Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital

The much awaited third studio album from the Montreal based duo. This album has a definite emphasis on the synth/keyboard tracks. One of the only things I heard about this album in advance was that it was the first record that they've written exclusively on the piano/keyboard. The keyboard/synth track is just a little louder than they have been previously, enhancing the melody and making the tracks sound a bit catchier.  I'm going to have to reserve judgement on this one because I have only just gotten the album and I wanted you guys to have it as soon as possible, but upon first listen it is excellent. Click here for the .zip file. Enjoy!

Bon Iver - Self-titled LP

Earlier this week I posted the link to "Calgary" the first track off of the new Bon Iver album and I expressed my hope that we might hear the full album before its actual release date. Well, faster than I could have even hoped, the album popped up on the interwebs in its entirety. The sophomore effort from the Justin Vernon-led band was recorded in an old veterinary clinic that Vernon and his brother bought and converted to a recording studio located just minutes from their childhood home and the bar where their parents met. I can't say enough good things about the album. It is accessible without being cheesy or oversimplified, it is catchy, it is classy. Anyway, you probably don't care that much what I think of it, so download it yourself and you be the judge. Click here for the zip file.

Bon Iver - Calgary

Check out the new track from Bon Iver's upcoming album (fingers crossed we hear more before its June 21 release date). Pitchfork has the nifty web app that will supply you with the new track for the low, low price of your email address. Click the link to jump to pitchfork.

Sorry I've been away

Hi All,

First I want to thank each and every one of you for visiting. When I started this thing I really didn't expect visitors other than my friends to be honest, but in the six months that I've been posting here, I've had traffic from all over the world: from my friends here in Canada, to the United States, the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Australia, France, Egypt, Brazil, Italy, Chile, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Belgium, Norway, Portugal, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, Austria, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, this thing has gone global which is very cool to me.

I haven't been posting in the last month or so because we had a federal election here in Canada, and I was working at keeping an autocrat out of power here, but alas it was to no avail. Try again in four years.

Anyway, there have been a few good albums to hit the interwebs lately and I'll post those up for you.

Thanks for visiting, and here's to making it another six amazing months.

Rome - Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi

This one is one of the most intriguing projects. It is a collaboration between wonderkind producer Danger Mouse and Italian producer Daniele Luppi that draws its inspiration from the soundtracks of old Spaghetti Westerns (Ennio Morricone especially). The vocal work on the album is split between Norah Jones and Jack White, with each of them singing on about half the tracks. Check it out here.

My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Alright, we've got a new album from My Morning Jacket. If you're not familiar with them, I suggest checking out the Okonokos live album which is an unreal collection of MMJ's best work comprising songs from their first four albums. Click here for it (FYI I haven't verified the link) Their latest effort, Circuital, is their sixth studio album and probably their most polished sound. That may not be a plus for everyone, but it sounds damn good. Give it a listen, here.

TV On The Radio - Nine Types of Light

Alright, I just got this link so I thought I would share it with you before I even finish my first listen. The lead single is "Will Do" which I've heard a number of times and let me tell you, it's catchy as hell. The other one that had already surfaced is the album closer called "Caffeinated Consciousness". As I'm giving this album a first listen while I write this, I should say that my initial impression is that this is the most accessible of their albums to date, so if you're thinking to yourself, "People seem to rave about this band, but I can't get into them for whatever reason." then this album is definitely for you. Listen, love, enjoy. Find the link here.

Justice - Civilization

It's been known for the last two weeks or so that the pride of Ed Banger Records, Justice, have been prepping the follow-up to 2007's amazing "Cross" album. The French electro-house duo are releasing the first single, titled "Civilization", on April 5. You may have heard the song in the newest adidas ad, directed by Romain Gavras who also directed Justice's controversial video for the song "Stress". Download an advance copy of Civilization here. The adidas advert is above, while the Stress video is below.

UPDATE: The full single, containing a remix (and better sound quality) is here.

Peter, Bjorn, & John - Gimme Some

Well this is embarrassing... I legitimately thought this album came out around the end of January, around the time that I first heard the lead single "Second Chance". Turns out it is set to be released on Tuesday. It's a good album from the Swedish indie rockers but on a whole it is mostly carried by the tracks "Second Chance", "Breaker Breaker"and "Tomorrow Has To Wait".  I'd love to hear what you guys think though. Hope you enjoy, and sorry I didn't get you this earlier.  Download it here.

Daft Punk - End of Line (Tame Impala Remix)

Yesterday I linked to the Tron Reconfigured album, but I have learned that the Australian version of that album will feature a remix by Aussie indie rockers Tame Impala that is not included on the US version (which would appear to be what I linked to), so I've found the song, and I'm dutifully bringing it to you. Right here. 

