Stardeath & White Dwarfs + Some new albums (No Age, Deerhunter, Warpaint, Belle and Sebastian)

Sorry for being the worst blogger ever.

Having said that....

This is what I've been listening to recently.

+10000000 Goodness Points to Stardeath & White Dwarfs' The Birth.

The Birth, 2009

This is a little older, but I just really got into it a few weeks ago.  It's from the guys who did the Dark Side of the Moon album cover with the Flaming Lips (+1000000 Goodness points as well; also, Stardeath + White Dwarfs' frontman is related to Wayne Coyne, the Flaming Lips frontman), and you can definitely see how much influence they had on that after listening to their own album.  It's got that psychedelic/electronic feel, and it certainly goes well/is a more electronic version of Tame Impala, with whom they are actually touring.  These are some of my favorites from the album/also the ones I could find on hypem...
mp3: New Heat

And just 'cause it's awesome.

mp3: Smokin' Pot Makes Me Not Want to Kill Myself

Some other albums I've been loving:  Deerhunter's Halcyon Digest (which has one of the creepiest album covers of the year), Warpaint's The Fool (which is tearing up the blogosphere), Belle and Sebastian Write About Love (which has them in slightly older school B&S form), No Age's Everything In Between (which is just plain good).  Here are some mp3s from those.
mp3: No Age :: Fever Dreaming, Glitter
mp3: Warpaint :: Undertow
mp3: Deerhunter :: Helicopter, Coronado, He Would Have Laughed (3 of the last 4 songs on the album - it has a fantastic finish)
mp3: Belle & Sebastian :: I Didn't See It Coming, The Ghost of Rockschool

More posts coming soon.

-- A Teenage Smellephant.

Real Estate + Deerhunter + Small Black + Ducktails

Real Estate :: Out of Tune

Nothing like some good beach poppy stuff right?  Well, the image says it all.  More from some of my favorite lo-fiers of last year (well, really the end of last year, so whatever... in case you were not aware, the big song from the debut album was Beach Comber... hehehe real creative right?).  In other news, they will be touring with Deerhunter (unfortunately the two will not be together in LA, but if you get a chance DEFINITELY go see that.  

Out Of Tune by truepanther

Deeerhunter :: Halcyon Digest

And Since I mentioned Deerhunter... I never really got around to posting about the new Deerhunter, but they will be releasing a new album (which I'm very excited for) called Halcyon Digest on September 27th.  So the new song is pretty much great... I'm not quite sure what to say about it, just listen to it...  Hopefully the new album is worthy of how excited for it I am.

mp3: Revival

Small Black :: Photojournalist

I posted about these guys a ways back and they are now finishing up their debut LP New Chain, due out in October, after an excellent tour with the likes of Washed Out and Yacht (unfortunately I missed that show, but it was supposed to be fantastic).  Here's the first single off the album, and it rides the chillwave about as hard as you can... 80's synths and faded out vocals abound.

mp3: Photojournalist

Ducktails :: Hamilton Road

I first heard about Ducktails earlier this summer, but he (Ducktails=Matthew Mondanile) has been around for a while.  He has got the characteristic Woodsist Records Sound: very lo-fi/poppy/synthy and ambient at times etc.  This song was buzzing quite a bit recently, and with good cause.  Although it does have some guitar pedals on it, it is for the most part just some simple guitars, drums and vocals, but it is the type of song that builds itself on that and is made by that.  It really captures a feeling of slight melancholy, end of summer/a good thing emotion, and I find it appropriate for this time... (Who are also touring with Deerhunter and Real Estate)

mp3: Hamilton Road

-- A Teenage Elephant

Sufjan Stevens + FlyLo + Here We Go Magic + A Video

Sufjan Stevens :: All Delighted People EP

First off, this is some pretty exciting news... Without any warning, after five years of doing pretty much nothing (yeah he did 4 albums worth of Christmas Carols, but... not exactly what anybody really listens to Sufjan for), Mr. Stevens has just released an EP entitled All Delighted People, but in standard form for him, the EP is a sprawling hour!  He also recently announced some new tour dates, so does this mean there is an album on the way?  Let's hope so.  The press release for this album is about as puzzling to say the least.  Apparently, the album (woops, EP) is "a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s ‘Sounds of Silence."  It also contains a "17-minute guitar jam-for-single-mothers ‘Djohariah.'"  As is evident from these descriptions, the EP is indeed epic in nature, featuring choirs and more; it features choirs, massive buildups with powerful trumpets in the end (think the his great 'You Are the Blood' from Dark Was the Night), and at times sounds almost Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon-ish to me, with lyrics like "What difference does it make?"  Its also got your great Sufjan acoustic rock, and well, a guitar-jam-solo that is... considerable... in its length to say the least.  Is this as good as some of his previous stuff... probably not, but is certainly pretty wonderful to have some new Sufjan.  You can stream the entire thing below.

