My Canadian lo-fi hero, Chad VanGaalen, has a new album due out September 9 entitled, Soft Airplane. And considering how much I loved his prior releases – Skelliconnection and Infiniheart – I fully expect this album to be on the top of my list for 2008.
Chad also helped Flemish Eye label mate, Women, record their debut album this year with his signature lo-fi style. Another album I adore.
Here’s a track from Soft Airplane, ‘Willow’.
I’ve had The Last Shadow Puppets on my Rhapsody new music playlist for some time. I’m a sucker for that way back sound. The Last Shadow Puppets have been the extremely hyped side project of Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Rascals. Their new album is called ‘The Age of the Understatement’. Featured is their new video for the single, ‘Standing Next to Me.’
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One of my current hometown favorites, Girls, has a new video out for ‘God Damned’. Check out their new album, Lust for Life.
I’ve been a long time fan of UK-based, Clinic. They fit right in there with my Brit Rock fascination. And the fact that they perform all their shows in surgical masks only adds to their eccentric allure. They have a new album out, ‘Do It!’ – their fifth album. Here is the new video for the track ‘Tomorrow.’
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Be Your Own Pet announced Friday that they’re calling it quits as a band, citing nothing more than it’s time to move their separate ways. This just months after the release of ‘Get Damaged’. Awww, now I’m really sad I missed them open for The Raveonettes earlier this year.
Here’s a video for ‘The Kelly Affair.’
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La Blogotheque posted new ‘Take Away’ videos of Lykke Li ad El Perro Del Mar singing tunes as they strolled around San Francisco’s Civic Center this past May when they were in town for their show at Bimbos. What is it with the Swedes and their pop harmonies? I’ve truly enjoyed El Perro Del Mar’s mellow sounds this year. Lykke Li has some catchy tunes but I can’t seem to reconcile the Courtney Love looks with the Betty Boop voice. But a lot of people seem to like it…
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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You gotta love The Bay Bridged for keeping us all apprised of the latest and greatest indie music artists in our town. Here’s a video they shot during last month’s sold out performance of The Dodos performing ‘Paint the Rust.‘ Great musicians…great show!
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Being the huge Brit Rock fan that I am, I always follow the Mercury Prize to make sure I’m on top of my UK artists. Who will get the award for ‘Best Album of the Year’? There are certainly some strong contenders, but I’ll be rooting for Elbow – the eternal underdog.
Adele – ’19’
British Sea Power – ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’
Burial – ‘Untrue’
Elbow – ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’
Estelle – ‘Shine’
The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘The Age Of The Understatement’
Laura Marling – ‘Alas I Cannot Swim’
Neon Neon – ‘Stainless Style’
Portico Quartet – ‘Knee-Deep In The North Sea’
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss – ‘Raising Sand’
Radiohead – ‘In Rainbows’
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – ‘The Bairns’
Click here to listen to a sampler of these artists on MixWit.
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One of my favorite groups from last year, The Early Years, just released a single in the UK on vinyl this week. Apparently, the band has just finished recording their second album, but this is their first new material in a good while.
The two new tracks, ‘Like a Suicide’ and ‘Computer Voice‘, are available for streaming on the band’s website. I was so thrown off after sampling the tracks, I had to check three times to make sure I was on the right MySpace page. Their self-titled debut album fell squarely into the category of psych rock for me, and I loved the way David Malkinson’s voice echoed David Gilmour at times. These new tracks sound more like krautrock – not that it’s a bad thing…just different.
The A side, ‘Like A Suicide‘, is an electro, experimental number that moves into more familiar Early Years’ guitar-based territory as it progresses. ‘The Computer Voice’, is krautrock meets Jim Morrison with loud guitar, drums and vocal loops that will send your head into psychedelic dreams – definitely my favorite of the two.
I still eagerly await their second album, but until then, you should check The Early Years debut album. It’s a good one. Featured here is the video for a single they released last year, ‘So Far Gone.‘
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Devandra Banhart has recruited real-life girlfriend Natalie Portman to play a princess in the wacky Bollywood spoof of the single ‘Carmensita‘, from his latest album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.
the OCMD 