SOTD 6/29: No, I don't like this just because it has the word Phoenix in it

though there HAS been a lot of Phoenix love around here lately, I'll admit that. But today's song is brought to you courtesy of Cymbals Eat Guitars - a cool name in my book, though some might disagree - and I know they've been around for a while, but they're one of those bands I just haven't really gotten around to listening to.

Wind Phoenix by Cymbals Eat Guitars

Consider that sad state of affairs changed. I won't be able to see them at Pitchfork this year, but they come around again in September at the Logan Square Auditorium. There's an awesome live set up at KEXP.org as well.

SOTD 6/27: New matt pond PA. Does the PA stand for Pennsylvania? I dunno..

Things I do know (short list):
1. I like matt pond PA. a lot.
2. The new songs are not an artistic departure for the band and that's not a bad thing.
3. here's three new songs.

Measure 3 by matt pond PA

Promise the Party by matt pond PA

Devil in the Water by matt pond PA


late edit: the sharp-eyed chris b. points out that these are not, in fact, new (making point 2 above even MORE valid), and I, in my haste, didn't bother to check. you know how it goes, so apologies. I'll post new ones when they come out...

SOTD 6/26: Like finding a ten dollar bill in your pocket

that's how I feel today. Kestrels are an indie rock (in the best sense - emphasis on some RAWK) band from Nova Scotia. Things I love: My Bloody Valentine-esque guitars, Tripmaster Monkey-ish vocals, and focus on keeping the tempo needle pointing up...I gotta admit, I don't really know a THING about this band, 'cept that I dig them. Oh, and that a band in the 60's called THE Kestrels was where two founding members of the Byrds met. which has nothing to do with Kestrels, but is a random fact pulled from the internet and now presented to you as truth.

Our Velocity by Kestrels


bonus: Sailed On by Kestrels

(thanks to http://www.quickbeforeitmelts.com/ for the find)

SOTD 6/25: There's a LOT of good stuff by these guys...

The Avett Brothers have a mighty prolific output - not exactly Pollard-esque, but 10 lps and eps in 8 years is pretty good for most bands. My favorite so far is Emotionalism, which is where today's SOTD comes from....while squarely in the alt.country/modern twang kinda movement - The Avett Brothers sing great songs about girls and drinking and living and being sad and happy and hungover. All the things that make life, you know, worth living.

Pretty Girl from San Diego by the Avett Brothers

SOTD 6/23: This One Probably Isn't New to Any of You

But continuing the tradition of good songs written and sung by stunning women, 'People Got a Lotta Nerve' by Neko Case from her new album, Middle Cyclone, is my kinda song. What's not to love about her? About this song?

People Got a Lotta Nerve by Neko Case

SOTD 6/22: Time to Get the New Wave On...

Being old enough to have heard new wave the first time around - I have to admit that I never quite get why it's come back again the last few years, this time disguised as "indie pop" or whatever the cool kids are calling it now, but I will admit, it's better than the music I used to like. Metric travels very much in the Blondie vein of new wave, and singer Emily Haines out-Blondie's Debbie Harry by a mile.

Sure, it's likely an unfair comparison, but I'll stand by it, I think. Metric brings the dance AND the rock. They have undeniable hooks. They've got the highly stylized look. It all comes together well. Their new album, Fantasies, isn't their greatest, (I'm partial to Live It Out), but it's solid top to bottom....so enjoy a few:

Sick Muse by Metric

Gimme Sympathy by Metric

SOTD 6/21(b) Cause JP would want to know...

Polvo. New album, In Prism, due in September.

beggar's bowl

SOTD 6/21(a) The BEST Father's Day Gift In The History Of The World

SOTD 6/21: I feel kinda bad, cause I thought they'd broken up

But Son Volt is back - and I feel badly, because really, I didn't know they'd gone anywhere, and truthfully, they hadn't - I was just moving in a different direction than they were. But they have a new album out on July 7th, with Rounder Records, called American Central Dust. I'm liking where this track is pointing, (and I'm sure artists hate when people say "play songs that sound like the ones I liked before") but, this brings them back to the early-ish days of the band - sorta like Trace - and it's mid-tempo low slung sound is pretty perfect for a Sunday morning, so enjoy...

