Late Fall 2012 New Music Playlist

With all the crazy weather adding unnecessary drama to the national elections this fall, at least music fans could be thankful for all the fresh offerings available, presenting a much needed distraction (as long as there was electricity!)  New releases from indie stalwarts Deerhoof, Stars and Cat Power complemented repeats from Two Door Cinema Club, the xx and Freelance Whales along with debuts from Django Django and Melody’s Echo Chamber.   Ready for another playlist with background notes below and link to listen here!

1. “From Nowhere” – Dan Croll

“From Nowhere” is the first official single is from an upcoming debut album from Liverpudlian and MBF Songwriter Award winner Dan Croll.  This spunky tune provides a fun introduction to what is to come.

2. “Presence Of Mind” – The Fresh And Onlys

San Francisco indie rock quartet The Fresh And Onlys recently released their fourth album in four years, Long Slow Dance.  “Presence of Mind” embodies their accessible yet quirky pop vibe. 

3. “Sleep Alone” – Two Door Cinema Club

Irish indie trio Two Door Cinema Club returns to the music scene with their sophomore album, Beacon.  “Sleep Alone” demonstrates their brash confidence in pop hooks.

4. “Fête d’adieu” – Deerhoof

Since 1994, this prolific Brooklyn quartet (originally from San Francisco) has created twelve self-produced albums.  Singer Saromi Matsuzaki embraces a more melodic approach for this animated song about a romantic split – a fitting highlight of the latest album, Breakup Song.

5. “Ruin” – Cat Power

Singer/songwriter Cat Power (neé Charlyn Marie Marshall) has been performing for over fifteen years with her powerful, unique voice.  Marshall plays all the instrumentals on her ninth album, Sun, even incorporating electronic elements this time around.

6. “Angels” – The xx

Dubbed a “miseralist” band by The New York Times, The xx resume their extremely laid back, low-fi approach to songwriting.  “Angels” is the single off the sophomore album, Coexist.

7. “Hail Bop” – Django Django

8. “Default” – Django Django

Scottish quartet Django Django creates full blown guitar romps with psychedelic undertones, as witnessed in these two songs from their self-titled debut album.

9.  “I’m Not Talking” – A.C. Newman

Canadian musician and singer/songwriter Carl Newman (a.k.a. founding member of The New Pornographers) has released a third solo album, Shut Down the Streets. This captivating single, “I’m Not Talking,” features the familiar vocals of band member Neko Case.

10. “Halls Of the Summer” – Caspian

Massachusetts post-rock quintet Caspian released their third studio album of epic instrumentals called Walking Season.  “Halls of Summer” is more of a musical journey than a song.

11.”Cali in a Cup” – Woods

Brooklyn trio Woods channels a sunny West coast ambiance for this single off their seventh album, Bend Beyond.

12. “Activity 3” – Sun Airway

Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Jon Bauthmus creates music under the moniker Sun Airway, with a second album called Soft Fall. 

Bauthmus takes the extra step of recording strings live after heavy sample manipulation, resulting in a unique texture.

13. “97 Heart Attack” – Earlimart

L.A. indie rock duo Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray have been blending their voices since 1999 as Earlimart.  This simple, lilting tune is off their seventh album, System Preferences.

14. “Locked Out” – Freelance Whales

NYC-based Freelance Whales expand their organic blend of acoustic chamber pop with electronic embellishments for their sophomore release, Diluvia. Frontman Judah Dadone continues to lead the way with his airy tenor, which slips easily into an ethereal falsetto.

15. “Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Get It” – Stars

Indie pop band Stars was formed by vocalist Torquil Campbell and keyboardist Chris Seligman in Montreal back in 2001, but they are now living in NYC.  This elegantly sweet offering is off their sixth album, The North.

16. “Endless Shore” – Melody’s Echo Chamber

Parisian songstress Melody Prochet relinquished the musical reigns to Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker to produce her self-titled debut album.  “Endless Shore” is packed with psychedelic distortion to complement Prochet’s self-assured vocals.

