Eldur og Ís

Run Toto Run - "Hater"

2010-07-08T20:02:00.003-04:00

Tid bit sample of Labrador Records

2010-07-08T18:55:00.006-04:00

For those times when you need an overdose of pop, electro, dance, and everything in between, Sweden's Labrador Records pretty much has it all covered.
A full-blown album from Pallers is expected to be out sometime this winter.
The Kiss by Pallers (Suburban Kids with Biblical Names remix)

Club 8 released their seventh album, The People's Record, back in May
Shape Up by Club 8 from The People's Record

The Radio Dept. released their second album, Clinging to a Scheme, back in April
Never Follow Suit by The Radio Dept. from Clinging to a Scheme
Heaven's on Fire by The Radio Dept. from Clinging to a Scheme

Day after vacation

2010-07-05T18:04:00.004-04:00

From Moscow, Russia comes Upstation, an electro-pop trio. You can check out their Myspace page to download their 4-track EP.
No More Promises by Upstation

Five-man indie pop band from Edinburgh, Scotland, Cancel The Astronauts are back with EP number two and it's a good one.
Funny For A Girl by Cancel The Astronauts from Funny For A Girl EP

In other news, I've put my best effort into keeping up with the huge amount of email submissions I receive and posting on new music. Unfortunately, my amount of spare time to keep up is not what it used to be. Rather than throw in the towel and be another casualty of the indie blog world, I'm going to offer up a chance for one or two additional music lovers that would care to help me keep EOI going. I'm not a writer or a professional blogger and not looking for one either. Just one or two folks that love indie/alternative music as much as I do and love to share it...legally. If you'd like to give it a shot, you can email me info/bio and a writing sample here by August 30, 2010. Keep in mind, this isn't a gig, as in no pay; it's all just for the love of music.

Perfect for This Day

2010-06-29T20:33:00.003-04:00

What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way) by Wolf Parade from Expo 86

Catching Up

2010-06-24T17:29:00.006-04:00

I and I released his debut album, We Are back in February.
I Can See by I and I from We Are
Wonder by I and I from We Are

UK's Beatie Wolfe released her debut EP, Burst back in March.
Beautiful Affair by Beatie Wolfe from Burst
It Will All Fall by Beatie Wolfe from Burst

Denmark's The Boombox Hearts are in the process of recording their album, Gold.
Everything by The Boombox Hearts

Sweden's Sambassadeur have released another single from their album, European.
I Can Try by Sambassadeur from European

Quick look at the goings on

2010-03-14T20:02:00.004-04:00

Just for a quick update what's going on...

You can stream the full upcoming album, In The Dark, by The Whigs here. The album is due out on March 16th.

Cancel the Astronauts are giving away downloads of their EP, I am the President of your Fanclub (and Last Night I Followed you Home), in anticipation of the follow-up EP. You can download it here, here, or there.

Filigar has been spending the past year working on a music film project titled FAR (Filligar's 8 Music Films by 8 Directors in 8 Weeks). You can check out installment two below.

Dark Mean's second EP, Music Box, is out and available for download, all for the slim price of an email.

And last but not least, Alchemist Records, a favorite here on EOI, will be putting out a new album by their latest addition, Illus Ocean. The album, Meskin in the Attic, will be out on March 30th. Here's two singles for you to check out.
~~Ground Zero~~
~~Gumdrop~~

image from .: Philipp Klinger :. on Flickr

Stream Frightened Rabbit's upcoming album

2010-02-28T11:37:00.007-05:00

NPR is streaming Frightened Rabbit's third album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, due out on March 9th, in its entirety here. Trust me, it's 45 minutes very, very well spent.

~~Living In Colour (BBC6 session)~~ by Frightened Rabbit

Shout Out Louds - Work

2010-02-23T18:18:00.004-05:00

~~Walls~~ by Shout Out Louds from Work

The joys of moving

2010-01-28T10:37:00.006-05:00

As though it weren't obvious, my blogging duties have fallen severly beyond the wayside. My apologies to you all. It's been a hectic couple of months. Hopefully, after next week things shall return to the norm once the moving is done and the unpacking begins. I haven't decided which is more of a headache - packing all that stuff and wondering why in world I spent money on it, or unpacking and figuring out how to put things back together since the directions went M.I.A.

