i guess i'm floating

[MP3] Atlas Sound + Panda Bear: "Walkabout"

2009-07-17T12:50:00.005-04:00

It's a great day for collaborations, apparently! I'm gonna go ahead and guess that our friends at Gorilla vs Bear already jumped on this today (Ed- that would be a correct assumption), obviously. When Atlas Sound and freakin' Panda Bear hook up to make a song you can pretty much bet your asses its gonna be incredible. Like best song of the summer incredible.

[MP3] Atlas Sound - Walkabout (w/ Panda Bear)

Are you still reading this? Don't! Just put on the song, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to count the pieces of your fragmented reality when you return from wherever the hell this song took you. My freaking GOD where has this been all my life?

[MP3] Monsters of Folk (Oberst, Yames, Ward): "Say Please"

2009-07-17T12:43:00.001-04:00

Monsters of Folk?? Once again, the part of my brain that processes finding out about awesome shit just exploded into a fiery orgasmic wetness at the news that Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and Yim Yames (Jim James from My Morning Jacket) are forming a supergroup. When the hell did this happen? There's a proper fifteen-song LP releasing on September 22nd, but for now you can listen to the album's first single called "Say Please" right here:

[MP3] Monsters of Folk - Say Please

The Yames / Oberst vocal combination sounds surprisingly great (maybe its the chaos+calmness thing, who knows). While this might not be the best thing we could have imagined given the talent behind this group it's still a wickedly delicious taste of what's to come in September.

Here's a few celebratory MP3s:

[MP3] Bright Eyes - The Biggest Lie (Elliott Smith Cover)
[MP3] Bright Eyes - Trees Get Wheeled Away
[MP3] My Morning Jacket - How Could I Know

[Video] Grizzly Bear: "Ready, Able" (Live on Letterman)

2009-07-17T10:54:00.003-04:00

The last time I watched Grizzly Bear perform on a late night show they looked pretty tired from touring. Of course, the rendition of "Cheerleader" didn't lack in the slightest and (if anything) this rendition of "Ready, Able" makes their Fallon gig look like a soundcheck! The boys from Brooklyn were on Letterman last night with an awesome string quartet that makes "Ready, Able" give off the same sort of magic audible on the album. I'm glad I got to watch it with strings last night but am also sad that I didn't get to witness such a spectacle live! Can't they keep the quartet in their back pocket for the 2:09 mark if nothing else?

Airplanes, Celestial Bodies, and Deastro's Moondagger LP

2009-07-17T07:48:00.006-04:00

Should I be concerned that new albums with 14 songs seem daunting to me? Maybe I listen to too much music. Or, shit, maybe not enough? What the hell is wrong with me? I can't even make up my mind about Deastro and their Moondagger album. It sounds great on the surface, although I couldn't make it all the way through before defaulting back to that new unstoppable Very Best album. Listening to and enjoying music should be easy, right? Not like eating cake easy or laying in a bed full of gorgeous half naked women easy (or men, for all our female readers), but easy enough. Easy, as in not difficult. Does that make sense? Oh, of course, you could probably use some context:

[MP3] Deastro - Tone Adventure #3

Take "Tone Adventure #3"... I don't particularly love the lyrics or even the lyrical melody, but man does this track explode at the 1:47 mark, in a way that Deerhunter would if they made an electro-pop album. There may be moments like this scattered throughout Moondagger's 48.8 minutes, but can I really sit through 48.8 minutes of good music looking for a few handfuls of greatness? Well it's not if I can, of course I can. But should I even bother in the first place?

[MP3] Deastro - Pyramid Builders

I went out late yesterday afternoon to East Boston at sunset with my girlfriend. East Boston, if you didn't know, is the tiny residential area crammed right next to Boston's Logan Airport. There's not much worth doing there, but I went for a specific reason-- I was hoping to catch planes landing close up. We sat along the shore across from the runway for about an hour, and despite the stench of the harbor, the relentless buzzing and biting of mosquitoes and the general discomfort that ensued, we still managed to witness three planes flying at 200mph landing about 100 feet directly over our heads. Those massive, inconceivably airborne aluminum machines that would hover miraculously in mid air for seconds--milliseconds even--would have existed in that time and space with or without our presence, whether or not we were there to experience them. But despite the mosquitoes, the stench, the discomfort, we toughed it out, and now we've logged a memory we won't ever forget.

I guess I've answered my own question. It's not that those shiny moments of magnetic brilliance aren't there, and they aren't even that difficult to find in the bigger picture. You've just got to be patient. You've got to be willing to accept that things always suck before they get better. Anyone looking at the night sky for five minutes will see a shooting star, but it's the people who stare longer, who look deeper, that get to name them.