17. “Magic Kids” – Indians

Søren Løkke Juul has pre-released a few tracks off a debut album due in January, Somewhere Else. This Copenhagen musician’s latest project has already toured extensively with intriguing, atmospheric compositions such as “Magic Kids.”

18. “Drift Drive” – The Antlers

The Antlers is another bedroom project brought to life on stage as a band.  Vocalist and guitarist Peter Silberman formed the Brooklyn trio with Drummer Michael Lerner and multi-instrumentalist Darby Cicci completing the sound.  “Drift Dive” is the single off a recent EP with an aquatic theme, Undersea.

Late Spring 2010 New Music Playlist

I wasn't sure whether to call this Late Spring or Early Summer Playlist with all the summery sounds and laid-back vibes within the songs that made the cut. But with new releases by the bands in the last post about free album previews (The National, New Pornographers and Minus the Bear) the next list is filling up quickly in time for summer listening. Link here to listen, enjoy!

1. It's Working/MGMT

2. Flash Delirium/MGMT

The second release Congratulations from this hip duo has certainly not been embraced by all fans or critics alike -- I actually heard an editor of a music pub describe the new concept album as having "nothing to dance to" which I think is just plain laziness. It might not have a huge breakout single or two like the debut Oracular Spectacular but there are plenty of grooves throughout to get the body moving, if so willing of course. The surfer splash of "It's Working" rolls out the attitude full throttle and the second selection "Flash Delirium" expands into the Neo-Psychedelia sound the band has become so famous for yet again.

3. Kandi/One eskimO

One eskimO is a indie band from the UK fronted by Kristian Leontiou who took the trappings of fame with a top ten hit there and created a new band that would venture away from the mainstream. This song fits the bill with its individualistic take what seems at first listen a love song though it's actually about the heartache over love lost.

4. Call Center Girl/Goldspot

Siddhartha Khosla, the singer/songwriter who founded Goldspot, was born in the US to parents from India and he spent a few years there as a young boy. He has a cousin who works at a call center in India, providing a nice backstory about love over the phone line for this sweetly swinging tune from the LA band.

5. Hollywood/Codeine Velvet Club

This new Scottish band presents Jon Lawler of the Fratellis with singer Lou Hickey, a friend of his wife's who also works in burlesque clubs. They share an affinity for 60s duets along with vintage orchestral pop and outfits. A rollicking back up band provides the instrumentation necessary to complete the vision.

6. Swim Until You Can't See Land/Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit is another band from Scotland, though embracing the indie folk/country label. This is a single off their third album called "Winter of Mixed Drinks" though it was this song title that came to vocalist and guitarist Scott Hutchinson. He thought "Swim Until You Can't See Land" indicated a personal journey rather than a physical one.

7. Percussion Gun/White Rabbits

I actually thought these two 'Rabbits' bands were one in the same -- their musical approach is similar but this American band is based in Brooklyn with the rest of the indie scene though they are originally from the college town of Columbia, Missouri. "Percussion Gun" is a single released last year and from the opening laughter to the drumbeat/percussive keyboards the song sounds like a tightly knit live performance.

8. What's In It For?/Avi Buffalo

I'd say what's with really young bands embracing sounds of bands from decades before yet managing a hip take on it all? Here's a prime example from a Long Beach, California band barely out of high school. Avi is short for Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, a skateboarder who picked up guitar along the way and started writing songs. Taking lessons from local blues guys is a revealing bit of trivia as old meets new in "What's In It For."

9. Undercover Martyn/Two Door Cinema Club

10. I Can Talk/Two Door Cinema Club

11. Eat That Up, It's Good for You/Two Door Cinema Club

Another very young band, Two Door Cinema Club, has been on my playlists before but these three are off their first full length CD. The title, Tourist History, refers to their hometown of Bangor, Scotland as a tourist destination as well as the band's recent busy traveling agenda. When a drummer dropped out, the band decided they liked the sound of manufactured drum tracks just fine. Each song is a carefully crafted romp with fun shout outs and walls of electronic sound.

