc Party's new album, "Four", comes out August 21st with a U.S. tour starting on September 14th.

The music video for "Octopus" is after the jump...

New Music: Band of Horses - "Knock Knock"

Yesterday, Band of Horses posted a video for a new song called "Knock Knock". It is their first single off their upcoming album "Mirage Rock". It will be released on September 18th, 2012.

This is not the first time I have posted something about Band of Horses and this will not be the last. Their last two albums have been amazing. If you're an indie music fan, you need to check it out.

I have yet to seem the live, but I know many people who have and they sing praises about the experience. They will be on tour this summer/fall to support the album.

Check out the video for "Knock Knock" after the jump...

Sweetbob's Hipster Music - July 2012

I keep an ear out for new music. I got used to always receiving or finding out about new bands when I was a music journalist. Even though this is mostly a sports blog, I still add quite a bit of music and pop culture. Everyone likes music, even Pittsburgh Steelers fans, right?!

(Maybe? I'm not sure if they have evolved enough to understand the concept of 4/4 time.)

I have been called a hipster on more than one occasion. I tend to like indie music more than any other genre of music. Don't get me wrong, I can rock out to Bon Jovi or Carley Rae Jepsen (depending on the amount of alcohol in my system).

I've decided to write a monthly post dedicated to introducing 10 great, new indie songs I'm currently listening to. Your ears will thank you for clicking this post.

Japandroids - "The House That Heaven Built"

A Silent Film - "Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well"

San Cisco - "Awkward"

The Cast of Cheers - "Family"

The Lumineers - "Stubborn Love" (live in studio)

The Whitest Boy Alive - "Burning"

Tanlines - "All of Me"

Watch The Duck - "Poppin' Off"

Matt and Kim - "Let's Go"

Atlas Genius - "Trojans"

Music recommendations are always welcome. Follow me on Twitter by clicking the box below...maybe we can share Spotify playlists.

Jack's Mannequin covers Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man"

Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" is one of my all-time favorite songs. It's a simple song that has more honesty in it than Abraham Lincoln had in his entire body. I am always skeptical when an artist attempts to cover this track, but Jack's Mannequin knocked it out of the park. I highly suggest you listen to this cover and I predict that you will even give it a 'like' on YouTube.

Today is the last day of June, so it means that this will be our last post during 'Cover Song Month'. If you are curious to see which songs we've selected this month, click here.

The video for Jack's Mannequin's cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" is after the jump...

Mumford & Sons covers The National's "England"

There are only a few more songs left in 'Cover Song Month' and I wanted to post a song that relates to two of my favorite bands...Mumford & Sons and The National.

"England" is off of The National's last album "High Violet". The entire album is great and you can find nearly every song covered all over YouTube. Mumford & Sons did a great job with it and really made it their own.

I expect both of these bands to release something later this year.

The YouTube video of "England" is after the jump...

Fleet Foxes covers Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe"

I wasn't much of a Bob Dylan fan until I started collecting vinyl records. I bought a few Dylan records at a Salvation Army and once I put the needle on the record, I was hooked. I'm not a fan of his work after "Blonde On Blonde", but his early stuff is amazing.

Fleet Foxes is a talented indie folk band that released a fantastic album last year, "Helplessness Blues". If you have never heard of them, I highly suggest you check them out.

'Cover Song Month' is almost over, but if you want to check out the other songs I've posted, click the the beginning of this sentence.

The YouTube video for Fleet Foxes cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" is after the jump...

Regina Spektor covers Radiohead's "No Surprises"

It's probably not very manly to like Regina Spektor, but I've been a fan since she collaborated with Ben Folds on a track. Her new album is called "What We Saw From The Cheap Seats" and it's a good one.

Here's a video of her cover of Radiohead's "No Surprises" that she performed on Triple J.

The 'Cover Song Month' video of the day is after the jump...

Julia Stone covers The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

Julia Stone + The National...this a no-brainer inclusion in our 'Cover Song Month'.

It turns out that The National's keyboardist produced this track on her new album "By The Horns" I'm not familiar with Julia Stone's solo work, but I'm a fan of her work with her brother Angus.

The National's past few albums have been amazing and seem to be getting better with each release. I have yet to see them live, but have caught a few concerts streaming online. I am looking forward to their next album.

Here is the video for Julia Stone's cover of The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio"...after the jump.

