There have been literally hundreds, probably thousands, of blogger and mainstream music media "best of" lists of 2009 for indie and alternative rock and pop.

No list is right or wrong. However, we don't pretend that we can put together a definitive 'best of' list for an entire year because it's frankly too difficult, and perhaps pretentious. Plus, everyone has there own set criteria and personal tastes. This playlist mix is merely a representation of some of our favorite tracks of 2009 and also ones that all of you responded to the most when we originally posted them during 2009. You can also view hundreds of sweet songs from 2009 via the Ears To The Music playlist series.

"Hellhole Ratrace" - Girls from Album (2009)

"My Twisted Words" - Radiohead, single (2009)

"Apollo & the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!" - Sunset Rubdown from Drayonslayer (2009)

"Pink Sabbath" - Dananananaykroyd from Pink Sabbath (2009)

"Quiet Little Voices" - We Were Promised Jetpacks from These Four Walls (2009)

"Roses in the Park" - Liechtenstein from Survival Strategies in a Modern World (2009)

"Silver Trembling Hands" - The Flaming Lips from Embryonic (2009)

"Know Better, Learn Faster" - Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down, single (2009)

"Easy" - Deer Tick from Born On Flag Day (2009)

"Bow Down and Die" - The Almighty Defenders from s/t debut (2009)

"Paralyzed" - Starlight Mints from Change Remains (2009)

Fantasy Nation - Kordan from Fantasy Nation (2009)

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs

The year 2009 was a blockbuster year for indie and alternative music. In fact, there were so many amazing releases, we are still allocating time and resources to make sure you didn't miss out on some of the best songs and albums of the year, a good chunk of which are pretty hard to find anywhere else.

But first, if you haven't already, we encourage you to browse through the many playlists of 2009 songs that we've already published - including literally hundreds of songs featured in regular mixes, such as Ears to the Music, In Dee Mail and 2009 Indie Songs mixes.

In addition to those existing playlists, we'll be publishing more songs from 2009 (not already featured on IRC) for at least a few more weeks. The sheer volume of fresh tracks from 2010 are beginning to slowly build up, most of which - so far - have been featured in our Best New Releases of the Week series.

Today's playlist mix includes notable tracks from 2009 that we didn't have time to present in 2009, so hopefully the caliber of the music will compensate for the minor annoyance of "looking back."

"Forgive Me" - Le Loup from Family

"Running Away" - The Perms from Keeps You Up When You're Down

"Nunya (Beeswax)" - Netherfriends from Calling You Out

"Puzzles" - The Mary Onettes from Islands

"All My Exorcisms" - Beaujolais from Admirations

"Wherever I Run" - The Vision from s/t debut

"She's a Genius" - Jet from Shaka Rock

"The Number" - Woods from Songs of Shame

"Airport Surroundings" - Loney Dear from Dear John

"Woman Pin Down" - Dan Satch and his Atomic 8 Dance Band from Black Man’s Cry

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs

You've probably already come across oodles of "best music" lists of 2009. No list is right or wrong (theoretically) , and they vary between the big media music sites and the popular blogs.

The songs we have chosen are not strictly our favorites, but are often also the same songs all of you have responded to the most (and why we started the Top Ten of the Week series) throughout the year. The Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2009 series will be a 12-part series.

To avoid the madness of categorizing songs from "the top down," or "best to good," we've decided to break up the list into 12 playlist, starting with January 2009 based on the date we posted the songs, not necessarily the actual release date.

In addition, we'll be posting - for some time to come - 2009 songs and albums that we "missed" or forgot about, as well as the continuing In Dee Mail Special Edition 2009 series. There is no great pressure to automatically stop posting notable 2009 songs because a lot of people are still searching for 2009 music, which is fairly typical - we've found over the years - in the first two months of a new year.

After that, 2009 will inevitably give way to a spike of interest, and releases, of 2010 music. We already have a bunch of new 2010 in the pipeline (especially each Tuesday for new releases), with occasional flashbacks to other years in music history for special playlists and mixes (like the Ears To The Music or The Great Unknowns series).

You may also want to browse through the archives for 2009 - and before then - during which time you're likely to discover music you really like - even love - that you otherwise would never know about, or remember to seek out. More than half of the music we feature on IRC is from talented unsigned and relatively unknown artists and bands, but we're not going to turn away from great music that fits into what some might call "mainstream indie" and alternative rock (i.e., Animal Collective, Radiohead, Vampire Weekend).

These playlist mixes are not necessarily represented of all of our favorite songs of 2009; some of the MP3 links provided by labels, bands and others have since expired, and so have not been included in this compendium of 2009 music. And, of course, we have lots of great 2010 music to share with you in coming months, and throughout the year. If 2010 is as good as 2009 for indie and alternative music new releases, it'll be a busy year.

Let's get started with songs originally posted in January of 2009.

