Aesthetes Anonymous

Phantogram – Don’t Move

2012-03-02T10:30:00.006-05:00

I can’t get enough of this live version of Phantogram’s “Don’t Move.” Taken from a radio session with Minnesota’s The Current, this dark electro-pop gem is perfect for a Friday.

Far more upbeat than their murky debut LP, Eyelid Movies, “Don’t Move” is lushly layered with bright beats, omnipresent synths, and a chorus that sears itself into your mind. Let’s not forget Sarah Barthel’s vocals – they’re evocative as ever with their breathy ghostliness.

Watch the video below and be sure to grab the Nightlife EP if you haven’t already.

2012-03-01T10:30:00.001-05:00

Delta Rae – Bottom of the River

2012-02-29T10:30:00.005-05:00

Raise the dead, set the water to hissing and smoking, and get the walls shaking in a mystical ceremony with Delta Rae.

Carried by a powerful four-part harmony and a beat derived from the walk of a condemned man in leg shackles, “Bottom of the River” is rife with voodoo, black magic, and the occult. But be warned though because with all their southern soul fire and mysticism, Delta Rae will cast a dangerous spell over you with their sultry incantations.

Watch the fantastic video for “Bottom of the River” below, and keep an eye out for their full length debut album due out later this year.

Zulu – Sistine Chapel

2012-02-28T10:30:00.006-05:00

Reeking of good ol’ fashioned English punk, Zulu will have you ready to throw a brick as you tear through the streets on a rampage. With deep baritone vocals, plenty of angst, and grinding rock riffs that will turn your bones to dust, Zulu brings some serious punk-infected rock to the table.

Listen to “Sistine Chapel” from their upcoming debut album via Stroll On below.

Work Drugs – License To Drive

2012-02-27T10:30:00.001-05:00

Check out the latest Work Drugs track, “License To Drive,” the first single from their forthcoming album.

An exuberant ode to the coming summer, “License To Drive” is rife with teenage nostalgia, taking you back to a time when having a driver’s license was a ticket to freedom. Wrapped in shimmering synths, a catchy hook, and an infectious beat, you can almost feel the wind in your hair and hear your closest friends laughing in the backseat as you soak in the sun.

Watch the fantastic video below, and keep an eye out for the new album.

Wolf Gang – The King and All His Men

2012-02-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

Helloooaaaa Friday!

I’ve had Wolf Gang on repeat for a while now and just had to share this song going into the weekend. Something about “The King and All His Men” just screams Good Times. It could have something to do with the New Wave synths, driving beats, and insanely catchy hook – or not, I’m not entirely sure.

Check out the video below and be sure to grab their fantastic LP Suego Faults.

Patti Smith – Camera Solo

2012-02-23T10:30:00.013-05:00

"Sometimes, if I crave silence I turn to my Land 250. The experience of taking Polaroids connects me with the moment. They are souvenirs of a joyful solitude.” – Patti Smith

(Photos taken from her recently published collection of polaroids titled Camera Solo.)

AA Loves - Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes

2012-02-22T10:30:00.004-05:00

With a name like Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes you know you’re in for a real treat, and the Rackettes do not disappoint.

Mixing in ol’ fashion 60’s pop, Motown soul, and boogie woogie blues, Clairy Browne is a fun sexy time personified. On tracks like “Lean Lanky Daddy” and “Champagne,” four part harmonies and backing vocals sing out with plenty of sass and sex appeal over mean bluesy bass lines and swingin’ rhythms. Meanwhile their live shows are a riot with plenty of double claps and choreographed dance moves to transport you to another world.

Check out “Baby Caught The Bus” and “Lean Lanky Daddy” below and be sure to grab their fantastic debut LP Baby Caught The Bus available via bandcamp.

Empire of the Moon - Transition

2012-02-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

While Empire of the Moon might sound a helluva lot like Empire of the Sun…well actually they do sound a bit like Empire of the Sun, except as the differences in their name imply, Empire of the Moon makes shimmering chill-wave more suited for relaxed evenings spent exploring the vast caverns of your mind than Empire of the Sun’s exuberant dance-floor bangers.

Filled with smooth beats, tranquil vocals, and a deep sense of distant longing, this five-piece Argentinian band will quickly become a staple of your “Fuck You Winter, I’m Staying In Tonight For A Relaxed Evening” playlist.

Have a listen to “Transition” below, taken from their recently released debut EP Saturday Children.

Anna Calvi – Naughty Girl (cover)

2012-02-20T10:30:00.002-05:00

Anna Calvi is a monster!!! On guitar that is…As evidence, look no further than her cover of Beyonce’s “Naughty Girl.” Like her version of “Wolf Like Me,” Calvi transforms Beyonce’s pop-piece into a dark, sensual voyage fraught with tension and danger.

Showing amazing restraint in her vocals, her sultry whispers create an uneasy sense of murky sexuality that’s frankly a bit terrifying. As you listen in stunned silence, straining your ears to catch her soft murmurs, she lures you into her mysterious world. The tension rises to a boiling point as she steadfastly refuses to raise her voice beyond the softest of purrs until suddenly she unleashes a wave of unhinged psychedelic guitar screeches and some mean shredding.

Aside from the god-awful lyrics on the chorus, the lines translate surprisingly well into her style of dark deviance.

Check out the live version of her cover, recorded at BBC’s Radio 1, below.

AA Loves: Such Hounds

2012-02-17T10:30:00.004-05:00

Pour yourself a nice glass of fallin’ down whiskey because Such Hounds is in the building today.

These Brooklyn indie folk rockers sound like they just crawled out of the Dust Bowl covered in misfortune, bourbon, and hard luck. With a sound resembling Deer Tick, their bitter sweet melodies smell of moonshine, stale beer, and nostalgia.

Warbling lyrics like “We laugh until we fall apart,” “I wonder why you left me on the side of the road to die all alone,” and “Time can never fix the things I’ve done even if I’ve done nothing wrong at all,” Such Hounds will instinctively make you reach for a cold one.

Stream their debut EP below or head over to Bandcamp to download your free copy.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://suchhounds.bandcamp.com/album/such-hounds"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Such Hounds by Such Hounds&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

2012-02-16T10:30:00.001-05:00

Mr. Cool himself.

Fort Lean - Sunsick

2012-02-15T10:30:00.017-05:00

Fort Lean, that knavish quintet from Brooklyn, is back with “Sunsick,” the lead single off their debut album.

These rapscallions have clearly been hard at work as their surf infused classic rock sound is as sharp as ever. Drenched in longing, “Sunsick” simmers slowly with its pounding rhythms, woeful lyrics, and Spaghetti Western-esque guitar lines.

