Endtroducing.....

ASAP Rocky

2011-08-10T15:28:00.002-05:00

Cerebral Ballzy

2011-08-10T15:26:00.002-05:00

Hiatus

2011-07-07T11:15:00.002-05:00

I think I'm going to stop writing on here, at least for a while.

Slow Motion

2011-06-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Check out this hazy video/interview from Panda Bear for Slow Motion off his latest solo album, Tomboy.

The Weeknd

2011-06-02T09:33:00.001-05:00

The Weeknd is a Toronto-based R&B singer named Abel Tesfaye. Abel started uploading songs to YouTube in 2010 and in March of 2011 he dropped his first mixtape, House Of Balloons. You can download the album for free here. Check out the quasi-official video for my favorite track, The Morning, below.

The Weeknd - The Morning (music video) from High Five Collective on Vimeo.

Source: Last.fm and Pitchfork.

Erika M. Anderson

2011-05-27T08:24:00.000-05:00

Erika M. Anderson or EMA, recently released her debut solo LP, Past Life Martyred Saints to much acclaim. Check out the videos for Milkman and California, below. Also take a look at her website/blog for pics, vids, and posts by Erika herself.

Alsatian Darn

2011-05-26T09:43:00.002-05:00

Animal Collective member, Panda Bear, has a new video for Alsatian Darn off his latest solo album Tomboy.

Apparitions

2011-05-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

Danish noise rockers, The Raveonettes, just released a new video for Apparitions, off their 2011 LP, Raven In The Grave.

Gang Gang Dance

2011-05-19T09:35:00.002-05:00

Experimental NYC band Gang Gang Dance just released a new album, Eye Contact, that is getting a ton of praise including BNM from Pitchfork. Check out the video for MindKilla below as well as the 4AD session.

Abducted (Official)

2011-05-18T14:27:00.001-05:00

The other day I had posted the unofficial video but now the real one is up. Check the official vid for Abducted by Cults below. Their debut LP should be coming out this month. Consequence of Sound has details on the album and their current tour.

Abducted

2011-05-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

NYC-based pop duo Cults have a new single out. Check the unofficial vid for Abducted below. Their debut LP should be coming out this month. Consequence of Sound has details on the album and their current tour.

Cults - Abducted from George Tanasie on Vimeo.

Times New Viking

2011-05-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

Ohio Lo-Fi pop band, Times New Viking, just released a vid for my favorite track from their new album, Dancer Equired. Watch Ever Falling In Love below.

Cloud Nothings

2011-05-09T08:25:00.000-05:00

Cleveland power poppers Cloud Nothings have another new vid. Check out Forget You All The Time, off their 2011 self-titled LP, below.

Thee Oh Sees

2011-05-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

San Fran garage rockers, Thee Oh Sees, just put out a video for I Need Seed. It will be included on their upcoming double-LP Castlemania, due June 14th on In The Red Records. And apparently their are rumors of another album coming out this fall!

Reflections on Sonny & The Sunsets

2011-05-03T08:23:00.000-05:00

San Francisco garage pop band Sonny & The Sunsets just released a video for Reflections On Youth, off their latest album Hit After Hit, which I briefly mentioned here a few weeks back.

Summer Brew

2011-04-29T08:26:00.002-05:00

Peep this dope mix by my friend DJ Driscol, aka Matt Navarro.

Summer Brew by Dj Driscol on Mixcloud

Bear Costume

2011-04-28T09:25:00.001-05:00

Spirit Night is a West Virginia based bedroom pop project headed by songwriter Dylan Balliet.You can download their first full length album What We Will Be over on Bandcamp, where you can also find an EP for free as well. Make sure to check out my favorite track on the album, Bear Costume, below.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://spiritnight.bandcamp.com/track/bear-costume"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Bear Costume by Spirit Night&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Take Me Somewhere

2011-04-26T08:27:00.001-05:00

New video for Take Me Somewhere by one of my favorite bands, Tennis, off their debut LP Cape Dory, released earlier this year.

My God

2011-04-21T09:13:00.000-05:00

Pusha T finally put out a video for his latest coke banger, My God. The video contains some great footage of people going H.A.M. at church.

Pumped Up Kicks

2011-04-19T10:28:00.000-05:00

I'm obsessed with this tune, Pumped Up Kicks by L.A. indie poppers, Foster the People. It has that same lackadaisical feeling as that Peter, Bjorn, and John single a few years back. Enjoy!

I Wanna Do It

2011-04-18T08:01:00.001-05:00

San Francisco garage pop band Sonny & The Sunsets just released their second album Hit After Hit. Check out my favorite track off the album, here. Also, peep my fave cut from their 2009 debut LP, here.

Clams Casino

2011-04-14T09:16:00.001-05:00

Hip hop producer Clams Casino has a scorching Instrumental Mixtape out. Cop it for free here. Do not sleep on this cat! Also check out his piano laden Dilla-esque track, Fakest Year Ever.

Middle Of The Map Fest

2011-04-10T13:22:00.003-05:00

I went to Ink's Middle Of The Map Fest at Westport in Kansas City, MO last night. Checked out Daniel Johnston at the Beaumont Club and The Raveonettes at the Record Bar. Below are a couple of videos of Johnston's set, courtesy of I Heart Local Music, a Lawrence, KS outfit, who wrote up reviews of Day 1 and Day 2. Also check out Ink's write-up.

Updated with a few vids of The Raveonettes set, courtesy of imstld.

Into The Depths

2011-04-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

Bay Area goth band, The Soft Moon, released a new video for Into The Depths, a dark, droning track. If you dig also make sure to peep the staticy vid for Circles, below.

Bad Kids

2011-04-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

New video from raucous Atlanta rockers, Black Lips, for Modern Art, off their upcoming album Arabia Mountain, due June 7th.

Moon Duo

2011-03-31T09:31:00.000-05:00

San Fran psychedelic twosome, Moon Duo, put out a video for the title track off their debut LP, Mazes, released yesterday. Also, peep the video for my favorite Moon Duo track, EZ Street, further below.

