Best of Myspace Music
Hey everyone…it’s Sunday! I had alot of requests to filter through this week. This morning, I dragged myself out of bed forsaking sleep and breakfast (and I guess lunch) for the sake of this music:
I saw this band perform in a house on Thursday and it was probably the most lighthearted and whimsical performance I’ve seen in awhile. I think of all the best childhood experiences-getting Rainbow Brite boots and what it must have felt the first time you tasted ice cream. It’s funny how we rarely remember the first time we did this yet somehow we know how it felt. The songs of Miranda Stokes have not yet been recorded for album yet but she does have some songs posted on her myspace page to give us a preview. You can view more pictures of her and other bands that played thursday night on flickr
Since when did Miami sound so good? No, really….are there other bands like this in Miami that I don’t know about? Is that sunny southeast weather inspiring such good pop songs for everyone? The Postmarks could easily be from London or Brookyn or even better Canada. They talk about being inspired by French pop and Brian Wilson as well and perhaps one of their closest influences in terms of sound might be found right within their top friends with Tahiti 80 though you can definitely see why Ivy is amongst them as well. I’ll also say they remind me a little of The Cardigans. With beautiful female vocals and sometimes backing male vocals to create really nice harmonies, it’s hard to not want to hear songs like “Know Which Way the…” over and over again. These are sugary sweet songsto the extent that a few listens might actually give you cavities. Record release set for January 2007. This band could be huge.
Visit the Postmarks on myspace
3. Spinnaker
What is going on with Florida? I mean it…for weeks and weeks I haven’t heard anything great from Florida and then one week there are two great bands I find out about. Spinnaker is the work of Jonathan Spinnaker out of Gainesville. He talks about liking Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Johnny Cash and you can definitely hear the latter especially in the guitar line of “Lay Them Down.” His vocals are much more of a tenor than Cash, though, and you can sense he’s actually smiling when he’s singing. It’s totally possible this dear fellow was just born way too late because had he been around in the late 50s and throughout the 60s, he would have toured with Dylan and might be a household name by now.
Thank you France. I’m relieved. For a minute I found myself in a very strange predicament, which involved me dreaming about living in Florida. But now, my senses have been restored! Michael Clément has a nice purring voice with sometimes the sweetest softest female vocals on “Bubble Gum” for example. Some of these songs are quirky yet really catchy and fun. It’s music to bop your head too, tap your feet too, and smile. I think anyone seriously depressed should just listen to this…I’m sure it would make things better. On the more downbeat side of things, there’s always “Le Giraffe” and “Le Train” which finds him closer to one of his friends, the brilliant Philippe Crab# whose myspace page is here
5. Fern Knight
This is just lovely psych folk out of Philly. Margie Wienk is the singer and cellist who creates these soft and delicate songs. You can even hear a singing saw on “Silver Fox.” Not surprisingly, she’s friends with another great band now based in Philly, Espers. Listening to Fern Knight makes me wish I was at a Renassance Festival.