Fleet Foxes, Decemberists, Iron & Wine to play Newport's Folk Fest 50

2009-07-16T17:52:00.003-04:00

This year will be my first venture out to Newport's annual Folk Festival, which has featured the likes of Bob Dylan, Howlin' Wolf, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and hundreds more over the course of its 50 year history. This year's gathering marks that 50 year milestone and brings in some serious talent along the way, including Joan Baez (who was brought on as an unannounced guest by Dylan in 1959's inaugural show), Pete Seeger (one of the festival's original founders), The Decemberists, Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, Deer Tick, Josh Ritter, Elvis Perkins and Ben Kweller.

We'll be covering the event this year, which occurs on the first weekend in August, Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd. Here's the full line-up:

Saturday:
Pete Seeger - The Decemberists - Fleet Foxes - Gillian Welch - The Avett Brothers - Billy Bragg - Iron & Wine - Mavis Staples - Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman - Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Ben Kweller - The Low Anthem - Brett Dennen - Tift Merritt - Tao Rodriguez Seeger - Langhorne Slim

Sunday:
Pete Seeger with special guest Judy Collins - Joan Baez - Arlo Guthrie - Neko Case - The Campbell Brothers - Josh Ritter - Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Del McCoury - Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers - Dala - Guy Clark - David Rawlings Machine - Deer Tick - Balfa Toujours - Joe Pug

[MP3] new Fruit Bats: "The Ruminant Band"

2009-07-16T16:49:00.001-04:00

Here's the title track from Fruit Bats' upcoming fourth album The Ruminant Band:

[MP3] Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

Fruit Bats have always unfortunately been dismissed by some as another Shins-esque band on Sub Pop's label of other Shins-esque bands, and whether or not that's a valid comparison it still overlooks Fruit Bats' inherent knack for solid songwriting and melodic composition. "The Ruminant Band" is the second freebie off of the new album-- the second track, sandwiched between two equally impressive songs, comprising a remarkably strong 1-2-3 punch opening sequence. In case you were about to overlook this one, my only suggestion is not to. Give it a chance, it's well worth every second of your time.

The Ruminant Band is out August 4^th via Sub Pop.

Previously: "My Unusual Friend" [MP3]

<-- Fruit Bats -->
Official Site | MySpace Site | More MP3s | Preorder The Ruminant Band

[Contest] Win "Living In Harmony" Threadless T-Shirt!

2009-07-15T12:37:00.006-04:00

Pitchfork Fest 2009 is rapidly approaching and I still remain undecided if I'll make the trek back to Chicago this weekend. The weather looks like it should cooperate this year and the lineup may quite possibly be the best three-day stretch the festival has ever seen. While I mull over my options on making the trek, I won't have to contemplate what to wear thanks to Threadless. They're hooked us up with some sweet t-shirts and are excited to do the same for a lucky reader! We're randomly giving away one free "Living In Harmony" t-shirt to any IGIF lover leaving their name and email address in the comments. The t-shirt design (pictured right) is the balance between acoustic and electric guitar, a pretty basic yet fun printed tee!

If you're not the lucky one selected for the free attire, be sure to stop by the Threadless booth at Pitchfork Fest! They're onsite in a way they've never been before and anyone who stops by stands to benefit for free:

- Enter for a chance to win one gift certificate for 200 tees (prize value = $4000 gift certificate)
- Daily giveaway of a "12 club" membership to receive an exclusive tee shirt each month for a year
- Spin the prizewheel in the Threadless booth all weekend for free tees, prints, discounts, and special band giveaways

Test your luck in the comments section below or this weekend at Pitchfork Fest via the Threadless booth. Either way, you've got nothing to lose by giving it a go!

[Video] Wilco + Feist: "You and I" (Live on Letterman)

2009-07-15T11:59:00.003-04:00

I stayed up too late last night but one thing I managed to catch during my midsummer's night insomnia was Wilco playing a fantastic set on Letterman. Not only did "You and I" sound great but it also included the lovely vocals of Feist alongside Jeff Tweedy. It was a real treat, partially due to my soft spot regarding collaborations or Dave's silly jokes about Wilco's party/cake/camel album cover. It's typically all Conan for me but Letterman can steal my gaze when he books great acts like this for his show:

Music Alliance Pact :: July 2009

2009-07-15T07:52:00.002-04:00

Here's July's edition of the Music Alliance Pact. For those of you who don't know about MAP, it's a collection of music blogs from around the world who band together once a month to shed light on up-and-comers from their home countries. It's sort of like the WTO without the human rights violations.

This month we've welcomed Japan and Venezuela into the mix, so this edition showcases 26 tracks from around the world. Some of you expressed how much of a pain in the ass it is to sift through 26 songs for the gems so I've gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorites as a guide.