January 2009

"My Girls" - Animal Collective from Merriweather Post Pavilion

"Titus Andronicus" -Titus Andronicus from The Airing of Grievances

"Blood Bank" - Bon Iver from Blood Bank EP

"Actors" - In-Flight Safety from We Are an Empire, My Dear

"Work Day" - It Hugs Back from Inside Your Guitar

"The Box" - 1900s from Kicks

"Rich Doors" - New Villager from Rich Doors 7"

"End in Flames" - Strand of Oaks from Leave Ruin

"Slow Burning Crimes" - East Hundred from Passengers

"Get Yr Sh*t Together" - Friendly Foes from Born Radical

"Harmless Lover's Discourse" - Odawas from The Blue Depths

"Blood Red Sentimental Blues" - Cotton Jones from Paranoid Cocoon

"Turn Cold" - Cut Off Your Hands from You & I

"The Shaded Forests" - Deastro from Moondagger

"Submarines of Stockholm" - A.C. Newman from Get Guilty

"Call and Response" - Or, The Whale from Light Poles and Pines

Don't forget: We will still post songs from 2009 that we either didn't have time to post or have just learned about, most of them will be assembled in the on-going In Dee Mail Special Edition, Singer/Songwriter, One Man Bands and other such playlists in the next couple of months, as well as new 2010 music as it comes in.

Volume Two of this series will be published next week and cover favorite songs posted in February of 2009.

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Favorite Songs of 2009

The fourth installment of In Dee Mail Special Year-End edition spills over into the new year with 2009 songs from noteworthy artists and bands (who sent their music to us in dee mail and unsolicited).

There will be more of these songs featured in this series alone over the next few weeks, in addition to dozens and dozens of the best new 2010 songs off recent and upcoming releases.

First up is a band that sent in two tracks that have been on regular re-play in the past two months. Austin is a hard place for a band to break through nowadays due to the saturation of musicians who have flooded this southern music mecca during the past few years.

But the latest release from the band Tiny Tin Hearts is quite good. Sure the band doesn't exactly have a 'cool' name, but dorkiness has become an asset for other bands, why not these guys? Tiny Tin Hearts deliver flourishing, sprawling pop rock embellished by trombones, violins, cellos and French horns.

The eclectic band actually came together as a result of ads placed on Craigslist by band leader Seth Osborn; his previous attempts to form a band in New Jersey did not pan out. Tiny Tin Hearts, now numbering eight members, definitely have a sound that is worth checking out, and they have started to build a following. Last March, they were selected as one of the top five best new bands at the Austin Music Awards.

"Small Catastrophe" - Tiny Tin Hearts from Last Flight of the Martyr Aviator (2009)

"The Aviator" - Tiny Tin Hearts from Last Flight of the Martyr Aviator (2009)

Tiny Tin Hearts on MySpace

Columbus, Ohio band Flotation Walls mix choral, psych-folk, and orchestral music with a beautiful cinematic quality on their debut album, Nature. Next, Provo, Utah musical duo and couple Adam & Darcie craft soft folk pop songs with a revolving cast of musicians; this year they released their sophomore LP, California Trail.

"Willis The Fireman" - Flotation Walls from Nature (2009)

Flotation Walls on MySpace

Boston's unsigned band Sidewalk Driver offer up a powerful mix of power pop, glam and rock on their latest release, For All the Boys and Girls. The band's music is high energy, highly-infectious and hook-driven. Lead singer Tad McKitterick's voice has power and clarity, is expressive, but forceful, without canceling out his vocals more subtle moments. The songs are delivered with unique oddity but are accessible enough to welcome you to join in the celebration like a carnival barker hyping a freak show.

"Jenny Don't Really Like The Boys" - Sidewalk Driver from For All the Boys and Girls (2009)

The Sidewalk Driver on MySpace

The New Platz, New York progressive folk band Oryan - which could have easily been called something like 'The Band of Ryands' - formed in July of 2008 after co-workers Ryan Megan and Ryan Schoonmaker decided to do something about the "dismal state of the local music scene."

Teaming up with bassist Ryan McCann and guitarist Adam Gosney, Oryan released their self-titled EP earlier this year, featuring music they tag as: "Tom Waits on a strong dose of acid." The band has opened for Rusted Root, The Kin and The Rhodes.

"The Ride" - Oryan from s/t EP (2009)

Chicago's Americana indie rock/power pop band Twilight Revival (formed in 2006 via Craigslist) have won the praise of the city's big daily newspapers, influential blogs and music lovers, often drawing comparisons to Wilco, REM and The Replacements.

Part raucous rebellion and part folk revival, Twilight Revival's 2009 release, Parlour, alternately growls with rock and roll intensity and simmers in the more mellow aspects of folk rock, featuring tales of heroes and ghosts, loss and redemption, despair and salvation.

"Helicopter" - Twilight Revival from Parlour (2009)

Twilight Revival on MySpace

You may not have heard many modern songs featuring the lute - afterall, it was an instrument that enjoyed its heyday centuries ago - but musician Rolf Lislevand excercises the power of the ancient instrument to a degree that a "guitar-slinging rocker" would be hard-pressed "not to be impressed by his fleet-fingered playing," according to Unte.com.

