WOXY is Revived!

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After online radio station Woxy pulled the plug on Sep 15, I’ve been going back onto woxy.com daily to see if by any chance there would be good news. And today there was! Woxy has been revived, and will soon be back up on air. Now the only question is if a paid membership will be needed for high-quality radio. Awesome.

Update: Out of excitement, I posted as quickly as possible, without researching the specifics. So here’s the scoop. Bill Nguyen, a 35 year old entreupeneur from Silicon Valley just discovered the station and wants to help get Woxy back on air.

Nguyen’s plan involves investing $5 million to $10 million in WOXY.com over the next 12 months to:
Maintain its Cincinnati headquarters and give its DJs full editorial control.

***Bring back its free online broadcast and improve its quality***

Open studios in San Francisco and other cities to broadcast live performances from bands.

Allow listeners to purchase music directly from independent artists they hear on WOXY.com through www.lala.com. (Nguyen’s used CD trading website)

Allow listeners to create their own radio shows that they can share with other listeners.

Make WOXY.com more portable.

Again, Awesome.

Only Son – The Drop To The Top

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Only Son is the music of NYC based songwriter Jack Dishel. The Drop To The Top just came out, and I am definitely digging parts of it.

Jack has has opened for both Regina Spektor and Adam Green on their tours of Europe, the UK and the United States. He will be opening solo for Regina Spektor once again this fall on her US tour before returning to NYC to play shows with his full band. Before creating Only Son, Jack was the frontman of NYC band Stipplicon as well as lead guitarist for The Moldy Peaches.

Check out Jack’s site to buy album.

The Drop To The Top:

Only Son – Brand New Broken Heart

Only Son – Quiet Surrender (sound kinda reminds me of Ben Folds. Anyone?)

Only Son – Long Live The Future

The Changes – Today is Tonight

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A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit a live broadcast from one of the best radio stations in the world– Seattle’s KEXP. At the station’s last pledge drive, Chicago had the most pledges for outside the Seattle area, and KEXP rewarded us by broadcasting three days here. They had some great in studio perfomances from musicians such as The Changes, M.Ward, and The M’s.

When I went to the studio in Chicago where KEXP was broadcasting , I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I assumed that for Chicago to have won the pledge drive there might be forty-fifty people at the studio. I was very surprised when I got there, and there were only a handful of other KEXP fans. It was my lucky day! I got to talk with my favorite DJ’s, and talked with The Changes for a while after their perfomance.

The guys in The Changes are about as nice and modest as it gets. They were a lot of fun to talk with, and it was enjoyable listening to them play. Their new album, Today Is Tonight, just came out, and it’s a fun album to listen to. Like Spin says, It “combines everything from subtle neo-psych touches, soft rock, bedroom electronica, ’80s pop, and jazzy stomps into a sublime dreamscape.” It’s the bands first full-length album, and they self-produced the whole thing. They were the only unsigned band that performed at Lollapalooza, and just got picked up by Wheatfield.

In Chicago, The Changes are becoming an influential band, and they are also starting to get more national acclaim. I highly recommend you check them out.

Today is Tonight:

The Changes – On A String

The Changes – When I Sleep

Listen to The Changes live in-studio performance at KEXP via iTunes podcast.

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, the time flew by. It was one of those insanely busy weeks and I kept telling myself I would post later, but it never happened. I’m here now though, and I guess that’s all that matters. Talk to you soon.

indiemuse.com fall sampler

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A few nights ago, I made a 12 track iMix on iTunes that is pretty iSweet if I may say so myself. I just decided that I would make that mix available to you guys in full length. I will be posting each bands website, so you can support them if you so choose; which you should, if you like them. The mix is really chill for the most part–I’ve been listening to it a lot while driving around. It’s a good mix for this kind of weather. I’m sure I’ll be making a more indie-rock upbeat iMix soon, but for right now, this mix is where it’s at. By the way, half of the songs have been posted on the site already, so if you want to see those posts, type in the artists name in the search box.

