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) 

Little Chords - Remember

“Remember” by Little Chords // Cultus Vibes: Together (2011)

Jamison (aka Teen Daze / aka Little Chords) has curated a wonderful little compilation of likeminded artists for a free sampler of wonderful new music. The comp features artists like Yalls, Slow Magic, Bank Heist, Teen Daze, and this band, Little Chords, who are an off shoot of Teen Daze. Think Teen Daze on a more chill, bedroom pop tip and less of a focus on ambiance on atmosphere. It’s a lovely, hazy, floating affair with a sweet but somber melody that almost sounds like it could be borrowed from some lost 70’s AM gold hit. Really great stuff. Highly recommended. Be sure to download the entire compilation for free, right now at Bandcamp. 

(download) Cultus Vibes: Together (via Bandcamp)

Perfume Genius - 'All Waters'

“All Waters” by Perfume Genius // Put Your Back N 2 It (2012)

It’s nice to see Michael Hadreas’s Perfume Genius is back with more of his delicate beauties about insanely depressing and or highly sexualized topics. There’s definitely something charming about his compositions, and quite often something somber and haunting as well. This new track from the forthcoming release continues his use of gloomed out synths and simple production to nail home the bare bones beauty of his work. Definitely worth a few spins. For fans of Antony and the Johnsons, (early) Sufjan Stevens, and (solo, ballad-y) James Blake.

(download) “All Waters” by Perfume Genius (mp3 @ p4k)

(via danceyrselfclean)

Jens Lekman - An Argument With Myself

“An Argument With Myself” by Jens Lekman // An Argument With Myself EP (2011)

He wasn’t shitting when he said he was having an argument with himself. In this new track from his forthcoming 5-track EP, he literally breaks down and starts arguing with himself mid-song. It’s all done in melody, which adds to the charm of the song. The song itself has a little bit of a Paul Simon vibe, but then again that wouldn’t be the first time. It’s a great return to form for Jens Lekman, as it’s one of those tracks that just puts a smile on your face as it burrows it’s way into your memory bank.

(Download the mp3 @ Pitchfork)

Release The Sunbird - We'll Begin Tomorrow

“We’ll Begin Tomorrow” by Release the Sunbird // Come Back to Us (2011)

Sometimes it’s just nice to step back from the constant rush of new music that’s chasing the latest trends and genres and to just hear something that’s simple and stripped back. Rogue Wave’s first few albums were that kind of music for me. Straight up indie-rock with catchy melodies and sweet instrumentation. Zach Rogue’s new project, Release the Sunbird, feels like an acoustic off-shoot of those sounds. It’s an album of mostly acoustic, singer-songwriter material that just feels like a stack of familiar, sweet memories. It’s got a great autumnal quality as well. I know it might not be the sort of thing that I usually post, but it’s worth a listen for sure and you can even hear the whole album over at NPR right now.

(Stream Release the Sunbird’s “Come Back to Us @ NPR now) // (“Come Back to Us” is release on July 26th, via Brushfire Records)

Bon Iver - I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick Of Time

“I Can’t Make You Love Me // Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt cover)” by Bon Iver // from the Calgary single

Wow. This studio version just gives me chills. So gorgeous. The take that was done on Jimmy Fallon a little while back was wonderful but seemed to lack the original melody a bit. Here, the track keeps it much closer to the original and it’s - just, wow.

(Bon Iver, Bon Iver is released on Tuesday)

Richard Buckner - Escape

“Escape” by Richard Buckner // from the forthcoming album, Our Blood

I don’t usually post much in the realm of music that Richard Buckner usually navigates (alt-country, singer-songwriter), but that doesn’t mean that I’m not a huge fan. I most certainly am (the small, intimate lived-in worlds that he captures in his songs are one of my little musical obsessions). He’s got a new album coming out on August 2nd (happy birthday to me) via Merge records and in doing the interview rounds to the lead up of the release, he gave IFC a great interview about his recording process and where he’s been in the five years since his last release - also, he gave them this absolutely gorgeous new track as an exclusive. It’s a perfect Sunday morning song. I am totally in love with this song right now.

