Today we have The Soft Hands out of Long Beach, CA. They have a surprisingly full sound for a three piece! Part Wire, part Costello, and part ADD, these guys know how to craft a dynamic song. Check "Harbor" below for a taste. The Soft Hands - Harbor The Soft Hands official site The Soft Hands on MySpace
Empire Of The Sun is a new group formed by Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. It's kinda laid back and dancey, sharing the same sort of vibe as Cut Copy's Bright Like Neon Love . Dear EMI, please release this stateside! Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream Empire Of The Sun official site Empire Of The Sun on MySpace
Dianogah is back with a new album entitled qhnnnl . On it, they've added Andrew Bird on violin for a few tracks. It's a nice addition to their usual twin bass attack! I happen to have an example of such a collaboration for your listening pleasure.... Dianogah - A Breaks B Dianogah official site Dianogah on MySpace
I can't think of a better celebration song for the indie set than "Game Of Pricks". I'm pretty sure if Obama had walked out to this song I would have shit my pants. Photo credit to Automatt! Guided By Voices - Game Of Pricks Barack Obama official site Guided By Voices official site
Dear Californians, please vote no on prop 8! Sunset Rubdown - They Took A Vote And Said No No On Prop 8 official site
Happy Halloween! If you need an awesome mix to go with your evening, hit up this mix from Tim Goldsworthy (of DFA) and Tim Sweeney from last year's DFA/Ghostly Halloween Party! Tracklist: 01. Theme From The Exorcist 02. Baby Oliver - Shot Caller 03. Holy Ghost! - Hold On 04. Daft Punk - Da Funk 05. Klaxons - Magick (SMD Mix) 06. 2 Guys On Acid - House Music (All Night Long) [...]
I woke up about an hour early the other day and couldn't get back to sleep because the bassline from the Ssion version of "Credit In The Straight World" was repeating over and over in my head. Your turn! Ssion - Credit In The Straight World (Young Marble Giants Cover) Young Marble Giants - Credit In The Straight World Ssion official site Ssion on MySpace
Was just listening to some tunes and this old Silkworm song came up. We miss you, Michael Dahlquist! Stay tuned here for progress on a soon to be released Silkworm documentary. Silkworm - Wild In My Day Silkworm official site Silkworm on MySpace
Eric Wolfson official site Eric Wolfson on MySpace
Frightened Rabbit released a live album this past Tuesday entitled Liver! Lung! FR! It's a primarily a live, acoustic performance of their previous album, The Midnight Organ Flight . On "Old Old Fashioned" you can really hear the difference between their more subdued studio sound and their urgent live sound! Frightened Rabbit - Old Old Fashioned (Live) [ Insound ] Frightened Rabbit official site Frightened Rabbit on MySpace
Well, I suppose covering "Tuff Ghost" in French is a logical step, considering The Unicorns' home town is Montreal. NYC's Nous Non Plus have taken up that charge here, and deliver a fairly straight cover, except for the singing in French part! Nous Non Plus - "Fantôme Dur (Tuff Ghost) Nous Non Plus official site Nous Non Plus on MySpace
Le Loup is a indie pop / experimental band from DC. They're amongst the first batch of signees to the new Hardly Art label (from Sub Pop founder Jonathan Poneman). What does it sound like? Computers dueling banjos with chanty vocals. Discuss! Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! Le Loup official site Le Loup on MySpace
Wilderness has a new album, (k)no(w)here , due out on 11/4. The first track, "Strand The Test Of Time" is up for grabs. It's sorta like Joy Division's original "In A Lonely Place" had a baby with Echo and the Bunnymen and The Constantines. Yeah! Wilderness - Strand The Test Of Time Wilderness official site Wilderness at Jagjaguwar
Mondays are often days where we struggle to get back into the work groove. Let this Fujiya and Miyagi remix of Mercury Rev's "Senses on Fire" help get you back on track! It's sorta got an "Ankle Injuries"-esque vibe to it... Mercury Rev - Senses On Fire (Fujiya & Miyagi Remix) Mercury Rev official site Mercury Rev on MySpace
It's hard for me to imagine, but it's already October and summer is gone. I guess it's a little harder to tell out here in California! Anyway, I'm writing today to point out a great sunshine-y, noisy song by No Age called "Eraser". For some reason it eluded my playlist for a few months but it won't anymore! And please check out the rest of the No Age album also...it's got some fantastic dense and chaotic power pop! No Age - Eraser No [...]
Jordan Geiger of Minus Story has a solo project called Hospital Ships. With it, he explores the more personal side of his songwriting! Check out the quavering vocals on the Flaming Lips-esque "Bitter Radio Single"! Oh, Ramona comes out on October 21st. Hospital Ships - Bitter Radio Single Hospital Ships on MySpace P.S. I love that he self-describes their sound as "bells and shit".
I'm sick at home today and feeling a bit off...time to take a detour off the beaten path. Today we have the cleverly named girl group, Vancougar, who also happen to be from Vancouver. A little Mates Of State, a little Giant Drag, and a little 60's girl group, these ladies are sure to bring a smile to your face. Vancougar - Obvious Vancougar official site Vancougar on MySpace
At their Wednesday show at the Fillmore in SF last week, Spoon closed out their second encore with a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Rocks Off". Thanks to the magical power of the internets, I am now able to share that experience with you, except that the recording is from Monday's show! Spoon - Rocks Off (Rolling Stones Cover) Spoon official site Spoon on MySpace
This week I've been rocking to the sounds of Crystal Antlers from Long Beach, CA. Their music is hard to describe - it's really a mish mosh of many genres but manages to be cohesive as a whole. It's a little garage, a little psych, a lot of reverb! Their debut EP comes out next Tuesday, October 7th. Crystal Antlers - A Thousand Eyes Crystal Antlers label site Crystal Antlers on MySpace
Well, that was fast...Alaska In Winter is back on November 18th with their sophomore album, Holiday ! "Berlin", I have to say is sounding a little more Bright Like Neon Love Cut Copy... Alaska In Winter - Berlin Alaska In Winter on MySpace Alaska In Winter label site
Lets Sexy Fighting
Holy Ghost! "Dumb Disco Ideas"
The Weeknd - Kiss Land
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories Unboxed
Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe (Explicit)
MØ - Waste Of Time (Audio)
And We'll Run
Noteworthy (Stream): Kanye West – Black Skinhead (SNL Performance)
Watch Fred Armisen’s SNL farewell with Carrie Brownstein, Kim Gordon, J Mascis, Aimee Mann
Hudson Mohawke collaborates with Kanye West on new single
