I Dream of the Parlours
May 24, 2011 Artists
Last night I found the perfect excuse for watching a ridiculous amount of TV – the Parlours. My husband and I were watching the season finale of a show called The Chicago Code, which if you don’t watch you need to get on it, and then it happened. We heard the Parlours and they changed my life. Seriously, I mean I don’t even like Chicago that much and now I’m itching to go. You will know what I am referring to when you listen to their song “I Dream of Chicago.”
Such a sweet, enchanting and inspiring sound I could listen to all day. A little pop, a little folk, a little more indie – the perfect combination. And I love that they are so harmonious that they can sound like a duo one minute and then a band the next.
When you listen to them, life will be better. I promise you. They are playing with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in a couple months if that tells you anything. If they keep this up, they could climb the ranks in the Amanda-meter with the likes of The Weepies. It could happen. I can’t wait to hear them more.
I dream of Chicago. I dream about you. I dream I could go and say all the things that I never said to you.
Parlours
Tags: Amanda loves, Folk, Indie, Parlours, Pop, The Chicago Code
Summertime and the living is easy
Apr 13, 2011 Artists
Generationals
The weather is warming up and I’m in need of some good summertime music, cue the Generationals. I don’t know why but they make me want to put on some roller skates and roll down to the nearest ice cream shop, all the while being all “gussied up” wearing a poodle skirt of course. It could just be me but I swear that’s what I picture doing while listening to When they fight, they fight. I am kind of in love with this band. I’m trying to tone down my crazy love in case it might be premature, but definitely take a listen for yourself.
Red Cortez
So when you your latest album is produced by Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams and Ray LaMontagne you know it can’t be bad, right? Well to be honest I’m not “stop everything your doing” impressed with Red Cortez (except for All the Difference – good song), but they just released their first album so I’m going to give them some time to marinate. Let’s marinate together. Let me know what you think – Potential? Maybe the Generationals are just soo good I’m having trouble caring about them. Could be.
So & So
Now I’ve only heard snip-its of So & So, but I have liked them on Facebook so that’s a big step for just hearing snip-its. I’m not sure I like their new marketing and polished look, but their sound is great. Very calming, folksy and romantic. Great summertime music folks!
That’s all I got for now. I’m out.
Tags: Alternative, Indie
Um Sia, do you have marbles in your mouth?
Mar 29, 2011 Artists
If you’ve ever read the lyrics of Sia’s music you know that she’s had a somewhat disturbed life. Seriously, just look at the picture below to see what I mean. And yes at some points she sounds like she’s mumbling. 
But dang it I still like her. She has this super sad and ery sound to her music, with urgency and passion that makes you kinda want to give her a hug as fast as possible so she doesn’t do something stupid. Every time, I repeat, every time she sings I feel like I’m hearing the song the very first time she thought it up. Check out some live tunes from her and let me know what you think…
2011 Grammy’s were Redonkulous
Perhaps it was just me, but the Grammy’s were pretty darn awesome this year. Besides Taylor Swift not being there of course. Arcade Fire won album of the year?? Their performance was both weird and awesome at the same time. Best new artist was not Bieber, but Esperanza Spalding?? Where did this awesome gal even come from? These Grammy organizers really know what’s up. But BY FAR the best performance of the night was from Mumford & Sons and The Avett Brothers. I felt like I was seeing them at a local bar. Loved the stage set up. If you missed it, check it out…
2011 Grammy Performance: Bob Dylan, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers
Tags: Acoustic, Amanda loves, Folk, Grammys, Indie, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers
Pomplamoose
Dec 29, 2010 Uncategorized
No, I didn’t just make up a big word. Have you heard the Hyundai “Jingle Bell” commercial this season? I was in love with the song and then thought to myself, “why have I not looked them up?” So many small indie artists are getting noticed via tv it seems these days.Their name is Pomplamoose. A girl and a dude. Much like She and Him, but more retro feeling. That’s all I got. Check em out! They’re pretty fun.
Tags: Indie, Pomplamoose, Retro
Rosi introduces me to Wakey! Wakey!
Oct 23, 2009 Artists
Rosi Golan
Jake Phillips
Rosi, Me, Jess
Jpax, Rosi, Me
Rosi & Me
Rosi Golan
A friend of mine recently got married, and her mom was telling me how she thought her daughter would be sad when it was all over. All the planning would be done, all the money spent, all the fun had and it would be over just like that. I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I’d heard, until the day after Rosi Golan (and her sidekick Jake Phillips) played at my house. I was sooo unbelievably sad because the party was over, she was gone, and it was just quiet. It leaves you with this sadness knowing that one of the best nights of your life is now behind you. But I’ve moved on, hoping maybe she will come back around again and maybe with her good friend Wakey! Wakey!, Mike Grubbs. She was telling me, when she was at my freakin house, that he is a singer/songwriter that is going to play a bartender role on One Tree Hill. That alone made my day, so of course I checked him out. Him and his piano playing are amazing, so please listen to him. His songs speak of such brokeness. I don’t know what is up with the name “Wakey! Wakey!” because it doesn’t fit this sensitive music, but apparently he is pretty funny so hence the funny name?? I don’t know why, but I don’t care. I’ll call him whatever he wants to be called, as long as he keeps singing to me.
