Max Hammer – Page 50 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

Best New Releases: Japandroids, Panda Bear, The Books, Lower Dens, K-X-P, Woods, Secret Cities, plus Vinyl Drops

Posted on 07/22/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

This week’s new releases include new singles from Japandroids and Panda Bear, plus new LPs from Secret Cities, K-X-P, The Books, Lower Dens, Goodnight Loving, Woods, and vinyl releases.

“Younger Us” – Japandroids from new 7″ single

Japandroids on MySpace

“Slow Motion” – Panda Bear from new 7″ single

Panda Bear on MySpace

K-X-P is a drums, bass and synth trio from Helsinki, Finland, born out of the ashes of the seminal Op:l Bastards and The Lefthanded, led by the gifted musician Timo Kaukolampi, Tuomo Puranen, on bass and keyboards, and drummers Anssi Nykänen and Tomi Leppanen. K-X-P mixes electronics, krautrock, noise, and even rockabilly into a hypnotic and minimal motorik groove inspired by Raymond Scott, Moondog and Martin Rev.

“18 Hours (Of Love)” – K-X-P from K-X-P

Fargo, North Dakota has a glimmer of light in the indie music world thanks to its hometown psychedelic electro-acoustic indie band, Secret Cities. In January, the band signed with Western Vinyl Records in Austin to record their debut LP, Pink Graffiti, out officially today. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but the album title is interestingly close to the name of one of our favorite bands – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Hmmm.

“Pink Graffiti” – Secret Cities from Pink Graffiti

“Beautiful People” – The Books from The Way Out

Hospice Gates– Lower Dens from Id

“Tea Light” – Lower Dens from Id

Lower Dens on MySpace

“The Pan”– Goodnight Loving from The Goodnight Loving Supper Club

Good Night Loving on MySpace

“I’m Not Gone” – Woods from Welcome Home / Diggin’ The Universe

Woods on MySpace

“Judgement” – The Gentle Guest from Cast Off Your Human Form

Vinyl (via BooBooRecords):

Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot – The Son Of Chico Dusty 2xLP (Def Jam)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl.

Eric Clapton – Journeyman [Reissue] 2xLP (Reprise)
Vinyl reissue of Clapton’s 1989 album.

Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse – Present: Dark Night Of The Soul 2xLP+2xCD (Capitol/EMI)
Deluxe vinyl+CD box edition includes: 2xLPs, a copy of the album on CD, a bonus instrumental CD, poster, lobby cards and a 48-page 12×12 booklet.

Dirty Three – She Has No Strings Apollo [Reissue] LP+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Vinyl reissue of Dirty Three’s 2003 album.

Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle LP (American)
Recently released on CD — now available on HQ-180 vinyl.

Indian Jewelry – Totaled LP (We Are Free)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl. Totaled comprises the swamp electro of 2003′s We Are The Wild Beast, the nightmare throb of 2005′s Invasive Exotics, and the sonic angel dream of 2008′s Free Gold.

Japandroids – Younger Us b/w Sex And Dying In High Society 7”+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
New Japandroids track backed with an X cover.

The National – Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers LP (Brassland)
The National’s sophomore album — originally released in 2003 — is available for the first time on vinyl.

Rachels – Selenography [Reissue] 2xLP+MP3 (Touch & Go)
Vinyl reissue of Rachel’s fourth album. Recorded between 1997 and 1999, Selenography is a collection of songs that have been staples of the band’s live shows.

School Of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire 2xLP (Vagrant)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl.

Saint Vitus – Live [Reissue] LP (Southern Lord)
Reissue of this essential album from the premiere American doom metal act of the ’80s.

Summer Indie Playlist, IV: Holiday Shores, Wild Nothing, Fanfarlo, Surfer Blood, Local Natives

Posted on 07/17/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Because you asked; here’s another summer megamix to keep you entertained during the long, hot days, and warm, balmy nights of mid-July. Not much else to say; we’ll let the music speak for itself. Let’s go skinny dipping.

[zbplayer]

“Days Drag” – Holiday Shores

“Cloudbusting” – Wild Nothing

“Sunshine/Pretty Girls”– Unnatural Helpers

“Sunburn Kids” – Admiral Radley

“Comets” – Fanfarlo

“Chemicals” – Fez

“Stripper Sunset” – Harlem

“Sunspray” – BlackbirdBlackBird

“Sun Hands” – Local Natives

“I Should Go” – Good Old War

“Cups” – The Happy Family

“When They Fight They Fight” – The Generationals

“Riot on the Sunset Strip” – The Standells

“Blue Sunshine” – Blue Giant

“Heavy Cloud Hustle” – Blind Man’s Colour

“Pastora Divine” – White Flight

“The Waves” – Princeton

“Sink/Let it Sway” – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

“Here Comes The Summer” – Corduroy Utd.

“Ice Water” – Shark

“1000 Julys” – Third Eye Blind

“Gone” – Tokyo Police Club

“Blood The Sun And Water” – Born Ruffians

“Sunny Day” – Film School

“Push Our Way To The Front” – The Zebras

“Up and Down The River” – All My Friends

“Summer Sun” – Batte

“Steps 2 Step” – Everyday Sensations

“What Difference Does it Make” – The Smiths

“Pictures Of You” – The Cure

“Ghost Train” – Summer Camp

“Swimming” –The Smiles

“Middle Of July” – Hayden

Bands To Watch: Computer Magic, Stockholm, Gift Horse, The Powder Kegs, Hunter Valentine

Posted on 07/15/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

computermagicartist — Computer Magic is the musical moniker of a NYC college student only known as Danielle (or Danz)

The volumes of great music that artists and bands have been sending in over the past few months is impressive, and taking time to get through – literally hundreds. And so we have to keep slimming down the list to make it realistic. Today we are adding five more bands to watch in 2010.

A couple of weeks ago, we received some tracks from 21-year-old Danielle (last name unknown), who also goes by the nickname Danz. Danz, who is a DIY musician living in New York City, is better known in the musical realm as Computer Magic. She plays guitar and synthesizer, and writes and composes lo-fi indie rock and glo-fi music. And we hope she keeps doing so, because we heart Computer Magic.

Computer Magic is heavily influenced by old sci-fi films and Philip K. Dick books, in addition to many artists, including Belle & Sebastian, Animal Collective and David Bowie. She loves movies like Barbarella, Zardoz, Outland, The Man Who Fell To Earth, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

“Electronic Fences” – Computer Magic

“On VHS” – Computer Magic

“Teenage Ballad (High School)” – Computer Magic

Computer Magic on MySpace

Stockholm – Orlando, FL

Orlando, Florida’s post rock band Stockholm may sound like a new band you’d hear on college radio Top 40; but surprisingly, the band has received very little recognition, and remain unsigned – not sure why. The band, which was only formed last summer, are getting love from indie folks in Florida, but we anticipate more people will be hearing them in the months to follow.

Stockholm’s sound is very polished and chock full of glimmering guitar licks, swoon-style rhythms and the terrific vocals of singer Chris Arter.

“Don’t Stop Now” – Stockholm from Don’t Stop Now

“Goodbye Tomorrow” – Stockholm from Don’t Stop Now

Stockholm official website

Gift Horse – Anthens, GA

On May 4th, Anthens, Georgia, indie band Gift Horse dropped their debut, Mountain of Youth, produced by Hank Sullivant (Kuroma, The Whigs, MGMT). The band sent us two tracks to share with everyone. If you like heavy shoegaze chords full of distortion and deep, moody percussions, you’re probably going to like this southern indie rock band. Gift Horse have opened for bands like Meat Puppets, Dead Confederate, Kuroma, among others.

“Missionaries” – Gift Horse from Mountain of Youth

“Plastic People” – Gift Horse from Mountain of Youth

Gift Horse on MySpace

The Powder Kegs – Philadelphia, PA

The Powder Kegs formed in New York City in 2005 and now call Philly home. In 2007, they won a band competition on National Public Radio, and not long after, in 2008, they released their debut LP, You and Your Right Now. The LP was produced by Jeremy Backofen (The Walkmen, Frightened Rabbit, Mice Parade). The Powder Kegs’ new EP, Empty Side, is good listening.