Gone Blind

2011-03-30T08:56:00.001-05:00

Mauro Remiddi aka Porcelain Raft just put out a new video for the title track off his new EP, Gone Blind.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

2011-03-29T08:45:00.002-05:00

One of my all time favorite bands, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, just released their second LP, Belong, today on Slumberland. Check out the feel-good video for Heart in Your Heartbreak below. Also, catch up and watch their Super 8 video for Young Adult Friction, off their eponymous debut LP from 2009, further down the page.

Constellation Dirtbike Head

2011-03-28T08:50:00.000-05:00

Almost a year ago, Tobacco, frontman of Black Moth Super Rainbow, dropped his solo album, Maniac Meat. Packing a heavy dose of shooting synths and crashing drums, the album was something not of this planet. One of the top singles from the album, “Constellation Dirtbike Head”, came pretty darn close to making my eyes pop out the first time I heard it. With help from director Trevor G. Allen, the video employs some nifty psychedelic, sci-fi aesthetics, perfect for this track.

Hit the skip to peep the visuals for “Constellatin Dirtbike Head”.

Sources:

Article - by David Reyneke on Potholes In My Blog

Video - Pitchfork

Coma Cinema

2011-03-24T09:42:00.001-05:00

South Carolina musician Mat Cothran, aka Coma Cinema, is one of my favorite bedroom pop acts right now. Dude has been writing and recording since 2005 and just released his third album, Blue Suicide, this month. You can peep the somewhat depressing/disturbing video for the title track below. Also, make sure to peep the video for my favorite track off the new album, Her Sinking Sun. All three albums are currently available for free, here, but that might change if he gets signed.

Coma Cinema - Blue Suicide from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

Death Grips

2011-03-22T08:54:00.000-05:00

Legendary math rock drummer Zach Hill has a new project, the avant-garde/hardcore/experimental rap group, Death Grips. Their 13-track, self-titled debut LP should be out in a month or so. Until then peep the vid for Full Moon (Death Classic). And head on over to Hips Together or the official site to peep more off the upcoming album.

Bussin' Down

2011-03-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

Chicago dancehall DJ, Chrissy Murderbot, has a new album coming out on Planet Mu. Check out the Street Fighter-themed video for Bussin' Down (Featuring DJ Spinn), off his upcoming LP, Women's Studies, due out May 9th.

Crafting Spells

2011-03-16T09:48:00.002-05:00

Seattle dream pop group, Craft Spells, is currently touring with Cloud Nothings and Beach Fossils. They have a new vid for After The Moment, a track off their upcoming debut LP Idle Labor. The album is due out March 29th on Captured Tracks.

Nothing's Wrong

2011-03-15T09:12:00.000-05:00

Cleveland power poppers Cloud Nothings have a funny new vid. Check out Nothing's Wrong, off their 2011 self-titled LP, below.

Smokin Cigs

2011-03-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

I made a video of myself and some friends shooting guns over the weekend and put it to False Jesii Part 2 by Pissed Jeans. I don't bother!

Locomotive

2011-03-10T09:52:00.004-06:00

Detroit-based singer Alex Winston, recently released her album, Sisters Wife EP to much acclaim. Peep the video for Locomotive, below.

Recharge and Revolt

2011-03-08T08:40:00.000-06:00

New vid from Danish fuzz rockers, The Raveonettes, off their upcoming album Raven in the Grave, due out April 5th. Check out the video for Recharge and Revolt, below.

6 Foot 7 Foot

2011-03-04T09:15:00.000-06:00

Weezy's home and has a new vid for his banger, 6 Foot, 7 Foot.

Gold Hearted

2011-03-03T09:44:00.002-06:00

La Sera aka Katy Goodman of Vivian Girls and All Saints Day recently released her eponymous solo debut LP on Hardly Art. Below is the video for Devil's Heart Grows Gold. Also, check out my previous posts covering her solo venture.

Vivian Grrrls

2011-03-02T08:39:00.000-06:00

All-girl pop band Vivian Girls have a new album, Share The Joy, due out April 12th on Polyvinyl. Watch the video for the first single, I Heard You Say, below. Also, the girls are touring with garage rockers, Black Lips, and will be coming to Kansas City at the Beaumont Club on April 26th!!! Check out the rest of the tour dates here.

Tracklist for Share the Joy:

01 The Other Girls
02 I Heard You Say
03 Dance (If You Wanna)
04 Lake House
05 Trying to Pretend
06 Sixteen Ways
07 Take It as It Comes
08 Vanishing of Time
09 Death
10 Light in Your Eyes

King of the Beach

2011-03-01T08:41:00.000-06:00

Video for the title track off last year's LP, King of the Beach by Wavves. Plus possible cameo from Best Coast's cat, Snacks.

Rainbow of Arabia

2011-02-25T10:21:00.002-06:00

L.A. psych-pop outfit Rainbow Arabia just put out a video for the infectious track Without You, off their upcoming debut LP, Boys and Diamonds due out March 1st on Kompakt.

Tracklist:
01 Boys and Diamonds
02 Without You
03 Nothin Gonna Be Undone
04 Blind
05 Papai
06 Jungle Bear
07 Hai
08 Mechanical
09 This Life Is Practice
10 Sayer
11 Sequenced

Also check out an older vid for Omar K.

Yonkers

2011-02-24T09:48:00.000-06:00

Video for Yonkers by Tyler, The Creator of L.A. rap posse Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All.

Golf Wang

2011-02-17T10:18:00.000-06:00

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All is the future of rap. Swagged out, angsty teenagers. I don't have time to go into it all but if you don't know about these cats you can catch up here. Then go over to their Tumblr and grab free tracks, videos, albums, etc. It's all free. Peep their performance on Jimmy Fallon last night below. Shit is INSANE. Also peep a vid off Earl Sweatshirt's album, EARL. You can grab that on their Tumblr as well.

Killer Instinct

2011-02-15T08:50:00.000-06:00

New track from The Kills off their upcoming album Blood Pressure, due April 4th. Watch the video for Satellite below.