Down to the Wire by Son Volt

SOTD 6/19: So I was busy, right? and I couldn't get to the internets...

and to make up for it, and give you stuff to listen to for the entire weekend - there's a free Arts and Crafts record label sampler up at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002D3KA9I/ref=nosim/indroccaf-20

lots of goodness on there: Los Campesinos!, The Constantines, Apostle of Hustle, and Brendan Canning lead the list of freebie happiness and, top to bottom, it seems really solid - go check it out.

SOTD 6/18: busy busy busy version...

let's get right to it, shall we? indie rock in the vein of decemberists, death cab for cutie, and a lot of other influences you'll pick up when you give it a listen...today is a crappy busy day, and this song made it a bit more bearable - and they've got an upcoming show on July 5th at the Beat Kitchen....

Water and God by All Get Out

SOTD 6/17 Music for Gray Days

I know it doesn't happen much around here, but every once in a while, I need to get down in the gray darkness and wallow around. The thing is, this song isn't ALL that wallow-y, in fact, it's almost a little upbeat, kinda the way New Order's more upbeat dance songs sprang from Joy Division, know what I mean? and this kinda falls right in that camp. Interpol, The Editors, groups of that ilk feel right at home next to Amesoeurs, especially if you throw in a chanteuse sounding singer who only sings in French. I downloaded this album and the songs veer wildly from this sort of pseudo goth pop stuff to honest to goodness death metal. Top to bottom, it's worth a listen on a day like today.

Amesoeurs by Amesoeurs (yes, from the album, Amesoeurs) I know, weird, huh?

SOTD 6/16: Honestly? I have no idea

where I came across this band....though Myspace says they're from Seattle, and it's on the internet, so it must be true. Here's what I know, I know I like this song. I know I liked all the songs posted on their Myspace site, AND...as we talked about a while ago on here - Daytrotter is cool and the boys in Throw Me The Statue recently got a session posted there, too. Go check it out. But in the meantime, check this:

Ancestors by Throw Me The Statue

edit: Thanks to The Music Slut for the tip, that's where I heard this, took a while, but I knew I'd find it..

SOTD 6/15: You Can Always Tell When It's Summer...

Cause the weekends get a lot drunker. Not complaining one bit, mind you, I'm all for the drinks - there's just a little less urgency to slow it down on Sundays now...which, of course, led to things being silent around here for a bit. I'm probably gonna be on a bit slower posting schedule - though maybe not - we'll see. The weather turned nice this weekend so it was tough to be spelunking in the caves of online music...

But spelunk I did, and ran across this song on the blog Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good in a post commemorating the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. I love quirky themes. I love the band The National. And you'll love this song:

Brainy by The National

SOTD 6/12: Normally, really, I'd probaby not like a band from Brooklyn

Just because, ya know? Everywhere you turn, Brooklyn bands are getting an unsustainable amount of hype, and most of those bands...I dunno, they just don't seem to DESERVE it...know what I mean? Like, if I just moved now to Brooklyn and started a band, would I automatically get music blogger love, too?

Simple answer: if it was as good as the music put out by Parts and Labor. I'm a fan of this noisy, jangly, electro, punkish stuff they're putting out. Check out this one:

Nowhere's Nigh by Parts and Labor

SOTD 6/11: Sing along choruses are a lot of fun, really...

I know the usual criticism of bands like The Gaslight Anthem - springsteen derivatives, beer commercial rock, whatever. But I'm gonna tell you something, and I mean it with all my heart: The Gaslight Anthem is a terrific rock band. They play rock songs. Not precious high concept indie rock operas (I'm talking to you, Decemberists) not ironically lo-fi like so many duos out lately. Just the kinda rock song you'd hear in a dirty bar where you paid five bucks to get in, and these would be a few of the songs some band would have stuck in their four hour set of classic rock covers, uttering the usually dreaded phrase "we're gonna play one we wrote now.." that makes people go stand in line for beer. 'Cept if The Gaslight Anthem is playing, you're a damn fool if you go stand in a beer line. The boys play good rock music. Singalong choruses, songs about girls named Maria, and Saturday nights, all played with pure bar band gusto. Enjoy.

