Ed The Dog - Yes Men

1.    Who is Ed The Dog?  

Ed The Dog are an indie pop/rock band from High Wycombe, England. They are fronted by Ed Wetenhall and have been at it since 2018. Yes Men (May’18) is the second single from their debut album Shame (July’18). 


2. What kind of tune is Yes Men? 

Yes Men is catchy indie pop with a quintessentially English bent. Bass heavy, self-deprecating and quirky fun. Reminiscent of Blur's better moments and Rat Boy's more recent ones while bursting from the packet with freshness.


3. Who do Ed The Dog sound like?  

Blur, Marsicans, and Team Picture.  

4. What have the press said about Yes Men?

“Ed The Dog’s signature alt-pop sound has us all tied up in knots” – Sound Sphere.

“A fervent, bass heavy track that is cram full of soul” – One Stop Record Shop.

“Analog fuzz and warm melodies” – The Line Of Best Fit.  

5. Which bands have influenced Ed The Dog?

The Strokes, Dirty Projectors, Darwin Deez, Randy Newman, The Beatles, and LCD Soundsystem. 

6. Why should I give Yes Men a spin? 

For the bass fat fucking bass and the rock outs.

7. Do Ed The Dog have any more bangers? 

Television Era is on the mark. 

8. Any more guff? 

Ed Wetenhall was the front man for Fish Tank from 2011 – 2016. 

Dan Mangan - Troubled Mind

Dan Mangan is an indie rock/folk musician from Vancouver, Canada. His music is similar to Great Lake Swimmers, Arkells, and Wintersleep. Dan Mangan's main influences are Nick Drake, Van Morrison and The Beatles. Troubled Mind (June'18) is the second single from an as yet unannounced fifth album. He said that Trouble Mind might be his most upbeat and danceable song yet. Trouble Mind is fast-paced, but melancholic; a synth-led, indie pop song about struggling to deal with the 24/7 bombardment of news. It was produced by Simone Felice (Bat For Lashes, The Lumineers).

“Are we the beautiful future?

I can’t figure it out”

Grasscourt - Come Alive

1.    Who? 

Grasscourt are an indie-pop duo from Stroud, England. Come Alive (June'18) is their second release from the double  A-side Come Alive/Stones Upon My Chest (June'18).

2. What kind of tune is it? 

Come Alive lays down a cute, whimsical, acoustic melody reminiscent of the Violent Femmes straight out of the gate. And that's your whack. It's enough to go on with.

3. Who do Grasscourt sound like?

 Violent Femmes, You Won't, and Django Django.

4. What is the word from the press? 

“Ramshackle charm” – Clash. 

“Wonky pop” – Clash. 

“Deft acoustic stylings” – Clash. 

5. Which bands have influenced Grasscourt? 

Grasscourts influences are too numerous and varied to share with me. That old dodge. They did say Violent Femmes and The Pixies influenced Come Alive. 

6. Why should I give Come Alive a listen? 

Because you're not in the mood for bombastic choruses, fist-pumping anthems, or 'bound to be a festival favorite' songs. 

7. Is the other song any good? 

Stone Upon My Chest has the 60's, Django Django, hippie vibes. 

8. Anything else? 

Nah.

lovelytheband - These Are My Friends

1. Who? 

lovelytheband are an indie pop band from Los Angeles; because of course they are, just look at the name of the band. They have been playing together for two years. Their first single Broken (2017) went to number one in the Billboard alternative charts; because of course it did, just look at these punters. These Are My Friends (May'18) is their follow up and a standalone single at the minute.

2. What kind of song is These Are My Friends? 

These Are My Friends is a languid campfire singalong pop gem with feel good lyrics about acceptance. The tune is voice driven with assistance from acoustic guitar and bombastic drums. A generic, radio-friendly, chest-thumper made for glass-half-full days. 

3. Who do lovelytheband sound like? 

Coast Modern, Dr Dog, and Grouplove. 


4. What is the word about These Are My Friends?

“Summer getaway song” – Verge Campus. 

“Lyrics as honest as they are genuine” – The Feature Story. 

“Catchy, albeit vapid” – YouTube Comments. 

5. Which bands influenced lovelytheband?

Their main influences are Dashboard Confessional, Frank Ocean, Bon Iver, Brian Adams, and Bruce Springsteen.


