The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Alternative


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Top 10 Albums of 2011! #5 Blood Pressures

Blood Pressures are sure to rise when listening to The Kills' moody brand of rock.

Gush, gush, gush- that’s me whenever I listen to Blood Pressures. The Kills are just that amazing at conveying heartfelt relatable emotions through their music. Edgy, sexy, strict, simple, dirty, sensual, fun, etc. I could really go all day with adjectives that describe the massive and encompassing sound The Kills bring us this time around with their fourth album. There is one word that I can easily omit from my description of Blood Pressures and that is disappointment. Getting my first taste of Satellite at the beginning of the year got me so hype for this album, along with the bar being set so damn from their previous album Midnight Boom. Not only did they met the high standards they set for themselves, but I’m pretty sure they soared past them. In 2011, Blood Pressures was my go to album for a healthy form a musical release from the world’s many stresses, because this album was a sure fire guarantee of making me feel fucking great. So have a listen and feel… well fucking great!

“Baby Says” – The Kills

“Heart Is A Beating Drum” – The Kills

The Kills - Blood Pressures (click image to buy album)

  1. “Future Starts Slow“* 4:05
  2. “Satellite”* 4:14
  3. “Heart Is a Beating Drum”* 4:20
  4. “Nail in My Coffin”* 3:32
  5. “Wild Charms” 1:14
  6. “DNA”* 4:32
  7. “Baby Says”* 4:28
  8. “The Last Goodbye” 3:41
  9. “Damned If She Do”* 3:52
  10. “You Don’t Own the Road”* 3:22
  11. “Pots and Pans”* 4:35
*Notable Tracks

Open and listen to The Kills’s Blood Pressures in Spotify


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Song of the Day! Films of Colour – Capital

Films of Colour - Capital

London based Films of Colour will surely make some Capital off a tune as good as this.

Wow. I am absolutely blown away by this track. The song Capital is like falling down an indie rock Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole with its intense and overwhelming mixture of synth and guitar. Just has you feel like this track is throwing you about carelessly the amazing vocals of lead singer Andy Clutterbuck come in to level everything out. I’ll say it again, Wow. Just simply amazing delivery of the lyrics, almost sounds like Chris Martin from Coldplay. I don’t know why but I feel so much more connected with this song with each successive listen. I really wish Films of Colour had an album I could pick up, but so far the just have A and B side singles. That just means this is a band to watch and very closely at that. After looking into Films of Colour I can assume that the band is in due process of recording a real LP or EP. To say the least I’m pretty stoked to hear more. You can hear 6 great tracks, including an amazing acoustic version of Capital, on Soundcloud right here.

These guys are up and coming and need your Likes! Head on over to Films of Colour’s Facebook Page to show your support.


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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! 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.