FUTURE SOUNDS 33 RELEASED TODAY ON ITUNES

FUTURE SOUNDS RECORDS is open for business today with the release of FUTURE SOUNDS 33 on Itunes digitally. The hard copies for subscribers go out this week.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. FITZ & THE TANTRUMS – Breakin’ The Chains Of Love
Los Angeles based FITZ & THE TANTRUMS take a classic Northern Soul sound and infuse some 2009 for a cocktail of old fashioned songwriting and beats. Already picked up by DJ/tastemaker Mark Ronson and RCRDLBL.com, this new school “wrecking crew” sound like they could slide right into the Phil Spector camp. White-boy soul never sounded so good or so contemporary and relevant.
Management: Future Sounds. Legal: Gary Mandel/Gillian Bar.
Needs: US/UK booking.
Fitz & The Tantrums – Songs For A Break-Up Vol. 1 EP – Unsigned

2. THE NIGHTS – Lonely Soul
“Lonely Soul” is one of those tracks that feels familiar, even after the first listen. This Los Angeles based act is relatively new to the scene and have started to raise their profile locally while at the same time delivering a couple of demo recordings worthy of major attention. Their self-titled EP will be done by the end of June.
Needs: Management, legal, booking
The Nights – Demos – Unsigned

3. LILOFEE – Lock & Key
San Francisco four-piece, LILOFEE, get their name from a German fairytale and inspiration from frontwoman Kimi Recor’s wild imagination and even wilder stage presence. If Ladytron and The Knife got together and added a dash of Interpol you might get close to the dark force that is LILOFEE. “Lock & Key” should be this year’s Ting-Tings/Santogold crowd favorite.
Management: Future Sounds. Needs: Legal, US/UK booking.
Lilofee – The Only Years – Unsigned

4. LOCAL NATIVES – Airplanes
LA is pumping out the new artists of late, and this five-piece has people chasing. LOCAL NATIVES produce music that with layers and grassroots thrills. Harmonies, three-part in fact, upon harmonies are what make this band tick, much like those Fleet Foxes. Formerly CAVIL AT REST, now they are locals making lots of buzz. UK tour in July coming up.
Management: Phil Costello. Legal: Richard Grabel. Booking: Jackie Nalpant US/ David Exley UK.
Local Natives – Gorilla Manor – Unsigned

5. MUMFORD & SONS – White Blank Page
London’s MUMFORD & SONS have turned in this year’s most beautiful song, with “White Blank Page.” Big words? Perhaps, but listen and get ready for your lady to put her head on your shoulder. Ready to rival Bon Iver in 2009 for the tender, Americana thrown.
Management: Laura Taylor Booking: Lucy Dickins/Adam Voith
Mumford & Sons – Mumford & Sons EP – Chess Club Records

6. DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES – Giving Tree
Fronted by 18 year-old Django James (Stewart), this LA based five-piece mixes Bowie and T Rex, while remaining unique enough to sound like no one else around these days. Live, this band is hell on wheels. Their first UK single drops in July on Once Upon A Time Records.
Management: Future Sounds. Legal: Danny Passman. Needs: Booking
Django James & The Midnight Squires – Demos – Unsigned

7. THE BROTHERS MOVEMENT – Sister
Dublin’s THE BROTHERS MOVEMENT have finished a record that sounds like what the new Verve record should’ve sounded like. Beyond just Ashcroft references, you get the best of early Oasis and touches of The Jesus & Mary Chain and Spaceman 3. Yeah, I just referenced all those bands, big words indeed, and this record has the songs to back it up. The band previously known as MAINLINE are now a five piece built around the Paxton brothers.
Management: Future Sounds. Legal: Kieren Jay. Booking: Steve Zapp, ITB. Needs: US booking.
The Brothers Movement – The Brothers Movement – Rocket Girl Records (UK)

8. ALL WRONG AND THE PLANS CHANGE – I Get Down
Los Angeles-based ladies, Kassia Conway and Amy Wood have the voices of angels and have built a band around the love of Belly and Pavement. Track “I Get Down” is a hit within the first 20 seconds, the kind of song that moved the needle back when terrestrial radio still mattered. Some music supervisor somewhere is going to have a big year with this album.
Management: Future Sounds. Needs: US booking, legal.
All Wrong And The Plans Change – I’m Like Whatever – Unsigned

9. CASXIO – Seventeen
“I’m only 17 but my love is for real,” says CASXIO, yet another LA act that made an impact at SXSW and is now headlining clubs locally. Think a white Prince and you’re getting close in description. Their live act should go over big anywhere that is looking for a party. This four-piece, built around the spunk of vocalist Lucas Guerin, call their music “religious funk.”
Management: Mike Merriman. Legal: Jordan Brokley. Needs: US/UK booking
Casxio – Demos – Unsigned

