Corduroy

Genre: Indie pop

Toronto-based quartet Corduroy is releasing their 3-song EP entitled Demoroy this Tuesday, or you can download all three tracks here today. Their music is varied in spirit but uniformly catchy- great tunes for a relaxing cruise with the windows down or a summer evening with friends. Lyrically, Corduroy doesn't skimp on content, but their real strength lies in their ability to simultaneosly soothe the ears of their audience while providing uncompromising and infectious energy.

Check out the EP here: http://drop.io/demoroy_vol1

Anya Marina

Genre: Alt/Soul Pop

Pop music is moving in a healthy direction these days, and it's damn refreshing. The young Anya Marina is riding the emerging trend of strong female vocals paired with complex, classic instrumentals - a trend arguably ignited by Amy Winehouse a few years ago. Marina is a pure talent, someone who naturally brings a host of abilities to the table and whose career will largely be determined by her dedication to the craft. She's got a healthy tour schedule this summer (see below), and you're likely to catch her in a small venue these days... something that may not last for long.

Anya Marina - New Music - More Music Videos

Aug. 13 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret du Musee Pour Rire (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 14 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 15 - Boston, MA - Paradise (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 17 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey (w/ Emiliana Torrini)
Aug. 26 - Los Angeles, CA - KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic radio performance
Aug. 28 - San Diego, CA - Street Scene 2009
Aug. 31 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 1 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 3 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 4 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 5 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 6 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 8 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 14 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 15 - Boise, ID - The Knitting Factory (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 16 - Missoula, MT - The Wilma Theatre (w/ Paolo Nutini)
Sept. 18 - Vancouver, B.C. - Commodore Ballroom (w/ Paolo Nutini)

Brother Ali

Genre: Hip-Hop

We're BACK! Brother Ali was a big hit last time we posted his material on AGF, so check out his new video single "Us," and download the track free here: http://www.rhymesayers.com/news.php#newsId_1808



And we can't leave out the track that brought us to Brother Ali in the first place:

Civil Twilight

Revelation- you can always find the good in the bad. I sometimes have bad taste in the television I watch, but it leads me sometimes to good music. And in return, good music can make bad television better.

Case in point, a Civil Twilight song on the show Harper's Island. To set it up, the show is a 13 episode horror series. A group convenes on an island for a wedding, and a serial killer that had lived there almost a decade ago appears to be alive again and picking off the wedding party. It's gory, it's cheesy, and sometimes, you even get emotionally attached. With the right music the viewer (aka me) gets choked up.

Civil Twilight, as I've read, is from Cape Town and moved to the US recently to embark on their music career. They're currently performing a couple shows on the East Coast, so check out here if you end up wanting to see them live. I find them to be reminiscent of a young U2, but they write that Radiohead is there influence. The song in question is that ballad that every group writes and becomes well known for.

Check it out for yourself. Here is the song:

And here is the scene from the last episode (be warned it is bloody):

It's all about the music, right? The perfect song. Ahh the power of sound.

"Indie Rockers, 90210"

Two posts in one day?! Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. I've been debating whether I wanted to share this, um, enlightening article that the NYT did on up and coming teenage musicians from families of the LA elite. I decided that it should be read (thus the post). Very interesting.

Begin the discussion.

Photo courtesy of Amy Dickerson of the NYT