rhye : woman (album stream)

doesn't quite reach the greatness of lead singles "the fall" or "open", but still pretty good. listen here.

the men : new moon (album stream)

they're on to something when they slow it down and put the melody up front. listen here.

alunageorge : attracting flies (stream)

every song they've put out could be a single. exactly what you want from a pop band.

my morning jacket : leaving on a jet plane (stream)

very nice john denver cover.

rookie : morrissey interview

this is an incredibly endearing (and predictably macabre) interview with the moz from an online teen girl site.

yeah yeah yeahs : sacrilege (stream)

first song from the new album.

psychic twin : dream state (stream)

could easily be a companion piece to the still corners track below.

still corners : berlin lovers (stream)

a crunchy, synthy jam in the vein of class actress.

james blake. overgrown. 4.8.13.

the men : i saw her face (stream)

a rambling, raucous hot mess of a song that i just can't get enough of. 

keep shelly in athens : madmen love (stream)

bat for lashes : lilies (video)

inc. : the place (mp3)

smooth jams.

inc. :: the place

born ruffians : needle (stream)

another track off of the band's upcoming album and it is really something special. i was a pretty vocal supporter of the band's first two albums, but 2010's say it was kind of a mess. they lost me and i was worried they might not find me again. but between this and "with her shadow," my fears are seeming unfounded. listen below.

young galaxy : fall for you (stream)

a great new track from young galaxy's forthcoming fourth lp. got that goth-beach vibe that air france did so well. well worth your time. listen below.

phoenix : entertainment (stream)

phoenix have been around for over 13 years now, but only really broke onto the scene in a big way a few years ago with wolfgang amadeus phoenix, their fourth proper lp (although it's beyond me why lp3 it's never been like that wasn't the one that catapulted them into the public consciousness - i would argue is the better and more consistent album). their fifth album will be out this april, and "entertainment" is the first taste. not as immediately hooky as "1901" or "lisztomania", but repeated listens yield some pretty strong earworms.

atoms for peace : amok (stream)

the much talked about debut album from supergroup atoms for peace (consisting of radiohead frontman thom yorke, radiohead producer nigel godrich, red hot chili peppers bassist flea, and beck/r.e.m. drummer joey waronker) is available for streaming below and out next week. and it's pretty excellent. for those who were left feeling a little unfulfilled with radiohead's last effort, this may fill it in a bit.

night beds (tiny desk concert)

the strokes : all the time (stream)

another new one from the band's fifth album. chorus is classic strokes.

the veils : through the deep, dark wood (download)

painfully unappreciated indie rock band the veils will be back with their fourth full-length on april 23rd. today they're giving away the first single for free over at their facebook page or just listen below.

st. vincent on bob's burgers

this is a definite "worlds colliding" situation for me. big fan of bob's burgers and a big fan of st. vincent.

between two ferns (pt. 2)

Between Two Ferns: Oscar Buzz Edition Part 2 from Zach Galifianakis     

"i got your text about how bummed out you were that it was the start of black history month..."

haim : falling (stream)

seems these l.a. girls can do no wrong.

youth lagoon : mute (stream)

kurt vile : wakin on a pretty day (mp3)

kurt vile. so reliable, so good. pitchfork described the kurt vile vibe perfectly when it pointed out his knack for making songs that sound like they could be written in two minutes and go on for twenty. "wakin on a pretty day" fits that bill to a t.

kurt vile :: wakin on a pretty day

kurt vile. wakin on a pretty daze. 4.9.13.

between two ferns

Between Two Ferns: Oscar Buzz Edition Part 1 from Zach Galifianakis     

the postal service : a tattered line of string (stream)

a new postal service song from the 10th anniversary reissue that's due out this spring. there are limited tour dates announced as well, with more in the works. listen below.

haim : don't save me (live in-studio)

the ladies of haim ba-ring it in this bbc session. sound fresh as hell.

juliana barwick : pacing (stream)

devendra banhart : mi negrita (stream)

james blake : retrograde (video)

james blake : retrograde (radio rip)

james blake (an artist who i'm very into) premiered the first single from his second full-length on bbc today. pretty certain some rapper (probably kanye) will sample that little vocal run james does in the beginning. listen to the radio rip below.

james blake :: retrograde

evenings : friend (lover) (stream)

if you like clams casino or balam acab, this is for you. blissed out.

elephant : skyscraper (stream)

a perfect little piece of retro-pop here. the mini chorus of aaahhs in the chorus just melts your heart. listen below. download here (name your price).

ra ra riot : beta love (video)

#theeighties.

desaparecidos : anonymous (stream)

conor oberst (of bright eyes fame) is getting his pre-bright eyes punk band back together. listen to the politically charged "anonymous" over here.

daughter : smother (mp3)

achingly beautiful. gently powerful.

daughter :: smother

jim james : a new life (fallon)

more for the video than the song.

iron man 3 (superbowl spot)

"extensive look", hence the lame joke in the beginning. might as well just skip to about 37 seconds in, when ish gets real. 

beach house : forever still (short film)

beach house made a short film, which is pretty much just the band playing songs live from dusk til dawn in the desert of the american southwest. but in spite of the basic premise (or perhaps because of it), the end result is arrestingly beautiful.

rhye : open (video)

one of my most anticipated albums of 2013. whether the band can deliver on the promise of lead singles "open" and "the fall" remains to be seen. not entirely suitable for work.

nick cave + the bad seed : jubilee street (video)

this song is soo good. video is not suitable for work.

vampire weekend. modern vampires of the city. 5.7.13.

caveman. caveman. 4.2.13.

iron & wine : lovers' revolution (stream)

first single off of iron & wine's forthcoming album. probably going to ruffle the feathers on some longtime fans. sam beam in full-blown van morrison jazz lounge mode. but i kinda like it.

local natives : heavy feet (takeaway show)

sounds better here than on the album.

my bloody valentine : mbv

seminal late 80s/early 90s band my bloody valentine, the grandaddies of shoegaze, are back with album number three (their first in over twenty years). you can download the album here. listen to the album's beautifully gauzy opening track below.