“Shake Me Down” – The Powder Kegs from Empty Side EP

“The Right Time” – The Powder Kegs from Empty Side EP

The Powder Kegs on MySpace

Hunter Valentine – Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn’s all-girl trio Hunter Valentine recently sent us a copy of their new album Lessons From The Late Night for us to hear. After just one spin, it was easily to see why the band has received accolades from bloggers and mainstream press.

Hunter Valentine recently dominated the MTV-U video contest , and GO! Magazine named them the Best Local Band in New York. In April, Hunter Valentine’s “The Stalker” video made its debut on MTV’s LGBT channel, Logo, and was picked as Spinner‘s Video of the Day just a few days later.

“The Stalker” – Hunter Valentine from Lessons From The Late Night

Hunter Valentine’s official website

Hunter Valentine on MySpace

Best New Releases: Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse, The Love Language, School of the Seven Bells, Panda Bear, The Spires

Posted on 07/13/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The album recorded last year with Danger Mouse, David Lynch and Sparklehorse finally sees the light today, a full year since legal battles prevented the original release of the album, Dark Night of the Soul, last summer. Since that time, the producer, singer-songwriter, musician and indie icon Mark Linkous (aka, Sparklehorse), and another Dark Night collaborator, and long-time friend of Linkous, musician Vic Chestnutt, both took their own lives in separate incidents in the past seven months. Other guest appearances on the LP include The Flaming Lips, James Mercer, Black Francis, and Julian Casablancas.

“Little Girl” – Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse & Julian Casablancas from Dark Night of the Soul — (stream album)

“Revenge” – Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse & Wayne Coyne from Dark Night of the Soul — (stream album)

love-language-libraries — Who's the next band to put a 70s Polaroid of a woman no one knows on their album cover?

Last year, The Love Language‘s self-titled lo-fi debut was a spectacular album that did not get the love it so deserved. If the band were not a band to watch in 2009, they surely are in 2010 thanks to the release today of their gorgeous, genre-bending, orchestra-synth retro, lo-fi pop album, Libraries. If this album doesn’t propel the band into another realm of notoriety and critical acclaim, then we have no idea what’s up with that.

We’ve spun Libraries numerous times in recent weeks, and it an accomplished work, and definitely one of the best albums of 2010. Libraries is full of glorious, upbeat, sunny songs, and has its share of more sombre moments. Yet it doesn’t matter, this band is so fuc*ing amazing. In fact, there is not one song from their now two albums that we could possibly delete from the iPod; file under, ‘Must Have.’

“Heart to Tell” – The Love Language from Libraries

The song arrangements are genius, the musical talent stunning, and the impressive lyrics and vocals of Stu McLamb make him, in our book, one of the most important indie singer and songwriters of 2010. The LP is a wonderful experiment (without sounding experimental) where a confluence of music styles, genres and eras are so well woven together that it’s mind-blowing: there’s compelling psychedelic rock (“Horophones”), lo-fi synth folk (“Wilmont”), indie retro ballroom music (“This Blood Is Our Own”) and a perfect summer 2010 love song (“Summer Dust”). Is it obvious yet that we love this album and are urging you to get it?

“Horophones” – The Love Language from Libraries

“This Blood is Our Own” – The Love Language from Libraries

The Love Language on MySpace

Probably (because it’s impossible to listen to them all) the second best album of the week is the School of Seven Bells‘ sophomore LP. The band was formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines with twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza. The trio broke through in 2008 with one of that year’s best debut LPs, Alphinisms, and are now back with the equally rewarding follow-up, Disconnect From Desire. Still have not had enough spins to absorb this LP, but it’s another contender for the end of the year lists. The band embarks on a mini tour of Europe and Australia this Thursday, followed by a massive, six-week cross-country U.S. tour that kicks off September 9th at the Brooklyn Bowl.

