EyeonEye by Andrew Bird. The first track released from Andrew Bird’s new album Break It Yourself, which is out March 6, is quirky, jaunty and, of course, whistle-happy. Interestingly, Bird is giving away the digital version of the album and two recent EPs free to anyone that buys tickets to his upcoming tour. New music economics FTW!
Lost Weekend by Tiny Victories. An anthemic, pulsating, synth-driven track from this Brooklyn indie band’s debut EP, Those Of Us Still Alive, set to release February 25th. An impressively big sound for a two-man crew, which includes singer Greg Walters and Cason Kelly Walters.
Sailing by Galaxies. I came across this tune on Mark Schoneveld’s ex.fm page the other day and immediately “hearted” it. This may be one of the best pop tracks of the year: uplifting, with a great pulsing beat and a killer chorus. From Galaxies’ (aka Dillon Groeneman) forthcoming album, Letters From Sea.
Night Swim by Frankie Rose. Out with the reverb and in with the glam. That’s how Slumberland Records describes the new sound on Frankie Rose’s forthcoming album, Interstellar. According to Frankie, “I knew I wanted a HUGE sounding record. Big highs, big lows, and clean. There is no fuzz on this record. I knew I wanted to make a streamlined, spacious record with big choruses that sometimes referenced 80s pop.” The album drops February 21st.
Emmylou by First Aid Kit. The precocious Swedish sister folk act known as First Aid Kit is back with a new album, Lion’s Roar, produced by Mike Mogis. Emmylou is the Söderberg sisters’ sweet and reverential tribute to American country music legends, including Johnny Cash, June Carter, Gram Parson and, of course, Emmylou Harris. It’s almost impossible to comprehend that these two young women are from a small Swedish town and not from Nashville or Lubbock.
Everything For The Sake of Everything by Leonard Friend. Leonard Friend is the musical alter ego of former The XYZ Affair frontman, Alex Feder. Named after his grandfather, Leonard Friend, draws on R&B, pop and dance influences to create soaring and highly memorable songs. Feder recently explained that, “For this record I wanted to make songs that felt like they had big club grooves but were still more personal and raw than your average pop record.“ Watch for the debut EP, Lynrd Frynd, which drops at the end of the month.
Shiny Things by Fanfarlo. The first single from Fanfarlo’s forthcoming sophomore album, Rooms Filled With Light, is a richly textured pop song that is an instant earworm. Expect to hear this song on TV shows, commercials and at your local Starbucks soon.
Brains by Lower Dens. Brains is from Baltimore-based Lower Dens’ forthcoming second album, Nootropics (pronounced No-eh-tro-pics), out May 1st (North America) / April 30th (Rest of the world) on Ribbon Music. Enjoy!
The Kids Were Wrong by Memoryhouse. The first single from this Guelph, Ontario duo’s forthcoming album, The Slideshow Effect, is noticeably more upbeat and full of verve than their previous somnolent dream-pop soundscapes. Featuring Denise Nouvion’s breathy, seductive vocals and Evan Abeele’s cinematic guitar rushes.
The Flask by Peasant. The first single from Damien DeRose’s forthcoming album, Bound For Glory, is lyrical, melodic and quietly joyful. A perfect song for a cold bright winter day.
Adeline of the Appalachian Mountains by Southeast Engine. A pastoral folk ballad punctuated by banjos and Adam Remnant’s evocative lyrics and throaty vocals. From Southeast Engine’s exceptional concept album, Canary, that follows a family in rural Ohio as they confront the devastations of the Great Depression.
Genesis by Grimes. I had a difficult time initially with this latest single from Montreal’s Claire Boucher (aka Grimes). Maybe it was the bubbly beats that sounded too cute on first listen or the cool, swirling synths that sounded distant and detached. But then I played the song again and then once again and suddenly what was bubbly and detached revealed itself as sparkling and infectious. From Grimes’ forthcoming album Visions due out in March 2012.
Baby It’s You by Anna Calvi. Calvi recently posted a number of tracks to her SoundCloud page, including five B-side singles. Baby It’s You is a cover of the Shirelles’ 1962 hit featuring Calvi’s fractured voice and delicate guitar work. Calvi begins her version of the song in a decidedly minor key and then finds her way towards the major key of the original.
My Mistakes by Eleanor Friedberger. Another track that “fell through the cracks” this year. I just love Eleanor Friedberger’s vocal phrasing and whimsical sing-song melody on this song. Everything about this song feels right, even the smooth sax solo towards the end of the song which comes off as nostalgic and charming rather than cheesy and overbearing. From Friedberger’s debut album, Last Summer.
The Sea Change by Wintercoats. Melbourne’s Wintercoats (aka James Wallace) plays lush, ambient orchestral folk-pop. A multi-instrumentalist (piano, vox, violin, glockenspiel, guitar, keyboards, ukulele, trumpet, and percussion), Wintercoats manages to keep the music spare, uncluttered and delicate; music that is perfect for a quiet meditative evening or a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Change by CHLLNGR. Some spacey astro-dub and reggae grooves from Copenhagen-based producer CHLLNGR (aka Steven Jess Borth II). Make sure to also check out the sci-fi inspired music video for this latest release and tracks from CHLLNGR’s debut full-length release, Haven, available on his SoundCloud page.
Damn by Dom. Infectious surf-rock grooves from this Worcester, MA indie-pop group. From the band’s most recent EP, Family Love. For fans of Girls, Best Coast, Surfer Blood and, of course, label mate Kylie Minogue.
Kale by Nerves Junior. Continuing my theme of songs or bands that “fell through the cracks” this year, welcome to the maudlin yet manic world of Nerves Junior. This Kentucky foursome plays intricate, textured music swathed in electronic rhythms and guitar effects. Reminiscent in some ways of Radiohead and mid career U2. From the band’s excellent debut album, As Bright As Your Night Light, which was named Album of the Year by the influential music blog Pretty Much Amazing.