Pulsing

2011-02-14T09:49:00.001-06:00

Canadian goth pop group Austra just released a dark, arcane video for Beat and the Pulse. The track will be featured on their debut LP, Feel It Break, due May 17th.

AUSTRA "Beat and the Pulse"
Uploaded by domino. - See the latest featured music videos.

Get $$

2011-02-11T10:03:00.000-06:00

San Fran noise pop group Sic Alps just dropped their latest album Napa Asylum. Check out the video for Do You Want To Give $$? below.

Rave On

2011-02-10T09:33:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite bands, Danish fuzz rockers, The Raveonettes, just released a sneak peak at their new album Raven In The Grave due out April 5th. The album drops just ahead of their April 9th show at Record Bar in KC as part of Middle of the Map Fest. Check out the free track Forget That You're Young.

Tracklist for Raven in the Grave:
01 Recharge & Revolt
02 War in Heaven
03 Forget That You're Young
04 Apparitions
05 Summer Moon
06 Let Me on Out
07 Ignite
08 Evil Seeds
09 My Time's Up

The Water Wheel

2011-02-09T09:58:00.000-06:00

RJD2, as The Insane Warrior, has released the official music video for his track “The Water Wheel”. This track is from his latest album project entitled We Are The Doorways which you can grab HERE. Check out the darkly awesome video below.

Source: Earmilk

Neu Chicago

2011-02-08T09:24:00.001-06:00

Clive Tanaka's story is an amazing one. A social outcast and extreme recluse most of his life, the Japanese producer found his voice within music and broke the bonds of self-imposed silence. Clive Tanaka y su orquesta has a Nu Disco sound. Check out the video for Neu Chicago below, a heartfelt track with an equally beautiful video. The track comes off his January 2011 release, Jet Set Siempre 1°.

Neu Chicago - Clive Tanaka y su orquesta from Clive Tanaka on Vimeo.

Pure

2011-02-07T10:49:00.001-06:00

PURITY RING is the project of a member of GOBBLE GOBBLE, an electro-pop band from Canada. Ungirthed is the first track to come out. It's a hauntingly beautiful glitch-pop track with fractured beats and vocals. The video is very fitting.

Killed It

2011-02-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

New track from The Kills off their upcoming album Blood Pressure, due April 4th. Listen to Satellite below.

The Kills - Satellite by DominoRecordCo

Listen Up

2011-02-03T09:11:00.000-06:00

Portland lo-fi rockers The Thermals, just released a video for Never Listen To Me, my favorite track off their latest LP, Personal Life. Shot on Kodachrome, a simple yet lovely video for a genial song.

Motivation

2011-02-02T09:16:00.004-06:00

Equall parts Prince and Tupac, Lil B aka Based God, is an eccentric, ambitious rapper who came up with the Bay Area's The Pack. Dude has put out thousands (yeah that's right) of tracks since going solo. If you haven't heard of him he's a highly controversial rapper with influences that include RZA, MF DOOM, and Jean Grae. You might want to check out this article on NPR about him. Get you up to speed. Here's an excerpt from that article:

He raps about cat care and back pain. He raps about black liberation and becoming a deity. He jokes about being a nerd. He laments materialism and claims to be an incredibly wealthy ladies man in the same breath. From a distance it would be easy to mistake him for an eccentric hiccup in the long line of in-the-moment pop rappers, but further inspection reveals a considerably more complex artist, one whose body of work look less like a musical catalog than a broad conceptual cross-media art project, or perhaps a relentless soundtrack to one young man's compulsive disorder.

Check out the video for Motivation below, a track off his new LP Angels Exodus. According to the label this digital-only album will serve as a prelude to his upcoming album Glass Face.

Team Work

2011-02-01T09:06:00.000-06:00

Brighton's 6-piece pop band The Go! Team just partnered up with Bethany from Best Coast for a track off their new album, Rolling Blackouts, released today. Check the video for Buy Nothing Day below.

Native Speaker

2011-01-31T08:40:00.002-06:00

Montreal experimental pop outfit Braids just put out a video for Plath Heart, one of the tracks off their acclaimed 2011 debut, Native Speaker. Plath Heart uses primal drums, psychedelic synths, and playful vocal cadence to convey an otherworldly feeling. The video takes you down the rabbit hole as well.

Trill Trill

2011-01-28T08:44:00.001-06:00

Sleigh Bells finally releases a video for Rill Rill, the only slow tempo track off their 2010 debut, Treats. While the song may be lazy and sweet, the video is super creepy.

Sleigh Bells - New Music - More Music Videos

Ducky's Dub

2011-01-27T08:52:00.002-06:00

My boy Damon "Ducky" Williams just sent over this Dubstep mix to celebrate the Frost Winter Electronic Music Festival, Saturday, January 29th at The Midland in Kansas City. You can stream or download it below. Shit's hot. Get your wobble on.

Tracklist:
Ten Rozmarin - Draxter
Back From Orion - WavyPanda
Shut The Fuck Up - R-Dubz
That Hardcore Tune - Noah D
Nightmare - Ry LEGIT
Starstruck(Southbound Hangers Remix) - Santagold
3K Lane (Xtrakta Remix) - Jakes & Joker
Modern Warfare - Staffy
Supernova - Shekel
Whistle Tips (Point Blank VIP) - Point Blank & Helicopter Showdown
Powertool - Emalkay
Kickstarts (Bar9 Remix) - Example

Ducky's Frost Mix LULZ 1-26-11 by DC-ONE

Bad Bitch

2011-01-26T08:53:00.001-06:00

Check out this new video for Bad Gal, where Savage Skulls and Douster team up with Robyn to create electropop perfection.

Sign of the Times

2011-01-25T08:59:00.001-06:00

Ohio Lo-Fi pop band, Times New Viking, just announced a new album, Dancer Equired, to be released via Merge on April 25th. Check out the animated video for the first single, No Room to Live, below.