“Windstorm” – School of Seven Bells from Disconnect from Desire

School of Seven Bells on MySpace

“The Happy Mondays” – The Innocence Mission from My Room In The Trees

“God Is Love” – The Innocence Mission from My Room In The Trees

“Tomboy” (Live in Belgium) – Panda Bear from 7″ single

“Orange Yellow” – The Spires from Curved Space

“I Heart California” – Admiral Radley from I Heart California (stream album)

“The Mirror” – Back Ted N Ted from The Mirror

“Johnny Utah” – Futurebirds from Hampton’s Lullaby

“Consider” – Backseat Dreamer from The Color of Dreams

“Gold Dust” – Backseat Dreamer The Color of Dreams

“Die” – Carissa’s Wierd from They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave

“The Color That Your Eyes Changed With the Color of Your Hair” – Carissa’s Wierd from They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave

Summer Indie Playlist, Vol. III: CEO, The Drums, Teen Daze, Beach House, Mew, Ariel Pink

Posted on 07/10/201001/11/2022 by Max Hammer

It’s almost mid-summer. People everywhere are enjoying the sun and staying cool from the heat, taking part in summertime activities like going to the beach, having BBQs, playing baseball, surfing at the ocean, swimming in pools, riding bikes, watching movies, and in general, making the best of the long, hot days.

Summer is a season of celebration, recreation, relaxation, family and friends, and of course, listening to music, whether you’re just hanging around the house, driving about town, jogging or bike riding with headphones on, or at a party with friends.

So far, we’ve put together and posted two massive summer playlists this year. The huge response to the first two mixes was a clear message for more summer mixes. Therefore, we gotta give the people what they want, man.

The first two mixtapes included songs from all eras and genres of music, but for today’s summer mix, we’re sticking with just alternative and indie rock bands. This mix is also more pop-oriented than other tapes, and it’s likely that even the biggest indie music nerds will hear artists in this mix they never knew of before.

In the coming weeks, we’re going to let loose more summer mixes that are already well along – there are so many hot songs that we’re going to get to you. In the meantime, this mix and the first and second mixes, should keep y’all busy for a while – nearly 150 songs between the three of them, not counting last year’s summertime playlists you might also want to checkout.

If you like these mixtapes, let us know by reTweeting, Facebooking, Digg’ing, Stumbling, and however else you can think to make us feel good and share these mixes with more people that you think will enjoy them – that’s why we do this; we love sharing great music with others.

As with all the playlists on IRC, just click the first song and the entire playlist will stream non-stop until the end. You can also do Save As to download MP3s you like most. We hope you enjoy this mix, from start to finish, as much as we do. Fire it up!

[zbplayer]

“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” – Ceo

“Make You Mine” – The Drums

“Shine On You Crazy White Cap” –Teen Daze

“Beach” – Mew

“Walk In The Park” – Beach House

“Summer Dust” – The Love Language

“Roman History”– Pet Lions

“Walkabout” – Altas Sound & Panda Bear

“Wait, Wait, Wait” – Opus Orange

“Summer Holiday” – Wild Nothing

“Vacationing People” – Foreign Born

“Hot Body Rub” – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

“Misread” – Kings of Convenience

“Ginger” – Lilys

“Not By Another” – The Electric Pop Group

“So Much Fun” – Sunny Summer Day

“Northern Seaside” – Motorama

“Summer Sun” – Batte

“Laundry” – The Voluntary Butler Scheme

“Dream Talkin” – Family Trees

“Real Stone” – The High Strung

“Blue & Green” – The Little Hands of Asphalt

“Summer Cum” – Avi Buffalo

“Kalypsos Garden” – Magnus Sinnes

“I Could Go” – Oberhofer

“On The Beach” (Neil Young) Radiohead

Get more summer mixes to stream.