Here We Go Magic :: Terminally Chill

Having just released an album, (Pigeons, Secretly Canadian) which I think I posted a track or two from a ways back, the Brooklyn band went on and put out a cover of Neon Indian's 2009 song demonstrative of all the chillwave qualities, "Terminally Chill."  Despite some similar parts, like the backgrund synth, they really put the HWGM touch on it with the backup vocals echoing the lead and repeating and overlapping, as well as the quick repetitive drums.  Enjoy.

mp3: Terminally Chill (Here We Go Magic Cover)

Flying Lotus :: Camera Day

Was releasing one of 2010's best albums (Cosmogramma) enough for LA (woot!) hip-hop/electronic/general bro Flying Lotus enough?  Absolutely not.  He must come back with more!  More the people want!  Well more the people shall have (what else would you expect from the nephew of John and Alice Coltrane, after all he does have to carry the family torch).... he will be releasing Pattern+Grid World, an EP (hopefully of the Sufjan length...) soon enough, and here is the first track from it, "Camera Day."

Flying Lotus - Camera Day (taken from Pattern+Grid World) by Warp Records

Yeasayer :: Madder Red
Finally, although I'm sure you've seen it already, here is the new Yeasayer video for "Madder Red."  It is a perfectly normal video.  There is nothing strange or off putting about it.  Oh wait, this is a Yeasayer video.  Of course it's the weirdest video since you've seen the last Yeasayer video.  Of course it makes you feel sort of like, what just happened, and of course it makes you quite sad on the inside...  Well here it is, starring Kristen Bell.



-- A Teenage Elephant

Tennis + Grass Widow + Jai Paul

Marathon :: Tennis

I've been sitting on this track for bit, and I finally have a chance to write a little bit today.  Tennis are a husband and wife duo, and they begun to pick up some steam in the blogosphere with the track "Marathon."  It's the perfect song for the summer.  It is poppy and infectious, and the vocals (at least to me) evoke the sort of 50s/60s girls vocals; they maintain the upbeat and carefree feeling that make it so summery.  It is destined for being on every summer party playlist.  At the same time though, I can't quite imagine listening to a whole album like this song though.  It is the type of song that so captures a perfect feeling, it seems having more songs surrounding it would ruin that if they were different or just be boring if they were the same.  Anywho, it is still a great song and definitely worth the download.

mp3: Marathon

Grass Widow

Grass Widow at AS220 in Providence, RI
Photo by the Teenage Elephant

I recently attended a Grass Widow show at Brown, and though there were only 50 or so people there, they absolutely blew me away.  Their songs are already catchy and danceable, but with the spirit they put into it, it turned the small gallery space into a party for those who were there for Grass Widow (unfortunately a lot of people were there for Grass Widow, a punk band from the 70s who went on after Grass Widow and who I missed).  Their harmonizing was spot on, and Raven Mahon's guitar propelled the songs into dance jams.  If you don't know Grass Widow, they're a San Francisco girl trio (as emphasized by the "Girls Rock!" spray-painted on the wall of the stage) who released a self-titled LP on Make a Mess last year and will be releasing a new one called Past Time later in August on Killrockstars.  They describe themselves as being 'Psychedelic/Visual/Surf,' but I think a better description is that they just are a band that weaves simple guitar, bass, drums, and harmonizing vocals together tightly and extremely well into a package that seems very refined and thought out, and most of all, incredibly satisfying and good to listen to.  Although they do at times sound like one of the many lo-fi/pop bands due to the clearly lo-fi style of recording, they rise far above the standards of the genre, and I believe they will be making quite a splash in the coming year.  Here are my three favorite tracks by them.  Listen and understand why I like them so much.

mp3: To Where
mp3: Celebrate the Mundane 
mp3: Shadow (Off of the new LP)

Jai Paul

Last but definitely not least is Jai Paul, an electronic guy.  The opening of this song reminds me immediately of Bon Iver's "Woods," (which I do enjoy, just not as much as his normal stuff), or perhaps it is something else that I can't quite place (maybe Sufjan Stevens' "You Are the Blood" off of Dark Was the Night?), and then the drums kick in (which are reminiscent of "Blood, Pt. 2" on Dark Was the Night) and you really think wow this song is going to be sick.  Which it is.  The beat is simple, but this simply (nice pun right?) contributes to the overall structure of the song by making the synth and laser-blasty things that much more impactful when they come in.  The vocals, which are layered of coos in the background, also sparse, and this really captures the longing that seems to be built into the way the different pieces of the song interact with each other.  Don't forget to go to his MySpace (as you are directed to at the end of the song.)

mp3: BTSTU

-- A Teenage Elephant

PS  Still collecting my thoughts on the Arcade Fire album (and it hasn't even been released yet!).  There aspects of it that I love (the music itself), and aspects I don't/waver between enjoying and not enjoying (the lyrics of some songs/the overall theme).  I will most likely post on it shortly.

