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