chance the rapper : everybody's something (video)

the secret life of walter mitty (trailer)

when i was young my mom used to always say to me "okay, walter mitty" after i told some sort of made-up/embellished story. my sister got me an out of print copy of the short story for my birthday one year. needless to say i'm pretty pumped about this movie. it looks incredible.

tv on the radio : mercy (stream)

you can hear the first new tv on the radio track over at huffpo. it's a nice aggressive track that would have fit well on the band's first two albums.

brand new : out of range (stream)

this is an unreleased brand new demo (but it sounds pretty studio-quality to me) that's supposedly from 2010, which means it would have been recorded after their last studio album, daisy, came out. so i guess what i'm saying is that i don't know where this really fits into the band's recorded output, but it sure is nice.

haim : the wire (stream)

another excellent single from the most reliable new "singles" band of the last few years. no word on when the sister-band's debut will be dropping.



NOTE: haim is pronounced HIGH-um.

arctic monkeys : why'd you only call me when you're high? (stream)

adding to "r u mine?" and "do i wanna know?", we have the third question-marked song from upcoming lp5, am. and like the previous two, it's pretty moody (and pretty great). all guitar-swagger and slinky late night strutting.

just some useful information.

How to Open Clams from Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

supreme cuts : envision (stream)

serious dance / house music doesn't get too much play around these parts, but a good song is a good song. and this is a good song. supreme cuts is from chicago, so bonus points there. the excellent vocal work comes courtesy of polica's channy leaneagh. 

alunageorge : body music (album stream)

check out the best pop album of 2013 thus far right here.

some idealistic future

a short 14 minute mini-documentary about the give up anniversary tour that the postal service are wrapping up in chicago next week with a lolla headlining set and a metro after-show (i saw the show at red rocks, and it was sort of transcendent).

cults : static (album teaser)

CULTS STATIC OCTOBER 15 2013 from Cults Cults Cults on Vimeo.

the orwells : who needs you (stream)

dave sitek (tv on the radio) produced. rec'd if you like chicago, garage-rock, teenage punks.

springtime carnivore : two scars (video)

Springtime Carnivore - Two Scars from Rookie on Vimeo.

pretty excellent summery pop song with a pretty tumblr-ready video to go with it.

kings of leon : supersoaker (fallon)

washed out : don't give up (video)

#wavy

mgmt. mgmt. 9.17.13.

the spotify/streaming debate continues. for the record, my feelings on the streaming model have not changed. which is to say i don't like it. i appreciate the ability to stream music i haven't heard before in order to determine whether i like it and want to purchase, but i just don't think it's fair not to pay a band (or label or whatever) money upfront for their art (or more accurately, product). the "micropayment" model would not be acceptable in any other commerce situation, so i don't understand why we allow it here.

friends : the way (stream)

friends' label describes the track best:

this time Friends take a turn down an overtly ‘80’s power ballad highway, concocting an anthem that would dominate the erection section of any roller disco worth it’s cherry red wheel lube

rec'd if you like chairlift, haim.

arctic monkeys : 2013 (stream)

the b-side to am single "do i wanna know?". can see why this wouldn't be album-worthy, but it gives a good idea into the direction for the new album. feels a little closer to humbug than to suck it, which is good because the former is my favorite monkeys album by far.

editors : formaldehyde (stream)

best song they've done in two albums time. straight arena/radio-rock. rec'd if you like coldplay.

kings of leon : supersoaker (stream)

first taste of upcoming mechanical bull.

keep shelly in athens : recollection (stream)

from the grecian duo's debut lp, at home, which is due 9.17.13. dream vibes.

feist x timber timbre : homage (stream)

canadian label arts & crafts released a compilation album a few weeks back featuring some new and reworked tracks courtesy of a bunch of bands on their roster. this feist and timber timbre duet is easily the standout track, and a pretty excellent track on its own, to boot. it's a beautiful, folksy number that expertly plays feist's vibrato warble off of taylor kirk's rumbly baritone. listen below.

north highlands : i'll do my best (stream)

here.

arctic monkeys. am. 9.9.13.

working on a new album... writing writing writing.. over 50 songs so far.. not sure when it will feel done... but getting excited already...
— POP ETC (@popetcetera) July 11, 2013

hopefully it falls a little sonically closer to big echo...

psychic twin : unlock yr heart (stream)

zola jesus : avalanche (slow) (stream)

rec'd if you like string quartets, feeling like your heart is being slowly crushed in a vice.

i break horses : denial (stream)

rec'd if you like m83, airy female vocals.

delorean : spirit (stream)

a new track from delorean's upcoming album slipped by me while i was out of town. their debut, subiza, was one of my favorite albums of that year.

king krule : easy easy (video)

weird vibes but it's doing it for me right now.

man man : head on (video)

pretty new jam from man man.

local natives : a takeaway show

rhye : the fall (kimmel)

alunageorge : bad idea (stream)

twin peaks : sunken (album stream)

check out the debut full length by the excellently named chicago rock band twin peaks.

cass mccombs : morning star (video)

washed out : don't give up (stream)

another winner from the new album.