Five Anticipated Summer Releases, Vol. III: Washed Out, Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse, Chief, Jaill, and Menomena


Ernest Greene as Washed Out

Many of you have already enjoyed our Anticipated Summer Releases Volume One with Japandroids, Arcade Fire, Panda Bear and others; and, Volume Two, featuring singles from upcoming albums from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Oberhofer, and Wavves.In this third installment of the series, we bring you five more upcoming releases we are looking forward to from Washed Out, Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse, Chief, Jaill and Menomena.

On the morning of the third day of South by Southwest in Austin last March, there was a line a block long outside of Emo’s of folks who were waiting to see Neon Indian and Washed Out perform. And the wait was worth the achy legs and sunburned necks.

Washed Out is the moniker of Ernest Greene, who moved back home to rural Georgia last summer, and began recording songs in his bedroom studio and posting them on his MySpace page. A few bloggers got wind of his songs via his MySpace page, and before long, Washed Out was everywhere on the web.

Greene’s style has often been referred to as the “chillwave movement”. The new song featured here, “You and I”, was performed at SXSW and has been making its way around the web in recent weeks.  The track features Caroline Polachek of Chairlift. No word yet on a release date for Washed Out’s debut LP.

P.S. This song reminds us so much of the 1990’s pop sensation, Enigma.

“You and I” – Washed Out (featuring Caroline Polachek) from TBA (TBA)

Washed Out on MySpace

One of the greatest losses in the music world this year has been the untimely death of alternative rock icon Sparklehorse. Also known by his birth name, Mark Linkous, Sparklehorse was one of the most influential alt rock artists of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Only months before his tragic death in March, Linkous recorded an album with Danger Mouse and director/producer David Lynch. Other collaborators on the project include The Flaming Lips, Black Francis, Suzanne Vega, Julian Casablancas, and Vic Chesnutt, another influential musician who died tragically in the past year. The LP was supposed to be released last summer but squabbles over copyright terms kept the release of the LP in limbo, until now. Dark Night of the Soul will be released on July 19th.

“Little Girl” Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse (with Julian Casablancas) from Dark Night of the Soul (pre-order) – out July 19th

Sparklehorse on MySpace

Danger Mouse on MySpace

Chief is a four-piece band out of Santa Monica, California comprised of 20-somethings Evan Koga, brothers Danny and Michael Fujikawa and Mike Moonves. The band has garnered the attention of praise of music writers and fans across the country, and should continue on that course following the August 20th official drop of their debut album, Modern Rituals.

“Night and Day” Chief from Modern Rituals – out August 20th

“Breaking Walls”Chief from Modern Rituals – out August 20th

Chief on MySpace

Like fellow Brew City rockers the Goodnight Loving, Jaill brings a healthy dose of jangle to their  punchy garage-rock, topped with a distinct mid-western flare. The Milwaukee-based quartet’s debut, There’s No Sky (Oh My My) was self-released in 2009. Later, it was reissued on vinyl and cassette this year by Burger Records.

The band’s debut caught the ears of the respected indie label, Sub Pop Records, based in Seattle, and birthplace of bands like Nirvana, Mudhoney, as well as for newer bands like Beach House, Blitzen Trapper and No Age. Last December, Jaill signed to Sub Pop will issue Jaill’s follow-up LP, That’s How We Burn, says a whole bunch about the band, since Sub Pop is famous for recognizing, cultivating and succeeding with promising artists.

“Everyone’s Hip”Jaill from That’s How We Burn – July 27th

“New Noise”Jaill from That’s How We Burn – July 27th

Jaill on MySpace

Positive and early reviews of Portland, Oregon-based indie rockers Menomena‘s new LP, Mines, have been building momentum in recent months. Our own cursory listen of an advance copy make it easy to say this belongs in the category of one of the summer’s most anticipated releases. We believe Mines will solify Menomena’s credibility and fan base, building off the well received releases of I Am The Fun Blame Monster and Friend and Foe.

“Five Little Rooms” – Menomena from Mines – out July 27th

Menomena on MySpace

If you like this profile and mixtape featuring our most anticipated albums of the summer of 2010, click for Volume One and Volume Two. Enjoy.