I shall return when I get the internet connected at the new home. In the meantime, here's a track from Basia Bulat's recently released sophomore album, Heart of My Own. I love it, and if you enjoyed her first album as much as I did, this one is a must-have.

~~I'm Forgetting Everyone~~ by Basia Bulat from Heart of My Own

The view from here: Australia

2009-12-27T18:38:00.005-05:00

~~Dreaming Is Essential~~ by Because of Ghosts from This Culture of Background Noise
~~The Execution~~ by Paul Kelly and the Messengers from Gossip
~~Sweet Disposition~~ by The Temper Trap from Conditions
~~Sunlight in a Jar~~ by The Lucksmiths from Warmer Corners
~~Escalators~~ by Of the Red Sea from Of the Red Sea EP
~~All I Want~~ by Sarah Blasko from As Day Follows Night
~~Into My Arms~~ by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from The Boatman's Call
~~Blood~~ by The Middle East from Recordings of The Middle East EP

image from William Bullimore @ Flickr

Block o' new music

2009-12-20T19:52:00.009-05:00

The next month or so for me is going to consist of working and packing. Posts here will be kind of lacking till I get settled into the new home. No doubt, many of my nights will be the constant repeating of "Why do I have this?" Packing has that effect on me.
Enough of that. On with the tuneage...

Swedish trio, Brothers of End, released their debut album, The End, in October.
~~Big Bird~~ by Brothers of End from The End

The Idyllists have released a single from their self-titled album due out in February.
~~Sweet Loretta~~ by The Idyllists from The Idyllists

Jason Boesel, who has worked with the likes of Rilo Kiley and Conor Oberst, will be releasing his debut album, Hustler's Son, on January 12th. He recently recorded a Daytrotter session which you can stream/download here.
~~Hand of God~~ by Jason Boesel from Hustler's Son

Australian group, En Tout Cas are currently in the studio recording (presumably) their first EP.
~~Steal Your Soul~~ by En Tout Cas
~~Quarter Sins~~ by En Tout Cas

Swedish artist, Little Big Adventure, just released the video for the single "Happiest Times" from The Hateful Eye EP which was released back in May on the Labrador label.

~~Happiest Times~~ by Little Big Adventure from The Hateful Eye EP
~~The Hateful Eye~~ by Little Big Adventure from The Hateful Eye EP

An EOI favorite, Adam Sarmiento aka I and I has his fourth release, Weird Animals, out as a limited edition CD with the download version available on January 19th from Alchemist Records.
~~Weird Animal~~ by I and I from Weird Animals
~~Only Grey~~ by I and I from Weird Animals

Fanfarlo w/ Freelance Whales, Majestic Cafe 12/14/09

2009-12-20T15:16:00.004-05:00

Going to the Fanfarlo concert was somewhat of a last minute decision, but so very glad I went. If there were any US shows left, I'd highly recommend seeing them live. Unfortunately, the US leg of their tour with newcomers Freelance Whales is over.

On the plus side, if you want to check out this new pop band, they're resuming the tour in January. Their debut album, Weathervanes, is scheduled to be released on Frenchkiss Records on March 16th.

~~Generator^First Floor~~ by Freelance Whales from Weathervanes

20 best albums of 2009...or so says me

2009-12-06T17:11:00.011-05:00

20.Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health

Sadly, Harlem Shakes are no more. Shame to break up after such a great album.
~~Sunlight~~

19. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

All in all, this one lived up to the initial hype.
~~Southern Point~~

18. Broken Records - Until the Earth Begins to Part

~~Until the Earth Begins to Part~~

17. Telekinesis - Telekinesis!

~~Look to the East~~

16. Japandroids - Post-Nothing

I'd have to say that these guys were one of the best new acts to come on the scene this year.
~~Wet Hair~~

15. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You

~~January Wedding~~

14. Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring

This album doesn't have the happy, cheery feel of its predecessor. This one takes us to the other, not-so-pretty side of love. It's a break-up album, and a great one at that.
~~The First Days of Spring~~

13. Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside

~~Everybody Come Outside~~

12. Ólafur Arnalds - Found Songs

A track a day for seven days. This one is a nice holdover till his newest full-length album comes out on December 7th.
~~Romance~~

11. The Middle East - The Recordings of The Middle East EP

Finally available in the US as an EP, the wait had been well worth it. Let's hope the tracks missing from the full-length album will be available soon.
~~The Darkest Side~~

10. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Can it get anymore twee than this?
~~The Sweetest Thing~~

9. All the King's Men - Dirty Pubs & Bouncing Rooms

I loved this album when I first heard it, and I still love it. So underrated.
~~The Derby Dogs~~

8. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

Of this year's debuts, this is by far one of the best.
~~Indiana~~

7. St. Vincent - Actor

This album is so much easier to love than her first.
~~The Neighbors~~

6. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

This album has gotten mixed reviews, but I personally think it's even better than Random Spirit Lover, and a welcome relief from the slight disappointment from last year's Wolf Parade release.
~~Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!~~

5. Fanfarlo - Reservoir

Even with all the comparison's to Beirut, this album has stood on its own just fine. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them live in a couple weeks.
~~I'm A Pilot~~

4. The Twilight Sad - Forget the Night Ahead

We were told before this album was released that it wouldn't be the usual follow up to Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters. Couldn't have been more true.
~~Reflecting of the Television~~

3. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

Is it even possible for Andrew Bird to come out with a bad album?
~~Tenuousness~~

2. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Like 2006's The Crane Wife, this album is a story intended to be listened to from start to finish. The addition of vocals from My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden certainly helped, as she definitely stole the show while on tour with the band.
~~The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid~~

1. Doves - Kingdom of Rust

After a long four year wait, Doves did not disappoint on this one. "Winter Hill" is bound to be one of my favorite tracks for a long time to come.
~~Kingdom of Rust~~

Time for the obligatory end of year lists; decisions, decisions

2009-12-04T18:40:00.006-05:00

If you're anything like me, you read blog after blog after blog with lists that seem to mirror each other just a little bit too much. And then you ask yourself "Why?" Why do bloggers come up with these lists? Why are so many of them so much alike?
Answer: I have no idea - but I'm going to do one anyways.
This year wasn't exactly a stellar year, in my opinion, but there were some really good albums that came out that deserve noting again. Maybe they slipped under the radar with all the hype surrounding releases from the likes of Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, etc.; maybe they came out in the beginning of the year and simply were forgotten about. It happens.
On that note, let me start off with what I think were the best songs of the year. This was not an easy list to make. I wanted to keep it simple (and short) so there were a handful of really great songs that didn't make the cut. As much of a chore as it was just deciding which songs to list, I'm not going to put them in ranking order. Good enough is just simply that.

~~The Walls Are Coming Down~~ by Fanfarlo from Reservoir

~~Much More Than That~~ by Sharon Van Etten from Because I Was In Love

~~Quiet Little Voices~~ by We Were Promised Jetpacks from These Four Walls

~~Two~~ by The Antlers from Hospice

~~The Rake's Song~~ by The Decemberists from The Hazards of Love

~~Effigy~~ by Andrew Bird from Noble Beast

~~Ljósið~~ by Ólafur Arnalds from Found Songs

~~No You Girls~~ by Franz Ferdinand from Tonight

~~I Became A Prostitute~~ by The Twilight Sad from Forget the Night Ahead

~~When They Fight, They Fight~~ by Generationals from Con Law

~~Winter Hill~~ by Doves from Kingdom of Rust

~~French Navy~~ by Camera Obscura from My Maudlin Career

~~Advent in Ives Garden~~ by Sin Fang Bous from Clangour

~~Canadian Dream~~ by Andrew Vincent from Rotten Pair via TLOBF

~~Percussion Gun~~ by White Rabbits from It's Frightening

~~There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve~~ by A.C. Newman from Get Guilty

~~Coast of Carolina~~ by Telekinesis from Telekinesis!

