Silversun Pickups: "Panic Switch"

Wow! It's been a while since I posted. This song is pretty much my new favorite thing. Check it out.

The Antlers: "Kettering"

I have been waiting for the last few weeks for a version of this song to become available on their website or youtube. So finally after a long wait something even better has come along. An embeddable stream of the album that the band has released - complete with a sweet visualizer. I wish every band released this type of thing. The first song I heard off their most recent album, Hospice, was "Kettering" - the the second track on the album (skip ahead to this one if you are impatient and don't understand long ambient intros into albums.) Hospice is a concept album of sorts and handles a rather heavy subject matter with ambient indie rock. It's pretty sweet.

While their stuff may not be for everyone, much like a lot of stuff I put on this blog, I am absolutely in love with this song. This album, Hospice, is by far my favorite of their works. On another closely related subject let me say that I am excited to see what is yet to come this year. 2009 is looking to be a pretty awesome year for music. There has already been a few great albums in my mind - Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion being one of them. This album is set in my mind to be in, at the very least, my top 10 of 2009.

The singer for The Antlers at times reminds me of Jeff Buckley, which is pretty cool (I should post a few of his songs for any of you who have not heard him). Regardless of who The Antlers remind me of this is very strong album. I dig it. I hope you do too.

Dan Deacon: "Get Old" & "Okie Dokie"

I am not going to kid you with this one. The music of Dan Deacon is not that accessible - it is just really stinking weird. Now before you brush of this post and just move on to people.com or facebook you have to understand the context of this music - this music is made for a live club scene where dancing is involved. Weird dancing, but none the less dancing just the same. Mr. Deacon is releasing a new album next month which is far more accessible to most people than any of his previous works. Here is a great, be it redundant, track from this album entitled Bromst (don't bother looking it up it is a word he made up).

It sounds like a sound orgy for sure. It is exciting and vibrant material crafted from the cold software world of synthesizers, computers, and modulators. Here is a track of his new album, "Get Old."

Dan Deacon - "Get Old"

There is also another track off an older album of his which has caught my attention. It is entitled "Okie Dokie" and I have found it to be absolutely amazing. I'm not going to lie it blew my mind a little bit. No here is the thing. Below I have posted the music video for the song. There is also a really good live version you can find below it (way even better than the studio version in my opnion), however be for warned there is a string of expletives so offensive, so profane to some (ok, most) before the song begins that some of your grandmothers will roll over in their graves. I am not kidding you. If you do choose to listen to these songs - pump up the volume and dance!

Dan Deacon - "Okie Dokie"

(flip the High Quality Switch on this one)

LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK - (or fast forward to at least 0:20)

Dan Deacon - "Okie Dokie"

Hercules And Love Affair: "Time Will" & "Blind"

Here is a cool one. This bands debut album is pretty awesome. This song it ridiculously catchy to me. In a cool sort of sultry kinda way. This stuff really appeals to my discotech cravings. The vocals kinda remind me a bit of Morrissey - and I don't mean that in a bad way - The Smiths are awesome. I hope you like it. Great driving music.

Hercules And Love Affair - "Time Will"

Hercules And Love Affair - "Blind"

Manchester Orchestra: "I've Got Friends"

It irritates me how good this song is for a number of reasons.  First, these guys are in my circle of musician friends here in Atlanta.   Two, they are younger than me.  Third, and most importantly,  this song it totally awesome. 

Even more irritating is the fact that their are a number of musicians that I grew up with that are in bands that are actually going places. Now, I mean don't get me wrong.  I am really happy for all of them.  But it is just so frustrating.  In some ways I am actually happy that I wasn't pulled head first into the whole thing.  There has  been a lot of drama among some of these bands, which quite frankly pisses me off.  I mean bands are big dysfunctional families, kinda like the mob, stealing,  cheating, back-stabbing, etc.  - it just sucks.  

All of that aside Manchester Orchestra is an awesome band.  They have got some great songs and here is one of their latest.  You can actually go to this link and download the song for free.  Awesome!  I love free music.  Keep an eye on these guys when their new album comes out in April entitled Mean Everything to Nothing.  Check it out.

Manchester Orchestra: "I've Got Friends"

Antony and the Johnsons: "Another World"

This song bleeds pain but it is at the same time so beautiful.

