Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'melodic'

One Day International: Irish Indie-Pop

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:54:00 EST

Produced by Bell X1 guitarist Brian Crosby, One Day International's Blackbird is full of melodic and intricate lullabies. Frontman Matt Lunson's emotional vocals tell stories of lovers and strangers, while the band's string and piano arrangements draw comparisons to Rufus Wainwright and Keane.

North Carolina's Annuals: 'Such Fun'

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:22:00 EST

Intricate, melodic and vivid: The sound of North Carolina's Annuals is the epitome of sunny indie-pop. The band's thoughtful harmonies, anthemic orchestration and percussion, and bright electronics are given an excellent showcase on Annuals' new album, Such Fun.

Twin Tigers: 'Red Fox Run'

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:50:00 EDT

Athens, Georgia band Twin Tigers may have only been around a short time but they are already getting recognized as yet another great band to come out of the well-know music town. Their self-released debut EP, Curious Faces Violet Future is a fierce and brooding, yet melodic collection of songs that shows great promise for future efforts.

Live Friday: Ryan Bingham, Hayes Carll in Concert

Thu, 29 May 2008 16:12:00 EDT

Bingham's songs are gritty and dense, reflecting an overall mood of loneliness and hardship, while opener Hayes Carll is a dryly witty 28-year-old whose humble, melodic folk tunes are often infused with humorous anecdotes. Both will perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live on Friday.

Lucy Bland: 'Sea Level'

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:37:00 EDT

Lucy Bland's debut, full-length release, Down to Sea Level, is a soul-warming balm for the endlessly rainy days of their hometown Seattle, Wash. Delicate, electronic beeps and pops mingle with melodic strings and singer Cat Biell's cozy vocals. It's the sonic equivalent of lazing in a gently swaying hammock, under a cloudless day at the beach.

Kaki King Dreams of Melody, 'Revenge'

Sun, 04 May 2008 14:09:00 EDT

Rock stars have been known to try crazy things with a guitar. Kaki King doesn't light hers on fire, but she does pick the string of the guitar with both hands, while slapping the body in time. On her new CD, Dreaming of Revenge, she displays a new melodic sensibility with her own voice.

It's A King Thing: 'Old Hobbies'

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:35:00 EDT

South Jersey guitarist Brian Mietz writes and records under the name, It's A King Thing. Citing Weezer, the Beatles and Nirvana among his influences, the 25 year old musician makes a mix of jangly, melodic pop and rock with plenty of power chords. It's A King Thing produced ten tracks for the RPM Challenge and an album called Proper Nouns, featuring the song "Old Hobbies."

Adam Green's Fifth CD Is 'Sixes & Sevens'

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:09:00 EDT

One half of the mostly defunct band Moldy Peaches has put out a solo full length CD. The genre-jumping and stream-of-consciousness lyrics on the album make the title, a term for disarray, seem apt. But the songs are melodic and imaginative.

The Umbrella Sequence: 'Urban Lull'

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:36:00 EDT

In a crowded field of electro-pop artists, The Umbrella Sequence stands out as a fresh, dynamic voice. Citing the Nintendo Wii as a musical influence, the Minneapolis, Minn. group makes synth-drizzled, melodic rock with heavily processed beats that crackle with an addictive, blissful energy.

Abdullah Ibrahim Stays Rooted to His Homeland

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:18:00 EDT

South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, but he spent much of his life in exile. With inspiration from Duke Ellington and others, Ibrahim's sound became more deeply rooted in Africa. Today, few living composers can match his melodic inventiveness.

Finding Something New on the 'Radio'

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:39:00 EDT

New York's Looker embraces the DIY approach on "Radio," and it seems at first that the band's enthusiasm outpaces its abilities. But the song works anyway, thanks to Looker's melodic sense and its original take on hoary topics.

'Runouttaluck' Slashes Without Bludgeoning

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:33:00 EDT

"Runouttaluck," from the Toronto band The Golden Dogs, is the sound of pop nerds engaging in charmingly bratty displays of melodic gamesmanship. Throughout the song, the band tips its hat to pop music that can be quirky and hooky all at once.