Artists of the Week: Virginia’s Dream Cop and Brooklyn’s Grandpa Was A Lion

Posted on 07/08/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

We’ve been listening to a lot of great music that has come to us in dee mail lately, and discovering dozens and dozens of really talented and promising artists in the process (a bunch that we’re still preparing to publish on the site). We picked two artists for this week’s artist of the week instead of the usual one because there’s so many potential artists and bands of the week, month, and so on that it feels stupid, and too conventional, to be restricted to choosing only one artist or band of the week. We couldn’t make up our minds, ok? (hehe, j/k folks).

No, but, seriously each of the two artists featured below are relatively unknown, they are both one-man bands, and their music would fall somewhere in the so-called glo-fil, or chillwave, movement that is clearly one of the most popular sub-genres in 2010, around the world, as evidenced by the success of bands like Animal Collective, Surfer Blood, Wavves, Local Natives, Neon Indian, Washed Out and many others.

The first artist of the week is poised to explode in popularity in coming months if enough of the right people hear his music. Dream Cop is the moniker of 21-year-old student Tommy Davidson. His music delighted our ears from the get-go, and has just gotten better with subsequent listening sessions. Dipped in uplifting Beach Boys‘ -influenced harmonies and mixed with electronica beats, lo-fi instrumentation, spaced out shoegaze elements and layers of voice tracking, Dream Cop’s got down the recipe for synthy, warm, hazy vibes perfect summer lounging on a hot dog day afternoon.

Interestingly, Davidson is friends with one of our favorite new bands of 2010, Blacksburg’s very own Wild Nothing. Trust us, if you haven’t heard their debut LP, you’re really missing out on a spectacular record. Davidson and the members of Wild Nothing met as students at Virginia Tech University. Now that Wild Nothing have enjoyed moderate success in the indie world in the past six months or so, we think it is time that Dream Cop gets some of the limelight.

Dream Cop’s debut releases, both digital and vinyl have only tentative release dates of late August or early September. “The Output Noise Records digital only release will include two tape/electronic original songs with remixes from Million Young and Outputmessage“, Davidson told IRC. In addition, he will release a separate vinyl-only album with Tough Love Records “including four original tracks”, and three or four remixes from artists still to be determined. Both releases are not yet titled.

“Beach City/Carol I Know” – Dream Cop from TBA (2010)

“Marooned” – Dream Cop from TBA (2010)

“Daily Mirage” – Dream Cop from TBA (2010)

Dream Cop on MySpace

As with Dream Cop, it only took a couple of minutes to realize that Brooklyn one man band Justin D’Onofrio, or Grandpa Was A Lion, is a ‘chillwave’ (or glo-fi) artist that more fans of the popular glo-fi movement should hear. Again, like a broken record, we’ll repeat our common refrain – some of the best artists we hear, year after year, are those who are rarely heard, barely known, and yet to “break through”. As with most of the under the radar artists and bands we feature on IRC, we think Justin D’Onofrio will naturally get more press and fans in the coming months.

“Flying Birds” – Grandpa Was A Lion

“London” – Grandpa Was A Lion

“Hello FromThe Farm” – Grandpa Was A Lion

Grandpa Was A Lion

Best New Releases: Fol Chen, Au Revoir Simone, Crocodiles, Big Boi, The Stone Foxes, Jay Bennett, Thieves Like Us, Loom, Mystery Jets

Posted on 07/07/201007/22/2021 by Max Hammer

Unlike most of the weeks of 2010 so far, this week’s new releases are not stacked with big-time, highly anticipated works, but there’s plenty of great MP3s to download online for free from new singles, LPs and EPs out this week.

The LA band Fol Chen continue to explore their mysterious, sinister musical pursuits, building on an on-going narrative established with their debut, Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made. Expect thick synth keys and steady beats immersed in electro-pop and garnished with new wave influences. Fol Chen has won praise from Los Angeles Magazine, SPIN, NPR, Brooklyn Vegan, LA Times and many others. Add us to the list.

“The Holograms” – Fol Chen from Part II: The New December

An amazing line up of artists came together to create remixes of Au Revoir Simone‘s 2009 LP, Still Night, Still Light, including Neon Indian, Jens Lekman, Max Cooper, Aeroplane, Punches, Tanlines and more.

