120 Days: Keep on Smiling

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]

Thoughts On: Ida Maria--Stella (Single)

In indie rock, there is a perpetual false choice: innovate or write a song that people can actually sing along to. Blame it on The Beatles: while they seemed capable of doing both, bands with lesser talent have since felt compelled to pick sides. Thus from the same record label in the same decade you had a band like Ride, heavy on the innovation but lacking in the memorable tunes department, alongside Oasis, a band forever doomed to share royalties from their greatest hits with songwriters from the 60s and 70s.

There's no mistaking there's something a bit classic about Ida Maria's "Stella". Now perhaps, as astute youtube commentators have pointed out, that's due to its similarity to "Jimmy Mack" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. "Stella"'s unabased Motown influences make the song instantly recognizable, and even more impressive than the band's formidable single, "Oh My God". And while it's short on groundbreaking sounds, "Stella" will no doubt dig itself into your subconscious by the second listen. Definitely worth tracking down.

"Stella" Live:

[Ida Maria Myspace]

Listen to "Jimmy Mack" by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas:

[Download the MP3 Here]

Real Ones: Outlaw (Edited Version, Web Rip)

Listen:

[Download the MP3 Here]
[Band Website]
[Band Myspace]
[Guardian Feature on the band]