Last Tuesday (April 9th), Dawes’ third album Stories Don’t End  was released in the U.S. I had anxiously been waiting for the new album for a little over a month now. The new single “From a Window Seat” grew on me, and all the excerpts from the album’s other songs had me even more excited.

I’ve listened to Stories Don’t End almost exclusively and non-stop for the past five days, and it has reaffirmed to me Dawes is one of the best kept secrets in rock today.

Stories Don’t End is definitely a “Dawes-sounding” album. It has the personal, story-like lyrics, but, unlike Nothing is Wrong, Stories‘ music paints a more optimistic and upbeat backdrop to the usually  sad lyrics.

Tis album couldn’t have a better opening track. The driving drums and the chorus “Just beneath the surface there’s another one of me/At the root of all my trouble, in the twitch before I speak/With thoughts and revelations even I could not accept/So just beneath the surface is where he will stay kept,” turn this song into the most personal and emotional song on the album, and it’s easily one of the best on the album.

The middle of the album jumps into a the most upbeat and fun music Dawes has ever made. “Most People” and “Hey Lover,” a song written for the band by their friend Blake Mills, both sound like the fun, dancing songs Dawes have always wanted to record.

After “Hey Lover,” the album begins to slow down and lose some of the spark it has gained, but “From the Right Angle” is a gem and saves the last third of the album.

Stories Don’t End may have a weak ending, but it’s still a great album and one of the best albums I’ve heard in 2013.

Rating: 4/5

Buy from Amazon or get the vinyl from your local record sore

Track List (favorites in bold) 

1.) Just Beneath the Surface

2.) From a Window Seat

3.) Just My Luck

4.) Someone Will

5.) Most People

6.) Something in Common

7.) Hey Lover

8.) Bear Witness

9.) Stories Don’t End

10.) From the Right Angle

11.) Side Effects

12.) Just Beneath the Surface (reprise)

My gift is my song and … this one’s for you.

~Elton John, “Your Song”

What a gift musicians give us.

As I sat in a cozy Deep Ellum living-room-turned-secret-concert-venue yesterday, taking in the sights and sublime sounds of my first ever SoFar Sounds show, that simple thought kept ebbing into and flowing out of my mind.

What a gift musicians give us indeed, especially those of us who are not musicians but wish we were.

I wish I could be the patriarch of a music family – like Seth from Home by Hovercraft or Dennis from Yells at Eels. I wish I could lead friends in playing songs I’d written – like Michael from My Wooden Leg or Jacob Metcalf. I wish. I really do.

But I can watch musicians produce their sonic gifts with not one iota of jealousy. Just awe.

As I tweeted yesterday, sometime during the midst of what was one of the most splendid musical experiences I’ve ever had: I am absolutely blown away by what I am experiencing right now.

Indeed I was. And I’d like to share with you my impressions of each of the wonderful musical acts that performed yesterday.

Home by Hovercraft

Home by Hovercraft kicked off yesterday’s show, a few minutes after 4:00 pm.

The band is fronted by the husband and wife team of Seth and Shawn Magill, whose young son and daughter were in attendance. At one point, their daughter even came up and sang backup for a song. My girlfriend turned to me and said, “How fun would it be to be in their family?” Umm…a lot.

My first impression of Home by Hovercraft was Seth’s voice. It’s remarkable. It belongs on a stage, which is why we were so lucky to be able to experience it in a living room. (And apparently it does get time on stage, as the Magills wrote a musical about Marie Antoinette that played last year and will be playing again here in Dallas soon.)

It’s not just the voice itself though that struck me. It’s the way Seth sang, with his entire body coordinating to produce the note emanating from his mouth. These were not distracting convulsions, but rather subtle, flowing contractions of muscle, with eyes mostly closed, as if Seth himself were an instrument being played by a giant, invisible fifth band member.

Home by Hovercraft

At one point, Seth sang, “I’m out of my head with that.” It’s a repeating lyric in one of the songs Home by Hovercraft performed. I nodded, watching Seth perform out of his head, in his own world of music.

