“Deftly bridging the gap between the lovely French electronic movements of Air and the touching classic American soft rock of a Gerry Rafferty or Michael Murphey— all the while including the subtle rancor found within the products of such otherwise grandiose bands as Coldplay and U2— Oceanographer arises from the BK indie pile as a singular, wonderful delight. Led by the sad, steady vocals of Jeremy Yocum, this group can easily aim for levels of midlevel major success, and if the right ears find them… well, let’s just say Oceanographer could very well end up a band you’ll want to be able to brag that you saw back when they were only playing the little stages in town."

—Metromix New York, August 2011

Prairie Empire, who are split between Brooklyn and Portland, OR, and led by a vocalist with a very obvious (and very pretty) Joni Mitchell influence. The quintet play a '60s-style folk, replete with somber strings and downtempo percussion. And there is real beauty in the subtle details you need headphones to pick up on, like the sleigh bells jingling in the back of the chorus, or the faint digital vocal underlay on the outro. The melancholy air of "Snow" would perfectly soundtrack an afternoon of wistfully looking out the window at the treacherous streets below.

Although their first EP, "Extended Play," is still hot off the presses, critics and fans have been quick to applaud New York City-based quartet Swear and Shake for their old-school, smoky, soulful vocals, taught harmonies, poignant lyrics and fun folk-pop.

Newsday praised the band, comparing them to indie darlings Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver. Brooklyn Belles described front lady Kari Spieler's pipes as, "strong but sweet…a young June Carter Cash," countered only by drummer Tom Elefante's explosive percussion.

David Malachowski of the Daily Freeman made clear that Swear and Shake is more than fun sounds and pretty faces. "A haunting postcard from a faraway, warmer place, 'Bones,'an ode to love and loss is a highlight, Spieler's moving, heartfelt delivery takes this to a higher place," writes Malachowski. "Daring and direct, Swear and Shake points a finger at you, and you can't help but respond. Well done." Other reviewers were affected similarly by the EP's final track, saying that with "harmonies guaranteed to give goosebumps, Swear and Shake do an expert job at bringing the mini record to a dramatic conclusion."

Reviewer Mike Andronico probably captures the feel of Swear and Shake's promise as a new band best, writing, "While still in their early 20s, McHeffey and Spieler exude the confidence and quirk of veteran songwriters. The music is warm and accessible, while the lyrics will stay with listeners long after the disc stops spinning. And while the front man and woman could each entertain on their own, Savage and Elefante provide a rhythmic spine that keeps each song standing tall. For a five-track EP of this quality, perhaps its one flaw is its brevity. Let's hope Swear and Shake extends their play to a full-length next time around."

And he's not alone. Frost Click called the band's EP a "treat" and writes, "There's no denying the fact that Swear and Shake know how to make amazing sounds. The quartet has a knack for creating a wonderful balance of emotion, instruments, vocals and lyrics; making you want to listen more and more."

Are you picking up what we're throwing down? If you have yet to acquaint yourself with the slick stylings of Swear and Shake you can find their tracks and show listings at www.swearanshake.com. They play all over Brooklyn and Manhattan and are a must see!
Written by Amber C. van Nattan