4 Albums that Should Be On Your Radar (And May Not Be)

Here are four albums that are potentially under your radar but should be on it!

Swim by Caribou

This one may not be under you radar as Dan Smaith (Caribou) has been around for a while, but his latest release is great.  It's a bit of a fusion of many different styles, but it does not at all feel disorganized; instead it feels like every song was meticulously crafted.  Effects that wash out the music last just as long as they should, the drum beats are smooth and relaxed, and overall the album has a warm summery (slightly, dare I say, chillwave?) feel.  Also, the way refrains repeat but get changed up by effects gives some of the songs a slightly house feel.  My favorites: "Leave House" and "Sun"

Avi  Buffalo by Avi Buffalo

Chances are this one is under the radar for you (if not for the post I put up about him/them the other day), but they are certainly reaching buzzband status in LA.  These guys/guy (Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg AKA Avi Buffalo plus his band) are super young, fresh out of Millikan High in Los Angeles (Go LA bands!), and they certainly sound young, although not in a negative way.  It's not their musical composition, but the tone of their songs.  They have a happy feel, although it does not feel poppy and silly (think Matt and Kim).  They sing on the song "Jessica" - I still want to leave my mark / show you that I fit the part / Remember when we talked on that /  and it made you laugh.  The lyrics don't sound like they were just hashed out in minutes, they feel like they were thought about and the music is slow yet with joy, again making it seem thoughtful not immature.  It feels much more structured and cleaner, making it musically sound mature (if that makes any sense).  My favorites: "Jessica" and "One Last"


Clinging to a Scheme by Radio Dept.

These guys are Swedish and have been around for 13 years (!), yet this is just their third (!) album.  I'd never heard of them before, but when I came across this album I felt I had to share it.  It's really short, clocking in at 35 minutes despite being 10 songs.  Each song feels compact and like everything in it has a purpose, which is impressive seeing it could be easy to go overboard and make a very long album when working on it for 4 years.  They have a sort of dreamy pop sound.  Don't know what else to say but it's great!  Favorties: "This Time Around" and "The Video Dept."

Machines that Listen by the Delta Mirror

More LA for yall!  I talked about these guys a while ago, and this album is a little over a month old, but it would be easy to miss.  It's in some ways an "experimental album" in that each song takes place in a different room of a hospital.  In some ways it reminds me of the album Hospice by Antlers because of this, although the sound is very different.  To be honest, it is easy not to notice the hospital part.  The album has a very glitch/electronic sound.  Check it out!  (Plus it's got some sweet album art).  Favorites: "A Song About the End" and "We Got It All"

-- A Teenage Elephant

Tell me what you think of these!  (Please?)

The Delta Mirror! (And New Morning Benders/Broken Social Scene and More)

Hey Readers---


I have an excellent post full of a ton of great music so PLEASE PLEASE listen to it ALL.  I think this post is my best in terms of all the music in it.  PLEASE COMMENT AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.


Delta Mirror

Just heard these guys for the first time this past week and I love them.  They are another great band hailing from my stomping (or maybe tip-toeing... I don't do a lot of stomping, I'm more mellow...) grounds, LA... And yes I am joking when I use the term stomping grounds.  These guys sound say they are akin to Fuck Buttons and the Big Pink, but to me they are a bit less crowded and certainly more downtempo, making their music seem more pensive more emotional.  Upon further listening, I have realized that each song actually takes place in a different room of a hospital (this will be true of the whole album), which further adds to that strong emotional impact.  This immediately brings to mind Antlers' Hospice, and I think that this is just as moving; another song that I feel is incredibly moving and possibly my favorite song ever, and I'm not one to choose favorites, is LCD Soundsystem's "Someone Great."  If you haven't heard it GO LISTEN TO IT IMMEDIATELY.  Although most of their songs are that slower, affecting feeling that is sometimes only expressed through simpler instruments, they also throw in some glitch, giving them an Interpol/Postal Service cross feeling.  The stuff is really excellent and I really recommend you head over to their MySpace and check out all of their stuff.  Their first album, Machines Will Listen comes out on 3/26 on Lefse Records, and for any of my readers in LA, the will be doing a three week residency at the Echo starting this Tuesday, and you should try to check them out if you can. Please please please go to their MySpace and listen to all of their stuff, it's excellent!

mp3: he was worse than the needle he gave you

mp3: it was dark and I welcome the calm

a song about the end

Morning Benders :: Excuses

  

A bunch of buzz has been going around about the Morning Benders this week, which is making me really happy!  I think these guys are really talented and are going to be a really great band in the coming years.  They are still really young, and I always think it's cool to see people really make an impact of some sort in the music community (did you catch the wishful thinking?).  You can pop over to their site by clicking "more info" in the player above and download the new song for the price of the email.  These guys will be kicking off a tour in New York in a couple of days, and I will definitely looking forward to hopefully seeing them for a second time when they come to LA in March.


Caribou :: Odessa
Caribou just released the video to Odessa, one of my favorite of their tracks.  The video is very interested, not sure of my thoughts on it.  Tell me what you think!   Download the song for an email over at their site.




Broken Social Scene :: World Sick
All You Need to Know
New Broken Social Scene = Epic.
5 Year Wait = Worth It
Give Email = Get Song
May 4 = Forgiveness Rock Record Release
May 3 = Broken Social Scene @ the Fonda

Last but not least
Phoenix :: Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Phoenix covered Bob Dylan with just Thomas Mars vocal and strumming guitar... 'nuff said.  Some might find it cheesy though...  I absolutely love it.


Download the HQ version over at PMA.

-- A Teenage Elephant (reflecting on this post full of excellent music)

PS Please Please Comment and tell me what you think of everything