SAINT MOTEL - 1997

“1997” by Saint Motel // Voyeur (Out July 10th via On the Records)

It’s been a busy couple of days and posts have lacked, but luckily some of the other great Tumblr music bloggers (Danceyrselfclean in this case)are filling my dash with tracks to gravitate towards. New music from Los Angeles based indie pop band, Saint Motel is a fun treat loaded up with energetic power pop, balanced and layered production, and with hooks for days. “1997” actually reminds me a fair bit of the halcyon days of Brit-pop where horns, pianos, and layered harmonies were common place among the popular kids. That is by no means insinuate that “1997” feels dated, on the contrary. If you’re fans of Shout Out Louds and Bombay Bicycle Club, you might find yourself with this track immediately stuck in your head as well. 

(via danceyrselfclean)

Eternal Summers - Millions

“Millions” by Eternal Summers // Correct Behavior (Out 7.24.12)

Wow. Eternal Summers just continue to blow me away. After I foolishly suggested that they get Heavenly Beat to remix all of their material, they do me one better and bring in a third band member and suddenly the richer, fuller sound takes their already killer lo-fi/ post-punk sounds to a whole new place, that’s lush and dreamy and dance-able all the same. This is killer music. Pitchfork pegged the new sound as a hyperactive version of The Sundays, but it’s not hyperactive as it is focused and matured. I can’t wait to hear what else awaits on “Correct Behavior” (out on July 24th via Kanine), because this song is absolutely spectacular. Highest recommendation for fans of The Sundays, Echo Lake, Velocity Girl, and Wild Nothing.

(download) “Millions” by Eternal Summers (via Pitchfork)

Amateur Love - Con/A Sewer/Cat

“Con/A Sewer/Cat” by Amateur Love // It’s All Aquatic (2003 // re-issue 2012)

If there’s one thing that I dislike about the current state of music blogging, it’s the ever reaching grab for the newest, hottest, most underground tracks without even the quickest of looks over the shoulder at what might have been missed in months or years passed. Luckily from time to time, an old forgotten album that I’ve championed to people over the years gets a re-issue from a solid source and it offers people a chance to look at it anew without having to take time out of their newnewnew searches. Amateur Love’s excellent 2003 release “It’s All Aquatic” is one such release. A batch of vivid, noise pop and dream pop gems with an electronic edge from a band out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Luckily, the other famous guy in Eau Claire (Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon) has an imprint label (Chigliak) with Jagjaguwar and it’s first release is his old friend’s album, “It’s All Aquatic”, remastered and ready for a new generation of listens. In the event that you’ve missed out on Amateur Love in the past, now’s a good chance to catch up, and this is the first remastered taste of the album in the form of jittery, power noise pop jam “Con/A Sewer/Cat”. Highest recommendation. 

* Amateur Love’s “It’s All Aquatic” will be re-issued May 22nd.  

Now, Now: School Friends

“School Friends” by Now, Now // Threads (2012)

In case you were looking for something that feels like an indie pop throwback to those wonderful years in the early 00’s when twee and power pop were crashing together and making ear candy that was just downright pleasant, here is a track from Now, Now’s new album, Threads. It’s a pretty little somber track that reminds me of Eisley, Rilo Kiley, Azure Ray, and the The Like, only slightly younger. It’s just a great little indie pop song. Hit play. The album is out on Tuesday. 

Black Tambourine - What's Your Game

“What’s Your Game?” by Black Tambourine // One Two Three Four (2012) // Originally by The Ramones

Black Tambourine have brought their jangly, fuzz pop out of retirement after 21 years for an EP of covers based on the songs of The Ramones. “What’s Your Game?” is the first taste and truth be told, this feels like it could have been recorded 21 years ago. This is a band not missing a beat, and just picking right back up where they left off, with warm fuzz pop riffs and killer hooks. This track also features backing vocals from Dee Dee of the Dum Dum Girls, Rose Melberg of Tiger Trap, and Jenny Robbins of Honeymoon Diary. A must listen for fans of the C86 sound.

(download) “What’s Your Game?” by Black Tambourine (via Soundcloud)

La Sera - Break My Heart

“Break My Heart” by La Sera // Sees the Light (2012)

Katy Goodman is back with another song that somehow manages to rival the catchiness of “Please Be My Third Eye”. This is another taste of La Sera’s forthcoming full length Sees the Light and it’s every bit as good as the last. Upbeat sunny garage pop with killer melodies and crunchy lo-fi guitars. I’m all over it. 

