Indie Music Universe

Githead are Colin Newman (of Wire), Malka Spigel and Max Franken (of Minimal Compact), and Robin Rimbaud (Scanner). But who they are is far less important than what they are: a band, rather than just a collaboration of individuals.

Landing the fourth release (third full-length) by Githead is now streaming in its' entirety at the link below:

http://www.githead.com/mp3/~Landing/radioplayer3.html

The band started in 2004, initially to play as a one-off at the Swim record label's 10th anniversary event at the ICA. It soon became obvious that there was a natural and rare chemistry that could enable real organic development over time.

Progression was swift. A solid base was fashioned with the band's 2004 debut, the ‘self titling' EP Headgit. Written, recorded and mixed in fervent, whirlwind fashion, all in Swim's London studio, the band used Headgit as a platform on which to build. Its signature hypnotic motorik combined with a fresh, almost raw approach resulted in a set of exciting tracks, some of which remain stage favorites.

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Popularity: 25% [?]

After two woozy, psychedelic, and often–claustrophobic records that touched upon their great potential (2006's Preyers EP and 2007's Hoarse Lords), the Oakland-based Clipd Beaks have birthed something pretty damn amazing. To Realize is a turning-point. A record of personal and artistic growth. Sonically expansive, lyrically profound, and deeply moving. It recalls the societal hangover depicted in the great California rock records of the early 70's, while sitting firmly in the noisy, chaotic present day. It's a tribute to love, to moving forward, to rejecting doom. To Realize places itself as a beacon of sprawling, humanist hope in an increasingly digital world. Anyone who still believes in the transformative power of Rock n' Roll will recognize it in this record.

"Sounds perfectly fuzzed to these ears" – Stereogum

 

“Wildly danceable, postpunk mania” - Time Out

 

“Beneath the caustic bass and smeared keyboards lies some serious, seriously damaged songwriting” - The Onion

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Popularity: 19% [?]

A big thank you to all those who voted in our first contest ever!  Well, the results are in and the winning design is design #3.

We randomly selected one grand prize winner and two runner ups from the group who voted for the third design.  Congratulations and a big round of applause to Tomika, the first place winner, and Frode and Simon — our two runner ups (go ahead, clap with us — and use your hands only).

Although this was our first contest, we plan on having many more in the future, with great prizes and exiting new music.  We plan on doing another one for Thanksgiving and also a couple of smaller giveaways in between.

So be sure to check out our Twitter site at http://twitter.com/indiemusicu to see the new design in action and to be informed of our upcoming giveaways.  If you missed this one, get yer tails on the next one!  Also, if you haven't already connected with us on Facebook (who's not on that site nowadays??), we'd love you as a fan.

Click here to connect with us on Facebook.

Lastly (then I'll shut up — for now), we are in the process of revamping the site.  We're gonna hit you with a lot of great new content, including exclusive interviews, event listings and guides, great editorials, more reviews, more exciting new music, and hot naked men and women.  Well, maybe not that last part, but you catch my drift.  We're going to be bigger and better (man I hate cliches, but I can't think of anything better this late).

One last thing…I know I know — last little blurb, I promise!  For all you indie musicians, bands, and artists, we have some exciting new opportunities coming up for you to be featured and exposed to a lot of hungry indie music fans (in a good way, of course — c'mon, I was seriously joking about the nudity comment above). 

Take care, and in the meantime, rock those faces off!!!

Popularity: 19% [?]

Swim (To Reach the End),” off their forthcoming debut, Astro Coast, is pure left coast– from the echoing Brian Wilson harmonies to the Weezer-esque power pop chorus.” - Pitchfork

“You’ll be hearing more from this band for sure.” - Spin

“Surfer Blood make accomplished, hook-filled indie rock with clever arrangements and great harmonies, as performed by four guys who can actually, you know, play.” – BrooklynVegan

On January 19, 2010 Surfer Blood will release Astro Coast, their debut album, on Kanine Records. Surfer Blood will be playing a string of shows in NY during CMJ, and is scheduled to tour with Art Brut and Japandroids in November.

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Popularity: 14% [?]

Greetings, my fellow indie music lovers!

We are pleased to announce our very first contest at Indie Music Universe — the Halloween Twitter Background Contest.  We’ve got a great prize to give away, so listen up…

We need your help in choosing the best Holloween themed background design for our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/indiemusicu.  We have four great designs that were created by our talented staff of artists. 

Here’s how the contest will work.  Check out the four links below.  Each link will bring you to a page that displays a model of a Halloween Twittter background.  After you take a look at each one, fill out the form right under the links.  Leave your first name, email address, and write which design you like best in the comments box (i.e. design 1, design 2, design 3 or design 4).  Be sure to choose only one.

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Popularity: 14% [?]

Dirty Projectors are embarking on a North American tour this fall in support of their latest release, Bitte Orca.  The band consists of David Longstreth (lead vocals, guitar), Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass), Brian Mcomber (drums), Nat Baldwin (bass) and vocalist Haley Dekle.