Ingrid Michaelson covers Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know"

"Somebody That I Used to Know" was the 'it' song to cover for a few months. If it wasn't for Carley Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" to come along, it would still be covered incessantly. I have heard a lot of bad attempts, but then I watched/listened to Ingrid Michaelson's version in which she plays all of the instruments and sings all of the vocals.

I wasn't a big fan of Michaelson's until a girl opened my ears to her music. She's a talented songwriter and performs honest songs. I would even recommend picking up her latest album "Human Again". This is a huge endorsement since I haven't had too many female singer/songwriters that have impressed me.

Here is the 14th video I have posted during our 'Cover Song Month"...after the jump.

Amanda Palmer covers Radiohead's "Idioteque"

We are 1/3 of the way through 'Cover Song Month'.

This Radiohead cover came on a sampler I received last year. It didn't register in my head that the song was a Radiohead cover until I put it on my iPod and it shuffled this track while I was at the gym. There are thousands of "Idioteque" covers on YouTube, but Amanda Palmer's version stands out.

Palmer was in the news recently because she was the first artist to raise $1 million dollars using the FIY site 'Kickstarter'. Her goal was to only raise $100k. The site let's artists post projects that need funding and takes pledges from people. If the project meets its predetermined fiscal goal, the artist gets the money that was pledged.

The video of Palmer's Radiohead cover is after the jump...

Bon Iver covers The Outfield's "Your Love"

Day 9 of 'Cover Song Month' is upon us.

Bon Iver + 80's music = amazeballs?!

I love Bon Iver and 80's music, so this is the perfect cover song for what I'm trying to do this month. If you like either, you will enjoy this track.

Watch the video after the jump...

Ben Folds covers Ke$ha's "Sleazy"

'Cover Song Month': Day 6

Two years ago, I saw Ben Folds live and he played this song. He said the band was bored and decided to do a cover of the song that was #1 on iTunes that day...it happened to be Ke$ha's "Sleazy".

I have a running joke with my friends, if you listen to Ke$ha, your ears get 'Ke$ha Krab$'...I think you're safe when Ben Folds sings.

Watch the video after the jump...

Clem Snide covers Journey's "Faithfully"

It's Day 5 of 'Cover Song Month'.

I actually had this song in mind when I decided to dedicate a month to cover songs. I got a music sampler in a magazine a few years back and Clem Snide's version of Journey's "Faithfully" was on the disc included inside. I am a closet Journey fan, but Clem Snide's version is more intimate.

"Glee" may have ruined this song, but Clem Snide brought it back to life.

Watch the video of their live performance after the jump...

Ra Ra Riot covers Steve Winwood's "Valerie"

We are four days into 'Cover Song Month' and we are having a blast.

Steve Winwood is an underrated musician, but "Valerie" is listed under 'guilty pleasure music' in most people's iTunes library. I love Ra Ra Riot and they did a great job with this cover. They didn't stray too far away from the original and updated it for this generation.

Watch the video after the jump..

Nicki Bluhm covers Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That" in a Car

It's the third day of 'Cover Song Month.'

Most people my age are only closet Hall & Oates fans, but I'm pretty open about it. I'm fairly certain that I have mentioned the group a few times on this blog.

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers have an entire series of YouTube videos in which they cover songs while driving in a car. Their original cover of "I Can't Go For That" went viral. I give Bluhm bonus points for difficulty...she's the one driving in this video.

Watch the video after the jump...

You can see more of their videos on Nicki Bluhm's YouTube page.

Ben Howard covers Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe"

June is 'Cover Song Month' here on America's White Boy.

Indie musician Ben Howard covers Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe". He turns the pop song into something that should be on one of his albums. It will be a fun month.

Watch the video after the jump...

45 Bands You'll Know After SXSW: Part 3

This is the final part of my three-part post featuring artists that will breakout of SXSW with a lot of buzz. A lot of musicians play at SXSW in hopes of showcasing their talents in front of the music industry elite. I posted the first 15 bands on Wednesday and the second 15 bands yesterday.. I will introduce (or re-introduce) you to '45 Bands That You'll Know After SXSW.' Here's the third group of 15 bands that you'll hear more about in the near future.

Band - Reptar
Song - 'Blast Off'
Sounds Like: Active Child, ANR, & STRFKR

After touring extensively since they released their "Oblangle Fizz Y'all" EP, they announced that their full-length debut will drop in May. The group received some attention from 'Rolling Stone.' Their "dance synth pop anthems" will get you moving.


