Best New Releases – INDIE ROCK CAFE

Best New Releases – Perfume Genius, Sufjan Stevens, Acid House Kings, Air Waves, Anika, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Freebase, Eluvium

Posted on 12/08/201001/09/2020 by flytrap

This week marks the re-release of the debut LP, Learning, from Seattle solo artist, Mike Hadreas, who releases music as Perfume Genius. His music is deep, painful and personal, a reflection of a troubled youth that was not in his control. And this is evident in his wrenching expressions that permeate throughout his recordings. These are mostly all home recordings, which adds that element of rawness that is essential to an artist such as Hadreas. Furthermore, he has a remarkable appreciation of classic rock icons like Neil Young, as evidenced by this live performance of Young’s “Helpless.”

Hadreas has often been compared to artist such as Cat Power, Sufjan Stevens and Elliott Smith. Hadreas’ magnificent piano playing, stark lyrics, and soft, almost whispery vocals are a powerful combination, and definitely put him in company with some of the best like artists of recent years.

“Mr. Peterson” – Perfume Genius from Learning

“Learning” – Perfume Genius from Learning

We strongly recommend getting his reissued LP (contains three bonus tracks) at Matador Records. Hadreas is definitely one of our Best New Artists of 2010, and an Artist to Watch in 2011. Also, there are a bunch of videos on his record label page, and in case you try looking, his official MySpace page is under the moniker of kewlmajik.

“Dreem” – Perfume Genius from Learning

Since we were talking in reference about Sufjan Stevens, he has some ‘news’ today by the fact that his recently released EP, All Delighted People, is now available in the physical world. If you don’t have it already, and want it in digital form, here’s the download page from Amazon. Seems a lot of people forgot about this EP with the also recent release of Stevens’ remarkable release of the LP Age of Adz.

“All Delighted People” (Classic Rock Version)- Sufjan Stevens from All Delighted People (vinyl)

(there is also a rare and limited edition Japanese import of All Delighted People for sale)

A friend who had never heard of Acid House Kings before understandably assumed that they would have a sound that would be, well, like, “acid house” music. But the band’s sound is anything but; they’re about as cheery indie pop as you can get. In this digital single, the band asked a question that we’ve all probably come across at one time or another in our lives – “Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?”.

And it should be no surprise that the band are on our favorite Swedish labels, Labrador Records (The Radio Dept, Club 8). The track is deliciously infectious, and the lead track for this week’s Best New Releases.

Other tracks this week include lead singles from new releases by one of our break-through bands of 2010, Air Waves; a new drop from the self-titled debut by Anika, with a freaky, sinister lead track; and new material from Deadmau5, Daft Punk, Banjo or Freakout, Freebase, Engineers, Diane Birch, Eluvium, and others.

“Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?” – Acid House Kings from Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?

“Knockout” – Air Waves from Dungeon Dots

“Yang Yang” – Anika from Anika

“Sofi Needs A Ladder” – Deadmau5 from 4 x 4 = 12

“Derezzed” – Daft Punk from Tron Legacy

“This Corrosion” – Diane Birch with The Phenomenal Handclap Band from The Velveteen Age

“The Motion Makes Me Last” – Eluvium from The Motion Makes Me Last EP

“In Praise of More” – Engineers from In Praise of More

“Not Too Late” – Freebass from It’s A Beautiful Life

“105” – Banjo or Freakout from 105 7″ single

“I Don’t Believe” – Liz Janes from Say Goodbye

“Mnemonics in Motion” – Wires Under Tension from Light Science

“Clamor” – Balmorhea from Candor/Clamor 7″

“105” – Banjo or Freakout from 105

Best New Releases from Surf City, Sleeping In The Aviary, Jenocide, Zac Crouse, Mr. Dream, Steve Wynn, Tristeza, El Santo Nada

Posted on 12/01/201007/22/2021 by Max Hammer

With a name like Surf City, it’s only natural for one to assume that the band’s songs will be upbeat and celebratory, or, as the chillwave revolution has determined, lazy, hazy psychedelic pop awash in layers of synth, echo-laden vocals and lyrics with themes like heat waves, day-dreaming, sun burns, beach parties, vacation getaways, and beautiful girls (and guys).

Surf City may not fit the ideal image conjured up by their namesake, but the guitars are blazing, the choruses are sunny, and the bass line thumps along quite nicely on the title track from the band’s debut album, Kudos, out now via Fire Records. We also think Surf City will be a band to watch in 2011.

“Kudos” – Surf City from Kudos

just added (12/2/10):
“Crazy Rulers of the World” – Surf City from Kudos

The band Sleeping In The Aviary just came on to our radar today thanks to Seattle‘s KEXP-FM. SITA pump out straight up post punk style rock with a hard romp, reverb-heavy female lead vocals, hard-hitting tambourines and slick surf-like guitar licks on the lead track “You Don’t Have To Drive”. We’re looking forward to listening to the other tracks on their debut LP, Great Vacation!, out today on the Science of Sound label.

“You Don’t Have To Drive” – Sleeping In The Aviary from Great Vacation!

Jenocide‘s lead track, “Beachball,” from the newly release EP, Knee Deep, has the swirling synths layered with heavy bass change-ups, dance-induced drum beats, romping keys and the vocals of Halifax, N.S. singer-songwriter electro-pop musician Willow Bell.

“Beachball” – Jenocide from Knee Deep EP

Summer-sounding tracks seem to be a dominant theme in this week’s music releases, even though it will officially be winter in a couple of weeks. While listening to Zac Crouse‘s new single, “Waiting on the Wind”, you can almost picture a sailboat on the ocean on a calm day just waiting for some wind to move it along.

The lyrics are ambiguous enough to suggest that the song is really just a metaphor for yearning and love. His soft, melodic vocals paired with bongo drum beats and an acoustic guitar are soon joined by an electric guitar and bass while Crouse repeats the chorus: “I need you now/I need you now/waiting on the wind.”