All the Wrong Moves, in a 'Backfire at the Disco'

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:05:00 EDT

Demonstrating The Wombats U.K.'s firm grip on multi-part harmonies and bouncy choruses, "Backfire at the Disco" represents everything that can go right with melodic guitar pop. The song chronicles a disastrous date from singer Matthew Murphy's perspective.

Robert Gomez: Ethereal Indie-Folk

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:06:00 EDT

Gomez's sweetly layered, melodic songs draw together elements of folk and rock, grounded by a strong pop sensibility. An accomplished guitarist, Gomez got his start in instrumental jazz before shifting gears. Hear Gomez give an interview and in-studio performance.

Robert Gomez: From the Circus to the Stars

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:24:00 EDT

Gomez's sweetly layered, melodic songs draw together elements of folk and rock, grounded by a strong pop sensibility. Signed to his label at the suggestion of Midlake's members, the former traveling-circus performer releases Brand New Towns this week.

Son Volt, Live in Concert

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:21:00 EST

Blending the sounds of classic Americana into a whole that feels both familiar and original, Son Volt and bandleader Jay Farrar compose elegant, melodic songs that radiate intelligence and melancholy. Son Volt performs a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.

The Shins' New CD: More of the Good Stuff

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:00:00 EST

The 2004 movie Garden State transformed the Shins from a little known indie-rock band to a mainstream sensation. Their eagerly awaited new album is out today. The album shows the Shins expanding their sound without losing the melodic pop-writing they're known for.

An Indie Supergroup Gets Experimental

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:42:00 EST

Swan Lake collaborators Dan Bejar, Spencer Krug and Carey Mercer are each seasoned and inventive songwriters who inspire eager anticipation. Amid a melodic blur of fuzzed-out guitars, Bowie-tinged vocals and a fiery assault of archaic synthesizers, the words and meanings of "Widow's Walk" are elusive and evocative.

Rodrigo y Gabriela: Elegant and Rollicking

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:11:00 EST

The music of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero attempts to reconcile their love of heavy metal music with their traditional style of Mexican guitar playing. Their self-titled debut combines Sanchez's intricate fingerpicking with Quintero's smooth melodic style -- and works wonderfully.

Los Lobos: Elegantly Raucous

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:33:00 EDT

Los Lobos' music is hard to classify: Its members play raucous rock 'n' roll, but they often incorporate elegant melodic ballads into the mix. Sometimes they play blues or rockabilly or folk, but each song incorporates at least a touch of their Mexican-American heritage.

Wide-Open Spaces and Large-Scale Sounds

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 19:32:00 EDT

Of all the musicians aspiring to the grandiose, room-filling pop-rock of Coldplay or U2, few make a lasting impression. But the Texas band Pompeii outshines its many similarly inclined contemporaries by injecting a bit of force into its chiming, melodic, mid-tempo indie-pop.

John Gorka in Concert

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:25:00 EDT

Gorka's music demonstrates an easy melodic sensibility: Nothing is contrived or overproduced. His work is built around little more than his unmistakable voice and the simple, clean sounds of his guitar. Gorka performs a solo set from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.

Barenaked Ladies: Clever and Hummable

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:19:00 EDT

On Barenaked Ladies Are Me, the band has composed another cohesive, enjoyable and wryly mature set of pop songs. Continuing in the melodic pop-rock vein of the group's last few releases, the record is awash in the clever witticisms and hummable hooks that fans have come to expect.

Grizzly Bear: Gorgeously Hazy

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:16:00 EDT

Grizzly Bear's gorgeously hazy second disc is a major leap forward: Titled Yellow House, it benefits from a monumental upgrade in production values, as well as the presence of tight, focused songs that place the band's experimental tendencies into a more natural-sounding melodic context.

Gran Bel Fisher: The Wonders of Being Alive

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:15:00 EDT

Fisher's music revels in the wonders of being alive through intricate piano-voice-and-guitar arrangements: From melodic ballads to rocking anthems, it all traces back to his early encounters with mortality.