The Sifting Pan

Helping you find those Indie Gems!

Tag Archives: Rock


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Song of the Day! Barton Fink – If You Know

If you know Barton Fink then you know they formed in Montreal, Canada

Electro-indie-funk-punk. Yes Barton Fink manages to encompass all these genres and more in their guitar and synth laced tunes. If You Know is an other worldly song with an off kilter beat and a warped array of instruments that do so much more then just grab your attention. Then add in that chorus line that sounds like someone forget to take their foot of the distortion pedal and you have a one of a kind memorable mix. While If You Know is featured on Barton Fink’s recent EP titled simply EP, one can only assume that the band is ready to drop another album since their debut Gear was released back in 2009. It would be really exciting if the band did announce plans for a new album since they are one of the most creative sounds I have heard in quite sometime. For now I’m going to back track and dwelve into the funk rock sounds of Gear and get my Barton Fink on!

Like what you hear? Let the band know it! Go to Barton Fink’s Facebook page and give them a like.


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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.


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Song of the Day! Ida Maria – Bad Karma


Ida Maria brings all kinds of Bad Karma from Nesna, Norway

I honestly think that nothing but good can come from Ida Maria’s Bad Karma. This foot stomping rock’n’roll track echos the likeness of female pioneer rocker Joan Jett. I’m really digging the classic sound and wouldn’t expecting anything less from the rebellious queen of new Norwegian rock. Bad Karma is a single from her upcoming second album Katla, which already saw a release in Norway last fall but isn’t set for an international release until June 7. Her debut album Fortress Round My Heart was a brilliant way to come on to the scene and has set the bar pretty high for a sophomore release. From what I’ve heard so far I don’t think we’ll be disappointed.

Fun Fact: The song Bad Karma is also featured in the soundtrack of Scream 4.


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Song of the Day! Middle Class Rut – I Guess You Could Say

Middle Class Rut lead the Alt Rock Revival front from Sacramento, CA

If you have not been exposed to the alternative rock of Middle Class Rut yet then you’re in for a real treat. This unpredictable rock duo, comprised of Zack Lopez and Sean Stockham, capture so much more then your average band seems to in their anthemic rock songs. I Guess You Could Say is a prime example of the band’s ability to trek so much ground within one song. I’m just saying that the musical variety they employ is pretty damn awesome, especially with such piercing and memorable lyrics to top it off. Believe me when I say this sort of thing is a reoccurring theme on their album No Name No Color. I highly recommend listening to New Low* or Cornbread if you want to get a further idea of what the bands sound is like. Middle Class Rut is nice enough to offer No Name No Color in it’s whole glorious entirety streaming on Soundcloud.

*I highly recommend you atleast watch the video to this song. New Low, in my personal opinion, is one of the best tracks to come out of 2010.


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Song of the Day! Kasabian – Where Did All The Love Go?


Kasabian bring us music from the UK

Youtube: Kasabian – Where Did All The Love Go? 

I never really could understand how such an amazing band like Kasabian can go so unnoticed in the States. In 2009 these guys released the brilliant concept album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. The album received massive amounts of praise in Britain but is still relatively unknown in America. It actually defies all logic that such a large number of people are unexposed to a band like Kasabian. They do such a good job infusing rock and various electro styles that you’d think Americans would eat it right up. A raw and unprocessed sound, combined with sharp precise lyrics, helped to make West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum one of my absolute favorites of 2009. I really can’t tell you enough times that you should go check out this incredible british musical group.