“Likely Story” (Aeroplane Remix) – Au Revoir Simone from Night Light

There are also some interesting new releases this week from lesser known, but very talented, musicians who sent music in for review. First to catch our attention was the band Mobile Wash Unit from New York. The band is the moniker for what was originally the one man music outfit Andy Snyder, who currently teaches philosophy at City University in New York.

The two tracks here are from his fresh album, Tent, which officially drops today via Astraea Records.

“Second Glance” – Mobile Wash Unit from Tent

“Hybrid Killers” – Mobile Wash Unit from Tent

Mobile Wash Unit on MySpace

San Francisco rock band The Stone Foxes release their second album today, Bears and Bulls, DIY style. The band have previously opened for The Mother Hips and been hailed in publications like LAist, San Francisco Chronicle and Classic Rock Magazine. The Stone Foxes’ influences include The Band, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin.

“Killed Robert Johnson” – The Stone Foxes from Bears and Bulls

“Stomp” – The Stone Foxes from Bears and Bulls

“The Acrobat” – Lee Butcher from All in Good Time

Well, who knows what these folks had in mind when they named their band, but it’s not exactly one that a booking agent would have an easy time with. Perhaps the single from Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills‘ new LP, “Funeral Song”, is fitting, all things considered. And of course one more semi oil related reference, the title of the band’s new album, out today, is Raw Materials.

“Funeral Song” – Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills from Raw Materials

Other singles we like from new releases this week include fresh tracks from Crocodiles, Big Boi, Jay Bennett (RIP), Modern Skirts, What Laura Says, Loom, Mystery Jets, Luke Wesley and more.

“Sleep Forever” – Crocodiles from Sleep Forever 7 inch

“Shutterbug” – Big Boi from Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

“Twice a Year” – Jay Bennett from Kicking at the Perfumed Air

“Forget Me Not” – Thieves Like Us from Forget Me Not 7″ inch

“Quetzalcoatl’s Ship” – Loom from Muu’s Way

“Rebecca St. Claire” – Modern Skirts from Happy 81 EP

“I Hope You Like This Song” – Luke Wesley from Because We Never Talk About It

“Flash a Hungry Smile” – Mystery Jets from Serotonin

Next week: New releases from Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, School of Seven Bells, The Innocence Mission, MIA, Sun Kil Moon and The Love Language, to name a few.

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse – Dark Night of the Soul [EMI, July 13]

School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire [Vagrant, July 13]

M.I.A. – // / Y / [Interscope, July 13]

Sun Kil Moon – Admiral Fell Promises [Caldo Verde, July 13]

The Love Language – Libraries [Merge, July 13]

Blue Giant – Blue Giant [Vanguard, July 13]

Feetz To Da Beatz, Vol. IV: Nenna Yvonne, Curry & Coco, Worship, Restless People, Auto Body, PUNCHES

Posted on 07/05/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The stream of new dance/electronica/trance tracks continues to flow through our email system unabated, and some of it is good stuff that we have to share. If you like certain songs in this latest Feetz To Da Beatz mix, you can always vote for them on our Hype Machine and Elbo.ws pages.

New York electro pop artist Nenna Yvonne is influenced by The Clash, The Donnas, MGMT, and Madonna. Yvonne has been featured in various publications. Billboard is working on a feature article about her, and she was called the “Black Lady Gaga” by Perez Hilton. The songs below are from the the album, Model Citizen, released on March 8th.

Check back tomorrow for the best new releases of the week, and throughout the summer for what is shaping up to be a fury of anticipated releases, as well as profiles and mixtapes of fantastic artists and bands even most avid music fanatics have never heard of before. It’s always possible you still haven’t heard a lot of your favorite music.
Today’s mix is dedicated to all of our regular readers and visitors who ask all the time when we will be putting out another volume of the Feetz to Da Beatz series. Thanks for your patience you guys; you know who you are.

