Born

“Born” by Fear of Men // Green Sea 7” (2012)

It’s hard to beat the jangle pop vibe that Fear of Men pull off on both “Green Sea” and this b-side, “Born”. Sounding something like a mash-up of Belle & Sebastian and The Sundays, this dreamy blast of sweet melodies and lush harmonies is absolutely the kind of sound that I have been craving as of late. I can’t wait to hear more from this UK band, as soon as possible. Highly recommended for fans of Belle & Sebastian, The Sundays, and Dum Dum Girls. 

The Walkmen - The House You Made

“The House You Made” by The Walkmen // Heaven (Single 7”) (2012)

Another week, and The Walkmen continue to drop magnificent tracks for all to enjoy in the lead up to the release of their forthcoming, “Heaven”. This time, the track is a b-side to first official single and title track, “Heaven”. It continues the sad-teenage-love-song sound and 50’s doo-wop inspirations that some of the other tracks have showcased, but this one might be the best yet, with Hamilton Leithauser’s voice crooning beautifully along with somber guitar notes that just float hauntingly into the distance. Absolutely highest recommendation. Great stuff. 

Pavement - Here

“Here” by Pavement // Slanted and Enchanted (1992)

Happy 20th Birthday to Pavement’s “Slanted and Enchanted”. It was released in late April of 1992 and it contains a number of my favorite songs, but none more important than “Here” which I fell in love with nearly that long ago, and has been a desert-island-favorite of mine ever since. Pavement were a gateway drug for me to many wonderful indie and lo-fi bands, and it all started for me with this somber, dreamy little song, so to celebrate 20 years, it’s getting posted. 

The Walkmen - Heartbreaker

“Heartbreaker” by The Walkmen // Heaven (2012)

Another week, another killer track from The Walkmen. This time the track is a little more laid back and sounding like a band content with just being a great rock band. Where as the last track, “Heaven” reminded me mildly of early 90’s R.E.M., this time around I’m getting a distinctive Walkmen vibe (go figure), but there’s a guitar line in there that’s signature Springsteen and it warms up the whole proceedings. Absolutely, a must listen. Can’t wait to hear all of “Heaven”. 

the shins - new slang

“New Slang (Acoustic at SXSW)” by The Shins // Live from the Lot (2012)

What more really needs to be said about this song? It’s a perfect pop song and here the band does nothing particularly radical with the track outside of some melodic shifts and female backing vocals. That being said, it’s still a wonderful chance to revisit a modern classic in a present day acoustic/in-studio setting (recorded at Google’s SXSW “Live from the Lot” party). You can buy the full 5 track EP now at Google. 

(buy) “Live from the Lot” by The Shins (via Google Music)

Advance Base - Summer Music

“Summer Music” by Advance Base // A Shut-In’s Prayer (2012)

Advance Base is Owen Ashworth of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s new solo project. Fans of his previous band will certainly recognize the new work, but there’s something more mature and detailed about this work than most of his previous output as Casiotone, which for my tastes, while enjoyable on many levels, often felt painfully precious and emo (ultimately just too self aware of it’s own intent), where as here I feel Ashworth is growing more as a songwriter (think Mark Kozelek) and the somber, restrained synths provide just enough backbone to carry the lovely little heartbreaker. Definitely a promising release from band in advance of the release of the forthcoming full length. Highly recommended for fans of The Magnetic Fields, Former Ghosts, and Halloween, Alaska.

(download) “Summer Music” by Advance Base (via P4K)

Fanzine - L.A.

“L.A.” by Fanzine // L.A. 7” (2012)

I’ve been waiting to hear some new Fanzine ever since “My Stupid Brain” came out a while back. Well, Best Fit is releasing their new 7” on April 30th, and the title track is “L.A.”,  a jangly noise pop jam that perfectly shakes off the wintery vibes of the end of the season and welcomes the sun back with open arms. It’s an upbeat treat with a melancholic tone that is just way too much fun to listen to on repeat. A must listen for fans of Yuck, Big Troubles, and Pavement. 

The Shins - 

“Bait and Switch” by The Shins // Port of Morrow (2012)

Another delicious bit of earcandy from Port of Morrow, and the release of the full length can’t come soon enough. This weekend The Shins make their way to Saturday Night Live to promote the new release and “Bait and Switch” will probably be one of the songs they play (alongside, “Simple Song”), as it’s loaded with pitch perfect melodies and a killer hook - like most all of James Mercer’s fan favorites. I’m excited to hear the album and check out the forthcoming summer tour. Give “Bait and Switch” a listen to satiate that lust for the whole thing. 