Clouded

2011-01-24T09:33:00.002-06:00

Cleveland's Dylan Baldi, the 18 year old behind the pop outfit Cloud Nothings is set to release his self titled debut LP on Carpark Records on January 25th. Check out Consequence of Sound for tour dates and info on an upcoming split with lablemates Toro y Moi.

Make sure to see them at Riot Room in KC on April 1st, with Toro y Moi. Watch the new video for Should Have below.

Summer > Winter

2011-01-20T10:16:00.003-06:00

Photo by Shannon McClean

With all the snow, some of which is still in my shoes, I could really use something warm and sunny.

Check out Best Coast's new song, Sunny Adventure, off of a previously reported split 7" with JEFF the Brotherhood on Volcom; you can check it out below.

Best Coast-Sunny Adventure by VolcomEnt

Source: Gorilla vs Bear and Pitchfork

Cat Party

2011-01-19T09:04:00.000-06:00

New vid from Best Coast for Crazy For You off last year's debut LP by the same name. This hilarious video premiered on icanhascheezburger, you know, because of all the cats and their misspelled thoughts.

Panda Bro

2011-01-17T09:53:00.000-06:00

My favorite member of Animal Collective, Panda Bear, has just announced the release date for his upcoming album Tomboy. The album will come out April 19th on their label Paw Tracks. Below you can check out a skate tape backed by Atiba Song, one of the tracks from the upcoming album.

ATIBA EVANS Panasonic GH2 Skate from skatefairy on Vimeo.

Destroyed

2011-01-14T09:50:00.002-06:00

Dan Bejar aka Destroyer's latest electro/jazz album is a smooth one. Kaputt is easily the sexiest album of the still young 2011. As you can see from the provocative yet tripped-out Dawn Garcia-directed video for the title track, Bejar is well aware of the sexiness.

Kaputt is out 1/25 via Merge. Don’t forget the “Archer On The Beach” 12″, which includes two songs not found on the record.

Sources: Stereogum and Pitchfork.

Matt Skat

2011-01-12T09:18:00.000-06:00

Check out this set by my friend Matt Navarro aka DJ Driscol. Tons of recognizable tracks mixed in. Shit is really good.

Lakeside Sunsets by Dj Driscol on Mixcloud

Good Girls

2011-01-11T10:56:00.006-06:00

Vivian Girl Katy Goodman's La Sera project is set to release their self-titled debut LP February 15 via Sub Pop offshoot Hardly Art. Before that, La Sera will release a new 7" single on the label, "Devlis Hearts Grow Gold", January 18.

Below, you can check out the single's title track (which also appears on the La Sera full-length). Like her previous release Never Come Around, covered here, this song sounds like sunshine with a beautiful catchy melody. It'll be paired with the non-LP cut "Dedicated to the One I Love" as the B-side. That's the ultra-strange single art above; check out the tracklist for both the single and LP below.

Devils Hearts Grow Gold

"Devils Hearts Grow Gold" 7":

01 Devils Hearts Grow Gold
02 Dedicated to the One I Love

La Sera:

01 Beating Heart
02 Never Come Around
03 You're Going to Cry
04 Sleeptalking
05 I Promise You
06 Left This World
07 Hold
08 Under The Trees
09 Devils Hearts Grow Gold
10 Dove Into Love
11 Been Here Before
12 Lift Off

Source: Pitchfork

Table Tennis

2011-01-10T09:49:00.002-06:00

Husband/wife surf pop duo Tennis is finally releasing their much anticipated debut LP, Cape Dory, on January 18th on Fat Possum Records. Check out the vid for Pigeon below.

The Horror

2011-01-06T09:45:00.000-06:00

Peep The Glow Remixes EP, a free album from iconic trip-hop producer RJD2. You can listen below or download it for free!

Audio Daily Double

2011-01-05T09:45:00.001-06:00

Two new tracks from Madvillain just found their way onto the latest Stones Throw Podcast, a mix by label owner and legendary DJ/producer Peanut Butter Wolf. The tracks don't appear in their full form as they are part of the set that he is mixing but Avalanche / Victory Lap can be downloaded here or you can check them out in the context of the full mix here. It's not known whether these tracks will make their way onto the highly anticipated sequel to Madvillainy but new material is promising regardless.

6 Foot, Seven Foot

2011-01-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

Beetlejuice sample + Bangladesh + Lil Wayne = BANGER. Check out Weezy's newest track, Six Foot Seven Foot ft. Cory Gunz.

Lil' Wayne - Six Foot Seven Foot (ft. Cory Gunz) by FuxTheHerd

Top Albums of 2010

2010-12-23T09:50:00.006-06:00

2010 marked the entry of numerous bedroom rockers/producers into the fray, and while most of my listening centered around 7" records and EP's, I managed to cobble together a decent list of my favorite LP's from this year.

My tastes this year tended to gravitate toward the pop genres; Surf-Pop, Dream-Pop, Noise-Pop, etc. However, I still made room on my plate for a healthy dose of Hip-Hop, Electronic, and Experimental beats.

Teen Dream by Beach House

Baltimore dream pop duo Beach House ushered in 2010 with their third studio album, Teen Dream, and it's a gem. It brings warmth to the winter months, and while the record is, at times somber, it shines light on the dark. Teen Dream doesn't stray far from the core characteristics of a Beach House album as Victoria's beautiful yet melancholy vocals meld with hazy synths.

Silver Soul is a gloomy, yet incomprehensibly beautiful ballad. Used To Be is slightly more accessible and melodic. And you absolutely must check out this live studio performance as part of Pitchfork.tv's Special Presentation series. It starts with the band playing Zebra in a room seemingly made out of white feathers. Fucking perfect.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that I'd dig a Kanye album let alone consider it for top album of the year, I would've had a heart attack. I've liked a few of Ye's beats and tracks in the past (especially that joint he did with Cam'ron, Down and Out) but generally I regard him as wack. That is, until I got my hands on his latest record. I still think he's a pompous prick but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that he wrote and produced one of the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all time with the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Really, the album needs no introduction. Either you've heard it by now or you don't care to, so I'm just gonna throw out a few of my fave tracks. Make sure to peep Monster which features among others, Nicki Manaj, who is the truth! Oh and if you don't already know, Rick Ross absolutely kills Devil In A New Dress. And here's the obligatory link the the 35-minute masterpiece, Runaway.

