[MP3] Nada Surf: “Electrocution” (Bill Fox cover)

Well will you look at that? We finally get a Nada Surf track available for download from their new covers album, if i had a hi-fi, which I covered in some detail (including a bevy of supporting tour dates) at the beginning of January. It’s their warm take on Bill Fox‘s “Electrocution”. The Nada Surf… Continue reading [MP3] Nada Surf: “Electrocution” (Bill Fox cover)

Butterfly Bones

Back in December, my brother-in-law told me to go listen to a song called “XOXO” by the band Butterfly Bones. “Sure,” I told him as I carelessly typed it into my phone. Well months later, he reminded me of the song and after suffering the embarrassment of the “Who? What? Did I write that in… Continue reading Butterfly Bones

[MP3] M.I.A. vs Vampire Weekend: “Giving Up The Sunshowers”

As if we need more indie/pop mashups (hint: we do), The Hood Internet has pit M.I.A.’s “Sunshowers” against Vampire Weekend’s “Giving Up The Gun,” in a wonderful little pop-friendly tune. Granted, this is no “No One Womanizes Like You,” but it’s still great. In this post-Girl Talk world*, it’s rare to find good mashups and… Continue reading [MP3] M.I.A. vs Vampire Weekend: “Giving Up The Sunshowers”

Cedarwell

Cedarwell is a Wisconsin folk band sent my way by Sebastian over at the lovely Common Folk Meadow blog after I commented on his glowing review of their latest, forthcoming March album, A Stone, A Leaf, A Door. The ever-evolving Cedarwell crew, fronted by Erik G. Neave, sent me a promo copy of the record,… Continue reading Cedarwell

Efterklang sounds great, but shallow on Magic Chairs

Danish band Efterklang is known for their ever-evolving, hook-free music, and their third album is no deviation. While the band’s first album, Tripper, earned comparisons to the likes of Sigur Rós, and their second, Parades, moved them closer to bands like Arcade Fire, Magic Chairs might be a step toward the string and horn-heavy Sufjan Stevens.… Continue reading Efterklang sounds great, but shallow on Magic Chairs

[MP3] She & Him: “Thieves”

The Brand New Fancy Stereogum premiered the latest single from the absurdly adorable Zooey Deschanel/M. Ward duo, She & Him, this morning and it’s just as absurdly adorable as you imagined. The cutesy folksy duo is gearing up the release of their sophomore album, Volume Two, so be prepared for another wonderful onslaught of Zooey’s… Continue reading [MP3] She & Him: “Thieves”

Shearwater does Shearwater pretty well on The Golden Archipelago

To be honest, at this point in their career, I’m not expecting anything particularly earth-shattering from Shearwater. Figuratively, that is. I don’t expect them to toy with their awesome, awesome formula too much, and on The Golden Archipelago, they deliver. Literally, I want Shearwater’s music to shatter earth, every sustained falsetto from Jonathan Meiburg and… Continue reading Shearwater does Shearwater pretty well on The Golden Archipelago

Electric President’s The Violent Blue strikes at our core

We’re in a dark cellar. The only light we see is rays from the tiny window in the corner that show the floating dust. I can barely catch your image through squinted eyes. I take one step closer, you take one step back. Progress? Maybe. My strides are longer than yours. I take another step… Continue reading Electric President’s The Violent Blue strikes at our core

[MP3] The New Pornographers: “Your Hands (Together)”

New New Pornographers?? “SHUT UP” –The 1980s. It’s the truth! Matador has released the first look at the band’s new album, Together, out May 4. The song is “Your Hands (Together)” and despite it’s repetitive nature, it’s a solid first single and a hopeful look into the new album. I mean, if this is just… Continue reading [MP3] The New Pornographers: “Your Hands (Together)”