Of course, one cannot take in a Home by Hovercraft show without mentioning Abbey Magill, Seth’s sister, who provided the “drums” with the heels of her feet. I’d never seen anything it.

My Wooden Leg

Before Home by Hovercraft departed, they were joined by the next band, My Wooden Leg, for a couple of songs. Once it was time for Michael and Steward to have center stage all to themselves, I was immediately struck by Michael’s disposition.

The leader of the duo, Michael – dressed in snug jeans, a teal v-neck, black vest, and with his black hair gelled tightly right to left – was meticulous in ensuring that his guitar sounded just so and that his setup was just right. There was a burning intensity for the integrity of his music that was clear to see.

My Wooden Leg

See that tattoo on Michael’s right arm? It says “Asculta.” It means listen in Romanian. As Michael told me after the show, the night’s audience certainly did.

How could we not?

The first two songs My Wooden Leg performed featured Michael singing in Romanian. He ended with a couple singing in English. Regardless of language, I got the impression that Michael was trying to inflict as much pain on his larynx as possible with each note that he sang. There was an abruptness to his vocal style, as if trying to cut off the end of the previous word to quickly get to the next.

But it was wonderful to listen to. Michael’s singing perfectly complemented his spectacular guitar play – the man is clearly a genius with the instrument – which was itself complemented itself by Steward’s understated, team-first trumpet work.

Steward’s respect for Michael, and his excitement at playing with him, is palpable. You can see it as they create music together.

Listen to their music and track shows at their ReverbNation page, and you can also like them on Facebook here.

Jacob Metcalf

After a short intermission, it was time for Jacob Metcalf and several members of The Dallas Family Band.

The one word I kept coming back to while watching them play, describing Jacob in particular, was earnest. There was just an genuineness about Jacob, a wholehearted absorption in his craft, in the moment, and in how he played his music and led his band, that I found so pleasant to watch.

I got the feeling watching Jacob that there was no place on earth he’d rather be at that very moment than playing that very song. I love that feeling when watching someone perform. And that’s why I loved watching this quartet play last night. They loved being up there together.

Jacob Metcalf and Friends

They ended their set with a song from an upcoming album, Fjord. I loved it.

The chorus includes lyrics like “A pocket full of hesitation … I’ll never know what could have been,” and “A spoonful of your love could cure my hopeless state.” And it ends with the plaintive lament, “Well we never went to ride the Ferris wheel.”

As soon as it was over, my only thought was: I need to hear that song again.

And luckily I can, and so can you. The demo version, as well as some other songs, is available here at Jacob’s MySpace page. Like him on Facebook as well. And also keep up with The Fox and the Bird.

Yells at Eels

The night began with the Magill family and it ended with another music family, the Gonzalezes, who form the instrumental outfit known as Yells at Eels. The band is led by Dennis, a master of percussion, with Stefan on the drums and Aaron on bass.

The trio is quite the sight to see, with Dennis and his suit jacket juxtaposed by Stefan, who appeared to be just stopping by on his way to a heavy metal show.

Yells at Eels

But while the attire might clash, the music certainly doesn’t. And even without vocals, Yells at Eels kept everyone listening on the edge of our seats for the entire set.

Interestingly, Jose passed around rosemary bunches before the set began. I didn’t catch if the significance of the rosemary was explained, but I didn’t really care. I love the smell, and whatever the reason for doing so…it fit.

Of the four acts we saw, Yells at Eels – track them on their blog here – is the one I have the toughest time describing. Not because I enjoyed it any less than the others, but simply because it was such a unique visual and auditory experience for me. I know that Jose was doing things from a percussion standpoint and that the synchronization between the three was on a level that my simple musical mind could not fully appreciate.

But I did appreciate it, in my own way, immensely. As I did each of the four performances I was so fortunate to see yesterday.

***

As I mentioned, this was my first ever SoFar Sounds experience. I didn’t get an invite for the first show I registered for many months ago, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to attend since. It was so much more entertaining and rewarding than I’d anticipated.

