The Hippodrome

Rarely in indie-pop do you see an artist using their name as the band. That appears to have disappeared long ago in the early to mid 1990s. But, with artists like Shawn Fogel rising up, it may be making a comeback. But wait! Jeremy Sparrow is not in the band. Is it a made-up name? Or is it a moniker taken from a novel, as that of Harper Lee?

Jeremy Sparrow is a made up name and a fairly new discovery. The band messaged me several… err… months ago about writing a little feature on them, but I never got around to it other than sticking it on my “things to do” list. When I finally checked them out, I found their music to be the hefty style of pop I tend to associate with countries like Denmark (their home) and titles like “experimental” (well… slightly experimental).

While it’s nowhere near as monumental as fellow Denmark cohorts Mew, or not nearly as experimental as The LK side-project Fredrik, Jeremy Sparrow does know a thing or two about crafting a good pop tune. There’s an 80s element to the music, often found in the guitar riffs, bass lines, and jumpy percussion. Just listen to “The Rent’s Due” and you’ll hear it.

Audio: The Rent’s Due
Audio: Outrunning Paper Tigers
Audio: Suburb

One of my favorite new blogs is BiBaBiDi. While the site has been around a bit longer than FensePost, I am a newbie in checking it on a daily basis. Simply put, I trust the guy’s opinion. The daily posts cover music I appreciate and the look and feel is very modern and hip. So why all this regarding a separate blog? Well, because a recent post covered an upcoming album I just received. That artist is The Old Believers and their album, out July 10 by their own release, is called Eight Golden Greats.

The Old Believers’ style of old-time folk-pop appears to take hints from the 60s and 70s style folk in the same manner as She And Him did on their recent debut Volume One. There’s an abnormally heavy emphasis on percussion, which sets The Old Believers aside from your traditional folk-pop artist, but where someone like The Lovely Sparrows focuses this effort on cymbals, The Old Believers do so on the bass drum.

Then they switch back and forth between crafty, romantic male- and female-fronted vocals. While I have yet to delve too far into the album, I wanted to begin spreading the word as this release is quite phenomenal. Expect a glowing review of Eight Golden Greats come July.

Audio: Granny’s Song
Audio: The Trouble I’ve Met

(This post was contributed by Andrew Fenstermaker of FensePost)

Open Choir Fire appears, in the outset, to hold steady with well-known staple 90s indie artists including the Pixies, Fugazi and Juno. Following suit is the hefty power trio of guitar, bass and drums. Vocalist Amo DelBello mixes it up with early Modest Mouse-esque shrieks and the post-punky, pre-emo moodiness of Juno.

In “Big Regret”, there’s a light indie-pop sound familiar to artists like Baby Calendar, but with a heavier 90s appeal. However, songs like “Things You Have To Do” find an edge; here DelBello comes off as a heavier, less awkward Isaac Brock. “Candle” fits the moody Juno mold nicely.

Surprisingly, Open Fire Choir has quite a few recordings under their belt. One includes Volume 3 of Ball Of Wax. If you dig 90s indie rock, you’ll dig Open Fire Choir.

Audio: Big Regret (Live)

(This Post was contributed by Andrew Fenstermaker of FensePost)