26 May 2009

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

So it's finally out - Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest. The blogosphere will stop its drooling soon enough. Unless of course you're Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun Times. "Chipmunks on ecstasy" Ouch!
Just ignore the hater.
I don't qualify as a GB fan and even I say it's good. And just as a disclaimer, getting it for $4 on Amazon MP3 has absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of the album - but 12 tracks for $4 really is a good deal.
On the downside, I'm not feeling track 6, "Dory" at all. Aside from that, I give it a 4.3 out of 5.
Will it still be at the top of so many lists come year's end? We shall see.
Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest [deleted mp3]

full album stream here

25 May 2009

part 1

So begins the start of BBQ season in the US - Memorial Day. I get to spend it finishing up on a philosophy test and packing for my upcoming long weekend in STL. Hey, I'll take all the paid days off I can get.
Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs by Minutemen from What Makes a Man Start Fires? [deleted mp3]
Academy Fight Song by Mission of Burma from Signals, Calls and Marches [deleted mp3]
Bury Me With It by Modest Mouse from Good News for People Who Love Bad News [deleted mp3]
Compliance by Most Serene Republic from Population [deleted mp3]
Going to Georgia by The Mountain Goats from Zopilote Machine [deleted mp3]
I'm Amazed by My Morning Jacket from Evil Urges [deleted mp3]

image from n i k k i e @ flickr

24 May 2009

new music: KKR, CTA, and The Coast

Koria Kitten Riot is the solo project for Antti Reikko, the singer of Finnish rock group Johnny Superhero. Be sure to check out the video below for the song "At the End of the World" which was featured in the film Toinen jalka haudasta (One Foot from the Grave) in Finland.
The Wedding Waltz by Koria Kitten Riot



Not just any other act from Scotland, indie pop band Cancel the Astronauts have a slightly different take in the lyrics from their album, I Am the President of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home). They prefer to call it "stalking and inappropriate lusting." Still good tuneage, nonetheless.
I Am the President of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home) by Cancel the Astronauts from I Am the President of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home)
Late in the City by Cancel the Astronauts from I Am the President of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home)


Finally released in the US on May 5th, the album, Expatriate, from Toronto indie band, The Coast is anything but a disappointment. It's good solid music from start to finish, then to be put on repeat. I love it.
The album can be purchased in the US from Afternoon Records.

21 May 2009

let the Spencer Krug lovefest resume

For those of you as impatient as I am...
IT'S HERE!
You can get the MP3 version of Sunset Rubdown's newest album, Dragonslayer, in all it's wonderful glory from Jagjaguwar by pre-ordering the CD or 2xLP.
I'm only halfway through listening to it, and I have to say, I'm loving it. There will definitely be some heavy rotation going on with this album.
Idiot Heart by Sunset Rubdown from Dragonslayer

18 May 2009

The Rest - Everyone All At Once

A lot has happened to the Hamilton, Ontario band, The Rest since they were featured here on EOI back in February. They shot a few vidoes for an upcoming Take Away Show for La Blogothèque. In April, they had the NPR Song of the Day for "Walk on Water (Auspicious Beginnings)". They've released their sophomore album, Everyone All At Once, which can be fully previewed on their MySpace page till May 24th. Be sure to check out "Coughing Blood/Fresh Mountain Air" and Phonetically, Phonetically" also. They're pure magic; there really aren't any bad or filler songs on this album. So, basically, yeah, I'd still very highly recommend adding this one to your collection.

Walk on Water (Auspicious Beginnings) by The Rest from Everyone All At Once

15 May 2009

notable releases this week

Even though I've been on a bit of an Andrew Bird binge lately, I've still managed to find time for some new tuneage.
Though not officially releasing till May 19th, a pre-release download of White Rabbits' It's Frightening is available from iTunes (US). The Britt Daniels production is definitely hard to overlook here. If you're hoping for a continuation where Fort Nightly left off, this isn't it. But don't let that turn you away.
Percussion Gun by White Rabbits from It's Frightening[deleted mp3]
Who doesn't love an entire album for free? Office are giving away their newest release, Mecca, for free here.
Enter Me, Exit You by Office from Mecca [deleted mp3]
Last but certainly not least, I and I (briefly featured here) released White Noise/Black Music on Alchemist Records on Tuesday.
Higher Still by I and I from White Noise/Black Music [deleted mp3]

Block o' new music

Brighton-based indie pop band Foxes! are get ready to release their single, "Who Killed Rob?" off their upcoming album, Boxes.
Albania by Foxes!