Our contribution this month includes a track from a recent mpFree featured band, Spanish Prisoners.

Three cheers for musical globalization! Now let's diversify our ears:

AMERICA – I Guess I'm Floating

[MP3] Spanish Prisoners - Kiss The Lawn Goodbye

Brooklyn's Spanish Prisoners, fronted by Leo Maymind, create fractured power-pop in the vein of The New Porno's Dan Bejar (Destroyer). They're currently working on a new album but in the meantime they've released a free three-song EP - download it here - from which Kiss The Lawn Goodbye is taken.

ARGENTINA – Zonaindie

[MP3] Mi Pequeña Muerte - La Musica Nueva

Mi Pequeña Muerte means "my little death" so you're probably thinking this is not a particularly optimistic band. That was true for Hospital, their 2004 debut album, which was loaded with melancholic indie-rock tunes and moaning vocals. But this is 2009 and believe it or not, the band's third album is called Un Futuro Brillante ("a brilliant future"). Maybe that was just pure irony, but in this new effort they define themselves with shiny sounds and instruments, including horns and Moog synthesizers.

AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They?

[MP3] Boat Beam - The Rainy Pauly

So it turns out that Josephine of Sparkadia is now in this gorgeously gentle folky trio in Madrid called Boat Beam, and they seem to be kinda popular (check their MySpace). How crazy is that? I could listen to "The Rain Pauly" for days.

BRAZIL – Meio Desligado

[MP3] Nancy - Keep Cooler

Five-piece band Nancy have played just a few shows in Brazil and may be more well-known outside the country. They were the first Brazilian band on virtual label RCRD LBL and have been featured on BBC Radio's Introducing programme, showing their soft indie tunes. Nancy's members live in different cities and countries so the band's debut album, Chora Matisse!, was composed on the internet through emails and IM.

CANADA – I(Heart)Music

[MP3] Rah Rah - I've Got Faith

When I had to submit my ballot for the Polaris Music Prize (think a Canadian version of the Mercury Prize), the one album that was toughest for me to leave off was Rah Rah's amazing Going Steady. As "I've Got Faith" shows, the band combine the best elements of Broken Social Scene (with the constant sense they're just barely keeping everything together) and Arcade Fire (in its epicness), with the end result being a sound that's all their own.

CHILE – Super 45

[MP3] Pedropiedra - Sol Mayor

Pedro Subercaseaux has been involved with music for almost a decade. Having explored such diverse styles as cumbia, hip-hop, electronica, pop and rock, he has been part of several projects such as Hermanos Brothers, Tropiflaite, Yaia and CHC, gathering a good amount of success along the way. This year Subercaseaux has decided to release his debut solo album, under the moniker Pedropiedra, in which he demonstrates his great ability to craft catchy pop-oriented melodies.

DENMARK – All Scandinavian

[MP3] The Works - Live And Direct (featuring Jams F. Kennedy)

It's time to bring some urban tunes to all ye faithful readers of the Music Alliance Pact. Enter The Works aka producers Twelve Beats and Terry Tester, whom I stumbled across quite recently and whose intriguing fusion of hip-hop and electronica I haven't been able to shake off since. Minimalist, yet rich on details. Hardly moving, but always taking you places. Their debut release, Yokohama EP, is out now and streamed in full on their MySpace.

ENGLAND – The Daily Growl

[MP3] Friendship - The Graveyard Shift

Tired of indie bands showing off their 'African influences'? Well, get ready for one more, although this is done with a lot more bite, distortion and general sense of fun than most. Meet Friendship.

FINLAND – Glue

[MP3] Neufvoin - Robot

Neufvoin are an up-and-coming indie band who create beautifully-arranged catchy pop melodies with guitars, synthesizer textures and a few other instruments. Apparently, they also like playing with bots and droids. "Robot" is taken from their debut Robokop EP, six songs produced by Rubik frontman Artturi Taira that journey many different musical landscapes.

FRANCE – SoundNation

[MP3] Jessica Fichot - Un, Deux, Trois (1,2,3)

Born in America to a French father and Chinese mother, chanteuse and songwriter Jessica Fichot was raised in France in a multicultural environment. She is a lot like her hometown of Paris: French at heart, but with a soul that's truly international. Her multi-ethnic upbringing colors the songs on her debut album.

GERMANY – Blogpartei

[MP3] Bonaparte - Gigolo Vagabundo

Bonaparte are a Berlin-based artist collective from all across Europe. Their sparkling weird-folk is powered by Balkan pace and electronic rhythms. Outfitted with crazy costumes, they are one of the most exciting German live acts around.

ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music

[MP3] Sudden Weather Change - Prey Mode

Sudden Weather Change are a five-piece rock band from Reykjavik who have been compared to Sonic Youth and Pavement. "Prey Mode" is taken from their debut album, Stop! Handgrenade In The Name Of Crib-Death 'nderstand, which came out in April on the Icelandic Kimi Records label and will be released in Europe and America in September.

IRELAND – Nialler9

[MP3] The Holy Roman Army - Elegy

Ireland has already produced its fair share of amazing records so far this year and we can now add The Holy Roman Army's album to that list. How The Light Gets In is the brother and sister duo's debut and it's filled with ambient and electronic flourishes with an organic heart. Perhaps it's not a surprise they are a doctor and a psychologist respectively. "Elegy" is a perfect example of the band's yearning for something emotional between the city's streets.

ITALY – Polaroid

[MP3] Iori's Eyes - Anchor

Iori's Eyes are a boy and a girl from Milan who play gentle pop with a dreamy touch. Their music brings together a folk mood and a post-rock background. Their songs sound as fragile and delicate as little toys, but definitely know how to be surprising and poignant. Iori's Eyes just released their debut EP, And Everything Fits In The Yellow Whale, and I can't wait to listen to a proper album.

JAPAN – JPOP Lover

[MP3] LITE - Ghost Dance

LITE are a Tokyo-based instrumental band who play experimental rock with striking, groove-heavy basslines. Formed in 2003, their spirit is similar to Mogwai, 65daysofstatic, Battles, Toe and Envy. In May, LITE visited America for the first time, going out on tour with legendary bass guitarist Mike Watt.

MEXICO – Club Fonograma

[MP3] Hello Seahorse! - Universo 2

Hello Seahorse! is the year's most acclaimed Mexican indie band. With their third album, Bestia, the trio have made the transition into a multi-dimensional group with a masterwork under their belt. Bestia shines in between ghosts and hazy sonic beauty, in a universe of its own, and proves Hello Seahorse! have total control over their romanticized and passionate, sublime creations.

NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat

[MP3] Urbantramper - Southern Hemisphere Blues

Urbantramper are a five-piece from Wellington who are part of a loose collective known as Treeninja. The band produce introspective pop songs that reflect an endearing, naive angst about their place in the world. This is a group with a manifesto! They're currently considering issues of music distribution, copyright and the impact of these on the nature of the relationship between musician and audience. Urbantramper have a strong back catalogue and a new album due in September.

NORWAY – Eardrums

[MP3] Silverdrop - Real Life

It's July, it's summer and it's time for some fresh and shiny indie-pop from Norwegian six-piece Silverdrop. These are definitely sounds for the sunny days and the band's new recordings are even more bouncy and energetic than the songs I've heard from them before. Silverdrop are currently working on their debut album.

PERU – Side of the Blog

[MP3] Francois Peglau - Spring Lovers Song (Si Tú Quieres)

Francois Peglau's songs do not need much explanation, they just happen. They are simple and beautiful - they could be borne from a whistle on a bus or a nice sunny day with friends. Francois moved to London two years ago and "Spring Lovers Song (Si Tú Quieres)" is his most recent song.

PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco?

[MP3] Andrew Thorn - ME Jane (MAP Exclusive)

Andrew Thorn is João Pedro Coimbra, a Portuguese composer/musician/producer and founder of the extremely successful duo Mesa. Andrew Thorn is João's way of exploring his creativity beyond Mesa's sound. The debut EP, Brutes On The Quiet, was released independently (Mesa is signed to Sony/BMG) on July 13 and "ME Jane" is the first authorized download by the artist.

ROMANIA – Babylon Noise

[MP3] Melting Carousel - Several Other Universes

Melting Carousel are an indie-pop band from Timisoara with an eclectic approach, ranging from alternative pop to jazz.

SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop

[MP3] Maple Leaves - Easy Speak

Even though Glasgow's pedigree of producing twee, folky-pop bands (Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura) is strong, few have been as relentlessly joyous as Maple Leaves. With their dreamy girl-boy vocals and penchant for colouring their songs with flute, piano and acoustic guitar, Maple Leaves are guaranteed to put the spring into anyone's summer.

SINGAPORE – I'm Waking Up To...

[MP3] Force Vomit - Liberator

Surfing and punk-rock in the city state of Singapore don't necessarily go hand in hand due to the lack of any noteworthy waves (both literally and metaphorically). Enter Force Vomit, the antithesis of Singapore's two shortcomings with their brazen brand of surf-punk that takes the piss out of Singapore's sanitized idiosyncrasies and semblance of normal life. Sounding like a Dick Dale number cut by switchblades, "Liberator" should easily find a place in a Tarantino film.

SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK

[MP3] Dringe Augh - Tutelar

Singer-songwriter Dringe Augh offers lovely songs full of lively guitar play. Over the years he has recorded several demos and his first official EP, Individually Wrapped, was released in June. On the new version of "Tutelar" Dringe is accompanied by delightful female vocals from Eunjie Song of modern folk duo Sogyumo Acacia Band.

SWEDEN – Swedesplease

[MP3] MAKTHAVERSKAN - German Boy

I was stumbling around the net (MySpace in particular) and came across this band called MAKTHAVERSKAN. I have since learned they are signed to Luxury. Consider this your introduction to the new 'it' band from Gothenburg. They are agit-pop combined with post-punk and a little bit of Joan Jett tunefulness.

VENEZUELA – Barquisimeto Musical

[MP3] Gonzalo Teppa - De Conde A Principal

Gonzalo Teppa is a musician, composer and a breathtaking double-bass player. Born in Barquisimeto, he has wowed audiences in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, USA, Colombia and Bolivia. Downbeat Magazine has selected him as solo artist of the year twice. "De Conde A Principal" is a version of an original work from Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero. It belongs to his latest work, Contrabajos De Aldemaro.

For those wanting to delve into the international music scene as a collective whole, you can download all 26 songs in one file as well.

[MP3] Weird Tapes remix Peter Bjorn & John

2009-07-15T02:15:00.004-04:00

Another day, another awesome remix from Philly's Weird Tapes, the same dude that previously gave us a listenable Datarock song and a pair of free EPs. Kudos to WT for reminding me about PB&J's latest album, the one we all forgot about earlier this year. Here's the remix:

[MP3] Peter Bjorn and John - It Don't Move Me (Weird Tapes Remix) (via CoS)

This remix comes straight off of PB&J's brand new It Don't Move Me EP, which also features remixes from Miike Snow and Teddybears. You can stream/buy it here.

[MP3] new Dodos: "Fables" + Full Album Stream

2009-07-14T15:12:00.002-04:00

Ok, let's try this again. With the inevitable leak of Dodos' third album Time To Die a full three months before its September release date--not to mention a lukewarm reaction which clearly scared the crap of Frenchkiss who's probably banking a lot of money on this--drastic measures were taken to ensure the leak damage is minimized and the band stays in the hype spotlight for longer than the two minutes it'll take you to begin thinking the new album isn't worth your time--- *oh snap!!*...

Nah I'm just poking fun at Dodos die-hards. I'll admit Time To Die is better than I first thought, and it's about as good as it can be considering the limitations the band has confined themselves to. Is this one of the best of the year? Pretty surely, no. Is it worthy of an honorable mention? Without a doubt.

Here's the MP3 freebie for "Fables," an impeccably produced single-worthy track with more hooks than a pirate convention:

[MP3] Dodos - Fables

I might be coming across a bit harsh in my thoughts thus far on Dodos' new album. It's not that I dislike it, Dodos are a talented band who have proven their ability in creating infectious indie pop, and for the record I don't think the new album is just a poor repeat of album numero dos. I am, however, excited to see how this one will be received--by fans, by the mainstream press, by Pitchfork especially. I can't imagine someone who has a problem with Coldplay, for instance, championing Dodos. Not because they sound anything alike, but because both bands produce utterly likable, infinitely inoffensive, marginally "indie-sounding" pop music with little real experimentation and diversity.

If you love music that doesn't interfere with your thoughts or actions, the sonic equivalent of a tepid summer breeze, I highly suggest checking out the full album stream of Time To Die.

Drastic measures: Along with the free MP3 above, the album will be available digitally on July 28th, while the physical release date stands at September 15th.

How many people think I'm way off with this one? Anyone agree?

<-- The Dodos -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Preorder Time To Die

[MP3] new Modest Mouse: "Perpetual Motion Machine"

2009-07-14T10:48:00.009-04:00

I could really start getting used to this; a new Modest Mouse tune every month or so does to my ears what an apple a day supposedly does for the body. Their slow song build-up to the new August EP, No One's First And You're Next, and subsequent tour are akin to watching a dormant volcano sputter out ash and steam before finally exploding. Of course, an actual album would be far better than an EP explosion but I'm sure Brock and the boys are enjoying their vacations.

The next 7" releasing showcases the new single "Perpetual Motion Machine" which will take listeners down South and back to the recording era of Good News For People Who Love Bad News. It stands as one of the more brass reliant tracks I've ever heard from Modest Mouse, complete with choosey guitar picking and Brock's rambling vocals caught somewhere between unsure and nostalgic. The big brass band feel makes for an enjoyable listen, it'd definitely be a spectacle to watch live.