“Waiting on the Wind” – Zac Crouse from s/t debut

There’s a conglomerate of styles – from shoegaze and post punk to psychedelic and rock – employed by Steve Wynn & The Miracles‘ songs on their new release, Northern Aggression. The lead track “Resolve” will sound particularly familiar to fans of Iggy Pop and The Stooges (esp. compared to the punk favorite “I Wanna Be your Dog”). However, it’s ok; one, because it’s a good song overall, and two, it copy-cats the Stooges with a sense of respect. Steven Wynn is a long-time musician who is probably best known for his previous bands, Gutterball and Dream Syndicate.

“Resolve” – Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 from Northern Aggression

One of the newest bands on our radar is the unsigned Brooklyn post-punk trio Mr. Dream. While Stereogum had the band in its sights before just about anyone else, we only learned of Mr. Dream after one of its members sent us the latest single, “Learn The Language” from their new album, Never Elaborate.

Earlier this year, Stereogum premiered the band’s first single, “Scarred for Life”, and also listed Mr. Dream on their “40 Best New Bands of 2010” post. The band have opened for big indie artists like Sleigh Bells and Harlem Shakes, and not surprisingly (once you hear the singles) consider their biggest musical influences to be Pixies, Nirvana, and Guided by Voices.

“Learn The Language” – Mr. Dream from Never Elaborate

“Scarred For Life” – Mr. Dream from Never Elaborate

This next instrumental track, “Gallinas Y Lagartos”, from the Italian band El Santo Nada, sounds like a perfect track for Kill Bill Vol. 3, if Quentin makes it (please do). The song is mysterious and enchanting with a style reminiscent of the exotic instrumentals that peppered the spaghetti western B flicks of the 1960s.

And of course it wasn’t an accident. The band members met in 2007, and immediately forged an eclectic identity of common interest in the iconic Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western soundtracks, combined with Mexican traditional music, the instrumental and surf rock of the late 1950s and early 1960s, italian and balcanic popular music. The band is located in Abruzzo, about 50 miles east of Rome, a region where a number of Italian spaghetti westerns of yesteryear were filmed.

El Santo Nada have opened for Damo Suzuki, Gang Of Four, and Stan Ridgway, among others, and their musical influences include Ennio Morricone, Santo&Johnny, Ry Cooder, Marc Ribot, Calexico, Earth, and Wall Of Voodoo.

“Gallinas Y Lagartos” – El Santo Nada from Tuco

Other new singles you might like:

“Raise Your Gaze” – Tristeza from Paisajes

“Louder Than Dreams – Abby Gogo from Abby Gogo

“Friendly Fires” – Aidan Knight from Friendly Fires EP

Forgive Yr. Blood – Solvents from Forgive Yr. Blood

Best New Releases – Bikini, Cut Copy, Eux Autres, Girls, The Soft Moon, Orange Juice, Home Video, Music Sampler

Posted on 11/24/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

We’re not clear on why anyone (unless your Kayne) would want to drop a new album two days before Thanksgiving; most people are completely distracted by the holidays. That said, there are nonetheless some fine releases you may just want to scoop up during your Christmas shopping excursions.

In recent months, the Miami duo, Bikini, have been on the rise, and this week they drop a new EP, RIPJDS. Nigel Diamond and Olivier Olivier met at Canada‘s Glen-Lyon Norfolk School of music. The band have become well-known for their electro-pop dance music, and we are lucky enough to have two singles from their new release to share.

“American Mourning” – Bikini from EP RIPJDS

“ACheerleader” – Bikini from EP RIPJDS

While we are on the electro-dance vibe, check out the just released new track from the popular Austrailian band, Cut Copy. “Take Me Over” has a decidedly funky beat and an addictive, catchy melody and rhythm; more evidence that the band continue to evolve their stellar sound, to the delight of millions of fans.

“Take Me Over” – Cut Copy from Zonoscope! – out Feb. 8th, 2011

Now, back to this week’s best new singles from newly minted records. Not by design, the next three artists are all from the wonderful city of San Francisco, which has always been a music mecca, but in recent years, has spawned a very long list of popular indie bands and artists.

Among them is the indie pop duo, Eux Autres, who have been gaining ground locally and across the country. Their debut album, Broken Bow, is out this week via Bon Mots Records. And just in time for the holidays, the band also have a new Christmas album, Another Christmas At Home. The band is comprised of brother and sister pair, Nicholas and Heather Larimer.

“Go Dancing” – Eux Autres from Broken Bow

Since the release of their debut LP, Album, San Francisco’s Girls have amassed a worldwide following. That doesn’t happen without relentless touring, so it is a bit surprising that they had time to pump out a new EP, Broken Dreams Club. We have yet to listen to it from start to end, but the single release, “Heartbreaker” is a nice little melodic pop rock track with a bittersweet message.

“Heartbreaker” – Girls from Broken Dreams Club

Another San Francisco musical artist, multi-instrumentalist Luis Vasquez, aka, The Soft Moon, dropped his self-titled debut LP this week. “Tiny Spiders,” the album’s closing track, is gripping and dark, and marked by chaotic synth notes, a rapid beat and occasional distant vocals high on reverb. With the release of his debut, and series of previous 7″ singles, Vasquez’s style is hard to describe – it’s dark synth, if you will, influenced by post-punk, psychedelic rock, and Krautrock. Vanquez calls his style “world music.” But it’s not; instead, it’s more accurate, as his record label suggested, to be tagged”post-apocalyptic.”

“Tiny Spiders” – The Soft Moon from The Soft Moon

And while we’re on the subject of San Francisco bands, you might be interested in a $1 donation to a homeless cause to get a sampler from True Panther Records, featuring tracks from SF bands like Young Prisms, Girls, Ty Segall, Fresh and Onlys, and Dominant Legs, among others.

Sometimes release dates for LPs can get pretty confusing. There’s the digital release date, in the U.S. and abroad, and there’s the physical (vinyl and CD) release date.

Last week, Home Video dropped their latest album, The Automatic Process, digitally; and this week it is out physically. Here’s a track from their new album, plus a remix from Sweden’s Montauk.

“Smoke” – Home Video from The Automatic Process

“Every Love That Ever Was (Montauk’s Vacation Mix)” – Home Video

The legendary Scottish band, Orange Juice, dropped their first album yesterday since frontman Edwyn Collins‘ 2005 stroke. Many of the band’s songs from their peak in the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s were not previously available.

With the new boxset, the band’s fans stateside now have all of the classic tracks in one place.