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

Check out the new album from Merrill Garbus' tUnE-yArDs project, due out April 19 but available now, right here, for your aural satisfaction. You may already have heard the lead track "Bizness" over at pitchfork, but I have to say that I've listened to their first album and if I'm being honest, I felt a little underwhelmed by it. Not so with w h o k i l l, which I find to be a beautiful and somewhat genre-busting record, a definite improvement over their first effort and it's always nice to hear a band's sound evolve a little. Don't forget to check out the video for "Bizness" below, it features dancing children, how can you resist?

Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers

The second rap album leak of the day is the much anticipated major-label debut from Pittsburgh's Wiz Khalifa. I'm sure we'll be hearing songs from this album all over mainstream radio within the next couple of months, so let's try to enjoy the album before lamestream media kills it. Rolling Papers will be in stores on March 29. Download the album here.

Classified - Handshakes and Middle Fingers

Well it's not every day that you'll find rap and hip-hop on my blog, but if that's your thing then today is your lucky day. First off, check out the new album from Canada's pre-eminent east coast rapper Classified. His new album Handshakes and Middle Fingers is his 14th (!) since 1995. It doesn't stray too far from his past work, but that's not a bad thing. It's chalk-full of observations about the real world that we live in as opposed to some fictional world that exists only between crack corners, strip clubs and the bedroom like some his southern brethren. Check out this fun, insightful and most of all listenable album by using the search feature over here.

The Kills - Blood Pressures

I found this album floating around the interwebs the other day. The band is called The Kills, and if you're not familiar with them then this is album is a great place to start due to its simplicity and accessibility. For those who are familiar with their earlier work, the minimalist rock sound certainly continues but this album has a very bluesy feel to it. I've heard this newer sound criticized as too "Black Keys/White Stripe-esque" but I reject the premise of that argument for two simple reasons: #1 You can't sound too much like the Black Keys or White Stripes without it being by default, beautiful music; #2 Just because something sounds like the blues doesn't mean it's a rip-off of the Black Keys or the White Stripes. Neither Dan Auerbach or Pat Carney nor Jack or Meg White invented the blues. Anyway, physical copies will be in stores on April 5, but for now you can download the whole album here.

Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys

A couple months ago I heard that we should expect a new album from Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie around May... then Gibbard announced the release date via his new twitter account. Well more than a month in advance, the album has leaked. I've given it a first listen, and it seems to have more of a Transatlanticism feel to it than Plans or Narrow Stairs. I may be in the minority but I prefer the latter two albums. That said, it's a beautiful album from one of the best indie songwriters out there. Check it out here.

The Strokes - Angles

The eagerly anticipated new album from Julian Casablancas and The Strokes has leaked. I've given it a couple listens and I am highly impressed with the evolution of the band's sound. Give this album a listen and then listen to their debut LP Is This It and you can't be unimpressed with their ability to create songs and sounds that are unique and complex but highly accessible. Check out Angles here.

Robin Pecknold (of Fleet Foxes) (and Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear to boot!)

One of the best albums of 2008 was the eponymous debut album from Fleet Foxes. Their sophomore effort Helplessness Blues, and its lead (and title) single, has generated the usual anticipation that accompanies any buzzband’s second album. Will it be buzzworthy? Will they be lauded by lamestreamers like Mumford & Son were last year? What do you want this album to sound like?

In an effort to generate more buzz, and perhaps to satiate our aural appetite before the album’s inevitable leak [edit - the album has leaked now, so there goes that.] Robin Pecknold released a 3 song EP aptly named Three Songs.  The Fleet Foxes guitarist and lead vocalist pairs up with Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste on one track. Check out the EP here (via Stereogum) and the lead single from the new album here. [Link has been updated for access to the entire album] 

I've only just found this link now, so we can all give it a first listen together! Enjoy!




EDIT: It turns out that it was a fake floating around the interwebs. Sorry for the false alarm, I wrote the blog yesterday and as is my usual routine, I did a file search before posting to ensure that I wasn't missing an entire album leak... I got duped, what can I say? It happens. Here is the lead single from Helplessness Blues, also titled Helplessness Blues. Enjoy, and I promise the next time I tell you this album is available, it actually will be. Carry on now.

Renovations

This blog started with what is essentially a placeholder background and layout, and before I knew it, you guys actually started visiting this site on a regular basis. Over the next little while I will be experimenting with the layout a little bit, so if you stop by and the blog appears unreadable refresh often because it probably means I'm in the process of changing it.

Thanks for understanding, and thank you for visiting.