PPS I'm getting really excited for the new Panda Bear album, how about you guys?  Also, Avey Tare just announced he will be releasing a solo album.

of Montreal + Best Coast + Wavves + Some Remixes/Covers

Hey so sorry it's been a while (and jeez why do all my posts start like that now?  I guess I'm just a bad blogger... Frown face).  After an action packed May (in terms of album releases), June has been a little slow, but.... there have been some new tracks coming out from forthcoming albums, so here you go.

First Up: of Montreal :: Coquet Coquette

Normal guitars?  Normal drums?  How can this be of Montreal?  Well, it is certainly different, that is for sure.  Coquet Coquette is a step in a whole new direction, featuring a much more straight up approach.  Kevin Barnes still maintains the slightly psychedelic sound though, and it ends up resulting in a sound that is very similar to the most recent MGMT album.  It will certainly be interesting to see how False Priest, their 10th (!!!) studio album comes out.
mp3: Coquet Coquette

Since I mentioned MGMT, I'll also throw in the AIR remix of "It's Working" by MGMT, courtesy of PMA.
mp3: It's Working (AIR Remix)

And since we are on Remixes... check out the Golden Filter's remix of Yeasayer's "Madder Red"  below.  (sorry couldn't find the mp3 anywhere...).

Madder Red (The Golden Filter Remix) by theQuietus

And since we are doinig covers/remixes...

Antlers :: Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd Cover)
The AV Club have an interesting thing were they have one band come in and choose a song off of a list of 25 songs to cover and then cross that song off, so the next band will have one fewer songs to choose from.  Most of the covers are really great, and this was one of my personal favorites. Sorry about the Budweiser mumbo jumbo.  Also check out the late Mark Linkous (AKA Sparklehorse)'s cover featuring Thom Yorke.


The Antlers cover Pink Floyd

mp3: Wish You Were Here (Sparklehorse Cover)

Best Coast :: Boyfriend

Just as you'd expect, this track has been tearing up the web, and deservedly so I might add.  We are all looking forward to her debut album... (yes that's the album art)
mp3: Boyfriend

And since we are talking about cat's on the covers of albums, and Best Coast (Beth Cosentino), let's talk about Wavves, whose lead singer Nathan Williams is in a relationship with Beth Cosentino, and who both have cats on their album covers!  Go read the hilarious HipsterRunoff post about their relationship.

Wavves :: King of the Beach
I just grabbed this album and it is one of the first albums released in the past month or so that I have really enjoyed, the others being The Drums' the Drums, Ariel Pink and the Haunted Graffiti's Before Today and Here We Go Magic's Pigeons.  Definitely listen to this if you would like to keep the summer state of mind up.  This album has a little bit of a cleaner sound, but it's still lo-fi if you were worrying.

mp3: Mickey Mouse
mp3: Super Soaker
and the most fun one off the album
mp3: King of the Beach



Best,
A Teenage Elephant

PS Is anybody at all excited for the new Klaxons album, which also features a cat on the cover?

Some Videos and Album News for Yall...

As I've said the past few posts, I've been really busy (but don't worry, Tuesday=freedom...), but just thought I'd drop some album news and a few videos.  (Sorry if there's not really a lot of content, but oh well).

Dave Sitek :: Maximum Balloon

Dave Sitek is one of the masterminds of everybody's favorites TV On the Radio. Well, he's just announced he'll be releasing a solo album... rejoice! Due out in August. He's also been working on a rap mixtape with Aziz Ansari of Parks & Recreations... don't know what to expect there.

Phil Selway :: Familial

Phil Selway (one of the three guys in Radiohead who is not Thom Yorke or Jonny Greenwood...hehehe) has been playing some solo shows recently with the likes of the Wilco drummer.  He'll be releasing an album to support this called Familial, also due out in August.  On a side note, he will be third member of Radiohead to release a solo album (Thom Yorke: the Eraser, Jonny Greenwood: There Will Be Blood Original Score); do you guys think it can live up to the two fantastic predecessors/can his live show be anywhere near as good as Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace (fact: when they release an album, I will go crazy...)?  Digging the album art...