“Felicity” – Orange Juice from Coals To Newcastle

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Best New Releases from Jonquil, Girl Talk, Crushed Stars, Fredrik, Le Switch, Kisses, Mariage Blanc, Radical Face, Home Video

Posted on 11/17/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Our choice picks for new releases this week include a lot of bands that most people have probably never heard of before – so hopefully, you’ll find a new favorite band in today’s mix.

Jonquil are Hugo Manuel, Sam Hudson Scott and Robin McDiarmid, three men in their early twenties living in Oxford, England. The band rehearsed and recorded their first stateside EP, One Hundred Suns, in their new east Oxford studio, having recently relocated from the House of Supreme Mathematics that they shared with Foals during the writing of Total Life Forever and Jonquil’s own One Hundred Suns.

“Fighting Smiles” – Jonquil from One Hundred Suns EP

“Get Up” – Jonquil from One Hundred Suns EP

The popular one-man remix and sampling phenom, Greg Gillias, better known as Girl Talk, has released a new album, All Day, as a free download, but a little head’s up – the servers have been clogged up since Monday. So far, the reaction to the latest Girl Talk offering is mixed. The track below, “Triple Double,” features Ludacris’ “How Low” and Phoenix’s breakthrough 2009 hit, “1901.”

“Triple Double” – Girl Talk from All Day

Crushed Stars is a Portland, Oregon indie band who made a splash at South By Southwest and CMJ in year’s past, as well as were favored on a number of high-profile music sites for their widely praised sophomore album, Gossamer Days, produced by Stuart Sikes (Cat Power, Modest Mouse, White Stripes). The band’s latest release, out this week, Convalescing In Braille, was recorded with John Congleton (Antony and The Johnsons, Clinic, The Walkmen, St. Vincent).

“Black Umbrellas” – Crushed Stars from Convalescing in Braille

By Howard Liebers

Yesterday Fredrik dropped a new three track 7″ EP titled Origami via The Kora Records on Limited Edition Vinyl. Original members Fredrik Hultin and O. Lindefelt added instrumentalist and singer Anna Moberg to the mix, but they hold on to their classic ambient folk sound. Fredrik is expected to release a new full length album in March 2011.

“White on White” – Fredrik from Origami EP

The other tracks that we are digging in this week’s lot of new releases include tracks from Le Switch, Mariage Blanc, The Notes, Radical Face, The Russian Futurists, Home Video, La Sera, Pigeons, Pink Martini, The Hours, Lavinia, The Details and more.

“Call Out” – Le Switch from The Rest of Me Is Space (self-released)

“Whatever You Say I Am” – Mariage Blanc from Mariage Blanc (self-released)

“Sheltered” – The Notes from Wishing Well

“Doorways” – Radical Face from Touch the Sky EP

“Smoke” – Home Video from The Automatic Process

“Race” – Pigeons from Liasons

“Hoeing Weeds Sowing Seeds” – The Russian Futurists from The Weight’s On The Wheels

“Never Come Around” – La Sera from Never Come Around 7

“Don’t Touch My Hat” – The Queers from Back to the Basement

“We Three Kings” – Pink Martini from Joy To The World

“A Damning Cofession” – Lavinia from There Is Light Between Us

“Bermuda” – Kisses from The Heart of the Nightlife

“The Original Mark” – The Details from The Original Mark

“Four Four Letter” – The Glass from At Swim Two Birds

Best New Releases: Weekend, The Radio Dept., The Concretes, Botany, Nightlands, Valleys, Neitzer Ebb, Gary Wilson, Violens

Posted on 11/10/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

San Francisco indie trio Weekend release their debut this week

This week’s Best New Releases is an eclectic mix of new albums and EPs from a wide variety of artists and genres. Among the best new drops this week include San Francisco’s newest rising band, Weekend, Sweden’s indie rock outfit, The Radio Dept., plus new music from Swedens’ The Concretes as well as Philly’s Nightlands. Each of those releases we have double-shots from; hopefully, they’ll help some folks to want to buy these three recommended releases.

But that’s not all: we have fresh tracks from new releases by Neitzer Ebb, Last Year’s Men, The Parting Gifts, Gary Wilson, Botany, and many others. You may want to check back with this post tomorrow as we’ll be adding some other artists and doing a free album giveaway. Enjoy.

San Francisco’s Weekend Is One of IRC’s Best New Bands of 2010

First up, is the debut LP from San Francisco‘s rising indie band, Weekend. Right off the bat, we were smitten with this band. As you may have figured out, searching online for information about a band named Weekend is a difficult task. But we think the music says all you need to know for right now.

“Coma Summer” – Weekend from Sports

Double shot: “End Times” – Weekend from Sports

Sweden’s The Radio Dept. Drop New EP; Announce Singles Collection

The Radio Dept. have been one of the most popular indie bands to come out of Sweden in the past decade. This week, the band drops a new EP, and announced the release of a singles collection, Passive Aggressive: The Singles. Only 1,000 12-inch vinyl EPs have been pressed. The EP contains five tracks.

“Follow Suit” – The Radio Dept. from Never Follow Suit EP

“The New, Improved Hypocrisy” – The Radio Dept., unreleased single

New Moonlight Band, The Parting Gifts, Drop Debut LP

Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, Oblivians) & Coco Hames (The Ettes) teamed up to form the musical project, The Parting Gifts, featuring appearances from members of The Black Keys and The Raconteurs.

“Keep Walkin” – The Parting Gifts

Sweden’s The Concretes Drop First Album in Three Years

After a three-year break, the popular indie pop band and residents of Stockholm, Sweden, The Concretes, drop their sixth studio album since forming in 1995. Starting out with just two members, over the years the band’s fan based has grown in multiples as the band added more members for a total now of eight musicians.

“Good Evening” – The Concretes from WYWH

“All Day” – The Concretes from WYWH

Botany’s Sound is Anything But Organic

Texas musician Spencer Stephenson, who plays drums for the band Sleep Whale, is moonlighting as the one-man band, Botany. On his debut EP, Feeling Today, Botany cleverly weaves rich instrument infusions with programmed drum beats and almost robotic musings.

