GOD BLESS OR GET NEGLECTED

2010-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

but I've switched to Word Press due to some technical difficulties.

2010-08-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

Shad - "Rose Garden"

I'll admit to you right now, I haven't been following the goings-on of the hip-hop scene much this year. As far as new artists go, I don't even think I can name any off the top of my head, besides these Wizzes and Cudis who've apparently been around for years. But as of right now, the young man who I'm most impressed with hails from the Great White North (what else is new) and goes by the name of Shad. Compared to all the other hip-hop I listen to, this isn't nearly as dark, yet the lyrics are just as impressive. As ridiculous as I feel saying this, the man has some serious flow, and on "Rose Garden," he throws out all sorts of absurd references. This, my friends, is the whole package.

From: Tsol
MP3: (not available)

2010-08-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

Bottle Up & Go - "Rather Be Dead"

It's been almost a year since tracks from Bottle Up & Go's forthcoming debut LP hit the web, yet all that's happened since then is that they've come up with a name for it. "Rather Be Dead" is one of two songs available so far, and judging by its intensity and raw power, Until the Day I Die may be the dark horse of the year -- that is, if it's released on time. Drawing comparisons to the likes of Two Gallants rather than Edward Sharpe, these cowboys give us a darker, more realistic look at the hardships of gunslinging and saloon-hopping in a Clint Eastwood-esque western landscape. Add a chorus of rousing horns and you've got quite a wonderful, scrappy piece of work. Oh, and just a fun fact, these guys were classmates of MGMT and Bear Hands at Wesleyan a few years back. That'll tell you something.

From: Until the Day I Die (?)
MP3: (not available)

2010-08-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

Sunglasses - "Stand Fast"

It seems like midway through 2009, after a slew of Animal Collective soundalike bands emerged onto the indie rock scene, everyone was afraid of being persecuted for following in the path of Merriweather Post Pavillion. At first I didn't know whether to be disappointed in Sunglasses for creating something so similar to MPP or proud of the band for not giving a shit about what people think of their music, but now I don't even care. This is lovely. "Stand Fast" is probably the most impressive piece on their (essentially) three-track debut EP released earlier this year. Even though there's some undeniable AnCo influence in here, I find it much more entertaining than anything on MPP, which has steadily been making its way down my list of top albums from '09. I look forward to the LP, fellas.

From: Sunglasses
MP3: Stand Fast ($.99)

2010-08-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Tokyo Police Club - "Breakneck Speed"

It's been awhile since the song leaked, but after listening to the album a few times, I've discovered the beauty of "Breakneck Speed." Champ may not have been as exciting as 2008's Elephant Shell, but this song is a clear indication of progression, as the song is actually more than three minutes long, and it's able to hold your attention for that long. It's good to know that the Ontario collective is mature enough to tweak their seemingly perfect sound just enough to keep their listeners interested, and the result is quite lovely. It's good to have you back, officers.

From: Champ
MP3: Breakneck Speed ($.99)

2010-07-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

JAILL - "Everybody's Hip"

First of all, is this song even sung in English? I challenge you to recite one lyric from this song that isn't "everybody's hip." Anyway, as I've mentioned three or four or seventy-two times previously, 2010 is all about garage rock. It'll be hard to convince you that this song is any different than those of the masses of groups popping up out of garages all over the country, so I won't. I just felt like I needed to put in a good word for these Milwaukee rockers, since, well, Wisconsin doesn't get much attention for their music. Simply put, this is a whole lot of fun packed into a mere two and a half minutes.

From: That's How We Burn
MP3: Everyone's Hip (Album) ($.99)

2010-07-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

Bridges and Powerlines - "You Were The First Thing"

Bridges and Powerlines was one of the first bands I was introduced to about two years ago as I was beginning my new life as an indierockaholic, searching through all the beginners blogs (I believe this was free indie) to get a basic understanding of the then popular names in the genre. Bridges and Powerlines was also one of the first bands I decided I couldn't stand listening to after going through folder after folder of new music, and I never thought I'd see the day when they'd impress me. Needless to say, that day is here and I couldn't be any more pumped. It's really just a simple, jangly pop song, but honestly, there will never be enough of those. This is clearly a huge step up from their debut, so my advice to all you youngsters out there: at this point in time, "You Were the First Thing" is the only B&P song that matters. We'll see how Eve turns out.

From: Eve

MP3: (not available)

2010-07-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Knife - "Colouring of Pigeons"

This year more than any other, I've had something awful to say about a certain album, later to find that I was completely wrong. I haven't heard the entirety of The Knife's terrifying new disc, but "Epochs" was enough to scare me away from the band when I heard it at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, this wasn't the good kind of terrifying either, not like The Faint or Ugly Organist-era Cursive or anything. This was more of a front row at a Slipknot concert kind of terrifying, something I never want to have to experience. However. Despite it's being creepy, "Colouring of Pigeons" has a certain hidden beauty masked (get it?) by that aura of terror, something I've never heard before. I know that the fact that it's over eleven minutes long and most of the vocals are done by an opera singer may sound a bit unappetizing, but hey, try something new.

From: Tomorrow, In A Year
MP3: Colouring Of Pigeons ($1.99)

2010-07-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

Delta Spirit - "Bushwick Blues"

I may be relatively new to Delta Spirit, but I'm still very impressed. "People C'mon," I'll admit, is a great song, but what they did on the new album was a huge improvement. Similar to the new Morning Benders album, the band made a huge leap from pleasant little indie pop band to holy shit these guys absolutely know what they're doing and I totally respect them band, which seem to be pretty scarce these days. I guess they're more comparable to Wild Sweet Orange who burst onto the music scene a few years ago with their own style of angsty, yet sort of folksy rock. I haven't heard a whole lot of that since, so I'm glad DS was able pick up where they left off.

From: History from Below (Amazon Exclusive Version)
MP3: Bushwick Blues ($.99)

2010-07-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Josh Ritter - "Change of Time"

Despite my constant harping about the latest from Bear Hands, Hooray For Earth, and other such summer-friendly groups, I've had the gentle, yet powerful, melodies from Josh Ritter's newest release playing over in my head these past few days. I suppose it's a different kind of catchy than the aforementioned groups, but "Change of Time" may very well be this year's "Skinny Love" in its subtle, unrelenting beauty that's guaranteed to grow on you over time. I guess I'd never really taken the time to listen to Ritter's music until now, which I realize is because I associate him with John Ritter who I always got mixed up with Jim Belushi, who sucks. So there's that.

From: So Runs the World Away

MP3: Change Of Time

2010-06-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Hold Steady - "Hurricane J"

After six years together, it seems the Hold Steady have finally stopped having fun. I've seen this happen to a few bands, but I never expected it from a band as energetic and exciting as the Brooklyn act that made bar bands cool again. "Hurricane J" actually sounds like the band is trying to give the people what they want, and unfortunately, "the people" aren't Hold Steady fans. Now, I'm not a die-hard fan myself, but it's always disappointing to find out that another band has not necessarily "sold out" per se, but changed to fit into the mainstream music scene. Call me a snob, but this is not a road I want any more indie rockers to choose.

From: Heaven Is Whenever
MP3: Hurricane J ($.99)

2010-06-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

Shark? - "Let's Roll"

So my first impression of this band was "wow, look at these chumps making sucky quality lo-fi songs and trying to be ironic by wearing overalls on stage. We could use another band like this." Well, I now realize that this is basically what real lo-fi is, and that their singer just doesn't give a shit what he wears. "Let's Roll" was the song that helped me to accept the NYC collective as being an interesting and individualistic group, as it not only showed me their fierce side, but it also convinced me to look up a little bit about their background. I'm still not sure how I feel about the new EP, but this is definitely a memorable track, despite the excessive amount of bearded-fat-man-fronted bands making their way around New York these days.

From: Noise Maker EP
MP3: Not Available

2010-06-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hooray For Earth - "Surrounded By Your Friends"

So I don't know if it'll be able to surpass Bear Hands' "What a Drag," but "Surrounded by Your Friends" is quite the summer anthem. I guess we're at the point now where it's expected of HFE to produce some sort of catchy summer jam to blast from our car speakers throughout the happiest three months of the year, but this here is something special. This is the sort of buddy song that sounds best when you have a car full of people and you have nothing better to do than to just cruise around the city at night and enjoy the sights and sounds. I have a feeling it will always remind me of the summer of my high school graduation and all the crazy shenanigans I get myself into as I get ready to become a grown ass man. Unfortunately, it's also guaranteed to give you a crushing feel of nostalgia during the cold winter months...

From: Momo
MP3: Surrounded by Your Friends ($.99)

2010-06-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

The Golden Boys - "Older Than You"

So far this year, the song that has grown on me the most comes from a compilation that I haven't spent a whole lot of time discussing, despite it's unsung greatness. Garage rock sure has seen an increase in popularity this year (that is, until all the critics got headaches a few months in) and Casual Victim Pile was really a breakthrough record. The Golden Boys' track stood out to me specifically, being the quintessence of straight-forward garage rock: loud, fast, and inexplicably phenomenal. "Older Than You" is proof that the genre has evolved since the days when the White Stripes and the Hives ruled the speakers in kids' bedrooms across the country, and I couldn't be more excited about it. The song almost sounds mature in a way, something the White Stripes weren't able to do without bending and breaking their sound completely. I look forward to a strong debut record.

From: Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2009
MP3: Older Than You, ($.99)

2010-06-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Japandroids - "Darkness On The Edge of Gastown"

I never really got too excited about Post-Nothing, so I wasn't expecting much from the new Japandroids release made up of early tracks that apparently didn't make the cut. In fact, if there are two things I hate, they're over-hyped Death From Above sound-alike groups and EPs made up of songs that are so bad they didn't make it onto certain albums. But what Japandroids did here was shocking to say the least, as the songs, "Gastown" most notably, were much more Taking Back Sunday-like yet surprisingly good. I guess it's the energy and raw power that makes this song stand out compared to the others, and the fact that it has some sort of melody to it rather than just a wall of noise. It's important to strike a balance when making music like this (as DFA did so perfectly), and Japandroids definitely did so here.

From: No Singles [+Digital Booklet]
MP3: Darkness On The Edge Of Gastown ($.99)

2010-06-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Drums - "Let's Go Surfing"

So 2010 has been a pretty good year for beach-friendly songs despite the fact that summer has just begun. "Let's Go Surfing" has actually been out for a few years now, but The Drums finally released their debut LP last week, and I just wanted to take this time to celebrate. So far, I haven't come across a song as fun and Beach Boys-y as this one on the album (or anywhere else, actually), and I really don't expect to. Anyway, the carefree nature of this song (I originally thought he was saying "Obama" instead of "oh mama" and I figured it was some sort of political statement) has definitely given me a more optimistic outlook on this summer and at times helps me forget that I'm currently unemployed.