Band - Seryn
Song - 'River Song'
Sounds Like: The Sound Of Growing Up, Josh Garrels, & Doug Burr

I decided to link the song to Seryn's SXSW performance at the PASTE Magazine Show. They have such a smooth sound by melting guitar, ukuleke, kalimba, accordion, and viola in a good portion of their tracks. They hail from Denton, Texas and are bound to make noise in the rest of the country soon.


Band - Wonder Villains
Song - 'Ferrari'
Sounds Like: The Sounds, Shiny Toy Guns, & Sahara Hotnights

'The Irish Times' described them as "Fizzy, high-energy indie pop," and it is hard to come up with a better description of Wonder Villains. They are a Northern Ireland band that's starting to go places. They played BBC's 'Radio One Big Weekend' and ended up touring with bands like The Human League and Scouting For Girls. A lot of people will notice them in Austin and will make a splash in the American market.


Band - We Were Evergreen
Song - 'Baby Blue'
Sounds Like: Michael Kiwanuka, Little Dragon, & Elephanz

This French band was brought together by a shared fondness of all kinds of pop music and nursery rhymes. The Parisian trio's music ranges from electro-pop to a stripped-down folk sensibility...with a use of a ukulele (seems like a theme at SXSW this year). They have toured in the UK with Michael Kiwanuka, King Charles, and Charlie Simpson.


Band - Stepdad
Song - 'My Leather, My Fur, My Nails'
Sounds Like: Young Empires, Darwin Deez, & Passion Pit

This band have toured a lot in the Midwest and a lot of my friends love them andf have a following in Columbus, Ohio. In 2010, they released their debut EP, "Ordinaire." They have recorded their debut album with producer Chris Zane, who is known for his work with Passion Pit, Mumford and Sons, & The Walkmen.


Band - Yellow Ostrich
Song - 'Marathon Runner'
Sounds Like: CANT, Peter Wolf Crier, & Young Buffalo

Yellow Ostrich started because of a DIY attitude. Alex Schaaf (lead singer) recorded some tracks and released them on Bandcamp. He hooked some people on his work and the band started in a very organic way. Barsuk re-released "The Mistriss" with it remastered and added some new tracks. This band will make a splash after SXSW.


Band - Saint Motel
Song - 'Puzzle Pieces'
Sounds Like: Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, & Vacationer

The buzz for Saint Motel started with energetic live performances. They built a formidable reputation with fun, inventive indie pop live shows. They have a surprisingly avant-garde lyrical subject matter. They are mostly tongue-in-cheek, but often "perceived as sexy with one listen." Their rapturous sound will be heard in more places than Austin after SXSW.


Band - Right Away, Great Captain!
Song - 'Memories From A Shore'
Sounds Like: Manchester Orchestra, Kevin Devine, & Brand New

Right Away, Great Captain! is the side-project of Andy Hull, who is the lead singer of Manchester Orchestra. He has released some stuff in the past, but a lot of his audience are hardcore Manchester Orchestra fans. A strong performance at SXSW will get his side-project's name out there and he will have something like Dallas Green's City and Colour, which was his side-project during Alexisonfire.


Band - The Hounds Below
Song - 'For You And I'
Sounds Like: Snow Patrol, The Script, & OneRepublic,

The Hounds Below is a Detroit band that have a lot of different influences. They admit that they listen to everything from Phoenix to Buddy Holly. The first time I heard them, it sounds like Morrissey was playing with Snow Patrol. Jason Stollsteimer's voice has an eerie resemblance to the former lead singer of The Smiths. They have a uniqueness that lack in some of the bands that I mentioned in the "sounds like" section.


Band - Oh No Oh My
Song - 'Walking Into Me'
Sounds Like: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Say Hi, & Tapes 'N Tapes

The band started in Austin, Texas in 2004, but have only released a total of two full-length albums and an EP. They have toured extensively and only took time off to record those albums. They have went all over Europe and accrued a nice following over there, but yet to really pop in their home country. Their latest album, "People Problems," came out in January of 2011.