Their album drops February 28^th via Neon Gold and Black Bell Records, but in the meantime you can score a free copy of “Sunsick” over at bandcamp. Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to grab their killer four-track EP.

For those of you in New York, the band is having record release party on the 28^th at the Santos Party House.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fortlean.bandcamp.com/album/sunsick-7-single"&amp;amp;gt;Sunsick - 7&amp;amp;amp;quot; Single by Fort Lean&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Tennis – Young and Old Album Stream

2012-02-14T10:30:00.003-05:00

Who needs a date on Valentine’s Day when you’ve got the brand new Tennis album streaming online for free? With plenty of charm and sex appeal, I daresay the new Tennis album will not disappoint as a partner for the evening.

Every bit as idyllic and sugary sweet as their last album, Young and Old takes Tennis’ sepia-tinted 50’s pop throwback sound and infuses it with heaping amounts of soul, a dash of longing, and more than enough catchy beats to go around.

For their latest album, the Denver couple enlisted the production help of the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney and his efforts have helped create an album that obliterates the concept of “sophomore slump.” Drawing on the eclectic influences that made Brothers such a memorable album, “Young and Old” incorporates the best of Motown with its soulful beats, moving rhythms, and bouncing pianos to highlight Tennis’ hazy sun-bleached melodies. As if that weren’t enough, Alaina Moore’s voice is lovelier than ever – so sugary sweet it melts like cotton candy as soon as it hits your ears.

Stream the album below and be sure to grab your copy today courtesy of Fat Possum.

Dirty Blonde Asylum - Fire

2012-02-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

Just came across the shoegazey delights of Dirty Blonde Asylum aka Jack Chamberlain.

With heavy doses of stylish moodiness, monstrous guitar riffs, and thunderous beats, “Fire” is mind-blowingly massive. Set to breath-taking footage of nuclear explosions in all their awesome destructive power, the video for “Fire” is the perfect backdrop for the track.

Chamberlain is currently at work on an EP, so we certainly have something to look forward to.

The Kills Tenth Anniversary Show Video Warmup

2012-02-10T10:30:00.004-05:00

Ever since The Kills announced their 10^th Anniversary show in NYC several months ago, I’ve been wracked with anxiety, breathlessly eager for the show to begin. Now that we’re only one day away from total blues rockin’ mayhem, I thought it only fitting to share a few of my favorite Kills videos that I’ve had on repeat over the last several weeks.

Enjoy.

For a special treat, check out this beautifully shot short film that gives you an inside glimpse into the band’s nervous pre-show jitters and what they do to get ready for a show.

Eugene McGuinness – Shotgun

2012-02-09T10:30:00.008-05:00

He’s baaacckkk! Eugene McGuinness that tasteful British rake, who’s been a perennial favorite of this blog, has just released another single from his forthcoming album.

Brutually rhythmic, mod twinged, and catchy as all hell, “Shotgun” is quickly going to join his last two singles, “Lion” and “Thunderbolt,” on repeat. In line with his previous two singles, “Shotgun” features a sleek cyclic Bond-esque bass line and McGuinness’s unique vocal acrobatics.

Have a look at the captivating video below as it will undoubtedly be the best 3 minutes and 15 seconds of your day.

We Are Serenades – Birds

2012-02-08T10:30:00.004-05:00

Obliterate those Winter blues with the smoked out hazy sounds of We Are Serenades (formerly Serenades).

Laid back, fuzzy, and ethereal this Swedish duo sounds like the last days of summer – bright and warm, but with twinges of melancholy and nostalgia as one clings desperately to the fleeting moments before the cold reality of life settles back in.

Watch the amazing videos for “Birds” and “Oceans” below, taken from their forthcoming album Criminal Heaven, which is set to drop April 17^th via Cherrytree Records/Interscope.

Cellophane Flowers – Yes I Am

2012-02-07T10:30:00.010-05:00

As soon as I began listening to Cellophane Flowers’ debut EP If I Was A Girl, I immediately regretted not checking it out sooner.

While much of the EP is bright and melodic, “Yes I Am” is a surprising departure. Hidden among the indie gems, this wolf in sheep’s clothing is lurking in wait, ready to turn your bones to dust with its great grinding rock riff. Like that rock goddess Abbe May, Francesca Corradini’s voice with all its tender anxiety is the perfect juxtaposition to the hard guitar lines, making your skin crawl with all her underlying angst.

Keep your eyes out for their debut album Staring At The World, which they just recently finished with the help of Dave Allen of The Cure and Human League.

In the meantime, check out the amazing fan vid for “Yes I Am,” which is probably the best way ever to watch the Dali/Disney masterpiece.

Seaside Postcards – Strange Days

2012-02-06T10:30:00.006-05:00

I recently got a very nice email from the talented lads behind Seaside Postcards and had to share.

For fans of Joy Division, this trio hailing from Pesaro, Italy is a must listen. Their dark indie sound is reminiscent of the stark moodiness of Ian Curtis and the gang with their minimal guitar lines and heavy bass. Rather than Curtis’ deep baritone, Seaside Postcards opts for hazy ethereal whispers, which make for quite the haunting effect.

Watch the video for “Strange Days” below and be sure to download your free copy of their self-titled EP here or stream it at bandcamp.

2012-02-03T10:30:00.004-05:00

Let’s Buy Happiness – Dirty Lakes

2012-02-02T10:30:00.005-05:00

Now that I’ve finally gotten a chance to listen to Let’s Buy Happiness, I’m kind of sort of a lot of completely obsessed with them.

This five piece from Newcastle makes some insanely catchy indie pop gems that put an ever widening grin on your face. While I’m not all that familiar with the scene in Newcastle, their melodic guitars, textured sound, and laidback exuberance, seems more like something out of Canada’s effervescent music scene a la Land of Talk or Reverie Sound Revue.

I suppose it doesn’t hurt that Sarah Hall’s adorable voice sounds a bit like Elizabeth Powell’s in that it’s full of folksy warmth yet has the cold distance of the stars (yea that was an odd way to put it, but there’s no other way to describe it).

Check out the fantastic video to “Dirty Lakes” below and head over to bandcamp to pick up their other singles and debut EP.

Brothers In Law – Holy Weekend

2012-02-01T10:30:00.005-05:00

If Smith Westerns and Yuck were to give birth to a love child while taking massive amounts of acid, I suppose they would sound a bit like Brothers In Law, a trio from Italy.

Taken from their second EP, Gray Days, “Holy Weekend” takes you for a darkly exuberant ride with its hazy vocals, driving beats, and spiraling guitar lines.

On a side note, is it just me or does the track’s opening riff remind you of Interpol’s “Lights?”

Anyways, stream the track below, and keep an eye out for the release of Gray Days on February 13^th via We Were Never Boring.

