Filed under: indie rock, music, pop | Tags: a fine frenzy, Aqualung, Augustana, Ben Kweller, cary brothers, Coldplay, dashboard confessional, Dust, emerson hart, Five for Fighting, guster, howie day, Keane, liz phair, music, OneRepublic, Snow Patrol, Switchfoot, The Fray, Turin Brakes
Augustana‘s success has been a bit of a late bloomer, as their 2005 album, “All the Stars and Boulevards,” didn’t garner real national attention until 2007 (hitting the Billboard Top 40 nineteen months after its initial release, propelled by the success of their single, “Boston”). Now with a brighter spotlight on the group (and new guitarist), Augustana fills their new album with a lot of heartfelt, adult alternative songs. Lead singer Dan Layus’ fragile voice is what immediately stands out and takes center stage, effectively mixing the pain of an older heart with teenage angst. However, with all of the ballads, the album kind of positions the band as the cool version of Five for Fighting. Check for yourself.
Quarters for the songs: Dust; Fire; Hey Now; Meet You There; Sweet and Low.
Worth listening if you like: Ben Kweller; Coldplay; Turin Brakes; Five for Fighting; Aqualung; Dashboard Confessional; Emerson Hart; Guster; Howie Day; Keane; The Fray; Switchfoot; Liz Phair; Cary Brothers; A Fine Frenzy; OneRepublic.
Filed under: music | Tags: Alternate Routes, Augustana, Ben Kweller, Christian, Christian rock, contemporary Christian, indie, Keane, Leeland, Leeland Mooring, music, New London Fire, Opposite Way, Travis
Leeland (fronted appropriately by lead singer Leeland Mooring) have been dubbed an alternative indie Christian band, and the group’s sophomore effort — Opposite Way — offers a very good serving of “progressive worship” with soaring vocals and melodies. The production is top-notch, churning seamlessly from song to song and the group exceeds any and all “contemporary Christian” stereotypes to just be a very good and promising band. Check for yourself.
Quarter for the song: Falling For You.
Worth listening, if you like: Keane; Travis; Augustana; New London Fire; Alternate Routes; Ben Kweller.
Quarters for the Jukebox 