The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: American


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Song of the Day! Capital Cities – Safe and Sound

Capital Cities help us feel safe and sound from LA, California

Houston, we have lift off. This electro pop foot tapper is ready to take you on a trip high into the atmosphere with its swift banger beats and steady stream of flowing synth. Hands down the best part about Safe and Sound would have to be that sexy sexy trumpet. That horn always comes in at the right moment and does wonders to keep this song fresh and a break from the run-of-the-mill indie electro tracks we encounter in today’s music. Capital Cities aren’t your average musical duo either, so don’t past these guys off as just another unknown because they’re building up quite the following, and rather quickly too. They just dropped their debut EP last week self-titled Capital Cities EP and let’s just say Safe and Sound isn’t the only song that will put some swagger in your step. The guys are nice enough to have the whole EP streaming on Soundcloud so go check it out.

Show Capital Cities some love and head over to their Facebook and give em’ a like!


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Song of the Day! GIVERS – Up Up Up

GIVERS give us Up Up Up from Lafayette, Louisiana.

I kid you not when I say this Louisiana indie five-piece is poppin’ and poppin’ off now. Catch these kids while they are hot and fresh because they are going places fast. GIVERS unique blend of indie pop and freak folk fit perfectly into the trendy music scene that has been raging across the states as of late. Up Up Up is whimsical yet sophisticated at the same time with it’s wonderful array of percussion layered in with a multitude of vocal tracks and semi-disco beats. Honestly there is just too much going on here to be described in words and that rolls over just fine in my book. GIVERS just dropped their debut album In Light earlier this month and trust me when I say these guys (and gal) are not just a one hit wonder. In Light is teeming with life and blissful indie hits and is defiantly worth checking out. Now I’m going to sit back with a smile on my face as GIVERS deservingly blow up and get the exposure and attention that is rightfully theirs.

Don’t be shy! Hit up their Facebook and let them know just how awesome they are.

 


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Song of the Day! Portugal. The Man – Got It All (This Can’t Be Living)

Portugal. The Man have really Got It All in Portland, Oregon

Portugal. The Man are one of the most creative and talented indie rock bands in the western hemisphere. Their experimental art rock is only seconded by the band’s elaborate and mind-bending album artwork that would be impossible to describe in words. Having put out five albums since 2006, that’s at least one a year, and countless EPs these guys are one of the hardest working bands you’ll come across in the indie music scene. Portugal. The Man never cease to deliver and with 2011 we find ourselves on the brink of their sixth album In the Mountain, In the Cloud which is slated for a July 19th release. The first single from the sixth LP Got It All (This Can’t Be Living) captures Portugal. The Man’s sound brilliantly and really helps to build excitement for the new album. I have no doubt in my mind that In the Mountain, In the Cloud will live up to its high expectations because the past has always shown that Portugal. The Moon can pull it off. Take for example the band’s release of their fifth album The American Ghetto last year. The album was hyped to no end and when it finally went public the band pulled off one the best albums of 2010.

Oh, and their was absolutely no way I could do blog posting on Portugal. The Man without including one of my favorite tracks of 2010, the groovy as hell and laid back track The Dead Dog.

Portugal. The Man – The Dead Dog


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Song of the Day! Hellogoodbye – When We First Met

Hellogoodbye first met in Huntington Beach, CA

Who ever said good indie music had to be new needs to loosen up and shut it. Example? When We First Met of course! The song was released late 2009 on an EP of the same name and then later released on Hellogoodbye’s second LP Would It Kill You?. When We First Met is sheer indie power pop bliss and can easily stand its ground as a track of artistic and instrumental beauty. You may be asking yourself what makes this track so special and why care about it now? The answer to the first question lies within the song itself and a good listen (or three) might help you understand. Now the answer to the second question is that music like this is never dated and I could share this track in 2012 and it should have the same effect as it did the very day it came out in 2009. Good music has no expiration date and it’s sad to see so many great songs and artist get swallowed by the vast and never ending streamline known as time. Someone’s got to remember the good ones, the great finds, the indie gems.


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Song of the Day! Company of Thieves – Queen of Hearts

Company of Thieves pull out a queen of hearts from Chicago

You better believe the high level of excitement I felt when I discovered that Company of Thieves released a new album last month. I really did love their 2009 release of Ordinary Riches, but primarily for the tunes Oscar Wilde, Pressure, and my personal favorite The Tornado Song. Well, here we are two years after the band’s initial success and they release their sophomore LP Running from a Gamble to world that one can only hope is ready for band with this much passion. Yes, passion. The stuff that is oozing out of Company of Thieves and their lead singer Genevieve Schatz’s mouth. She can command a room so easily with the wide and powerful range of her voice. It layers so damn well on the band’s steady stream of true rock influenced guitars, as is evident by one of their newest songs Queen of Hearts. You can also hear the constant piano on track that is present very much throughout their debut and also latest album. Occasionally the band ditches the guitars completely for the piano, but only for their most somber of tracks. Guitar, piano, and all passion aside- Company of Thieves have a lot more going for them then most alternative rock bands in todays over saturated music market and they deserve some major support for a sound as big as they possess.