Body Talk by Robyn

Swedish pop star, Robyn, launched a musical armada this year. Three albums were released in 2010 as part of the Body Talk series, with the third album containing five tracks from each of the two previous albums, plus five new tracks.

Body Talk is easily the best pop record of the year. The beats, the lyrics, and the guest spots (Diplo, Röyksopp, and Snoop Dogg) all play a part and come together to create a record that is pop-perfection from front to back.

My grammer school level writing hardly does the album justice. Just check a few tracks and behold Robyn's greatness. Dancehall Queen is an absolute banger that really jumps off and Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do is an ice-cold display of electropop swagger.

King Of The Beach by Wavves

On the front lines of the Surf/Beach movement is San Diego noise pop band, Wavves. He released his third album, King Of The Beach, this summer and I admit, I slept on this album, HARD. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong.

The album is a noisy, LSD soaked, trip to the beach. And it rocks. Nathan Williams has really grown in terms of song writing and the ability to put together an album with great production and a lot of variety. It's impressive to say the least.

Droning guitars and repetitious, muffled vocals highlight Mickey Mouse while Linus Spacehead takes more of a grunge-meets-beach angle.

The Monitor by Titus Andronicus

New Jersey punk rockers Titus Andronicus created a masterpiece with their sophomore release, The Monitor. It's a concept album based on the American Civil War, but it goes far beyond mere references in song titles and the name of the album (which refers to first iron clad warship, the USS Monitor).

It uses march-like cadences, rousing chants, and anthemic guitars to build the atmosphere of an army going to war, or to demonstrate the frustration of Jersey life in a post-industrial Northeast amidst a global economic depression. They even invoke the spirit of The Boss a few times. And the whole thing comes to a massive conclusion with a 14-minute finale that makes me want to wrap myself in Old Glory and fire a cannon from my front porch.

Definitely check out the video for the album opener, A More Perfect Union. It absolutely sets the tone for the whole record, a record that is best enjoyed by listening all the way through.

Dagger Paths by Forest Swords

UK psychedelic dub producer, Matthew Barnes, also known as Forest Swords came with a late entry, releasing his album Dagger Paths in late November. In a word it's brilliant. In a bunch of words: sparse/primal percussion, obscure samples, and masterfully manipulated guitar notes come together to create beautiful yet eerie sounds. Though the beats sound sleepy and murky, eventually you pick out the melody and things clear up a bit. It reminds me of Avey Tare's album, Down There (an incredible album by the way), in that regard.

The whole album is unique and exquisite but I believe the first two tracks are the most accessible and inviting. Miarches is instantly captivating. Guitar reverb weaves in and out of other aural pleasures including a haunting female vocal sample. Slow, droning guitar, bizarre sounds and imposing drum tracks mark out Hoylake Misst. Barnes even does a cover of Aaliyah’s "If Your Girl Only Knew", retitled as "If Your Girl" (I'll admit I had no idea that song was a cover, however much distorted and disguised, and only became aware of it while brushing up on No Pain In Pop). Anyway, the album is fascinating and probably a look at the direction the genre of Dub is moving.

Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus

LA's premier beat maker, Flying Lotus, released the follow-up to his iconic LP Los Angeles this summer and it's another album that I slept on, much to my discomposure. It is important to understand that Cosmogramma is not Los Angeles. Rather, it is a sign of the maturation of Steve Ellison and the mark of his transcendence beyond his influences and peers. I avoided listening to it out of a fear of it somehow diminishing my love for his earlier work or some kind of misplaced sense of superiority, like I knew what was best for FlyLo, his catalog, and his fans.

Internal struggle aside, every track on the album is unique and mesmerizing, with influences ranging from jazz, to drum and bass and IDM, to hip-hop. Zodiac Shit is a deep, cavernous beat and it goes even better with the tripped out video. Also make sure to check out the video for the cannabis-induced, MmmHmm, a gorgeous, spacey tune aided by bass virtuoso Thundercat.

Treats by Sleigh Bells

An unlikely collaboration between an elementary school teacher and the guitarist for Hardcore band, Poison The Well, resulted in the loudest album in recent memory. Brooklyn noise pop band Sleigh Bells has acquired a lot of fans as well as haters since dropping their debut LP, Treats, this summer. Essentially, the album consists of Alexis chanting like a cheerleader over wailing guitars and pounding beats.

Treats is a fucking banger. It goes harder than any track this year. Turn it up to eleven. Similarly, Crown On The Ground will trash your speakers. Seriously. Oh and don't let the treble blast at the beginning scare you. Taking a softer approach, Rill Rill employs acoustic guitar and an infectious pop hook.

Crazy For You by Best Coast

Another one of the most hated bands of the year, Best Coast, released their debut LP this summer. Crazy For You is a lo-fi, indie pop, stoner record whose lyrics center around chron, cats, boys, and a sloth-like apathy. All the tracks are short and poppy with very straightforward lyrics.

Goodbye is an anthem of indifference where Bethany claims, "Nothing makes me happy, not even T.V. or a bunch of weed". Happy is an uptempo song that is actually about anything but being happy.

Crystal Castles (II) by Crystal Castles

And to complete my trio of "most hated bands" I submit to you, Crystal Castles, back with their sophomore album Crystal Castles (II). Drowned in Sound writer Jack Shankly once expertly described their sound as "ferocious, asphyxiating sheets of warped two-dimensional Gameboy glitches and bruising drum bombast that pierces your skull with their sheer shrill force, burrowing deep into the brain like a fever". Pretty much.

My favorite track off the LP is Year Of Silence. A terrifying, earthquake-like beat juxtaposed against a beautiful Sigur Rós vocal sample makes for one of the best electronic tracks of the year. Baptism is a more upbeat, dancey cut, with a strange/disturbing video.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

One of my all time favorite bands, Arcade Fire, released their much anticipated third studio album this summer. The Suburbs is a radiant, captivating album that marks a rewarding return by the Canadian indie giants. My favorite song is Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), a disco track reminiscent of Blondie's Heart of Glass.

