New 2011 songs are coming at us from all directions, and we’ve been filtering them out so that we can bring you only the best (well, our favorite new tracks is more accurate). Anyways, here are some awesome fresh tracks from Fleet Foxes, Beach Fossils, The Kills, Real Estate, Toro Y Moi, Holy Ghost, and others. The next Fresh Tracks mix that we’re going to publish on Saturday includes new material from R.E.M., Toro Y Moi, White Lies, Lovett, and The Luyas, to name a few.
From the first few seconds of the new single, “Helplessness Blues”, from indie folk icons, Fleet Foxes, all of the immense love and high praise we’ve always had for the band came rushing back with true enthusiasm and adoration. This is the first new single from Fleet Foxes since 2009, and it’s safe to assume that it will be on the next LP. In fact, the album (or just song?) cover art shown above is from the band, so it’s safe to assume that is the new album’s cover art and title, Helplessness Blues. Still trying to confirm this. Although we usually do not publish SoundCloud embeds (they often cause pages to slow down), when they’re all we can get our hands on from an anticipated release, then we’ll definitely include them in posts – but as a general rule we stick to MP3s because they work with the neat little Yahoo Media player, and via RSS and podcasts.
“Helplessness Blues” – Fleet Foxes from TBA – released date: TBA
P.S. – If you missed any of the Best New Releases from January, they’re still available for you to stream or download, including January 26th new releases – featuring, The Radio Dept., Woodsman, Cloud Nothings, Iron & Wine, Gang of Four, Deerhoof, Destroyer, The Veils, Grouplove.
Beach Fossils Follow-up Hit Debut with New EP
After publishing one of the best debut albums of 2010, and perhaps one of the best of the century (so far), Brooklyn‘s lo-fi popsters, Beach Fossils, have just released a new singles from their new EP, What a Pleasure, slated to drop February 22nd. We have two of the songs here.
“Calyer” – Beach Fossils from What A Pleasure – out Feb. 22nd
The Strokes Prepping First LP in Years
One of our favorite rock bands of all time, The Strokes, have set March 22nd as the release date for Angles. Here is a clip of the song “Under Cover of Darkness” (demo). While it is only a clip, any clip from a new Strokes’ tune is gratefully received.
In a couple of months, the legendary New York garage rock band will headline at Coachella to a sold out in hours mass of humanity. If that appearance is anything like The Strokes amazing performance last summer in San Francisco‘s Golden Gate Park during Outside Lands festival, then loyal fans and newbies are in for a truly remarkable experience. Angles will be the band’s first album since 2006’s First Impressions Of Earth.
The Strokes – Under Cover Of Darkness (Clip) by TheMusic.FM
The Dodos Drop Their First Single of 2011
Over the years, The Dodos have been high on our lists for their experimental pop songs that are not easily forgotten. After two wildly popular idnie albums – Visiter (2008) and Time To Die (2009) – it was great news when we got this new track from The Dodos over the weekend. The track, ironically titled, “Black Night,” starts with a heavy romp of a bass drum, almost like Iron Man stomping down a street.
Seconds into the song, the acoustic guitars build up a nice, hazy melody, followed with splashes of hoots, reverb-heavy harmonies, and buzzy synth injections. If this song is indicative of the rest of the album, we’re officially begging the band and their label to release an album stream ASAP. “Black Night” is the first single from their upcoming third LP, No Color.
“Black Night” – The Dodos from No Color (Bonus Version) – out March 15th
The Kills’ New EP Doesn’t Sound Like TWS
On April 5th, bluesy garage rock duo The Kills will drop their new album, Blood Pressures, on Domino Records. Although the two members that make up The Kills, American Alison Mosshart and British guitarist Jim Hince (“Hotel”). The first single from Blood Pressures, “Satellite”, will be officially released on March 28th.
Notice that we didn’t compare The Kills to The White Stripes – apparently, the former detest the media’s persistent comparisons with The White Stripes. But isn’t there good reason to? Afterall, they’re a male and female garage rock duo who have even recorded in the same studio as the Stripes. Most rockers would love being compared to TWS.
The Kills – Satellite by DominoRecordCo
Panda Bear Pushes Tomboy to April Release Date
One-third Animal Collective, and 100% Panda Bear, aka, Noah Lennox, and his record company, Paw Tracks, have moved up the release date for the long awaited Tomboy to April 12th. Looking forward to it. As for the album cover, we hope it’s not going to be the one example above that is being passed around as the official cover. There’s got to be a better album cover than that, just like there’s got to be a better sounding band to play the Super Bowl than Black Eyed Peas.
“Slow Motion” – Panda Bear from Tomboy – April 12th
Here’s the full track listing:
Track list:
01 You Can Count on Me
02 Tomboy
03 “Slow Motion”
04 Surfer’s Hymn
05 Last Night at The Jetty
06 Drone
07 Alsatian Darn
08 Scheherezade
09 Friendship Bracelet
10 Afterburner
11 Benfica
Times New Viking’s Anticipated New LP Out in April
It was no surprise to us when Matador Records – one of the best alt rock labels ever – signed Times New Viking to their impressive roster. The band were legitimized for eternity when they toured with Pavement, and Guided By Voices, the latter of which is still on-going. TNV’s newest single, “No Room to Live,” is being sold as a limited 7-inch record at shows on their current tour. Here’s a demo of the track.
“No Room to Live” – Times New Viking from Dancer Equired – out April 26th
Real Estate Drops a Demo We Can Dig
During the last quarter of 2009, and the first half of 2010, the New Jersey indie band Real Estate were buzzing with plenty of blogger love and media praise. But the band seemed to fade into the background in the latter half of 2010, mostly because there were just so many other great acts emerging. Nevertheless, we are happy to have a new and likable track from the band ahead of their upcoming EP.
“Blue Lebaron” – Real Estate – date TBA
Holy Ghost Prep Debut LP for April
Holy Ghost are not yet as popular as we think they deserve to be. But we’re confident 2011 is going to be their year. The track, “Do It Again,” demonstrates why the duo are building a loud buzz on indie blogs and music sites. For their self-titled debut, due out April 12th, Holy Ghost scored guest vocals from Luke Jenner (Rapture), Chris Glover (Penguin Prison), and Michael McDonald; the Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers.
“Do It Again” – Holy Ghost from Holy Ghost
Cold Cave’s New Single Signals Industrial Rock Heyday
Wesley Eisold, better known in the indie world as Cold Cave, has a blistering, epic new single that’s throttling on high aggression mixed with electro pop backing. The song, “The Great Pan Is Dead” may remind some indie heads of Eisold’s involvement with Give Up the Ghost, and it echoes the 1980’s industrial rock heyday. Based on this blazing, melodic track, Cold Cave’s new album, Cherish The Light Years, could be one of the best LPs of 2011.
“The Great Pan Is Dead” – Cold Cave from Cherish The Light Years – out April 5th