Happy EP Day

I try not to post individual songs on here for a number of reasons, chief among them is that I don't want to overhype a new band based on one song. Today I'm posting two new EPs that are of the "must-listen" variety. First is a band called Foster the People whose first single "Pumped Up Kicks" is one of the catchiest tunes I've heard in a while - and the best song about Reebok Pump shoes of all time (are there any others?). Recently, Foster the People released their self-titled EP that includes two other tracks, both of them excellent, "Houdini" and "Helena Beat". Which you can download here.

The other EP is somehow even more impressive. The band is called Awolnation and their sound is something like a cross between LCD Soundsystem and Peter Gabriel. I like it, especially the songs "Guilty Filthy Soul" and "MF". Their song "Sail"has been getting the most airplay and is undoubtedly a solid track though it misses some of the energy that the others have. "Burn it Down" is also solid but certainly less refined, although I love the remix that they included on the EP because it brings the WOMP, dubstep styles. Download their EP "Back from Earth" here.

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

This incredibly hyped-up album leaked over the weekend, although it will officially be released next week you might as well get a head start on it now. I have only listened to it once, so I'll reserve judgment on it for now but I would love to hear what you guys think of it! It's been long-awaited, and here it is.

Alexander

Remember Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros? Well there is no one named Edward Sharpe in that band, in fact Edward Sharpe is the "alter-ego" of Alexander Ebert, whose new solo effort is upcoming. That's the cover art up there ^^^ The first track to find it's way to the interwebs was the incredibly catchy "Truth", and in the last few weeks, three more tracks have been released to various blogs. Download this zip file to get all 4 tracks. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of "Glimpses" but the other two new ones "A Million Years" and "In the Twilight" are absolutely outstanding, with one of my friends commenting that it's "Bob Dylan meets Belle & Sebastian." I can't disagree. Listen. Love.

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Cut Copy's upcoming LP Zonoscope isn't due to hit store shelves until the first week of February but some of the elves up at the North Pole must have uploaded it to the interwebs for our aural pleasure. It's a solid album, but the highlight is still the already-released-track Take Me Over. The album however includes the almost-six-minute version of the song as opposed to the four-minute radio version previously released an featured in the vid below. Download the album here.

Check out the youtube vid below if you still aren't sure about the awesomeness of this band.

Tapes ‘n Tapes

The new album from Tapes 'n Tapes came out today, I've been listening to the first single "Freak Out" for a couple weeks now and overall the album seems to be pretty solid, but it will take me a couple more listens to decide for sure. Check out "Freak Out" below, and download the album here.

The Pass

The Pass

All the credit on this one has to go to my buddy Marco. A little over a month ago he turned me on to this Louisville, Kentucky band whose debut album Burst has found itself on repeat on more than one occasion. Everyone who hears it asks, “who are these guys?” and as a result they’ve joined a lot of friends’ iTunes library lately. Welcome them to yours. You won’t regret it. I promise. If you still aren’t sure check out the track “Treatment of the Sun” below. 

Spinnerette

Alright, I’ll admit it. I love chick bands. I haven’t pinpointed exactly why, but I think it’s mostly a combination of the Stevie-Nicks-hotness of a girl singing rock music and the fact that there are a lot of guy singers who simply can’t sing. That doesn’t seem to happen as much with chicks. This album isn’t particularly new (released June 2009), but it is particularly good, so give it a listen. Spinnerette is the current project from Aussie-born Brody Dalle collaborating with Jack Irons (former drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eleven, and Pearl Jam) and Alain Johannes (guitarist of Queen’s of the Stone Age, Eleven, Them Crooked Vultures). It’s a good album, with a couple great tracks, check out the single Baptized by Fire below. Or download the album here.

Hugo - 99 Problems

Some guy called Hugo has released a bluegrassy cover of Jay-Z's classic track "99 Problems" listen to it below and download it here. Probably the best cover of a rap song since The Gourds released their cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice. Thanks to Napster you can probably find it in your iTunes/on the interwebs under Phish, but of course they had nothing to do with that song.

The Naked and Famous: Young Blood

This song from New Zealand's The Naked and Famous is a stroke of genius that lies somewhere between MGMT and Passion Pit. Listen to the song via the video below and/or click here to download their entire album called "Passive Me, Aggressive You".

Bright Eyes: Shell Games

Check out the new single from Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst) called Shell Games. The track is off of his forthcoming LP The People’s Key which is due to be released on Oberst’s birthday, February 15, 2011. Download the track HERE. The album art for The People's Key is that fiery one you see above. If the rest of the album sounds like this and is filled with more great lines like "My private life is an inside joke / No one will explain it to me" (towards the end of Shell Games) then it's sure to be a gem.