So Peculiar. So great.

If you asked me who the most peculiar person was, I think I could honestly say, Regina Spektor. Listen to just one song and you will know what I mean (take “Music Box” for example). Just do it.

To some, Regina Spektor is a pop star-but to too many others, she is unknown and just, “kinda weird”. Regina has been around since 2001 and overtime has grown largely in the pop genre, but started as an independent artist and continues to make music according to what she wants, not what some "big man" record label says.

Regina Spektor is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Spektor was born in Moscow, USSR in 1980 to a musical Russian Jewish family. She earned her way up by recognition through performances in the anti-folk scene in downtown New York City, most importantly at the East Village's Sidewalk Cafe.  Spektor began promoting herself by selling self-published CDs at her performances during this period: 11:11 (2001) and Songs (2002). In 2004, she signed a contract with Warner Brothers' record label Sire Records to publish and distribute her third album Soviet Kitsch, originally self-released in 2003.

To me, Regina Spektor is truly a gem. Almost every song is accompanied by her piano, sometimes more, sometimes less. She has maintained her unique style over the years and has become very popular because of it. Regina sings a variety of styles and subjects. Sometimes it is the most simplest of things like washing the dishes or finding a wallet, and sometimes you will hear beautiful songs about love, loss, God, and then finally, she sings about things that simply just don’t make sense. She has songs for every mood.

If you haven’t heard of her, or fallen in love with her yet-go out and do so. A warning, she is peculiar, but so great. I would suggest listening to at least a few of her songs, and listening to them again-you might get used them, and you might love them.

One of my favorite music videos is and will always be Fidelity, by Regina Spektor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wigqKfLWjvM

Ms. Libbie "Folk" Linton

I heard the name as I waited to hear Fictionist play at Sammy's Rexburg, but, I didn't mean much to me. She was opening for the popular band and since I had never heard of her I decided to grab something to eat next door. when I came back she was just finishing her last song. She seems like a meek humble girl. She was passionate while singing and I could tell she loved what she was doing. I was disappointed I missed it. After that unfortunate event, I decided to look her up.

Libbie Linton has a unique and subtle loveliness to her music. She is a n American folk indie artist. In reading her short autobio, she says that "early influences led to a proclivity for progressive folk themes and for writing unique, memorable, and literate songs."

Linton began performing at overcrowded house shows while in her early college years. Eventually, this led to 2006 home recording of 7 songs, packaged one-by-one in sewn cases, titled “The Shackleton EP”. Since the Shackleton EP was released, Linton has further developed her own idiosyncratic style. She toured with Fictionist and was a wonderful touch to their more indie rock style concert. From what I saw, she was singing for the love of music, not the love of fans. Her easy flowing vocals run perfectly with the simple folk style instruments she chooses to use.

As I continue to study her and her music, I can recognize a passion in her voice. With time, I think that passion will broaden her fans around the country.

Her chill and fun personality is a plus to her music. You can find out about what she is up to what get to know her better by visiting her blog: http://libbielinton.blogspot.com/ . You can also find her on Facebook, and on her website: http://www.libbielinton.com/index.html

The Sultry Leftover Cuties

“Imagine Billie Holiday playing ukulele under a palm-thatched hut in 1930's Waikiki and you'll get a taste of the soothing sound of Leftover Cuties.”

With influences such as Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong-to name a few- Leftover cuties have taken the new and beautifully mixed it with the classic. They have a jazzy, yet modern take on their music, delicately mixing sultry crooning, tender melodies, and bittersweet lyrics.

The group are located in VA, California and their five-person band consists of: Shirli McAllen- Vocals /Songwriter, Austin Nicholsen- Ukulele / Songwriter; Stuart Johnson- Drums, Ryan Feves- Upright Bass, and Mike Bolger- Piano/Trumpet/Accordion. Quite the group they have if you ask me.

It is great to see bands sticking to the classics, bringing back that feeling of sultry and jazzy music-a simpler age.

Redfine Magazine said it perfectly when they wrote, " a band like Leftover Cuties could start a similar movement, by reminding the indie rock masses of the overlooked jazzy greatness of the near past". Many indie artists are using the term “indie” as a set style of music, fearing to try anything too new. There seems to be a habit now of the “weird indie” type. But Leftover Cuties are incredible by being so original and sticking to it. They are an example to aspiring musicians.

Lean more about them by checking out their website: http://www.leftovercuties.com/

The Tallest Man on Earth

Matsson is man that is very much so, unique. Mainstream music lovers might possibly be annoyed and dislike it after a minute or so-and I don't say that naively because I just got asked to turn it off while I was listening to him. Despite those "boring people", indie music lovers are not surprised by the unique sound of Kristian Matsson’s voice and music style.

