
Harriet is the new project from Alex Casnoff, formerly of Dawes. Tell The Right Story is their debut EP and they are offering it up as a free download at their website. Mixing the organic and electronic, Harriet falls in line somewhere between the sun-soaked roots rock of Dawes and something a little more muscular with synths, samples and beats. Alex's whiskey-bent vocals are raw yet warm, molding to each song perfectly. The five-song EP opens with the standout first single, "I Slept With All Your Mothers" with a warped synth [...]
1. of Montreal - "Wintered Debts" (The sprawling first single trades in the loping country-pop of their Elephant 6 beginnings and is mixed with an ambient, psychedelic passage. It is taken from the lyrically, more personal and musically, less glammy new album Paralytic Stalks out now on Polyvinyl.) http://www.ofmontreal.net/ Download: http://www.ofmontreal.net/wp-c ontent/uploads/2011/11/of_Mont real-Wintered_Debts.mp3 2. Sharon Van Etten - "Sepents" (First single taken from the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter's third album, Tramp is out now [...]

Band Of Skulls return with Sweet Sour , their sophomore album and first for Vagrant Records today on iTunes and everywhere else next week. The Southhampton trio create an exciting blend of 70's-style psychdelics and stomping stoner rock riffs with pop-leaning choruses and some blues rock boogie for a larger than life arena-rock sound. The album opens with the churning title track and first single, "Sweet Sour" with its murky bottom end, fluttering guitar fills and tight vocal harmonies. The aptly titled "Bruises" follows with a heavy stomping riff, a quiet/loud dynamic and the dual [...]

Philly-based folk-pop singer/songwriter Carsie Blanton just released her new album Idiot Heart this week on her Bandcamp page using the "pay what you want" pricing model. The album produced by Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers is filled to the brim with Carsie's coy and confident vocals and blended with her New Orleans jazz-inflected classic pop stylings, it is worth every penny that you chose to pay. The stand out title track, "Idiot Heart" is a vintage organ-drenched country-leaning send-up. And the dark and sultry, "Little Death" features a contrastingly [...]
1. Hospitality - "Betty Wang" (The New York-based band released their highly anticipated self-titled debut on Merge this week. Led by singer Amber Papini and her sometimes coy, always unique voice that has a hint of fake British accent, the band plays an off-kilter brand of retro-laced pop. "Betty Wang", the super-catchy first single, was written about Amber's old law firm co-worker.) www.myspace.com/ hospitality lives Download: http://soundcloud.com/mergerec ords/hospitality-betty-wang [...]

Atlas and the Anchor is pleased to premiere an exclusive download of "Soaring Through The Chromosomes", the new single from Night Genes, the dark folk-pop project of the world-traversing songwriter Eric Ingersoll. Taken from their excellent sophomore album Like The Blood , due to be released tomorrow, the infectious track features pounding parlour piano boosted by Ingersoll's booming baritone that rivals that of only Matt Berninger of The National. Keyboardist/vocalist Amy Foote's joyous and lilting vocal melodies provide a colorful contrast to Eric's deep and weighty vocals on the bouyant standout track. [...]

Isaac Joel Karns of indie psych-pop band The Pomegranates has just released a 6-track solo EP titled, Back To Bassics , as a free download on his Bandcamp page. Recorded with only his bass guitar (hence the title) and his voice, the EP is filled with very textural, ambient and experimental music that still retains the pop-leaning psychedelic charm of The Poms. The single, "If I Hear Music" settles into a propulsive groove with wispy and swirling melodies meant for a long drive alone. Another standout track, the atmospheric "Selflessness" envelopes you in [...]
1. Craig Finn - "Honolulu Blues" (The Hold Steady frontman steps out with his first solo album Clear Heart Full Eyes , out now on Vagrant. The songs are more acoustic based, rootsy and even bluesier than the Hold Steady but of course, still retain Craig's distinct vocals and knack for engaging storytelling, taking his sound from the bar to the coffee shop.) http://steadycraig.tumblr.com/ Download: 24 http://s3.amazonaws.com/site-i mages.vagrant.com/audio_items/ 301/08_Honolulu_Blues.mp3 2. [...]

After reuniting and releasing a new album last year with the Get Up Kids, frontman Matt Pryor found time to write and record a new solo album of emotional folk rock, May Day . Out today and self-released on his own Nightshoes Syndicate Records, his sophomore solo album was recorded last May (hence the title) and was funded in part by his fans through a Kickstarter campaign. "Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down" opens the twelve-track album with Pryor's unique voice and a ramshackle acoustic guitar to set the tone. "The Lies Are Keeping Me [...]

