Loam

Loam is the indie-rock brainchild of multi-instrumentalist songwriter, Chris Rousseau. Nervous Grooming Gestures is his fourth record and it once again features Chris singing and playing all of the instruments. That in itself is an accomplishment but what makes Loam stand out is that the record really sounds like a full band rocking away. Loam's sound is very 90's alt rock with both a flare of current Spoon like qualities, while possessing the classic swagger of the Psychedelic Furs. This combo makes for an entertaining listen and puts Loam up there on our list as an unsigned independent band (or guy) to watch!

Key Track: Walk Down the Street - The Fire Note

Founded in Framingham in 2003, Loam is the moniker of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chris Rousseau who is, according to his MySpace: “putting the rock back in indie rock.” To my surprise, this is a do-it-yourself project, one in which he has composed an appealing confection in the realm of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, R.E.M, Nirvana, and Nick Cave, to name a few. His fourth release, Nervous Grooming Gestures, is on the whole, entertaining, melodious, and sounds very much like a full band effort. With influences that run the gamut of everything from Weezer and Elvis Costello, to the Psychedelic Furs and Buffalo Tom, Rousseau evidently has a keen musical sensibility. As is stated in his one-sheet: “In an age where the term independent music has become synonymous with deliberate inaccessibility and soporific snooze, Loam has achieved something singular: a wide, energetic, accessible sound that still retains its DIY spirit.” (Julia R. DeStefano) - The Noise