10. RUBBER KISS GOODBYE – We See Lights
We were intrigued by this trio from London called RUBBER KISS GOODBYE and the pedigree they posses. Interesting back-story here – the members include Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music’s kid, plus the guitarist from Ferry's band, and the former bass player for Babyshambles. It all adds up to a modern day glam rock wet kiss.
Management: Jeff Wooding. Legal: Jeff Leven. Needs: US/UK booking.
Rubber Kiss Goodbye – Demos – Unsigned

11. LOVELIKEFIRE – William
San Francisco’s LOVELIKEFIRE is a repeat offender to the Future Sounds compilation series, having first appeared on the FS26 CD years back. This time they’ve stepped out with a UK label and an album full of singles. Frontwoman Ann Yu has stepped into the spotlight and is quickly becoming a star in the making.
Management: Future Sounds. UK Booking: Ed Stringfellow Legal: Dave Kostiner Needs: US booking.
LoveLikeFire – Tear Ourselves Away - Heist Or Hit Records UK

12. AVI BUFFALO – What’s In It For?
The teenage AVI BUFFALO from Long Beach, California is a virtuoso guitar player, a la Nels Kline, who’s still in high school, as is his band. They started writing and recording at age 10 and are now only 17. I was trying to get my learner’s permit to drive when I was that age, not writing music so gentle and advanced. A recent LA residency at The Echo has spurred label and booking interest from some indie luminaries. Could be next year’s Shins.
Needs: Management, booking, legal.
Avi Buffalo – Settled Tigertail EP – Unsigned

13. LEE MEMORIAL – Long Days In Bed
Melbourne, Australia’s LEE MEMORIAL released their full-length in Australia in March 2009 but we just woke up on this sleeper, “Long Days In Bed.” Containing former members of Sleater-Kinney and Sodastream, these veterans knocked out eleven songs in four days. Heading to Europe later this year.
Manager: Karl Smith. Publishing: Mushroom Music/Admin Chrysalis Music (ASCAP). Needs: US Booking, US/EU label
Lee Memorial – The Lives Of Lee Memorial – Dot Dash Records (AU)

14. GRAN RONDE – On Our Own
Future Sounds decided to not leave Los Angeles’ GRAN RONDE on their own with their latest release of music, “Secret Rooms” that dropped on June 15th. Early on they’ve been spending time developing the UK, having finished a headlining tour and headed back.
Needs: Management, US booking.
Gran Ronde – Secret Rooms – Friends vs. Records

15. VERTIGO SMYTH – Comfort Me
VERTIGO SMYTH’s hummable “Comfort Me” is an instant classic. From the lovely Gallway, Ireland, this singer-songwriter cites Rufus Wainwright and Elliott Smith as influences, but seems to take their creative lead and manage to stay very pop-centric in his approach. Needs: Management, Legal, Booking.
Vertigo Smyth – EP No. 1 – Unsigned

OTHER ARTISTS TO WATCH:

BAND OF SKULLS – Track: Hollywood Bowl
We picked “the hit,” but we may be bold enough to call this trio’s full-length “Baby Darling Doll Face Honey” our album of 2009 thus far. They could be the new White Stripes. Shangri-La Records

DIANE BIRCH – Track: Nothing But A Miracle
It's as if Carole King’s “Tapestry" record had a baby and out popped DIANE BIRCH. This one could be a breakout in a time when no one is breaking out. S-Curve Records

THE LIMOUSINES – Track: Very Busy People
We tried to land them for FS33 but they just signed with Universal Republic so congrats for jumping the line. San Francisco based duo writing perfect indie rock songs.

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS – Track: Home
The LA based collective sometimes contains as many as 15 members and recalls the ethos of Ken Kesey & The Merry Pranksters circa 1964, complete with a Partridge Family school bus. A phenomenon.

THE ANSWERING MACHINE – Track: Emergency
This Manchester UK act’s “Another City, Another Sorry” CD is nearly perfect and contains at least six singles. Picking one was like shooting a family member – which one goes? Heist Or Hit Records UK

SHILPA RAY & HER HAPPY HOOKERS – Track: Filthy & Free
Our favorite live act at SXSW, SHIPLA could be the second coming of Janis Joplin or Rosemary Clooney. This is dirty, sexy time music.

GENERATIONALS – Track: When They Fight, They Fight
New Orleans based white kids playing ‘60’s Motown inspired indie rock. Barry Gordy would be proud. Park The Van Records

ALSO BUZZING:
Crocodiles, The Magic Kids, Favours For Sailors, The Love Language, Solid Gold, The Low Anthem, New Villager, Violent Soho, Lissy Trullie, Zeus, The Intelligence, Pow Wow!, Wet Paint, Class Actress, Lights On, Deastro, Neon Indian, Still Flyin, French Horn Rebellion, Minnaars, French Miami, Surf City, Dark Meat, The Antlers, Baddies, Casper Bangs, Clare Maguire, I Blame Coco, The Old Romantic Killer Band, The Sound Of Arrows, Theophilus London, Apes Of Wrath, City Light, Dutch Uncles, Other Girls.

FS33 album artwork by Ivan Minsloff