Say I Won't (Recognize) by The Gaslight Anthem

and a bonus

The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem

SOTD 6/10: Yep, there's still a lot of '90s love laying around here..

For those of you unfamiliar, Daytrotter.com was founded on a simple premise: two guys with a recording studio in Rock Island, Illinois, and a deep deep love of all things indie rock, ask their favorite touring bands (many of whom pass right by Rock Island after playing Chicago on one night, then going to Iowa City the next) to stop by and record any four songs they'd like at the Daytrotter Studios. The results, typically, are stunning - all kinds of artists who either play their own music, or offer obscure covers. Then the coup de grace - Daytrotter posts those songs online for free. Go there. Find excellent free music. (and see how they do brightly colored portraits of your fave artists, just like this one..)

Anyway - '90s distortion gods Dinosaur Jr. recently stopped by Daytrotter and unfurled a massively awesome version of one of their early rock masterpieces. Turn it up loud and enjoy.

Repulsion

SOTD 6/9: There was a time when lyrics didn't really matter much

...and that never really bothered me. early REM records? pick out a word that made sense, i dare you. michael stipe's voice was just another sound layered over music...and that's what i love about today's song. it's a my bloody valentine-esque rocker, lots of distortion, soaring guitars, fuzz, and all things good and indie rock, with this ethereal kinda shoegazer voice that floats in and out over everything...it's tasty tasty stuff...

quick google update: apparently this band? hasn't recorded a note since 1991. d'oh. love them, but don't get too close, ok?

Tranquil Day by The Suncharms


thanks to indie rock cafe for the find

SOTD 6/8: With a Name Like This...

You kinda gotta wonder, don't you? But the oddly named Seal Cub Clubbing Club play some pretty good music. Much different, I'm guessing, than you'll expect with a name like that....up tempo indie-ish rock - just the thing for a Monday morning.

Dawn Lamb

and a bonus

Lone Planet

SOTD 6/5: Kinda Rilo Kiley, Kinda Not

It's been a while since we've had any sultry chick voices around here, and now, just in time, comes East Hundred's resident chanteuse, Beril Guceri, to save the day. East Hundred formed a few years ago in Philly, and released their new full-length, Passenger, in January '09. There's a smooth Rilo Kiley-esque thing happening on this song, and that's not a bad thing...

Slow Burning Crimes by East Hundred

SOTD 6/4: Ithaca's Former Finest

It was a few years ago that I found myself in a hotel room for two weeks in Ithaca, New York. It's nice country there, but it was summer, the colleges were empty, and there was nothing to do. Around 2 in the morning, a local access cable show came on, I can't remember the name, all I remember for sure is this trippy video and a gorgeous racket making me reach for my notebook to write down the name of the band - The Flashing Astonishers - and the amazing song:

On Involuntary Bliss 04 on involunatry bliss.m4a

It reminds me a bit of early shoegazer bands like Ride or a less distorted My Bloody Valentine. It definitely has a 90's rock feel - but I ain't gonna lie, that's a compliment in my book.

Here's a bonus

Four Chords

(apologies, not sure why files won't play all the way through - just moved them to fileden and things aren't going swimmingly...yet...)

SOTD 6/3 Fuzzed Out Magic

Nothing to say but listen: Wet Hair by Japandroids

I. Love. It.

SOTD 6/2: New Songs from a Band I Already Love

I really enjoyed the first album by the band, New Ruins, called The Sound They Make when it was released a few years back. The story on it was interesting too, old pals making music via tapes sent back and forth, they came up with a sound that has a seat in the same church as The National, with the melancholy baritone singing and the nod to Americana in the music - the whole album just worked for me, it's quite stellar.

So you can see why I'm excited by the new one, We Make Our Own Bad Luck. I've only heard a few tracks, (my damn eMusic doesn't refresh till the 4th of June) but I'm really looking forward to see what they've done on this record. The two here do a great job of pushing their sound further - love the cello in As Far As We Know, while keeping the best parts of what made their first album so good to me.

As Far As We Know by New Ruins

and a bonus

Lake by New Ruins

thanks to Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good for the link