Ian's Indie Girl Crush Series Volume Four: Alison Sudol

A Fine Frenzy

www.afinefrenzy.com

For my latest Indie Girl Crush, I decided to go with gorgeous and talented red head. Alison Sudol, lead singer of A Fine Frenzy, absolutely melted me last month when I saw A Fine Frenzy at The Parish here in Austin. Her voice reminded me of one of my teenage crushes I had as a teen, Tori Amos. It is as if Sudol is Tori Amos 2000. She even plays the piano ( a la Tori Amos) and has blue-ish green eyes that draw you in. If she didn't list Amos as her primary influence, I'd be shocked.   

That show at The Parish was the first show of her tour supporting her album latest album, Bomb in a Birdcage. It is her second release after a successful first release entitle One Cell In the Sea. I remember at the time that album was out, I got my first glimpse of Sudol on one of those VH1 promos they do called "Artists You Outta Know" or something to that regard. Her big single at that time was the tear jerker, "Almost Lover". I have yet to meet a girl who doesn't instantly love that song. The rest of the album didn't for me though, despite being impressed with Sudol's talent and beauty.

A Bomb In a Bird Cage, however, is excellent. I got to hear the songs for the first time live and at a perfect venue for A Fine Frenzy's sound. Some of the slower songs tended to sound a lot like each other, but none lacked depth or substance. The album is louder and shows off different sounds in comparison to One Cell In the Sea. Live in concert, Sudol shows off her personality. She is charming, at times funny and not afraid to embarrass herself. I'll go ahead and say it...she's actually a big dork posing as an Urban Outfitters model. She even looks good sweaty. Girls should absolutely hate her but instead they love her, as do I. Who could hate those puffy lips that would make Angelina jealous?

So Aison Sudol, the next time you come around to Austin, leave your boyfriend at home. Let's go to a bookstore, have some fancy ass coffee I can't pronounce and go shopping for records. Let's talk about all this angst and give you some new inspiration for your next album. You could call it "Goodbye My Almost Latin Lover". I'll even appear in the video, free of charge.

Check out Alison Sudol here with A Fine Frenzy live on this great video from The Artist Den:


A Fine Frenzy from Artists Den on Vimeo.

For more on A Fine Fenzy, visit the following links:

A Fine Frenzy on MySpace

A Fine Frenzy on Twitter

Ian's Indie Girl Crush Series, Volume Three: Yuki Chikudate

Yuki Chikudate

In what began as an inside joke between a friend of mine and I, my indie girl crush series posts have my highest numbers this year. It is evident that blog readers love such silliness, including my friends who have already asked me who my next crush will be. I have also had publicists send me a few suggestions for my next crush, which isn't something I planned on doing again really. Like I mentioned, it was an inside joke amongst a few friends and it has now taken on a life if it's own. If this sort of column can help me introduce cool new bands or artists to the masses, then I will go indie girl crazy.

My most recent indie girl crush is a little different from my previous crushes, Ingrid Michaelson and Zooey Deschanel. I recently became twitterpated with a beautiful lead singer of the Brooklyn indie group whose name means "casual sex" in Japanese. My latest indie girl crush is none other than Yuki Chikudate from the fantastic indie group, Asobi Seksu. Accompanying Yuki Chikudate in Asobi Seksu is James Hannah.

Asobi's Seksu's music falls under the indie genre referred to as "shoegazing", which basically means kind of spacey guitar effects like floating notes or crafted uses of distortion. Chikudate's voice is perfect for this sort band, as it is not overpowering but can still be heard clearly. She also has a smokin' hot look that I describe to friends as indie meets mod-chic. The fact that she's of the Asian persuasion adds that extra touch.

Check out this recent video from Asobi Seksu for their single "Me & Marry" off their current album, Hush. If you're in Texas and like what you hear, you're going to have to just pick up the album as Asobi Seksu won't be back around here as they are on tour. Some of you lucky Austinites may have caught them at Mohawk recently, and if you were there, I absolutely hate you.


Asobi Seksu - Me & Mary from Aaron Stewart-Ahn on Vimeo.

For more on Asobi Seksu, visit the following links:

Asobi Seksu on Myspace

Asobi Seksu on Twitter

Ian's Indie Girl Crush, Volume Two: Ingrid Michaelson

Ingrid Michaelson (photo by Caleb Kuhl)

Tonight's Monday night show pick is also my second installment of Ian's Indie Girl Crush Series. Tonight at the Parish, Ingrid Michaelson takes the stage. It wasn't too long ago that I saw her on what I think was Jimmy Fallon, but I could be wrong. It was one of those late night talk shows that come on after Dave. Anyway, her voice wasn't the only thing that held my attention. She's super cute inthat singer-songwriter indie sort of way. She looks great in glasses and has that great girl next door approachability.

Michaelson is a New York based musician who got a lot of her early buzz from her songs being used in popular televison shows. Musically, she sings the kind of music you'd hear on KUT or while drinking a late night cup of coffee in your study. She is more singer song-writer than indie, but completely enjoyable either way to both crowds. For a Mondy Night, there is nothing better in town. If you are willing to drive to San Antonio then you can catch Metallica in San Antonio. If you're not the black t-shirt type, then Ingrid is the better choice and in town.

Check out a brief sampling of Ingrid Michaelson here with her video for her most famous single to date, "The Way I Am". It is from here album, Girls and Boys.

For more on tonight's show with Ingrid Michaelson, click here .

Ian's Indie Girl Crush Series, Volume One : Zooey Deschanel

One thing my friends often tease me about is my affinity for cute indie girls who either act, sing, play instruments or all of the above. I usually deny it in effort to curb the teasing, but it is all so true. I love beautiful indie girls, especially those in bands. I find myself more interested in some of those bands as a result. With so many indie bands that feature many of my girl crushes, I decided to start a brief series if you will on my blog to pay tribute to my future ex-girlfriends. It works for Revolver with their "Hottest Chicks in Metal" series, so I figured why not an indie girl series? Maybe someone will discover a new favorite band in the process, which the main reason I started this blog in the first place.

500 Days of Summer

The first installment of Ian's Indie Girl Crush is none other than the lovely, Zooey (pronounced like Zoe) Deschanel. I just recently saw 500 Days of Summer and the whole time I kept spacing out, just kind of staring at Zooey every time she came on because I didn't find the movie to be that entertaining. It was alright, but didn't live up to the hype. Deschanel made the movie for me and I see this movie as solidifying her as a current generational icon. Her style, her music and her beauty make Deschanel the complete package.

She & Him

www.sheandhim.com

Speaking of her music, Deschanel is half of the indie super duo, She & Him. Her partner in crime, M.Ward, is another Indie taste maker favorite. Together they form a super duo of sorts, playing classic 60's inspired folk pop. Deschannel sounds like an old country artist instead of the indie darling she appears to be. Their first album, entitled Volume One, has been in my iPod since its release. From what I have been reading online, Volume Two is in the works. I wonder if it going to be more of the same indie-folk or something totally different.I look forward to it.

If you haven't heard She & Him before, then check out this video below of my darling Zooey, who is married to the Deathcab For Cutie dude by the way. That's only because that bastard met her first, but I am alright with it since Deathcab is a pretty good band. Check out "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" and see what all my fuss is all about.


She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? from Toolshed Media on Vimeo.