More new Atlas Sound, "Artificial Snow"

Bradford Cox never, ever stops. Through his blog, he's releasing another free song, one that he recorded for a Christmas mixtape for a friend. You can download it, and all of its versions, for free here.

New Bright Eyes song

That's right! Connor Oberst bounced around from performing as Bright Eyes, to Connor Oberst, then adding the Mystic Valley Band... Well now its back to where he started. How long before he performs as Commander Venus again? One can dream. Here's a new song called "Shell Games" off the new album, The People's Key. Its an interesting little thing. The piano in the beginning is largely expected, sounding very Bright Eyes-ish, but then we're sort of hit with this rocking guitar and synth part. Pretty positive and anthem-like for Bright Eyes.

Video: The Very Best in the studio

I remember when The Very Best (the collaboration between Esau Mwamwaya and London based DJ Radioclit) came out with their first album a few years back and thinking that there wasn't really a lot of bands out there (I personally can't think of any at all) that sound like these guys. Even the lyrics which are sung in Chichewa, the national language of Malawi (Esau's home country), sound like an instrument unto itself. Sunny, tropical African music at its... Very Best (see what I did there?). Here's a video from the title track of the first album, Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit Are The Very Best.




Their 2nd album, Warm Heart of Africa was full of suprising guests like Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend and M.I.A. and turned out awesome. Here's "Warm Heart of Africa" feat. Ezra Koenig.



The embed function on the official video was disabled, but TRUST ME its well worth watching. Its probably one of my favorite music videos of all time and is impossible to not smile during:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MDYTkdVT8M

Well, The Very Best is currently working on a 3rd. Here's a little video of them in the studio going to work:

The Very Best in The Studio from Pomp&Clout on Vimeo.

Can't wait!

Girls in the Garage, Volumes 1-1 million

Jeez, I've been slacking on this stuff lately. Blame it on final essays before the holidays and holidays since work. I've been listening to these compilations for a few months now and since I was listening to them today, I figured I'd post some links and share them. Here's a few samples of what you can expect/some links to some blogs with links to all the volumes I could find.



(My personal favorite):


Links:
http://sixtiesfever.blogspot.com/2008/12/girls-in-garage.html
http://chocoreve.blogspot.com/2005/12/girls-in-garage-vol-1-2-3-4-6-7-8-9-10.html

Have fun.

Smith Westers - Weekend video

Dropped off the face of the Earth for a little, sorry. Simply too much work to think of anything but work. Home for the holidays now in Wilkes-Barre for a few days with some time to relax. I know this is a week old or so, but given this was one of my favorite songs of 2010, I wanna post it anyway. Here it is:

Smith Westerns - Weekend from Fat Possum Records on Vimeo.

I think I listen to this song every day. Can't WAIT for the album.

New Beach House track.

On their website, Beach House released a holiday track called "I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun". Its a beautiful little thing. Get it for free here.

Peter Bjorn and John new album!

So while I wasn't too big on the last Peter Bjorn and John album, it was only because it wasn't enough like Writer's Block. As a standalone album it sounded pretty good, but I was dying for another "Let's Call It Off" to jam out to in the summertime. On March 28th, the dudes will be coming out with another album titled Gimme Some. I am selfishly hoping its more Writer's Block than anything else.

I mean, c'mon, remember this:

Matt Sweeney and Bonnie Prince Billy - Superwolf

This is an album that came out while I was in high school still. It blew away a few of my friends, myself, and our art teacher. I think this album, Superwolf, will always be a winter's favorite. This is the kind of cold that keeps you in. Check this one out and stay warm:

EDIT: I couldn't help but post more from this album to try and convince you all to listen and love it as much as I do. First two songs off Superwolf. I could listen to this over and over:

SHOW REVIEW: Crooked Fingers, Cotton Jones, Strand of Oaks

Hey everyone. Here's another show review that I did for City Paper. Here's a link and a few extra pictures. Most of the pictures were taken by me, but some of the better ones were taken by Tina.