“Feeling Today” – Botany from Feeling Today EP

Philadelphia’s War On Drugs Drummer Drops Solo Debut as Nightlands

One of our favorite new ‘bands’ in recent weeks is Nightlands. This week, Nightlands, which is the moniker for Philadelphia musician Dave Hartley, releases the debut LP, Forget The Mantra. Hartley is the drummer of the indie band, War On Drugs.

“Suzerain (A Letter to the Judge)” – Nightlands from Forget The Mantra

“300 Clouds” – Nightlands from Forget The Mantra

Nitzer Ebb Break 15-Year Hiatus With Industrial Complex

Industrial-electro pioneers Nitzer Ebb are returning from a 15-year hiatus with a new album – Industrial Complex – that, upon listening, reaffirms their unique signature of hardcore industrial-electro-pop mixed with a variety of different genres to create a musical melting pot of powerful rhythms, minimal sequencer bass and hook lines, and fierce, chanted vocals. After originally reforming in 2006, the band’s increasingly active profile included 2010 European tour with Depeche Mode.

“Promises” – Nitzer Ebb from Industrial Complex

Valleys Drop 3-Track EP, Stoner

Following the acclaimed debut album Sometimes Water Kills People, Valleys’ members Matilda and Marc return with a new, three-song EP Stoner. While still rooted in their haunting dreampop world, Valleys continue to experiment with the jagged textures and silent power that have always crept in the shadows of their sound.

“Ordinary Dream” – Valleys from Stoner EP

“The Cold Cold Skinny” – Valleys from Stoner EP

Blending the ambient synth sounds of Cocteau Twins and Sisters of Mercy with blistering guitar textures evoking Crass and Minor Threat, Violens‘ Amoral presents psychedelic sonic collages layered with 60’s vocal harmonies. The New York trio first broke through in 2008 and have finally released their debut LP.

“Violent Sensation Descends” – Violens from Amoral

“Acid Reign” – Violens from Amoral

More Worthy Singles from New Releases

“Paralyzed” – Last Year’s Men from Sunny Down Snuff

“Like A Wheel” – Tallest Man on Earth from Sometimes The Blues is Just A Passing Bird

“4312” – Tyvek from Nothing Fits

“If You Must Follow Me” – Jonah from The Wonder & The Thrill

“Electric Endicott” – Gary Wilson from Electric Endicott

“Manhattan Project” – Jesse Payne from Nesting

“Landscapes” – Gregory & The Hawk from Leche

“You Don’t Know Me” – Gross Relations from Fuzzy Timelines

Best New Releases from Bear Hands, 1900s, Brian Eno, Ray Davies, Violens, Matt & Kim, Horse Feathers, The High Dials, Impossible Hair

Posted on 11/03/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Election Day in the U.S. coincides with the release of dozens and dozens of new albums, EPs and singles from bands and artists around the world. This week we recommend newbies from indie favorites like Bear Hands, 1900s, Violens, Matt & Kim, Horse Feathers, The High Dials, plus new releases from bands and artists you’ve probably never heard of, like, Lelia Broussard, Bjorn Torske, Impossible Hair, Depth & Current, Nightlands, Rubber, One Hundred Flowers, Glass Vaults, Amy Bezunartea, and The Autumn Defense.

Perhaps the most exciting release of the week here in the cafe is Ray Davies‘ new LP, See My Friends, which features covers and collaboration of classic Kinks’ songs with Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Mumford and Sons, Metallica, Spoon, Paloma Faith, Alex Chilton, Bon Jovi and many others. Ironically, though, if you’re in the U.S. you can’t get the album until next March. WTF?! Anyways, in the meantime, the only sampling from the album is a fairly rough audio (and video) clip of Mumford and Sons performing “Days/This Time Tomorrow” with Davies on the UK music show, Later with Jools Holland.

Also included in today’s mix is a single from Brian Eno, the father of electronic indie rock. Eno’s new LP, Small Craft on a Milk Sea, is out now. The album features stand0ut tracks – among many – like “2 Forms of Anger”, and “Emerald And Stone”. We are displaying a different type of track, “Bones Bomb.”

In addition, we just had to include the Eno song, “Strange Overtones,” with former Talking Heads‘ frontman, David Bryne. The song is absolutely amazing, and incredibly upbeat, full of tropical influenced percussions, high-note mini guitar riffs, Eno’s synths and Bryne’s solid gold vocals.

You may also be interested in a special compilation of one of the forerunners of acoustic indie music, the late, great, Elliott Smith. This CD features a collection of Smith’s best songs. Just had a random, but beautiful, thought: Imagine Ray Davies, Brian Eno, David Bryne and Eilliott Smith recording an album together – wow.

But first, let’s kick-off this mix of the Best New Releases of the week with fresh tracks from new albums by Bear Hands and 1900s.

“What A Drag” – Bear Hands from Burning Bush Supper Club

“Babies” – 1900s from Return of the Century

“Bone Bomb” – Brian Eno from Small Craft on a Sea of Milk

“Strange Overtone” – Brian Eno (with David Bryne) (2008)

“Satellite” – Lelia Broussard from Masquerade (self-released)

“Violent Sensation Descends” – Violens from Amoral

“Days/This Time Tomorrow”(live) – Ray Davies and Mumford and Sons*
* The official studio version of this collaboration is featured on See My Friends, due March 2011 in U.S.