[MP3] Modest Mouse - Perpetual Motion Machine (Removed per label request; link goes to Hype Machine)

<-- Modest Mouse -->
Official Site | MySpace Site | More MP3s | Preorder No One's First And You're Next

[MP3] new Florence and the Machince: "My Boy Builds Coffins" + Demo

2009-07-13T14:02:00.005-04:00

Many things pop into my head when I think of "Florence". Of course, there is the beautiful Italian city that is home to breathtaking artwork and flare from a Renaissance Era gone by. There is even a city near my hometown, obviously named for it's European counterpart, with a silly watertower displaying "Florence Y'all" that's gained national attention. I can recall learning about "The Lady With The Lamp", Florence Nightingale, in high school - perhaps history's most important and influential nurse. Hell, I even think of Olympic sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner (Flo-Jo) and her ridiculously long nails when someone says "Florence".

After soaking in the sounds of Florence and the Machine's debut LP Lungs for the past week, however, there's bound to be another "Florence" association added to my mental rolodex. Florence Welch has had many across the pond in a tizzy, proclaiming her the next great thing and generating the hype to prove so. Welch has ridden the wave of hype well, using Lungs to match her powerful voice with equally as powerful music. That alone is a feat that I thought would prove a challenge for Florence, unable to match her voice with something other than great covers. Observing the transformation of "My Boy Builds Coffins" from a simplistic, bluesy demo packed full of raw power to a flushed-out studio version is as interesting as it is enjoyable.

[MP3] Florence and the Machine - My Boy Builds Coffins (Demo)
[MP3] Florence and the Machine - My Boy Builds Coffins

Her songwriting is solid but the strength of Lungs lies within the variety of soundscapes Florence explores. I've witnessed many fantastic female artists fall into the routine of using their stunning voices to sing drab songs that, after time, start sounding the same. Perhaps it is Florence's ability to avoid the routine that makes Lungs easy to spin a few times and England get so excited about her, we'll see if she catches on Stateside come October.

Lungs releases physically in the U.S. on Oct. 13^th but can be digitally downloaded now.

<-- Florence and the Machine -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Download Lungs

[MP3] Robin Pecknold: "Two-Headed Boy" (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)

2009-07-13T12:51:00.004-04:00

It's not Thursday but it is the beginning of the week, so why not a little cover pick me up? Plus, I couldn't wait the duration of three entire days to share this excellent rendition. It's like some bizarre glitch in the time-space continuum allowed for a favorite band of today (Fleet Foxes) to cover a favorite band of yesterday (Neutral Milk Hotel). Sans the bands, though, as Robin Pecknold performed solo at a benefit concert and covered a Jeff Mangum gem. I tend to think Mangum's vocals and inflection greatly affected or altered each Neutral Milk Hotel track. Needless to say, it's interesting to hear those vocals swapped for Pecknold's harmonious chords.

[MP3] Robin Pecknold - Two-Headed Boy (Live)

One of these day, before I die, I'm going to see Jeff Mangum live. I just have to!

[TGIF] Have A Bootyful Weekend!

2009-07-10T14:41:00.001-04:00

[MP3] Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls
[MP3] Alanis Morisette - My Humps
[MP3] Ariel Pink - The Bottom
[MP3] Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back
[MP3] Bright Eyes - At The Bottom Of Everything (Live)
[MP3] Sabbo - Booty Bounce
[MP3] Spinal Tap - Big Bottom

[MP3] The Very Best: "Julia" + "Rain Dance" (Feat. M.I.A.)

2009-07-09T22:10:00.001-04:00

The spectacular combination of Malawi-born Esau Mwamwaya and British DJ duo Radioclit that created last year's mostly entertaining The Very Best mixtape (download here) has until now been working around the clock on their highly anticipated debut. As was indicated in The Very Best, Esau and Radioclit are... The Very Best (there must have been an easier way to make that point) and said debut, The Warm Heart Of Africa, is just around the corner.

You may have already heard the title track, which features a very castrado Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend fame), and you may have loved it like the majority of the blogosphere. But that's only a small flutter of flavor compared to the actual album (which, as expected, has leaked in full). Take, for example, the album's veritable and literal centerpiece "Julia" »

Update: Label requested the songs be taken down, links now go to Hype Machine. As a consolation, check out this remix of "Warm Heart Of Africa" »

[MP3] The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Theophilus London Remix)
[MP3] The Very Best - Julia (Link goes to Hype Machine)

I was hoping for an afro-electro-pop Beatles cover (it's not) but either way this song blew my proverbial doors off. Way off. Down the GD street. If there's any song to hit me with the same instantly stunning impact of "Paper Planes" consider "Julia" the prime contender. Just wait for a hip-hop remix to send this one straight to the clubs.

