Artist: Ketamines
Album: Spaced Out LP
Hails From: Calgary, Canada
Release Date: March, 2012
Featured Track: “1 YR”

I’m liking everything I hear so far from this band from Calgary and their forthcoming Spaced Out LP. Is that Linda Ronstadt on the cover?

Artist: Lilacs & Champagne
Album: Lilacs & Champagne
Hails From: Portland
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Featured Track: “Sensation”

Featuring one half of Grails, Lilacs and Champagne is the new effort from Alex Hall and Emil Amos. This is 100% headphone music. An instrumental journey in sampled 70s tinged funk, soul, psychedelia. Your go to late night unwind album. Put this on around 11:30 tonight and you’ll see what I mean. Feel the groove.

Artist: Lia Ices
Track: “Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd Cover)”

One of the best covers I’ve heard so far this year from Brooklyn-based chanteuse, Lia Ices. Beautiful.

Artist: The Proper Ornaments
Album: The Proper Ornaments
Hails From: UK
Featured Track: ”Shining Bright”

I stumbled upon this great track in my SoundCloud feed this week and, unsurprisingly, found that it was the work of another UK collaboration. My Brit Pop proclivities run deep, you know. This duo from London featuring James Hoare (Veronica Falls) and Max Clapps make some  sweet music together when they get around to it. This, their debut album, was released late last year.

Artist: POND
Album: Beard Wives Denim
Hails From: Australia
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Featured Track: “Moth Wings”

Psych yeah!  Featuring two members of Tame Impala‘s touring band — Nick Allbrook and Jay Watson — the Australian group leaked a track this week from their forthcoming Beard Wives Denim album. LOVE IT.

Artist: Ty Segall
Album: Goodbye Bread
Hails From: SF
Featured Track: “You Make the Sun Fry”

The one and only Ty Segall is setting out on a few West Coast dates with Mikal Cronin next month. It’s a show not to be missed, for sure. Having recently seen the pair at El Rio, I can honestly say they will melt your mind. After all these years of shouting my love from the rooftop for this artist, I’ll spare you the hyperbole and cut to the chase. Just do it.

• Fri. March 2 — San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall w/ White Fence, Mikal Cronin, Feeling of Love
• Sat. March 3 — Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour w/ White Fence, Mikal Cronin, Feeling of Love
• Sun. March 4 — San Diego, CA @ The Casbah w/ Mikal Cronin, Feeling of Love

Artist: Django Django
Album: Django Django
Hails From: UK
Release Date: January 30, 2012
Featured Track: “Default”

Gotta thank my UK music pal Christian for turning me onto this one.  As an avid fan of The Beta Band, I was easily won over by the British foursome’s debut album. Listening to it is like reconnecting with a long lost love. A younger, hotter version, mind you. They’ve got the dreamy, Beta-esque vocals going for sure, but their sound is much more electrified and funky. Think The Beta Band meets Hot Chip.  A little research discovered that, indeed, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Turns out Django bandleader David Maclean is the younger brother of Betas keyboardist John Maclean. Sometimes nepotism ain’t so bad.

Artist: Adventure Galley
Hails From: Portlandia
Featured Track: “Weekend Lovers”

Weekend lovers….sigh…the story of my life. Yes, well. The first thought I had when I tuned into this track was, “Hello, Arcade Fire!” And I mean that in the most complementary way, of course. The six dude band from Portland is set to release their first full length LP and this catch tune, “Weekend Lovers”, is one of the featured tracks. After listening to a few of their tracks, I would have to say this is one act I look forward to seeing live.

Artist: Terry Malts
Hails From: SF, baby
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Featured Track: “Nauseous”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, San Francisco up and coming garage rockers, Terry Malts, have released a track from their forthcoming debut LP due out this February 21, called ‘Nauseous’.  More specifically, “your love makes me nauseous.” So sweet, indeed. Hardly a one man act, the properly named band is actually a trio of seasoned local musicians with a renowned live performance reputation. One of the Bay Area bands to watch, for sure. So come join them in their album release party February 17 at The Hemlock Tavern and see what it’s all about. As the press release says, “It’s an album, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a 34-minute hour of pure, unadulterated Malts.”

Yeah.