Monday 30 September 2013

New Music: Phantogram- Black Out Days + Celebrating Nothing


After a quiet couple of years New York state electro duo Phantogram have recently come out with two new singles titled "Black Out Days" and "Celebrating Nothing." These two new tracks are as good as, if not better, than any of the songs released from the big electro bands of the moment. Perhaps it is time for Phantogram to break it big and join the ranks of other recent success stories like Passion Pit and Chvrches. They are well on their way. Listen below:

The band's self titled EP is out today (September 30th) via Republic.








New Music: Woman's Hour- Darkest Place + Thunder


Woman's Hour are a four piece synth pop band heralding from London UK. Their music lies somewhere between The xx and Still Corners, which is to say a sound that employs the use of a female singer over minimalist synths and gentle guitar. Their newest single, "Darkest Hour" b/w "Thunder" will be available October 22nd via Luv Luv Luv Records. Listen to both tracks below:








Friday 27 September 2013

New Music: Odonis Odonis- Are We Friends


Back in March, Toronto punk trio Odonis Odonis released "Intelligence",  one of the best hard rock tracks of the year. After releasing their latest EP Better earlier this year, the band have just come out with another hard charging single titled "Are We Friends", a song that uses the same combination of searing punk rock mixed with thumping industrial drum beats. Listen below:






Wednesday 25 September 2013

New Music: Sleigh Bells- You Don't Get Me Twice


"You Don't Get Me Twice" is a slightly more subdued track than "Bitter Rivals", the first single and title track from Sleigh Bells' new album. The new track is more melodic than most of the band's earlier output from their previous two albums, but the song still maintains that Sleigh Bells edge courtesy of Derek Miller's maximum guitar riffage. Listen below:

Bitter Rivals will be released on October 8th via Mom + Pop.




New Music: The History of Apple Pie- Don't You Wanna Be Mine?


Way back in January British shoegaze pop band The History of Apple Pie released their impressive debut album Out Of View to much critical acclaim. Apparently they are already working on a follow up, and just to let us know that their band are still around, they have just put out a one off single titled "Don't You Wanna Be Mine?" Listen to the new track below that contains a musical ménage à trois of fuzziness that features lead singer Stephane Min's sweet voice sandwiched between the excellent guitar stylings of Jerome Thomas and Aslam Ghauri.

“Don’t You Wanna Be Mine?” is out 10/14 on Marshall Teller.





Tuesday 24 September 2013

New Music: Best Coast- I Don't Know How


Everybody's favourite pot smoking, cat loving, California garage pop star Bethany Cosentino and her band Best Coast are back with new music, the first since the RSD releases of "Fear of My Identity" and "Who Have I Become." Miss Cosentino and her partner Bob Bruno have compiled these two songs, plus the brand new single "I Don't Know How" on to the new EP and will make it available for purchase on October 22nd via the singer's new label Jewel City. Listen to the new track below:





New Music: Absolutely Free- Clothed Woman, Sitting


Rising from the ashes of Toronto punk band DD/MM/YYYY comes Absolutely Free, a band slightly more psychedelic than what four members used to play in that aforementioned group. The nine minute "Clothed Woman, Sitting" is actually a b-side to a new 12" they are releasing on October 29th via Lefse. The song starts out like an instrumental post rock song before a propulsive beat kicks in and then it is all psychedelic pop bliss from that point on. Listen below:






Monday 23 September 2013

New Music: Cuushe- I Miss You


Stunning new dream pop from Japanese singer Cuushe. "I Miss You" is a very beautiful song off of her new LP Butterfly Case which is out today via Tokyo label Flau. The track is awash with reverb with a hint of jangly guitar which are nicely complimented by Cuuuhe's sweet fragile voice. Listen below:




New Music: Young Galaxy- Sea Drug + Talk To Her


Back from a two week hiatus of blog posting. Good to clear my head, relax and not worry about posting music. Perfect time to do it to, there hasn't been that much really good new music released over the last couple of weeks. There are some exceptions of course, including a couple of fresh tracks from Young Galaxy.

Young Galaxy continue their victory lap for releasing the fantastic Ultramarine, one of the best albums of the year. As a matter of fact the band are up for the Polaris Music Prize which is awarded tonight at The Carlu in Toronto (right across the street from where I live). YG are my personal favourite to win the prize which probably means that they won't win.