Another track of note for its singlehandedly star-studded guest line-up of M.I.A. (who seems to be everywhere these days, who knew?) is "Rain Dance." Not the best but a must-have for M.I.A. fanatics (i.e. all of us):

[MP3] The Very Best - Rain Dance (Link goes to Hype Machine)

We'll have a Reel Time Review of this one for sure, keep your eyes peeled!

<-- The Very Best -->
Label Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy The Very Best

Thursdays and Covers

2009-07-09T15:44:00.003-04:00

[MP3] Imogen Heap - Rolling and Tumbling (feat. Jeff Beck)

I've been on a serious Imogen Heap binge lately, properly preparing my ears for the release of her next LP Ellipse. Her voice is smooth as can be, not to mention her classically educated ears provide for some serious, original orchestration. Aside from having more talent than she knows what to with, Heap has also done her fair share of covers. One of favorites is a rendition of "Rolling and Tumbling" that features legedary guitar God Jeff Beck. It's always good to hear collaborations requiring some genre jumping!

[MP3] Run Toto Run - Sleepyhead

A video appeared in my inbox a month or so ago claiming to deliver a great Passion Pit cover. I did go on to watch the video and thought it was a twee rendition, well done considering how synth-drenched the original version was. Of course, covering "Sleepyhead" is a sure-fire way to draw attention to your band and it's doing just that for Run Toto Run. We'll see if they have anything else worth hearing underneath the covers.

[MP3] Spanish Prisoners - Still Ill

Finally, some cover love for the recently IGIF discovered Spanish Prisoners. I'm still soaking in the sounds of their new EP Los Angeles Guitar Dream which we recently featured as a (free!) download on last week's mpFree. Their male/female vocal duet and rich guitar reverb do justice in covering The Smiths "Still Ill" - a suitable choice considering the influence audible within their original works.

[MP3] new Dodos: "Longform"

2009-07-09T14:24:00.007-04:00

This is a nice surprise: a handful of nine new songs comprising Dodos' Time To Die, the follow up to their 2007 debut Visiter, just hit the net yesterday. Dodos were always a band that I had labeled as somewhat of an anomaly for actually finding success while seemingly very obviously ripping off the sounds of countless of their predecessors and contemporaries. A bastardized, popified Animal Collective+Shins toned down to be the perfect music for mini-van driving young soccer MILFs who still want to stay somewhat "current" in the music scene. Phew, thankfully that was a hasty assessment of an otherwise immensely entertaining band.

[MP3] Dodos - Longform (Song removed per label request, links to HypeM stream!)

After a quick listen, "Longform" was one of the only songs on Time To Die that gives the impression that Dodos have matured, that shows even a tiny bit of growth. As many good songs as graced Visiter, they were all pretty much the same song in the same style, something I thought might have bitten Dodos in the ass eventually. I really hope that hasn't happened here-- "Longform" is a good song, for sure, but let's hope it's not the only standout.

Dodos' sophomore release Time To Die drops September 15th on Frenchkiss Records.

<-- The Dodos -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Preorder Time To Die

[Video] Andrew Bird: "Oh No" (Live on Conan)

2009-07-08T16:42:00.006-04:00

Supporting his 2009 album Noble Beast, Andrew Bird ventured onto Conan last night with his golden phonographs and bandmates for a live rendition of "Oh No". I love when he starts songs out with violin loops and the guitar strapped backwards behind him, looking like some sort of musical ninja ready to attack. Of course, the only attacking Bird does is that of an aural nature as he croons and whistles through the catchy "Oh No". I remember reading in an interview with Bird that he considers himself a professional whistler as much as he does a musician - it sure sounded like it last night. His live performances are so appealing and Conan seemed geniuinely impressed, perhaps more-so by the fact that lanky Andrew Bird didn't look like the typical musician midget standing next to his 6'4" frame during Tuesday's broadcast.

[Stream] The Dead Weather's Horehound LP

2009-07-08T10:56:00.005-04:00

I sometimes wonder the type of legacy Jack White will leave behind after he departs from his mortal body for musical heaven. Member of a fantastic duo, iconic guitarist, leader of two side-projects, solid actor - he's always on an upward climb with no climax in sight. His latest side project conjuring up hoots and hollers from fans/pressheads alike, The Dead Weather, are set to release their much anticipated debut Horehounds next week. Of course, you can keep said anticipation building for next week when you can (maybe) get it through White's new music subscription service or just stream it for free right now.

[STREAM] The Dead Weather - Horehound LP

Horehound released July 14^th via Warner Bros.

<-- The Dead Weather -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Preorder Horehound

[MP3] Happy Family: "Cups"

2009-07-08T10:30:00.001-04:00

I think I may have just found my favorite song of the month. Wait, no, considering I've already spun it around 19 times I might as well whip out my cojones and call this a early contender for kick-back jam of the summer.

