Clever Eleven February 2008
Celebrate the leap year with a new zesty selection, arguably more eclectic than ever. Includes a handful of highly anticipated follow-ups from the big league - expect more to come in the following spring months!
1. R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
They are rock legends releasing their 14th studio album in late March.
This is yet again supposed to be "their best album since.."
Sounds like they might be right this time, mixing Out of Time jangle with Monster punch.
2. The Duke Spirit - Send a Little Love Token
They are a female-fronted indie quintet with excellent sophomore album Neptune out now.
This is the opening track, so cool they named their record label after it.
Sounds like Grace Slick fronting Queens of the Stone Age.
3. We are Scientists - After Hours
They are not actually scientists, but they do have the funniest website in indie rock.
This is the anthemic leadoff single from upcoming album Brain Thrust Mastery.
Sounds like they've stolen the riff from AC/DC's Thunderstruck!
4. The Envy Corps - Keys to Good Living
They are an Iowa quartet ready with their major label debut album Dwell.
This is one of the few songs that isn't already around on various singles and EP's.
Sounds like Death Cab for Cutie after stadium lessons from Coldplay.
5. The Feeling - Turn it Up
They are to blame for the soft rock revival.
This is one of the few highlights on the difficult second album Join With Us.
Sounds like the 70's. What did you expect?
6. Tegan and Sara - The Con
They are much hyped up Canadian identical twins.
This is the title track off their 2007 debut album, just recently released in Europe.
Sounds like Shakespeare's sister's sisters!
7. The Young Knives - Up All Night
They are post-punk Midlanders looking like Geoff, Stuart and Greg from Accounting.
This is their shot at writing the breaktrough indie anthem.
Sounds like they're gonna have to try again, but they're definitely onto something.
8. Elbow - Grounds for Divorce
They are bookish boys from Bury boldly adding prog, blues and gospel to the mix.
This is the song from whose lyrics the name of the album, The Seldom Seen Kid, is taken.
Sounds like the missing link between Radiohead and BRMC.
9. Nothing Rhymes with Orange - Hospital
They are a Miami quartet with more truth to their name than, say, We are Scientists.
This is the anthemic second single from 2007 album Hello Mysterious.
Sounds like they might be huge fans of Manc veterans James.
10. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be
They are Brighton brats named after a Bowie-song.
This is the first single from the anticipated follow-up to their #1 debut Inside In/Inside Out.
Sounds like they took all the best bits from said album and made one rocking tune out of it.
11. The Helio Sequence - Broken Afternoon
They are a Portland duo mixing swirly 80's-tinged pop with campfire tunes to great effect.
This is a sample of the latter, the penultimate track from lovely LP Keep Your Eyes Ahead.
Sounds like a lost Dylan-gem from 1972.
SUBS NOT USED: Cut of Your Hands - Oh Girl, White Light Parade - Wait for the Weekend, Pete & the Pirates - Bright Light, Duffy - Mercy, Glasvegas - It's My Own Cheating Heart that Makes me Cry