"Satlarello" - Rolf Lislevand from Diminuito (2009)

Rolf Lislevand on Andante

Get more great songs from IRC's popular In Dee Mail playlist series.

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Austin Bands, Flotation Walls, Sidewalk Driver, Tiny Tin Hearts

Summer still lingers in the musical meanderings of one of today's best new indie releases. The long-awaited debut LP from New Jersey 'buzz' band Real Estate is out today, and for those who received an advance copy last month, we can tell you that it's one of the best indie rock debuts of 2009. That's saying a lot in a year in which there have been so many impressive debuts. Band members Martin Courtney, Matthew Mondanile, Etienne Pierre Duguay and Alex Bleeker got the ears of music bloggers and others as far back as last March during Austin's South by Southwest conference, and they haven't let go since.

As their 'buzz band' status - an admittedly overused term, but which is quite fitting of the band's warm, hazy sound - increased with the temperatures throughout the summer months, Real Estate began to draw big crowds wherever they performed, and were were one of the most talked, and blogged, about bands at last month's CMJ 'fest' in New York City. Music lovers and others sought them out to soak up some of Real Estate's summeresque sounds; a blend of carefully baked, ethereal psychedelic pop mixed with a constant slow flow of folky vibes, booming drums, muted, unassuming vocals and ambient electric guitar jams.

The band's themes and lyrics combine the dreary monotony of castaway suburban life ("Suburban Beverage," "The Mall," etc.) with endless aquatic references ("Pool Swimmers," "Let's Rock the Beach," "Green River," and so on), tie-dyed harmonies, glo-fi reverberations and lazy, understated melodies.

"Beach Comber" - Real Estate from s/t debut (2009)

It is no surprise that Real Estate have been frequently compared to The Clean, The Beach Boys, Galaxie 500 and Jersey's own The Feelies. Real Estate may be dumped on by some indie lo-fi purists (yes, a contradiction in terms), but hey, Jersey is used to being dumped on. (Real Estate remind us much of Blind Man's Colour, a trippy Florida psych pop duo we featured earlier this year as a band to watch, and who were quickly signed to Kanine Records only weeks later).

"Fake Blues" - Real Estate from s/t debut via Stereogum (2009)

"Green River" - Real Estate from s/t debut (2009)

Bonus: "Beach Point Pleasant" - Ducktails (the moniker of band member Mondanile's musical side project)

Other new releases today include the much anticipated debut from the indie rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures - featuring Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones - plus a B-side leak of an upcoming Arctic Monkeys' EP, and bands we think you should hear, including Globes on Remote, Bloodsugars, A Grave with No Name; The Chairs; Mark Matos & Os Beaches and 10 great songs from recent LP and EP releases that you may have missed, but we think you'll enjoy.

"New Fang" - Them Crooked Vultures from s/t debut (2009)

"Fright Lined Dining Room" - Arctic Monkeys from Cornerstone EP (2009)

"D.T. Lipps" - Globes on Remote from The Woo Hoo Hoo (2009)
Double-shot: "Space Camp" - Globes on Remote from The Woo Hoo Hoo (2009)

"The Light at the End of the Tunnel" - Bloodsugars from I Can't Go On, I'll Go On (2009)

"Open Water" - A Grave With No Name from Mountain Debris (2009)

"Charlotte Pipe" - The Chairs from Nine Ways (2009)

"High Priest of the Mission" - Mark Matos & Os Beaches from Words of the Knife (2009)
Double-shot: "Hired Hand" - Mark Matos & Os Beaches from Words of the Knife (2009)


Random Recent Releases You May Have Missed But Should Probably Hear:

"Terminally Chill" - Neon Indian from Psychic Chasms (2009)

"Day Glo" - Brazos from Phosphorescent Blues (2009)

"Free Energy" - Free Energy from s/t debut (2009)

"In Steps" - Letting Up Despite Great Faults from s/t debut (2009)

"The Sun Ain't Shining No More" - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour from s/t debut (2009)

"The Economic Chastisement" - Kinch from The Economic Chastisement EP (2009)

"Tunnelvision" - Here We Go Magic from s/t debut (2009)

"Cold Floors" - The Steps from Take It All In (2009)

"Wohlwill" - Friska Viljor from New Beginnings (2009)

"Invisible Forces" - The Fresh and Onlys from Grey-Eyed Girls (2009)

What do you think of these songs? Use the comments link below, Facebook, Twitter or whatever social network you prefer to interact with thousands of music lovers, band members and music professionals every day from around the world.

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Real Estate

The latest installment of the New Indie Releases playlist series presents a dozen hand-picked songs from a diverse selection of artists and bands that are either making a name for themselves, or reaffirming their relevance in a very saturated music market.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina has been the home base for bands like Ben Folds Five, Archers of Loaf, Doleful Lions, Polvo, Southern Culture on the Skids, among others. But perhaps the best "newest" export from Chapel Hill, the band Roman Candle, has delivered an indie rock-alt country/folk masterpiece with the release of their third LP, Oh Tall Tree in the Ear. The LP is chock full of memorable songs, brilliant lyrics, magnificent musicianship and stellar vocal delivery.

Following Roman Candle is a terrific new single "Day Glo" from Austin's progressive folk pop band Brazos. The band kicks off a dozen-plus city tour with spastic indie rock trio White Demin, and fellow Austinites, tomorrow night in Austin.

The next song, "Suicide Blues," from the Omaha band Brimstone Howl, offers up refreshingly ballsy guitar rock delivered in a punk (think Ramones) meets blues (think Velvet Underground) style heavy with attitude and determination. In 2006, the band had a mini-hit with the single Blood on the Rocks, Bones in the River, which was recorded and mixed by Jay Reatard. The following year, the band released their second LP, Guts of Steel, produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Brimstone Howl's newest LP will drop next month.

Plus, check out new music from Josh Rouse's new album that will drop in February 2010; a new demo from Say Hi; a cool hip hop track from Big Boi and guests; a remastered Nirvana classic; fresh grooves from Memory Tapes; a Sean Bones tune we missed earlier this year; and last, but not least, The Subjects return with the single "Winter Vacation" off their latest LP release.

"They Say" - Roman Candle from Oh Tall Tree in the Ear (2009)
Double-shot: "Modern Radio Is OK" - Roman Candle from Oh Tall Tree in the Ear (2009)
Flashback: "Winterlight" - Roman Candle from The Wee Hours Revue (2006)

"Day Glo" - Brazos, new single (2009)

"Suicide Blues" - Brimstone Howl from Big Deal. What's He Done Lately? (2009)

"Valencia" - Josh Rouse from El Turista (2009)

"November Was White, December was Grey" - Say Hi, demo leak (2009)

"Shine Blockas" - Big Boi w/Sir Lucious Leftfoot and Gucci Mane, single (2009)

"About A Girl" (remastered) - Nirvana from Bleach double-CD reissue (2009)

"Bicycle" - Memory Tapes from Seek Magic (2009)

"Dancehall" - Sean Bones from Rings (2009)

"Winter Vacation" - The Subjects from New Soft Shoe (2009)

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs

Indie rock legends Built to Spill are back in a big way with their new LP, There Is No Enemy, which dropped last week. More than three years in the making, the album is a surprisingly impressive release; not to say they couldn't do it, but just that they have been seemingly drifting for years without a solid new record.

Doug Martsch lyrics have never been more personal: Like anyone assuming they know what makes us tick/I was just as wrong as I could be - from "Tomorrow"; occasionally bitter: Stay out of my nightmares, stay out of my dreams/ You're not even welcome in my memories - from "Things Fall Apart"; and, provocatively soul-searching: And if God does exist/I am sure He will forgive/Me for doubting Him/For He'd see/How unlikely He/Made Himself seem - from "Oh Yeah."

Additionally, the brilliant layering of spacious and tangled guitar jams (most evident on "Tomorrow" and "Good Ole' Boredom") and a propensity for fractured song formats - cornerstones of BTS's music since their beginning - sound better than ever. There are many memorable, enthralling and enjoyable moments on this LP, including crowd pleasers like "Aisle 13" and "Hindsight," as well as the remarkably beautiful ballads, "Life's A Dream" and "Nowhere Lullabye." Every track on this album is a keeper. Seriously.

When we got a preview of some of the new BTS material at this year's Outside Lands Festival, we were really impressed, but had no idea that There Is No Enemy would be this amazing. This album is yet another masterpiece from one of indie rock's truly iconic bands.

"Hindsight" - Built to Spill from There Is No Enemy (2009)
"Aisle 13" - Built to Spill from There Is No Enemy (2009)
"Life's A Dream" - Built to Spill from There Is No Enemy (2009)

Available since August, indie rock pioneers Modest Mouse's newest release, No One's First, And You're Next, is a collection of eight songs that date back to 2004, and therefore can't really be called the follow up LP to the successful, and widely praised, We Were Dead Even Before the Ship Sank, released in 2007.

Many of the songs from No One's First have been released over the years, including the darkly bizarre, "King Rat," which the late Heath Ledger directed the video for. And yet the EP holds up as the newest offering from the band, proving Modest Mouse haven't abandoned their quirky, yet strangely cool, song crafting, like on the fuzzy guitar jam, "History Sticks to Your Feet"; the blistering riffs of "The Whale Song"; and, the mostly spoken and shouted lyrics of "Guilty Cocker Spaniels." The band also present the respectable alt-country melodies of "Autumn Beds"; catchy songs meant to be singles - "Satellite Skin"; and even mix it up Dixie-style with the return of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on "Perpetual Motion Machine."


"The Whale Song" - Modest Mouse from No One's First, And You're Next (2009)
"Autumn Beds" - Modest Mouse from No One's First, And You're Next (2009)
"History Sticks to Your Feet" - Modest Mouse from No One's First, And You're Next (2009)

Despite their iconic stature in the world of hard rock, Pearl Jam's latest album, Backspacer, has received mostly lukewarm to poor reviews for one of the biggest rock bands of the past two decades. The common criticism, and one that is easy to latch on to, is that Backspacer is driven by, and dependent on, blazing formulated guitar riffs and Eddie Vedder's less than impressive vocal delivery (not sure who's to blame for that).

The major problem with Backspacer is that it's unimaginative; there's really nothing new here that makes us sit up and say, 'Wow, this is great.' PJ fans, of any age, will likely cherry pick their own keeper songs from the LP, like "Gonna See My Friend," the ballad-like cut "Just Breathe," or the acceptable "Amongst The Waves." But, for now, we'll relish in the classic PJ albums of the past (i.e., Ten) and hope that PJ can come up with something better next time. Backspacer proves the band can still rock; it just appears they've run out of ideas.

"The Fixer" - Pearl Jam from Backspacer (2009)

"Perfect Fit" - Clues from s/t debut (2009)
Double-shot: "Cave Mouth" - Clues from s/t debut (2009)

"What Dogs See" - Cymbals Eat Guitars from Why There Are Mountains (2009)

"Brick By Boring Brick" - Paramore from Brand New Eyes (2009)

"Gloomy Monday Morning" - The Black Hollies from Softly Towards The Light (2009)

"Nothing Broke" - Meursault from Nothing Broke EP (2009)

"Sea Within A Sea" - The Horrors from Primary Colours (2009)

"A Sunny Day in Hell" - Argyle Johansen from s/t debut (2009)

"Books on Tape" - Black Whales from Origins (2009)

"Wasteland" - Rubik from Dada Bandits (2009)

"With Every Heartbeat" (Robyn cover) - The Rest from The Cried Wolf Book (2009)

"Lemon Drop Square Box" - Velvet Davenport from Lemon Drop Square Box (2009)

"Taking Drugs at the Amusement Park" - The Silent Years from Let Go (2009)

"Blackbird 3" - Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love from from Feels, Feathers, Bog and Bees (2009)

Check out all of the ETM playlists, featuring the best in new indie and alternative rock.

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Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Ears To The Music

As some of you probably know, Tuesdays are typically the big day of the week for new releases, and this week is no exception, featuring new stuff from Vampire Weekend, No Age, Devendar Banhart, The Clientele, Neon Indian, Spiral Beach, Le Loup, The Perms and many others. Today, Vampire Weekend made available a free MP3 titled "Horchata" off their upcoming sophomore album, Contra, due for release in early January 2010.

To everyone at San Francisco's 10th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (that also featured performances from Neko Case, Dr. Dog, Galactic, World Party and many other 'hardly bluegrass' artists and bands) this past weekend, thanks for the great time and special thanks to billionaire Warren Hellman, for the free, three-day festival in Golden Gate Park - it was amazing! Rolling Stone online is reporting that more people - some 500,000 - attended the SF fest - "more than Coachella, Lollapalooza and All Points West combined." We were also intrigued by San Francisco's own The Ferocious Few, a lo-fi, garage rock duo.

Up next for San Francisco area music lovers, The Treasure Island Festival on October 17 & 18, featuring The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, MGMT, Beirut, Yo La Tengo and dozens more! IRC will be doing a pre-show feature and coverage from the festival (follow us on Twitter for more on that). Coming up this week, the first couple of batches for the Halloween indie music songs playlist series, more Rarely Heard Indie Songs and a special feature of In Dee Mail.

"Horchata" - Vampire Weekend from Contra (release date Jan. 2010) - link via Stereogum or download it at VampireWeekend.com

Related: Limited Time Offer (as of 1:30pm PST): Get 3 free MP3s from The Very Best's new album, including track with Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig. No strings attached. Download at http://bit.ly/4pyjsc. Or, purchase the album (it's a great LP, debuting today). Thanks to Green Owl Records, a label by musicians for musicians!

"You're a Target" - No Age from Losing Feeling EP (2009)

"Baby" - Devendra Banhart from What We Will Be (2009)

"Harvest Time" - The Clientele from Bonfires on the Heath (2009)

"Psychic Chasms" - Neon Indian from Psychic Chasms (2009)

"Domino" - Spiral Beach from The Only Real Thing (2009)

"Beach Town" - Le Loup from Family (2009)

"A Funeral Dressed as a Birthday" - We Are Willows from A Collection Of Sounds And Something Like the Plague (2009)

"Running Away" - The Perms from Keep You Up When You're Down (2009)

"I Hit Another Wall" - Tim Williams from Careful Love (2009)

"Repetition" - Willowz from Everyone (2009)

"I Got the Answer" - Supercluster from Waves (2009)

"Genesis 3:23" - The Mountain Goats from The Life of the World to Come (2009)

"Priestess" - Imaad Wasif from The Voidist (2009)

"Seven" - Sunny Day Real Estate from Diary from Remastered (2009)

"Little Pieces" - The Parlour Steps from Hidden Names (2009)

"Your Mere Presence" - The Ams from The Release of An American Soul (2009)

"And Suddenly" - The School from Searching for the Now 6 (2009)

"Big Boom" - Windmill from Epcot Starfields (2009)

"Skin Orders" - Historics from Strategies for Apprehension (2009)

"Die Young" - The Danks from Are You Afraid of the Danks? (2009)

Singles:

"Give It Back" - Evan Voytas

"White Light" - Sinkane

"Origami - Shai Erlichman

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Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Vampire Weekend

The latest batch of new songs from recent indie albums that you might enjoy, or have already been enjoying, includes The Big Pink, Windmill, Volcano Choir, Julian Plenti, New Roman Times, Japandroids, Joshua James, Sissy Wish, Owen and more.

"Dominos" - The Big Pink from A Brief History of Love (2009)

"Ellen Save Our Energy" - Windmill from Epcot Starfield (2009)

"Island, IS" - Volcano Choir from Unmap (2009)

"The Fun That We Have" - Julian Plenti from Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper (2009)

"Smoke in Your Disguise" - New Roman Times from On The Sleeve (2009)

"Young Hearts Spark Fire" - Japandroids from Post-Nothing (2009)

"Coal War" - Joshua James from Build Me This (2009)

"Meet and Greet" - Slaraffenland from We're on Your Side (2009)

"DWTS" - Sissy Wish from Beauties Never Die (2009)

"Flirted with You All My Life" - Vic Chestnut from At the Cut (2009)

"Good Friends, Bat Habits" - Owen from New Leaves (2009)

"It's Not Enough" - Salim Nourallah from Constellation (2009)

"Domino" - Spiral Beach from The Only Real Thing (2009)

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs

Kicking off this playlist of great new songs is one of the best under-rated indie bands of the past few years, The Spinto Band, from Wilmington, Delaware. Their second album, Moonwink, was one of the top LPs of 2008, featuring catchy, melodic music and potent lyrics. The band's new EP, Slim & Slender, will be released next month, just in time for the launch of their Park The Van tour with label-mates Pepi Ginsberg and Generationals.

The Dodos return with one of the most addictive indie songs of this half of 2009 - "Fables" (see the new video), from their impressive album Time to Die. The band is currently on an extensive tour in the States until the end of next month, and then, after a two-week break, The Dodos set out on a two month European tour.

Public Radio is an indie rock-pop band from Charlotte, NC who cite among their influences The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse and Wilco. Their new track, "Forget Love," off their latest LP Sweet Child, is one of the most memorable songs of 2009. Public Radio's MySpace page includes a mission statement to make songs "that are both energetic and inspiring for social and personal change." Band member Mark Mathis is also offering a free download of his solo EP.

This playlist also includes sweet singles from new and upcoming releases by the awesome Elvis Perkins in Dearland; Philadelphia's psyche pop A Sunny Day in Glasgow; Athens, Georgia's electro-pop band Circulatory System; Cincinnati's hot indie rockers Why?; New York's garage pop band Darlings; Illinois' Lake Country indie pop band Headlights, and Philadelphia's folk pop artist Kurt Vile.

"Jackhammer" - The Spinto Band from Slim & Slender EP (2009)

"Fables" - The Dodos from Time To Die (2009)

"Forgot Love" - Public Radio from Sweet Child (2009)

"Slow Doomsday" - Elvis Perkins in Dearland from The Doomsday EP (2009)

"Passionate Introverts" - A Sunny Day In Glasgow from Ashes Grammar (2009)

"Round Again" - Circulatory System from from Signal Morning (2009)

"Into The Shadows of Embrace" - Why? from Eskimo Snow (2009)

"If This Is Love" - Darlings from Yeah I Know (2009)

"Get Going" - Headlights from Wildlife (2009)

"Overnite Religion" - Kurt Vile from Childish Prodigy (2009)

In case you missed new singles from other long-waited 2009 releases, check out the entire Ears To The Music playlists series below:

Ears To The Music, Vol. III: New Indie Songs from Air Waves, Kings of Convenience, Yo La Tengo, The Clientele, Twilight Sad & More

Ears To The Music, Vol. II: New Songs from The Flaming Lips, White Lies, Good Night States, Sea Wolf, A.A. Bondy & More

Ears To The Music, Vol I - New Songs from Choir Of Young Believers, The Very Most, Firs, The Love Language & More

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Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Ears To The Music

Underground electronic pop hipster and mixer Dan Deacon recently called Nicole Schneit's Brooklyn indie band Air Waves his favorite new band. "The music she writes is like a favorite blanket wrapped around you. Drummer Dave Ferraro complements her songs well," Deacon told Pitchfork, "'Shine On' is my current favorite song by them."

Weaving unforgettable melodic songs with styles that range from pop to folk and rock to country, Air Waves possess a sound that cannot be pinned down - which is a good thing. The result is a unique signature that is identifiable by heady lyrics, catchy choruses and the fragile vocals of Schneit's mesmerizing voice. The song "Shine On" reminds me of Daniel Johnston more than any other single I've heard in a long time. The band's self-titled EP is out now on Catbird Records.

Kings of Convenience experienced a huge swell of love from the press, blogs and fans worldwide following the 2001 release of their indie folk-pop classic debut, Quiet Is The New Loud, and the follow-up, and equally compelling, album, Riot On An Empty Street, released in 2004. But since that time Eirik Glambek Bøe and Erlend Øye went on hiatus, leaving many of their fans wondering when, or if, they were going to make another record.

The wait is over; since the duo reunited in Mexico in 2007 to play a show, they have been working on their third studio LP, Declaration of Dependence, due to drop on October 20th. Øye called the upcoming release, "the most rhythmical pop record ever that features no percussion or drums." To sum up Declaration in three words or less - it is delicious.

Other great songs from new and upcoming releases in this playlist include fresh tracks from popular indie bands Yo La Tengo, The Clientele, Twilight Sad, Chet, Music Go Music, The Swell Season, Casiokids and Grand Hallway. Enjoy and please support your favorite musicians and bands.

"Shine On" - Air Waves from Air Waves EP (2009)
Bonus: "Knock Out" - Air Waves

"Mrs. Cold" - Kings of Convenience from Declaration of Dependence (2009)

"Periodically Double or Triple" - Yo La Tengo from Popular Songs (2009)

"Wonder Who We Are" - The Clientele from Bonfires on the Heath (2009)

"Reflection of the Television" - Twilight Sad from Forget The Night Ahead (2009)

"The Night, The Night" - Chet from Chester Silver, Please Come Home (2009)

"Warm in the Shadows" - Music Go Music from Expressions (2009)

"In These Arms" - The Swell Season from Strict Joy (2009)

"Gront Lys I Alle Ledd" - Casiokids from Gront Lys I Alle Ledd/Togens Hule (2009)

"Blessed Be, Honey Bee" - Grand Hallway from Promenade (2009)

Most Popular Recent Posts/Playlists:

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- Pavement Reunion News Spurs Sell Out of Three 2010 NYC Shows in Hours; Fourth Show Added

- Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. I - Sun Airway, The Ambience Affair, Brian Olive, The Bats, Land of Talk & More

- Vampire Weekend Reveal New Song and Album Cover from Upcoming Sophomore Album 'Contra'

Previous Ears to the Music Playlists:

Ears To The Music, Vol. II: New Songs from The Flaming Lips, White Lies, Good Night States, Sea Wolf, A.A. Bondy & More

Ears To The Music, Vol I - New Songs from Choir Of Young Believers, The Very Most, Firs, The Love Language & More

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Ears To The Music

The Flaming Lips are back with three new songs from their upcoming album release, Embryonic (see album cover).

Of the three new songs on the band's digital EP, Songs from the Future Album 'Embryonic' (EP cover art above), "Silver Trembling Hands," is the most Lips-ish, if you will; it's a weird and twisted song about the strange antics of a woman - a theme that has been at the core of some of the band's best known hits. The lyrics, "She puts diamonds on her forehead/ They remind her how the animals and trees and insects call," are likely to be interpreted in who knows how many different ways by fans.

The other two tracks on the EP, "Convinced of the Hex" and "The Impulse" are available for streaming on The Flaming Lips MySpace page. The EP is available for purchase on iTunes, and the album will be available on October 13th. Pitchfork is also offering a stream of an even newer track, "See The Leaves," which it says has a "queasy krautrock beat, squirmy noise solos" and an "extended organ-vamp coda."

Pitchfork is also reporting that for some ticket holders on the band's current tour, they will receive a free copy of the new EP, plus three previously released B-sides, and an "official" digital bootleg of the show they attend. Chalk that up to yet another innovative way that band's are creating new paradigms of music distribution. The Lips are also scheduled to appear on the Colbert Report this Wednesday.

Besides The Flaming Lips, the band White Lies has made a relatively hard-to-find song, "Taxidermy," available for download. The song was originally the B-side of the sold out 7" single To Lose My Life, and has become a favorite at live shows. The band is currently on an extensive European-North American tour that will run through to the first week of December.

Included in this playlist are also great songs from recent and upcoming releases by Good Night States, Sea Wolf (via IGIF blog), A.A Bondy, The Mummers, Rubies, The Clean, Adam Semerdjian, and Glorytellers. You can grab the Indie Rock Cafe feed anytime to get reviews, playlists, releases, band profiles and more any way you want.

Check out the first installment of Ears To The Music, and also view Indie Songs of 2009, New Releases and all kind of indie rock playlists.

“Silver Trembling Hands” - The Flaming Lips from Embryonic (2009)

"Taxidermy" - White Lies from To Lose My Life 7" (2009)

"Arsonist's Blues" - Good Night, States from Impossible Tension EP (2009)

"Wicked Blood" - Sea Wolf from White Water, White Bloom (2009)

"I Can See The Pines Are Dancing" - A.A. Bondy from When The Devil's Loose (2009)

"Wonderland" - The Mummers from Tale To Tell (2009)

"Stand in a Line" - Rubies from Explode from the Center (2009)

"Tensile" - The Clean from Mister Pop (2009)

"Your Love"- Alan Semerdjian from The Big Beauty (2009)

"Concaves" - Glorytellers from Atone (2009)

The next playlist of new 2009 songs from recent and upcoming releases includes free and legal MP3 tracks from The Spinto Band, Darlings, Blackboots and Blackhearts, Yo La Tengo, Princeton, Casiokids, Grand Hallway and Chet.

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs, Ears To The Music

What better way to kick-off a playlist of new indie rock songs then with a fresh track from the irresistibly dark rock duo the Raveonettes. "Last Dance" is seductive new demo from the Danish rockers upcoming October release, In And Out Of Control.

Following the wildly popular Raveonettes is a pleasantly surprising new track featuring the indie bands Why? and Themselves. Having already heard Why's newest album, Eskimo Snow, a number of times, this song is a great warm-up track for anyone interested in getting a sample of what Eskimo Snow tastes like. Joining on the track are the duo Themselves Doseone and Jel.

Next is a band that has been gaining a lot of momentum for all the right reasons in the past year. And they are also a nice antidote to the somewhat tarnished rep Sarah Palin has put on their hometown of Wasilia, Alaska. After a number of spins, Portugal The Man's new album, The Satanic Satanist, is clearly one of the best new releases of the summer. One of the standout tracks on the album is "People Say" (listen below). Another cool song is "Work All Day" (see acoustic video version).

Portland, Oregon's Blitzen Trapper has just dropped six previously unreleased songs recorded during the production of their brilliant 2008 album, Furr. The songs on the new Black River Killer EP are further evidence of why the band has a growing following of fans in the past year or so. Included in this playlist is the title track from the EP, which is apparently a reworked version from last year.

Paper Route's album, Absense, is turning out to be one of the highlight debut LPs of 2009; so if you like the song, "Last Time," included in this playlist, you're probably going to love the album. It's that good.

Up next, These United States' hot-off-the-press, "I Want You To Keep Everything", is a single track from their new album - the third album in 18 months - Everything Touches Everything released earlier this week on United Interests.

Norway's electro-rockers Datarock is back with an energy-charged new song "True Stories" from their new album, Red, on Nettwerk Records. It's the band's second full length release following their 2005 debut album, Datarock, Datarock, which became a huge hit in the geek-chic scene and made Datarock one of the best bands to emerge from Norway in recent years.

Also in this playlist is a new song by Jemina Pearl featuring Iggy Pop on back-up vocals, plus fresh tunes from Langhorne Slim, The Shaky Hands, Coathangers and Alan Semerdjian and Golden Boots.

"Last Dance"- The Raveonettes from In And Out of Control (2009)
Compare to: "Aly,Walk With Me" - The Raveonettes from Lust Lust Lust (2008)

"Canada" - Why? and Themselves (2009)

"People Say" - Portugal. The Man from The Satanic Satanist (2009)

"Last Time" - Paper Route from Absense (2009)

"I Want You to Keep Everything" - These United States from Everything Touches Everything (2009)

"True Stories" - Datarock from Red (2009)

"I Hate People (with Iggy Pop)" - Jemina Pearl from Break It Up (2009)

"I Love You But Goodbye" - Langhorne Slim from Be Set Free (2009)

"Allison and the Ancient Eyes" - The Shaky Hands from Let It Die (2009)

"Toomerhead" - Coathangers from Scramble (2009)

"Your Love" - Alan Semerdjian from The Big Beauty (2009)

"Love Is In The Air" - Golden Boots from Park Van Summer Sampler (2009)


If you liked this playlist, click through the following popular stories and playlists published on IRC this summer and find out about some of the best rock of 2009.

- Popular new songs from Radiohead, Grand Archives, Free Energy, Cymbal Eat Guitars and many others.

- Free music from talented musicians and bands spotlighted recently on IRC, including Thunder Power, Low Water, Alberto Arcangeli, Mellow Down Easy, The Soft Hills, Black Them Boots and Blindfold. All relative unknowns that together offer a stunning and eclectic collection of new music.

- The amazingly infectious and brilliant music of LA composer Paul Bassenbacher and his musical side-project Opus Orange. Altogether, five songs that were truly among the summer's most satisfying 'discoveries' for IRC.

Labels: 2009 Indie Songs