So, as the New Year approaches, here are our favourite albums of 2011 for your consideration. Feel free to dispute, argue, or otherwise put us right because, if nothing else, music is as about as subjective topic as it is possible to get. Some of these may not be the “best” albums of the year as far as the critics are concerned, but that matters … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 1 (50-31)
Back in March we posted about a band called Rat Trap and they have returned with a new single Iowa, which has some pleasing echoes of 90s inspired indie rock in the style of Pavement or Modest Mouse, but believe us when we say it is more than good enough to stand on its own two feet. Grab it for nothing here. a Continue reading MM Shorts 67: Rat Trap
Redanda is a full-on, fully greased up member of the garage rock brotherhood. This, of course, is a very good thing indeed as far as we’re concerned. In the DIY spirit their latest EP Carl, was recorded in a dirty house full of cat shit. No surprise then that lead track This Bed Is A Rock is bursting with a brashness and sneered vocals that recalls … Continue reading Introducing…Redanda
Shortly before Christmas The Lower 48 released their new album Where All Maps End, a beautifully judged album of warm, organic folk that joyfully takes its main influences from the 1960s. Having already given you The End, the band have made a second track, the good-natured acoustic strum of Into The Woods available for download. Buy from cdbaby here. Download The Lower 48 – Into The … Continue reading The Lower 48 Release Where All Maps End
Phantom Family Halo is the creation of multi-instrumentalist Dominic Cipolla. Their upcoming studio release, When I Fall Out is out on 14th February next year via Knitting Factory Records. We’ve featured the band before back in May following the release of The Mindeater EP, a split EP featuring them and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and describing their sound as “evil desert psych rock evocative of the chunkiness of Hawkwind and the … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Phantom Family Halo
Wowser Bowser specialise in the kind of billowing psych-pop that lifts the spirits and sets the heart soaring. Their self-titled debut album is out next month and if the evidence so far is anything to go by we can expect a record that is playful and energetic mixing synths with jittery, brittle drums and exhilarating vocals. Imagine something hovering on the cusp of the oft-quoted … Continue reading Introducing…Wowser Bowser
Earlier this month we posted the brilliant Christmas track by new indie supergroup of sorts (and the second put together by Deer Tick’s John McCauley) Diamond Rugs, which now has this video to accompany it. Enjoy as your own Christmas dinner digests…. a a Continue reading Christmas Post 17: Diamond Rugs Again
This is a beautiful and beguiling duet of lovely, understated folk from rapidly rising troubadour Luke De-Sciscio & sensitive songstress Audrey Aroha. a Continue reading MM Shorts 64: Luke De-Sciscio & Audrey Aroha
Happy Christmas one and all from Mad Mackerel. This is indie rockers Dog Is Dead with their take on the Waitresses indie festive classic Christmas Wrapping. Enjoy! a Download Dog Is Dead – Christmas Wrapping mp3 (Waitresses Cover) Continue reading Christmas Post 16: Dog Is Dead
With powerful vocals and intricate arrangements, Tatiana Kochkareva’s intelligent indie-rock is both dynamic and haunting. A Moscow native with a passionate voice evoking comparisons to Nina Simone, she will release her third album, Infinity, on April 19 next year. Until then, you can grab Christmas At Home for free below. a Continue reading Christmas Post 15: Tatiana Kochkareva