Brothers in Law - Holy Weekend by CF Records

AA Loves: Lily and the Parlour Tricks

2012-01-31T10:30:00.003-05:00

Be forewarned because you may not survive Lily and the Parlour Tricks’ gorgeous sound. Like the sultry southern sirens of O Brother Where Art Thou?, they will draw you in with their gorgeous three-part harmonies and deadly sex appeal only to turn one of your friends into a frog.

Okay not really, but you get the point – their sound is dangerously seductive. Drawing on a wide range of influences, Lily and the Parlour Tricks blend raucous old timey saloon jangles with the sugary sweetness of 1950s pop, the devilish cunning of a snake oil salesman, and a bit of Motown soul to create one of the most mesmerizing sounds I’ve heard in a long time.

Watch below as they fight off the brutal rhythms of a German nightclub with their sexy sound.

Exitmusic @ Death By Audio 1-27-12

2012-01-30T10:30:00.015-05:00

For nearly thirty minutes last Friday, Death by Audio was converted into a place of eerie worship as Exitmusic wove a ghostly spell over a packed room, leaving everyone in a nearly catatonic state of aural bliss.

Flooding the tiny smoke-filled venue with wave after wave of ethereal incantations, Exitmusic simply overwhelmed the senses. In stunned silence, the crowd hung on every one of Aleksa Palladino’s ghoulish wails in all of their morbid beauty. “Rip your eyes out tonight” she whispered dangerously on the show’s opener “The Sea” with a voice filled with yearning, desire, and anxiety.

Seemingly tranquil, each track was rife with roiling tension that lurked just below the surface waiting to explode and engulf unsuspecting listeners. Dragging the audience down into turbulent waters rife with lushly textured melodies and filling their lungs with thunderous drums, vaporous synths, and unearthly guitar lines, Exitmusic left little room for air.

Watch the chilling video for “The Sea” and “The Hours” below, and be sure to pick up their EP From Silence, which is out via Secretly Canadian.

The Sea from EXITMUSIC on Vimeo.

EXITMUSIC - "The Hours" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Troubadour Dali – Pale Glow

2012-01-27T10:30:00.007-05:00

For a dose of blues rock with a hazy, haunting twist, check out Troubadour Dali.

I recently got a chance to catch a few tracks from their latest album and within ten seconds it was pretty apparent that this sextet from St. Louis is somethin’ mighty fierce.

Combining grinding guitars with long psycahdelic instrumental breaks and fuzzy vocals, Troubadour Dali plays like a hardcore bluesy Americana version of Yuck.

Check out the live video for “Pale Glow,” taken from their second album Let’s Make It Right.

Saskwatch – Don’t Wanna Try

2012-01-26T10:30:00.004-05:00

Who better to carry on the torch of Motown soul than nine Aussies. Wait, what the what? I’m super cereal, Saskwatch is the real deal. Fellow Motown revivalists Alabama Shakes, which have been blowing up the innanets of late, are going to have to watch out because Saskwatch gives them a serious run for the money.

With a voice steeped in the soul fire of Aretha and Tammi Terrell, vocalist Nkechi Anele lights up “Don’t Wanna Try” like a four-alarm fire. Riding smoothly over doo wop bass lines, funky trumpets, and bouncing pianos, Saskwatch will send you to a magical land where everyone is named Curtis, Marvin, or Etta.

Stream the hot new 7” below along with the B-side “Pushin’ Me Away” below.

Living Days – If You Ever

2012-01-25T10:30:00.009-05:00

Unfurl the celebratory banners, let the trumpets blare, and put on your finest livery because Living Days is back with a brand new song.

Keeping in line with their insanely danceable EP Make Out Room, Vol. 1, “If You Ever” is an intense dark wave dance floor banger. Stephonik Youth’s hushed whispers are as sultry as ever and there are more than enough sparkly synths and shimmering beats to go around.

Have a listen below and stay tuned as it seems this Brooklyn five-piece has been busy in the studio.

IF YOU EVER by LIVING DAYS

2012-01-24T10:30:00.005-05:00

Stillwater Giants – Give Into Me

2012-01-23T10:30:00.006-05:00

Say goodbye to those winter blues with Stillwater Giants and their insanely catchy “Give Into Me.”

With songs drenched in surf and sun, this Australian quartet is contagiously fun. Their addicting guitar lines, bubbling harmonies, and rollicking beats have all the charm and innocence of 60s pop -- throw in a pinch of 70s funk and you have all the ingredients for a rollicking good time.

Check out the fun video for “Give Into Me” below and be sure to grab their fantastic self-titled debut EP.

He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister – Let’s Go (Live in the Snow)

2012-01-20T10:30:00.001-05:00

Losing feeling in your hands has never looked so fun. In an adorable video, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister do an acoustic version of “Let’s Go,” as they slowly freeze in the snow. Although it seems that even below freezing temperatures can do nothing to dampen their buoyant sound.

Seriously, listening to the warmth and blissful energy of their janglin river basin blues will make you forget for a brief moment that we are in the crushing depths of winter.

Check out the video below and be sure to pick up a copy of their spectacular self-titled debut EP over at bandcamp.

Anna Calvi – Wolf Like Me (Cover)

2012-01-19T10:30:00.002-05:00

I finally got a chance to listen to Anna Calvi’s mind-blowing cover of TV On the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me" and had to share.

This sultry songstress certainly knows how to kick a song off right. Her menacing distorted guitar screams immediately pull you into a freaky David Lynch-like world. Far from the upbeat original, Calvi opts to keep things mysterious and minimal. At times, it’s just her darkly sensual vocals and the heart-like pulse of the drums.

If this track doesn't set your heart racing, there is something seriously wrong with you. Watch the live video below or head over to Soundcloud where you can also catch the rest of the B-Sides for each of her singles released so far.

Dirty Little Rebels – Bones

2012-01-18T10:30:00.006-05:00

I don’t think I can say this any better, so I’ll let the band do all the talking.

“Dirty Little Rebels, a face melting, nipple hardening, sister corrupting, badass, boigur eating, horn throwing, mother seducing, brain polluting, kickass three piece band…”

With a description like that, it’s fairly obvious that these swaggering scoundrels' only concern is “making badass rock n roll.” Their songs reek of stale beer and sweat, that je ne sais quoi that makes a dingy basement venue the perfect place to listen to their brand of fuck off grimey garage rock that makes your ears bleed in a good way.

Listen to “Bones” below and head over to Triple J to grab your free copy.