The San Mateo, TX-based instrumental post-rock band Equals released their debut self-titled EP late last summer as a free download on their Bandcamp page. The EP was co-produced and mixed by Alex Bhore of fellow experimental instrumental band This Will Destroy You. With crazy time signatures, fuzzed out and feedback drenched guitars and dark, atmospheric synths and samples, the 5-piece band puts a new spin on the cinematic, experimental genre, sounding like Interpol covering Explosions In The Sky. The jazzy undertones and organic-meets-electronic polarity of "Salvo" stands out, as does the 7/8 time signature [...]
1. Guided By Voices - "The Unsinkable Fats Domino" (Last year, after a fifteen year hiatus, the original GBV lineup reunited for a successful tour, then decided to record a new album. Let's Go Eat The Factory is out now and the 21-track album, recorded mostly in garages and basements, delivers that classic scruffy, power-pop sound that fans have been salivating for since Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand .) http://www.gbv.com/ Download: http://www.tellallyourfriendsp r.com/singles/guidedbyvoices_t heunsinkablefatsdomino.mp3 [...]
1. Dream Brother - "Haunted Heart (ft. Paul Sprangers)" (Dream Brother is the infectious new indie-pop project from Ian Anderson of the Minneapolis band One For The Team. His new digital 7" was released as a free download on the AR site and features guest spots from Paul Sprangers, vocalist of Free Energy as well as John Vanderslice. Look for more music soon!) http://news.afternoonrecords.c om/ Download: http://www.afternoonrecords.co m/mp3/db_hauntedheart.mp3 2. Signals Midwest - "Limnology" (Yes! [...]

Canadian born and San Fransisco-based electro-pop siren Lila Rose is set to release her highly anticipated debut album Heart Machine, today on Oakland's RTFM Records. Lila Rose delivers on the promise by pushing the boundaries of the indie-pop/electronica genre, to incorporate everything from trip-hop beats, acoustic guitars and Gospel choirs, to sugary pop hooks and strong vocals along with introspective lyrics. The album was co-produced by Lila herself and with SF-based producer David Earl (aka LogicNinja). The album opens with the sinister and haunting production of the catchy first single, "Obsession". [...]

There were a ton of great releases this year but these are the albums I listened to the most. 1. The Head and the Heart - The Head And The Heart 2. Marcellus Hall - The First Line 3. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys 4. Primus - Green Naugahyde 5. Wilco [...]
1. A Lull - "Weapons For War" (taken from Confetti ) Download: http://www.lujorecords.com/med ia/01_WeaponsForWar.mp3 2. Niki & the Dove - "The Fox" (taken from The Fox 10" Single) Download: http://assets4.subpop.com/asse ts/audio/9372.mp3 3. The Head and the Heart - "Lost In My Mind" (taken from The Head And The Heart ) Download: http://assets3.subpop.com/asse ts/audio/9025.mp3 4. [...]

1. Yourself And The Air - Who's Who In The Zoo 2. Canon Logic - Rapid Empire 3. Belle Adair - Belle Adair 4. Surfer Blood - Tarot Classics 5. TV Girl - Benny And The Jetts

The fourth volume of quirky folk-pop of the Christmas variety from Sounds Familyre Records, the label run by Danielson is being offered as a free download on the label's Bandcamp page. Most of the 18 track album consists of originals but also included are some very unique takes on some of the more traditional classics. Danielson contributes as does DM Stith, Vesper of Ben + Vesper, as well as many of Danielson's friends and family. Be sure to check out the other 3 volumes also on the Bandcamp page! Merry Christmas! [...]

With the Dream Concert feature, I pick the songs I would like to hear the most and choose the venue for a hypothetical show with one of my favorite bands that I have yet to witness live. One of my favorite christian metal bands is The Devil Wears Prada. Their new album, Dead Throne was released on Ferret Records back in September. Building off of last year's Zombie EP and showcasing a new level of technical expertise and maturity the new album is their heaviest and best yet. And [...]

1. She & Him - "The Christmas Waltz" (New original Christmas tune taken from A Very She & Him Christmas , out now on Merge.) http://www.sheandhim.com/ Download: http://soundcloud.com/mergerec ords/she-him-the-christmas-wal tz 2. Tristen - "Frosty The Snowman" (Singer-songwriter turns the old standard into a glittering, Spector-like, doo-wop rock song.) http://tristen.com/ Download: http://bit.ly/Tristen_Frosty 3. Phil And The Osophers - "Brutus The Backup Reindeer" [...]

After performing their first show at this year's SXSW and releasing their self-titled debut to high praise in the spring, NYC-based indie rock band Dear Lions have just released their second EP Lying To My Lies as a free download on their Bandcamp page. With swirling guitars and aching, emotional vocals, they create a dreamy Smiths-loving brand of guitar rock that will have you swooning and swaying along instantly. For fans of The National, The Smiths and The Walkmen. Download the Lying To My Lies [...]