It’s time for another little update from A Different Drum, so you can discover some more cool, new music to get your 2010 started right!
First of all, I want to point out that the final “top 200 best sellers” list of 2009 is posted on A Different Drum’s website. You may find it interesting to see which items sold the most through the online store. Yes, remember, this chart is based EXACTLY on orders that were placed through the store’s shopping cart. It is not a comprehensive list of best-sellers from the entire scene. This is the stuff that sold most through A Different Drum only.
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/2009/
I was excited to see that not only one of our new releases made it all the way to #3 with only a few weeks to get there: Endless Shame “Unspoken Words” But I was also surprised to see that BLUME made it there based only on pre-orders! There was a lot of anticipation for that debut album, which is mentioned in this update since it is shipping now 
NEW ARRIVALS:
Blume “Rise from Grey” $12 — Blume is an exciting new electronic pop band from Italy that combines melancholy moods with energetic music and a smooth, strong voice. The debut album RISE FROM GREY is sure to catapult this promising threesome into the spotlight, appealing to fans of classic new wave and synthpop as well as to the fans of club-friendly industrial and futurepop. A good comparison would be to imagine a blend of two other Italian bands: Syrian and Pulcher Femina. Listen to the samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/ADDCD1290/Blume-Rise-from-Grey
Parralox “State of Decay” $18 — This is one of the most exciting releases from the end of 2009, and it barely arrived from Germany to me here at A Different Drum. So, if you don’t have it yet, be sure to check it out! This is the perfect rebirth of 80’s- style, classic synthpop with a great female vocal lead. Almost every track sounds like it could have been a radio hit in the heyday of synthpop! Listen to the samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/CRCDPLOX03/Parralox-State-of-Decay
The Foxglove Hunt “Built My Fortress” (CDEP) $6 — Here is another band that has the art of 80’s pop down to a science. Sounding like a blend of Anything Box with New Order, their debut album has been a hot seller to A Different Drum customers. This follow-up EP features a few remixes (rock, piano, and acoustic versions of previous tracks) plus some really stellar new songs. It’s too short, for sure, but has some songs you’ll definitely want in your collection. Check out the samples and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/CWM08/The-Foxglove-Hunt-Built-My-Fortress
There are a couple other new items that I’d hoped to have already, but a large package from Europe has been stuck in customs in Los Angeles since before Christmas. I’ve never seen such a long shipment delays since I’ve been in this business. I don’t know if the government decided that synthpop is too dangerous for US citizens, or if there is simply a huge holiday back-up, but I hope it gets here soon. If you’re currently waiting for back-orders of hot items like Erasure, And One, etc. then rest assured, your items are in the country…just taking an extended California vacation that I hope ends soon.
Oh, I have updated A Different Drum’s little radio player again so you can check out the latest tunes:
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/Player
Also, if you want to watch a couple of silly music videos that I produced while at my holiday family reunion, look here:
http://toddiovision.wordpress.com/
Thanks for your support! Let’s have a great 2010!
-Todd
