Indie pop isn’t the first thing people associate with Albuquerque, N.M. The city is better known for hot air balloons and green chilies, but it did give us folk-rock favorites The Shins. Now, Lousy Robot attempts to tread a similar path out of the desert. It’s made progress in spreading its music nationally through television, […]
songs
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Elephant Revival — Break in the Clouds
It helps that all five members contribute songs, taking the stress off one songwriter. The band takes the term “folk” seriously, sticking to tunes that could have been culled from the Appalachians in the 19th century or earlier. Thankfully, the production isn’t rustic. The songs sport a sprightly, well-produced sheen landing just short of being […]
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Kite Flying Robot — Solid Gold
Surprisingly, it’s marked not by excess, but by tasteful arrangements that result in strong pop songs. Anchored by mild-mannered electronic beats (think The Postal Service) and Nikolas Thompson’s calm, seductive voice, the songs reveal various parts and melodies at a leisurely pace. These unhurried tracks are long on a slinky, sunglasses-atnight-cool mood, and short on […]
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Life’s a beach
Should the whole “being a beloved ’90s rock band” stop working out, the guys of 311 might make for pretty excellent marriage counselors. “I have been married for 10 years and been in this band for over 20,” bassist P-Nut said. “You have to be flexible, you have to stand up for your point of […]
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Standard-bearer
Songbook standards will never go out of style, as long as a select few are willing to hold their torch high. In Oklahoma City, that’s vocalist Darla Zuhdi. “The standards capture the essence of love,” she said. “Since I was a child, I have always loved this type of music because it fills my soul […]
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‘Dark’ horse
There’s a gentle reflective cast to his songs. Nimble poetry pirouetting around burbling acoustic guitar melodies. A limber baritone supporting arrangements that are spare and understated, even on record, providing ballast that keeps them from drifting away. John Gorka has established himself as one of folk’s finest writers, a master at walking the tightrope between […]
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Ground floor
Sometimes the best solution is a fresh start. Fort Worth post-punk purveyors The Burning Hotels have always had a lot going for them: an established regional fan base, numerous awards, opening slots with bands like The Toadies and Ladytron, a magazine cover and even an appearance in a feature film (2009’s teen-rock flick “Bandslam”) as […]
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Such great Heights
JT Woodruff, lead singer of Hawthorne Heights, loves Bruce Springsteen’s work. And not just the anthem-laden albums, which would make sense, as Hawthorne Heights have been playing their own soaring, pounding rock songs for 10 years. Nope, he’s a fan of The Boss’ “The Promise,” a 2010 collection of B-sides from the “Darkness at the […]
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’Pike psyched
Turnpike Troubadours front man Evan Felker may be young, but he ain’t new. His songs traffic in the kind of everyday moments and perpetual longings traced by artists like Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle. The Oklahoma quintet has been around for roughly three years, but it seems like a longer time. That’s the feeling of […]
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The Del Toros — Come Down
Informed equally by ’90s rock and modern pop, Tulsa-based The Del Toros infuse each of the 10 tracks on “Come Down” with a sharp sense of melody and a clear vision. Each of the songs is incredibly friendly to the ear, which is good — you’ll have them with you for a while afterward. The […]