Dirty Little Rebels - Bones by Aesthetes Anonymous

Drunk Mums – Eventual Ghost

2012-01-17T10:30:00.008-05:00

Not to be confused with the pornographically oriented DrunkMoms that pops up with a Google search, but equally as randy, the Drunk Mums of today’s post are five hard-charging scalliwags who make good ol’ fashion boozy blues rock.

Psychotic, brash, and unhinged – all the key elements of misspent youth and traits Drunk Mums possesses in droves. With a mean sound inspired by Junior Kimbaugh, Black Lips, and the Mummies, they mean business.

Their thrashing style is on full display on their debut EP Eventual Ghost and even more so in their music video for the title track. Watch these rapscallions spiral out of control over the jangling, intoxicated slow burner “Eventual Ghost.”

Check out the video below and be sure to head over to bandcamp to grab their debut EP.

Solar Solar – Walking Like Children

2012-01-16T10:30:00.003-05:00

Check out the adorable yet creepy sounds of Solar Solar.

They sound a bit like if Alice Glass of Crystal Castles turned into a ghost and you could only hear her charming voice from the great beyond and her backing band happened to be Portishead. Hmm, maybe not the best band analogy, but I think you get the point that I’m trying to make – Angela Drysdale has a killer voice that is exceptionally beautiful in its haunting crispness.

With stripped down beats, ethereal synths, and bass lines that pulse like a thumping heart, Solar Solar paints some serious dreamscapes, but unlike other dream pop bands, they come perilously close to veering off the edge into a hellish nightmare. Like Portishead, there is an underlying tension, malice, and ominous melancholy that make their tracks so captivating.

Their debut album Pilot is scheduled to drop on February 21st on Binary Entertainment, but in the meantime you can stream “Walking Like Children” below from the forthcoming album.

2012-01-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

Oleksandr Hnatenko

Cheerleader – Do What You Want

2012-01-12T10:30:00.011-05:00

The sunny lo-fi indie duo Cheerleader is back with “Do What You Want,” an amazing follow up to last year’s “New Daze.”

Donovan Rex and Max Friday of Connecticut know damn well how to churn out catchy jams and “Do What You Want” is no exception. With its whistled melody a la Peter, Bjorn, and John this track will burrow its way deep into your brain like an alien parasite – that is minus the whole brain exploding bit or the forced evil deed doing thing of course.

While we may be in the depths of winter, listening to this song certainly confuses thing a bit. With hazy vocals, a mellow acoustic guitar line, and dreamy synths, you’ll think a warm breeze was gently tousling your hair as you drive with the windows down.

More evidence that these two know what they’re doing: “Do What You Want” was released as part of Turntable Kitchen’s killer Pairings Box series. In a stroke of genius, each month with the Pairings Box, you’ll be sent a hand-number vinyl, a digital mixtape, and recipes and ingredients for a fantastic meal. What a phantasmagoric orgy of wonderfulness!

Before you get too excited and rush off to order your own Pairings Box, check out the track below, where it’s also available to download. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already listened to “New Daze,” then head over to Bandcamp where you can grab a free copy.

Chalk and Numbers – He Knew

2012-01-11T10:30:00.019-05:00

I originally came across Chalk and Numbers via their recently released Christmas jingle, but since I’m not a huge fan of Christmas jingles, I skipped straight to their kick ass EP He Knew.

While you might groan at the thought of another throwback 60s band, I assure you Brooklyn-based Chalk and Numbers does in fact kick a lot of ass. Well, not so much kick ass as make you want to hold hands with your girlfriend and skip through a sunny field full of frolicking puppies – but man do they do that like straight gangstas.

With catchy psychedelic organs, an adorable voice reminiscent of Zooey Deschanel, and all the good girl innocence of Sandy Olsen, Andrew Pierce and Sable Yong do not mess around when it comes to making sugary sweet indie pop gems that more than live up to their self-proclaimed influences of The Beach Boys and Dusty Springfield.

Stream the EP below or head over to bandcamp to grab your free copy.

<a href="http://chalkandnumbers.bandcamp.com/album/he-knew-ep">He Knew EP by Chalk And Numbers</a>

Paul

2012-01-10T10:30:00.002-05:00

I’ve always liked John better, but photos like this do make me pause to consider.

Via

Eugene McGuinness - Thunderbolt

2012-01-09T10:30:00.019-05:00

Check out “Thunderbolt,” the latest single from Eugene McGuinness’s forthcoming album.

With his last single “Lion,” McGuinness has quickly become one of my favorite artists and “Thunderbolt” is every bit as energetic, sleek, and eclectic as "Lion."

In a magnificent showcase of his vocal acrobatics, McGuinness rides nimbly over the chaotic din of teetering guitars, Beck-esque Odelay-era hallucinogenic beats, and a brass line that sounds like a cross between zany Roger Rabbit film noir and Sean Connery Bond films.

Stream the track below or head over to his Facebook page where you can trade a “like” for a free download.

Nick Maggio Is Killin It

2012-01-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

Nick Maggio, one of my favorite photographers, is killin it as usual -- this time for Lamb & Flag's launch campaign.

I suppose he sums up the concept pretty well: "'We're gonna be shooting in Malibu for three days, sleeping in an Airstream, and just having fun.' When a company sends you a concept like this one, you say yes."

To see the rest head over to A Time To Get.

AA Loves - Filthy Boy

2012-01-05T10:30:00.007-05:00

With two band members going by the name of Morrissey, these saucy south Londoners more than live up to their namesake.

Putting a riotously hilarious spin on tragedy, Filthy Boy details with lucid clarity humanity’s worst transgressions primarily in regards to the opposite sex. Dark, yet with a massive dose of cheeky irony, this lot will have you rolling on the floor despite the gloomy subject matter.

For instance, on “Waiting On the Doorstep” in a deep a deep baritone reminiscent of Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand they croon, “You’re looking pretty through the window magnificently kneeling between those men/I can’t help but think your lips are so soft as you get up off your knees and wipe your chin.”

Stream “Waiting On the Doorstep” along with a few other choice selections, or head over to their bandcamp to score some free downloads.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://filthyboy.bandcamp.com/track/waiting-on-the-doorstep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Waiting On The Doorstep by Filthy Boy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://filthyboy.bandcamp.com/track/biggest-fan-ever"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Biggest Fan Ever by Filthy Boy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://filthyboy.bandcamp.com/track/naughty-corner"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Naughty Corner by Filthy Boy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

2012-01-04T10:30:00.003-05:00

AA Loves – King Krule

2012-01-03T10:30:00.001-05:00

Evidence the world is cruel place – the fact that Archie Marshall, the seventeen year old behind King Krule (formerly Zoo Kid), is far more talented than you will ever be at a far younger age.

Evidence God exists – the fact that Archie Marshall makes insanely good jams like “Out Getting Ribs” that punch you in the chest and leave you emotionally winded. Oh God, the mind shattering conundrum!