Cry Out Loud by Las Robertas

Fighting off comparisons to Best Coast and Vivian Girls are Costa Rica's all-girl retro band, Las Robertas. Their influences include The Breeders, Nirvana, and various C86 bands, which makes sense as they tend to have a scuzzy, lo-fi sound while still maintaining a youthful glow. On their debut LP, Cry Out Loud, the girls do such a masterful job of walking the fine line between garage rock and noise pop that they really transcend genre. It makes you think they can possibly usurp some of their lofty influences. Make sure to check out their friend Diego Arias's video for Back To The End.

Fang Island by Fang Island

Rhode Island Post-Punk Rockers, Fang Island, dropped their self titled debut LP this year to wide acclaim. They describe their music as "everyone high-fiving everyone", and that's exactly the feeling you get when listening to their album, Fang Island. Pitchfork's Ian Cohen summed up the album perfectly when he said, "This music is just honest and life-affirming and infectious, and it's that rare concentration of directness and simplicity that makes Fang Island so uniquely and wonderfully inclusive."

My two favorite tracks are Daisy, a soaring and infectious anthem, and Life Coach, which melds layer upon layer of vocals and guitars with very positive results.

Faceless Sonic Boom by girls in the eighties

After years of trying to break through, Nashville bedroom rockers girls in the eighties, finally gained the attention of tastemaker Stereogum in early 2010 and released Faceless Sonic Boom a few months later. The album is composed of bursts of energy in the form of short, noisy songs.

Vacation is my favorite track on the album and may be my favorite track of the year. Behind the noise and wailing guitars are some pretty stirring lyrics. The song starts out with a messy chorus chanting, "They say please stay, but I can't find a reason why. Until the world turns on its side, I am telling you goodbye. Until the storm settles inside, I am letting go of life." Fairly profound words for a noise pop record.

Eyelid Movies by Phantogram

Upstate New York Trip-Hop duo Phantogram describes themselves as "a combination of Serge Gainsbourg, sampling and Detroit hip-hop". I can dig that. Their full length debut, Eyelid Movies, is a verdant and evocative trip-hop ride that owes its success equally to Josh Carter's detailed production and Sarah Barthel's enchanting vocals.

Mouthful Of Diamonds is highlighted by Sarah's saccharin sweet, breathy vocals over squeaky beats and piano keys. Sarah's seductive crooning is also central to When I'm Small, another one of my faves off this record. Also, check out the fan-made video for Running From The Cops, a spooky, droning track that changes up the pace from the rest of the album.

Tramps Like Us...

2010-12-22T09:58:00.002-06:00

New Jersey punk rockers Titus Andronicus just released a concept album, The Monitor, which is based on the American Civil War. Here is the video for A More Perfect Union.

Could've, Would've, Should've

2010-12-21T10:08:00.004-06:00

Cleveland power-pop band, Cloud Nothings, covered previously on this blog here and here, are about to release their self-titled debut LP January 25th. Below you can listen to Should Have, a catchy cut from the upcoming album.

Cloud Nothings "Should Have" by carparkrecords

What's Your Sign

2010-12-17T10:17:00.002-06:00

Check this beautiful new video for Zodiac Shit by Flying Lotus off his latest LP, Cosmogramma. I mean its Fly Lo so I'm not even going to go into detail about how good/strange the beat is. Just watch and listen. Perfection.

Tribal Prince

2010-12-16T11:35:00.002-06:00

New vid from the psychedelic Floridians known as Prince Rama. Now based in Boston/Brooklyn, these former Hare Krishnas signed to Animal Collective's Paw Tracks label to release their LP Shadow Temple in September. Peep the freaked out video for Lightening Fossil below. Looks like Pitchfork removed the vid or the embed is fucked. Try it here on this crazy Asian site.

Spaghetti Western

2010-12-15T10:24:00.005-06:00

Chi-town rockers, Smith Westerns, just put out a video for their first single off the upcoming album Dye It Blonde, set to be released 1/18/2011 on Fat Possum Records. Weekend is a bit more poppy and less noisy than what can be found on their 2009 self titled LP, but it works well, just in different ways. Peep the vid below.

Also, make sure to check out my two favorite tracks from their last album, which I'm extremely fond of. Be My Girl and My Heart are both noisy, aural perfection.

No One Else Shines

2010-12-14T10:43:00.002-06:00

Wise Blood, known to mortals as Chris Laufman, just released a vid for his experimental banger B.I.G. E.G.O. It's off the 2010 `+` EP, that I wrote up a few months back, here. Oh, also check his newest track, Loud Mouths. It's making the rounds and getting a lot of hype, as it should. Do not sleep on him!

"B.I.G. E.G.O." from david parker on Vimeo.

Rep Killa City

2010-12-11T13:48:00.007-06:00

Last night was the Dutch Newman CD release party at the Beaumont Club in Westport. Dutch just dropped his debut LP, The Lonely Hearts Club, which you can cop for $5 on his Bandcamp. All the beats were produced by Lawrence, KS producer/MC Johnny Quest. The tracks are diverse, fresh, and uplifting. In a recent interview with Pitch.com Dutch said “Maybe it sounds corny, but it’s about the love. I want people to feel the love when I’m onstage — my passion for this shit”. It really shows both on the album and in his stage presence. Make sure to check out the banger, Yall Can't, a collaboration with Top City great, Stik Figa (peep his mini documentary down below).

The highlight of the show was when Irv Da Phenom came out and performed Red and Yellow, a remix of Wiz Khalifa's Black and Yellow, that features two other KC rappers, Cash Image and B Double E. The crowd was going nuts! Check the video for the local anthem below. It's a guided tour of Killa City's hot spots. Anyway, Irv Da Phenom has been promoting his newest album, Free. Coincidentally you can download that album, for free, here. The whole thing is fire, front to back, but make sure to check out the horn blasting beat on Gettin That.