Band - The Chain Gang Of 1974
Song - 'Hold On'
Sounds Like: The New Divison, Reptar, & MGMT

Kamtin Mohager had an epiphany when it watched the final scene of the movie 'Real Genius.' That is the part where "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" kicks in and it changed his life. He made it a goal to be able to sing along to that track. He kind of overshot his goal. His style mixes a lot of genres, since critics have compared him to everything from LCD Soundsystem to The Talking Heads. He's a very talented guy and you'll be hearing more about him in the future.


Band - Tiago Iorc
Song - 'Story Of A Man'
Sounds Like: Nick Drake, Matt White, & John Mayer

Iorc is a Brazilian born musician that spent time in England and the United States. He sounds a lot like 90's American singer/songwriters and has a stripped-down acoustic sound. His music teeters between somber and sweet, which leads the listener on an emotional journey. His sounds will work in the U.S. market, just he hasn't had much of a shot yet.


Band - U.S. Royalty
Song - 'Equestrian'
Sounds Like: Band Of Horses, Local Natives, & Capital Cities

U.S. Royalty formed in 2008 in the Washington D.C. area. They built the band around lifelong musicians collaboration of brothers John and Paul Thornley. They used to practice in an abandoned trailer in rural Maryland. They have made appearances at NXNe, CMJ, and past SXSW music festivals. The buzz is growing for the band and will soon hit an apex, once more new material is released.


Band - You Say France & I Whistle
Song - 'When Lovers Die'
Sounds Like: Two Door Cinema Club, Black Kids, & Violent Femmes

The band states that they formed the band out of necessity. The cold Swedish winters are brutal and they wanted to share colorfulness that could spread throughout the people. They live show incorporates hugs, energetic frustration, and love. They are a fun band that have a full-length album hitting the U.S. market this Spring.


Band - V For Volume
Song - 'Cheap Universe'
Sounds Like: The Birthday Massacre, Metro Station, & Paramore

This is the first Colombian band to make the list, but they don't fit into the normal group that hail from that country. The members of V For Volume all used to be in metal bands. Their current sound is far from that, since it is a mixture of Paramore and The Bravery. The band's debut album, "Providence," came out this month, so check it out on Spotify or buy it on iTunes.



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45 Bands You'll Know After SXSW: Part 2

This is the second part of my three-part post featuring the artists that will breakout of SXSW with a lot of buzz. A lot of musicians play at SXSW in hopes of showcasing their talents in front of the music industry elite. I posted the first 15 bands yesterday. I will introduce (or re-introduce) you to '45 Bands That You'll Know After SXSW.' Here's the second group of 15 bands that you'll hear more about in the near future.

Band - Grimes
Song - 'Oblivion'
Sounds Like: Zola Jesus, Beach House & Sleep Over

Grimes is the stage name of French Canadian artist, Claire Boucher. She incorporates visual art, dance, and video during her live performances. She has released four albums since 2010, she's has been busy lady. Grimes is a mixture of a lot of artists, with some Enya & Aphex Twin being two of her biggest influences. It is hard to determine her genre, but if you catch her show, you'll be introduced to a few that you're not expecting.


Band - Hoodie Allen
Song - '#WhiteGirlProblems'
Sounds Like: Chiddy Bang, Asher Roth, & Mac Miller

Hoodie Allen (Steven Markowitz) is a Brooklyn-born frat-rapper. He has garnered some buzz on Twitter by naming a song that contains a hashtag. He has been featured on MTU and has appeared on Billboard's Uncharted Territory for indie artists. If you like the frat-rap genre, he's one of the best new guys in the genre.


Band - J.D. McPherson
Song - 'North Side Gal'
Sounds Like: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, early Elvis, & Ray Charles

McPheron's retro-rockability style is a breath of fresh air in the indie music genre. You can tell that a lot of his influence comes from rockabilly, early Motown, and Elvis Presley. His album 'Signs & Signifiers" will be released on April 17th on Rounder Records. If he's in a town near you, check him out...I'm not just saying that because I feel like this song is about a cute Chicago Cubs fan.


Band - Mariah McManus
Song - 'Say It Again'
Sounds Like: Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, & Anna Nalick

McManus is only 19 years old, but her sound is a mixture of Imogen Heap and Portishead, with Taylor Swift's innocence. Her songs are about a teenager navigating the world, but her mature voice doesn't land her in the "tween pop" genre. Her songs are like candy-coated honesty...which I would eat.