Just listening to him discuss his influences makes me want to bury my head in shame.

“A lot of the guitar lines are influenced by New York No Wave, but the chords are always influenced by Chet Baker songs. And Django Reinhardt! My favorite guitarist. Then there’s a few MCs that are actually quite good, like Leaf Dog. Also I’m quite fond of Josef K too.”

I mean what frickin seventeen year old talks like that! He didn’t even mention the heavy doses of Gil Scott-Heron, Nujabes, and The Roots oozing from his tracks.

Watch “Out Getting Ribs” and “The Noose of Jah City,” and then think about what the fuck you’re doing with your life and where all that time went.

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T10:30:00.020-05:00

Hope everyone has a fantastic and sexy New Year's Eve filled with La Dolce Vita-esque shenanigans and tomfoolery.

Kitty, Daisy, & Lewis – Don’t Make A Fool Out Of Me

2011-12-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

Check out the stylish grooves of “Don’t Make A Fool Out of Me,” from Kitty, Daisy, & Lewis.

With plenty of super cool mod references, the track is packed full of sexy 60s spy vibes but the “boom boom bap” throwback hip hop beat really pushes it over the top.

Watch the video below and be sure to check out the rest of their album Smoking in Heaven as well.

MC5

2011-12-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

via

Worship

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

Bob Willoughby

via A Time To Get

Destroy All Televisions

2011-12-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

I don’t know why but this video of Lucy Rose, who occasionally joins Bombay Bicycle Club on vocals, destroying a television Office Space style is oddly gratifying.

On that note, merry Christmas!

The King

2011-12-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

via

Top 5 Spontaneous Dance Party Starting Jams of 2011

2011-12-21T10:30:00.009-05:00

#5 New Division - Nocturnal

New Wave meets shiny disco bangers, what’s not to love?

#4 My Tiger My Timing – Endless Summer

Armed with this jam, it will feel like summer never actually left.

#3 Justice – Civilization

It takes a little while, but when the track hits its stride, damn do those two Frenchmen know how to light a room on fire.

#2 Toro Y Moi – Still Sound

When that silky smooth 70s funk hits your ear, your feet will know what to do.

#1 Black Light Dinner Party – Gold Chain

Big beats, sparkly synths, and Ron Jeremy – what else do you need for a party?

Beatle Mania

2011-12-20T10:30:00.001-05:00

The Beatles + 3 Girls - Jerry Schatzberg, 1964

via

Top ten albums of 2011

2011-12-19T10:30:00.033-05:00

Yup, it’s that time of the year again, so without further ado, here are my top ten albums of the year.

#10 Dirty Beaches – Bad Lands

If Wong Kar Wai had a band, it would sound a lot like Dirty Beaches. Filled with 1950s cool, lovesick yearning, and all the raw emotions and frenetic longing of a Wong Kar Wai classic mixed with the dark malice of David Lynch, Alex Zhang Hungtai successfully creates a unique sound and aesthetic unlike anything I’ve seen or heard in a long time.

#9 Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps – Little Wind

With a voice every bit as adorable as their name, Caroline Smiths and the Goodnight Sleeps have more than enough folksy charm to spread around. Like Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down, these indie-folk rockers know how to transform quiet songs into foot stomping danceable goodness.

"Calliope" - Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps by PlanetaryOnlinePR

#8 Abbe May – Design Desire

The third album from this hard rocking Aussie lass is somethin’ mighty fierce. Abbe May’s monstrous rock riffs will swallow you alive, but underneath that tough veneer lies an unspeakable tension. There is so much energy and emotion coiled tightly below the surface that each track fills you with anxiety as you wait in wide-eyed fear for it to explode like a jack in the box. If that doesn’t do it for you, her powerful voice will. Unlike Allison Mosshart, Janis Joplin, and other rock goddesses, Abbe May’s voice is soft, pure, and angelic. Her hushed whispers prove to be an unsettling juxtaposition to her vicious guitar playing.

#7 Big Deal – Lights Out

Consisting of a guy, a girl, and two guitars – one electric and acoustic – you couldn’t get more basic than Big Deal. Their minimalist sound immediately earned them comparisons to The XX, and deservedly so. In candid lovelorn songs, these two lay their hearts bare without sounding heartsy or sappy – in fact they even manage to come off a bit like badasses, like it’s cool to talk about your emotions.

#6 Army Girls EP

#6 Army Girls – Close To The Bone

I know I’m cheating here because it’s not a full-length album, but I just love Army Girls so much that I couldn’t resist. Compared to other guitar and drum duos, Army Girls has a surprisingly lush sound. In particular Carmen Elle draws you in with her powerfully captivating voice that shifts with uncanny ease between soothing coos and raw spitfire. Their EP is filled with some of the catchiest and most melodic songs I’ve heard in quite some time, and it is certainly a good indicator that an amazing album will soon follow.

ARMY GIRLS - THE POWER from untold city on Vimeo.

#5 Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See

Abandoning the dreary English weather for the sun-soaked beaches of California for their latest album, the Artic Monkeys have opted for a more mellow doo-wop 50’s vibe more fitting of their new climate. Their sound is as sharp as ever with cheeky songs like “Love is like a Laserquest” and lyrics like “thundersuckle fuzz cannon.” Since their initial album, the band has become increasingly precise and tightly orchestrated to the point that each song has become pure genius compacted into four minutes.

#4 Chapel Club – Palace

Take a trip back to 1980s Manchester with Chapel Club. With heavy doses of The Smiths and Joy Division, these Brits pay homage to the best of 80’s New Wave by replicating it perfectly while adding a touch of modern sensibility. So hurry up and throw on a chunky sweater and a pair of acid-washed jeans and jump into the Morrissey time portal.

#3 The Kills – Blood Pressures

If you haven’t heard this album yet, it’s time to get baptized in hellfire, cheap whiskey, and cigarette smoke. The Kills are without a doubt one of the most badass rock duos out there and Jaime Hince proves once again that he’s one of the meanest guitar-slingers in the West. One listen to the “Gimme Shelter”-esque riff on “Baby Says” and you’ll be knocked down faster than a rickety fence in a hurricane. While not as melodic as “Midnight Boom” and not as in your face fuck off intense as “Keep On Your Mean Side,” their latest album sits in between finding a nice balance of simmering blues and explosive rock.

#2 Voxhaul Broadcast – Timing Is Everything

For thirteen glorious tracks, Voxhaul Broadcast will punish your speakers with bleedingly good indie rock. Throw in a pinch of southern blues rock, a dash of soul, a smidge of falsetto, and some garage rock to boot and you get one helluva party.