(download) “Break My Heart” by La Sera (via Pitchfork)

Burning Hearts - On The Last Day Of The Decade

“On the Last Day of the Decade” by Burning Hearts // Extinctions (2012)

Burning Hearts had one of my favorite songs of last year (“Into the Wilderness”) and there is a lot to love on their new full length, Extinctions, but for the life of me, I can’t shake the familiarity of this song to something that I hear years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I very much love “On the Last Day of the Decade” with its dream-like speak/sing cadence and it’s slow build into a folksy, Billy Bragg style folksy sing-a-long. I just can’t place where I feel like i’ve heard something similar. Maybe it’s a trip hop act from the late 90’s - Dubstar or St. Etienne or Hooverphonic… or maybe i’m just hearing something where there’s nothing. At any rate, this is a great little dream pop gem recommended for fans of St. Etienne, Darkness Falls, or The Sundays.

Tory Y Moi - Dead Pontoon

“Dead Pontoon” by Toro Y Moi // June 2009 (2012)

Chaz Bundick will soon be releasing a collection of older material for his Toro Y Moi project, entitled June 2009 on Carpark Records. GorillaVsBear has the first listen of one of the tracks. It’s a great, short blast full of what TYM does best, memorable hooks, subtle tempo shifts, 70’s AM radio vibes. In short, it’s great. Definitely worth checking out if you’re fans of any of his work. 

(download) “Dead Pontoon” by Toro Y Moi (via GVB)

Memoryhouse - Walk With Me

“Walk With Me” by Memoryhouse // The Slideshow Effect (2012)

Memoryhouse are back with another lovely track from their forthcoming album, The Slideshow Effect. This time around, they’ve dialed it back to their familiar dreamy, slow-fi sound. Sounding something like an outtake from a lovely forgotten album by The Sundays, this is one that I can see myself playing on repeat for then next few weeks. A must listen for fans of The Sundays, Wild Nothing, and Pale Saints.

(download) “Walk With Me” by Memoryhouse (via widget)

The Official Ironmen Rally Song (Guided By Voices Cover)

“The Official Ironmen Rally Song” by Lightouts // The Cure for Shyness (2012)

Brooklyn’s Lightouts are back with a track from their fourth single, this one a cover of the excellent Guided By Voices track, “The Official Ironmen Rally Song”. They keep things fairly close to the chest on this one, minus some instrumental flourishes in the back end of the track. This is all just fine because the original is pretty incredible template to be working off of and Lightouts do a great job of maintaining that good stuff. 

(via danceyrselfclean)

Nada Surf - Blonde On Blonde

“Blonde on Blonde” by Nada Surf // Let Go (2003)

It’s funny how some songs can attach themselves to a holiday.  I’ve allowed this to happen most of my life (stemming back to attaching Siouxsie & the Banshee’s “Cities In Dust” to Halloween, regardless of the lack of connotation). Nada Surf’s Let Go was released in the autumn of 2003 and by that winter, I was pretty much playing the hell out of it. I was recently broken up, spending a lot of time back and forth from East Lansing, Michigan bars and on the streets of New York while visiting my best-friend, and using any opportunity to listen to sad music while strolling the chilly streets of the villages. This song and Interpol’s “Untitled” became wrapped up in my mind as holiday songs, despite having no proper connection to the holiday. They just played a big part of my life around that particular holiday. I still feel that way today. It’s just strange to look to a song that only I find a holiday connection with, and try to pass it off as seasonal listenings, but to hell with it. Here’s that old Christmas-time classic. 

Low - Just Like Christmas

“Just Like Christmas” by Low // Christmas (1999)

And my other go-to holiday song. A little more upbeat, but still a little off. Actually, it’s perfect. I remember hearing this for the first time and wondering why Low didn’t pick up the tempo more often, and really, they didn’t so much until like six years later on “The Great Destroyer” but no matter, this track was the cat’s pajamas then and still is now. A perfect holiday song. 

Tennis - Tears In The Typing Pool

“Tears in My Typing Pool” by Tennis // Originally by Broadcast

Well, hot damn. Tennis pulled out a cover of one of my favorite Broadcast songs and released it to the world, and it’s really good. Not that I’m surprised. Broadcast is a dear old favorite and Tennis have been churning out ear candy for the past couple of years without fail, so if you’re into either band, hit play and enjoy some sad eyed indie pop.