Untogether - Letting Up Despite Great Faults

INDIEPOP, SHOEGAZE

Untogether: By Letting Up Despite Great Defaults

Letting Up Despite Great Faults (LUDGF) is an indiepop/shoegaze band based in Austin, Texas. In Untogether, LUDGF soothes its listeners with pulsing synths and rusty guitars.

The album takes its listeners on a journey through someone's nostalgia. LUDGF manifests this nostalgia with an interesting mixture of synth instruments that make up layers of magic carried by the steady drumbeats.

Members: Mike Lee, Kent Zambrana, Anna Fisette, Daniel Schmidt

Aside from the tracks with warm instrumental segments, there are some tracks, like "Numbered Days" and "Breaking," that give a separate sound from the album. Overall, Untogether sounds heavily influenced by The Postal Service

The wistful vocals are sung by composer Mike Lee, who also plays piano, bass, and guitar. His lyrics adds to the nostalgia.

Genre	Indiepop/Shoegaze
Album	Untogether (2012)
Label	New Words
Source	Radio
Spotify Link	Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Untogether

Vocals and Guitar	Mike Lee
Vocals and Keyboard	Anna Fisette
Bass	Kent Zambrana
Drums	Daniel Schmidt

Track favorites, highlights, and links: 

Ski Mask - Islands

Indie Rock, Indie Pop

Ski Mask: Island's 5th album

In Ski Mask, the Canadian indie rock band Islands gives insight into the thoughts and feelings of heartbreak through inventive snare compositions and expressive lyrics.

Wonderful soft, chill vocals to share sorrowful lyrics that sound like heartbreak poems in a well compiled short book. The clarity of the vocals make it easy to sing along and focus on the meaning of the song which is stressed by the instrumentation.

Members: Evan Gordon, Nick Thornburn, Geordie Gordon

The marimba in the first song is used to simulate island music, as suggested by the band name. BUT the album consists primarily of reverb guitar sounds and creative snare rhythms. Based on the major accompaniment of the piano, the instrument was probably the foundation for the composition process.  The snare parts are what make Islands's music unique.

The whole album sounds as if it was recorded in a large hall since there's a lot of hollow/echo sound from the guitar and the vocals. As a listener, perhaps we're supposed to feel alone stranded on an island while hearing your voice echo poetic lines and reassessing your breakup.

Assumed Genre	Indie Rock, Indie Pop
Album	Ski Mask
Label	Manque
Source	Flyer
Spotify Link	Islands–SkiMask

Vocals and Guitars	Nick Thornburn  aka Nick Diamonds
Keyboards/Guitar	Geordie Gordon
Bass	Evan Gordon
Keyboards/Guitar	Luc Laurent

Track favorites and highlights: >>>>>

Hot Hot Heat - Future Breeds

Future Breeds: Different than the past breeds.

Assumed Genre	Indie Rock
Album	Future Breeds (2010)
Label	Dine Alone Records
Source	--
Spotify Link	Hot Hot Heat–Future Breeds

Vocals and Keyboards	Steve Bays
Guitar	Luke Paquin
Bass	Louis Hearn
Drums	Paul Hawley

The Canadian band Hot Hot Heat has shifted from a synth genre in 2002 to indie rock as it underwent band members changes. Their 2010 album Future Breeds is different than their past indie rock albums in that there is more synth and raunchy experimentation. Steve Bays has some things to say about the things he's seen and people he's met it seems. The album basically revolve around young adult angst. 

Their sound in Future Breeds is energetic and almost calliope-like. Vocals are sincere and raunchy with growls and yelps. A little mad, but honest. Synthesizers provide a dimension of dance.

Hot Hot Heat: Louis, Paul,Luke,Steve

Fun Fact: Hot Hot Heat apparently made an appearance on the Nickelodeon kid's show "Yo Gabba Gabba."

Spotify Playlist Link HERE (recommended for personal listening)

"YVR" (Track 1) is code for Vancouver International Airport. Great opening to the album that prepares the listener for what is to come.

"21@12" (2) Translation: 21 at midnight. Keyboards take the solos in this song.

"Times A Thousand" (3) reminds me a lot of cabaret music - close to The Dresden Dolls.

"Goddess on the Prairie" (5) - Guy just wants someone to love. Liked how he rhymed ridiculous with meticulous.

"Zero Results" (6) - We revisit a cabaret style accompanied with light piano chords and saxophone solos. It has a depressing and dark mood.

"JFK's LSD" (8) - Not sure, but I think it might refer to Mary Pinchot-Meyer, a "mistress" who sold LSD to JFK. Conspiracies! 

"What Is Rational?" (11) screams paranoia. But it's paranoia with rhythm.

On a personal note, I can't believe they did "Middle of Nowhere." I heard it on the radio and never bothered to look it up. I can see why fans were somewhat disappointed with the new 2010 sound.

Bandsite: http://www.hothotheat.com/