Also, out there representing for KC and Dutch was the Well Fed Artist Society. They had a huge presence at the concert, showcasing some of their newest designs.

You Are Freaking Out... Man

2010-12-08T10:27:00.001-06:00

London's Alessio Natalizia, an Italian transplant, who goes by the moniker Banjo or Freakout has been building up to his much anticipated self-titled full length debut, due out early 2011. The first single, 105, was released on December 5th on Memphis Industries. The slow burning dream-pop ballad is typical for his ethereal, ghostly style of folktronica. Peep the vid which follows a hot, irreverent teen as she goes about her day, stealing booze and tagging graffiti.

Banjo Or Freakout - 105 from Ibrahim Serra-Mohammed on Vimeo.

Check out the video for my favorite BoF tune, Upside Down, a track off the 2009 Upside Down EP from Half Machine Records.

Natalizia is probably best know for his re-workings and remixes, including an incredible cover of LCD Soundsystem's Someone Great. His blog is a great place to find demos, covers and remixes.

Das Racist

2010-12-07T10:30:00.001-06:00

New cut from Canadian rapper/producer EmAy, who I featured in an earlier post back in October. You can download it from Mediafire or stream it down below from Bandcamp where you can also throw down $1 CAD for the track and support the artist. More dope shit on the conscious tip. Oh and here's a quick blurb from dude:

Hey, it’s Emay here and I have this new track called Racist On Purpose and the concept of this song is to put myself in the shoes of a white supremacist in order to show how hateful us humans can be based on our insecurities alone. Produced and written by me. The sample is a song by Mount Eerie. I’ll let you find which one it is if you really want to know haha.

I’m still in the process of working on my solo album plus a project with Star Slinger and Blackbird Blackbird as Seeing Suge. Also working on a little something else, but I wont mention who I’m working with yet until it’s final.

No Such Thing

2010-12-06T10:24:00.001-06:00

L.A. producer Nosaj Thing (pronounced No Such Thing) put out a monster electronic record last year called Drift, gaining the attention of everyone from Pitchfork to the BBC. Then in November 2010, Alpha Pup Records released a remix album imaginatively titled Drift Remixed. The album features remixes by the likes of Jamie from The xx, Daedelus, and Dntel. But the standout track is the remix of Us by downtempo artist Jon Hopkins. Hopkins completely reimagines the track and gives it new life. The terrifyingly mad video compliments the glitchy beat.

That Good Hair

2010-12-02T11:26:00.007-06:00

Lawrence, KS producer Nezbeat is getting ready to release a project with Killa City rapper Joe Good that has been a long time comin. In fact, Joe Good has since retired from the rap game. The album, Good Hair, is slated to be released later this month but a few tracks are already up, available for free download on Bandcamp. Likewise, when the album drops it will be available for free via Bandcamp.

Make sure to check my favorite track so far, Sky High, a soulful, sample-heavy cut. And while your at it peep the single, Fuchsia, below. The mellow, melodic flute-loop was featured a few months back on URB.

Fuchsia by nezbeats

Twee Pony

2010-12-01T10:12:00.002-06:00

Indie-Pop trio, Seapony, just released a new 7" on Double Denim. Dreaming is an upbeat, guitar-driven pop song following in the footsteps of its C86 predecessors. Peep the video by Anabel Navarro below.

In addition to the single, the Seattle twee poppers put out an eponymous EP in August. Seapony EP is available for free on their Bandcamp page. With You and I Really Do are both mellow, breezy tunes that I really enjoy.

Memories

2010-11-30T10:02:00.002-06:00

Dream-Pop duo, Memoryhouse, continue to perfect their craft with the new single, Caregiver, due December 7th on Suicide Squeeze. However, it's actually the B-Side, Heirloom, that concerns this post. The dreamy, ethereal track is just what one expects from Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion, but this isn't standard fare, it's flawless. Add to that, a Jamie Harley found-footage video and you have the aforementioned perfection. Peep below.

They've yet to release a full-length album but Beko DSL put out a free digital single last year with two of my favorite Memoryhouse tracks. You can download it here. Also, further below is a vid for To The Lighthouse, off the digital single.

Savvy

2010-11-29T10:03:00.000-06:00

Providence, RI punk-rockers, Les Savy Fav, have been on the indie/electronic scene for 15 years and they don't show any sign of letting up. These guys are notorious for wild, high-energy shows and their fifth and latest LP, Root For Ruin, finds the band still plugging away with short, energetic power-pop tunes. Let's Get Out of Here is a mid-tempo blend of pop and punk accompanied by an awesome skateboarding themed video. Make sure to check my favorite track off the album, Sleepless in Silverlake. It isn't your typical life-in-L.A. anthem.

Smokeless Tobacco

2010-11-22T09:35:00.000-06:00

Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman, Tom Fec, has released two solo LP's as Tobacco. A new video has just emerged for the track Motorlicker, off his 2010 full-length, Maniac Meat. The video is almost as disturbing as the beat.

Like Lykke

2010-11-18T10:00:00.001-06:00

Swedish pop singer/bombshell Lykke Li just dropped a video for her first single off the upcoming Wounded Rhymes, to be released Febuary 28th on her label LL Recordings. The single, Get Some, finds Lykke Li taking a more direct, over-the-top approach, diverting from the more artsy, subdued singing on her first LP, Youth Novels, released in 2008. The video is awash in occult imagery and overt sexual themes. Throughout the song she repeats the sexy chant, "I'm your prostitute, you gon' get some", over the pounding drums remindful of the Big Band era. Peep the vid below.

Beachy Keen

2010-11-17T10:29:00.001-06:00

Budapest gloom pop band, Piresian Beach, is not just more surf rock. Info on her is sparse but she describes herself as "cheap lo-fi music from Hungary". That coupled with the following fantastic description from futuresoundstemporary is really all we have to go on right now but I'm sure she will be catching mad hype soon; "It’s like this fuzzed out, psych, noise trip with this wailing female crying out in the distance."

So fucking good. Easily one of my favorite discoveries of the year. The gloomy, fuzzy sound reminds me a bit of The Vera Violets.