Last month it was reported that the band will come out with a deluxe edition of Ultramarine and they premiered a brand new song titled "Crying My Heart Out" which is one of the many extras on the new album. Now the group have shared another couple of bonus tracks from the LP which will be out tomorrow (September 24th) via Paper Bag. "Sea Drug" and Talk to Her" follow the same Swedish synth pop formula that made this such a successful year for the band. Listen below:








Friday 6 September 2013

New Music: Sleigh Bells- Bitter Rivals + Music Video


Brand new Sleigh Bells is a really, really good way to start the weekend. It sounds like the duo of Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller have stepped it up a notch with their brand new single "Bitter Rivals." The song is the first new music since the Reign of Terror LP, a record I found redundant and kind of boring. However, this song sounds a lot better and it helps that it has a stylish music video featuring the very sexy Alexis Krauss.....oh, and Derek's in it too. Watch and listen below:

"Bitter Rivals" is the title track of Sleigh Bells new album which will be available October 8th via Mom + Pop.





New Music: Frankie Rose- Street of Dreams


We have already heard the excellent "Sorrow", Frankie Rose's first single from her new LP Herein Wild, and now we get a second taste of the album, "Street of Dreams", which is actually a cover of a song recorded by punk band The Damned. Rose gives the song a modern post punk makeover by replacing the male toughness of David Vanian's voice with her own beautiful haunting airiness and adding synth pads in place of the original's brass and saxophone. Listen below:

Herein Wild will be out September 24th via Fat Possum.





Thursday 5 September 2013

New Music: Boardwalk- I'm to Blame + Music Video


West coast dreaminess from California duo Boardwalk. "I'm to Blame" sounds like the slowed down dream pop of Mazzy Star, Widowspeak or even a more laid back version of Beach House. Watch the hazy music video for the track below:

The couple are working on a new album which should be out in October.





Wednesday 4 September 2013

New Music: Breeze- Dolls + Music Video


Toronto indie rock project Breeze is a band put together by Beliefs' member Josh Korody who enrolled an impressive list of Canadian musicians to help out. Among the members of the group are Shawn Dell (Great Bloomers), Dustin Hawthorne (Islands) and Kyle Connolly (Elk).

The band have just released a brand new music video for their single "Dolls", a jangle rock song that is gleaming with dream pop greatness. The digital single is available now through Hand Drawn Dracula and the band are working on a new album which will be available in the near future.





Tuesday 3 September 2013

New Music: Cults- High Road


New York alt pop band Cults take the "High Road" for their latest single off their forthcoming album new Static. We have already heard the soaring "I Can Hardly Make You Mine" and now the band have come out with "High Road", a much more laid back track but still twee enough to make young and old men alike swoon over lead singer Madeline Follin.

Cults will release their new LP Static on October 15th via Columbia.





New Music: Temples- Keep In The Dark + Music Video


Here is singer James Bagshaw and his band Temples channeling T. Rex again with their awesome new single titled "Keep in the Dark." Pretty cool accompanying video, as well. Watch and listen below:

"Keep in the Dark" will be released on 7" on October 7th via Fat Possum.






Monday 2 September 2013

New Music: Los Campesinos!- What Death Leaves Behind


Los Campesinos! have probably made a shit load of money from selling their biggest hit to Budweiser, plus they lost co-founder Ellen (Waddell) Campesinos!, yet the witty Welsh band keeps plugging away and coming out with great pop music. “What Death Leaves Behind” is a prime example, and even know it has the same wry lyrics the band is known for, it may be the most radio friendly song they have ever released. Download the track below:

Los Campesinos! will release their 5th studio album, No Blues, on October 29th via Wichita.




Sunday 1 September 2013

Five Star Songs: The Smiths- I Know It's Over


This is my first posting for The Smiths, and with all of the great singles the band has ever recorded, I decided to pick a deep cut from The Queen is Dead album. Why? Because " I Know It's Over" might be the most melodramatic (overdramatic?) song that Morrissey has ever written. If you ever lost a friend or a lover you can probably relate to this song. Read the lyrics below and then listen to the original song plus a haunting live cover version from Jeff Buckley:

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said.
I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Oh ...
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
See, the sea wants to take me
The knife wants to slit me
Do you think you can help me ?
Sad veiled bride, please be happy
Handsome groom, give her room
Loud, loutish lover, treat her kindly
(Though she needs you
More than she loves you)
And I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Over and over and over and over
Over and over, la ...
I know it's over
And it never really began
But in my heart it was so real
And you even spoke to me, and said :
"If you're so funny
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
And if you're so clever
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
If you're so very entertaining
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
If you're so very good-looking
Why do you sleep alone tonight ?
I know ...
'Cause tonight is just like any other night
That's why you're on your own tonight
With your triumphs and your charms
While they're in each other's arms..."
It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes strength to be gentle and kind
Over, over, over, over
It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes guts to be gentle and kind
Over, over
Love is Natural and Real
But not for you, my love
Not tonight, my love
Love is Natural and Real
But not for such as you and I, my love
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my ...
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can even feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my ...