A Quick Word from the Author:

This has been an incomparably fruitful January for new music, across the board but more specifically Indie. It seems as if the music gods are making up for the lackluster performance they exhibited in 2012, and frankly, I'm quite shocked.

To put it in perspective: I've downloaded and saved into my go-to playlist more songs over the past 31 days than I did the entire first quarter of 2012. It's hard to stress how meaningful this is to the casual music fan, but for those of us who live on collecting new music, this is a godsend. It's practically Hipster-Cred central: if you've been following the Sabbath these past few weeks you've probably encountered a few bands whom eight or so months from now you'll undoubtedly be pulling the "Oh I heard of them a while ago" card. I'm not trying to up my reputation with all of this as a "Music Scout", if you will, as this is quite literally a testament to how downright incredible this year has been so far– I'm only here to distribute the goodies and make your lives easier.

Last week was one of my favorites in recent memory, this week is easily better, and thus goes an unfathomable trend we've encountered so far this year. The music just keeps getting better, and we all keep getting happier. Let's start with this impromptu BBC1 live set by The Neighbourhood, doing a dual cover of Destiny Child's "Say My Name" and Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River". Thus goes the type of random musical creations that I myself am awed by. Here's to 2013.

By the way, if you live in Richmond, VA, stop by my place and catch a show sometime. The Bauhaus Haus, as we call it, specializes in local and fairly local and sometimes hardly local up-and-comers. We've got a show this Saturday. Good times will be had. The doors are generally almost always partly open.

Move along now and dive into those tunes below; they're certified fresh."

The Bees Knees

Your life will be much easier now.

These are the creamiest tracks of the week, one each from the three sections. These are here for those who only wish to sip. Yes, I'm looking at you, with your impenetrable ADHD and fascination with with Country Time Lemonade products. You and your inability to listen to more than just a few tracks because you have 1 new Facebook Notification and a Twitter Message.

This is for you, you beautiful, busy bastard.

The Pasture:  Local Natives – "You & I"

      You-I--EM0113

Download: Local Natives – You & I

The Tryptophan: Dream Koala – "Ocean"

      Ocean--EM0113

Download: Dream Koala – Ocean

The Chicken Dance: B. DURAZZO – "Catacombs"

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Download: B. DURAZZO – Catacombs

EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADS:

Each week there are a handful of bands whose content isn't free to the masses yet is perfectly capable at of mass approval. I'm a firm that smaller, newer bands are better off offering their music for free than not, however that's a complex logistical standpoint I've decided on after years examining the industry and time working PR— and not a discussion I plan on getting in to right now. What I do plan on getting into is the bands below, who have agreed to offer an exclusive free download of their new content, only found here on the Indie Sabbath.

YesYou – "Amsterdam"

Australia served as the only consistent source for breaking Indie acts in 2012, and while YesYou isn't new as of last year, there uprising is more prevalent in recent dates than earlier. On my list of bands to watch for in 2013, they're yet another noteworthy artist from down under who seem destined for recognition. "Amsterdam" grooves along, a poppy testament to their skills, and perfect for any Indie playlist. Click the link above for social networks, listen below.

The Black and The White – "Future"

A band you'd be foolish to pass on, L.A. natives The Black and The White came out of nowhere this week with their debut single "Future". Another band to watch for in 2013, they're infectious, synthy Pop at it's finest. Undoubtedly a very fresh tune, "Future" is pretty damn impressive for a debut single. Click the link above to locate their social networks, and listen below (Download is only available three days, you've been warned).

The Indie Gift Basket

Overview

• The Pasture covers the basics, from Folk to Rock to Pop, and will now serve as the hub for the tracks perfect for any occasion.
• The Chicken Dance is a hodge podge of tracks that you could be excused for doing the, err… Chicken Dance to. Although these aren't simply Dance tracks, they're all good to whip your hair around to.
• Lastly, The Tryptophan is built for those relaxed moments, where you're winding down with the aid of something herbal — or even for a time where you might just want some background atmospherics to doze off to.

WANT MORE INDIE SABBATH?

There's plenty more where this came from. Click the link above to check out the rest, and stay tuned in for more of the best in Indie as well as everything else, right here on EARMILK.

Upon this day, I declare that Indie music is leaps and bounds more pure than anything else, and the term "Indie" means not that a band isn't mainstream, but that a band has been able to hold on to its roots, even through fame and fortune. While the wonderful thumps and womps of other genres get me grooving, it will always be the sui generis of Indie that guides me to the homeland. And for that — I both thank it and applaud it — for it has brought me great pleasure in the past and will so in the future.