The Tallest Man on Earth is the moniker of folk musician Kristian Matsson of Dalarna, Sweden (born April 30, 1983). Mattson plays guitar, banjo and piano and has released two full-length albums, the first entitled Shallow Grave and the second entitled The Wild Hunt, and two 5-track EPs. Kristian Matsson is the former lead singer for the band Montezumas and released a self-titled album with Montezumas in 2006 before releasing a solo self-titled EP in 2007. Since then he has produced four more music forms (singles, EP’s, album’s)

His voice is rough yet emotional, which makes his music so special. If he feels angry, or even intense happy emotion about something he sings louder, if he feels something is sensitive he will do the opposite. He has great instruments to accompany him-the banjo is so underused nowadays and it is lovely to see someone doing what they want, and doing it well.

I love finding an out of the ordinary sounding artist. It becomes refreshing. The Tallest Man on Earth is a very refreshing singer that everyone should at least listen to once. Well, maybe twice, usually you appreciate it more the second time.  You can do so on youtube, facebook, myspace, and other search engine forms.

To hear the raw talent of this singer, check out his stream of live performances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLRTleMY_mc

Josh Ritter

Finally, someone from Idaho. From a small place in 1976 called Moscow, Idaho comes a budding American Singer-songwriter. With music influence by Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, this soft sounding artist has come a long way through school and experiences to show the world his talent.

Ritter attended Oberlin College to study neuroscienc but later changed his major to the self-created "American History Through Narrative Folk Music". At the age of 21 Josh recorded his first album Josh Ritter at a recording studio on campus, 1999. Since then Ritter has produced over 22 albums, EP's, and singles.

Ritter has a soothing voice tone that meshes so well with his simple guitar that he uses most of the time. He writes about beautiful stories people can relate to and just think about while being soothed by his music. Coming from a small town Ritter never put himself in the celebrity scene. He is a genuine guy and has been rumored that his concerts are so personable and fun.

You can see and hear all about him at his website:  http://joshritter.com/

The Soul of Indie Music

Once again I am going to bring to you a different kind of indie music. I was surprised myself when I first heard the group and knew they were indie. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are a Funk/R&B/Soul with an indie label.

The group aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. They are so focused on doing so that they completely rid of modern digital recording methods in favor of using traditional analogue recording equipment. The type of instruments used by the band may also be considered limited to those that would have been available up until the mid-'70s.

The original incarnation of the band, the Soul Providers was formed in the mid nineties by Philip Lehman and Gabriel Roth AKA Bosco Mann. The Soul Providers began recording an album consisting of James Brown inspired instrumentals and vocal collaborations with Deep funk legend Lee Fields. It was during these sessions that Roth and Lehman discovered vocalist Sharon Jones after she recorded backing vocals for one of the Lee Fields tracks. Then in 2000, due to a growing difference of opinion, Lehman and Roth decided to go separate ways and both set up new labels.

The bands influences are James Brown, Eddie Bo, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Mahalia Jackson, The Meters. If you listen to a song, or moreover watch a music video-you can clearly see why and how those are their influences.

Now, the Brooklyn, New York located band, under their indie record label, are continuing with their idea of what great music is and staying strong against all those who call their ways primeval. I call it genius. The way they are taking music and completely abandoning all though of what music nowadays should be is incredibly intriguing.

You can learn more about them on their myspace page or at daptonerecords.com



 

Location Location

Garbett Homes Fork Fest was a wonderful place. Free indie music all day long. I had the opportunity to hear amazing music in so many different styles. One band I was very impressed with was Location Location. After they played, the friends I was with could not stop talking about them-they were definitely a favorite of the day. And that's saying a lot considering there was over 30 artists.

The style of the Utah based band is unique, they use a variety of instruments to create an almost techno song. Usually Techno isn not my favorite, the the way it is composed makes it work so nicely. Not only is the music nice, but the lead singer has an incredible voice. It is smooth and the high belting notes come to easy and impressively. His voice has a lot of emotion in it when he sings, which is also extremely impressive. Overall the band had an amazing talent for composing songs, the synthetics, drums, guitars, vocals, all could have been overdone in one way or another, but it has such a nice blend.

Jamie Gadette, of City Weekly praised them by saying, "(...) a seamless dash across a frostbitten digital landscape. Snow Covered Morning opens like a slow thaw, with Bently’s warm, textured baritone draping over the title track’s crackling-icicle transmission. "

When we congratulated the band after the show they were extremely humble. In fact, they seemed unsure of their music, not as confident as I would have imagined. The band has been in the business for a while but hasn't really grown popular too far out of Utah. That was a surprise.

I recommend checking them out on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/locationlocation.

They are way to talented to remain a local band. Check them out, listen to their music, dance to it. You will be impressed I'm sure.