And in case you didn’t catch Justin Vernon’s recent interview with Pitchfork regarding the new Bon Iver album, he cited Buckner as a major influence on his songwriting. Definitely worth a read. But first, listen to “Escape”.

(mp3 @ IFC)

M. Ward - Fishing Boat Song

“Fishing Boat Song” by M. Ward // from the album, Duet for Guitars #2

Before I get back into mixtape talk and new found favorites, I thought I’d toss out an old M. Ward favorite that I just found after a while apart. I remember hearing this live in Detroit at the Shelter in what must have been like 2001? Whatever the case, I was hooked after that. I’ve never given much of a damn for his work with Zooey Deschanel, but those solo albums are incredible. I’m happy to see him getting back to that work. At any rate, I always liked this song. Jason Lytle of Grandaddy does a pretty solid cover it as well if you’re lucky enough for it to cross your path (i can’t seem to find it).

Red House Painters - Have You Forgotten

“Have You Forgotten” by Red House Painters // from the album, Songs for a Blue Guitar

While dusting off some old songs for some playlists to help with a project I’m working on, I noticed Red House Painters’ “Songs for a Blue Guitar” sitting there and I couldn’t help but to wonder when was the last time I’d made the visit to these songs. When I was a senior in high school I spent many sleepless nights (insomnia has always been part of my life) just lying in bed, with a notebook on my chest (ready for a flash of genius), and these songs on repeat. This track in particular probably forced the rewind button to be pressed more than any other and thinking back on it, I’m not exactly sure why. It’s a somber little tune that certainly brought out the lovesick teenager in me, but by that point in my life I’d started moving on from the awkward stage and actually found myself able to string together sentences that some girls even found charming enough to elicit their interest. If i had to venture a guess as to my obsession back then with this song (and other tracks from the album) it would be that Mark Kozelek’s writing just pulls the strings in a way that makes you actually want to be lost. Maybe it’s the creative side of me that wants to hear a song or see a scene in a film and relate in a way that is probably in no way truly relate-able to my life at that moment. That urge to be the heartbroken, misunderstood creative type was just nurtured by the sad notes of Mark Kozelek’s work. Sure, deep down I was just a kid who desperately wanted his high school crush to bone him, but also I wanted to long for it more than I wanted the actual boning, which incidentally turned out to be awkward and weird. Well this just suddenly went off the rails.

Long story short - Once upon a time, I liked being a sad, misunderstood teenager and this was my late night soundtrack. Sometimes I wonder if all that’s changed is the soundtrack.

Cass McCombs - Memory's Stain

“Memory’s Stain” by Cass McCombs // From the album “Wit’s End”

McCombs has been slowly pushing away from his more folksy roots for a couple of albums now, branching out and trying new sounds. This new album finds him even harder to pin down. It’s a decidedly somber affair, but the songs all have varying influences and feels which makes it a very interesting (read: good) listen. The main difference between “Wit’s End” and his previous album, “Catacombs”, seems to be that the previous album had themes of hope and love, whereas the new album sounds like a man on the verge of ending his life. Take “Memory’s Stain” for instance - a beautiful, heartfelt track that sounds like a funeral waltz complete with melancholic horns and organs. It’s a lovely, if exhausting track - but certainly worth some attention.

Marissa Nadler - Baby, I Will Leave You In The Morning

marissa nadler - BABY, I WILL LEAVE YOU IN THE MORNING

Marissa Nadler is previewing some tracks from her forthcoming self-titled release on her bandcamp page. Aside from being exceptionally attractive, she’s also immensely talented, so she won both lotteries. Good for her.

This new track is a ghostly, slow waltz of a track that chronicles a love affair in a state of collapse. Good stuff. 

(free mp3 @ band camp)

Iron & Wine - Godless Brother In Love

iron and wine - GODLESS BROTHER IN LOVE

Something pretty and quiet for the dark hours. This might be the most traditionally Iron & Wine song on the new album. Perhaps that’s why I’m drawn to it. Not that I have a problem with an artist branching out, I’ve just always really loved Sam Beam’s more subtle work the best.