Portugal. The Man is a typical indie band. Sweet melodies: check! Some Arcade Fire-like drama: check! Dreamy vocals: check! Folk influences: check! So why do they call their new record The Satanic Satanists if they’re indie as fuck? Maybe it’s just that they’re from Alaska? Also a very good reason of course, to name their band after Portugal. Nowadays though, they’re living in the capital of indie music: Portland. You can hear that. If you like bands like Modest Mouse, The Shins, Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire, make sure you’re gonna check out Portugal. The Man on the free Metropolis festival this weekend.

Speaking of stupid record titles. The new record of Danish band Mew is called:

No more stories
Are told today
I’m sorry
They washed away

No more stories
The world is grey
I’m tired
Let’s Wash away

Pretentious, isn’t it? We’re glad they’re putting out an EP now, with a much shorter name. It’s just called No More Stories and contains 5 new songs including 2 songs that will make their forthcoming LP with the dubious long title. Don’t worry Mew, that long name is okay, as long as the music on it is as good as the progressive yet poppy indie music you give us on this EP.

Last but not least, a band on one of our favourite labels: the LA based In The Red Records. The label is known for it’s excellent taste in good garage bands, such as Jay Reatard, Black Lips and The Dirtbombs. One of their newest signings is Blank Dogs, a guy called Mike Sniper from Brooklyn, New York. On his great record Under and Under, Blank Dogs combines the noisy garage pop of his labelmates Vivian Girls (doing some background singing) and Crystal Stilts (playing some notes) with the sounds of postpunk and new wave.

Got any other indie tips for us? Please comment!