#1 US Royalty – Mirrors

Like their name implies, US royalty takes the best of Americana and distills it into a potent bourbon that will have you instantly wobbling. Drawing on Southern blues, raw Detroit rock, and the optimism and vitality of the West, these indie rockers have put out an album that will put some serious iron in your veins. From jangly river basin blues to dreamy folk and even an insanely catchy indie banger to boot, this album covers a lot of ground, but underneath it all lays a strong blues tradition steeped in sorrow, whiskey, and howling guitars. One listen to “The Desert Won’t Save You” and you’ll understand why US Royalty has quickly become one of my favorite bands.

To quote an earlier review of mine, “A powerful lone guitar rolls out a nice delta blues progression while vocalist John Thornley howls mournfully and the drums beat out a rhythm that sound like someone was keeping time using a good ol’ fashioned hollow crate. This nice little interplay slowly builds to a crescendo until Paul Thornley unleashes a savage barrage of Black Keys-esque guitar lines. Then, at a moment's notice, the attack disappears and we’re left with the quiet rumblings of the bass guitar. This build and retreat pattern happens repeatedly, gaining in ferocity each time for nearly seven minutes of gloriousness.”

The King

2011-12-16T10:30:00.008-05:00

Via The Impossible Cool

Said the Whale Live Set @ Noise Coalition

2011-12-15T10:30:00.005-05:00

I know it’s only 10:30 and a lot can happen today, but I’m just going to go ahead and declare that I’m totally hash tag winning.

To what do I owe this joyful exuberance? Why, none other than Said The Whale and Noise Coalition. The two wonderful groups of people have teamed up to bring us a live Said The Whale set from the Noise Coalition studios in Costa Mesa, CA.

Featuring a smattering of jams old and new including “Lines,” “Goodnight Moon,” and “Big Sky,MT,” Canadian Indie-folk rockers Said The Whale definitely brought it, and if it was a dance-off somebody would have definitely been served.

Watch the entire live set below, so that you too can also be hash tag winning.

2011-12-14T10:30:00.001-05:00

Bleeding Knees Club – Have Fun

2011-12-13T10:30:00.006-05:00

Bleeding Knees Club is the perfect name for a trio of hard-charging rapscallions.

Overloading their songs with plenty of mischievous adolescent punk surf rock a la Smith Westerns these similarly rambunctious skirt-chasing lads from Australia focus on the finer things in life like booze, women, and having fun. In fact on the track “Have Fun,” the chorus is simply “I just wanna have fun."

With pretty much all of their songs clocking in at less than three minutes, each track is a frenetic blur that plays like your wildest summer in high school replete with illegal substances, teenage angst, and sexual frustration.

Check out “Have Fun” and “Teenage Girls” below.

Oi Oi!

2011-12-12T10:30:00.010-05:00

Liverpool, 1977

Via

San Cisco – Awkward

2011-12-09T10:30:00.017-05:00

San Cisco is back with a brand new video for “Awkward,” the lead track from their forthcoming EP of the same name.

Every bit as bright and cheeky as their last EP, but rather than celebrating the joyousness of summer, this time around they opt to tackle the ego-crushing confusion of interactions with the opposite sex. With bright guitars, a breezy melody, and dueling male/female vocals that sound a bit like CSS, San Cisco dissects the morning after an awkward date with a rather persistent male suitor.

Have a look at the video below and keep an eye out for the Awkward EP which is scheduled to drop in February of next year.

The Photography of Claire Wise

2011-12-08T10:30:00.001-05:00

I normally detest children’s photography. I would rather be accountable by punishment of death by torture for having to teach a litter of newly born kittens to wrap Christmas gifts than to ever have to view another Anne Geddes photo of children posed with baskets of adorable kittens perched on dolphins playing with iPads, which is why Claire Wise’s photography is all the more startling.

As a children’s photographer, she manages to escape the trap of saccharine sweetness and still create bright, joyous photos. Rather than photographing children, her images capture childhood – a critical distinction that saves her from falling into the Ann Gedes honey trap of puppies and rainbows. She does not treat her subjects as mere vessels of innocence and cuddly cuteness, instead they are viewed as cognizant human beings and she simply brings out their natural fun-loving side.

Have a look at a few of my favorites below to see what I mean, or head over to her site to view her portfolio.

Old Wives’ Tale - Momma Devil

2011-12-07T10:30:00.005-05:00

Konichiwa bitches! It’s time to rock your face off with the mean sounds of Old Wives’ Tale.

Have a listen to “Momma Devil,” a heavily blues inspired track that opens with an emotive Son House-esque a capella fraught with yearning, tension, and want before melting into some good ol’ thrashing rock.

Taken from their second LP Late-Night Paraphernalia, which is available now via bandcamp.

<a href="http://oldwivestale.bandcamp.com/track/momma-dev-l">Momma Devìl by Old Wives' Tale</a>

Divine Justice

2011-12-06T10:30:00.002-05:00

Via

Quiet Lights – No More Canyons (Brutalist School remix)

2011-12-05T10:30:00.019-05:00

Now that it’s Monday and work has kindly punched us in the face, have a listen to the remix of Brooklyn shoe gazers Quiet Lights’ “No More Canyons,” which will either make you feel fantastic or have you wallowing in introspective self-loathing.

Infusing the lushly textured and colossal guitars of “No More Canyons” with a hypnotic beat, Hsi-Chang Lin of The Brutalist School opts to bring out the haunting loneliness of the original in a stripped down minimalist version.

Cue the “It’s The Muthafuckin Remix” siren and have a listen below. Be sure to also check out the original as well if you haven’t already.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://quietlights.bandcamp.com/track/no-more-canyons"&amp;amp;gt;No More Canyons by Quiet Lights&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Iggy

2011-12-02T10:30:00.002-05:00

Via

Morning Claws – Fight For Your Friends

2011-12-01T10:30:00.007-05:00

Morning Claws’ latest EP Pet Storms, Ancient Clouds is filled with dreamy Irish New Wave rock that harkens back to a time when The Edge had hair and Bono wasn’t gallivanting around the world spreading Christmas cheer.

With driving beats, shoe-gazey guitars, and dreamy vocals, “Fight For Your Friends” is pretty damn good.

Listen below and download the track for free.

The EP officially drops December 5^th, but in the meantime you can stream the album on Bandcamp.

Vicious

2011-11-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Odonis Odonis – Ledged Up

2011-11-29T10:30:00.016-05:00

Widening pupils; a glint of steel; a stream of red; electrical synapses firing for the last time; a shadowy figure flees the scene. As a dizzy acid-fueled ode to Hitchcock, “Ledged Up,” the latest video from Odonis Odonis, hits all the right notes.