From: Drums
MP3: Let's Go Surfing ($.99)

2010-06-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Princeton - "Sugarcube"

I always get nervous when a band I don't know a whole lot about (and have a small grudge against for some reason) covers a song by a legendary act such as Yo La Tengo. It seems that they'll either perform the song EXACTLY like the original or perhaps put some awful spin on it making it almost unrecognizable. Well, Princeton did the first one, but it turned out quite well. The only noticeable difference between the two is the escalated amount of noise heard in Princeton's brilliant cover, a trait you'd expect to hear from YLT instead. Near the end there, they just really get off track and the song becomes almost unrecognizable, so they still get a few points for originality. I wish I could find you guys a link to an MP3 file, but it's not available on Amazon or iTunes. I'll guess I'll just leave you with the next best thing.

Listen: The Hype Machine
Watch: Daily Motion

2010-06-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

The Bitters - "East"

So when I heard that one of the guitarists from Fucked Up had a neat new side project going on, a saxophone was probably the last instrument I expected to hear in any of the band's songs. The name "The Bitters" even makes them seem as aggressive and menacing as Fucked Up, but in reality, the trio is actually a rowdy lo-fi group, and Ben Cook's vocals are not intimidating in the least. "East" is a jittery little song heavy on Cook's high-pitched crooning and fuzzy guitars, and of course, a short sax solo. This song basically confirms my suspicion that F'ed Up would sound much better with a different singer, and I believe Cook is the man for the job.

From: East General
MP3: East ($.99)

2010-05-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

The New Pornographers - "Crash Years"

So I was pretty bummed about Together until I heard "Crash Years" the other day, which sounds much more like a song from Twin Cinema or one of those other classic New Pornographers disks. I had read all sorts of good things about the new album, but was pretty disappointed with the title track. "Crash Years" had less of a cheesy, triumphant "we're still awesome!" vibe to it, and more of a subtle "yeah, I guess we're still pretty alright" feel, which is what I hope for in one of their songs. I wouldn't quite call it "best of" material, but at least I'm relieved to know that the band hasn't completely disintegrated into merely decent side-projects.

From: Together
MP3: Crash Years ($.89)

2010-05-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sage Francis - "Slow Man"

I really didn't listen to much hip-hop before discovering San Fran's experimental Anticon record label, known for rewriting all the rules to the genre. Sage Francis may not be a member of the Anticon clan, but his style is very similar to theirs and I'm sure that at some point in his career he's collaborated with one of the founding members. "Slow Man" is a very interesting song in that aside from Sage's voice, the song is mostly just acoustic guitar and drums, something I've never heard a hip hop artist do in my life. Like Yoni, Sole, and everyone else at Anticon, the lyrics are as impressive or more so than the instrumental portion of the song, which is definitely something I look for in a hip hop artist. So far this is my pick for best hip hop track of the year, but I've heard wind of a new Aesop Rock disc. So don't get too excited yet, Sage.

From: Li(f)e
MP3: Slow Man ($.99)

2010-05-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

Leisure - "It's Alright (On The Suez Canal)"

This one took awhile to sink in, but I'm quite pleased with Leisure's debut(?) single(?). Clearly, I haven't been able to uncover a whole lot of information about the Massachusetts five piece, aside from the fact that they've created quite a buzz on their tour with Girls. The two bands have essentially nothing in common, but I can see the harmonic nature of "Suez Canal" getting the crowd ready for a great show. I'm not quite sure what these guys' full-length will do for me, but this pleasant string piece is nothing short of beautiful.

From: ?
MP3: It's Alright (On The Suez Canal) (FREE!)

2010-05-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

Pill Wonder - "Gone To The Market"

Well this was sort of a treat. I haven't heard a lot of music like this since the mid-nineties, a time when music had no meaning in my life. When I look back, I sort of wish I was a bit older so that I could have been paying attention when all of those lo-fi bands were popping up, inspiring the majority of today's great indie groups. Anyway, "Gone To The Market" is nothing special, just a friendly reminder that Creed and Green Day weren't the only heavily influential bands of the '90s. Now I guess it's time to pull out the ol' Ride and Olivia Tremor Control vinyls and toss 'em on the ol' record player. Like I even own any of those things...

From: Jungle/Surf
MP3: Gone to the Market ($.99)

2010-05-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sleigh Bells - "Tell 'Em"

So this song is now the talk of all the blogs and I am not impressed. Sure, I'm all about the noise pop aspect of Sleigh Bells, but the vocals absolutely do not fit. I understand that they were going for the sharp contrast in the two, but the result is something that I find to be quite distasteful. If a loud band is going to have a female singer, it's common knowledge that she has to be at least somewhat insane (i.e. YYYs, BYOP). Maybe it's just my biasedness against most female vocalists speaking, but despite its originality, this song's got nothing.

From: Treats, 2010
MP3: Not Available

2010-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

The Press - "Jellyfish Wrangler"

For me, 2010 has mostly been made up of songs like this--not necessarily bad, but I just can't fully enjoy them for whatever reason. "Jellyfish Wrangler" is perhaps one of the most bland of the lot, and, unfortunately, one of the longest. At times I can hear hints of The Walkmen circa Bows + Arrows (actually, it's mostly the self-titled track that I can pick out) in their oozy delivery and twangy guitars, not to mention the singer's Hamilton Leithauser-influenced singing style. I actually just came across another song from this album which is more interesting and much more upbeat, so I suppose I shan't write them off so soon.

From: Inteotwijteoae, 2010
MP3: Jellyfish Wrangler ($.99)

2010-05-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

Le Loup - "Forgive Me"

So I've decided to shift the focus of this site to mostly just music released this year, rather than any old song I find particularly attractive. But I felt like going out with one last hurrah, with a band I've grown to love over the past few months. I finally fell in love with Le Loup when I saw them perform an intimate gig at a coffee house on the second floor of Allegheny College's dining hall, a show that won't soon be forgotten. Yeah, yeah, I've heard enough Fleet Foxes comparisons. But tell me this, have you ever heard a Fleet Foxes song flow this smoothly with a perfect balance of percussion, yelping, and screeching guitars? Le Loup show us here that they've mastered the bearded-indie-rock-mountain-man routine, and strive for more. Not only was this a huge step up for the band, but also for freak folk (geh...) as a genre.

From: Family, 2009
MP3: Forgive Me (FREE!)

2010-05-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Troubleshooters EP
by Milks & Rectangles
March 19, 2010
Night Danger Records
Download: FREE!

Earlier this year, I decided I'd take more risks with obtaining full albums and EPs, rather than sampling a few of their songs first and taking months to decide whether or not they're worth my money. But when the EPs are given away for free on the bands' websites, there's really no question about whether or not I'll take them. Unfortunately, I've given up on this philosophy already, since most of the EPs have been complete garbage, but I still found Troubleshooters to be somewhat listenable and very promising.

Despite the fact that I haven't listened to Franz Ferdinand (on purpose) since You Could Have It So Much Better was first released in 2005, I couldn't help but think of that album at some point during each of these five songs. Whether it was the singer's voice or the lead guitar's short, rhythmic solos, this little piece, if nothing else, brought back some fond memories of my eighth grade year. Now that Franz Ferdinand is too busy playing their newfangled synth-happy Euro-trash music in their own little world, these obscure Canadian rockers have taken it upon themselves to fill in, even if it takes them a few tries to get it right.

I have no intention of putting these guys down, as I know they have good intentions, but I just don't think that they're at the point in their career yet where they'll be able to blow up onto the music scene. I don't ever expect them to be as big as Franz Ferdinand, but I think that if they keep working at it and improve the quality of their music, their first full-length album will get some serious attention. I was rather impressed with a lot of the guitar work on the EP and I think that, combined with the clever lyrics, they'll have enough momentum to at least get noticed by a handful of well-known music blogs out there.

Track Listing:
1. "Wink and a Gun (The Jury's Hung)" (* * *)
2. "Unring a Bell" (* * *)
3. "Cakewalk" (* * * *)
4. "Don't Fall Into the Wrong Hands" (* *)
5. "Long-Haired Hater" (* * *)

Grade: C+

2010-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

Bear Hands - "What a Drag"

Finally, 2010 has produced a song that I can get stuck in my head for days on end. On a scale of 0 to "Dominos," this is clearly a ten, quite possibly the first of the year; I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have uncovered this gem. I can finally (confidently) say that this year will be memorable for indie rock, and even though bands like Shout Out Louds have disappointed the shit out of me, at least we have freaking Bear Hands. I suppose the Big Pink comparison wasn't very accurate, but the way the song is built is somewhat similar to the song "Dominos" in its undeniable attractiveness and whatnot. I came this close to comparing them to Animal Collective, but I don't feel like cleaning crusted eggs off the side of my house tomorrow morning.

From: What a Drag/Can't Stick Em [Vinyl], 2010
MP3: What A Drag ($.99)

2010-05-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Rogue Wave - "Solitary Gun"

Next on my list of bands to apologize to is Rogue Wave. It seemed to be common knowledge that the band's newest release was a heaping pile of synth-pop garbage, so I didn't even bother with it. Well, apparently it's not all synth-pop. "Solitary Gun" seems to fit right in line with 2007's "Lake Michigan," perhaps a bit peppier and more upbeat, but similar nonetheless. I can see why longtime fans would have a problem with this, but I don't know how anyone could pass up such a terrific song. It sounds to me like the first song of the year that indie and mainstream music lovers alike can get excited about, which perhaps is why indie lovers have such a hard time with it...

From: Permalight, 2010
MP3: Solitary Gun ($.99)

2010-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

Chalk Dinosaur - "Crazy Folks"

So I'm not exactly sure which song it is exactly, but this sounds almost identical to an early Weezer track. The weird thing is that I despise the majority of Weezer's music, and I find this song to be absolutely wonderful. I think the only difference between this song and any of Weezer's is the crisp guitar heard in the intro, but for some reason that one guitar makes a world of difference to me. The other weird thing is that I saw them live and every song sounded great except for their covers of Weezer songs, which were, not surprisingly, very appealing to the hoard of drunk college kids blocking my view. But seriously, if you ever get the opportunity, these guys put on a great show, and I highly recommend "Crazy Folks" to just about anyone, Weezer fan or not.