Neon Indian :: Sleep Paralysist

Chillwave's been in a little bit of a slump hasn't it?  Well, here's a pretty sweet video for Neon Indian's post summer 2009 single (is that possible... chillwave released after summer 2009?  Jokes of course...).

Here We Go Magic :: Collector

Adidas, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, and Star Wars... Yep.

The headline says it all... a remake of the Cantina scene, featuring Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, David Beckham, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Jay Baruchel, and more... just watch it.

And since I'm going video crazy...

Totally unrelated but epic, the new trailer for Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.

I don't think a good movie has been released in months, but I can't wait for this and Inception.

-- A Teenage Elephant

More album tidbits...

The Thermals :: Personal Life

Due out in August

Interpol :: S/T

After some time off/band trouble, they'll be releasing their self-titled, fourth album in September.

Bonus!!!

First Half of '10 Album List

Hey yalls.... I just realized I've been super light on album reviews this year, so I figured I would do a little update seeing as we are nearly halfway done with this year.  I'm not going to write a review for each album, but I will write a sentence or two and let you know that you should pretty much OWN all 20 of these.  Sorry if there is not a lot of detail to these posts, it's just there was a lot to cover and I'm in the middle of Finals (excuses, excuses, I know).

1. 
   
   LCD Soundsystem :: This Is Happening
   
   Extremely varied album that (at least to me) seems encyclopedic in its influences.  It's got all styles, and everything in every song is functional (i.e. contributes to the sound).
   
   
2. 
   
   Local Natives :: Gorilla Manor
   
   Beautiful Beach Boy inspired harmonies; perfectly captures the LA indie sound with its clean guitars and double percussion.
   
   
3. 
   
   Tame Impala :: Innerspeaker
   
   Pyschedelia to the max... and awesome.  Wah-wah pedals, reverbed vocals... close your eyes and enjoy.
   
   
4. 
   
   Beach House :: Teen Dream
   
   Moaning, brooding vocals, echo-y, epic anthems, effects laden organs, and more.
   
   
5. 
   
   The New Pornographers :: Together
   
   The power pop pros do it again; they might have perfected their sound with this one.
   
   
   
6. 
   
   Caribou :: Swim
   
   Every song seems to be painstakingly crafted, with synths swooping in and at as vocals get effects laid on them; standout song is house style "Sun"
   
7. 
   
   MGMT :: Congratulations
   
   Most divisive album of the year; I really liked MGMT's new direction.  You either love it or hate it and I'm not going to write anything else.
   
8. 
   
   Broken Social Scene :: Forgiveness Rock Record
   
   More great stuff from the Canadian supergroup.  Less power-poppy than I expected, but still great.  "Texico Bitches" is my favorite.
   
   
9. 
   
   Avi Buffalo :: Avi Buffalo
   
   This album is fantastic, and it was made by a couple of a kids who are only just out of high school.  They have the simple sound of LA indie with their simple, clean electric guitar and young male vocals (if that makes any sense...)
   
   
   
   
10. 
    
    Surfer Blood :: Astro Coast
    
    The best (in my opinion) of the many lo-fi/pop releases this year.  They manage to create their own sound and identity, which is something of a problem for a lot of the lo-fi bands (whenever I'm listening to lo-fi, I have a friend who always makes the joke "didn't we just hear this song?").  This album will definitely get you ready for the summer...
    
    
11. 
    
    The Morning Benders :: Big Echo
    
    
    
    
12. 
    
    Flying Lotus :: Cosmogramma
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. 
    
    Sleigh Bells :: Treats
    
    
    
    
14. 
    
    Beach Fossils :: Beach Fossils
    
    
    
    
15. 
    
    Broken Bells :: Broken Bells
    
    
    
    
16. 
    
    Jonsi :: Go
    
    
    
    
17. 
    
    Delorean :: Subiza
    
    
    
    
    
18. 
    
    Titus Andronicus :: the Monitor
    
    
    
    
19. 
    
    Gemini :: Wild Nothing
    
    
    
    
20. 
    
    Yeasayer :: Odd Blood

Notable Mention:

Spoon, Hot Chip, the Delta Mirror, the Gorillaz

I haven't really gotten a chance to listen to the Black Keys' Brothers, the Besnard Lakes' Are The Roaring Night, Best Coast's Best Coast, Fang Island's Fang Island, Janelle Monae's the ArchAndroid, Harlem's Hippies, jj's n3, or the National's High Violet, but what I have heard from them I really like (I've done my best to stay up, but you can't be perfect....)

-- A Teenage Elephant

(Now go get some music!)

PS Trying something new... all of those images (except for the Tame Impala ones) are links to amazon...