Real Estate - Exactly Nothing

“Exactly Nothing” by Real Estate // Easy (Single) (2012)

Anytime new Real Estate drops, it’s a good reason to perk up your ears, and the single for “Easy” contains a perfect reason to pay attention in the form of b-side “Exactly Nothing”. Like all of their best work, the track evokes a feeling of dreamy autumnal vibes, complete with their wonderful harmonies and layered guitar work. It’s a fantastic jam. Highly recommended. 

s/s/s - Museum Day

“Museum Day” by s/s/s // Beak & Claw EP (2012)

Anticon has dropped the first taste on the Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux, and Serengeti collaboration over at Soundcloud and it’s pretty much the killer that you’d expect from those three. A melancholic, electro pop track with Sufjan providing the autotuned hook, while Serengeti lays down the vocal track. It’s a hell of a track and an exciting introduction to the trio, who’s new EP drops on the 20th of this month.

(link) “Museum Day” by s/s/s (via Anticon’s Soundcloud) 

Django Django - Storm

“Storm” by Django Django // Django Django (2012)

“Storm” is an excellent bit of psych pop from London art-popper, Django Django. It’s a strange little thing with a hypnotic melody and rough, tinny percussion that would sound at home on the 1965-68 Nuggets compilation, yet it also brings to mind the work that the Elephant 6 crew was pulling off in the late 90’s, early 00’s. Definitely worth checking out. Recommended for fans of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Circulatory System, and (early) Of Montreal. 

Sun Kil Moon - Sunshine in Chicago

“Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon // Among the Leaves (2012)

Leave it to Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) to release some new music that transports me to an autumnal place, just when i’m properly craving some seasonal shifts. “Sunshine in Chicago” is a new track from the forthcoming Sun Kil Moon album, Among the Leaves, and it has that familiar, warmth, wrapped in a melancholic acoustic number that we’ve come to expect from most of Kozelek’s projects. It’s a good track and a nice primer for the new album. Here’s hoping he breaks out some of those more dynamic sounds that he’s been exploring on recent Sun Kil Moon records (especially the darker stuff found on April). 

(download) “Sunshine in Chicago” by Sun Kil Moon (via P4k) 

Grooms - Skating with Girl

“Skating With Girl” by Grooms // Prom (2011)

If I could play a little revisionist history, I’d go back and put this track in my top twenty favorite songs of last year. Like every year, there are songs that linger around until they’re needed - calendars be damned. Back when I first posted this, I called it a gorgeous, atmospheric dirge, but i’d go ahead swap out “gorgeous” for just “haunting”, because it stays with you. I’m a sucker for dark, melancholic rock and roll done right and Grooms does just that. Just thought I’d post this again, as it’s been on my mind and i’m getting bored with only posting any given day’s hot track. This is for fans of And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Sonic Youth’s darker cuts, and Dead Meadow. Press play for a fantastic jam that feels lifted from another time (think of the golden days of 120 Minutes). 

(Grooms @ Bandcamp)

Tonight The World Is Always Ending

“Tonight the World is Always Ending” by The Jane Bradfords // 100 Miles of Broken Pavement (2012)

Once again, Bandcamp points the way to an up and coming band that just grabs my attention and continually impresses. The new album from Belfast’s The Jane Bradfords is a dark, melodramatic affair full of post punk influences and sad tales of love gone bad, but it’s also got an ever present youthful spark that reminds me of that sense of discovery that you feel in those times of your life. When things still feel fresh because you’re young enough to have not been given the full tour (of music, love, life). It’s a solid album that appeals to the more diplomatic post punk fan. Not everything here is gloom, doom, and tortured angular riffs. There’s a lot of light in these songs, even if the lyrics seem hell bent on proving you wrong. “Tonight the World is Always Ending” is a perfect representation of the whole, but by by no means does the album begin and end here. The album is currently available on Bandcamp for purchase and for streaming on Soundcloud. Definitely something to be found in here for fans of The Church, Idlewild, and Bloc Party. 

(Stream) 100 Miles of Broken Pavement by The Jane Bradfords (via Soundcloud)