Drawing on the psychedelic sounds of the 60s, infused with stylish mod fixings, and roiling in surf rock, “Ledged Up” plays like a frenetic chase scene from a retro spy thriller so it’s no wonder they chose to go with a Hitchcock theme for the album.

Have a look at the video below courtesy of Rolling Stone, and if you like what you hear, their album Hollandaze is out now.

Eugene McGuinness – Lion

2011-11-28T10:30:00.007-05:00

Eugene McGuinness’s absurdly catchy new single “Lion” has been blaring from my speakers for a while now and I couldn’t help but share.

Taken from his forthcoming album to be released next year, this is certainly an indicator that good things will soon follow.

From punk guitar lines to a surf rock bass line, abstract Bowie-esque lyrics, and 50’s mod stylings, “Lion” is entirely unpredictable and insanely fun as a result. Although, I suppose it’s not entirely unexpected considering that it’s from the cheeky, genre-bending McGuinness.

Check out the video below which is equally as wild and random as the track. In particular, the wild coordinated gyrations of the four back up dancers will prove amusing to enthusiastic appreciators of moving your body rhythmically.

If you like what you can hear you can trade your email address for a free download of the song on his site.

A Very Burroughs Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:30:00.012-05:00

“Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.”

-Burroughs

Lissy Trullie – Madeleine

2011-11-23T10:30:00.010-05:00

Fantastic news! Lissy Trullie is back with “Madeleine,” a teaser from her long awaited self-titled debut album, which is set to drop on March 6^th via Downtown.

In a bit of a departure from her killer EP, Self-Taught Learner, Trulie eschews her energetic fuck off post-punk sound and instead opts for a slow burner filled with buzzy distortion, a Velvet Underground vibe, and her characteristic deadpan vocals.

Listen below or head over to RCRD LBL to grab your own copy.

Jean Shrimpton

2011-11-22T10:30:00.002-05:00

Black Light Dinner Party – Gold Chain

2011-11-21T10:30:00.008-05:00

What better way to start your week off then with the new video to Black Light Dinner Party's glittery dance-floor banger “Gold Chain.”

Packed full of 80s shimmer, sparkling synths, relentless optimism, and an insanely catchy beat there’s a lot to love here. Not to be outdone, the video is equally loveable with a cameo by Ron Jeremy rockin the illustrious gold chain of the title.

Despite only having a few tracks to their name, BLDP has been blowin up the interwebs and their debut record is sure to set your speakers on fire. The word on the street is that the band is still finishing up the record, but there’s no details on when it’s set to drop.

Until then, check out “Gold Chain” as well as the video to “Older Together,” another Dreambear produced goodie.

Black Light Dinner Party - Gold Chain from dreambear on Vimeo.

Occupy Vintage

2011-11-18T10:30:00.018-05:00

Douglas Fairbanks hoists Charlie Chaplin at the foot of the old sub-treasury building during a rally to promote Liberty bonds, which were sold to help support the U.S. World War I effort - Wall Street, 1918

Michael Caine - A Bourgois Nightmare

2011-11-17T10:30:00.015-05:00

"I'm every bourgeois nightmare - a Cockney with intelligence and a million dollars."

-Michael Caine

Y Luv – Earthquakes

2011-11-16T10:30:00.008-05:00

I’m in a pretty damn good mood right now thanks to “Earthquakes,” the latest single from Y Luv.

With massive hooks, a catchy melody, and warm guitars, the track is uplifting indie pop at its best.

According to Freddy Janney, the band’s frontman, the song was inspired by his morbid musings on the big California quake and the frivolity of envying celebrities.

“It made me realize how fragile life is. It got me thinking about what really matters. Also, while I was freaking out about an earthquake, my sister and her friends were looking at a magazine and freaking out (as much or more) about how amazing someone’s body was and how they would never look like that and never be as happy as that person . . . I guess it’s all relative,” Janney said. “It’s a song that recognizes the world might fall but celebrates that it hasn’t.”

Listen below.

Earthquakes by Y LUV

Joe

2011-11-15T10:30:00.000-05:00

Via Only The Young Die Young

Work Drugs – Flying Zambo

2011-11-14T10:30:00.008-05:00

Aurora Lies, Work Drugs’ hot debut album, is an instant sexy party waiting to erupt from your speakers.

Dark disco beats, shimmering synths, and ethereal effects create a devastating mix of moody, chill wave stereo bangers.

According to the band, the album was written during an adventure on the high seas that had been waylaid by rough weather.

“Encountering rough seas, the S.S. Flying Zambo had to take shelter in the Drake Passage for a number of days. While enjoying some delicious Chilean wine, the Work Drugs crew wrote a number of songs to help fight home sickness. These are those songs...”

The newly released album is perfect for relaxing inside, lounging about, and having a good time, so sit back and have a listen to “Flying Zambo."

Head over to bandcamp to get the full album for some unabated goodness.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://workdrugs.bandcamp.com/track/flying-zambo"&amp;amp;gt;Flying Zambo by Work Drugs&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

AA Loves – Alabama Shakes

2011-11-11T10:30:00.011-05:00

With a sound straight from 50s Detroit, Alabama Shakes will immediately transport you to another era.

Far from being just another throwback band calling upon the ghosts of Motown past, the Shakes are the real thing. In the same way that Raphael Saadiq and Amy Winehouse (RIP) channel the soul fire of Lady Ella, David Ruffin, Aretha Franklin, and Smokey Robinson, Brittany Howard is a rare gem that can wail with the best of them.

On “Hold On" and "I Found You" listen as the raw passion purrs from Howard’s throat as she soars smoothly over the doo wop bass line and bright guitars.

Grab their self-titled debut EP available on bandcamp now, and be sure to keep an eye on them as they are quickly becoming indie darlings with the likes of Alex Turner raving about them.

<a href="http://alabamashakes.bandcamp.com/track/hold-on">Hold On by Alabama Shakes</a>

<a href="http://alabamashakes.bandcamp.com/track/i-found-you">I Found You by Alabama Shakes</a>

Hello World!

2011-11-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Tennis System – Hey, We Tried

2011-11-09T10:30:00.005-05:00

Now that the East Coast has already been buried in snow and temperatures have dropped to levels that warrant two pants, I think I’m totally justified in bringing out the hazy sun-kissed sounds of Tennis System.

With traces of shoe-gaze, “Hey, We Tried’s” sunny disposition quickly spirals out of control in a growing vortex of fun, energy, and swirling guitars and synths that inevitably pulls you under.

Check out the video below and try not to think that it will be another 6 months before you get to experience anything remotely like it.

