Posts Tagged ‘ Track of the day ’
Blitzen Trapper delve into their bag of retro-chic-folk tricks and returns with a new ace up their sleeve. Sounding more like Dylan than ever before, “Heaven and Earth” is the first single from the upcoming Destroyer of the Void LP, to be released June 8th on Sub Pop Records.
MP3: “Heaven and Earth” – Blitzen Trapper
Fang Island already had and art-rock pedigree of sorts, as the group began as an art project at the Rhode Island School of Design . . . the same school that members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav, Lightning Bolt, and the Talking Heads attended. The beautiful thing is that there isn’t an ounce of pretentiousness in the music, either, as the album’s first single, “Daisy”, sound more like an anthemic, explosion of color.
The band’s self-titled debut was released on February 23rd and has already garnered “Best of 2010″ reviews from many critics.
With yet another track that’s been circulating the internet for a month or two now, we here at TrendRobot absolutely can’t wait for the upcoming No Singles album, which is effectively a re-imagining of the Japandroids first two EPs, All Lies and Lullaby Death Jams.
“Art Czars” comes from their limited edition 7″ that includes a cover of Big Black’s “Racer X” as the b-side.
MP3: “Art Czars” – Japandroids
I’m not going to lie . . . I’m not very well versed when it comes to My Brightest Diamond, and before I received this press release, I had no idea who Sarah Kirkland Snider was. This collaboration between the two is definitely an entry point to their music for me, and I personally think that it’s a good place to start.
“This Is What You’re Like” is the first single from Snider’s forthcoming LP, Penelope (due sometime in August, 2010). The track, according to the release, is a theatrical effort between the two that tells the story of a woman’s long, lost husband returning to their home from war, unable to remember his name or history. To coax him back to sanity, this forlorn wife reads from Homer’s Odyssey.
The song is both epic and heartbreaking with broad, orchestral movements that push it along. A good song for a zen Friday morning and a cup of tea.
Download MP3: “This Is What You’re Like” – Sarah Kirkland Snider (Feat. My Brightest Diamond)
Geeky white dudes that make great grooves and sexy dance rock. That about sums up We Are Scientists. It makes me wonder how much action these dudes really get from their shows seeing as how all of their singles make women go wild like Patrick Dempsey just walked into the room.
The first single from the Scientists’ latest endeavor, Barbara, finds them right where they left off. The most infectious hook possible in an all-out brawl of a dance track that basically resembles “white-people crunk music”. The track is only a radio rip, but feel free to blow out your Volvo speakers with this little gem and have fun doing it.
MP3: “Rules Don’t Stop” – We Are Scientists
Those damned Mumford & Sons . . . they’re just so rad. The appalachian folk music they throw down on Sigh No More has kept them buzzing on the internet blogosphere and their street-cred is right up there with Vampire Weekend, only with a dirty, barroom blitz kind of feel.
Not being a huge Vampire Weekend fan, “Cousins” was really one of the only tracks that I really really enjoyed on Contra. Originally from the BBC Live Lounge sessions with Mumford & Sons, Stereogum recently premiered this cover and I thought it was definitely the rare case of a cover upending the original composition. A folk stomper in the highest degree, this track makes me want to go out and buy a banjo. According to Twitter, this cover comes with the stamp of approval from Vampire shoegazer Ezra Koenig, which means that folk music is the new style of prep-punk.
MP3: “Cousins” – Mumford & Sons
MP3: “Cousins” – Vampire Weekend
Those damned Canadians. They get the Olympics, snag our hockey gold medal, and now they release some fine indie-rock music. Since when did Canada become an epicenter of victory? I mean . . . they’ve never even fought a war, led alone WON one.
Perhaps Canada is on the uprising these days.
The Born Ruffians are a Toronto based trio that released a great little piece of indie-pop magic in 2008 titled Red Yellow & Blue, and have been absent from the musical landscape ever since. The band apparently had some in-fighting problems but have reconciled and plan to return in 2010 with their upcoming, sophomore LP, entitled Say It.
“Sole Brother” is a downright funky groove, complete with some howling back vocals and an infectious guitar line. It’s crazy that the whitest of white kids from Canada can put together a blues/pop sensation like this song, but they definitely did an outstanding job. I’m telling you guys . . . watch out for Canada . . .
MP3: “Sole Brother” – Born Ruffians
I’ve always been a sucker for the Bloc Party/Minus The Bear connection of Foals. The super-groovers have just released a new single for their upcoming album, Total Life Forever, to be released on May 10th.
“Spanish Sahara” is a bit more moody and mellow than anything they’ve put out in the past, but it’s a nice departure. Foals leans more on their Minus The Bear atmospheric qualities than they do the dancefloor panic side of Bloc Party. “Spanish Sahara” takes a few moments to acclimate yourself to, but once you do, it’s a beautiful thing.
Ever since getting turned onto Mumford & Sons via their Sigh No More album, I’ve had a hard time listening to anything but. Being a country-born kid just makes you have this affinity for the stomping folk music that these guys make.
The only downside being that I could see these guys invading the US just to take our women. I’m sure it’s some English version of 300 with a folk rock twist . . . Gerard Butler with a guitar. Nevertheless, hailing from London, Mumford & Sons make the kind of authentic folk music that keeps taverns and pubs in song and dance for months. Good to see some old-school taking its place in the new wave of artsy rock.
MP3: “Little Lion Man” – Mumford & Sons
Zooey Deschanel and M Ward’s retro-epic little side project, She & Him, is the closest thing to 50′s/60′s crooning that we’ll ever get. On the first single from the upcoming Volume 2, things were just a little bit more playful. On “Thieves”, thing gets a bit more serious and Deschanel really shows off her retro-knowledge.
There’s nothing to hate about She & Him and Zooey is just so damned lovable. She’s like a cross between a new age Patsy Cline and Nancy Sinatra. Seriously . . . who in their right mind could ever stay mad at her? Whoever broke her heart is seriously going to pay . . . big time. Sorry Ben Gibbard.