“Some Girls” – Nenna Yvonne

“Don’t Know” – Nenna Yvonne

“Sex is Fashion” – Curry & Coco

“Ritual God” (Usher and Bestrack Remix) – Worship

“Days of Our Lives” (Light In Mix)” – Restless People

“Disco 9000” – Auto Body

“Ms Disco Booty” (Bubba Sparxxx & Cristian Marchi) – The White Panda

“Only You Can Make You Happy (PUNCHES Remix) – Au Revoir Simone

“Deal With It” – Florene

‘t%20Know_Mastered.mp3

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

Posted on 07/04/201001/11/2022 by Max Hammer

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.

The Drums Picked By Readers as “Break-Out Band” of 2010 (So Far), followed by Freelance Whales and 8 Others

Posted on 07/03/201007/22/2021 by Max Hammer

The Drums have been picked by a huge margin by readers in the latest polling of the ‘break out artist of 2010 (So Far)”. Of the ten choices, Freelance Whales came second to The Drums, with rather low scores for the remaining eight artists in the poll.

For the past six weeks, hundreds of people have been taking our latest group of polls in a quest to find the ‘break out’ band of 2010 (so far). In the first round of ten bands, Local Natives were picked by 1,000 readers over nine other hot bands, including Surfer Blood, Crystal Castles, Sleigh Bells and Neon Indian.

In this latest poll, featuring another ten artists, 309 people voted. It was strikingly apparent from the first 100 votes that The Drums and Freelance Whales were the real competition of the latest poll. After 200 votes, the margins remained relatively the same, with The Drums receiving an impressive 43% of the vote. This is not surprising considering the huge amount of blog love and mainstream press accolades The Drums having been enjoying, especially in the month’s leading up to the June release of their terrific debut.

“Forever & Ever Amen” – The Drums

“It Will All End in Tears” – The Drums

“Let’s Go Surfing” – The Drums

Brooklyn’s Freelance Whales followed rather far behind The Drums with 18% of the total votes. The remaining 39% of the vote was divided up among the other eight bands in the poll: Placing far behind Freelance Whales, Cymbals Eat Guitars and Villagers both took 7%, Warpaint, Smith Westerns and Washed Out with 5% each, Wild Nothing and Ganglians (4%), and Magic Kids (3%).

“Hannah” – Freelance Whales

“Generator First Floor” – Freelance Whales

Staten Island’s indie rock band Cymbals Eat Guitars broke through last year with their debut LP, Why There Are Mountains, one of the best debuts of the year. As 2010 rolled around, CEG were on a roll that continues to this day. The band will perform at a number of festivals this summer, including Lollapalooza and Lowlands in the Netherlands.

“Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)” – Cymbals Eat Guitars

The Irish indie rock band Villagers are definitely one of the ‘break-through’ artists of 2010. The recent release of their debut album, Becoming A Jackal, has been widely hailed by critics and fans alike. Frontman Conor O’Brien said his lyrics are “transcendental darkness” and “dark imagery or feelings alongside really mundane domestic everyday things.”

“Becoming a Jackal” – Villagers

“Billie Holiday” – Warpaint

“Be My Girl” – Smith Westerns

“Feel It All Around” – Washed Out

“My House” – Ganglians

“Your Rabbit Feet” – Wild Nothing

“Hey Boy” – Magic Kids

Recent Releases We Almost Missed, Vol. IX: The Depreciation Guild, Jeremy Messersmith, The Delta Mirror, Fol Chen, Double Dagger

Posted on 07/01/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Drowning in music. There are a few ways to imagine what that could mean, but in our case, it’s purely about the amount of amazing music that has been sent to us over the past couple of months, but which has been put in a holding pattern because so many freaking stellar records have been coming out week after week for some time now.

By April of this year (which is a blur now), we realized it was getting harder and harder to share all of the sweet music coming at us. One way we have been trying to address that issue is by publishing longer playlists and mixtapes, and more frequently. One example is this series, the successful Recent Releases We Almost Missed – specifically focused on highlighting widely acclaimed LPs from relatively well-known indie artists which would have otherwise been included – by release date – in IRC’s weekly Best New Releases series (you can listen to online, and download, all 24 of these mixtapes).