From: Chalk Dinosaur, 2009
MP3: Crazy Folks ($.99)

2010-05-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

Broken Bells
by Broken Bells
March 9, 2010
Columbia Records
Amazon: Broken Bells

The man is everywhere. Ever since bursting onto the music scene in 2006 with Cee-Lo as Gnarls Barkley, Danger Mouse (sorry, Brian Burton) has been very busy producing albums for the likes of The Black Keys, Beck, and Gorillaz, whilst collaborating with MF Doom, Sparklehorse (R.I.P.), and now James Mercer of the Shins fame. The duo may seem very unlikely at first, but their styles are actually surprisingly compatible.

I guess I've always sort of been intrigued by collaborations like this, but Broken Bells was pretty special to me. At a time in my life when I'd heard enough of the Shins for a while and I'd given up completely on trying to like Gnarls Barkley, the groups managed to mesh their two distinct styles, eliminating everything that turns me off to either of their previous projects. Upon hearing "The High Road" for the first time, I knew that this would be the kind of collaboration that would be remembered not only for its unorthodoxy, but also for its brilliance.

With the clever songwriting and soothing voice of Mercer and the bass-heavy (and somewhat predictable) beats courtesy of Mr. Burton, Broken Bells is a pretty snazzy piece of work overall, ranging from slow acoustic songs to, well, somewhat faster acoustic songs. You wouldn't think there would be much diversity on the album, but each song is very unique despite the fact that both artists' contributions are always blatantly obvious.

Sure, this is nothing groundbreaking, and it may not make my end of the year top 10 list, but I'm still pretty impressed. I wasn't really expecting a lot from this, I was just hoping for another album to keep me interested in 2010. I don't think it really deserves all the hype it's getting, but it's understandable when the band is comprised of such heavy-hitters of the indie rock world. Looks like we've got our Veckatimest out of the way, 2010.

Track Listing:
1. "The High Road" (* * * * *)
2. "Vaporize" (* * * *)
3. "Your Head Is on Fire" (* *)
4. "The Ghost Inside" (* * *)
5. "Sailing to Nowhere" (* * *)
6. "Trap Doors" (* * *)
7. "Citizen" (* * * *)
8. "October" (* * * * *)
9. "Mongrel Heart" (* * )
10. "The Mall and Misery" (* * *)

Grade: B+

2010-05-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Wakey!Wakey! - "Twenty-Two"

Had the opening guitar been replaced with piano, I'm pretty sure Michael Grubbs could have been sued by Grizzly Bear for plagiarism. Despite the fact that the song sounds peculiarly similar to "Two Weeks," I was quite pleasantly surprised with it. I sort of lost a bit of respect for the band when I saw the new album at Wal-Mart, but after some research, I discovered that Grubbs gained most of his popularity from his role on One Tree Hill. Sure I was devastated to learn that I'd have to share him with those god-awful CW watching tweens I'm constantly bashing, but it sounds to me like it's worth it. Even though it does border fourteen-year-old-only-listens-to-what's-on-the-radio-and-the-latest-episode-of-The-O.C. girl territory,Wakey!Wakey! is pleasant enough for my ears, and this song will most likely make my end of the year list.

From: Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I [Saw You], 2010
MP3: Twenty-Two ($.99)

2010-04-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

Ramona Falls - "I Say Fever"

As far as my taste in music goes, I try to keep things interesting. Sometimes it just isn't enough for me when a band brags a weird name like Cymbals Eat Guitars, but puts out mediocre music; I actually prefer the music itself to be bizarre in one way or another. I was excited when I came across Ramona Falls (notice the normalcy of the name) because this is my ideal "weird" sound: freak folk with very experimental intentions and a quirkiness to it that will please most fans of indie rock. After hearing "I Say Fever," I wasn't surprised to read that this was a Brent Knopf project, as the Menomena similarities are very clear (perhaps it's a bit darker, but I'm not complaining). I don't listen to a whole lot of Menomena, but this sure beats anything I've heard by them. And please don't mark my words, because I've become quite infamous for my word-eating habits.

From: Intuit, 2009
MP3: I Say Fever ($.99)

2010-04-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Tallest Man on Earth - "The King of Spain"

What I've always thought was weird about my taste in music is that despite the fact that I can't stand to listen to anything that's been released before the '90s, I'm strangely attracted to new bands that sound like they might be. Most recently, I've been digging The Tallest Man on Earth, whose latest release sounds as if it might actually be a lost Bob Dylan recording. From the scratchy vocals to the powerful acoustic guitar, Kristian Mattson is able to recreate the sounds of the '60s flawlessly, bridging the gap between then and now for snobby youngsters like myself who refuse to listen to any music that came out before we were born. Rather than please the masses with '80s style dance anthems, Mattson takes another step back and covers a decade of music that will most likely not be forgotten anytime soon.

From: The Wild Hunt [+Digital Booklet], 2010
MP3: King Of Spain (FREE!)

2010-04-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

stellastarr* - "Freak Out"

After one listen to 2006's Harmonies For The Haunted, I'm hooked. I know these comparisons get thrown around a lot, but this is more like what Interpol's second album should have sounded like, and this is what all of Editors' songs should sound like. More recently, stellastarr* have released only one new album, containing the immensely catchy "Freak Out," the band's most accomplished piece to date. I can't even put my thoughts into words here, the song is so dark and hypnotic, yet it sticks in the back of your head for weeks on end. At first you may sneer at Shawn Christensen's nasally voice, but once you hit the chorus, the song just melts away. I'm usually opposed to New York bands trying to sound British, but this is definitely an exception.

From: Harmonies For The Haunted, 2006
Tags: alternative, new wave
Similar: Elefant, The Cinematics
Amazon: Freak Out

2010-04-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Black Keys - "Tighten Up"

So last week I watched the video for the new Black Keys single, and despite the fact that it's absolutely awful, I found the song itself to be somewhat terrific. I kind of expected them to go back to the way they sounded before teaming up with Danger Mouse on Attack & Release, but it definitely sounds like they're moving forward. Even though it's not too far from their typical track, it just seems a bit more well-crafted and thought out rather than just a simple blues-rock song. Unfortunately, the new album cover is going to be going along with the stupid literal-and-trying-to-be-clever theme the band used with the video, as it simply says the name of the band and the title of the album. I'm just glad their stupidity didn't affect their music.

From: Brothers, 2010
Tags: blues, indie rock
Similar: Radio Moscow, Soledad Brothers
Amazon: Tighten Up

2010-04-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

American Ghetto

by Portugal. The Man

March 2, 2010

Equal Vision Records

Amazon: American Ghetto

This sure came as a surprise to me. Just as I was about to sink my teeth (or my ears?) into a nice, juicy pre-Satanist P.TM feast, I learned that the band was a week away from releasing yet another album only six months or so after last year's phenominal offering. I was a little disappointed that the only copy I'd be able to obtain was a digital one (making it the first full album I've purchased on iTunes), but I was so excited for it that I slapped down the $9 right away and sucked it up. Since then, Amazon and most likely plenty of other sites have gotten a hold of it, so you can check it out at the link above.

After just one listen, I came to the conclusion that this was a typical album-released-less-that-a-year-after-the-band's-last-album piece, sounding remarkably similar to the last one, only a lot less impressive. But after a second spin, I noticed a significant change in the styles of American Ghetto and that of The Satanic Satanist, and that was the decade from which the sound originated. On Satanist, the band defintely has a strong hippie mentality behind their music as well as their lyrics. But on Ghetto, this has sort of evolved into an '80s sort of affair with it's incessant use of drum machines, most noteably on the joyous closer, "When the War Ends." The change wasn't necessarily bad, but I will be a bit upset if their next albums sounds anything like Pavement.

Once you get to know most of the songs, though, I think you'll learn to love this album. I think the drum machine is a perfect fit for it, as it definitely adds a sense of progress from previous releases by the band. I'm glad that amidst the huge popularity of the '80s revival scene, some bands have been a bit more subtle about borrowing from the shortly deceased decade, compared to groups like Yeasayer (who I'm constantly bashing. Sorry, fellas). In fact, had there been any use of an electronic organ, I would have suspected that this was another project that had been hijacked by Danger Mouse and turned completely around.

Although the album was as consistently strong as Satanist, I did notice that it lacked a standout track like "People Say." Even though most of the songs came pretty close, it was a little disappointing to not have a song like that that's irresistably catchy and clearly superior to the rest. Also, the lyrics haven't improved much since they began four or five years ago, but I was glad to hear that they weren't singing about lovers loving love this time around. This has always been a weak point for the band, but it's never bothered me enough to keep me away from their music.

Even though I've only had the time to listen to two fifths of the Alaskan experimentalists' library, I haven't heard a bad song by them yet. American Ghetto may have been a small step down, but they show no sign of slowing down. Hopefully they'll be able to crank out a new record every year for the next decade, and hopefully they'll leave enough time between each release for me to catch up with their old stuff. In a year that has been full of disappointing releases from great bands, this has truly been a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Track Listing:

1. "The Dead Dog" (* * * *)

2. "Break" (--)

3. "60 Years" (* * * *)

4. "All My People" (* * * *)
5. "1000 Years" (* * * *)
6. "Fantastic Pace" (* * *)
7. "The Pushers Party" (* * *)

8. "Do What We Do" (* * * *)

9. "Just a Fool" (* * *)
10. "Some Men" (* * * *)
11. "When the War Ends" (* * * *)

Grade: A

2010-04-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Vampire Weekend - "Exit Music (For a Film)"

I need to get something off my chest. I've hated Vampire Weekend for what seems like ages now, despising their debut album as soon as I heard "Horchata" (that is the on the first one, right? they all sound the same to me) and saw their stupid faces. The fact that I hate them is a well known fact, but what I need to confess is that their contribution to Stereogum's OK Computer tribute is actually one of the best on the album. We must remember that this was before they were popular, but I was still really surprised that they didn't screw up one of my favorite Radiohead songs. This is the first time I've listened to a VW song and not gotten a headache from all the "oy"s and pretend British accents and choppy guitars and overly peppy drums and everything else I hate about music. Anyway, I just felt like I needed to give the guys props, as I never thought I'd have anything positive to say about them.