Dirty Projectors will be performing on the Late Show with David Letterman next Monday, August 31st.

Praise for Bitte Orca:

“…the most thoroughly engaging entry in the Dirty Projectors catalog and one of the most singularly engrossing albums likely to be released this year, a triumph in sustained creative restlessness.” – Paste

 

“Over nine indispensable tracks, Bitte Orca forges a more perfect union between eccentricity and accessibility.” – The Onion

 

“In an era of scripted and calculated music, the fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants Dirty Projectors thrill at every blind turn they barrel through.” – Under The Radar

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Popularity: 13% [?]

By Kristin Anderson

Festie fans unite.

If you have survived your summer festivals and are up to some fall excitement, I have put together a list of some favorite fall festivals you may want to check out. The fall festival line up includes indoor and outdoor festivals. They're perfect for anyone — whether you wanna party in New York City or get down at the Red Rocks in Colorado. Cooler weather aside, these fall festivals are sure to satisfy, and a long cold festivaless winter is on its way. Who doesn't love hoodie weather anyway?

Break your piggy banks, get your tickets and use up the last of this year's vacation time. The party's not over yet, and festie goers never say die.

Fall Music Festivals Lineup 2009

Bumbershoot 2009

Where: Bumbershoot takes place at the Seattle Center, between Mercer Street, Denny Way, 5th Avenue North and 1st Avenue North, in the lower Queen Anne neighborhood, just north of downtown Seattle Washington.

When: September 5-7th

Bumbershoot®: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival is now in its 39th year. Since 1971, Bumbershoot has drawn artists representing the best in music, film, comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts to the Seattle Center over Labor Day weekend. North America's largest urban arts festival, Bumbershoot takes place in the heart of the city at the 74-acre Seattle Center. Over 150,000 visitors from near and far spend the weekend reveling in the world of Bumbershoot, experiencing everything from regional favorites to international superstars across all arts disciplines.

Get more info at http://www.bumbershoot.org

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Popularity: 39% [?]

Pioneering indie web radio station Future Perfect Radio will be backstage at Lollapalooza this weekend, bringing listeners on-demand interviews directly from the festival.

Music director Michael Schmitt and correspondent Scott Fleischer will be at the festival all weekend, interviewing groups from The Builders and the Butchers to Chairlift. These interviews will be available almost instantly from the Future Perfect Radio website (http://futureperfectradio.com), where listeners can listen in on-demand.

These backstage interviews will break new ground for Internet radio and fill a gap left by traditional media. Few if any broadcasters bring their listeners into the midst of such music festivals. In an innovative move, Future Perfect Radio will deliver unique, on-demand content straight from Lollapalooza’s stages to music fans who can’t find such programming anywhere else. While many blogs and publications will be covering the event, Future Perfect Radio will bring Internet users from around the world straight to Grant Park in Chicago through on-demand audio interviews.

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Popularity: 11% [?]

BROADCAST STAGES TO BENEFIT INDIE STATIONS IN

ALL POINTS WEST INTERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE BELOW

In its third year Toyota’s Free Yr Radio brings music to the masses hosting the Free Yr Radio Broadcast Stage benefitting independent stations at All Points West, Outside Lands, Bumbershoot, CMJ and Voodoo Festival.

Launched in 2007 with a mission to support independent radio stations Free Yr Radio has equipped over 20 partner stations with tools to increase exposure and listener support. Those stations have included KEXP (Seattle an NY), The Current (Twin Cities, MN), KUSF (San Francisco) and KXLU (Los Angeles) among others. In previous years the campaign hosted shows featuring top indie talent in Urban Outfitters stores across the U.S. Partner bands have included Sonic Youth, No Age, Mudhoney, Dinosaur Jr., King Khan, !!!, Dan Deacon, Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer and others.   In addition to generating awareness and support through the free station-hosted concerts, participating radio stations were also given the opportunity to award a brand new Toyota Yaris to a listener to help boost fundraising or listener appreciation efforts.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

New music marketing service pays fans to hear latest song releases, connects talented artists in all genres directly with music-buying public

Warrenville, Ill. (PRWEB) July 14, 2009 — Executives of JamBuzzer.com, a Warrenville, Ill.-based technology start-up, today announced the launch of AdJams, a novel online music marketing service that enables both artists and fans to share music-generated revenue and profits.

"AdJams paves the way for a revitalized global music industry that will provide fans with free access to a huge selection of high quality songs by thousands of talented artists," said JamBuzzer.com president Aaron Bradley.

"A novel economic model based on a music currency called the JamDollar (j$) will, in essence, enable listeners to obtain free music," said Bradley. "Fans will be able to ‘earn’ their music, without cash, while artists will realize increased opportunity for a lucrative music career doing what they love," he said.

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Popularity: 9% [?]