The Notes and Scratches - two albums
Chicago’s indie rock band The Notes and Scratches are on a recording binge. The goal is seven new projects for 2009 and the EP To The Other Side is one of the first efforts to be unleashed. It’s a good one, mixing their assessible sound with a bit of tenseness. I really like this group. There is a nice mix of Arcade Fire’s complex and sometimes messy arranging with a casualness that reminds me of Billie The Vision and The Dancers. On the other hand, Jason Eckerson’s lead vocals have a tentative but intense sound that evokes Craig Finn of The Hold Steady. “The Caption” and “The Compromise” are two good examples from this interesting band.
Uh-Oh is an earlier release. The Arcade Fire influence is quite evident on the first track and beyond. “The Hours” is full of movement and drive while “The Clockmakers Daughter” is a poignant folk ballad. I prefer To The Other Side as it sounds a bit more fully realized but either album exhibits a talented band that is just starting to realize its potential.
Uh-Oh is available in 192kbps MP3 while To The Other Side is in 320kbps MP3. Both can be downloaded from the band web site. Just follow the links below.
Download
Uh-Oh
To The Other Side
Hey there! Just wanted to say that I love reading your posts! I’m running a podcast and this is a great resource for me to use to find some cool free music.
Thanks again!
Comment by Stephen — May 24, 2009 @ 2:44 pm