From: Stereogum Presents...OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer, 2007
Tags: indie pop, alternative
Similar: Ra Ra Riot, Girls
Download Album Free: OKX

2010-04-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

MGMT - "Brian Eno"

So about this new MGMT album. My excitement towards the last one died down only weeks after first hearing "Time to Pretend" and I never really got too sucked into the rest of the album. Well, Congratulations hits stores tomorrow and after seeing the cover art, I was just about ready to pass it up completely. Unfortunately, this became impossible to do when the video for "Flash Dilerium" hit the web a week or so ago, which had me slightly, slightly intrigued. But after hearing "Brian Eno," I can't quite decide whether it's more catchy or just plain annoying. I knew they wouldn't release anything else like Oracular any time soon, so I wasn't really surprised that they jumped on the bandwagon with their new fuzzy Wavves-like style. But I actually think they managed to pull the sound off better than Wavves or Times New Viking or any of those bands. I'm still a bit skeptical about the rest of the disk, but so far so good.

From: Congratulations, 2010

Tags: electronic, psychadelic

Similar: Passion Pit, Klaxons

Amazon: Brian Eno

2010-04-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Besnard Lakes - "Albatross"

Speaking of shoegaze, where did this come from? I was pretty confident in the fact that I despised the B. Lakes after whichever album it was they released last until "Albatross" swooped in from out of nowhere. This, my friends, is the quintessence of showgaze: booming scuzzy guitars, blasting drums, and faint, beautiful vocals. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only song you need to hear to become immediately hooked on the underappreciated genre. Also, this song gave me hope for 2010, which as I stated previously, has been lacking in the, uh, good department. Overall, just a huge improvement from the "Agent 13"s of Are the Dark Horse.

From: Are The Roaring Night, 2010
Tags: shoegaze, canadian
Similar: Bear in Heaven, A Sunny Day in Glascow
Amazon: Albatross

2010-04-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

French Resistance - "G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N. (You Know I've Got A)"

It seems that after last year's disappointing Art Brut vs Satan, I've been somewhat cold towards the British pop rockers who brought us such great songs as "Modern Art" and "Emily Kane." Well, Eddie Argos is back, but this time with his "girlfren" to bring us a collection of honest, politically correct versions of popular songs, such as Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend." Under the moniker Everybody Was In The French Resistance...NOW!, Argos and Dyan Valdés give us an interseting take on the once popular pop song, complete with a hand-clap breakdown and catchy chorus. When I first heard this, I was disgusted with them for lowering their standards so far as to rip off an Avril song, but I think the concept for the album is quite interesting. Also, I give the band props for encouraging an all-day Brut fest this past Friday. Good stuff.

From: Fixin' the Charts, Vol. 1, 2010
Tags: indie, art brut
Similar: Art Brut, Smile Smile
Amazon: G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N. (You Know I've Got A)

2010-04-08T17:27:00.001-07:00

All The Saints - "Fire on Corridor X"

Shoegaze, nugaze, bluegaze, whatever you want to call it, I've been listening to a lot of it in the past few daze. Since its reemergence in recent years, some bands have resorted to using it as an inspiration rather than a main focus, such as the Atlanta trio All the Saints. Their style is more of a heavy alternative-punk thing which, mixed with shoegaze, is absolutely incredible. It sort of feels like this song was written as a garage rock anthem, but slowed down with drawn out, echoing guitar riffs that I can see My Bloody Valentine nodding along to. It didn't surprise me to see that they've been touring with A Place to Bury Strangers lately, as they're both most likely responsible for the hearing loss of a few dozen people.

From: Fire on Corridor X, 2008

Tags: shoegaze, psychadelic

Similar: Darker My Love, The Vandelles

Amazon: Fire On Corridor X

2010-04-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Dntel - "The Distance"

Remember the Postal Service? I was shocked at how few of my friends knew that the band wasn't just "Ben Gibbard and some other guy." It just so happens that that "other guy" is half the genius behind the project. I guess I always just assumed that Dntel was one of those artists like The Books who makes weird instrumental music, and Jimmy Tamborello was looking for one of the most popular indie singer/songwriters in the business to gain him some popularity. But now that I know a bit about his background, I think his only intention for the project was to make great music. He has a great voice himself, and I guess he was just bored and wanted to jam with a pal of his. "The Distance" is one of the more memorable products of the last few years of his career, as it captures his sluggish, almost lonely vibes at their essence. Instead of strumming away at an acoustic guitar and whining about his troubles, he channels these feelings into the sound he's making, which earns some points in my book.

From: Dumb Luck, 2007

Tags: electronica, ambient

Similar: Figurine, Four Tet

Amazon: The Distance (Album Version)

2010-04-06T19:20:00.001-07:00

The Builders & The Butchers - "Barcelona"

Shit, this is just the Decemberists, isn't it? I swear to you, the singer of this band has to be Colin Meloy's brother since they sound alike in the same way brothers look alike, as opposed to people who look like celebrities. You know what I'm talking about. Also, aside from all the instruments being just a bit off, they, too, sound remarkably Decemberistic in an odd sort of way. My first impression of this song was that it actually was the Decemberists, only someone had messed with the sound on my computer. Anyway, these Portland (like the Decemberists!) folk rockers (like the Decemberists!) do have their own style it turns out, which is a tad more energetic and peppy than that of the Decemberists, giving them a slight edge in the live music category. So yeah, other than that they're basically just the Decemberists (just look at those outfits!).

From: Salvation is a Deep Dark Well, 2009

Tags: folk, americana

Similar: The Cave Singers, The Felice Brothers
Amazon: Barcelona

2010-04-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Work

by Shout Out Louds

February 23, 2010

Merge Records

Amazon: Work

I'll be honest with you--every once in a while I do enjoy listening to a bad album just so I can write a completely negative review. However, this wasn't the case for Work, Shout Out Louds third full-length album. I've been enjoying everything they've had to offer since Howl Howl Gaff Gaff in 2005 (among my favorites of the decade) and did not see this startling change coming at all. Just to forewarn all die-hard SOL fans, this is going to get ugly and feelings will get hurt. If you can't bear to read the rest of this, I understand.

I guess my high hopes for this album came when I'd read on Merge's website that the band would be "strip[ping] away the bells and whistles of previous efforts" on the new album, and that their new sound was "distinct," "angsty," and "energetic." Well, for starters, they did do quite a bit of stripping down--way too much, in fact. What we're left with is forty minutes of dried out pop garbage that lacks any sort of character, a quality that made their previous releases something to shout out loud about. As for the "distinct" sound, I guess you could call it that, but distinct isn't always good. And then there's the angstiness and energy. Did I miss something? Did my copy not include these mysterious energetic, angst-filled tracks? After just seconds of research, I've found the answer to these questions: no.

I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but 2010 isn't looking so great four months in. After hearing the new material from Rogue Wave and now MGMT's "Flash Delirium," my outlook on the year is somewhat bleak. Work is, so far, the only album I've invested in that has let me down. I guess I could have guessed by the drab cover art that the album would be equally as colorful, but then I thought to myself no, this is the Shout Out Louds we're talking about. I mean, their music is always sad, but this is the first time that it hasn't been fun at the same time. Congratulations, band. You are currently the top candidate for the 2010 Swoon* award.

*I had high hopes for the Silversun Pickups's sophomore album

Track Listing:

1. "1999" (* * *)

2. "Fall Hard" (*)

3. "Play The Game" (* *)

4. "Walls" (* * *)

5. "Candle Burned Out" (*)

6. "Throwing Stones" (* *)

7. "Four By Four" (* *)

8. "Paper Moon" (* *)

9. "Show Me Something New" (* * *)

10. "Too Late, Too Slow" (* * *)

Grade: D

2010-04-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Harlem - "Friendly Ghost"

It looks as if the world of indie rock has moved on from last year's two-man noise punk phase, and has gotten caught up in a revival of the three-man, garage pop-punk fad. I hate to use the term "pop-punk," but I don't really know what else to call the light yet somewhat aggressive nature of The Soft Pack, Harlem, and the rest of the Casual Victim Pile brigade's new sound. A prime example of this, and a personal favorite of mine, is from Harlem's upcoming Matador release Hippies, which hits stores next Tuesday. The simplicity of "Friendly Ghost" is nothing short of refreshing, as are the fun lyrics. It's about time we take a step back and enjoy the simpler things in life, as well as in music. It's nice to take a break from all those layers of voices on Veckatimest and the deep lyrics of Hospice and just let loose. Hopefully this song, as well as the rest of the album, will adequately soundtrack the bulk of my summer season.

From: Hippies, 2010

Tags: garage rock, indie rock

Similar: The Soft Pack, The Golden Boys
Amazon: Friendly Ghost

2010-04-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Bravery - "Hatefuck"

Alright. I know the Bravery were cool, what, four years ago? I know that their albums have gotten progressively worse, and that Stir the Blood was a huge dropoff. And, yes, I even know that this song is about rape, and that the music video is the most terrifying thing ever made. "Hatefuck" may also be the worst song title I've ever heard, but this song is unbelievable. I stopped listening to She Wants Revenge a long time ago because they're creepy and weird, but I immediately thought of them after hearing this, and honestly I felt a little bit of nostalgia. I'm not going to go digging through all that shit, but I will make sure to toss this onto all of my playlists.

From: Stir the Blood, 2009

Tags: alternative, electronic

Similar: The Cinematics, Hot Hot Heat
Amazon: Hatef--k

2010-04-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Why? - "Good Friday"

Yeah, you all saw this coming. I've literally been waiting a year for this day, just so I could post this song on the appropriate day. Even though the lyrics don't have a lot to do with the Friday before Easter, the track matches the solemness of the day, despite it's being masked by hip-hop inspired beat, uncomfortable lyrics, and Yoni's distinct monotonous drones. Even though it's probably the hardest song to listen to on 2008's Alopecia, it's still my personal favorite by the band. Every time I listen to it, I pick out another lyric that I feel would make an adequate Facebook status update, until I realize that everyone thinks I'm weird enough as it is. I can't say that I can really relate to it, but like "I'll Believe In Anything," it's beautiful both lyrically and musically. But in an odd sort of way, you know?

From: Alopecia, 2008

Tags: indie hip-hop, experimental

Similar: Reaching Quiet, Odd Nosdam
Amazon: Good Friday [Explicit]

2010-04-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wolf Parade - "I'll Believe In Anything"

I have some apologizing to do. I feel like I've done some serious Wolf Parade bashing on this site, and I now know how wrong it was. I guess I'd just listened to all the wrong songs by the Canadian collective, because after hearing Apologies a few hundred (or maybe just five) times I've discovered how incredible they really are. And just when you think the album can't get any better, "Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts" fades out and you're greeted with the spine-chilling intro to what has become quite honestly one of the most powerful songs I've ever listened to. Seriously, this song could be applied to just about any movie at any moment and it would make it totally worth seeing. It's just so beautiful musically and lyrically that it's surprising nobody's closed out a movie Fight Club style with it.

