Indie-scoveries for your iPod

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Indie artist Staci Frenes

By Christa A. Banister, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get on some really strange musical kicks.
 
In fact, for an entire month once I listened to nothing but big band. Before I started sporting a head full of pin curls and taking ballroom dancing lessons, however, I’d already moved on to '80s one-hit wonders.
 
But there are only so many ‘80s one-hit wonders a person can stomach, so I continued my not-so-logical music progression with music from the movie Amelie, the cheeky French music I’d expect to hear in a Paris bistro. While I’d like to say the songs helped improved my French, I never did end up understanding any of the lyrics, but the kick was fun while it lasted.

Recently, I revisited the '90s in a big way and listened to nothing but Alanis Morissette, Garbage and Plumb’s first album, a good dose of girl power to say the least.

Even with such a diverse love of music, however, there are still days when the songs on my iPod seem a little stale – which is why I’m loving the proliferation of great Indie acts these days.

Thanks to the wonders of the digital age, great music is only a few clicks away. So with no further adieu, I’ll share a few of my favorite finds that prove that variety is indeed, the spice of life.

Sara Beth Geoghegan, Tired of Singing Sad Songs
File Under: Pop/Acoustic

A storyteller in the vein of Sara Groves, Jill Phillips Andrew Peterson and Bebo Norman, Seth Beth Geoghegan recorded Tired of Singing Sad Songs on her grandmother’s piano in her Nashville apartment, giving the album a sense of warmth and intimacy. But what distinguishes Geoghegan from being just another girl with a guitar is the emotional resonance in her heart-tugging lyrics that eloquently capture the struggles of everyday life.

iPod Pick: “Ooh, We Need Jesus”
www.sarabethsongs.com

Hearts of Saints, Hearts of Saints
File Under: Pop/Rock

Formerly known as Special D, Hearts of Saints, who were recently signed to Revolution Art (GRITS’ label home), understand the value of making a great first impression.
 
Need proof? Just check out “The Secret,” first track from the band’s self-titled debut that boasts a frenetic, energetic sound akin to MuteMath and The Killers.

Proving they’re no one-hit wonder, the rest of Hearts of Saints is just as memorable. In fact, it’s everything you want in a great pop album: catchy melodies, encouraging lyrics and that I-must-crank-this-up-loud-and-roll-down-the-windows factor.

iPod Pick: “The Secret”
www.myspace.com/heartsofsaints