[MP3] Happy Family - Cups

The perfect summer jam should, among other things, irk you into the following states of being:

(1) You should be able to sleep in and feel constantly "refreshed" no matter how messed up you got the night before.

(2) You should feel that every second of your life for those three spectacular months is "beach-worthy."

(3) You should, at the end of it all, look back with a proud, fuzzy nostalgia of memories that have been elegantly reduced to a warm translucent haze of images and sounds that you can't...quite...put your finger on.

"Cups" sounds like the twisted, protrusive consonance of a summer carnival-- what you'd hear if you condensed the carousel music, the colorful laughter of its shady gameshow participants, the grinding gears of the ferris wheel and the cotton candy machine, all into one two-minute chunk of noise. The helium headrush, the roller coaster ride, the dips and tumbles and twirls. I imagine it's a lot like what this guy was experiencing before the tasing.

You can listen to a lot more Happy Family goodness at his MySpace page and his Muxtape. As always, we'll keep you posted when more of the good stuff comes rolling in.

[MP3] Grizzly Bear + Lil Wayne Mashup: "2 Weeks Til Prom"

2009-07-07T23:03:00.004-04:00

This was probably inevitable, and although it's entirely cringe-worthy on the surface (and, likely, once you hear it) for some reason I just can't stop listening to it. Thanks to @gorillavsbear for the MP3.

[MP3] Grizzly Bear + Lil Wayne - 2 Weeks Til Prom

You know, a whole album of this wouldn't be bad. Just sayin'...

Update: Apparently there is a full EP for Veckaflyest produced by The Soundmen. Download it here. Thanks to ScottD for the tip.

[MP3] new Yim Yames: "Long, Long, Long" (Beatles Cover)

2009-07-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

I found out two amazing things today at the same time, which is like a double orgasm for the part of the brain that processes finding out about awesome shit. First, Yim Yames (aka Jim James from My Morning Jacket) has a solo record "coming soon" according to his website. Second, he's also releasing an EP of George Harrison covers on August 4th called Tribute To (which also happens to be available as a high-quality digital download from his website today for just $6).

As pleased as I am that he's chosen to cover George Harrison in the first place, his decision to launch the EP with "Long, Long, Long" is the gooey center of this cerebral-cortex-melting experience. Listen for yourself:

[MP3] Yim Yames - Long, Long, Long (Beatles Cover)

Perfectly played, although even Jim James' voice in all its reverbed glory can't surmount the original. I'll have more thoughts in a Reel Time Review shortly.

<-- Yim Yames -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy Tribute To

[MP3] Sin Fang Bous: "We Belong"

2009-07-07T21:55:00.000-04:00

Sindri Sigfússon, the main music-man behind the wildly-popular-in-Iceland-and-beyond Seabear, reportedly recorded Sin Fang Bous's debut album Clangour all by himself--all the while working tirelessly on Seabear's upcoming album. While the two musical acts share a bit more with each other than just the lead member, to be sure, what Sin Fang Bous offers is a bit more on the eclectic, ethereal, electronic side.

Utilizing what seems like hundreds of sounds (some found, some created), Sindri has created an album of almost infinite fascination. Let's just say it'll take more than one listen. Pretend you just threw your happy meal in a blender. Regardless of the taste, it'll take you a while to identify the complex layer of flavors and textures. Or maybe I'm giving happy meals too much credit. Either way, I'm sure you'll love this tune:

[MP3] Sin Fang Bous - We Belong

Clangour is actually more a product of 2008's album cycle than 2009's, but there's nothing wrong with discovering an overlooked gem now and then. Not convinced? Have another listen:

[MP3] Sin Fang Bous - A Fire To Sleep In

<-- Sin Fang Bous -->
Label Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy Clangour

[News] A.C. Newman Releases Live Digital Album

2009-07-07T11:55:00.011-04:00

There are few independent musicians who can match the work ethic of A.C. Newman. The Canadian wunderkind started out with bands like Superconductor and Zumpano in the 90s before emerging as the big brain behind New Pornographers in the 2000s. Since the successes of The New Porno's, Newman has also flexed his solo muscle by releasing a couple of excellent independent efforts called The Slow Wonder and Get Guilty.

In between his solo works, The New Pornographers, and non-stop touring, Newman managed to record a live show he performed in Montreal this past March. Performed at the Sainte-Catherine Apple Store, Newman is releasing an iTunes-only download of the show cleverly titled Live From Montreal today. Check out the tracklist below and add it to your downloading que:

There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve
Miracle Drug
Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer
Prophets
Secretarial
The Heartbreak Rides
The Palace At 4 A.M.
All Of My Days And All Of My Days Off
Submarines of Stockholm

Click here to download A.C. Newman's iTunes exclusive Live From Montreal (link goes to iTunes store).