6. Why should I listen to These Are My Friends? 

Because you're looking for mindless playlist filler. Because sometimes style trumps substance. 


7. What other good songs do lovelytheband have? 

Broken doesn't suck donkey dick. 


8. Any more words? 

lovelytheband are out on tour performing fluffer duties for AWOLNATION on their Out Come The Runts tour. 

Dr Dog are an indie rock band from Philladelphia. They have been together since 1999 dabbling in lo-fi, Americana, folk, and psych-rock. Dr Dog are most famous for the Blur-esque song Lonesome. They are similar to Eels, My Morning Jacket and Delta Spirit. Dr Dog's main influences are Neil Young, The Zombies and The Beach Boys. Under The Wheels is an album track from their tenth album Critical Equation (April'18). Under The Wheels is the highlight of the album, a 60's/70's influenced pop-rocker in the mold of Steve Miller.

Bloodboy - Sex Crime

1.    Who?

Bloodboy is Lexie Papilion an indie pop musician from Los Angeles.  Sex Crime (Feb’18) is a single from her debut album Punk Adjacent (2018).

2. What?

Sex Crime is a retro-eighties pop song brought up to date in tune and words. A feminist voice in the lyrics is a given, beguiling, not strident. 

3. Who does Bloodboy sound like?

Blondie, Pat Benetar, and Bec Sandridge.

4. What have the plastic punchers said about Sex Crime?

“Continuing to push the boundaries of pop rock music” – Vents Magazine. 

 “Danceable, status-quo questioning indie-pop anthem” – Paper Mag. 

 “Fun retro music” – Fem Music. 

5. Which bands have influenced Bloodboy?

The Clash is Lexie Papilion's favorite band. Then David Bowie, Talking Heads, Ariel Pink, and Elvis Costello.

6. Why should I give Sex Crime a listen?

Because 80's pop is your guilty pleasure. Because you can't abide anything in the Top 50. Because you don't need to hear another song about how much money he has or how many women he sleeps with.


7. Does she have any more bangers?

Checkout Keep Your Disease. 


8. Any more words?

Punk Adjacent is produced by Taylor Locke (The New Pornographers, Sloan, Pearl Charles). 

“She laughed when he told her,
Wishes he was older”

The Howl & The Hum are a hypnotic pop/post punk band from York, England. They have been compared to Portishead and Massive Attack. The Howl & The Hum are influenced by bands like Bob Dylan, My Bloody Valentine, and Kendrick Lamar. They have been playing together for a couple of years and have a handful of singles out there. Portrait I (Jan'18) is the best of the lot. The phrasing and the voice is exquisite and the gradual build finally brings the guitar climax in the third minute. Rewards the patient.

“But angel leaves an imprint on your broken bones”

The Dunwells - Colour My Mind

1. Who are The Dunwells? 

The Dunwells are an indie folk/indie pop band from Leeds, England. They have been making music since 2009 and have two albums. Colour My Mind bursts off their latest E.P. Colour My Mind (Dec’17). The Dunwells combine elements of both American and British music traditions.

2. What kind of song is Colour My Mind?

Colour My Mind is an indie pop song that builds into a big, chest beating, chorus. With hints of gospel the song is saccharine, middle of the road pap, but ultimately irresistible.

3. Who do The Dunwells sound like?

Mumford & Sons, Bronze Radio Return, and Fleet Foxes.

4. What has the music press said about Colour My Mind?

“A band that blend together to deliver some stunning harmonies”- Indie Band Guru. 

“Stellar vocals” – Indie Obsessive. 

 “Pure joy” – Flick Of The Finger. 

5. Which bands have influenced The Dunwells?

Bob Dylan, Motown, Crowded House, Foy Vance, and Elbow.

6. Why should I listen to Colour My Mind? 

Because the song has an interesting blend of musical traditions. Because you love heart warming, singalong, indie pop with soaring choruses.

7. Do the band have any more bangers?

Hey Now, Fire Down and Battling Life.

8. Any more?

Nah.