Here’s the original version of “This Time Tomorrow” from The Kinks‘ 1970 LP, Lola Vs. Powerman and the Money Go Round

“Twilight” – Elliott Smith from An Introduction to Elliott Smith

“Versjon Wolfenstein” – Bjørn Torske from Kokning

“Drain You” (Nirvana) – Horse Feathers from Drain You 7”

You Can Own” – Impossible Hair from Toast a Dozen (On The Outside) (self-released)

“Don’t Go Away” – Depth & Current from Don’t Go Away/Calm To The Sea 7″

“Auto Pilot” – Weezer from Death To False Metal

“Block After Block” – Matt and Kim from Sidewalks

“Suzerain”(A Letter to the Judge) – Nightlands from Forget the Mantra

“Rubber” – Yuck from Rubber 7″

“Chinese Boxes” – The High Dials from Anthems for Doomed Youth

“All The Things We Were Supposed to Be” – Amy Bezunartea from Restaurants & Bars

“Rat Trap” – One Hundred Flowers from Mechanical Bride

“Forget Me Not” – Glass Vaults from Glass EP

Other Releases This Week:

Destroyer: “Archer on the Beach” b/w “Grief Point” 12” [Merge]

Diplo: Blow Your Head Volume 1: Diplo Presents Dubstep [Mad Decent]

Elliott Smith: Introduction to…Elliott Smith [Kill Rock Stars]

Games: That We Can Play [Hippos in Tanks]

The June: Green Fields and Rain [Rainbow Quartz]

N.E.R.D.: Nothing [Star Trak/Interscope]

Sharron Kraus: The Woody Nightshade [Strange Attractors]

Best New Releases: Avey Tare, Andrew Bird, Sun Airway, Small Black, Diamond Rings, Cashes River, Gospel Claws, Pepper Rabbit

Posted on 10/26/201001/09/2020 by Max Hammer

Animal Collective member Avey Tare has released his new LP, Down There, today. The lead single, “Lucky 1″, sounds, surprisingly, like a new AC song. Tare also followed the release of that track with a new video for “Lucky 1″. Also, this week, we’re enjoying the latest release from indie instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Andrew Bird, whose lead track, “Hot Math” is an extraordinary mix of lofty indie music and Orient-influenced infusions. Plus, check out new releases from The Octopus Project, Pomegranates, Bermuda, Seeland, The Phantom Band, Broken Records, Paleo and more.

This is a huge week for debut indie LPs from some of the best break-through and new bands of 2010. Some of the best debut albums we recommend this year are out this week, including Sun Airways debut, Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier, plus Brooklyn’s Small Black; Toronto’s Diamond Rings; Los Angeles’ Warpaint; Des Moines’ Cashes River; Brooklyn pop band Elizabeth & The Catapult; Phoenix’s Gospel Claws; LA pop band, Pepper Rabbit.

Don’t miss Active Child’s remix of The School for Seven Bells, plus a new single from Crystal Stilts, and two new EPs from Telekinesis and The War on Drugs. Also, to make big new release playlist mixes more digestible, we’re breaking up releases of the Best New Releases posts into sub-sections, including New Releases from Established Artists; Anticipated Debuts From Break-Through Artists; Releases from New Bands to Watch, and Singles, Remixes and Reissues. Our favorite sub-section this week is Anticipated Debuts simply because it contains some of the best debuts for the entire year.

New Releases from Established Artists

“Lucky 1”– Avey Tare from Down There

“Hot Math” – Andrew Bird from Useless Creatures

“Fugefat” – The Octopus Project from Hexadecagon

“Walls” – The Phantom Band from Wants

“Create Your Own Reality” (download) – Pomegranates from One Of Us

“Local Park” – Seeland from How to Live

“A Leaving Song” – Broken Records from Let Me Come Home

“King James Fakebook” – Paleo from A View of the Sky

“Kisses” – Bermuda from The Heart of the Nightlife

Anticipated Debuts From Break-Through Artists

“Put the Days Away” – Sun Airway from Nocturne Of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

“Older Brother” – Pepper Rabbit from Beauregard

“Avenues” – Gospel Claws from C-L-A-W-S

“Same Dream China” – Gold Panda from Lucky Shiner

“As I Drift” – Cashes Rivers from Cashes Rivers

“Something Else” – Diamond Rings from Special Affectations

“You & Me” – Elizabeth & The Catapult from The Other Side of Zero

“Undertow” – Warpaint from The Fool

Singles, EPs, Remixes and Re-Issues

“Dirty Thing” – Telekinesis from Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP

“Heart Is Strange” (Active Child Remix) – School of Seven Bells from Active Child/School of Seven Bells split 7″

“Shake the Shackles” – Crystal Stilts from 7 inch single

“The History of Plastic” – The War on Drugs from Future Weather EP

More Releases [compiled from PFM]

Saint Etienne: Good Humor [Heavenly/Universal] [Deluxe Edition Reissue]

Brian McBride: The Effective Disconnect [Kranky]

The Concretes: WYWH [Something in Construction] [UK Release]

The Orchids: The Lost Star [Pebble]

Saint Etienne: Good Humor [Heavenly/Universal] [Deluxe Edition Reissue]

Saint Etienne: Tales From Turnpike House [Heavenly/Universal] [Deluxe Edition Reissue]

Angelo Spencer et l’Orchidee d’Hawai: “L’Argent” 7” [K Records]

Apparat: DJ-Kicks [K7]

Coliseum: Goddamage [Temporary Residence Ltd.]

Comic Wow: Music for Mysteries of Mind Space and Time [Asthmatic Kitty] [Library Catalog Music Series]

Gary Wilson: Electric Endicott [Western Vinyl] [digital release]

Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger: Acoustic Sessions [Chimera]

K.C. Accidental: Captured Anthems for an Empty Bathtub / Anthems for the Could’ve Bin Pills [Arts & Crafts]

Kylesea: Spiral Shadow [Season of Mist]

Lesbian: Stratospheria Cubensis [Important]

Lyrics Born: As U Were [Decon]

Pop. 1280: The Grid EP 12” [Sacred Bones]

R.E.M.: Live From Austin, TX [New West] [DVD]

Seeland: How to Live [LOAF Recordings]

Sun City Girls: Funeral Mariachi [Abduction]

Systems Officer: Underslept [Temporary Residence Ltd.] [Deluxe Vinyl Reissue]

Timmy’s Organism: Rise of the Green Gorilla [Sacred Bones]

Various Artists: Wah Do Dem OST [Factory 25]

Viktor Sjoberg: Breakfast in America [St. Ives]

William Ryan Fritch: Music for Honey and Bile [Asthmatic Kitty] [Library Catalog Music Series]

Wolf & Cub: Science & Sorcery [Last Gang]

Wooden Wand: Death Seat [Young God]

“Hell, Heaven” – Parlovr from

new record from jazz-fusion band the Bombastic Meatbats featuring Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers & Chickenfoot drummer). Their 2nd record ‘More Meat’ is set for release next week, October 19th on Warrior Records.

“Greasy Louise” – Bombastic Meatbats from More Meat

The Philistines Jr.: If a Band Plays in the Woods…?