Crooked Fingers

Cotton Jones

Strand of Oaks

Lillebjørn Nilsen - Tanta Til Beate

I first heard this song while I was living in London. In my flat, I lived with 7 people, 3 from America and 4 from Norway. As I was walking into our kitchen one day I heard my one Norwegian flat mate, Arne, playing his ukulele and singing this song. It sounded fantastic, so I had to know where this came from. He told me it's by an old Norwegian folk singer named Lillebjørn Nilsen describing how jazz went down the drain after the death of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. He kept playing it and I went about whatever I was doing, listening very closely to all those words I didn't understand.

EDIT, CORRECTION, HALT: Friday Music Playlist

Hello,

So its Friday and its been a really rough past 2 weeks or so and I know many of you (my friends) have been having a rough go at it as well. Here's some Friday music. Listen to this, give the next person you see a high five, eat some pizza, and drink 'til you can't.

EDIT:

So I figured why stop with one song? Friday requires a SOUNDTRACK. I'm just going to keep on posting songs and hopefully you'll play them at a party.

Weed Diamond - Let's Burn One Down

http://hypem.com/track/1037051/Weed+Diamond+-+Let+s+Burn+One+Down

New Panda Bear single!

Late night/early morning update, but good thing I was up to catch this one! Paw Tracks just posted this link. A link to stream Panda Bear's new 7", Last Night At the Jetty. Enjoy!

Jeff Magnum strikes back!

Jeff Magnum, lead singer and songwriter of the now defunct but almost mythically influential Neutral Milk Hotel played a secret show in Brooklyn the other day (not sure when) surely in front of next to nobody. Magnum has been playing a bit more shows lately, but usually nobody hears about it until a few days later until he is, what I imagine to be, thousands of miles away in a disguise. Apparently International Tapes recorded one of these such shows (link via jpsblog).

So I guess the lesson here is if you're a Jeff Magnum/Neutral Milk Hotel fan carry a tape recorder with you wherever you go. You never know when Jeff Magnum will pop up and play you a song.

Nightlands debut music video.

Hellooo,

Philly group Nightlands (Dan Hartley of War on Drugs) debuted their music video today for "Suzerain". Its a great little atmospheric, electronic, pop song with multiple voices with footage from the 1970's collected from the public domain. The footage is really nice, but it makes me wonder if we'll ever get out of this weird and overwhelming trend of using vintage footage and pictures for music videos and album covers. That's besides the point though, check out the song down there!

I think I found my favorite Beatles song today.

Its this one, called "Yer Blues". Never heard it before today. Love it. Dirty bluesy song with Lennon screaming in some parts. Really good. Hope you like it. Drink beer with friends while you listen to this.

Gorilla Vs. Bear's top 30 albums of 2010

I thought about doing something like this but I'm not sure my opinions on the matter are 1) consistent 2) coherent so I may not bother. Maybe I'll just post neat lists I see across the vast traverse of the interwebnet. This one I thought was interesting. I'm glad to see Ty Segall's Melted made the list! Not a whole lot of people are making rock music like he is these days. I don't have many emotions towards who gets what, but it is fun to read. If you look to the comments, a lot of people are pretty upset Kanye didn't make it (spoiler, I guess).

Here it is:

http://www.gorillavsbear.net/2010/12/02/gorilla-vs-bears-albums-of-2010/

New Dum Dum Girls track (for real this time).

A track has surfaced! Its the Dum Dum Girls covering a Strawberry Switchblade song called "Trees and Flowers". Check it out:

TREES & FLOWERS by wearedumdumgirls

Candy Claws

Just discovered this today. Really nice psych pop ala Twin Sister. Fits this sunny December day in Old City. Here's a song you should probably sit in a comfy chair with a coffee for.

Candy Claws - The Breathing Fire: Free MP3 Download