Category: Pop (Page 120 of 216)

These Chicago-based indie rockers site classic ’60s pop and psychedelia as big influences, but one listen to Unicycle Loves You’s self-titled debut will probably remind most listeners of Canadian power pop powerhouses the New Pornographers with their harmonizing male/female vocals, chiming jangle pop riffs and upbeat keyboards. They even got the quirk factor down with songs like “Great Bargains for Seniors” and “Woman Bait for Manfish,” the latter of which gets bonus points for featuring a marimba intro. Don’t mistake them for clones of that supergroup from the Great White North though, because their ’60s influences do eventually make their way to forefront with it all coming together on the wonderfully psychedelic closing track “Dangerous Decade.” They also stand out from their Canadian contemporaries thanks to their lyrical cynicism and dark wit, both of which are delivered perfectly via the ever-so-slightly sneering vocals of lead singer Jim Carroll (no relation to The Basketball Diaries guy). Now all they need to do is work on that truly awful band name. (LABEL: Highweel Records 2008)

Unicycle Loves You MySpace page

Somewhere between the time Faroe Islands native Teitur Lassen debuted and sounded like a young Paul Simon (circa 2003) and the time he released his third album, The Singer, he seems to have forgotten how to write songs with mass appeal. Instead of the melodic ear candy on his debut, Poetry & Aeroplanes, or even his sophomore effort, Stay Under the Stars, The Singer is far more experimental. The melodies are different, bordering on off-key, and the sounds and textures of the arrangements are going to lose more than a few of his faithful fans. The one glowing exception is “We Still Drink The Same Water,” which, despite its creepy feel, comes off like a powerful anthem. Despite the oddities, we’ll give Teitur a pass, because we know his amazing songwriting ability is lurking in here somewhere, and he just needed to explore his own depth this time around. (LABEL: Playground)

Teitur MySpace Page

If you champion indie pop with a cool alt-rock undertow, Los Angeles band You Me & Iowa deserves a chance to win a spot in your digital jukebox. The band’s second album, The Adventures of You Me & Iowa, is neatly crafted and features bouncy rhythms and more than a few melodies that will stick in your head for a while. If you remember the ‘80’s band the Housemartins, you’re going to fall in love with the song “Tommy Hall,” easily the best track on this set. But there is a lot more going on, and in the end You Me & Iowa comes off as a more upbeat Death Cab (“Dress the Stage”) or a more mature Daphne Loves Derby (“Margaret Mourning”). We’ll even forgive them for the Barenaked Ladies’ sound-alike, “Goldfish,” because most of this album is full of twists and turns, yet is very easy on the ears. (LABEL: Scrimshaw Jazz)

You Me & Iowa MySpace Page