Other Releases 10-19 [compiled by Pitchfork]

A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Autumn, Again [self-released] [Digital Release] Arthur Russell/Allen Ginsberg: “Ballad of the Lights” 10” [Presspop/Audika] Belfi/Grubbs/Pilia: Onrushing Cloud [Blue Chopsticks] Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 [Columbia] Darkstar: North [Hyperdub] [UK Release] Dwarr: Animals [Drag City] [reissue] Erland & The Carnival: Trouble In Mind EP [Full Time Hobby/Yep Roc] Eskmo: Eskmo [Ninja Tune] The Extra Lens: Undercard [Merge] Joan of Arc: “Meaningful Work” 7″ [Polyvinyl]

Liars: Proud Evolution EP [Mute] Liz Phair: Girlysound + Funstyle [Rocket Science Ventures] [2xCD] Mt. Desolation: Departure [Cherrytree/Interscope] Mount Eerie: Song Islands Vol.2 [P.W. Everum & Sun, ltd.] [Physical Release] Panda Bear: “You Can Count on Me” b/w “Alsatian Darn” 7” [Domino] The Phantom Band: The Wants [Chemikal Underground] The Philistines Jr.: If a Band Plays in the Woods…? [Tarquin Records/Embarque] The Soft Boys: A Can of Bees [Yep Rock] [Reissue] [Bonus Tracks] The Soft Boys: Underwater Moonlight [Yep Roc] [Reissue] [Bonus Tracks] Various Artists: Radioclit Presents: The Sound of Club Secousse [Crammed Discs]

Best New Releases: Liars with Thom Yorke Remix, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, One In A Googleplex, Houses, Soars, Oh Land, Ben Weaver

Posted on 10/20/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Right off the bat, we can say that this is not anywhere as near a big week for new releases as other weeks so far this month have been. But one of the exciting new releases is the official drop of Liars‘ new EP, Proud Evolution. The title track was remixed by no other than Radiohead‘s very own Thom Yorke.

“Proud Evolution (Remix by Thom Yorke)” – Liars from Proud Evolution EP

The new EP also features a live version recorded at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, plus three exclusive new b-sides “Come Now”, “Total Frown”, and “Strangers”. Liars said about the EP: “A triumphant processional piano part is hijacked by something more lurid and tempting. The clicking and gurgling of what’s kicking. Soon a large rolling mass of bass displaces the equilibrium and redirects it into a groove. The tempting wave reminds you that misplaced confidence can be frightening.”

Liars has been all over the indie map in the past year or so, and for good reason. In a nutshell: they “get it”. The Los Angeles Times said: “Bands that do what they want to do because they believe in it – and trust the intelligence of their listeners – are the future. That is the brave new world of Liars”.

Autumn Again, from Philadelphia/Sydney’s celebrated indie dream pop band, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, is strongly recommended, not only because we freaking loved their previous releases over the past two years, but also because we love their newest LP, Autumn, Again.

“Drink Drank Drunk” – A Sunny Day in Glasgow from Autumn, Again

The next release we want to feature this week, The Dropout Cats, came to us via email from the Cologne, Germany. Sebastian Zimmer is the one-man band behind One In A Googlepex. His first two albums garnered critical praise for their blend of excellent song-craft, spacey production and genre busting boldness.

From the get-go, we were struck by the beauty and freshness of the song composition and minimalistic instrumentation on the 8-bit folk (as the band calls it) track, “Monolith.” The song is dreamy, melodic, accented perfectly by soft, harmonic vocals and a piano – a nice mellow surprise from Germany. It’s no surprise that Nick Drake is such a big influence on the band.

“Monolith” – One In A Googleplex from The Dropout Cats

We’re not sure, however, what to really make of the very different, electro-pop track, “Just Like You,” but we are including it for good measure anyhow. To be fair, we haven’t yet heard any of the other tracks on the band’s new debut album, but if there are a lot of streams/downloads of one or both of the songs below, we’ll be compelled to find another track on the album to share with all of you.

“Just Like You” – One In A Googleplex from The Dropout Cats

Among the other debuts out this week, and worth considering, are Houses, Wow & Flutter, Soars, and Oh Land. Plus, there are some mellow indie folk tracks below from more new releases.

“Soak It Up” – Houses from All Night

“Endless Spring” – Houses from All Night

“Scars” – Wow & Flutter from Equilibrio!

“Figurehead” – Soars from Soars

“Son of a Gun” – Oh Land from Oh Land

“Silver State” – Sleep-ins from Songs About Girls & Outer Space

Here are three chilled out acoustic folk songs from Belfi/Grubbs/Pilia, Ben Weaver and The Extra Lens. Plus, we included other releases we think you might want to check out the full album streams from Violens, Girl in a Coma, Kings of Leon and The Phantom Band.

“Onrushing Cloud” – Belfi / Grubbs / Pilia from Onrushing Cloud

“East Jefferson” – Ben Weaver from Mirepoix and Smoke

“Only Exiting Footage” – The Extra Lens from Undercard

Violens‘ Amoral (stream Amoral via Spinner)
Girl in a Coma‘s Adventures in Coverland
Zach Hill‘s Face Tat
The Phantom Band‘s The Wants
Kings of Leon‘s Come Around Sundown
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion‘s Orange + Experimental Remixes EP

Best New Releases Dark Dark Dark, British Sea Power, Fran Healy, Clinic, SIGHTS, PS I Love You, Soars, Apache Beat, Olympus

Posted on 10/05/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Not as big and exciting a week for Best New Releases as other weeks over the past month or so, but still some great tracks you can listen to from fresh album drops. Listen to, or download, new music from Dark Dark Dark, British Sea Power, Marnie Stern, Mutual Benefit, Pancake Breakfast, Apache Beat, Fran Healy, PS I Love You, SIGHTS, Soars, Clinic, Liam Singer, Sharon Van Etten, and others.