From: Apologies to the Queen Mary, 2005
Tags: indie, experimental
Similar: Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Amazon: I'll Believe in Anything (Album)

2010-03-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

Yo La Tengo - "Nothing To Hide"

I've been listening to Yo La Tengo for years. I've also been trying to find a song by them that I actually enjoy as much as "Sugar Cube," the first song I'd heard by them approximately five years ago. My search had been mostly unsuccessful up until the release of last year's Popular Songs. It seems that they've finally hit their stride after, what, fifteen years? This is just my opinion, but since moving on from trying to be Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, etc., the Hoboken trio has finally found a sound that works for them, mixing simple noise-pop with their own twist of alternative goodness. Aside from their staggeringly beautiful contribution to last year's Dark Was The Night compilation, this is their greatest song to date, with no argument whatsoever.

From: Popular Songs, 2009

Tags: indie pop, noise

Similar: Pavement, Built To Spill
Amazon: Nothing To Hide

2010-03-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

Why, you ask,

have I been posting so few reviews recently? Well, the thing is that I've begun writing for Pop Tarts Suck Toasted (I guess it's not official until my first post...), and I think it's a little cheap to be writing the same reviews for both sites at the same time. I'll continue to post things here for my imaginary audience, but you can expect the number of album reviews to dwindle significantly. Sorry for the inconvenience, but you can find a link to PTST on the side of the page.

2010-03-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Sounds Under Radio - "Portrait of a Summer Thief"

As a result of more digging around my iTunes library, I've re-discovered the greatness of the Spider-man 3 soundtrack. Since its release, I've actually grown to despise Snow Patrol, Wolfmother, the Killers, etc., but I've also grown to love a few of those lesser known groups. Among them is Sounds Under Radio, an alternative group from Texas, whose song "Portrait of a Summer Thief" not only stood out on the soundtrack, but was also one of the few songs on their debut album that I still listen to on occasion. When you think about it, it's really the perfect song, with the feeling of a punk band, an indie attitude, and that perfect "soundtrack" feel to it that would have sounded great blasting in the cinema, had they actually used it in that God-awful film.

From:

Spider-man 3: Music From and Inspired By, 2007

Cinematica, 2008

Tags: alternative, indie pop

Similar: Ringside, Charlie Mars
Amazon: Portrait Of A Summer Thief

2010-03-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

Atlas Sound - "Walkabout"

I know I'm a little late, but this truly is one of the greatest songs of 2009. Having first heard it about a week ago, I wasn't able to slap it on my top 100, even though it definitely ranks among the top 20 for the year. I always assume collaborations like this are just way overrated, but Noah Lennox and Bradford Cox sound as if they were meant to work together, their styles being so similar. This actually fits in perfectly with my last few posts, as it's not only one of the most uplifting songs I've heard in recent years, but its playfulness is reminiscent of a Very Most or a Holy Fuck. It's amazing the way they make it seem so effortless, as if they're just throwing something together then and there. But I guess that's what happens when you pair up two of the biggest musical geniuses of our time with nothing but a keyboard and some microphones.

From: Logos, 2009

Tags: shoegaze, experimental

Similar: Lotus Plaza, Neon Indian
Amazon: Walkabout [w/ Noah Lennox] (FREE!)

2010-03-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Very Most - "The Only Pretty Ring Time"

I wanted to find a nice springtime song for Saturday, but I wasn't able to get on the computer 'til now. I was about to pick a song off Noah and the Whale's most recent release, but a). I just posted one, and b). they're all so freaking depressing. Instead I went for something a little more recent, from The Very Most's January release. I've been listening to a lot of Indiecator record's releases (thanks to mp3hugger), which are mostly pretty springy, but this song best fits my current mood and outlook on the new season. It sort of has an Of Montreal skip to it, only the lyrics are as optimistic as the song itself. I'll admit that it took me awhile to accept Jeremy Jensen's...how shall I say...fluffy voice, but if you're into bands like Of Montreal or twee in general, you should really enjoy this.

From: A Year With The Very Most, 2010

Tags: indie pop, twee

Similar: The Bumblebees, Afternoon Naps
Amazon: The Only Pretty Ring Time

2010-03-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Holy Fuck - "Lovely Allen"

Ah, Spring. Time to break out all those joyous, colorful instrumental tracks that have been hiding behind Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes all winter. I'll tell you what, it doesn't get much better than driving around the peninsula with my windows down cranking some Holy Fuck, with the smell of skunks and dead fish wafting through my car. This song particularly takes me back to better times, no matter what season we're in. As much as I complain about instrumental music, HF really nailed this song, making it the perfect background music for just about anything I do in the coming months. Even though we may be expecting a new album this year, "Lovely Allen" will never go out of style.

From: LP, 2007

Tags: electronic, experimental

Similar: Fuck Buttons, Battles
Amazon: Lovely Allen

2010-03-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Teen Dream
by Beach House

January 25, 2010

Sub Pop Records
Amazon: Teen Dream [CD + DVD]

Apparently all you have to do if you want any attention in the world of indie rock is sign with Sub Pop. That was the case with Beach House, among plenty of others, who released their third studio album with the popular indie label earlier this year. This was a familiar situation for me: a band I've liked for a while has finally surfaced and is already at the top of most best of '10 lists. The cons are obviously that I can no longer introduce the band to new people, and that I'll eventually be hearing their songs in bad movies or commercials. The pros? Well, I was actually able to find their album at Best Buy.

I don't want to take credit for being among the first to listen to Beach House, as they were already somewhat big in the indie rock world, but I was surprised at the amount buzz that surrounded Teen Dream's release. I haven't heard all of Devotion, but from what I have heard, this really wasn't a huge step up. However, the way TD got better and better with each listen was remarkable, and this may have been the catalyst that bumped them so far up on the charts. Also, they toned down the weird quite a bit, and put more emphasis on the pretty. Often a smart move for a band looking for attention, as we all remember last year's Merriweather Post Pavilion.

The first whiff I'd gotten of this album was in November, when I first heard "Norway." Before then, I'd never heard a bad track by the band and I was absolutely disgusted. I thought the band had taken a turn for the worse and become an Au Revoir Simone or, God forbid, Frou Frou. But for whatever reason (I was probably inspired by Victoria Legrand's brilliant contribution to the New Moon soundtrack), I felt like I needed to buy the album that was on everyone's Currently Listening To list, and ended up being quite pleased with the results. I still do hate "Norway," but that's the only sub-par track on the disk. Every other song is beautifully crafted and very relaxing.

I didn't realize this when I bought it, but the version of the album I have contains a bonus DVD with a music video for each of the songs directed by someone different (among them are Kevin Drew of BSS and Legrand herself). I'm not too into music videos, but I thought most of them were quite well done, reflecting the vibe of the songs spot on. I was a little grossed out by the video for my personal favorite, "Walk in the Park," which involved lots of vomiting, and I still get a little freaked out every time I hear "Lover of Mine," picturing those weird guys torturing each other, but I still recommend the two disc version for those of you who are into artsy stuff.

I usually don't listen to music based on what kind of mood I'm in, but this album definitely has a rainy day feel to it. It's not necessarily sad, but the dreariness of each of the songs seems to be most fitting for crappy weather (which may have been why it was so enjoyable to me today). Also, I've never really been into the whole dream pop genre, but this is clearly an exception. I've never heard a band that sucks you in the way Beach House does. From track one to track ten, this album is simply mesmerizing.

Track Listing:
1. "Zebra" (* * * *)
2. "Silver Soul" (* * * *)
3. "Norway" (* *)
4. "Walk in the Park" (* * * * *)
5. "Used to Be" (* * * *)

6. "Lover of Mine" (* * *)
7. "Better Times" (* * *)
8. "10 Mile Stereo" (* * *)
9. "Real Love" (* * * *)
10. "Take Care" (* * * *)

Grade: A

2010-03-11T19:17:00.001-08:00

The Deadly Syndrome - "Eucalyptus"

This is the kind of song that makes everyone inexplicably happy.

From: The Ortolan, 2007

Tags: indie pop, acoustic

Similar: The Henry Clay People, Division Day
Amazon: Eucalyptus

2010-03-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Think I Wanna Die"

I thought I was done with American-twee-pop-Death Cab-sound-a-like bands, but SSLYBY has proved me wrong yet again. It really is highly obnoxious when a band can be considered "cute" like this, but this song is just so damn catchy. Despite its morbid lyrics, the song is rather pleasant and is the perfect ending to (and the perfect dampener on) any playlist. The band itself, I've recently discovered, is nothing to harp about, as they sound a lot like Ra Ra Riot without, well, any creativity. But this is one of the rare instances where a lack of creativity still catches my attention and sticks in my head for days. Seriously though, as proud as I am of these guys, don't expect to see anything else by them on my page in the near future.

From: Pershing, 2007

Tags: indie pop, lo-fi

Similar: The Morning Benders, Voxtrot
Amazon: Think I Wanna Die (1)

2010-03-04T19:33:00.001-08:00

Suckers - "Out On The Water"

I don't know who these Suckers fellows think they are, but there's already enough Walkmen sound-a-likes in the world today. This was my first reaction to this song, the first I'd heard by the band, and still by far my favorite. Not only do the opening horns, twangy guitars, and backing snare sound exactly like a Walkmen product, but dude's voice is almost identical to that of Hamilton Leithauser. But after I finally stopped whining about these similarities, I began to find the beauty in the song, which was a good replacement for the second White Rabbits album, since that band suddenly turned into Spoon. The other thing I thought was odd about this song was that everything else this band has put out is actually quite bad. You'd never guess that this was actually a bad synth pop band from hearing this song, but their recent debut EP proves otherwise.

From: "Out on the Water" Single, 2009

Tags: indie pop, experimental

Similar: Glass Ghost, Princeton

2010-03-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

We Are Scientists - "Textbook"

About a year ago, I made a playlist simply entitled "better" in which I put all of the songs that I wasn't completely tired of hearing. Basically, the playlist contained over 75% of my library, but it was worth it to weed out all of the crap I'd been listening to for years. Well, I just recently deleted that playlist and have become a born-again We Are Scientists fan, along with plenty of other bands. "Textbook" was always one of my favorites from Love and Squalor, the better of their two albums, and is actually one of the most played songs on my computer. I was always confused as to how Chris and Keith are such ridiculous people all the time, but it doesn't show in any of their music. This is surprisingly deep, especially for the Scientists.

