Hi, the music downloads and music files are currently offline as all the music was taken down because of a DMCA request. We are currently looking to bring back music downloads and music file-sharing through legal alternatives to the same music through services such as bearshare, emusic, spotify and others. Hopefully the music will sound the same when we've finished, without the potential for jail-time. We're bringing back the music, so bear with us, its a lot of work. Please keep all your links to music files and downloads while we go through this transition.
Here's some new music from Junip a band that Jose Gonzalez is in. They'll be doing some selective buzz marketing touring in June and July. Supposedly a new EP is on it's way. For now though, check out this new jam. I'm a Jose fan. Rope & Summit - Junip And if you need a reminder about Jose (hey, blog stardom is 15 seconds, not 15 minutes)....check out this amazing video, and of course, the song [...]
Haven't heard singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe yet? Well, you should. Her new album, Suburban Nature on Kirtland Records (out digitally now and May 18th everywhere else) is a wonderful collection of songs that manage to be both charming and sultry at the same time. The Denton, Texas musician reminds me in many ways of a young Lucinda Williams. Like Williams, Jaffe really knows how to sink her hooks in to the range of human emotions in touching and realistic ways. She aches [...]
I spent a goodly amount of time this weekend listening to Me Oh My , the new album from Cardiff/Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon . She's managed to break the spell that Laura Marling has had over me the last month, which is no small feat given just how stunning Marling's new I Speak Because I Can is. One can't help comparing Ms. Le Bon to Nico, but Le Bon seems to have more Syd Barrett & Neil Young in her musical [...]
Montreal's Wolf Parade have a new album coming out on June 29th on Sub Pop Records called Expo 86 . Signed to Sub Pop by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, this is the band's thrid release. Definitely digging the first couple songs they've released especially "Ghost Parade" - it's the indie rock "I Melt With You," which IMO ain't too bad. Download: Ghost Pressure - Wolf Parade Download: What Did My Lover Say? - Wolf Parade
An album I've been spending a lot of time with recently - and you should too - is the latest from Minus The Bear. They've returned with their best album yet - Omni - on Dangerbird Records . The Seattle prog-popsters have focused their sound even more on their fourth album, exchanging some of their quirkier math-rock leanings for some soulful, funky & jazzy grooves. They still know how to spazz out a bit, however the band's songwriting has definitely take a nice [...]
Denton, Texas singer-songwriter Doug Burr is bringing new ideas to the "tradition" of the singer-songwriter. Like Tweedy, Ray LaMontagne, Jim James, Conor, Bon Iver, Josh Ritter and The Low Anthem's Ben Knox Miller, Burr may draw on the past yet he commands a compelling present day troubadour stance. On his new album O Ye Devastator (co-released with Spune and Velvet Blue Music) , Burr has released an exceptional collection of songs. Descriptions like "deliberate," "sweeping" [...]
"In the end, you're surrounded by your friends" sing Hooray For Earth the New York by way of Boston indie-pop band. The lyric is an optimistic sentiment from the song "Surrounded By Your Friends" from their new EP Momo out on Dovecoat Records . The song is a breezy little gem with one infectious hook that would segue nicely between your favorite MGMT and Depeche Mode songs. In June, the band hit the trail with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and [...]
Here's some tunes from yesterday's live broadcast with The Hold Steady on WXPN more videos here Listen to the Hold Steady broadcast at NPR Music
Singer-songwriter Jeremy Messersmith releases his new album The Reluctant Graveyard Tuesday May 4th. Like his previous outings, but even better, the chamber-power-popster knows how to write a vintage sing-along. As before, Messersmith digs in to the concept album concept; this time, a song cycle about death and dying. Ah, but it's cheery as all heck. Fans of Aimee Mann, The Hollies and Jellyfish outta eat this up. Download: Violet! - Jeremy Messersmith
Here's another song from the new Tracey Thorn album, Love And Its Opposite . Man this record is good. Why Does The Wind?- Tracey Thorn
Philly's Sun Airway are back with another cool tune, "Put The Days Away" from their forthcoming album "Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier." Bliss away.
Now here's a band whose last album Songs Of Shame I dug quite a bit. The band is called Woods and they're releasing their new album At Echo Lake on Woodsist Records on May 11th. Post-folk in all the best ways, the band has become a sort of new standard bearer for indie-rockness in many ways musical and cultural. Jeff Weiss of Passion Of The Weiss recently captured the [...]
Johnny Bertram and The Golden Bicycles is a five piece band from Jackson, Mississippi. Singer-songwriter Bertram is originally from Portland and moved to Jackson and the band recently released their album Days That Passed on Esperanza Plantation records. Bertram has his own clean & cutting tenor and his songs combine the the rustic vibe of the Northwest with the Southern twang of the Mississippi capitol named for the 7th President of the United States. Bertram fits in to the continuum of new singer-songwriters like M. [...]
Soul singer Bettye LaVette is one class act. Her new album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is being released on May 25th on Anti- Records. Cover songs can be a funny thing; the best ones in my humble velvet opinion, are the ones that give new meaning to the original. So, one look at the track listing below one can't help but ask - how the heck is Bettye LaVette going to treat these classics? I mean, these are songs so good and so well known, perhaps they [...]
Lawrence Arabia is one clever popster and the pseudonym of Christchurch New Zealand's James Milne. The savvy songwriter recently released Chant Darling on Bella Union records. The album is filled with nostalgic pop gems that bring to mind the whimsy of Jonathan Richman, the melodic bliss of Electric Light Orchestra and the indie-pop sound of Flying Nun Records, one of New Zealand's best indie labels. Download: Apple Pie Bed - Lawrence Arabia
From Edmonton, Alberta Canada The Whitsundays have a new album coming out on Friendly Fire Records on May 4th called Saul . The five piece - fronted by lead vocalist and bassist Paul Arnusch - have a psychedelic, jangly sound that's both vintage & contemporary sounding. Download: I Can't Get Off My Cloud - The Whitsundays
Photo by Leon Gazarian The LA rock duo Heavy Young Heathens recently came to my attention with a new (free) EP that is just fantastic. On it, brothers Aron and Robert Mardo showcase their melodic and rhythmic dexterity with a lot of confidence and great songs. Musically, Heavy Young Heathens play bass & drums, then layer in theremin and keyboards into the songs. The six songs breeze through a number of styles; from the Who-like "Young Man Blues" of "Make Room For The Youth;" the McCartney vibes of "Daylight [...]
The Savannah, Georgia band Hula Hoop get my pick for the song of the week - maybe even the first great song of the summer. Tipped off to the duo of Samuel Cooper and Marshall Trotter by the fine folks at Weekly Tape Deck , the song will make a fine soundtrack to your next pool party, pool or not. Heed the words: "I wanna getcha moving." Indeed. The band are finishing work on their forthcoming record on Mirror Universe . [...]
New Pernice Brothers album, Goodbye, Killer is out on June 15th. Fresh off writing his first book It Feels So Good When I Stop, Goodbye, Killer is Joe Pernice’s first band album since 2006’s Live a Little. This one rocks a bit harder than previously although there's still plenty of his trademark AM-radio for FM-radio hits on the new album. Download: Jacqueline Susann - The Pernice Brothers
Some Velvet Blog
Hello Friday Remixes
Paper Lions – “Philadelphia”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold us (Major Lazer Remix)
New album: Washed Out