~~Idiot Heart~~ by Sunset Rubdown from Dragonslayer

~~Young Hearts Spark Fire~~ by Japandroids from Post-Nothing

~~Actor Out of Work~~ by St. Vincent from Actor

~~Just This Ashtray~~ by Lemonwilde from Red Room

~~The Last English Rose~~ by All The King's Men from Dirty Pubs & Bouncing Rooms

~~Games for Days~~ by Julian Plenti from Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper

~~Champagne Downtown~~ by Halloween, Alaska from Champagne Downtown

~~If Eilert Loevborg Wrote A Song, It Would Sound Like This~~ by Broken Records from Until the Earth Begins to Part

image from chewie2008~ at Flickr

Eat ham on Turkey Day

2009-11-25T17:35:00.004-05:00

~~Ghost Under Rocks~~ by Ra Ra Riot from The Rhumb Line
~~All I Need~~ by Radiohead from In Rainbows
~~The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect~~ by The Rakes from The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect
~~Three More Days~~ by Ray LaMontagne from Till the Sun Turns Black
~~Lake Michigan~~ by Rogue Wave from Asleep at Heaven's Gate
~~Life Like~~ by The Rosebuds from Life Like
~~Don't Haunt This Place~~ by The Rural Alberta Advantage from Hometowns
~~Sleepyhead~~ (Passion Pit cover) by Run Toto Run

Lykke Li covers The Shirelles

2009-11-20T17:37:00.004-05:00

I'm one of those who feel that the philosophy of "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it" can be applied to music. Truth be told, I'm not a big fan of most covers. For me to even listen to one is a feat in and of itself. So, when I was going through the other blogs I read and noticed that Swedish singer, Lykke Li was giving away a free download of her take on The Shirelles hit, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" I thought it would at least be a little interesting.
Fact is, it's an amazing version. Heartbreaking, almost. Still, a job well done.

34 and counting

2009-11-19T21:21:00.003-05:00

For as far back as I can remember, the dreaded "S" word won't be joining us in the Detroit area for my birthday. Not that it got an invite.
Though I had to spend my day at work and later at home doing homework, it was a really good one. Good food, lots of laughs, and just an all-around great day; exactly as a birthday should be - nice and simple.

With that said, there's an Australian band that I'd been reading about on various blogs and what-not, but wasn't able to find any tunes available in the US. Until now, that is. The Middle East released an EP, The Recordings of the Middle East, in the US in October. The downside to this is that it leaves off some of the songs featured on the full-length album, which is still unavailable in the US.
~~Blood~~ by The Middle East from The Recordings of the Middle East

1 year and counting

2009-11-16T20:27:00.004-05:00

It's been one whole year since I started this site. Not bad for a rookie, if I do say so myself. I'll spare everyone the mushy sentiment and get right to business with a new video from my favorite Scottish band, Frightened Rabbit. The single for "Swim Until You Can't See Land" is being released tomorrow.

Speaking of Scottish bands, I somehow managed to completely pass up an amazing album last year from Meursault called Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues. They also released an EP, Nothing Broke back in July. I highly recommend checking them out.
~~Nothing Broke~~ by Meursault from Nothing Broke

New track from Cold War Kids

2009-11-15T20:02:00.004-05:00

~~Audience of One~~ by Cold War Kids from Behave Yourself EP (scheduled for release on 1/19/10)

Pick a track, any track

2009-11-14T19:18:00.005-05:00

There's way too many tracks accumulating in the inbox for me to properly scrutinize all of them, but I've at least narrowed it down quite a bit. I'm feeling slightly democratic today, so I'm going to let the people choose.

~~Comin' Undone~~ by Kuba Oms from How Much Time

~~Days~~ by Sambassadeur from European

~~Great Love Story~~ by The Idyllists from The Long Hours Between Sunset & Morning

~~Apocalypso~~ from Squirrelhouse

~~Gold Mine (radio edit)~~ by Showstar from Think Ringo

~~Alleycat~~ by Awesome New Republic from Hearts

~~White Lights~~ by Me My Head from Survival in No Man's Land

~~Shadows of Men~~ by Alpha Leonis from Shadows of Men

~~When You Walk in the Room~~ by Fyfe Dangerfield from Fly Yellow Moon

image from _remo @ Flickr

Berlin, November 9, 1989: Wir sind ein Volk

2009-11-08T13:35:00.007-05:00

It would be practically impossible for me not to post about the events that took place 20 years ago on the night of November 9th. It literally changed the world, even if the events that led up and added to it had started some months beforehand within Germany, and in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Yes, I'm old enough to remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news. I was just finishing my first of three years in Iceland and was sound asleep that night, so I didn't hear about it till first thing the next morning. Living on a US military base, there were some of us young'ins who naive enough to think that this meant we might get to go home early. Silly of us to think, I know.