Unsigned punk rock band, SWAK (Sealed With a Kiss) from NYC formed last December and will be touring the US this summer. Here's hoping a label picks them up soon. Good stuff.
Scream by SWAK


Hailing from Long Beach, California, post punk group, Repeater, released their debut album, Iron Flowers, in June 2008.



Led by Louisville, Kentucky native Christopher Browder, Mansions released the album, New Best Friends, in March.
Talk Talk Talk by Mansions from New Best Friends


From Toronto, Ontario comes Eric Reid as Laugh Out Loud is giving his Two Birds EP as a free download on MySpace, featuring a cover of The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love".
Smile by Laugh Out Loud from Two Birds EP
In Heaven (The Lady in the Radiator) by Laugh Out Loud from Two Birds EP


Prog rock group, Montana 1948, from San Francisco, California featuring Ryan Lafferty released their EP, Tiny Drawings in January.
The Other Side of Me by Montana 1948 from Tiny Drawings EP

09 May 2009

better late than never

It took more than a couple listens to Marry Me to grow on me, but the newest release from St. Vincent is amazing from beginning to end. Two different excellent bonus tracks are available from Amazon MP3 ("Bicycle") and iTunes ("Oh My God"). It would take a miracle to knock Actor off the list for one of the best this year. If you don't have this one by now, what are you waiting for?!
Stand out tracks:
"The Strangers"
"The Neighbors"
"Actor Out of Work"
"Just the Same But Brand New"
The Strangers by St. Vincent from Actor [deleted mp3]

Just a taste of an upcoming release from Swedish band, The Mary Onettes, Dare EP is certainly promising.
Dare by The Mary Onettes from Dare EP [deleted mp3]

02 May 2009

waiting patiently

The sun is out, but the warm weather I longing for still isn't here yet. Could always be worse, right?
I Don't Always Know What You're Saying by Ladyhawk from Shots [deleted mp3]
My Manic and I by Laura Marling from Alas I Cannot Swim [deleted mp3]
Last Time Around by Lay Low from Farewell Good Night's Sleep [deleted mp3]
Breaking Time, Breaking Lines by The Legends from Up Against The Legends [deleted mp3]
Nondeterministic Automation by Lemonwilde from Red Room [deleted mp3]
I Won't Lie to You by Let's Wrestle from In Loving Memory of... [deleted mp3]
Man I Hate Your Band by Little Man Tate from About What You Know [deleted mp3]
The Commander Thinks Aloud by The Long Winters from Ultimatum [deleted mp3]
No Direction by Longwave from Secrets Are Sinister [deleted mp3]
Song for Woodthrush by The Lord Dog Bird from The Lord Dog Bird [deleted mp3]
Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks by Los Campesinos! from Hold On Now, Youngster... [deleted mp3]
Lalita by The Love Language from The Love Language [deleted mp3]
What Else Would You Have Me Be? by Lucero from Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers [deleted mp3]
The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco by The Lucksmiths from Warmer Corners [deleted mp3]

image from Lady Vervaine @ flickr

01 May 2009

New music for May Day

I and I aka Adam Sarmiento will be releasing White Noise/Black Music on May 12th. With some help from Eric Sarmiento, briefly featured here, WN/BM is a dance album, with a new wave/electro pop feel.
The Bottom by I and I
Higher Still by I and I


Norwegian singer-songwriter Moddi, aka Pål Moddi Knutsen, describes his music as such:
"The music I make lives a life of its own. Sometimes you can find it as a huge band session with noise and loudness, while sometimes it's so small and discreet that you might want to sing along to help it continue. The songs grow a little for every winter that passes by, just like any child would."
Rubbles by Moddi


Side project for José González, the Swedish band Junip released the EP Black Refuge in 2006 (yeah, I know, a whole 3 years ago) but still have yet to release a full-length. Surprising to me, because one listen says that they're good. Btw, thanks to Harry for the great suggestion.
Turn to the Assassin by Junip from Black Refuge