Here's post numero uno, about a newish band that I've been digging: Fang Island. They're on Sargent House Records, along with a number of other bands I enjoy (RX Bandits, Zechs Marquise, various Omar Rodriguez-Lopez projects). On their MySpace they describe their sound as "EVERYONE HIGH-FIVING EVERYONE", and I have to agree.
Their previous material was basically instrumental indie math rock, but the new self-titled album is much more vocal-driven (album cover above). Jeph Jacques says it sounds like "Don Caballero, Of Montreal, Dan Deacon and Polyphonic Spree teaming up to do a hair-metal album", which is a damn sight better than anything I could say.
The Sky Gardens EP is a good example of their more math-rock sound. "Curaga" combines amazing Thin Lizzy-like guitar tone and riffs with some cool time changes and a titular Final Fantasy reference. The other two songs on the EP do pretty much the same thing, but it's done very well, so I can't complain.
The s/t album gets significantly more exploratory, with both Don Cab guitar jams ("Careful Crossers") and big Polyphonic Spree shout-alongs. It's some seriously uplifting stuff, with "Daisy" and "Welcome Wagon" being standouts among the vocal-led songs on the album.
Overall, it's wonderful shit. The main thing you get out of a Fang Island listen is a big feeling of FUCK YEAH. The sick riffs and fun choruses combine to create some of the most overwhelmingly positive hell-yes-let's-do-this music I've ever heard. Highly, highly recommended.
You can stream/buy Fang Island here, as well as the Sky Gardens EP and their first release Day Of the Great Leap.
