Tigers That Talked "Black Heart, Blue Eyes"

Myspace // "Black Heart, Blue Eyes" [Audio]

Last month, Leeds outfit Tigers That Talked dropped their latest EP Black Heart, Blue Eyes (on Bad Sneakers Recods), which is perfect next step for a band. Their melodramatic folk pop isn't any better than on the title track, showing a band that is rising far beyond their influences.

They That Cried Wolf

Myspace // "These Kids" [Audio]

When a fellow blogger excitedly contacts you about a band that they want you to listen to, you HAVE to check it out. Bloggers are a jaded lot, bombarded with music by every great and awful band out there, so when David at Separated By Motorways reached out to me about They That Cried Wolf, it immediately made its way to the top of my list.

The band hails from Yeovil, South West England, a four piece made up of long time friends. While they claim their influences as Tellison, Kings of Leon, and Wolf Parade, the music is much more interesting than that.

"These Kids" is a 'perfect summer song' and it's on their debut EP Hunters in the Snow, which is out now.



"These Kids"

LoveLikeFire "Boredom"

Myspace // "Signs" [Audio]

LoveLikeFire's latest video, a clip directed by Jacob Perlmutter, was premiered today on Myspace. The single is out 24 August through Heist or Hit Records, while the band's full length debut hits shelves 14 September (and select indie retailers on 17 August) in the UK.

Animal Kingdom

Myspace // "Tin Man" (demo) [Audio]

Animal Kingdom's great weakness is also their greatest strength - they are terribly derivative, but the thing is, they do it so well. Their songs are almost the same quality as other well known indie acts like (early) Radiohead, Snow Patrol, and Coldplay. With just a couple of singles out for public consumption, the band already has a reputation for writing catchy and beautifully sweeping songs. The indie kids are going to hate this, and frankly, I'm not quite sure why I am so into them, but you can't deny a great song.


"Tin Man"

The Answering Machine in Manchester

[Photo Credit: Emily Dennison]

Myspace // "Oklahoma" (Dutch Uncles remix) [Audio] // "Obviously Cold" [Video]

This Friday in Manchester (UK), favorite sons (and daughter) the Answering Machine will be playing a gig at Man City Stadium with Doves, Twisted Wheel, and the positively terrible Kid British. Although the band has only dipped their toes into the US, they've been blowing up in their home country, fresh off of a support tour with Manic Street Preachers.

The band's debut album is out now on Heist or Hit Records.

First person to e-mail me the name of their favorite Answering Machine tune gets a pair of tickets to this gig.

Babe Shadow

Myspace // "Heart" [Audio]

When a band provides no information about who they are, what they do, and how their sound came about, then what am I supposed to write? Where do I fill in the blanks for the reader?

London's Babe Shadow is this sort of beast, a band that leaves just the tunes and nothing more. While the music may not fit the hustle and bustle of the city, they are not necessarily out of place either, especially with the advent of such new folk stars like Johnny Flynn, Mumford and Sons, and Noah & the Whale. While this may be a lazy comparison to make, it's a fine place to start, although the band will likely show us that they don't quite fit in anywhere.

Minnaars "Busy Hands"

Myspace // Minnaars EP [Download]

Happy Monday.

This track can be found on the EP, which is linked above. It's has been happily shared by the band via their Myspace page.

The Noisettes "Never Forget You"

Myspace

This song is ridiculous in the best way possible, sounding like the Ronettes if they had a heavy diet of indie rock -- it's the second single off of their new album. Being a fan of this band for a number of years, it's refreshing to hear them get better with each subsequent album. While their latest album, Wild Young Hearts, is already out in the UK, it gets a US release on 22 September. The band has a short US tour this summer, all on major markets. Dates below.

7/22 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland - Club NME
7/27 Portland, OR Berbati's Pan
7/28 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
8/1 Brooklyn, NY Bell House
8/3 New York, NY Santo's Party House
8/7 Chicago, IL Back porch at HOB (Lollapalooza After party)
8/10 Boston, MA Great Scott
8/11 Philadelphia, PA M Room
8/12 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel

Midi & the Modern Dance

Myspace // "Clear Black Snow" [Audio]

Like fellow Connecticut indie rockers The Seascape, Midi & the Modern Dance are just barely out of high school, but that doesn't mean that their music is lacking in experience. Much to the contrary, this many-pieced band fires on all cylinders with an intensity of a band with something to prove. Their eponymous debut EP (available for free download on their Myspace page) showed them setting the table, but their recently released full-length, Twilight, How Sweet You Are, shows that they can exist with their much-hyped teenage counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic. Bombay Bicylce Club and Pull in Emergency may be easy touchstones, but it's apparent that the band is onto their own very special thing.

Hannah Shark "The Buffalo Lullaby"

Myspace // "This Will Kill Us" [Audio]

Despite double duty with a band (Arthur) and a solo project, Fleet-based Hannah Shark continues to fly under the radar with brilliant acoustic pop gems, four of which can be found on the self-released EP she is selling on her Myspace page. The new tunes continue to reach the web from both of her projects, including this track which is rounded out with a homemade video, obviously influenced by the terrible Vincent Gallo film Buffalo 66.

Hannah plays the acoustic stage at Guilfest '09 on Friday in Guilford, England.