OKGazette.com - Indie

IndianGiver — Plafond EP -

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 CDT

If you were to peruse the “About” section of IndianGiver’s Facebook page, you’ll notice how the instruments attributed to each of the Oklahoma City band’s five members are described with downright flippancy: Dylan Jordan plays “sticks & animal skins,” while Jazzton Rodriguez earns his keep with “shanties & loud noises,” and so on.

Various artists — Never Give Up: Celebrating 10 Years of The Postal Service -

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 CDT

Few indie bands have had the impact on current music that The Postal Service has. Even fewer have done so with only one album.

Eureeka — Polysynthetic Fields -

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 CDT

It’s always refreshing to hear music that embraces its own eccentricity, yet presents it in an accessible and meek fashion. Eureeka — the Norman-based duo of Jordan Vargas and Devin Wahl — has tapped into this rarified air on its self-released EP, Polysynthetic Fields.

Horse Thief — Grow Deep, Grow Wild -

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 CDT

Psychedelic folk isn’t new, but it certainly is increasing in popularity. The surge has brought such weird-minded acts as Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective to the forefront, but the downside to any emerging movement is that it inevitably will seduce those who seek to piggyback on its success.

Various artists — A Blackwatch Christmas Vol. II -

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 CST

Fowler Volkswagen general manager Jonathan Fowler wants Oklahoma to become the indie Christmas-music capital of the world. With three straight stellar Christmas albums Fowler VW has supported (all but the first with Norman’s Blackwatch Studios), that wish feels more like reality.

Feathered Rabbit — Feathered Rabbit -

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Feathered Rabbit is kind of a throwback band. Unlike most others in the digital age, its increased exposure has come by way of a bedazzling live presence and the ensuing word-of-mouth.

Animal Collective — Centipede HZ -

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 CDT

There really was no way for Animal Collective to match Merriweather Post Pavilion, widely considered the best album of 2009. It’s damn near impossible to bottle lightning twice, especially with the caustic and combustible ingredients the psych-rock band uses to build its ambitious opuses, in which indie electronics meet space rock.

Foreign Home — How Strange the Night -

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Arena-ready indie rock sounds like a bit of a contradiction, but with bands like The Black Keys, Muse and Kings of Leon all headlining the biggest venues in town, the weird subspace is here to stay.

The Flaming Lips — The Flaming Lips & Heady Fwends -

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:00 CDT

By all accounts, The Flaming Lips’ all-star Record Store Day release, The Flaming Lips & Heady Fwends, was not intended for general release until fans demanded otherwise. Given all the trouble of rounding up that talent for guest stints, why not go big?

Montu — Bloom -

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Being a jamtronica band, Oklahoma City act Montu is at the distinct disadvantage of playing a style of music that simply works better in a live setting than on a recording. Even so, Bloom is a solid effort that never drags — thanks to brilliant pacing any working band should note — and Montu steps over the hump, so to speak, and shows there’s no need to confine its tunes to live consumption only.

Cusp — Nothing Proper -

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 CDT

What a beautiful introduction Nothing Proper is to Cusp and the man behind it, Taylor Rapp, who should become a force in Oklahoma music sooner, rather than later.

Admirals — Admirals -

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

With its self-titled debut EP, it’s not hard to see Stillwater rock outfit Admirals wears its influences on its sleeve.

Poliça — Give You the Ghost - Nah, thanks — you can keep it.

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

You’ve got to admire what they’re up to in the north Midwest these days. That Bon Iver/Gayngs/Megafaun collective is probably the best non-Aaron Rodgers thing to happen to Wisconsin in forever.

Two Suns — Dream Familiar -

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

Norman’s Jake Davidson beautifully reconciles his love for tradition-rich acoustic music with old-school English drum ’n’ bass electronica on his full-length debut, “Dream Familiar,” as recording project Two Suns.

Snow Patrol — Fallen Empires - Techno-fueled nostalgia trip starts strong, but loses momentum after a run-in with oversentimentality.

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

Its first record in two years, "Fallen Empires" blends Snow Patrol's specific brand of thoughtful pop-rock with some electronic influences.

Craig Finn — Clear Heart Full Eyes - The Hold Steady’s songwriter steps out on his own to write some songs about loneliness.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

I think the best way to compare the songwriting material in 40-year-old Craig Finn’s first-ever solo album with the excellent stuff that constitutes his catalogue with Brooklyn-by-Minneapolis rockers The Hold Steady is to just embrace the truth that you can’t have fun all the time.

Horse Thief — Grow Deep, Grow Wild -

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

Local psych-rock outfit Horse Thief’s first album, “Grow Deep, Grow Wild,” blasts open with a Gothic church organ undercut by some very subtle guitar scratching for texture.

Ryan Parker — In Circles -

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST

About two-thirds of the way through “What Is Light,” the eighth track on Oklahoma City singer/songwriter Ryan Parker’s “In Circles,” a melodic, piano-driven, chorus-less series of verses gives way into a worldbeat rhythm that evokes a living-room drum circle. This is the part where he asks about the light.

Los Campesinos! — Hello Sadness - Don’t be sad, indie kids: Los Campesinos! will cheer you up with their most dramatic, mature album yet.

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST

While their fourth LP in as many years doesn’t peak quite as high as their 2008 debut, “Hold On Now, Youngster ...” (which was hallmarked by an absolute crusher of an indie-pop single in “You! Me! Dancing!”), Los Campesinos! have crafted another terrific record in “Hello Sadness,” a compelling, aggressive, twee listen.

M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming - French imagineer captures hipsters’ nostalgia, invites them to explore broad, cinematic soundscapes.

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT

Massive music is in.