The Black Angels – Young Men Dead

Kick the weekend off right with this slow burning classic from The Black Angels, but be prepared because “Young Man Dead” will pump some serious diesel through your body with its hypnotic guitar line, punishing drums, and unforgiving bass.

AA Loves - McComy

McComy aka Chris McComas will take your ears on vacation with his gorgeous guitar-driven dream pop.

Light, breezy, and relaxing as hell, McComy feels like an ice cold six pack on a sweltering summer day.

Head over to bandcamp, where you can snag your free download of his latest EP.

Grace Jones

"Now when I enter a carriage, it almost empties. But there's always one brave enough to stay."
- Grace Jones

Marissa Nadler - The Wrecking Ball Company

Prepare to be haunted by Marissa Nadler’s ghoulish “The Wrecking Ball Company.”

Like the trapped spirit of a Southern belle brutally murdered by her lover, Nadler’s voice will linger in the air telling all of her tragic fate. Weaving a dark tale of lust and heartache with little more than her epic vocals, this Spartan track slowly builds in intensity driven solely by the artful use of resonance and a hypnotic finger-plucked guitar melody.

Stream the track below and be sure to keep an eye out for her upcoming album, Sister, which will be out on May 29^th via Box of Cedar.

US Royalty – Sleepy Eyes

Hell to the yes! US Royalty, those blessed indie rock gods, are back with a brand new track – well, brand new only to me as I’ve been living under a rock.

Released two weeks ago in the midst of the SXSW firestorm, “Sleepy Eyes” is a gorgeous folksy dreamer. Along the lines of “Monte Carlo” and “Equestrian” from their debut album Mirrors, it has that distinct Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac inspired vibe that they do so well, but US Royalty being US bloody Royalty, the track is built upon a subtle foundation of zinging blues rock guitar lines.

Listen below or head over to their website to score a free download.

Voxtrot – The Start of Something

Huzzah, it’s Friday and to celebrate this joyous and rare occasion that only comes once a week, check out Voxtrot’s “The Start of Something.”

Like a hazier version of the Lucksmiths, “The Start of Something” is rife with all the infectious goodness of the Smiths – something that just screams Good Times.

The Ghosts of Vegas – Saga Sig, Eugene McGuinness, and Topman

It’s no secret that I’m huge fan of mod style, so when I heard that the ever so dapper modster Eugene McGuinness teamed up with Saga Sig for a David Lynch/Hitchcock-inspired photo shoot in Vegas, I couldn’t help but share.

To borrow the words of Topman Magazine: “Shooting in the ultra-modern boutique Trafalgar Hotel, London we recreated the dreamlike feel of Twin Peaks, and enlisted the help of our two of the hottest new faces at international modeling agencies to be our spirit creatures. In our story, Eugene McGuinness answers a mystery phone call in the witching hour, and summons two ghosts of 1930s Vegas into his color-saturated present.”

Have a gander at a few of my favorites below or head over here to see the rest.

Delta Riggs - Money

Look out now, The Delta Riggs are back with a new hair-raising wall thumper. Taken from the band’s forthcoming EP Talupo Mountain Music Vol. 2, “Money” screams good times with its distinct southern blues tinted gospel rock.

Stream it below or head over to bandcamp where you can score a free copy.

The Preachers – Take a Card

The Preachers brew up a mighty strong dram of gospel infused blues rock.

More mellow than their hard-charging sonic cousins The Black Keys and the White Stripes and far more MoTown than their bluesy brethren Kill It Kid, The Preachers manage to carve out a great niche in the ever-expanding blues rock genre.

Stream the recently released “Take a Card” along with the B-Side “Threat” below or head over to bandcamp to download it.

Violens – Der Microarc

Those absurdly catchy New Wavers Violens recently released a new track from their forthcoming LP True.

A bit dreamier than their past releases, but “Der Microarc” is every bit as infectious with its catchy guitar hooks, ethereal vocals, and pure New Wave beats.

Watch the video below and be sure to keep an eye out for True, which is due out May 15^th via Slumberland.

Violens - Der Microarc from Slumberland Records on Vimeo.

AA Loves - ALPINE

It’s Friday and I can think of few other things more fitting to share than the smile-inducing ALPINE for today.

Think Phoenix with its contagious good times meets of Montreal with their surreal, out of this world antics, but with a dark minimal edge and you get ALPINE. Be prepared because lush layers, gorgeous harmonies, and catchy as hell rhythms will collide with your ear drums.

Check out the videos to “Hands” and “Villages” below, which are both visually arresting as hell.

AA Loves - Fun Guns

I can’t get enough of Fun Guns’ hard charging lo-fi rock. Oozing with old school rock and surf punk influences, Fun Guns channels the best of the Cramps, The Stooges, and X.

Listen to “Too Drunk To Drive” and “Hold Your Horses” below and be sure to head over to bandcamp to score a few of their killer albums.

The Stones Don’t Give a $H!T

Have a look at this amazing series of photos chronicling the Rolling Stones’ drug bust in 1967. From hours before the police raid to the trial and even after their conviction, Mick and Keith are unflappably cool throughout, showing not even the least bit of concern.

Head over to NME to see more.

The Men – Exdreams

Check out the glorious punk infected noise rock of The Men.

Harkening back to the giddy hard charging optimism of the 80s, The Men combine the melodic guitars of Dinosaur Jr. with the fiery diesel of Fugazi.

Listen to “Ex-Dreams,” the second single from their recently released LP Open Your Heart, which is out on Sacred Bones Records.

Seapony – Prove To Me

Just in time for the Spring thaw, Seapony is back with a new single, “Prove to Me.”

Taken from Hardly Art’s 5-year anniversary flexi, the track is perfect for kissing winter goodbye with its mellow, fuzzy 50s inspired sound.

Dan Auerbach’s World of Soul

Thank you Relix for getting Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys to share five of his favorite old soul 45’s. These five tracks will blow your mind and will easily be the best fifteen minutes or so of your week.

Sugar Pie Desanto “Going Back Where I Belong” (1960)

Harold Burrage “Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be (Since You’ve Been Gone)” (1965)

The Five Stairsteps “Danger! She’s A Stranger” (1967)

The Glass House “I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore” (1972)

David Ruffin “The Double Cross” (1969)

Bowie

The Drums – Days

Have a look at the new video for “Days” by The Drums.

The Drums have clearly studied their Smiths albums well as they have perfected that insanely catch melancholy sound. “Days” is a quiet New Wave banger filled with subtle longing. “Days go by, and I never needed you,” Jonathan Pierce croons repeatedly over an infectiously steady bass line.

Good ol’ sorrowful British new wave

AA Loves - Polock

It's official, Polock is my “Favorite Band From 2010 That I Wish I Had Heard About Because They Would Have Made My Best Of 2010 List” band.

Essentially a Spanish version of Phoenix, these five lads from Valencia churn out delicious indie pop gems that ninja their way into your brain. Sun kissed, blissed out, insanely catchy blah blah blah you get the idea, now just listen to the tracks below and be sure to grab their album Getting Down the Trees.

Savages – “City’s Full”

The cold, distant style of Joy Division lives on in Savages. Infusing that wondrous spacey sound with plenty of noise rock, this quartet from London will blow your mind.

Aside from the thrumming Tranmission-esque riff, the vocals draw you in with all their primordial glory – there’s something about those short screams and screeches that are oddly charming.

Watch the live performance of “City’s Full,” filmed at the band’s debut London show at Shacklewell Arms, below.

Phantogram – Don’t Move

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.