The Family Crest are an orchestral indie folk/rock band from San Francisco, California. They have been together since 2008 and have recorded two albums. The Family Crest are similar to Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear. Sparks is the lead single from the E.P. Prelude To War (April'17). Paste Magazine described Sparks as, “A thunderous opener with a galloping, racing pace.” The song is breathtaking and emotional.

Two Door Cinema Club - Bad Decisions

1.    Who are they? 

Two Door Cinema Club are an indie pop/funk band from Bangor, Northern Ireland. Bad Decisions (July’16) is the second single from their third album Gameshow (Oct’16). 

2. What have they served up? 

Bad Decisions is fat, funky, indie-pop dancefloor filler. Very 80's pop.

3. Who do Two Door Cinema sound like?

Prince, Scissor Sisters and The 1975. 

4. What have the muppets in the press said about Bad Decisions?

“80’s nostalgia fueled sound” – Your EDM. 

“Feel-good disco-tipped dancefloor peak” – Mix Mag.

“A groovy, disco track with a pulsating bass line” – Babble Music. 

 

5. Which bands have influenced Two Door Cinema Club? 

Some of the band's main influences are Prince, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder and Death Cab For Cutie. 

6. Why should I give Bad Decisions a spin? 

It'll get you shaking your ass. 

7. What are the best Two Door Cinema songs? 

Beacon is the best. Something Good Can Work is chippy indie pop and nice. Sun has a killer chorus and a little assist from the horns and I Can Talk isn't too shabby. 

8. Any more words pal? 

The album Gameshow was produced by Jacknife Lee who has worked with Twin Atlantic, U2, Silversun Pickups, Bloc Party and Weezer.

“I’ve been drinking wine,

And I just made a big mistake”

Walking On Cars are an alternative rock band from Dingle, Ireland. Walking On Cars are similar to The Script, Kodaline, The Coronas and Bastille. They are influenced by The Lumineers, Ben Howard and Coldplay. Walking On Cars debut album Everything This Way (Jan'16) went to number one in Ireland and Speeding Cars (Oct'15) was an international hit single.  Fortitude Magazine described Speeding Cars as “a gorgeous track with stunningly deep lyrics backed by haunting piano work and perfected with a ridiculously catchy chorus.”

“So if I stand in front of a speeding car,

Would you tell me who  you are, what you like”

D.I.D. (Dog Is Dead) - Killer Whale

1.    Who are these marvels? 

D.I.D. (formerly Dog Is Dead) are an English indie pop band from Nottingham. They have been cranking out masterpieces since 2007 and Killer Whale (Nov'16) is a single from their second album The State We're In (Dec'16). 

2. What kind of tune are they slinging? 

Killer Whale is a meaningful indie pop number driven by choral vocals reminiscent of Queen, African rhythms and a little something to say on the subject of bullying. 

3. Who do D.I.D. sound like?

Queen, Peace and The Kinks. 

4. What have the press said about Killer Whale? 5. Which bands have inspired D.I.D.?

“A thoroughly uplifting piece of music” – Busk Music.

“A superb piece of indie pop that has ‘hit single’ written all over it” – Left Lion.

“Five piece harmonies, carnival-esque rhythms and sugared hooks” – Clash Music.

5. Which bands have inspired D.I.D.? 

The bands main influences are Dire Straits, Cap'n Jazz, Bruce Springsteen, The Talking Heads and The Beach Boys.

6. Why should I give Killer Whale a quick listen? 

The vocal harmonies are infectious. 

7. Do D.I.D. have any more good tunes? 

Hotel is a retro-seventies big glam-rock riffing monster and their best tune. Talk Through The Night is low-key indie pop loveliness. Glockenspiel Song is a quirky piece of indie pop with more big choral harmonies. 

8. Any more words? 

Nah. 

“The other kids can be cold as ice for the most of it”

Wesley Fuller plays retro-sixties and seventies indie pop rock. He sounds like The Beatles and T. Rex. His main influences are The Zombies, The Mamas and The Papas, The Sweet and Sly & The Family Stone. Melvista (June'16) is Wesley Fuller's first single and the title track of his debut E.P. The song is a ringer for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mitch and Titch's Hold Tight!  and is a cracking sixties garage pop rocker that prompted NME to say, “We cover guitar songs on this blog a lot, but rarely do they sound so full of life and energetic as this track.”

“I probably should have kissed her but I haven’t the chance”