(The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope excel at producing that whirling, swirling D.C. (okay, mid-Atlantic, maybe even all the way up to Boston) indie sound. With ex-members of The Ropers and The Still joining founder Damien Taylor, and Lilys Kurt Heasley lending a helping hand, how could they not?
Your toes are gonna be tapping in no time. I guarantee it.
The Autumns
Soaring vocals, soaring guitars, soaring pop.
Midsummer
Midsummer are just that, midsummer. Fun, refreshed, probably sunburned, a little sweaty, a little lazy, with just a touch of apprehension cause school starts in six weeks.
FLIN FLON
This is what drum ‘n’ bass should be. Yet another offering from Mr. Teenbeat himself, Mark Robinson. Nothing new to the viewers of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” where “Floods” serves as the opening music. (Not to be confused with Flin Flon, the sixth largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba.)
Coastal
Coastal’s second full-length album, released this week, shows the gang venturing into new orbits, incorporating more instruments and complex harmonies while remaining hauntingly simple. And beautiful.
The Aisler’s Set
Amy Linton, indie pop/rock songwriter extraordinaire…and, damn, can she play the drums! You see, I love Amy from her days in the long defunct Henry’s Dress. Now we are blessed to hear her in the Aisler’s Set doing simple, pleasant songs tinged with the sounds of the ’50s and ’60s.
Oranger
Oranger are just plain old fun — a bunch of guys who sat around listening to the Kinks, the 13th Floor Elevators, and Al Green as teenagers (hey, who didn’t?) — although they’re pushing into more pop these days.
The Sugarplastic
Yes, they’re still around, releasing songs one 7-inch at a time. Less XTC, less silly, but still plenty mischievous.
The Advantage
The Advantage, well, they’re a cover band, pure and simple. The thing is, they only cover Nintendo tunes. Get ready to re-live hours and hours of wasted time as a teenager.
The Fontaine Toups
Versus’ Fontaine Toups, perhaps the most underrated, indie female bass player, debuts her new band, carrying on where Versus left off.