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.