Before the show, Joanna, the coordinator of SoFar Sounds in Dallas, explained that the purpose of SoFar is simply to bring together a community of people who share a love of music. Mission accomplished. The crowd was so much more diverse in age, attire, and appearance than I’d anticipated. But we were all mesmerized, in our own way, for 2+ hours by the four acts who played yesterday.

What a gift they gave to us on this January afternoon.

I already can’t wait for my next SoFar show.

*****

I’ve found that band.

Meet PAPA. A band from California that has become my most recent musical obsession. 

 I saw these guys open for one of my favorite band, Two Gallants, last month in Bloomington, IN, and I absolutely loved them. These guys are a lot of fun to watch play. Their onstage personalities fit very well with their music, which focuses on catchy guitar and bass lines and a driving, steady drum part.

They’re also really nice guys. After their performance, they stuck around in the crowd and watched Two Gallant’s perform and had a few drinks with some other audience members.

They currently only have a five-song EP released, but, for an EP, it’s almost a flawless piece of music. Ain’t it So and The Lion Kng are songs you will not be able to get out of your head, and how can you hate a song titled Let’s Make You Pregnant??

The EP is only $5 and can be found on iTunes or Amazon. They also sell the EP on vinyl. (Buy the vinyl because vinyl is awesome)

Check out a live performance of I am the Lion King here. Enjoy the music!

Pre-orders are availble through iTunes and Amazon. If you pre-order it off of iTunes you get the single Knock Knock instantly and am exclusive track entitled Ego Nightmare.

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to wait and get the physical cd or vinyl.

Band of Horses will be touring with fellow indie band My Morning Jacket across the US before the new album release date. I am assuming new tour dates will be made for the new album, and if you get a chance to see them, I’d do it. I’ve seen Band of Horses live twice now and have loved it every time.  They’re nice, uplifting guys and that makes for a very fun and entertaining show.

*link to music video for Knock Knock.

It’s a magnification song. I’ve had it on repeat for the last 30 minutes, so I thought I’d share it with you all.

Hull has also released some Midwest and East Coast dates. Enjoy!

07/11 Chicago, IL – Subterranean
07/12 Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room
07/13 Akron, OH – Musica
07/15 Pittsburgh, PA – Shadow Lounge
07/17 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s
07/18 Hamden, CT – The Space
07/19 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
07/20 Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar
07/21 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
07/22 Brookyn, NY – Knitting Factory

This is the band’s first record on ATO records, and their first full album release in five years. The band has been touring the US and Europe for most of the year, playing a mixture of new and old songs. I went to their January 15th show in Chicago at the very cozy Lincoln Hall, and it was awesome.

But I, like many, were anxiously waiting for news of their new album. Today, our questions were answered, and I couldn’t  be anymore excited. On their site, you can download the song “Broken Eyes” for free.

What’s better than free music?

Come back early September for a full review of the new album.

(Father John Misty is the name of Josh Tillman’s new solo outfit; Tillman is the former drummer of Fleet Foxes.)

I heard “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” on Indie Rock Cafe a few weeks ago, and I liked it well enough, but it didn’t blow me away.

However, once I got tickets to see Father John Misty play here in Dallas – show is tonight at Sons of Hermann Hall – I figured I better delve into the entire record and get myself prepared.

I sure am glad I did, because it is filled with outstanding songs.

Here is my current favorite, “Now I’m Learning to Love the War,” which is available on YouTube only in this live version:

And the aforementioned “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” has its own video, featuring Aubrey Plaza from Parks & Recreation.

And there is also a video for “This Is Sally Hatchet.”

His videos are certainly…interesting. And based on the live video above, it sure looks like he brings a lot of energy and personality to his live performances. I can’t wait. I’ll let you know how the show it is.

*****

There are few blog posts I prepare and write that give me more pure enjoyment than when I have a new playlist to publish. And this playlist – Indie Christmas in the Spring 2012 – will be the first one that is officially published first here at IndieChristmas.com.

