There’s a certain something…organic about The Black Rabbits. On the first listen, there’s no doubt that they could’ve stepped out of a time machine straight from the British Invasion.

After a few spins of their material, it’s apparent that it’s heavily influenced by bands like The Pixies, The Ramones, The Strokes, and perhaps (and I know I’ll get people mad because I’m drawing this parallel) the Beatles. Overall, it’s an easy, uncomplicated listen. Not overproduced, simple, yet solid harmonies, and the best part, no apparent auto-tune.

The Black Rabbits are one of those indie bands that has succeeded in not only capturing a timeless sound, but has also mastered the fine art of keeping it from getting dated. Even if you’re not a Brit-rock fan (I’ll be the first to say I am not a Beatles fan!), The Black Rabbits are a new band that will still catch your ear. Check them out on Amazon if you’re interested in purchasing.

The Black Rabbits – Hurry, Hurry:
The Black Rabbits – Hypno Switch:

These guys are a band that I’ve come to enjoy recently. Coming off of a win for Best Indie Artist at the 2010 OC Music Awards, and then an April 3rd full-length album release, The New Limb is working it hard to stay ahead of the game.

Referred to by some as “melodic indie rock”, Sounds People Can Hear is definitely an album that deserves hearing from front to back. If you only check out a couple of tracks, you’ll definitely miss out on killer keyboard work, orchestral movements, and harmonies so solid that you could build yet another Yankee Stadium on top of them. Between Joey’s croon, Lauren’s masterful piano/synth work, and Adam and Danilo holding down the rest of the arrangement, you can’t help but feel like that nothing short of the absolute best went into making this album.

The New Limb stands apart from other bands not only by their excellent musicianship, but by the hard work and dedication they put into connecting with their fanbase. From what I hear, it’s not uncommon to show up to a New Limb show to be greeted with cookies or hugs. They’re also active in the local music scene, supporting other artists in their hometown of Costa Mesa, California.

Check out one of my favorite tracks from the album, “Birds and Stuff”:

The New Limb – Birds and Stuff: