This week's new releases include the fresh songs, as well as some tracks that have already made the rounds and are now being repackaged and re-issued in various forms. For example, Brooklyn's popular, but still unsigned, band Bear Hands, have re-issued their single, "What a Drag," today on white vinyl, and will celebrate this evening at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York, a kick-off show for an extensive tour of the U.S. with We Were Promised Jetpacks and Passion Pit. The band's shows with Passion Pit have already sold out in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Vancouver.

Los Angeles blog buzz band Local Natives' LP, Gorilla Manor, celebrates its official release today, but some of the tracks - and good ones at that - were leaked last fall, making them a band to watch in 2010. Bear Hands kicks off a European tour tomorrow night with a sold out show in Paris, and will then return to the perform three shows at next month's South by Southwest in Austin, followed by sets at Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals.

Other tracks featured below from new releases include The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, SPEAK and El May, as well as a handful of releases from last month that we didn't have time for, or that we just recently learned about, but are worth checking out.

"What a Drag" - Bear Hands from What a Drag
Bear Hands on MySpace

"Sunhands" - Local Natives from Gorilla Manor
Local Natives on MySpace

"Constellations" - The Hush Now from Constellations
The Hush Now on MySpace

"Measure" - Field Music from Field Music
Field Music on MySpace

"Weapons V" - Son Lux from Weapons EP
Son Lux on MySpace

"Carrie (Mindfull)" - SPEAK from debut EP
SPEAK on MySpace

"Don't You" - El May from s/t debut
El May on MySpace


Los Angeles indie folk pop band The Good Listeners released their third album, Don't Quit Your Daydream, last month via Three Finger Records. The LP was recorded during a month long journey to twelve cities across the US, and also made into an indie film documentary by the same name. At each stop on their adventure, the duo collaborated with a cast of strangers and musicians who forced them to reconsider what a life dedicated to the pursuit of music really means.

"Insect Losing Balance" - The Good Listeners from Don't Quit Your Daydream
The Good Listeners on MySpace

January Releases from Cop Shades, Sun Hotel, The Houston Brothers and More

In January, the experimental indie rock band Cop Shades released their debut album as a free download via Superbob Records - a label formed in 1993 by Ken Kelley, the drummer of The Monoxides. Cop Shades deliver gritty and fuzzy guitar rock almost guaranteed to attract rock fans who are hungry for something fresh and edgy.

Sun Hotel is an indie band from New Orleans that we are really beginning to like; we'll have more about them in our upcoming Bands to Watch in 2010 issue. The band released their LP, Team Spirit, on January 28th. Also, check out tracks from January releases by Adam Green, The Houston Brothers, Gobotron, and Charlie Hunter.

"I Sh*t Ponies" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
"The Sorority" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
Cop Shades on MySpace

"Allways" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
"Plantation Land" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
Sun Hotel on MySpace

"Castles and Tassels" - Adam Green from Minor Love
Adam Green on MySpace

"Confederate Dunce" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
"Wasted Youth" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
The Houston Brothers website

"Never Turn Around" - Gobotron from On Your Mark, Get Ready...
Gobotron on MySpace

"High Pockets and a Fanny Pack" - Charlie Hunter from Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You That You Will Not be Getting Paid
Charlie Hunter official website

Labels: Bear Hands, Field Music, Local Natives, New Releases, The Good Listeners