From: With Love and Squalor, 2006

Tags: indie, alternative

Similar: Maximo Park, The Cribs (I don't agree with either, but...)
Amazon: Textbook [Explicit]

2010-03-01T18:44:00.001-08:00

Hooray For Earth - "Take Care"

To tell you the truth, I know absolutely nothing about Hooray for Earth. This song showed up on my computer about a year ago and I've been rocking out to it ever since. It's the rare kind of song that I'm almost ashamed to like, due to its absurd catchiness and undeniably dancey beat. Every time it comes up on shuffle (because I always forget about it, so I never play it on purpose), I can't help but crank the volume all the way up and just drop whatever I'm doing. Based on this song alone, I would love to see these guys live, as they appear to be extremely energetic and very entertaining.

From: Hooray For Earth, 2008

Tags: post-punk, electronic

Similar: Free Energy, Aberdeen City

2010-02-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

St. Vincent - "Now, Now"

I could tell that I loved St. Vincent from the moment I found out she named her debut album after a running joke on Arrested Development. Since then, she's grown quite popular amongst indie rock fans, but the lovely songs of her debut shan't be forgotten. "Now, Now" is quite different from the songs on Actor, as there is less focus on the strings and more emphasis on her singing and vocal harmonies. It's hard to tell which part of the song is best: the beautiful intro or the insane guitar-shredding that closes the song. In a way, this song sums up the extent of her work, ranging from a Dirty Projectors-like simplicity to a wild guitar frenzy that you wouldn't expect to come from someone as pretty, and odd looking, as Annie Clark. In essence, she really is the female David Byrne.

From: Marry Me, 2007

Tags: indie pop, singer-songwriter

Similar: Dirty Projectors, Andrew Bird
Amazon: Now, Now

2010-02-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

Noah and the Whale - "Blue Skies"

You know the kind of song that you can just tell from the opening chords is going to be one of the most beautiful songs you ever hear? It very rarely happens to me, but this is one case I'll never forget. As good as The First Days of Spring was, "Blue Skies" really stood out to me as the band's greatest song to date in all of it's nostalgic beauty. I'm not very big on music videos, but when I saw the video for this, I was shocked at how perfectly it fit in with my interpretation of the song. Also, the way the it marked a turning point in the band's excruciatingly depressing sophomore album was much appreciated. Even though the song sounds as sad as the rest of the album, it shows that Charlie Fink hasn't given up on love just yet.

From: The First Days of Spring, 2009

Tags: indie folk

Similar: Mumford & Sons, The Dodos
Amazon: Blue Skies

2010-02-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

Black Mountain - "Stay Free"

Well, I guess I'm still obsessed with Canadian bands. I was excited when I looked up this band that I was first introduced to me by the kind folks at Warner Bros. who put together the "soundtrack" for the third, and worst, installment of the Spider-man series. By listening to this song alone, I noticed plenty of similarities to the music of Great Lake Swimmers and other such brilliant Canadian acts and soon made the connection. Not that the fact that they're Canadian really matters, this is a terrific song. Much different from the rest of their more recent work on In The Future, this is much more mellow and acoustic, and overall more relaxing. I don't really know where it would have fit into the film if they had actually included it in Spider-man, but I'm just glad they gave the band an excuse to write such a pretty track.

From:

Spider-man 3: Music From and Inspired By, 2007

In the Future, 2008

Tags: psychadelic, folk

Similar: Dead Meadow, The Warlocks
Amazon: Stay Free

2010-02-16T19:35:00.001-08:00

Animal Collective - "In The Flowers"

I'm sick of this. I'm so tired of hearing people react to Merriweather Post Pavilion with "that's it?" I mean, honestly, it was hyped up quite a bit, but how can you not fall in love with with "Summertime Clothes" or "Brother Sport?" Even though these are obviously the best tracks, "In The Flowers" was the perfect song to set the scene for the band's breakthrough record. I can't help but get chills everytime Panda Bear delivers the line "if I could just leave my body for a night" and suddenly a wall of noise is regurgitated from your headphones straight into your soul. Even when you're wide awake, your vision is suddenly blocked out by a tizzy of flying colors and you're suddenly floating on clouds. I don't care what you pretentious sticklers have to say about Animal Collective, but this stuff is better than anything you're smoking.

From: Merriweather Post Pavillion, 2009

Tags: psychadelic, experimental

Similar: Panda Bear, Atlas Sound
Amazon: In The Flowers

2010-02-11T19:15:00.001-08:00

Bon Iver - "Blood Bank"

Much like Girls (the band, that is), it took me awhile to fully realize the greatness of Bon Iver. But one night I heard Justin Vernon playing "Skinny Love" on Letterman and I was instantly hooked. Vernon's voice, like Chris Owens', may take some getting used to, but songs like "Skinny Love," and more recently "Blood Bank," are just plain beautiful and somewhat haunting. Also, the lyrics to "Blood Bank" are some of the best he's ever written, and quite relevant to the forthcoming holiday, as the bleak, snowy landscape reflects Vernon's nostalgic view of a sexy run-in at a blood bank. I swear, if there's one man on earth who could depict such an oddly romantic scene as this so flawlessly, it would be Mr. Vernon. Although it takes the band in a different direction after For Emma, it was interesting to hear what he sounds like in a recording studio, rather than an old shack.

From: Blood Bank EP, 2009

Similar: folk, singer-songwriter

Tags: Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine
Amazon: Blood Bank

2010-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

Girls - "Hellhole Ratrace"

After reading about this band on every music website I visited on a daily basis last year, I felt like I needed to hear what all the hype was about. Like most other people, the first thing I noticed was the singer's dreadfully whiny, and on this song, sluggish, vocals. I absolutely detested this song, as it was simply the same few lines being repeated over and over for five minutes or so. But after a month, it just hit me out of nowhere that this was, in fact, a fantastic song. The vocals are actually quite fitting, once you're accustomed to them, and the slow crescendo near the end is quite impressive. The song always makes me nostalgic for a teenhood I never experienced, and by the end, I'm always thirsting for more.

From: Album, 2009

Tags: indie pop, lo-fi

Similar: Real Estate, Neon Indian
Amazon: Hellhole Ratrace

2010-02-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

Radiohead - "Gagging Order"

So awhile ago I came across that Jaydiohead album (a Jay-Z + Radiohead mash-up, for those of you who are uncultured) and was a quite disgusted and somewhat confused. None of the songs really fit together, with the exception of the one Radiohead song I'd never heard before, which I had assumed was on Kid A because that was the only album I didn't own at the time. But it has recently come to my attention that the name of the song is "Gagging Order," and it comes from the Go To Sleep EP. Strangely enough, I think I might like it better with Jay-Z in it, but the original version is still way better than any of the songs that were actually on Hail to the Thief. At the height of my Radiohead obsession, I went through a ton of their b-sides only to find that most of them were garbage. But this little gem has proven to be one of the band's prettiest songs to date and proof that the Hail to the Thief sessions weren't a complete waste.

From: Go To Sleep EP, 2002

Tags: alternative

Similar: Blur, Coldplay
Amazon: Gagging Order

2010-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

Flobots - "Rise"

So lately I've been digging through some old files and I was fortunate enough to come across a few albums I hadn't heard in years. Among them were Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere and Flobots' 2007 debut. Upon listening to them again, I remembered why I'd stopped playing them in the first place, as neither really have interested me. But after hearing the the closing track to Fight With Tools, well, I guess you could say I sort of had a religious moment. As you probably already know, I'm into the whole white rapper thing, and this is quite simply pure genius. I guess I just really like the idea of Flobots, even though their talent only shines through on a few of their songs. But this one...wow. I don't even. Man. Just. Man. Who knew violins could compliment a hip-hop track so flawlessly.

From: Fight With Tools, 2007

Tags: hip-hop, indie

Similar: Gym Class Heroes, Zack de la Rocha
Amazon: Rise

2010-02-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

Cursive - "Let Me Up"

I didn't really get too excited for Cursive's new album last year until I heard this song. I absolutely adored the two that preceded Mama, I'm Swollen, but I just couldn't get into their most recent attempt. That is, until about three minutes into "Let Me Up." I felt like the album seemed a bit half-assed up until this point, where it takes off in a direction somewhat new to the band, and very exciting for longtime fans such as myself. Now the anticipation up to this point is just as satisfying to me as the chill-inducing crescendo itself, a recipe for greatness. Even if Mama didn't quite live up to the success of 2006's Happy Hollow, it was still lyrically brilliant and moments like this made me glad to own so many pairs of underwear.

From: Mama, I'm Swollen, 2009

Tags: indie, alternative

Similar: Desaparecidos, Commander Venus
Amazon: Let Me Up

2010-02-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Fucked Up - "Neat Parts"

Probably due to their aggressive name, I made sure to stay clear of Fucked Up throughout the majority of 2009. But only a month into this year, the Toronto hard-rockers have already released a collection of about twenty songs that I assume didn't make the cut for their well-received debut. I guess I was right about the aggressiveness, but this is one of the few instances where I enjoy it. I'm rather confident that it has something to do with the way they channel Les Savy Fav's energy (and stage presence...) that made me so attracted to this particular song, which is short but oh so sweet. Honestly, I think these guys are a little too talented to be considered "hardcore," but I guess I'll take "punk rock," as it suits their sound whether I like it or not.

From: Couple Tracks, 2010

Tags: hardcore, punk

Similar: Career Suicide, Cloak/Dagger
Amazon: Neat Parts

2010-01-29T21:45:00.000-08:00

Los Campesions! - "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed"

Although I'm honestly getting a little bit tired of Los Campesinos!, I always really liked this song. It's a great example of their playful, yet somewhat morbid music, which can be very refreshing in a weird sort of way. Upon first listen, you'll think "oh wow, this a cute little tune. What a nice group of people this is." Suddenly, you hear it again and you say to yourself "dear Lord, are these people insane!?" That being said, their music really has gotten a bit stale, having released at least one album every year since 2007 (I think?). But I'll always leave room in one of my playlists for this song, as it really hits the spot no matter what kind of mood I'm in.

