The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: 2011


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Song of the Day! Los Campesinos! – By Your Hand

Los Campesinos! - By Your Hand

Los Campesinos! give us the first taste of their 4th LP Hello Sadness from Cardiff, Wales


There are few bands out their that interlock themselves into my life emotionally, and Los Campesinos! just happens to be one them. For nearly four years now I have been infatuated with the band’s the amazingly heartfelt indie pop. So when it came down to it, I easily forked over the 12 Euros so I could pre-order the upcoming album Hello Sadness, which won’t see a release until November 14th. I’m so excited to hear how the band has evolved from 2007 to the year 2011. Every album has built upon the last in terms of style and passion, and believe me when I say the band’s debut album was chalk full of style and passion. Twas as twee as a band could be.

If By Your Hand is any indication of where the new album is venturing then I am so on board. It’s classic Los Campesinos! in that I can’t help but feel like they are trying to capture such a vast amount of emotion in such a small little track. Throw in a catchy chorus that makes your heart warm and fuzzy and we have a winner. I actually have a funny feeling that By You Hand isn’t even going to be a track the album is known for. I just know that somewhere in Hello Sadness lies a track that I could lyrically sync with my life and that when I hear it I will feel as though a little bit more of me is complete. Am I psychic? No. But able to predetermine Los Campesinos! new album being a success? Yes.

Check out the fun little video Los Campesinos! made to go along with the new track By Your Hand.

Also don’t forget to check out Los Campesinos! on Facebook and give them a like!


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Song of the Day! Hard-Fi – Stop

Hard-Fi - Stop

Hard-Fi know how to Stop a room full of people with their exciting Alternative British Rock.

Stop. Well, that’s at least what I did when this little gem of a track decided to make itself know me. I really can’t decide what the best part about this song is. It’s a toss up between the electric harmonica, fast and slick lyrics, or catchy as hell chorus. I guess i’m going to have to choose option D. All of the Above. I’m seriously digging this tune right now, in fact I’m digging all the tunes on Hard-Fi’s recently released album Killer Sounds. I dug into the album head first after hearing Stop and boy do I regret nothing. This is music! I’m very pleased to be hearing such a solid sound coming out of the UK right now. This is some great good ol’ indie rock but what Hard-Fi has gone and done is infuse these amazing electro instruments and styles into their music as well. The result being some incredibly fresh music at a time when old tricks are being reused in the indie genre.

It’s good to note that Hard-Fi are not at all a new band on the scene. Having formed in 2003 the band has already put out three studio albums, two of which peaked at #1 on the UK music charts. It wasn’t until some random point when I was listening to Killer Sounds that I realized this is the same Hard-Fi that released the awesome song Cash Machine in 2005. You remember how great that track was back in the day? I sure do. It makes coming full circle and rediscovering this amazing band again 6 years later all the better. Believe me when I say you’ll be seeing more Hard-Fi on The Sifting Pan soon.

Here’s the link to Hard-Fi’s Facebook page. Go give them that thumbs up likey thingy bands enjoy getting so much.


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Song of the Day! Kasabian – Pistols At Dawn

Kasabian - Pistols At Dawn

Kasabian are just about ready to drop their 4th album, Velociraptor! from the UK

The UK alternative rock titans Kasabian are just weeks away from the September 19th release date of their 4th studio album, Velociraptor! and what does the band go and do? They decide now’s a good to time to drop some B-sides that won’t be present on the upcoming album. So yes, the song Pistols At Dawn won’t be present on their new album but that does not change the fact that this song rocks! If Kasabian produced this quality of song and then said, “Meh this isn’t up to par with our new album’s standards.” What could the world possibly be in store for with Velociraptor!? I mean Kasabian is one of the hugest band’s in the world right? (outside the United States at least) So they know whatever they do has got to be better then great. If you want to hear the first taste of Velociraptor! then I suggest you check out the song Switchblade Smiles.

Piecing together Pistols At Dawn and Switchblade Smiles I can take a good assumption that Kasabian are going back to the electro rock roots of their first two albums, but at the same time keeping the amazing sound they had mastered on West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. What I truly want to see happen is Kasabian gain a huge fan base in the states so that they’d be more inclined to come tour here. This might help a bit but I find it ironic for a band that sees little attention in American music and media to be playing a special September 11th Memorial Concert in NYC. It’s kinda like Elton John putting on a show in memory of Pearl Harbor.

Head over to Kasabian’s Facebook page for more news about their upcoming album and tour dates. Also don’t forget to give them a Like!


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Song of the Day! Bombay Bicycle Club – Lights Out, Words Gone

Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind of Fix

Bombay Bicycle Club have released their spectacular 3rd album, A Different Kind of Fix.

I love Bombay Bicycle Cub. Period. In fact why summarize anything when I could leave you with just this simple statement and song. But I guess it couldn’t hurt to go into detail about how spot on A Different Kind of Fix is. It over joys me to see the band return to the electric rhythms of their debut album I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the band’s acoustic 2nd album Flaws, but when I listen to Bombay Bicycle Club I like it loud, fast, and plugged in. I should note that elements of Flaws are present on A Different Kind of Fix but do so infused with the band’s electric stylings (See Beggars).

Then we reach the songs that shine above the others. Like, if youhave not heard the lead single Shuffle from the new album you need to go check it out right now. However, if you’re here then I assume you are already familiar with Shuffle and want more BBC. That’s where the ridiculously laid-back and catchy track Lights Out, Words Gone comes in. I mean if you had clicked play on the track right way then by the time you’ve read down to here you should have had the self realization this track is something else. Soft yet bold. Swift but gentle. This song defies music generalizations. This one has seen the repeat button many times in the last week.

Lights Out, Words Gone is just the tip of the ice burg that is A Different Kind of Fix. They only way you’ll be able to know for yourself is by finding a copy of your own. Good luck to those wanting to get their hands on one soon outside the UK since they have only released it within the UK. I have my deluxe edition of A Different Kind of Fix ordered and on its way from the UK right now. I can not wait to hold in my hands a physical CD of my favorite album so far in 2011.

Also it’s definitely worth mentioning that Bombay Bicycle Club are holding a contest to see who can make the best music video for Lights Out, Words Gone. I would love to take this on but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to do this song justice. Contest: http://genero.tv/BombayBicycleClub/.


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Song of the Day! The Kooks – Junk of the Heart (Happy)

The Kooks - Junk of the Heart (Happy)

The Kooks give us Junk of the Heart from their home town of Brighton, England

You’ve got to like it when a band you know and love releases new material that is rather familiar sounding, but at the same time very evolved and headed in a different direction. So far, from what I’ve heard on the new album titled Junk of the Heart, I would say The Kooks are really trying to mix things up and try new things this time around. I can not be too set on anything though because I haven’t heard the album in its entirety yet. This mainly being due to Junk of the Heart having a release date of September 12th. I’m sure The Kooks will have plenty of tracks that appease its fans all across the board. I do, however, think it’s safe to say fans have taken well to the title track and first single released, Junk of the Heart (Happy). That signature catchy chorus indie pop is present along with the band’s known talent of having complete dominance over indie rock as a genre. I’m sure Junk of the Heart will have plenty of spotlight when it comes out next month but I just thought I’d share a nice song from a band I have enjoyed numerous times over the years and watched as they’ve gained popularity.

I’m sure they really don’t need the Likes, but its the thought that counts. Head on over to The Kook’s Facebook Page and express your thoughts.