The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Best of 2011


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Song of the Day! Metronomy – Corinne

Metronomy - Corinne

England based Metronomy are responsible for this year's stunning album The English Rivera


[Note: This is NOT the real version of Corrine. This a bizarre reversed remix that is a stand-in because the real Corrine is copyright protected and was removed from Soundcloud.]

Ok, so when I last posted about Metoronomy, back in April, I had only just discovered the indie/electronic band through the track the laid back single The Look. After I couldn’t get enough of that track I had to get my hands on a copy of the band’s 2011 album The English Rivera for myself. There is no exaggeration in my words when I say picking up this album was musically one of the smartest things I did this year. The English Rivera is like journey of love and lust lead by a cascade of electronic beats and the smoothest bass playing you’re likely to hear out of an indie album this year. Then there’s the intelligent and beautiful lyrics, the intricate electro loops, and the always dominating soft percussion that just adds this perfect level to each track. I could keep going on and on about why The English Rivera is on of the best albums of 2011, but there is no way to truly convey into words the powerful and some what primordial energy put of from this wonderful third studio album. Listening through track by track never leads to disappointment. Do you know how hard it was to pick Corinne as my stand out track? Well, actually it wasn’t that hard because Corinne is an amazing song after all. I can’t help but to sway slightly back and forth faster and faster every time I full get into this song. Yeah, I’d say the majority of Metronomoy’s songs have the power of possession, which is a scary thought, but sometimes you just have to surrender and give yourself up to the music. If you too want to chill out and lose some inhibitions then I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of The English Rivera.

Please head on over to Metronomy’s Facebook Page and give them a Like! There is tons of great info about  The English Rivera on the page as well.


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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! Young The Giant – Cough Syrup

Young the Giant bring us their special brand of American indie rock from Irvine, California

Young the Giant have absolutely mesmerized me with their 2010/2011 self titled debut album Young the Giant. I can’t help but listen through the album over and over again thinking to myself, “This is what true and creative indie rock sounds like.” It’s hard to find a track on the album that isn’t both majestic and enthralling. At the same time it’s difficult to pick just one track off this spectacular debut to highlight and praise. I’m sure the world is already very familiar with Young the Giants first single My Body, as it has seen endless radio play over the past few months. I could’ve shared my favorite track off the album with you, I Got, but i’m selfish and am keeping it all to myself. So I guess that leaves the steady and soothing track Cough Syrup. With it’s mellow string of chords and wonderfully catchy vocalization, it’s just one of the many songs responsible for my returning again and again to the album. I keep telling myself just one more spoonful of Cough Syrup now, but it can never be just one. It’s probably not healthy to chug a whole bottle of the stuff, but I can’t help myself when it says Young the Giant on the label. Now i’m going to drift off now into a trance like state with a belly full of beautiful indie music courtesy of the best new band of 2011. You can listen to Young the Giant in all it’s entirety on Soundcloud here.

Here’s the music video for Cough Syrup which was released last week.

Head over to Young the Giant’s Facebook page and give them a like. You know they deserve it.


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Song of the Day! Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle

Bombay Bicycle Club shuffle things up from Crouch End, London, England

If someone were to ask me who is my favorite band above all others I would simply reply Bombay Bicycle Club. This little indie rock band from London has stolen my heart since the release of their single How Are You back in 2007. Finaly 2009 saw the release of their debut album I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose which held a place above all other music released that year and to this day has to be the greatest album to ever grace my ears. With perfect singles like Dust On the Ground and Always Like This it was an album impossible not to fall in love with.

So as you can probably already tell I got pretty damn excited when I heard the news that they would be releasing a new album August 29th called A Different Kind Of Fix. The first taste of the their third studio album is their newest single Shuffle. I could not of asked for anything greater from Bombay Bicycle Club because Shuffle is everything one could ask for in a BBC song. Intriguing piano to lure you in and then a swift beat with take off of melodic guitars all topped off with beautiful vocals that just beg you to sing along. Ok, so maybe I’m digging a little deep into the song but it’s really hard not to when your favorite band releases such amazing new material. I haven’t heard such an wonderful single from Bombay Bicycle Club since the release of the song How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep, which was written for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse Official Soundtrack. Yeah I know *bleh* Twilight but the song stands miles away on it’s own from the rest the indie BS on the soundtrack and is a work of musical genius in my highly biased opinion.

A Different Kind Of Fix now tops my list of most anticipated albums yet to be released in 2011 and Shuffle might soon take the spot of most played song in my Itunes due to being played over and over again as I eagerly await their fall release. My only wish is that Bombay Bicycle Club breakthrough in the United States because I’m tired of being the only person I know who is aware of this magical band. Then again if they remain popular solely in the UK I can live with them being Britain’s best kept indie rock secret, and mine.