From: We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, 2008

Tags: indie pop, twee

Similar: Dananananaykroid, Sky Larkin
Amazon: We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed

2010-01-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

The Thermals - "You Dissolve"

Ah, the perfect ending to the soundtrack of my summer. And by that, I don't mean a mixtape; I actually refrained from listening to all music this past summer with the exception of The Thermals' Now We Can See. This may not be entirely true--okay, it's a complete lie--but I'm still quite positive that the Thermals wound up with the most plays for a few months around then. "You Dissolve" wasn't exactly my favorite track at that point, but it surely has grown on me since then. It's really a great note to end the nearly flawless album on, as it fits right in with the rest of the songs, reminding us all how little our lives mean in the most optimistic way.

From: Now We Can See, 2009

Tags: indie, punk

Similar: Titus Andronicus, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Amazon: You Dissolve

2010-01-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Les Savy Fav - "What Would Wolves Do?"

After a few years of tedious research, scientists have finally come to the conclusion that this is, in fact, the greatest song ever written. It was the first song I'd heard by the band and I was shocked when I bought the album to find that all the other songs were absolutely 100% different in every way possible. I learned to love that album, but this song still stands out to me. Everything from the clinking guitar intro to the beautifully written lyrics, this song just makes you feel so good, and Les Savy Fav has never really been a band to make you feel this way. The thing is, I always pictured their singer as a tall, handsome, slender man. I never would have guessed that he was a fat man who resembles Henry VIII running around in his underwear.

From: Let's Stay Friends, 2007

Tags: post-hardcore, indie

Similar: Q and Not U, The Dismemberment Plan
Amazon: What Would Wolves Do?

2010-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Themselves - "You Ain't It"

Well, I'm on another one of my hip-hop kicks. I still can't get into the mainstream stuff, so I'm checking out more weird white guy Anticon collaborations and the like. I just recently found out that some of the guys from Subtle have their own rap group called Themselves, which is utterly ridiculous. Not only is the guy's voice the weirdest I have ever heard, but he has one of the fastest flows in the game. This song in particular is hard to understand, which is, I suppose, why I love it so much. I guess it's the fact that this is much more fast-paced than what Subtle has to offer makes this the superior group. Either way, Anticon never ceases to amaze me.

From: CrownsDown, 2009

Tags: hip-hop, experimental

Similar: cLOUDDEAD, Sole
Amazon: You Ain't It

2010-01-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

Karen O and the Kids - "All Is Love"

I think it was one of the best days of every hipster's life when they heard that Spike Jonze was making Where The Wild Things Are in to a movie, and that Karen O was doing the soundtrack. Now I don't necessarily consider myself a hipster, but I'll admit that I was ecstatic. Not to say that the movie needed a lift, but the wild yelpping of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's singer seemed to fit perfectly into just about every scene, only adding to brilliance of the film. I'm sure listening to the whole soundtrack can be a little tedious, but I'm pleased with this song by itself. When I heard the first two singles from It's Blitz! I knew that it would be a letdown, but with the release of this soundtrack, 2009 wasn't a complete failure for Karen O.

From: Where The Wild Things Are OMPS
Tags: folk, happy
Similar: Dead Man's Bones, She & Him
Amazon: All Is Love

2010-01-21T19:09:00.001-08:00

British Sea Power - "No Man Is An Archipelago"

What is this! I don't know a whole lot about British Sea Power, aside from the fact that they make some pretty great indie/post rock music. It took me by surprise last year when they released a new soundtrack to an old movie by the name of The Man of Aran, mostly made up of long instrumental pieces led by guitars, violins, and a beautiful orchestra to back it up. I never expected a band like this--or really any other band on my iPod--to accomplish such a feat so flawlessly, but this is truly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. There are plans for a new album this year, but I'm not sure that they'll be able to top the success of last year's curve ball.

From: The Man of Aran, 2009

Tags: instrumental, alternative

Similar: Brakes, Doves
Amazon: No Man Is An Archipelago

2010-01-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

O+S - "Haunts"

I feel like I just reviewed this album, but this song has really stuck out to me lately. For lack of a better word, it haunts me every time I hear it and is easily one of the best songs on the band's self-titled debut. I was never really into Azure Ray, so I was quite pleased when Orenda Fink moved on to a new band driven by powerful bass grooves and thumping drum beats, as heard in this song. Her voice sounds utterly mystifying in this song especially, and Cedric's beat only makes things better. If nothing else, it's a great song to add to your playlist built specifically for long, dark, lonely drives home. Because I know you have one of those playlists.

From: O+S, 2009

Tags: indie, electronic

Similar: Shady Bard, Art In Manila
Amazon: Haunts

2010-01-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

The Morning Benders - "Waiting For A War"

It always ruins a song when you hear a cover version before the real thing. Fortunately, in the Morning Benders' case, The Submarines' version of "Waiting For A War" was so similar to the original that it was hardly even a problem. I've always really liked this band, as they sound like a combination of The Shins, Coconut Records, Miniature Tigers, and many other wrapped into one. But this was the song that really got me listening to them, as it's more catchy and upbeat than most of the other songs of theirs that I've heard. Don't be too surprised if you see a review for one of their albums in the near future, as I've decided to spend money on their music in any shape or form.

From: Talking Through Tin Cans, 2007

Tags: jangle, indie pop

Similar: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The Little Ones
Amazon: Waiting For A War

2010-01-14T19:10:00.001-08:00

Blonde Redhead - "23"

I don't know how it took me this long to start listening to this band. I really got into indie rock around five years ago with The Comas, and this was always one of the bands that websites told me to check out, and for some reason I ignored all those recommendations. Well, I now know that they're nothing like the Comas, but my musical horizons have expanded greatly. I've been listening to a lot of shoegaze lately, and even though this isn't quite My Bloody Valentine, this song has a very mellow, darkly melodic vibe to it. From all the years of ignoring them, I'd always assumed they were some sort of boring pop band, but I was obviously quite wrong. Very inspirational.

From: 23, 2007

Tags: indie rock, shoegaze

Similar: Electrelane, Asobi Seksu
Amazon: 23

2010-01-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

The Helio Sequence - "Hallelujiah"

Recently, I've been thinking about death a lot. Not to be morbid or anything, but a kid from my school just passed away, as well as a guy I knew who just had his first kid. I think it was the album Hospice that really got me thinking, but this song sort of works as an epilogue to the album with its carefully crafted lyrics pondering death and religion. I really wasn't a fan of the band until this album, as I'm attracted to albums built around the subject of death for whatever reason. I'm glad they finally buckled down and threw away that stupid harmonica to make meaningful, even touching songs about a fallen friend. On a less serious note, that's definitely Ray Romano on the left.

From: Keep Your Eyes Ahead, 2008

Tags: indie, electronica

Similar: Rogue Wave, Annuals
Amazon: Hallelujah (Album)

2010-01-12T18:31:00.000-08:00

Bloc Party - "Halo"

After being nagged for well over a year to give Bloc Party another shot, I finally gave in to my friend's request and downloaded "Halo." As most people know, the band has only gone downhill since their brilliant debut in '05, and I thought 2007's A Weekend in the City was evidence that they would never return. But hearing this song gives me hope that someday, they may actually come close to the success of Silent Alarm, even if it takes them a few trys. Oddly enough, I told my buddy that I'd fallen in love with the song and he informed me that it was the worst one on the album. We'll just have to see about that.

From: Intimacy, 2008

Tags: alternative, British
Similar: Foals, Pin Me Down
Amazon: Halo

2010-01-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

Working For A Nuclear Free City - "Asleep At The Wheel"

If you're not aware of my current position on instrumental bands, I'm really not a huge fan. I once bought an Octopus Project album on iTunes and defintely learned a lesson there. But every once in a while, one of these bands will put out a song that truly is quite good ("Truck" was the reason I bought Hello, Avalanche). I actually became interested in the band becuase of their name, which I just thought was really cool at the time, but I'm glad I gave their music a chance. Despite countless Explosions in the Sky comparisons, these guys are much more like Holy Fuck, especially this song. I'm sure I'd get sick of the album after one spin, but I could listen to this one track on repeat for days.

From: Businessmen and Ghosts, 2007
Tags: instrumental, shoegaze
Similar: Maps, Film School
Amazon: Asleep At The Wheel

2010-01-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Handsome Furs - "What We Had"

After listening to Face Control numerous times in the past few months, it was pretty weird to go back and listen to something a little older. I'd never expected to hear an acoustic guitar, let alone any instrument that's not an electric guitar or a keyboard on one of their tracks. This sounds like a completely different band--er, Wolf Parade side project--from the lovely young couple who brought us one of the greatest albums of the past year. That's what I love about Boeckner and Krug: their creativity is endless, seemingly releasing album after album under different names. However, as much as I like this song, I'm glad they dropped the acoustic guitar on Face Control. It sounds much smoother without.

From: Plague Park, 2007

Tags: electronic, experimental

Similar: Sunset Rubdown, Atlas Strategic
Amazon: What We Had (Album)

2010-01-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

South Ambulance - "Flowers"

Easily the most underrated band of the year, South Ambulance released two stunning, creatively named EPs this past year, EP#4 and EP#5. There really aren't any bad tracks on either, but one of my favorites would have to be the shortest and sweetest of the bunch, "Flowers." At just over a minute and a half, the band packs a heavy punch, as the song only gets more powerful as it winds down. While other energetic, indie pop artists like Wavves have been getting all the attention lately, few people are aware of the most original and catchy of these young new bands, being from Sweden and all. I know I say this often, but I really mean it this time: there is no other band like this one.

From: EP#4, 2009

Tags: shoegaze, indie pop

Similar: The Legends, The Radio Dept.
Amazon: Flowers

2009-12-29T22:08:00.000-08:00

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING...

here 's my end of the year list, which includes top 100 songs, top 10 albums, best side projects, and more. Enjoy!

2009-12-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

Metric - "Help I'm Alive"

I don't want to call this mainstream, but I hear this song everywhere nowadays. I'll admit right now that of all places, I fell in love with it as I was cutting through an Aeropostale at the local mall and since then I've heard it on the radio a few times and in other stores such as American Eagle. I was sort of into the band before this song came out, but hearing it blasting in Aeropostale was for some reason a completely different experience for me. I've had this happen with movies or even TV shows where I'll realize the greatness of a certain song, but I've never really paid too much attention to music while I shop. Anyways, this is easily the band's best song to date and it'll rank highly among my favorite songs of '09. Even though it's on the radio.