“Daydreaming” – Dark Dark Dark from Wild Go

“Zeus” – British Sea Power from Zeus EP

“For Ash” – Marnie Stern from s/t debut

“Desert Island Feeling” – Mutual Benefit from Spider Heaven

“Buttercups” – Fran Healy from Wreckorder

“Butterflies and Boners” – PS I Love You from Meet Me at the Muster Station

“Another Day” – Apache Beat from Last Chant

“Little Bird” – Pancake Breakfast from Pancake Breakfast

“How Do You Sleep” – SIGHTS

“Throw Yourself Out” – Soars from Soars

“I’m Aware” – Clinic from Bubblegum

“Winter Weeds” – Liam Singer from Dislocatia

“Love More” – Sharon Van Etten from epic

“Love Is An Emotion” – Olympus from Bold Mould

“Doubt” – The Corin Tucker Band from 1,000 Years

“Our Love is a Mighty Fortress” – Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords from Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords

“Helsinki Art Scene” – Satellite Stories from Satellite Stories EP

“My Heart is a Drummer” – Allo Darlin from Allo Darlin

More Releases Today That You Might Enjoy

(compiled by Pitchfork)

Alain Johannes: Spark [Rekords Rekords] Amusement Parks on Fire: Road Eyes [Filter Music] Apache Beat: Last Chants [Babylon/Beverly Martel Records] The Avett Brothers: Live, Volume 3 [American/Columbia] British Sea Power: Zeus EP [Rough Trade] [Digital Release] Clinic: Bubblegum [Domino] Corin Tucker: 1,000 Years [Kill Rock Stars] Dark Dark Dark: Wild Go [Supply & Demand] Dark Dark Dark: Wild Go [Supply & Demand] Dustin Wong: Infinite Love [Thrill Jockey] Gonjasufi: The Caliph’s Tea Party [Warp] The Gurus: Closing Circles [Rainbow Quartz] Legendary Pink Dots: Seconds Late for the Brighton Line [ROIR] Mark Ronson and The Business Intl: Record Collection [RCA] Marnie Stern: Marnie Stern [Kill Rock Stars] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: History of Modern [100%] Pimp C: The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones [Rap-A-Lot] PS I Love You: Meet Me at the Muster Station [Paper Bag] Royal Baths: Litanies [Woodsist] Soft Landing: Soft Landing [Ba Da Bing!] Sun Araw: Off Duty [Woodsist] Swans: My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky [Young God] Tim Kasher: The Game of Monogamy [Saddle Creek] Tom Zé: Studies of Tom Zé: Explaining Things So I Can Confuse You [Luaka Bop] Tricky: Mixed Race [Domino] Truckasauras: Quarters [Fourthcity/The Journal of Popular Noise] Various Artists: Subterranean Homesick Blues: A Tribute to Bob Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home [Reimagine Music] Waka Flocka Flame: Flackavelli [Warner Bros.] White Hills: Stolen Stars Left for No One EP [Thrill Jockey]

Best New Releases from No Age, Deerhunter, Abe Vigoda, Owen Pallett, Pete Yorn, OMD, Women, The Posies, Neil Young, Lloyd Cole

Posted on 09/28/201007/22/2021 by Max Hammer

It’s another big, big week for new releases from some of our favorite indie bands and artists, including LA’s lo-fi, experimental outfit, No Age; the fifth studio LP from Deerhunter is a tour de indie with songs of psych-rock and electro-pop as only they can deliver; and the newest release from Abe Vigoda should be a welcome delight for the band’s fans, and one of the ‘break-through bands’ of 2008, Women, return with Public Strain, the follow-up to their acclaimed, self-titled debut .

One of the greatest songwriters ever, Neil Young, returns with yet another album, Le Noise. Young, one of the most prolific and longest-lasting rock icons of all-time, throws fans another well-executed change-up on Le Noise, produced by Daniel Lanois. We just don’t get why their isn’t a postable MP3; that fact does make you wonder: “why not?” If the decision is Neil’s, that’s just bogus.

The long-awaited Pete Yorn fresh LP is out, and the celebrated indie rock singer-songwriter has give IRC exclusive permission to share three songs with all of you. The self-titled, 11-track album was produced by the one and only Frank Black (The Pixies). The 2010 Polaris Prize nominee and Arcade Fire moonlighter, Owen Pallett, returns with a new EP, If that wasn’t enough, check out a double-shot from one of our 2009 bands to watch, The Hush Now; the first album in 14 years from OMD, and the first new release from San Diego’s Three Mile Pilot since 1997, plus and The Posies ping the musical switchboard with their first new material in five years.

There are also releases from a bunch of lesser-known, but very promising, indie bands we think many of you will dig, including newbies Grandchildren, who drop their debut, Everlasting; plus, Monolithic Cloud Parade; Breath Owl Breath; In Grenada; Twin Shadow; Paleo; Eternal Summers; Highlife; Glasser; Loyd Cole; Echo Orbiter, and the list goes on. There are other bands that would be listed here, such as Floored by Four and Electric Six, but they don’t apparently make even one MP3 available, which is to their detriment in the MP3 age. We’ve always contended that bands that don’t offer a MP3 to music lovers are shooting themselves in the foot – missing out on potential free press, and alienating themselves from existing and would-be fans.

As with all of IRC’s playlist mixes, you can stream this entire mix of fresh tracks uninterrupted by clicking on the first song and letting it run. And, all are free, legal MP3s that you can save by right-clicking on the track and selecting ‘Save As.’ Enjoy.

“Glitter” – No Age from Everything in Between

“Helicopter” – Deerhunter from Halcyon Digest (via Pop Tarts Suck Toasted)

“To Tears” – Abe Vigoda from Crush

“Velcro Shoes” – Pete Yorn from Pete Yorn

“Precious Stone” – Pete Yorn from Pete Yorn

“Rock Crowd” – Pete Yorn from Pete Yorn

“No Ankles” – Owen Pallett from A Swedish Love Story EP

“Eyesore” – Women from Public Strain

“License to Hide” – The Posies from Blood/Candy

“Sister Mary Says” (demo) – OMD from History of Modern

“Saturn Returns” – Grandchildren from Saturn Returns

“Distance and Temptation” – In Grenada from Break

“Slow” – Twin Shadow from Forget

“The Other Ones” – The Hush Now from Shiver Me Starships EP

“Gone Baby Gone” – Meridene from Something Like Blood

“Vietnam Giraffe” – The Hush Now from Shiver Me Starships EP

“Swimming” – Breath Owl from Magic Central

“The King James Fakebook” – Paleo from A View of the Sky

“What’s In The Air” – Three Mile Pilot from The Inevitable Past is the Future Forgotten