(To see previous playlists, which were all published first over at MSF, click here. To learn the background behind “Indie Christmas,” click here.)

Now onto the list, which you an conveniently play right here in your browser simply by clicking on the buttons next to the song names.

Hoots & Hellmouth kick off this playlist, with their terrific song "Why Would You Not Want To Go There."

Methodology and Philosophy

I am quite proud of this list.

You should know that making playlists is not an activity I take lightly. I have personally listened to every one of these songs at least 20 times, many of them more than that, and they had to compete with hundreds of other songs I found and make it through a series of cuts to get onto the final list, where more cuts awaited.

In fact, two songs even got cut after I had whittled the list down to 17, which I thought was going to be the final list. But upon additional listens, they didn’t fit. So they were out.

So it’s only the best of the best of the best…at least to my ears.

If you and I have similar music tastes, then you’ll enjoy the list. At worst, I hope you can at least find 2-3 new songs on here that make it into your iTunes or mp3 players.

And as for the argument that some of these songs aren’t truly “indie” songs, fine. You’re right.

Of Monsters and Men is on the verge of superstardom, but one of their songs made the list. Alabama Shakes is gaining a large profile. Many of these bands even have recording contracts with big labels, or with smaller labels who really just act as proxies for the bigger labels.

But all of these songs and artists are severely underexposed, in my opinion. And many of the bands are indie-like, regardless of contract status, touring the country playing small venues and just trying to get their music out there.

One of my goals with this site is to help bring attention to these bands, who all produce great music. Since many folks cannot spend the time or effort I do to seek out bands away from the mainstream, I like to share the fruits of my labor of love.

Without further ado, here is Indie Christmas in the Spring 2012.

Indie Christmas in the Spring 2012

A few quick notes:

• Click on the band name to go to their official website and learn more about them.
• When possible, I have linked to mp3s available elsewhere, such as Indie Rock Cafe, that the band submitted for promotional purposes. A few songs that I couldn’t find elsewhere I uploaded myself so that the list could be played from the browser. If you like the songs, I highly encourage you to go buy them from the artist and check out their other work.
• Not all of these songs were released in 2012, though many were; all of these are all songs that I discovered in the last several months.

1. Why Would You Not Want To Go There by Hoots & Hellmouth

I found this song, as I find so many great new songs, at one of Indie Rock Cafe’s rundowns of new album releases. (I cannot stress enough how much you should visit IRC regularly if you love indie music. They are the best resource I’ve found, which is why I link to them so often.)

I absolutely love the lyrics and vocal performance of lead singer Sean Hoots.

This song does have an official video, which I will post when available.

2. Someone Purer by Mystery Jets

This is another song found at IRC of the band’s new album Radlands.

And here is the U.S. version of the video:

3. The Wave by Miike Snow

A friend and I recently went on a rather intensive one week music sharing spree. One person tossed out a lyric to a song we thought the other would not know, sending the other person scrambling to find out the song.

I had never heard this song my the popular Swedish pop band Miike Snow, but obviously I enjoy it if it made the list. And you’ll see a few other songs on this list that were discovered via that epic sharing spree.

And here is the rather interesting video:

4. Sqworm by Ramona Falls

Another song from IRC. I actually had a hard time deciding whether to put this song or another by the band, “Spore,” on the list, but this one eventually one out because it’s a more intense rock song, which is what the playlist called for. (Look for “Spore” on Indie Christmas in the Summer 2012 perhaps…)

5. David by Noah Gunderson

Kudos to Genesis for this one. She’s been strongly advocating Gunderson ever since I met her, with this being the first song she suggest I check out of his. It is also apparently affiliated with the show Sons of Anarchy, though I’ve never watched that show.

I was admittedly lukewarm on it when I first listened, but I really grew on me. (See? This is why I have a long nomination and judgment process before posting these…)

6. Righteous, Ragged Songs by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

Credit for this song goes to a new entry on my regular rotation of music sites: HearYa.com. They reviewed Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires’ new album and had great things to say about it. I can see why.