From: Fantasies, 2009

Tags: alternative, indie

Similar: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Stars
Amazon: Help I'm Alive

2009-12-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sparklehorse - "Someday I Will Treat You Good"

If you hadn't noticed, my taste in music is almost strictly made up of new bands, or basically just new music in general. However, every once in a while I'll come across someone like Sparklehorse who hasn't been too busy in recent years, but I still dig the old stuff. Last I heard, Linkous was working with Danger Mouse on a big 'ol collaboration album, but nothing will compare to the energy shown on the band's debut almost fifteen years ago. I can't say I'm too familiar with his work in the years between this and Dark Night of the Soul, but I've read several reviews saying that nothing tops the Sparklehorse of the '90s. I may not always agree with these sources, but we'll just have to wait and see what they dish out next.

From: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, 1995

Tags: indie, singer-songwriter(?)

Similar: Grandaddy, The Flaming Lips
Amazon: Someday I Will Treat You Good [Explicit]

2009-12-27T19:54:00.001-08:00

Clues - "Remember Severed Head"

So I don't know about best new band, but Clues wins weirdest new band of the year hands down. Everything from the lyrics to the guitar parts to the squeaks and squeals, Clues may come off as a bit obnoxious at first, but you will soon see the good in their music. I suppose the Unicorns comparison is quite accurate, as both bands come off as quirky and completely ridiculous upon first listen. I had no idea that the band was founded by one third of The Unicorns (Alden Penner), but I can't say I was too surprised. I'm glad that the dissolution of one of Canada's greatest indie trios had such a great outcome with the formation of this and Islands. It almost makes you want to see more bands fall apart, doesn't it?

From: Clues, 2009
Tags: experimental, indie pop
Similar: Islands, Human Highway
Amazon: Remember Severed Head

2009-12-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

Arcade Fire - "Jinglebell Rock"

Well, it's Christmas and it seems more than appropriate to choose a festive song for the occasion. Rather than offer a cheesy rendition of a traditional holiday track, I present you the Arcade Fire's take on "Jinglebell Rock," as I guess we're still celebrating Canadians this week. Sure they may not know all--or any--of the words, but it's so clear that this song comes straight from the bottom of their little hearts. I have no idea how they packed so much passion and emotion into 80 seconds, but this just goes to show how remarkable these guys are. Merry Christmas, you guys. You can thank me later.

From: A Very Arcade Xmas, 2002

Tags: Christmas, Canadian

Similar: Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade

2009-12-21T19:19:00.001-08:00

Great Lake Swimmers - "Pulling On A Line"

I've decided to celebrate Canadians this week, as it turns out that all of my current favorite bands hail from the Great White North. Perhaps the greatest Canadian single of the year, "Pulling On A Line" is most comparable to an Okkervil River track sung by Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. It's always weird to hear a song this folksy be catchy at the same time. Similarly, the song is very simple, yet it's message is very deep. The balance of this song is unbelievable, and I definitely look forward to picking this album up, as well as the release of the Song Sung Blue EP which comes out tomorrow.

From: Lost Channels, 2009

Tags: indie pop, singer-songwriter

Similar: Horse Feathers, Shearwater
Amazon: Pulling On A Line

2009-12-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

Frog Eyes - "Caravan Breakers, They Prey on the Weak and the Old"

Not only have I become obsessed with Canadian bands as of lately, but a pretty good percentage of them have been in some way linked to Wolf Parade. Frog Eyes, for example, was the band that led to the formation of Swan Lake, which consists of Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes, Dan Bejar of The New Pornographers and Destroyer, and, you guessed it, Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade. Of all of these projects, Frog Eyes is probably the least exciting, but this 7 minute thrill ride actually ranks up there with Krug's and Bejar's bands. It may take some time to get used to Mercer's singing, but if you've adjusted to Wolf Parade, you should be fine.

From: Tears of the Valedictorian, 2007

Tags: indie, experimental

Similar: Swan Lake, Sunset Rubdown
Amazon: Caravan Breakers, They Prey On the Weak And the Old

2009-12-18T21:45:00.000-08:00

Plants and Animals - "Bye Bye Bye"

I usually don't listen to most of my recommendations, but last.fm seemed pretty adamant about having me listen to this band. I'm glad I did, because this is exactly the weird kind of stuff I've been listening to as of lately. Not only is it driven by piano, but it also contains all sorts of odd string arrangements performed by none other than Sara Neufield of The Arcade Fire. I wouldn't quite put this song in the same category as, say, The Arcade Fire or Final Fantasy (sorry, I mean Owen Pallett), as this is more upbeat and overall much more satisfying in a way. But the amount of creativity poured into this little project does reflect that of Pallett and the Butler boys. I guess I should listen to last.fm more often.

From: Parc Avenue, 2008

Tags: Canadian, indie rock

Similar: Apostle of Hustle, The Acorn
Amazon: Bye Bye Bye

2009-12-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Broken Spindles - "Introvert"

I've been listening to a lot of The Faint recently, so I figured I'd give their side project(s?) a listen. Broken Spindles is the work of bassist/guitarist Joel Petersen (also formerly of Beep Beep) and even though it sounds nothing like The Faint, the influence is obvious. Maybe if The Faint toned their act down a couple notches, the two would be somewhat similar, but this song is just way too mellow to be a product of his main act. Even though it's just under two minutes long, it's probably still his best track, as well as his most accessible. Petersen truly is the Jonny Greenwood of modern electronica.

From: Kiss/Kick, 2009

Tags: electronica, indie

Similar: Criteria, Now It's Overhead
Amazon: Introvert

2009-12-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

The Big Pink - "Dominos"

For some reason, I've always thought of this song as sort of a guilty pleasure. Sure, it fits in with the rest of the music in my library fine, but it might be the fact that I've been avoiding British bands lately that makes me a little wary every time I listen to it. When you take a step back, the song really is pretty bad. It really just sounds like the garbage pop music ruling the charts these days, or even an annoying "indie" act like Passion Pit. But honestly, I don't think I've ever heard a chorus as infectiously catchy as this one. This song will literally get stuck in your head for weeks at a time and it will slowly grow on you. There's really no escaping it and whether you admit it or not, you love this song too.

From: A Brief History of Love, 2009

Tags: alternative, shoegaze

Similar: The xx, Friendly Fires
Amazon: Dominos

2009-12-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

Cloud Cult - "Purpose"

Cloud Cult is usually pretty hit or miss, especially with the tracks on their recently released The Meaning of 8. Not only is "Purpose" one of the best on the album, but this song is actually one of the highlights of their eight album career. There's something so mesmerizing about the out-of-tune piano (which I've always been a fan of) and the screeching guitar parts that make the song so incredibly beautiful. When Cloud Cult hits their stride, they really nail it and are able to produce some really remarkable music, and this is definitely proof. Everything from the interesting array of instruments to the deep lyrics that really make you think just have Cloud Cult written all over them. To hell with the going down!

From: The Meaning of 8, 2007

Tags: experimental, indie pop

Similar: Yeasayer, Menomena
Amazon: Purpose

2009-12-11T21:15:00.000-08:00

Subtle - "Middleclass Haunt"

Ever since falling in love with their song "Sick Soft Perfection" a few months back, I've been trying rather unsuccessfully to listen to this band. The problem is that they're just too weird for me. I figured this song would help me to get used to them, as they share vocals with Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner. Unfortunately, Boeckner is basically the only thing I like about the song. Subtle always have some pretty good beats, but their singing always freaks me out. But when he's/they're only singing back up, you hardly even pay attention to them and the song is actually quite good.

From: The Mercury Craze EP, 2006

Tags: hip-hop, experimental

Similar: Themselves, cLOUDDEAD
Amazon: Middleclass Haunt

2009-12-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

Astronautalis - "The Wondersmith and His Sons"

I think I found this song months ago when Amazon recommended the artist to me and I listened to a thirty second clip of this song. Well, I guess I wrote it down somewhere and I just recently bought it with an iTunes card. I'm pretty sure I was oblivious as to how weird it was back then, but I'm quite content with it now. I had no idea that it was supposed to be hip-hop before I looked it up, so I assume it was recommended due to my osession with Why? and Sole. To me it sounds more like Murder By Death, but I can definitely hear the anticon. inspiration behind it now. If you're into any of that weird, white guy hip-hop, you'd better give this a listen.

From: Pomegranite, 2009

Tags: indie hip-hop, experimental

Similar: Why?, Buck 65
Amazon: The Wondersmith and His Sons

2009-12-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

Great Northern - "Houses"

Oddly enough, I found this song on a free download website, but I ended up (God forbid) spending money on it. I sampled it and fell in love with it immediately, but for some reason it would not save to my computer. Anyways, what we have here is yet another successful knockoff of Metric, that's actually much better. I'm not quite sure who was around first, but really the only difference between the two is that Metric is actually from the Great North. Not to be confused with their other standout track, "Home," "Houses" is a very fast-paced and exciting piece fit for just about any movie or TV soundtrack. I was a little wary about listening to this band because of Solon Bixler's past with 30 Seconds to Mars, but this band turned out quite alright.

From: Remind Me Where The Light Is, 2009

Tags: indie rock, alternative

Similar: The Submarines, Earlimart
Amazon: Houses

2009-12-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Molemen - "Put Your Quarter Up"

I'm still not quite sure how to tag this. I bought it on iTunes, and it simply listed all of the rappers invloved, but I guess technically the rap group is called Molemen (then who are The Weathermen?). Anyways, this is another song I nabbed from a Tony Hawk game. For some reason, I've always enjoyed the rap songs on those soundtracks so much more than the rock ones. I decided to listen to this song again after playing and noticing that Aesop Rock was in it, as I've recently become a fan of his work. But really, all the verses are wonderfully written and well delivered. This is easily the best hip-hop collaboration I've heard in a long time.

From: Ritual of the... Revisited and Remastered, 2004

Tags: underground hip-hop

Similar: Buck 65, Cannibal Ox
Amazon: Put Your Quarter Up

2009-12-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

Blue States - "Season Song"

I'd say in the past few weeks, the movie I've stolen the most music from has been 28 Days Later. I've sat through bad movie after bad movie where I was able to name all of the songs that were played, but I was only familiar with the Grandaddy song played while they were at the supermarket. Not only was the soundtrack great, but the songs were all very new to me, whereas other movies play worn-out indie rock tracks like "The Underdog" by Spoon. It was especially surprising to hear this song during the end credits because you'd expect something dark, like the rest of the movie. Very original (the song and the movie, that is).

From: Man Mountain, 2002

Tags: dream pop, trip-hop

Similar: Zero 7, Thunderball
Amazon: Season Song