Brooklyn’s The Rollo Treadway is a very interesting band named after Buster Keaton’s character in the 1924 movie "The Navigator". The band has released an amazing self-titled album, and I’m really impressed by their music and their concept every time I listen to them.  Musically, they sound like a 60s pop band with psychedelic influences and probably also some modern equipment… Think Beach Boys, The Zombies, Byrds. Think vocal harmonies, organs, horns, jangly guitars and incedible melodies. Think clever and inventive production. 

Another thing we rarely see these days are "concept albums". Several (if not all) of the songs on this album tell the story of two kidnapped children, and the lyrics tell the story from several different angles.  Dark…  and not all sunshiny and summery, as you’ll expect from a band with this sound.

It’s really hard to pick one song for you here, - I love them all - , but I’ll give you the opener "Kidnapped", which tells the story through the eyes of the kidnapped kids. Listen to more of their songs on the band’s myspace, and if you like it, you will find a link to where you can order the cd in one of their myspace blogs.

The Rollo Treadway - Kidnapped

The new single from My Sad Captains should have been released early in February, but it’s been delayed and the new release date is set to March 3rd on White Heat Records . Their debut single, "bad decisions", had two brilliant songs on it, and the new one seems to be just as good or maybe better. The band has made a video for both songs on this double a-sided single, and I enjoyed both a lot.

Here’s "All Hat And No Plans":

And here’s the second part of the double a-side: "Great Expectations". The video is shot in Iceland.

I tried to resist doing this, - I tried hard, but I just had to give in…
This is my own band, SEA, from ages ago…. now available for free on both myspace and last.fm…
The songs were made back in 1997, and we haven’t played together since, mostly because of distance, families, jobs and education. The usual stuff, I guess.
Our style is quite different than most of the stuff we write about here, - moody electronic pop, but I hope you like it! Comments are very welcome!

Sea on Myspace | Sea on Last.fm

They’ve been number one in the Alternative charts in Quatar. They have been crowned "God of the Pod" in Huw Stephens show on BBC Radio1, and they’ve played support for several big indie artists. In April, it’s time for the release of their self-titled debut album. Let’s meet The Jane Bradfords!

The Jane Bradfords started out as the bedroom project for a guy in Belfast called Deci, and even if he has included Ted, Johnny and Dave in the band, he still writes and records on his own. He’s even releasing the album on his own label, Simple Tapestry, but he’s totally clear when I ask him if this is his soloproject or a band:

"I write and record like a solo artist would - playing everything, but I love the idea that we are a band. When we’re onstage the music takes on new life and the other guys in the band are essential to the Jane Bradfords. They aren’t session musicians!!!! So Yeah, we are a band!"

Most of the songs are upbeat melancholic indie with very good melodies and a sound with roots in 80s indierock. The Jane Bradfords’ music has often been compared to bands like New Order, The National and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and I would like to add Echo and the Bunnymen, Levy and maybe also the Swedes in Mary Onettes. The album will be out on April 7, and after listening to it for some days now, I can tell you it is worth checking out. According to the band, the album can be bought from all of the big music download stores, and you can also order it from their myspace page.

Here’s a song from the album for you: (- thanks to the band for this one!)

The Jane Bradfords - Hide from the cold

I’ll start with what most reviewers like to end their articles with, the conclusion:
The new Headlights-album "Some Racing, Some Stopping" is more than great, - buy it at once!

Ok, now you know… 

I rarely like all the songs on an album, but I think I like every single song this band has ever released on their two albums and their eps. Their debut from 2005, "Kill Them With Kindness" represent one of those rare albums that is marked on my imaginary personal timeline of important musical moments. Their new one, "Some Racing, Some Stopping" does not at all disappoint. Wonderful songs, creative songwriting and two vocalists that fit the sound and eachother perfectly.  Both of them has a very warm sound in their  vocals, and  they represent the same thing, if you know what I mean.
I also think I have found my favourite Headlights song here, the incredible "Get Yer Head Around it". Perfect! 

My experience with reviewing music, is sadly that too much analyzing kills the joy of listening to the album, and I don’t want that to happen here. I think you understand that this is an album I really, really like…

Here’s the new video for their single "Cherry Tulips", and I also advice you to go to the blog Hard To Find A Friend for some nice acoustic backstage performances the band did recently.

Headlights "Some Racing, Some Stopping" is released on Polyvinyl Records, and should be available in most good music stores on the net, including iTunes.