Another World

I need another place
Will there be peace?
I need another world
This one's nearly gone

Still have too many dreams
Never seen the light
I need another world
A place where I can go

I'm gonna miss the sea
I'm gonna miss the snow
I'm gonna miss the bees
I'll miss the things that grow
I'm gonna miss the trees
I'm gonna miss the sound
I'll miss the animals
I'm gonna miss you all

I need another place
Will there be peace?
I need another world
This one's nearly gone

I'm gonna miss the birds
Singing all this songs
Been kissing this so long

Another world x4

Antony and the Johnsons - "Another World"

Blitzen Trapper: "Furr"

This Portland, OR based experimental folk rock band had released several albums over the years but not until their most recent album Furr was released in 2008 did they begin to gain some serious national and international attention. Their previous album Wild Mountain Nation had gained critical acclaim from critics like Pitchfork Media and Spin. One thing I love about this band is that their sound is quite broad.

This song was actually in the short list for my top songs from 2008. Which is an entirely different beast from albums of the year, perhaps I whill run that list here soon. In the mean time here is Blitzen Trapper's song "Furr" of their forth album of the same name - I hope you enjoy it.

Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"

MGMT: "Time to Pretend"

I just love this song. This band is quickly gaining notoriety and I should have posted on them when I first hear this song a few months ago. It has an upbeat darkness to it. Cool stuff. This song comes off their album Oracular Spectacular. Just don't let the kids listen to it. Cough. Cough.

MGMT: Time to Pretend

Francis and the Lights: "The Top", "My Goals"

The music of Francis and the Lights may border on such guilty pleasures as Prince, Peter Gabriel, or Michael Jackson, but I am not sure of it yet. What is certain is that I am captivated by two tracks by this band - "The Top" and "My Goals." Their catchy beats mixed with the high falsetto vocals of their lead singer, Francis Farewell Starlite, has got me hooked. Plus the video for "the Top" is just captivating.

Francis and the Lights - "The Top"

Francis and the Lights - "My Goals"

Animal Collective: "My Girls"

I recently came across the band Animal Collective at friends house and absolutely loved their sound. It's one of those bands whose name I have heard thrown around over the years but I think this was the first time I ever actually listened to them. I really like this song because it is a hybrid of some of my favorites styles - the minimalist classical music style of Steve Reich and the killer melodies and harmonies of bands like the Beach Boys. This track entitled "My Girls" from their new album Merriweather Post Pavilion and it's a really cool track. Let it grow on you.

Animal Collective - "My Girls"

Sufjan Stevens: "To Be Alone With You"

This song utterly captivates me every time I hear it. I can't pull my self away from it. I just stop close my eyes... and then there are no words for what this song makes me feel.

Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová: Falling Slowly

A simply beautiful song from a simply amazing album.  The power of this song astounds me.  It breaks through all of my defenses and strikes me at the very depth of my heart.  It makes me feel and think very hard about those whom I love. 

The Swell Season - Falling Slowly

Bon Iver: Skinny Love

The band Bon Iver or 'Good Winter' and their album "For Emma, Forever ago" is one of the most recommended and critically acclaimed albums I have heard of this year. Everywhere I turn someone is saying something great about it. While I haven't heard the whole album, I have listened to this track several times actually. And I really like what I hear.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

The Last Shadow Puppets: "Standing Next to Me"

Occasionally while searching for new music on the web, I trip across something really special that is new and exciting to me.  Yesterday it was The Last Shadow Puppets.  This duo is made up of the Arctic Monkeys lead singer, Alex Turner, and the lead singer of The Rascals, Miles Kane.  The boys met while on tour and began to write music together that is a clear departure from the sounds of their own bands.  Together their music feels straight out of the 60's and the British invasion. 

However, what really annoys me about these guys is that they are younger than me.  But I can get past that.  I really love this little song.  I have played it so much that my wife is beginning to hate it now, but I am telling you the song is  brilliant. 

Acoustic version of 'Standing Next To Me' 

The Walkmen: "If Only it Where True"

Another great indie band coming out on New York City - The Walkmen.  This is just a really simple little song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for the last few days. 

"If Only It Where True"

Gillian Welch (with David Rawlings): "Throw Me the Rope"

This haunting tune was recently preformed live at the infamous Newport Folk Festival.  I love the soothing sound of this song.  Its beauty soothes a tired spirit. 

"Throw Me the Rope"