Wakey! Wakey!
Tags: Amanda loves, Indie, Rosi Golan, Wakey Wakey
Underneath this beating heart
Oct 9, 2009 Artists
Rosi Golan
I’ve written about Rosi Golan before, but she is so good I think she deserves another post. And another and another. You get my point. There is something very soothing and uplifting about Rosi’s music. This album of hers is one you can play no matter what type of music you might be in the mood for. When I saw her at Radio Radio back in July I fell in love. Not many people are that good live and she is hands down the best. Most of her songs are about love and all the impatient, tiring , confusing and hopeful emotions that come with it. If I may bravely say so, there have been so many acoustic folk chics coming out of the wood work these past couple years that it’s hard to really care to listen to anymore. But that is not the case with Rosi. Her very intimate debut album just came out and I’m dieing for the next one.
In about a week, Rosi will be at my house performing a house concert for me and my friends which is still too much to take in. I promise to take lots of video so look forward to more Rosi posts. In fact, here’s a video below with a new song of hers she recently performed in MD. It sounds like she’s got more good stuff on the way. Yay for talented people who are brave enough to share themselves with us!
Tags: Folk, Indie, Rosi Golan
Let Loose the Horses
Sep 16, 2009 Artists
I can’t remember how I found this group…Twitter, IHeartRadio, random Googling or MySpacing…Not sure. So sorry I can’t give someone credit for helping me find The Rescues. This group is sooooooo talented. A four person group with Kyler England, Rob Giles, Gabriel Mann and Adrianne Gonzalez. All talented solo artists and song writers, but together is where it’s at. Their strong voices and multi-part harmonies are just killer and their songs are both emotional and catchy. Two thumbs up for that! Gabriel Mann’s vocals, especially in Can’t Stand the Rain, are my favorite though. Anyways, check ‘em out. If you think you’ve heard them before, it’s probably from Grey’s Anatomy.
The Rescues
Tags: Grey's Anatomy, Indie, Pop, Rock, The Rescues
Unsigned Bands at Leeds Music Festival
So Leeds Music Festival is going on as we speak in the UK. I am so jealous. White Lies, a UK band I saw at Lollapalooza who rocked it, along with a bunch of other well known and unsigned bands are going to be playing there this weekend. I haven’t gotten to listen too much to the bands playing at Leeds since I just found out about this maybe an hour ago, but what I’ve heard so far I like. Take a listen!
Leeds Music Festival
Enjoy the afternoon! If you want to go to a music festival in Indy this Saturday full of unsigned and local artists check out Knollfest. And thank you to http://www.theunsignedguide.com/ for introducing me to these bands!
Chicks Rock!
Aug 21, 2009 Artists
I’m sure if you like to watch independent films, tv dramas or romantic comedies you have heard of Ingrid Michaelson, Imogean Heap and/or Colbie Caillat. Well, all three of them have new albums coming out next week on August 24th/25th. Ingrid Michaelson has been releasing a new song everyday on all of her websites up until the release next week of Everybody. So you should check it out. Very good stuff. Very very. Imogen Heap, as always, puts out music you won’t hear anywhere else. And Colbie Caillat fulfills my pop needs with her pretty little voice and catchy tunes.
If you like these artists, I have suggestions for you…
Meiko - Meiko is very real and cute and romantic. She looked very innocent, upon first glance but not so much. She doesn’t mind cussing to get her point across more fervently and her songs are about life situations, funny or not. Although, when she cusses she does so very sweetly.
Lenka- Her branding scheme looks like a little kid’s attempt at “artwork” and it works for her because her music is a little like that. It is very naive, but imaginative and funny and I love it. Very Regina-Spektor sounding.
Ashley Brooke Toussant- I met someone at Lollapalooza who told me about Ashley and I was surprisingly impressed. Her music is very relaxing and umm french. Even though she’s not. Or so she says.
April Smith and The Great Picture Show - April opened up Lollapalooza this year. If you like the circus April is your gal. Very vampy and gives off a warm vintage feel.
Sia - She might have a crazy life, as shown through her lyrics, but I love her. Her smoky voice combined with a wide variety of moods and vocal stylings she expresses in, Some People Have Real Problems, make life that much tolerable.
Tags: April Smith, Ashley Brooke Toussant, Colbie Caillat, Folk, Imogean Heap, Indie, Ingrid Michaelson, Lenka, Meiko, Melodramatic, Pop, Rock, Sia
