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Portal's release of Blood Red Tape shows them playing with as much intensity as before, but not sounding as muddy or gritty as previous efforts. Simply put, this is an album that should be used as an example of what hard rock music should really be: hard-hitting, musical, and emotional.

Portal was selected Band of the Month for November on Sonic 102.9 in their home-town of Edmonton, and were selected for inclusion on Big Rock's Untapped Artists Compilation, due for release in tandem with the Juno Awards this Spring. Songs from Blood Red Tape are already climbing Garageband's progressive and modern rock charts, and eleven-minute epic The Kingdom has reached #5 on Warsaw's ActiveRock Radio, which in 2005 selected Portal as Independent Band of the Year. In addition, 'Back in the Day', Blood Red Tape's first single, has seen weekly additions to commercial and college radio stations across North America since the album's release, and is showing no signs of abating.

Listen:

Portal - "Six Degrees" (mp3)

Labels: Blood Red Tape

It started with two sisters, Jessica and Cristi Jo, of New York. A couple of guys and a girl later, they became what we now know as Zambri. The sisters write the songs and sing (with surprisingly huge voices for little bodies). Then join Chris, Andy and Carrie (who is seen playing electronics with her boots). Zambri generated some buzz after releasing their self-titled,debut EP last year, and became one amongst the few unsigned bands, to participate as an official act at both the CMJ & SXSW music festivals. Blogs and magazines try to pinpoint their unique sound, having compared them to the likes of Kate Bush, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Siouxsie, Bjork, Elastica, Cocteau Twins, New Order, and My Bloody Valentine.

I say they deliver a richly embroidered tapestry of sound. They balance creativity with commercial appeal and so their fan base will continue to grow.

They are currently working on their debut album, and playing some national tour dates this summer/fall.

Listen:

Zambri - "Easier" (mp3)

Labels: Zambri

Economy is where the LA melody-mavens of The Tender Box score all their points. Specialized in rock music with a dark undercurrent, expertly equipped to do as much as it can with as little as possible. Some guitar, a throbbing bass line, an insistent drum pound, a touch of sampling and synth when it fits, and a perfect vocal melody or two – there's not much else these guys have use for, and it's a recipe that suits both the concert hall and the dance floor.

Joey Medina (vocals, guitar), Ric Moon (guitar), Steve Mungarro (bass, vocals) and Chuck Gil (drums)

Every track is a multi-layered tapestry of melody, harmony and post-punk dissonance.

Listen:

The Tender Box - "Beautiful Sin" (mp3)

Enjoy!

Labels: The Tender Box

Reverie Sound Revue formed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 2002. The distinctive coo of vocalist Lisa Lobsinger matched with the pulsing rhythm section of John Marcel de Waal and Bryce Gracey, and the catchy guitar interplay of Marc De Pape and Patrick Walls made for an immediately recognizable sound that turned heads across Canada. However, the band had other callings and separated in 2004, leaving Canada and the world to wonder what could have been.

Simultaneously dancing between the enthusiasm of new wave and the earnestness of moody Britpop, Reverie Sound Revue's new eponymous album is equally sophisticated and playful, picking up where its 2003 indie darling EP left off. Reverie Sound Revue is an otherworldly exploration of pop music, drenched in reverb, a soundtrack for zero-gravity.

The result is Reverie Sound Revue, a cohesive collection of 11 songs filled with guitars that chime and reflect one another in curious play, and innocent keyboard lines that tumble over a propulsive rhythm section, all tied together by Lobsinger's haunting vocals.

Listen:

Reverie Sound Revue - "Arrows" (mp3)

Tracklisting
01. An Anniversary Away*
02. We Are The Opposite of Thieves*
03 Prelude To A Debut
04. Pretty One Play
05. Arrows*
06. In Hotel Homes
07. Off Rooftops
08. I Could Be Dangerous*
09. You Don’t Exist If I Don’t See You*
10. May Be First, May Be Second
11. The Leisure Lost

Labels: Reverie Sound Revue

When brother/sister duo Chris and Kate Farstad asked friends Micky Alfano and Mark Ritsema to join them in musical harmonic formation, jaded observers in the already-crowded Minneapolis indie rock scene were quick to skepticism.

The six-piece group's first album, "The End," received hype from the likes of City Pages and The Star Tribune. Their newer material is some of the best from 2009 to date. Mouthful of Bees create emotional modern folk music that is just beautifully arranged even if unhinged at times. There music gets better with every listen.

Do you have any rituals before or while playing music?

Katelyn: [Making music] is a ritual in itself.

Patrick: Does tuning up count?

Chris: Actually, yes! We make sure to have a guy in the same room playing World of Warcraft the entire time. He's a female Dark Elf Death Knight.

Listen:

Mouthful of Bees - "Thomas Aquinas"

Enjoy!

Labels: mouthful of bees