Artist of the Month: Goh Nakamura, plus Free Download

Goh Nakamura is not only our pick for Artist of the Month, but also one of our favorite 'surprise artists' of 2008.

Nakamura, a San Francisco native born singer/songwriter, describes his music "Dreamsicle pop " as "ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands."

Although Nakamura has had a loyal following for a few years now, his popularity is picking up momentum in the past six months or so. Nakamura's music video for "Embarcadero Blues" has been viewed over a million times on YouTube:



Nakamura's sound is catchy, wonderfully produced acoustic pop. Music lovers who enjoy artists like Matt Pond PA, Matthew Sweet, Elliot Smith and Neil Finn are likely to have Nakamura's music playing again and again.

That said, it's fair to say that Nakamura can easily appeal to a larger segment of music lovers. His music is the kind that you will probably find yourself liking the more you listen to it.

His 2004 debut Daylight Savings was received well by the indie music press. Yet it is the release of Ulysses - not to mention the fact that it's available for free - is a contender for one of 2008's best 'under the radar' singer/songwriter releases of 2008.

Here are two MP3s from Nakamura's Ulysses:

Suitcase - Goh Nakamura
Hangman - Goh Nakamura

You can Download Ulysses for free or purchase the CD extra edition.

All downloads/purchases of Ulysses includes a specially selected collection of songs by some of Goh's favorite bands:Odessa Chen, The Invisible Cities, Scrabbel, Michelle Amador, Adam Shulman, Nyles Lannon, Grand Hallway, the Botticellis, Picture Atlantic, Annie Lin, Love is Chemicals, The Lofty Pillars, Lucien Lamotte, David Rhodes.

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Shearwater's Jordan Geiger Releases "Oh, Ramona" Under Moniker Hospital Ships

The mid-west is not often considered a breeding ground for talented new indie musicians, but in recent years, places like Minneapolis, St. Louis, Denver and plenty of other locations have claimed fame to numerous artists and bands that have made it on the so-called "indie radar" or received the critical "blogger buzz".

Even obscure mid-west cities like Lawrence, Kansas have been put on the indie map thanks to one artist in particular - Jordan Geiger.

As songwriter for the band Minus Story and trumpet player for Shearwater, Geiger has somehow found time over the past couple of years to record his own album - Oh, Ramona - under the moniker Hospital Ships.

No one is quiet sure who Ramona is, but the album, chock full of fun pop songs and interlaced an array of instruments, is clearly one of the best independent record releases of 2008.

The album reveals unmistakable influences from ELO, The Flaming Lips, John Lennon and The Zombies with a symphony of vocals, guitars, horns, percussions, and pianos.

With mixing help from John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Explosions In The Sky, The Polyphonic Spree), Oh, Ramona is the result of two and half years of song-writing, recording and mixing.

The verdict? Good shit, especially if you like sunny afternoon-pop music. Standouts from Oh Ramona include tracks like "Girls", "I Want It To Get Out" and the enthusiastic opening song "Bitter Single Radio".

Radio probably won't play it - because face it, most mainstream radio music sucks - but indie pop fans will most likely enjoy the culmination of the collaboration between Geiger and Congleton and Graveface Records.

The album, in stores and available online October 21st, has the potential to make many best of 2008 album lists. The limited vinyl edition comes with an 18-point chipboard gatefold sleeve.

Oh Ramona tracklisting (click on the linked songs for listening or downloading):

Bitter Radio Single (mp3)
Baby for J.
I Do Not Understand
The Shots I Drank
Sink Your Teeth into Me
I want It To Get Out
Girls
Mockingbird
Oh, No
Oh, Ramona
Tired of Growing Old
More Than You Know
Your Heart
Yellow Rubber Nails

While there are no known plans for a tour connected to the album's release, it's possible Geiger just might play one or two at a Minus Story or Shearwater show.