Artist/Song Artists Site
Andrew Bird – First Song X
Hotel Lights – You Come and I Go X
Lylas – Years and Years X
The Scourge of the Sea – Waterwings X
John Vanderslice – New Zeland Pines X
Derby – Proving X
The Minders – Savour All The Days X
Wilco – Muzzle of Bees X
Guster – Empire State X
Ugly Casanova – Hotcha Girls X
Zero 7 – Throw It All Away X
Jim Noir – Key Of C X

If you want all songs, download as one file via rapidshare instead of ‘save link as’ for each individual song.

Lyric Chat: Colin Hay – Waiting For My Real Life To Begin

Hello again! Good to be back. I really appreciate the feedback I’m getting on the site–it means a great deal to me. When I first started indiemuse.com, I wrote up a “mission statement” explaining what I would like to accomplish with the site. I felt then, and still feel that the community is just as important as the music. Just like you are hopefully discovering some music from this site, I realize I would never be able to run indiemuse if it wasn’t for the community–radio stations, websites, magazines… Even You!

Therefore, I would like to discuss some music and hear your thoughts on it. To start out, I am going to post a song with lyrics that have had significant meaning to me. I feel that the lyrics represent most human beings, some more than others, at different times in our lives. To me, the song represents making the most of the present, because we never know what the future has in store.

Consider taking the time to listen to and read the lyrics (the link below will open the song in a new window so you can see lyrics at same time). You are a part of the community, and I think it would be fun to see what the song means to you and your life. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate…just drop a line if you like the song.

Also please, please let me know of songs with lyrics that have had an impact on you. I would love to hear them, and will definitely post some of the songs.

Colin Hay – Waiting For My Real Life To Begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
I’ll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down, on me

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in
But don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today, suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path, and up this cobbled lane
I’m walking in my old footsteps, once again
And you say, just be here now
Forget about the past, your mask is wearing thin
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
And I’ll check my machine, there’s sure to be that call
It’s gonna happen soon, soon, soon
It’s just that times are lean

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart, let the light shine in
Don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack

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Hey Everyone. I’m going to be out of town for the next few days for a close cousins funeral. He unexpectedly passed away, and it’s a hard time for the family.

The loss made me think about the movie Little Miss Sunshine. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil anything, besides that somebody, I won’t say who, passed away. Throughout the entire film, the family had to go through many trials and tribulations, but through it all, the family only grew stronger, whether they realized it or not. It’s a beautiful comedy-drama, with great casting (Steve Carrell, Greg Kinnear) and would be a mistake to miss.

Little Miss Sunshine also has a remarkable soundtrack, bringing that much more life to the movie. After listening to the soundtrack fully outside of the theater, I still think it’s excellent, but was much more meaningful in tandem with the movie–Most of the music was composed by DeVotchKa and Mychael Danna for the film.

Fox Searchlight bought the distribution rights for 10.5 million dollars after the films premiere at Sundance, but I think that it’s important to emphasize for those of you who don’t know, that this movie started out extremely small. In fact, due to financial reasons, it took them 5 years to film. This is an Indie film, no matter how many commericals you’ve seen trying to promote it.

Little Miss Sunshine Sountrack:

DeVotchKa – How It Ends

DeVotchKa – Let’s Go

Soundtrack features two Sufjan Stevens songs, Chicago and No Man’s Land, but you should already have them.
See the trailer.

Buy the soundrack.

See you in a few days,

David

After 28 Years, Cat Stevens is Releasing New Pop Album.

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No matter what your beliefs are about Yusuf Islam, or as he is more commonly known, Cat Stevens, it is hard to disagree with the fact that his former music is truly amazing. It has just been announced that Yusuf signed a deal with Atlantic Records to release a new pop album in November. In a statement Yusif said, “I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again.” His last album was 1978’s “Back To Earth”.

“Yusuf’s new songs are as moving and timeless as the classics that inspired a generation,” Atlantic Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman said in a statement. “His spiritual quest is one of the most extraordinary stories of our time, a life journey marked by courage, devotion and transformation.”

Personally, I can’t wait to hear the new album. I’ll keep you updated.

Cat Stevens-Father and Son

Cat Stevens-Sad Lisa

Cat Stevens-Where Do the Children Play?