Piresian Beach has two offerings out right now, her debut EP, Parttalan EP, and Space Grrl, which I can't tell but looks to also be an EP. The two EP's can be downloaded here and here respectively. But please make sure to cop something legit once she inevitably gets signed.

My fave track so far is Wasting Away, a murky tune with lots of reverb and distortion. Below is a vid for the song made up of what looks like found/archival footage.

Pissed

2010-11-16T10:11:00.001-06:00

Post-hardcore rockers Pissed Jeans recently made a video for their track False Jesii Part 2, off their 2009 Sub Pop release, King of Jeans. The video exudes an emphatic apathy.

To quote a particularly true statement from the Pitchfork review, "Korvette's observations, on King of Jeans, they're organized into shout-back slogans cathartic enough to keep enraged 9-to-5ers from going postal: on opener 'False Jesii Part 2', Korvette answers a litany of social pressures-- from going to the gym to wearing a 'tight black shirt'-- with a boisterous holler of 'I don't bother!' before celebrating his slothfulness with a playground-taunt chorus of 'nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah,' all to the steady beat of a tambourine, no less."

Sleigh Ride

2010-11-15T10:49:00.000-06:00

Brooklyn based noise pop duo, Sleigh Bells, have an new unofficial video for Riot Rhythm, which is on their 2010 debut LP, Treats. Screeching guitars and an epic chess match make up this Bo Mirosseni-directed gem.

Bermuda Triangle

2010-11-10T11:29:00.003-06:00

Philly native Rebecca Huston is the woman behind Bermuda Bonnie, an unsigned psych-pop band that now operates out of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Bermuda Bonnie released her self titled debut last year which you can download on Last.fm for free or you can shell out the 8 bucks over on her Bandcamp page. While you're there grab the free remix of Invisible, and make sure to watch the vid produced by Rebecca's sister Kim Huston below. But def check my favorite track on the album, Houseboat, a slow, soft, daydream about getting away from it all.

La Gasolina

2010-11-09T10:26:00.002-06:00

Marina Vello, former founder/singer of Brazilian Baile-Funk band Bonde do Rolê, has a new identity and a new album on the way. Breaking from her roots in punk and funk, Marina moved to London to work on her solo album, which takes a more electronic and experimental turn. Marina Gasolina, as she is now known, has worked with such electronic artists as Crookers, Diplo, and The Go! Team so she def has experience with this sound.

Her new single, Leone, is an homage to Spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone and features synths that could've been in Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. The single will be released on 11/29 via her own label, Anfetamina Records, ahead of the full length album being produced by European DJ's Radioclit and Electronicat. Peep the short yet exuberant video and listen to the longer version below as well.

Marina Gasolina - Leone by Sainted PR

Mecha-Streisand

2010-11-08T11:11:00.001-06:00

Prolific DJ's A-Trak and Armand van Helden team up to comprise the collab supergroup, Duck Sauce. Their monster single, Barbara Streisand, samples the 1973 German pop song, Hallo Bimmelbahn by Nighttrain even though the everyone seems to be incorrectly crediting Boney M.'s "Gotta Go Home" (1979) which itself sampled the Nighttrain tune. Peep the video below.

On the War Path

2010-11-05T12:16:00.002-05:00

L.A.'s all-girl psychedelic quartet Warpaint, dropped their debut LP, The Fool, in late October. I haven't really gone through the whole album but I'm diggin the seductive siren song of lead singer Emily Kokal on Undertow. You can watch the girls perform the song live for Yourstru.ly below. Also, peep the official music video directed by actress Shannyn Sossamon, star of such indie films as The Rules of Attraction, and interestingly enough, former band member of Warpaint.

Oh and check out my fave Warpaint track to date, Beetles, off of their 2008, Exquisite Corpse EP.

Phantom Of The Trip-Hop-era

2010-11-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

New York trip-hop duo, Phantogram, put out their debut LP, Eyelid Movies, in February 2010. The album is a psych-pop masterpiece, cobbled together using samplers, tapes, synths, drums and strings. Mouthful of Diamonds is highlighted by Sarah Barthel's saccharin sweet, breathy vocals over squeaky beats and piano keys. Check the vid below.

And here is a fan-made video for Running from the Cops, a spooky, droning, track.

Are You Daft?!

2010-11-02T11:23:00.002-05:00

Electro giants Daft Punk did a track for the new Tron movie. Check out the vid for "Derezzed" below.

To quote a commenter on Stereogum, "I think I’m going to wait for this movie to come out on Blu-Ray. I think it would be more fun to watch if Daft Punk were playing at my house, my house." Brilliant.

Vivian Girls Gone Wild

2010-11-01T10:15:00.003-05:00

Kate Goodman of all-girl punk trio, Vivian Girls, recently started a solo project called La Sera. Under this new moniker Kate produces 50's inspired, celestial pop. Hardly Art, a Seattle-based subsidiary of Sub Pop, just released her 7", "Never Come Around" b/w "Behind Your Eyes", ahead of her eponymous full length due in early 2011. Check out the spooky vid for Never Come Around, directed by Brady Hall. I love the juxtaposition of the violent, gruesome visuals and Kate's cheery vocals and mannerisms.

Curation

2010-10-28T10:20:00.001-05:00

Crystal Castles just teamed up with legendary frontman for The Cure, Robert Smith, to redo Not In Love. The track is a cover of a Platinum Blonde song which CC had reworked and put on their most recent LP. But this time the cut melds the screaching goth electro with vocals from Smith, who sounds like he hasn't missed a beat since the 80's. Incredible. Check it out over on Stereogum or play it down below (that is for as long as the link stays up).

Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft. Robert Smith)

The updated "Not in Love" is the A-side of a single due 12/6 via Fiction. The B-Sides are early acoustic demos of “Celestica” and "Suffocation".

Crystal Method

2010-10-27T11:33:00.002-05:00

New video from the world's most hated band, Crystal Castles. Watch the vid for Baptism, off of their LP, Crystal Castles (II), which came out this summer.