This week is nostalgia week! Don’t check your calendars, because I made that up. However, it is Mother’s Day this Sunday. So make sure you grab some flowers, a Mother’s Day card with the perfect message you couldn’t think of yourself, and tell your mom “Hey, you should check out Knowahnoah’s Indie Blog!”

I’d like to take you back a bit. Back to a simpler time. The 2000s! A time when gas cost more than a dollar, and people used cool phrases like “Fo shizzle”, “cray cray”, and “skrilla”. Or to put that all together, “Fo shizzle, get my cray cray skrilla from my fanny pack!”

Let’s just get to the music before you question why you’re listening to me.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Me and Mia

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists was the band that made me think “Hey! I can be a pharmacist, AND be in a band!” As it turns out, they’re not actually pharmacists, but now I am, and I have no band. Thanks, Ted.

I’ve been listening to this song for about 9 or 10 years, and I’ve only come to understand what this song means through research for this blog (or at least, what most people interpret this song to be about). Apparently this song is about Bulimia/Anorexia/Eating Disorders. Sometimes even when I’m enjoying a song so much, I forget to really listen to the lyrics and can miss the message it’s trying to deliver. In any case, them’s the facts.

The Temper Trap – Love Lost

In 2009, The Temper Trap released their debut album, Conditions. The album has some great songs on it which have been used countless times in movies, TV shows and commercials (I’m pretty certain the first I heard of the Temper Trap was “Sweet Disposition” in (500) Days of Summer). I can’t say that I’ve listened to their second (self-titled) album much, but if you are a fan of TTT, you’ll be excited to hear they are currently working on a third album!

The Zutons – Valerie

Sadly, The Zutons did not make it out of the 2000s intact. They’re most likely remembered for their top single, “Valerie”. If you haven’t heard of them, but this sounds vaguely familiar to you, you may recognize the cover performed by Mark Ronson, featuring Amy Winehouse.

The Kooks – Matchbox

Inside In/Inside Out, the debut album from the Kooks, is definitely on the short list for being one of my favorite albums. It’s an album I love from start to finish, front to back, inside in and inside out. The song I decided to feature was the song that got me hooked on the Kooks, “Matchbox”. I still remember hearing them for the first time, hanging out in one of my best friend’s basements most likely drinking black bull beer a 10% beer that came in a bottle over a litre (or liter for you yankee doodles) and cost $5… Considering that, it’s a wonder I remember those nights at all (though most of them I don’t). The Kooks are an indie rock/britpop band out of Brighton, UK, which is very apparent from listening to lead singer Luke’s voice.

Fortunately they’re still putting out music, although their most recent album, Listen, finds them taking a different approach. Listen is more rhythmic and includes more drum parts than seen on previous albums, with hints of R&B, gospel, and retro-funk sprinkled throughout. However different it may be from the Kooks I fell in love with, I recommend you give Listen a listen!

Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum

Interesting enough, Arctic Monkey’s debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not came out on the same day as The Kooks’ previously mentioned debut, Inside In/Inside Out. The Arctic Monkeys’ debut album was, and still is, the fast selling debut album, selling 363,735 copies within the first week.

Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes

Land of talk was a Canadian rock trio from Montreal, Quebec. I say “was” with great sadness, as my suspicions have just been confirmed that Land of Talk is no more. Their last album, Cloak and Cipher, was released in 2010, and nothing has really been heard from them since.

While doing more research into Land of Talk this week, I found their most recent Twitter post from June 6, 2011, where lead singer Elizabeth Powell posted on Twitter: “FOR SALE!!! My beautiful ValveTrain 427 27W 1×12 tube guitar combo amp $1,250.00 hate to sell it, but absolutely…” That’s not a great sign. As well, their website has been converted in someone else’s travel blog (a blog??? Who writes blogs???).

Land of Talk may be gone, but there music is still here for us to enjoy. I can guarantee this isn’t the last you’ll see of them on this blog.

Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension

In 2009, The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas released his first solo album, Phrazes for the Young. For those of you listening to this for the first time you might be thinking “Well, his vocals are unmistakable, but this can’t be Julian Casablancas! Where are the catchy guitar riffs? Where’s the Rock and/or roll?” Julian Casablancas decided to experiment with new wave/electronica, and synthesizers upon synthesizers. Much like his latest endeavor, Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, his solo work is a much different style from the Strokes traditional indie rock approach, but no less enjoyable!

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Bringing this week’s playlist to a close is an incredible track from Grizzly Bear that came out at the end of the decade. A fun fact for you music geeks out there: I was trying to teach myself the piano intro to this song, and while I was hitting the right notes, it just sounded off. As it turns out, the piano on the studio album recording is tuned sharper than normal! So if you’ve been trying to playing this song but haven’t been able to figure it out until now, you’re welcome.

And thus ends our journey in the past. If you think there’s a band I must include in my blog, let me know! Leave a comment, send me a telegram, write a sky message.

See you next week! And May the Fourth Be With You!

Full Youtube Playlist!



Full Spotify Playlist!