Band - Royal Teeth
Song - 'Wild'
Sounds Like: Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend & Passion Pit

Royal Teeth is 1980s New Wave meets indie dance pop. It is a cretive style of music and will be accepted by a very wide audience. They have on released one synth-infused EP, 'Act Naturally,' with an LP in the works. They pride themselves on being themselves and if the audience responds, it is really easy.


Band - Mmoths
Song - 'Heart'
Sounds Like: Neon Indian, Air Tycoon & St. Lucia

Mmoths (Jack Colleran) is an 18-year old producer that signed his record deal on the same day that he graduated high school. He released his debut EP on March 5th and features a lot of guest artist, because he doesn't sing. The track 'Heart' features Keep Shelly In Athens, her voice compliments Mmoths' airy and calming synth tracks.


Band - Little Lo
Song - 'Wounded Knee'
Sounds Like: The Arcade Fire, Okkervil River, & The Polyphonic Spree

They will be right at home in Austin, Texas, because that is where they call home. The local music scene is quite congested and it takes great talent to shine there. The Arcade Fire is a popular band and this sextet omits large doses of their sound. The SXSW fans will love the energy in the room, especially since they will have local fans there to help fuel the band.


Band - Library Voices
Song - 'Generation Handclap'
Sounds Like: Rabbit!, Fleet Foxes, & Ra Ra Riot

This is one of a few Canadian bands to make my list. They are well-represented in Austin this year. They are a seven-piece pop collective from Saskatchewan. They use vintage organs, circuit bent electronics, accordion, saxophone, theremin, and even a glockenspiel. They are an eclectic band with a nice mainstream indie sound.


Band - Hands
Song - 'Warm Night Home'
Sounds Like: The Shins, Band Of Horses, & Beirut

These very technical musicians have a nice and unique tempo. THey use auxiliary drum beats looped with guitar riffs. It is a very fresh sound and if you're a fan of The Shins, you'll enjoy Hands. They will be opening for Deehoof, DeVotchKa, and Foster The People in 2012.


Band - Imagine Dragons
Song - 'It's Time'
Sounds Like: Neon Trees, The Temper Trap & Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This Vegas quintet's debut dropped in February on Interscope Records. It was produced by Alex da Kid and will make an impact on the charts. They have already opened for mainstream acts like Weezer, Interpol, and Blue October. They will be touring some festivals to get their name out there and gain even more buzz about their band.


Band - Kat Edmonson
Song - 'Lucky'
Sounds Like: Kate Nash, Regina Spektor, & Feist

Edmonson is a former contestant on 'American Idol,' but only made the Top 48 Hollywood round. She was 19 and still trying to find her sound. She has performed with Willie Nelson and even opened up for Smokey Robinson. Her sound is simple and honest, something that Feist has perfected.


Band - Love Inks
Song - 'Blackeye'
Sounds Like: Warpaint, Washington, & Seapony

Love Inks is a minimalist pop band with a sexual electronic sound. Their focus is primarily on the voice, which is "direct and honest." Warpaint has a cult following and once they hear "Blackeye," they will be lining up to see them.


Band - Outernational
Song - 'Fighting Song'
Sounds Like: Gogol Bordello, The Clash & post-punk protest music

Outernational is a New York that have collaborated with Tom Morrello, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Calle 13. They have friends in high places and it will pay off very soon. They have had a lot of buzz about them over the last few years. A lot of their music deals with social injustices and political commentary. They have a lot to say and it is very entertaining.


Band - Rockwell Knuckles
Song - 'Play Catch'
Sounds Like: Vandalyzm, Black Spade, & Freddie Gibbs

You have to respect a guy that likens his rapping style to Kenny Powers. "The whole project has an aggressive, non-apologetic, abrasive (vibe)." I guess he wants to verbally throw a fast ball in your ears and then give you the finger when you walk back to the dugout. He is the best rapper to come out of St. Louis in awhile and he will gain a bigger a national audience after his appearance at SXSW.


Band - Matt Corby
Song - 'Brother'
Sounds Like: Bon Iver, Boy & Bear & Nick Drake

Corby had an unusual start to his career, he appeared on an Australian reality television show. He spent most of his 20s gaining experience as a songwriter and after selling out shows in London, he was showcased at last year's SXSW. In November, he released an EP, 'Into The Flame.' He scheduled to do a national tour and then back to Australia. I'd advise that you catch him while he's in the States.

CHECK OUT THE FINAL 15 BANDS IN PART 3


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