So begins the start of BBQ season in the US - Memorial Day. I get to spend it finishing up on a philosophy test and packing for my upcoming long weekend in STL. Hey, I'll take all the paid days off I can get.
Koria Kitten Riot is the solo project for Antti Reikko, the singer of Finnish rock group Johnny Superhero. Be sure to check out the video below for the song "At the End of the World" which was featured in the film Toinen jalka haudasta (One Foot from the Grave) in Finland.
Not just any other act from Scotland, indie pop band Cancel the Astronauts have a slightly different take in the lyrics from their album, I Am the President of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home). They prefer to call it "stalking and inappropriate lusting." Still good tuneage, nonetheless.
Finally released in the US on May 5th, the album, Expatriate, from Toronto indie band, The Coast is anything but a disappointment. It's good solid music from start to finish, then to be put on repeat. I love it.
For those of you as impatient as I am...
A lot has happened to the Hamilton, Ontario band, The Rest since they were featured here on EOI back in February. They shot a few vidoes for an upcoming Take Away Show for La Blogothèque. In April, they had the NPR Song of the Day for "Walk on Water (Auspicious Beginnings)". They've released their sophomore album, Everyone All At Once, which can be fully previewed on their MySpace page till May 24th. Be sure to check out "Coughing Blood/Fresh Mountain Air" and Phonetically, Phonetically" also. They're pure magic; there really aren't any bad or filler songs on this album. So, basically, yeah, I'd still very highly recommend adding this one to your collection.
Though not officially releasing till May 19th, a pre-release download of White Rabbits' It's Frightening is available from iTunes (US). The Britt Daniels production is definitely hard to overlook here. If you're hoping for a continuation where Fort Nightly left off, this isn't it. But don't let that turn you away.
Who doesn't love an entire album for free? Office are giving away their newest release, Mecca, for free here.
Last but certainly not least, I and I (briefly featured here) released White Noise/Black Music on Alchemist Records on Tuesday.
Brighton-based indie pop band Foxes! are get ready to release their single, "Who Killed Rob?" off their upcoming album, Boxes.
Unsigned punk rock band, SWAK (Sealed With a Kiss) from NYC formed last December and will be touring the US this summer. Here's hoping a label picks them up soon. Good stuff.
Hailing from Long Beach, California, post punk group, Repeater, released their debut album, Iron Flowers, in June 2008.
Led by Louisville, Kentucky native Christopher Browder, Mansions released the album, New Best Friends, in March.
From Toronto, Ontario comes Eric Reid as Laugh Out Loud is giving his Two Birds EP as a free download on MySpace, featuring a cover of The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love".
Prog rock group, Montana 1948, from San Francisco, California featuring Ryan Lafferty released their EP, Tiny Drawings in January.
It took more than a couple listens to Marry Me to grow on me, but the newest release from St. Vincent is amazing from beginning to end. Two different excellent bonus tracks are available from Amazon MP3 ("Bicycle") and iTunes ("Oh My God"). It would take a miracle to knock Actor off the list for one of the best this year. If you don't have this one by now, what are you waiting for?!
Just a taste of an upcoming release from Swedish band, The Mary Onettes, Dare EP is certainly promising.
The sun is out, but the warm weather I longing for still isn't here yet. Could always be worse, right?
I and I aka Adam Sarmiento will be releasing White Noise/Black Music on May 12th. With some help from Eric Sarmiento, briefly featured here, WN/BM is a dance album, with a new wave/electro pop feel.
Norwegian singer-songwriter Moddi, aka Pål Moddi Knutsen, describes his music as such:
Side project for José González, the Swedish band Junip released the EP Black Refuge in 2006 (yeah, I know, a whole 3 years ago) but still have yet to release a full-length. Surprising to me, because one listen says that they're good. Btw, thanks to Harry for the great suggestion. 