12. Plain Material/Memory Tapes

This is a song from on a compilation found on the Urban Outfitters website of bands making a splash at this year's SXSW. It's off the CD Seek Magic by New Jersey based Dayve Hawk who also creates music under the monikers Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes. I just love the way the chorus bursts out of the dry drums and buried vocals to make this song bounce along, a individualist musical vision which caught my attention at first listen.

13. Islands/The XX

14. Crystalised/The XX

This young three piece UK band was basically crowned the darlings of SXSW with their understated, laid-back compositions. During a live session from Austin, a listener sent a tweet to actually ask why the band sounded so sexy (which they did not have to answer, if they knew I'm sure they'd bottle it up for all!) Perhaps it's because the tracks were recorded in a small garage at night, but now the band has songs on TV shows, commercials and is off on tour playing all the big festivals.

15. Drunk Girls/LCD Soundsystem

16. All I Want/LCD Soundsystem

17. You Wanted A Hit/LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy sings about having to provide a sellable single in the spaced-out track "You Wanted a Hit" but with "Drunk Girls" he easily complies with the request. It's quick, catchy and with sing-a-long lyrics touting the male/female bond of easy virtues. "All I Want" is deeply romantic, echoing Psychedelic Furs or early David Bowie with the swooning guitars which take center stage in front of the sweetly sung vocals.

18. Stay Close/Delorean

This song is off the third studio release by this four piece Spanish alternative dance band. The name of the CD, Subiza, is from the Navarre town in Northern Spain where they record but their love of layering synths for the dance floor is universal. The vocals on "Stay Close" almost sound as if they've invited Animal Collective to their party and I'm happy to join in as well. Get up, get up!

Two Door Cinema Club Album Preview on KCRW

Here's another album preview on kcrw.com to enjoy at the link below, featuring the debut album Tourist History by the very young Scottish band called Two Door Cinema Club. Plus check out my write up about the band on popmatters.com and note that the group will be on Morning Becomes Eclectic on May 4th -- I'm there!


http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/ap/ap100412two_door_cinema_club

Winter 2010 New Music Playlist

1. True Stories - Datarock

It took me a few listens of this tune by the Norwegian electro duo on kcrw's Morning Becomes Eclectic to realize the lyrics are simply a string of song titles by the Talking Heads -- pure tongue in cheek brilliance. As a THeads fan I recognized them all along with the various musical references but the best is the catchy singalong chorus (fitting in as the Mom in "Mom & Dad we're burning down the house") followed by classic "Hey" shout outs. Hard NOT to move during this one! Link to listen here.

2. One Life Stand - Hot Chip

Another awesome dance track from this British electropop band which was released last fall in advance of a new CD with same name, scheduled to drop February 9th. The sweet sentiment of having much more than a one night stand is just icing on the up beat groove and dazzling swirl of synths. I can't wait for the new collection of songs to dig into from this band that brought us the classic "Over and Over" (one of my favorite dance hits of all time).

3. Do You Want It All - Two Door Cinema Club

I've had this young Northern Irish band on earlier playlists, loving how their catchy electropop tunes are unapologetic with all access accessibility. The group is yet another one of many that met in high school which always creates a soft spot in my heart, especially as they are just entering into total legit category with a CD release of their own sometime in February. It will be interesting to hear what they have to offer in a full collection of songs.

4. Knotty Pine - David Byrne & Dirty Projectors

The Dirty Projectors were recently featured on the cover of New York Magazine with MGMT and Grizzly Bear for the article "Brooklyn's Sonic Boom," so I was eager to check them out since I was a fan of the other two bands. I found their sound a bit confusing but this collaboration with David Byrne keeps the energy reigned in and pumping along with a cohesive agenda. The track is found on a separate CD, Dark Was the Night, the 20th compilation to raise funds for the Red Hot Organization which is dedicated to fighting AIDS.