“F Kenya Rip” – Highlife from Best Bless EP

“Adventurer” – Monolithic Cloud Parade from The Sea and Setting Sun

“Pogo” – Eternal Summers from Silver

“Fog” – Tied to the Branches from Tied to the Branches EP

Neil Young from Le Noise

“Salt and Sea” – Lazerbeak from Legend Recognize Legend

“Home” – Glasser from Ring

“Mouth Of An Incomplete Twin” – Echo Orbiter from Euphonicmontage

“Double Happiness” – Lloyd Cole from Broken Record

“I Need A Dollar” – Aloe Blacc from Good Things

*Note: Some new releases may not be represented because, either they do not offer MP3s to post, or we didn’t feel they fit the scope of IRC

In case you missed any of the past Best New Releases this month:

Best New Releases from The Pass, A Classic Education, The Moaners, The Migrant, Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s (9/21/2010)

Best New Releases, Part II: The Crocodiles, El Guincho, Elf Power, The Lonely Forest, Megafaun, The Murdocks and EP Giveaway Contest (9/14/2010)

Best New Releases, Part I: The Walkmen, The Drums, The Vaselines, Justin Townes Earle, Cloud Cult, Azure Ray, Blonde Redhead & More (9/14/2010)

Best New Releases from Jukebox The Ghost, Interpol, The Thermals, Electric Sunset, Unicycle Loves You, The Acorn, Winter Gloves (9/7/2010)

Best New Releases from The Pass, A Classic Education, The Moaners, The Migrant, Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s

Posted on 09/22/201012/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The first few bands included in this week’s Best New Releases include fairly unknown bands; and therein is our point. The Pass are a self-described psychedelic/new wave pop band from Louisville, Kentucky. Earlier this year they crossed our radar when they sent us their first single, “Cross Walk Stereo.” The song made into our Top Ten songs chart. Later, we got a hold of the second single, “Treatment of the Sun”.

Slowly, The Pass is building a following, and no wonder. We’ve decided to feature both of first singles, plus the band’s latest single, “Trap of Mirror”, released to promote today’s unveiling of their debut LP, BURST.

Next up, Italian orchestra-pop band A Classic Education flashed across the indie radar screens last year, following their apperances during last October’s CMJ Music Marathon in New York. The band are set to perform a number of shows at CMJ 2010 next month, including an October 20th show at the Trash Bar in Brooklyn. Plus, check out great tracks from Vincent Minor, The Moaners, Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s, and many others.

“Trap of Mirrors” – The Pass from BURST

“Crosswalk Stereo” – The Pass from Colors

“Colors” – The Pass from Colors

“Gone to Sea” – A Classic Education from Hey There Stranger EP

“Late Night Show” – Vincent Minor from Vincent Minor

“Humid Air” – The Moaners from Nocturnal

“New York City Blues” – Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s from Buzzard

“Ready for the World” – How To Dress Well from Love Remains

“Wood Block” – Joe Gil

“The Organ Grinder” – The Migrant from Amerika

“Leave Me to Lie Alone in the Ground” – Cold Seeds from Cold Seeds

“The Perfume of Mexican Birds” – Cold Seeds from Cold Seeds

“21 Days” – Pete Internal Airport from Pete International Airport

“Sung (Not Said)” – Magnetic Island from Out At Sea

“On the Bright Side” – Sistol from On The Bright Side

“Black Girls in Dresses” – Tony Castles from No Service

“Don’t Do It” – Sharon Van Etten from Epic

Best New Releases, Part II: The Crocodiles, El Guincho, Elf Power, The Lonely Forest, Megafun, The Murdocks and EP Giveaway Contest

Posted on 09/17/201007/22/2021 by Max Hammer

On Wednesday, we published the first part of the two-part installment of Best New Releases of the week. We had to break it in two this week because there are so many great releases.

The second part of the Best New Releases for this week include our favorite garage rock duo (sorry, Japandroids; but you’re a close second), San Diego’s The Crocodiles. The second release, Sleep Forever, is a CD we strongly recommend for you rockers. Plus, check out new, cool songs from El Guincho and Elf Power, plus a new EP from a band we first featured two years ago when almost no one else knew them – The Lonely Forest.

The band were the first to sign to Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie’s new label Trans. Walla also produced, engineered and mixed the EP. Plus, check out the Fleet Foxes J. Tillman‘s solo effort, Megafun, The Murdocks and Prince Rama. Also, don’t miss your chance to win a free EP from oneo four favorite under-the-radar artists, Opus Orange (details below).

“Billy Speed” – The Crocodiles from Sleep Forever

“FM Tan Sexy”– El Guincho from Pop Negro

“Stranger in the Window” – Elf Power from Elf Power

“A Roof Somewhere” –Lonely Drifter Karen from Fall of Spring

“Live There” – The Lonely Forest from Live There EP

“Carolina Days” – Megafaun from Hertofore

“Three Sisters” – J. Tillman from Singing Ax

“Lowdown” – Betsy Franck & The BareKnuckle Band from Still Waiting

“Lightening Fossil” – Prince Rama from Shadow Temple

“Black Jesus Knocking” – The Murdocks from The Distortionist

“Every Little Thing” – The Medusa Snare from Wish I’d Kept A Scrapbook: A Tribute To Tullycraft

“Doublecrossed”– Valient Thorr from Wish I’d Kept A Scrapbook: A Tribute To Tullycraft

Free EP Contest; the debut from IRC Spotlight Artists Opus Orange

When we first featured music from Opus Orange last year, people just ate it up. A few weeks ago, we featured another new song from the LA artist and composer, known officially as Paul Bessenbacher, and it went right to our Top Ten for that week. Here is that song, and another – both of them appear on the new debut EP.

Opus Orange together with IRC are giving away FOUR free downloads of this awesome debut EP. Just RT this post and type “I Love Opus Orange” (or in a Comment for our Facebook folks) – and Monday we will pick four winners.

“Almost There” (with Lauren Hillman) – Opus Orange

“The World is Spinning” – Opus Orange