This begins a two-track run of bluesy Southern rock that might just be my favorite two-track stretch on the entire playlist.

7. I Ain’t The Same by Alabama Shakes

This is likely to change, but as I post this playlist today, there is no song I anticipate more when I’m listening to all of the tracks than this one. It’s just a terrific song by a wonderful band that I cannot wait to see live one of the days.

Frankly, it was tough picking one Alabama Shakes song for this playlist. There were so many great options to choose from.

Big kudos to my friend Mandy for introducing me to this band. Along with Of Monsters and Men, they are my two favorite new bands of 2012.

Here is a live version of the song the band did for HearYa.com:

8. Swallowtail by The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Continuing with the theme of rock bands that feature great musicianship that blows away almost anything you could hear on the radio, we move on to The Brian Jonestown Massacre (which has to be one of the great band names ever). I found this one at IRC.

And like the Noah Gunderson song, I wasn’t a huge fan of this one at first. It grew on me though, and it was the perfect transition song to the rest of the CD.

9. How Do I Know by Here We Go Magic

This song is a very recent release that I just found at IRC. It might be the most fun song on the entire playlist. It certainly has a very…interesting…video:

10. Manchester by Kishi Bashi

This is the third song that gets credited to Genesis, and this was another case where it was tough to choose one from an artist.

Kishi Bashi has a very distinct sound, and he has several songs I like. I almost chose “It All Began With a Burst,” but ultimately I just enjoy listening to this song more, despite its slower beginning, so it won out.

Here is a rather incredible live version of the song:

11. New Ceremony by Dry The River

Another song found at Indie Rock Cafe, from the U.K. band’s recently released album “Shallow Bed.”

Official video below, which features a fat guy kicking a bowl of Chee-tos, among other highlights:

12. Balance by Future Islands

This is a song I found on IRC late last year, but I haven’t done a new playlist since then. A lot of times I’ll get bored with a song after that much time has elapsed so it won’t end up in the running for the mid-year playlists. Not so with this one.

And Future Islands has made it onto my playlists before. As good as “Balance” is, I still think the less heralded “Before the Bridge” is their best song.

13. The End by The Lower 48

Like the previous song, this one was from late in 2011 and found at IRC, and it was good enough to still be one of the 15 best new songs since my last playlist.

14. Sloom by Of Monsters and Men

By now, Of Monsters and Men are no longer a secret. “Little Talks” has been a big hit, they’ve played at South by Southwest, they’ve made the tours of the late night talk shows, and they are touring across America.

However, “Sloom” is a song that gets overlooked on an album stacked full of a great songs.

Here is a terrific live version of the song the band did before the song even had a name and before they were worldwide sensations:

15. We Will All Be Changed by Seryn

And one final song for which Genesis gets a hat tip.

Seryn actually just played here in Dallas yesterday as part of Sofar Sounds, which puts on secret, private, intimate shows with smaller bands. Unfortunately, I didn’t find out about it until it was too late, so I couldn’t attend.

This is a terrific song though, and the perfect song to end the playlist with. When I realized that, I chopped off the other two songs. (Don’t worry…they’ll probably make the Summer playlist.)

Here is a fun live version of the song, though the recording quality isn’t great:

*****

So there you have it. Indie Christmas in the Spring 2012 is in the books. Hopefully you enjoy the songs as much as I did.

My closest friends will be getting copies of the CDs, as is tradition. If you want one too, email me at indiechristmas@gmail.com and if I have any left over I might just send you one too!

And, of course, if you have songs or artists that you think should be in the running for the summer CD, post links below!

He recently did a live session with Hear Ya, which has now served as my introduction to his acoustic guitar and vocal greatness.

Enjoy these two videos, plus the other tracks available at Hear Ya’s post:

MP3: Ballerina

MP3: Take What I’m Given

—–

*****

Here’s my favorite song so far, called “Righteous, Ragged Songs.”

And here is another, “Choctaw”:

******