We really hope you will dig the songs in this post because they include awesome fresh tracks from artists and bands like The Depreciation Guild, The Delta Mirror, Jeremy Messersmith, Fol Chen, Double Dagger, The Octagon, The Hundred in Hands, and Common Loon.

“Crucify You” – The Depreciation Guild from Spirit Youth – April 20th

“My Chariot” – The Depreciation Guild from Spirit Youth

The Depreciation Guild on MySpace

“He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You” – The Delta Mirror from Machines That Listen – May 4th

The Delta Mirror on MySpace

“Violet!” – Jeremy Messersmith from The Reluctant Graveyard – May 4th

Jeremy Messersmith offiicial website

“In Ruins” – Fol Chen from free and legal In Ruins remix EP – April 20th

Fol Chen official website

“Pillow Talk” – Double Dagger from Masks EP – March 23rd

Double Dagger on MySpace

“Clew Haywood” – The Octagon from Warm Love and Cool Dreams Forever- June 8th

The Octagon official website

“Ghosts” – The Hundred in Hands from This Desert EP – May 14th

“Mexico” – Common Loon from The Long Dream of Birds – April 6th

Artists and Bands Profiled in Other Recent Releases 2010 Mixtapes

Vol. I: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

Vol. II: Screaming Females, Prizzy Prizzy Please, Fictionist, Fresh and Onlys, Adam Green, Roadside Graves

Vol. III: Archeology, Rocky Votolato, The White White Lights, Schooner, Thruses, Ghostly

Vol. IV: Holly Golightly, Motion Turns It On, Ruby Suns, Josiah Wolf, Happy Birthday

Vol. V: The Library Is On Fire, Son Lux, The Ambience Affair, Japanther, Yawn, Kikipau

Vol. VI: Owen Pallett, ARMS, Gareth Dickson, Monster Movie, Silver Seas

Vol. VII: Sam Billen, The Press, Markaras Pen, Boy Without God, Peasant

Vol. VIII: Vita Ruins, Lou Barlow, Communist Daughter, Cary Ann Hearst, Apollo Ghosts, Holy Ghost

Best New Releases: Wolf Parade, Wavves, Map & Atlases, Electric Tickle Machine, Harvey Girls, Hey Marseilles, Cap N’Jazz

Posted on 06/29/201001/11/2022 by Max Hammer

The best new album releases for the week of June 29th features Wolf Parade‘s Expo 86, Wavves, Maps & Atlases, plus Electric Tickle Machine, Hey Marseilles, Cap’n Jazz, Invisible Elephant, Alejandro Escovedo, Philip Clark, and Avi Wisnia.

The diversity of styles and sounds are remarkable, and yet all of the songs fit together when you listen to this mix as one, uninterrupted stream – sort of like how folks listened to LPs from start to finish in the old days. Just in case you may not know this, it is possible to stream this entire mixtape simply clicking on the first song – then you can go back to whatever you were doing and let it play like a radio broadcast without the commercials.

We’ve listened online to this mixtape a few more times today, and love it. Perhaps a lot of people will be amazed by the talent of some of the lesser-known, more obscure bands featured below. First, though, some great new tracks from the more well known, popular bands.

“What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)” – Wolf Parade from Expo 86

“Ghost Pressure” – Wolf Parade from Expo 86

Perhaps taking advantage of the relatively few number of ‘big’ new releases this week, San Diego buzz band Wavves moved the digital release date for their new album, King of the Beach, to this week, specifically, Thursday, July 1st. For all we know, word of this change in release date of an anticipated release has not been well covered by the blogs and music press. Here are two tracks from the LP, lead single, “Post Acid”, plus the track, “Idiots”. So far, the new Wavves sound is pretty sah-weet.

“Post Acid” – Wavves from King of the Beach

“Idiot” – Wavves from King of the Beach

Wavves on MySpace

“Solid Ground” – Maps & Atlases from Perch Patchwork

Maps & Atlases official website