Yes – Josh Woodward. What is there to say? This is some really great stuff, I’m just sitting here amazed by the powerful yet simple indie pop/rock created by Josh Woodward. This Ohioan musician has released 7 albums – 6 of which are available for free download. I’ve decided that I’m not gonna grow tired of him after the first week (which I have a tendancy to do with artists) so I’ve only downloaded two of his albums so far (“Dirty Wings” and “Not Quite Connected”), but I am certain I will get the other ones very soon. With acoustic guitars, organs and a beautiful voice he paints musical pictures similar to those of, for instance, Belle & Sebastian and The Decemberists. He also adds electric guitar and drums without losing the gentle approach acoustic guitars come with, but with adding that little extra power of the guitars and drums he creates a superb mix and I’m in love with this music.

Josh Woodward: Music Catalogue (I recommend “Dirty Wings” to start off with)

This might come off as somewhat of a contrast to Brad Sucks and State Shirt, who both are much more rock-oriented, but this is some great music. Entertainment For the Braindead is a German solo act by Julia Kotowski. She resides in Cologne and is a self-taught player of many instruments – she plays the guitar, ukulele, bell, flute and everything else you can hear on her two records. She reminds me very much of the Seattle-based Tiny Vipers. In short, singer-songwriter-y music focusing on the voice and the guitar, with other instruments occasionally accompanying those two. She has released two albums (although, for some reason, she calls one of them an EP, despite its running time of 53 minutes): Hydrophobia and Hypersomnia. They’re awfully cheap as well, 1,20€ and 0,70€ – good deals, no?

Entertainment For the Braindead – Hydrophobia
Entertainment For the Braindead – Hypersomnia

State Shirt is the name of my latest discovery – found them (or him, actually) last night and I have already listen to the album “This Is Old” several times. It is a solo project by the LA resident Ethan Tufts, and as I said this is some good stuff. “This Is Old” sounds almost like Death Cab’s early works, but less lo-fi and with other vocals – sometimes his style of singing sounds like Alec Ounsworth’s of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. In songs such as the closing track Conway Station Road, the music is much more dreamy and post-rock-ish than Death Cab ever was and closer to the sound of Mogwai. He has released two albums (apart from “This Is Old”) and all of his three albums are available for free download. Songs to start with: Fell Out of the Sky and Conway Station Road.

Download the music here

No – I am not dropping out of school (although sometimes I wish I would). “Dropping Out of School” is, however, the name of the opening track of Brad Sucks’ second album called “Out of It”. Influences listed on his myspace, such as the industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails, grunge bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, and the pop giants Beatles, can be heard in his music. People have also noted his resemblance to Beck and Blur and in short – his two albums, both of them free for download, are masterpieces. Independent pop with heavier electronic and even industrial influences at times have resulted in aforementioned “Out of It” and his debut “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing”. He presents himself as “a one man band with no fans” – seeing as he fired his bandmates Brad Sucks is indeed a one man band; fans, though, is something he has – or at least should have – lots of. My favorite tracks so far are Dropping Out of School and There’s Something Wrong. Enjoy!

Download link to “Out of It” and “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing”: Click here

So here we are. My very own blog. To be honest, this is actually my second attempt and I hope that this time it just won’t be a temporary thing but something more permanent, like a daily habit to log on to wordpress and write something.

If you’ve read the About section you know a little about what the heck I’m doing here. In short, I am here because I have an interest in music I would like to share with others. I occasionally find some really oustanding music that is completely unknown to most people and I’d like to share with my prospective readers what I listen to and help you find new good music. Depending on how things evolve I am quite certain there will be some blog posts about and reviews on more well-known bands as well, seeing as my favorite band Death Cab For Cutie is not the most independent and underground band out there. The first “real” post, so to speak, will be up in a little while. And for the sake of simplicity, you might want to consider adding my blog to your RSS reader.

PS. If you hadn’t already noticed, the title and and the first sentence are song references.

Bloc Party – So Here We Are/Helicopter (Live At Glastonbury 2007)
Band of Horses – The First Song