A Free Man

Let’s kick it off with the vastly underrated Wolf Parade. The Canadian quartet’s 2005 debut “Apologies to the Queen Mary” was one of that year’s best albums that you might not have heard. Their sophomore effort, “At Mount Zoomer, is due out in North America on Tuesday from Sub Pop. What I’ve heard so far squelches any fears I had of a sophomore slump.

MP3: Wolf Parade - “Language City”

I was never a huge fan of Rugby’s Spiritualized, though I have a great friend whose musical opinion I respect who has always tried to sell me on the spacey act. I think I may finally be sold. This track from last month’s “Songs in A & E” is stellar.

MP3: Spiritualized - “Soul on Fire”

The Dandy Warhols made one of the best sing-along albums of the decade with 2000’s “Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia”. They’ve never been as close to that good since. That’s not to say that subsequent albums are bad, quite the contrary. Their latest LP, “…Earth To The Dandy Warhols…” marches further toward musical maturity while retaining a healthy dose of dandy cheekiness.

MP3: The Dandy Warhols - “The World, The People, Together (Come On)”

You Me & Iowa seem to have little to do with the start for which they’re named other than occasionally dressing like farm boys on their way to church on Sunday. The L.A. quintet released an album full of psychedelically tinged pop last month.

MP3: You, Me & Iowa - “Dress The Stage”

There’s nothing particularly novel about Firewater, but their’s something compelling about their gypsy-esque post-punk. I found that Firewater’s Tod A. sounded a lot like Mike Ness, not a bad thing. Their sixth long player, “The Golden Hour”, came out last month.

MP3: Firewater - “Electric City”

I may have been predisposed to The Saturday Knights because of the title of the single they sent along. But beyond the canine-friendly song title, the Seattle trio is throwing around refreshing hip-hop inspired pop or, depending on your perspective, pop inspired hip-hop. “Mingle” is out on the 24th of June from Light In the Attic.

MP3: The Saturday Knights -”Dog Park”

Staten Island’s Happy Anarchy’s sophomore LP “Reset” is earning them comparisons to Modest Mouse, Mercury Rev, Built to Spill and their ilk. With soaring, sunshiny melodies and dense guitars those comparisons aren’t too far off. “Reset” came out in May on Highlark Records.

MP3: Happy Anarchy - “Is That Right”

Regular readers of A Free Man will know the respect that I’ve got for the Swedish music scene right now. Kleerup’s a bit dancey for my taste, but this track, featuring fellow Swedish chanteuse Lykke Li is pure electro-pop pleasure.

MP3: Kleerup (Feat Lykke Li) - “Until We Bleed (Mikael’s Cello Version)”

London based Sunny Day Sets Fire features a global line-up, with musicians from four countries coming together in a way that The Big Smoke encourages. Their music has a tendency to be as diverse as their backgrounds, but when on form they’re fantastic. “Summer Palace”, their debut LP, is out in July from I Am Sound.

MP3: Sunny Day Sets Fire - “Brainless”

Last, but not least, is the latest offering from one of A Free Man’ s favorite indie labels - Series Two. Known for their Swedish acts, Series Two seems to be branching into Asia. Flannel is a Japanese guy working out of his bedroom and, in the spirit of guys working out of their bedrooms, is making some surprisingly good introspective pop music. His debut LP, “Dear Something, Dear Someone” is available from Series Two.

MP3: Flannel - “Morning, About Mill and Mugs”

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