5. So Far Around the Bend - The National

This song is also off the same CD, with The National contributing their signature sound with plans in the way for a new release later this year. Their laid back approach is spirited by lead singer and lyricist Matt Berninger's warm baritone floating over the rest of the band. The group is actually comprised of two sets of brothers, friends from growing up in Ohio but now based with the rest of the indie world in Brooklyn.

6. Horchata - Vampire Weekend

As the opening track of the second Vampire Weekend CD, Contra, the song propels this band of Columbia University grads back on the scene with confidence. The title is the name of a traditional Mexican beverage which fits into their distinctive mix of world music references with the addition of classical strings. This release landed on the top of the Billboard album chart (though with just 124,000 copies sold, it's still a sad statement on lackluster CD sales.)

7. White Sky - Vampire Weekend

A foundation of crisp electronic beats sets the foundation for Ezra Koenig's vocals to introduce the story in song but the band's interjection of more "Hey" shout outs makes it fun for all. The string of vowels ending sing-a-long is a great capper to the song.

8. Cousins - Vampire Weekend

An instant classic for the band, this was the first single off the CD. It's a rollicking song telling of family ties that fall into a frenzy of ringing guitar and fast moving rhythms.

9. Blood - Middle East

This Australian band is known for creating rambling collages of varied instrumentation (including glockenspiel, trumpet, hand percussion, electric and acoustic guitars) with lush vocal harmonies. This song is part of their first EP, The Recordings of The Middle East, and with the group landing a slot at Coachcella this spring there's much more to come from this band on the big time music scene.

10. Flashing Light Means Go - The Boxer Rebellion

The band's second CD Union was named Best Alternative Album in 2009 by itunes so I was interested to give it a full listen, but only found this song that I had already heard worth putting on a playlist. It begins with a classic drumbeat but develops into a full textured sound with a dreamy chorus.

11. Audience - Cold War Kids

This scrappy band from Long Beach, CA, likes to leave things well enough alone which nicely compliments Nathan Willett's raw vocals. The song leads off the new EP, Behave Yourself.

12. Is Love Forever - Spoon
13. The Mystery Zone - Spoon

14. Who Makes Your Money - Spoon

15. Written In Reverse - Spoon

I have placed four songs off the new Spoon release Transference on my playlist as they appear in quick succession on the CD (though the web sheriff didn't like them appearing on the Grooveshark widget!) This set works as a nice introduction to the band, with its quirky beats and Brett Daniel's spare singing spewing succinct lyrics. The other three songs flow from this core sound, into the electronic keyboard chords of "The Mystery Zone" and the funk of "Who Makes Your Money." "Written In Reverse" returns to a classic Spoon approach of edgy guitar over drum beats and emotive vocals. It was hard to whittle down things at al -- most likely to be on my list of favs for 2010.

16. Ambivalence Avenue - Bibio

Bibio, a.k.a. Stephen Wilkinson, is a British music producer who actually studied 'sonic arts' at the Middlesex University in London. This track is off his second CD of three released in 2009, a prolific year of music under a variety of musical labels -- from folk/electronica to ambient music and jangle pop.

17. New Theory - Washed Out

18. Feel It All Around - Washed Out

Ernest Greene has only recently created these lush synth creations as Washed Out after exploring rock and hip hop. In an interview with Pitchfork, he explains that the 'laid-back 80s throwback feel" was influenced by his surroundings after returning home in rural Georgia.

19. The High Road - Broken Bells

The song is the first single for this side project featuring the familiar vocals of The Shins' James Mercer backed by the artistry of Danger Mouse. A self-titled album from this side project is due in March, can't wait!