Indie Rock

The good and bad thing about the SXSW showcases is the sheer number of new bands you start getting emails about. It's almost impossible to listen to them all, never mind write about the ones you like.

But I'm glad I turned on to Toronto's Dinosaur Bones, even though there's a distinct lack of material on their MySpace page. On the other hand, the two songs that are currently featured on their player are so top notch that they deserve a spotlight.

First up is Ice Hotels, a track that builds layer upon lavish layer of sound while a romantic tale plays out in the verses. Booming, deep drumbeats punctuate the lyrics and build the tension up until it's all released with a single cymbal crash, then silence. Royalty takes the band into a bass-heavy rock groove while singer Ben Fox puts in an impassioned vocal. On the press release, they describe Dinosaur Bones' songs as "broody pop gems, dripping with haunting synth layers and a throbbing rhythm section", and there's not much more I can add to that. Check out Ice Hotels...

Time to spread some new music love to the UK's very on Viva City, a synth rock act that you need to listen to.

Hailing from Newcastle, this foursome produce music with a rock edge that's also irresistably danceable at the same time. Check out Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up, a fast-paced indie anthem, full of effortless swagger, due in part to lead singer Ali's commanding - "Have you ever felt so messed up? Well it's about time you tried..."

This is a band who David Sinclair at The Times described "as if the Prodigy suddenly discovered how to write good tunes". BBC Radio 6 music call them "Leering, sneering, swaggering electro-strut." You need to check out the broodingly brilliant Mad Love (on MySpace) and dive into some of their tunes - and remixes - on their YouTube channel.

Viva City are supporting Sugababes later this month, and then they're heading Stateside to play a showcase at SXSW in March. Tour dates after the video...

Viva City are: Ali (Vocals/Guitar), Bruce (Bass/Keyboards), Trev (Vocals/Keyboards) and Chris (Drums).

OK, time for some new music, yes? Today I’m introducing you to hot New York five-piece Jupiter One. They’ve recently released their second full-length studio album, titled Sunshower, and they’re currently featured artists on the Indiefeed homepage (great website, by the way).

I want to focus mostly on the single, Flaming Arrow, and the amazing animated video that accompanies it. Have a listen, then read on…

An indie band whose name you have  to pronounce in a faux WWII military accent, Johnny Foreigner release their new single Criminals on 12 October 2009. The trio will be touring in support of their new record from 5th October onward.

Prepare for a raucous noise-fest with a great video - I can’t work out if the gangsters in the video are real criminals or possibly just the debt collection men. Thoughts?

I hesitate to mention Mew in our New Music Showcase section, because the band's been around since 1994 and they're about to release their fifth album.

However, Mew are starting to gain attention due to a little gig supporting Nine Inch Nails around Europe. And as I mentioned, their new album No More Stories... is due out in August.

Their musical style is best summed up by this quote from Spin Magazine:

experimental enough to woo fans of Radiohead, and straight forward enough to lap up lovers of Coldplay

I spent some time this afternoon listening to the music on their official website (the MySpace page is good, but only has two songs). I don't know what it is about Danish bands, but they always sound slightly dreamy to me, and Mew are no exception. Even in the more up-tempo numbers like Special, the layered guitar arpeggios have a spacey effect which is helped on by the vocal harmonies. Videos and more after the jump...