Bowie

2011-11-08T10:30:00.004-05:00

Little Scream – The Heron and The Fox (Work Drugs Remix)

2011-11-07T10:30:00.008-05:00

Check out this 80s-licious remix of Little Scream’s “The Heron and the Fox.”

Infusing the original with glittery beats and a twinkling melody a la Cyndi Lauper, Work Drugs will have you dancing all day – a stark difference from the quiet-folksiness of the original.

Stream and download the remix below.

Enjoy.

Little Scream - The Heron and the Fox (Work Drugs Smooth Mix) by Work Drugs

Agyness

2011-11-04T10:30:00.007-04:00

Have a look at this beautifully shot video of Agyness Deyn discussing her first heartbreak.

She doesn’t say anything deep, let alone novel, and frankly the montage is a bit cliché, but that quick grin she gives at 1:03 is utterly enchanting and worth far more than the one minute and 20 seconds it takes to watch this.

Memories of the Future

2011-11-03T10:30:00.001-04:00

Neil DaCosta

The More You Ignore Me

2011-11-02T10:30:00.023-04:00

Originally, this was just going to be a photo post, but when it comes to Morrissey, how can you resist throwing in a song.

Have a listen to "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get"

Splash

2011-11-01T10:30:00.001-04:00

Peter Lindbergh

Gauntlet Hair – Top Bunk

2011-10-31T10:30:00.007-04:00

I can’t quite figure out what it is about Gauntlet Hair, but I can’t get enough of their recently released self-titled debut album.

Each track from these Denver Indie rockers is a kaleidoscopic swirl of influences pulling in elements of dream rock, dance floor bangers, meandering shoe-gaze, and the larger than life guitar lines of Durutti Column, which Andy, Gauntlet Hair’s guitarist, lists as a major influence.

The juxtaposition of massive bass-laden beats and cavernous reverb-laden guitars is unsettling, in that you don't know whether to dance or to sequester yourself in a room doing massive amounts of mind altering drugs.

Check out “Top Bunk” and the far more danceable “Keep Time” below. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Gauntlet Hair "Top Bunk" by DOJAGSC

Gauntlet Hair "Keep Time" by DOJAGSC

Girls Names - Black Saturday

2011-10-28T10:30:00.010-04:00

I'm absolutely in love with "Black Saturday" from Belfast's Girls Names!

Listen below for an amazing dose of Smiths-tinged melancholy indie-pop.

Girls Names - Black Saturday by Tough Love

James

2011-10-27T10:30:00.001-04:00

Via

Slowdance – Cake

2011-10-26T10:30:00.002-04:00

Have a listen to the sexy francophonic pop of Slowdance.

With throwback nods to France Gall and the sleek mod stylings of the 60’s, Slowdance is sexy French pop at its best.

Taken from their debut EP Lights & Color, released last month, check out “Cake” and “Les Rains” below.

If that isn’t enough head over to their bandcamp to download the whole EP for free. Yup, that’s right FREE!

<a href="http://slowdancewith.us/track/cake">Cake by Slowdance</a>

<a href="http://slowdancewith.us/track/les-reines">Les Reines by Slowdance</a>

Bowie

2011-10-25T10:30:00.002-04:00

Via A Conversation on Cool

AA Loves: Jesus Les Filles

2011-10-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

Mixing 60s French pop a la France Gall with good ol’ garage rock, Jesus Les Filles is the perfect soundtrack for those fun and sexy times in your life.

Grinding guitars, pounding drums, and colossal rhythms are a jarring but not unpleasant juxtaposition to the bouncy melodies that sound like they’re from a Serge Gainsbourg duet.

Listen to “Le Dernier Album de Beck” and “A Demain” below taken from the French-Canadian band’s split EP.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jesuslesfilles.bandcamp.com/track/le-dernier-album-de-beck"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Le dernier album de Beck by Jesuslesfilles&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jesuslesfilles.bandcamp.com/track/demain"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;À demain by Jesuslesfilles&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

The Art of Viktor Hertz

2011-10-21T10:30:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled across the amazing graphic design work of Viktor Hertz.

With stark gray backgrounds, Hertz takes literal interpretations of song titles and turns them into cheeky posters.

Have a look at a few of my favorites below.

First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar

2011-10-20T10:30:00.003-04:00

“The Lion’s Roar” by First Aid Kit has me absolutely speechless.

These two sisters have uncannily powerful voices that ring of soul and candor. The folksy finger-plucked guitar melody carries a slight mournful edge as do their voices, yet there is an overwhelming sense of belligerence as there is a stark edge to their vocals.

In their Dylan-esque story telling, they confess to cowardice while maintaining a bellicose stance and pulling it off at that – no easy feat. Like confessions from the guilty, these two sisters draw forth powerful emotions hidden deep within you.

Listen to “The Lion’s Roar” below and keep an eye out for their LP which is due out on December 5^th.

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar by Wichita Recordings

Last Weekend of Summer

2011-10-19T10:30:00.033-04:00

Just thought I would share some long overdue photos from my last summer road trip of the year and one of the greatest weekends in recent history.

Burroughs

2011-10-18T10:30:00.001-04:00

“I am getting so far out one day I won't come back at all.”

- William S. Burroughs

Fidlar - Oh

2011-10-17T10:30:00.003-04:00

Explore the softer side of punk with Fidlar.

Drawing on both the sun-soaked beach culture of Los Angeles as well as its rich tradition of fuck it all punk music, Fidlar sounds a bit like the unholy mating of Best Coast and The Clash.

If that isn’t reason enough to listen to them, the fact that their name is an acronym for “Fuck it dog, life’s a risk” should provide even more incentive.

Listen to “oh” below and if you’re in New York, you can see them live as part of CMJ on the 18^th and 19^th.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fidlar.bandcamp.com/track/oh-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Oh by FIDLAR&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

New Division - Opium [Quiet Lights Remix]

2011-10-14T10:30:00.005-04:00

Brooklyn shoe-gaze rockers Quiet Lights have dusted the glittery sheen off of New Division’s dance-floor banger “Opium” and turned it into a slow-burning high fitting for the track’s namesake.

With dark bass lines, a moody synth line, and reverb-laced vocals coalescing and fading out, Quiet Lights’ version of “Opium” is perfect to usher in the cool days of Autumn.

Listen to the remix as well as the original below, and if you like what you hear be sure to check out Quiet Lights’ debut EP The Big Fear out on Old Flame as well as New Division’s debut album Shadows.

The New Division : Opium (quiet lights remix) by Quiet Lights

Opium by The New Division

Keith

2011-10-13T10:30:00.007-04:00

Via Firecats

Link Wray - Rumble

2011-10-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

Nothing like the sounds of good ol' early rock n' roll.

Check out Link Wray's "Rumble" below.