The Fruit Bats – Spelled In Bones

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I have always been a huge fan of the Fruit Bats. They have a unique sound, and rarely miss the spot with their upbeat melodies. Be forewarned that if you try to sing along, which you will want to, you may cause damage to your larynx. I tried getting my voice as high as Eric Johnson’s, and now I can’t speak. Thank God for my website. Some fun facts about the band:

-There have been a crazy amount of members in the Fruit Bats–like 25 since 1999. The last time I checked was a few days ago, so I’m sure it’s gone up to at least 30 by now.

-The band formed in the best city in the world, Chicago!

– Eric Johnson is a Cubs fan, just like me. Cubs ’07. No, not 3007. 2007.
– On the Fruit Bats site, Eric has an entertaining “My Other Career Options If This Whole Music Thing Doesn’t Eventually Pan Out”.
More fun facts:
Fruit Bats are the world largest bats, and eat fruit, and are only active during the day. Interesting, huh?

Tip: Be sure you listen to these songs on quality speakers before determining if you like them or not. When listening to higher pitched music it can often start to sound “tinny” if you are using cheap speakers (or most laptop speakers).
Spelled In Bones:

Fruit Bats – Lives Of Crime

Fruit Bats – The Wind That Blew My Heart Away

Mouthfuls:

Fruit Bats – Rainbow Sign (favorite Fruit Bats song)
Fruit Bats – When U Love Somebody

Sorry I haven’t posted in the last few days, I’ve been mourning the Crocodile Hunter’s death. I happened to see news about the incident immediately after it broke out, and was in shock, especially because I think he is only the second person in Austrialia to be killed by a Stingray. I never really watched anything that he was part of, but I think I saw him on Leno a while back. One cool dude. But yeah, some of you are probably sick of hearing about his death, so I’m not going to overdo it.

More indiemuse coming very soon. Thanks for the support.

“The Crocodile Hunter” Has Been Killed By A Stingray!

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You know that energetic guy on the television who you always saw running into Crocodile infested waters like a madman? And how you wondered what would happen if he made a mistake and got eaten alive while the camera was rolling? You know, that guy who started all that controversy when he brought his newborn child feet away from a Croc? Well it has just been reported that a stingray beat the Crocodiles to the punch. It killed him! He was filming something in Austrialia and the stringray stung him in the heart. What has the world come to?

RIP Steve Irwin, RIP.

Ugly Casanova – Sharpen Your Teeth

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Ugly Casanova is the side project of Isaac Brock, lead singer and guitarist of Modest Mouse. The song Hotcha Girls appeared on the bands only released album, Sharpen Your Teeth, and has been and will most likely remain one of my favorite songs of all time. Brock made the album with Tim Rutili (Califone, Red Red Meat), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession), John Orth (Holopaw), and Brian Deck. It’s funny how the band got started. Off Sub Pop’s site:

“The first time any one seemed to care that Edgar Graham (a.k.a. Ugly Casanova) existed was in the summer of 1998, when he impressed himself upon the members of Modest Mouse while backstage at a Denver show.

Casanova began to share some rough songs with the trio and, after much prodding, with a few sparse crowds that milled about hours before the opening band was scheduled to appear. While Casanova’s talent was unmistakable, by the time he finished each impromptu performance, his face held a look of shame and anger that more often than not, foreshadowed a retreat into himself. However, by the end of Modest Mouse’s tour, Casanova, with much reluctance, was persuaded to record some of these songs and hand them over to record labels for issue as singles or parts of compilations. Predictably, immediately after he had done so, he disappeared. “

We later found out that Brock was full of shit, and “Casanova” was a figment of his imaginaton. He made Graham up so he wouldn’t have so much attention on himself. This 2002 album will probably be Ugly Casanova’s one and only album release due to label conflicts–Modest Mouse is on Epic, while Ugly Casanova is on Sub Pop.
Sharpen Your Teeth:
Ugly Casanova – Hotcha Girls

Ugly Casanova – Cat Faces

Music Video:
Ugly Casanova’s lost music video for the song Things I Can’t Remember has just been released this summer. It’s really a must see. Check it out at Spin.

Buy the album from the best record label in the world, Sub Pop.