I'd originally thought of posting U2's "One" for this post, but after hearing about the sick, insensitive, and utterly stupid stunt used at a recent free concert in Berlin, I had to rethink things.

~~Surf City Eastern Bloc~~ by Arcade Fire from No Cars Go [single]

New music on a Devils' Night

2009-10-30T18:08:00.009-04:00

"Valencia" is the first single from the forthcoming album, El Turista, from singer-songwriter Josh Rouse, set for a February 16th release date. Just makes you want to shake your hips now, doesn't it?
Valencia by Josh Rouse from El Turista

EOI favorite, Eric Sarmiento has been working hard in the studio and will be releasing a series of singles in pairs on the Alchemist Records label, eventually amounting to a full-length album starting November 17th.
So She Says by Eric Sarmiento from Strange Power single

Another EOI favorite, Finnish singer-songwriter, Antti Reikko aka Koria Kitten Riot, released his self-titled first solo album on October 28th on Solmu Records. Can I just say that this album is amazing, it's beautiful, the song writing is outstanding, and I love it? It actually makes me look forward to those freezing cold nights so I can curl up with the blanket and iPod to just enjoy and appreciate such great music.
4AM Cars by Koria Kitten Riot from Koria Kitten Riot
At the End of the World by Koria Kitten Riot from Koria Kitten Riot

Electronic pop artist, Digits, released his first album, Hold It Close, back in September. Very...well, poppy and catchy.
Nonstop by Digits from Hold It Close

For a few quickies:
German group, plus49, have released a new single, "Schneeweiß Berlin," combining rock, dance, and opera, featuring Icelandic soprano, Sigrún Pálmadóttir.
Schneeweiß Berlin by plus49 from Integrity and Injury

SF rock band, Collider, have released a new single from their upcoming album being released December 31st.
Time Concerns by Collider from Big Bang Machine

Ontario band, The Rest, will be releasing a new EP titled The Cried Wolf Book, which will be accompanied by an illustrated novel. You can check the first section out here along with a free download for the band's cover of Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat."

There's plenty more to come. To be continued...

The view from here: Ireland

2009-10-26T19:58:00.006-04:00

As you may have noticed, my blogging duties have seriously fallen by the wayside lately. My apologies. I have an overflowing inbox with a ton of new music to share, as soon as I can get beyond Halloween. Lucky me has to dress up in costume for a wedding. Fun stuff, I'm tellin' ya.
~~Bad~~ by U2 from The Unforgettable Fire
~~Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore~~ by Young Dubliners from With All Due Respect - The Irish Sessions
~~Linger~~ by The Cranberries from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
~~A Rainy Night In Soho~~ by The Pogues from Rum, Sodomy & The Lash
~~Come In Alone~~ by My Bloody Valentine from Loveless
~~Blackboots & Blackhearts~~ by Sweet Jane from Blackboots & Blackhearts
~~Trinkets~~ by The Dying Seconds from The Dying Seconds
~~Rootless Tree~~ by Damien Rice from 9

image from JKönig @ Flickr

Catching up: Notable releases

2009-10-12T12:08:00.006-04:00

~~cover of Love You Down~~ by Meshell Ndegeocello from Devil's Halo

~~FeelingPulledApartByHorses~~ by Thom Yorke from FeelingPulledApartByHorses

~~I And Love And You~~ by The Avett Brothers from I And Love And You

~~Here To Fall~~ by Yo La Tengo from Popular Songs

~~My Will Is Good~~ by Port O'Brien from Threadbare

~~Bless This Mess~~ by David Bazan from Curse Your Branches

~~Genesis 3:23~~ by The Mountain Goats from The Life Of The World To Come

~~Aisle 13~~ by Built To Spill from There Is No Enemy

Happy 60th, Bruce!

2009-09-23T20:38:00.005-04:00

~~Lonesome Day~~ by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band from The Rising