Something New

I'm trying something new, since my favorite source for posting songs to listen to was coopted and shut down by Apple.  Thank you Steve Jobs. 

Check out the new and improved (well maybe not, but more likely to be updated regularly at least) blog here: http://thesetunes.tumblr.com/

Elbow

This song is way old, and Elbow has been around for ages, but until I heard this song in a movie recently, I'd never heard of them. This song is stellar, despite the redonc name.

Snooks (Progress Report)

Young Knives

According to the Young Knives, "This is not the finished version and it may not even make it onto the album but we thought you would like to hear it."  Whatever, because it's good and is totally stuck in my head right now.


I Love My Name (demo)

Scanners

I've been way disappointed in Gossip Girl tunes lately, but they pulled through with this song.  Dark, brooding, and hot.  Just like GG.

Salvation

Funeral Party

Every week, NME's website has a list of 10 tracks to listen to that week.  Sometimes they've got amazing songs.  Other times, not so much potato chip worthy.  This recent one completely fits the bill though.

NYC Moves The Sound Of LA

The Tallest Man On Earth

Google tallest man on earth and you tend to get pictures of this dude. But thanks to his latest album, which is by far the best I've heard all year, Kristian Matsson is getting bigger by the minute. Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing, not just this song.

Love Is All

Sleigh Bells

These two came out of nowhere, but MIA signed them, so they must be the next it thing.  This tune is a little cacophonous, but it totally works.  

Tell ’Em

Surfer Blood

I'm back! I have a huge list of songs to post, and not much to say about any of them, except that they are good tunes. So here goes.

Swim

Washed Out

KSG, this one's for you!  The best way to describe Washed Out is a dude in his bedroom with a casio keyboard.  In fact, that's pretty much exactly how Ernest Greene made his first "chill wave" album (although I would imagine his keyboard is a little more advanced than the $100 model I had in 4th grade).  This tune is perhaps not as universally appealing as other stuff I post, but in the right situation, it's perfect.

Get Up

Mumford & Sons

When I woke up this morning, I had never heard of Mumford & Sons, and when I first read an excerpt from an interview with Jake Gyllenhaal where he mentions them, the first thing I thought of was Sanford and Son.  Ten seconds later in my usual procrastination internet rounds, I saw that they are in fact a band playing at 930 club in May.  Well if Jake loves them and they're coming to 930, I had to listen.  Next thing I know, I've listened to their songs on myspace several times, watched their videos on YouTube, and bought their album on my phone.  Of course when I get home I decide to read some old NME's ALJ (gah!) gave me, and whose on the cover but Mumford.  Someone clearly wants me to become obsessed with this band.

And if you listen to these two songs, I have a feeling you will be obsessed too, as it seems is the rest of the UK.

Little Lion Man

The Cave

Florence and the Machine

This song has been all over the place recently (including the Eat, Pray, Love trailer--gag me), but in case you missed you, it is a must.

Dog Days Are Over

Diamond Rings

According to NME, this is pretty much the best thing they've heard all year.  Even if it's not, the video should provide enough entertainment, awesome pop tune aside.

Wait and See

Recap Two

So, apparently I'm not so good at keeping up with this thing, but in the spirit of not being able to focus on any one thing at work for more than 2 minutes, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to post a useless recap post.  Here's what we've had since Recap One, this time with links!

Kate Miller-Heidke - The One Thing I Know
Gara/Matthew Wilder and M.I.A. - You're Never Gonna Break M.I.A. Stride
Electric Tickle Machine - Part of Me
Whole Wheat Bread - No Problem
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
Bell X1 - The Great Defector
The Blakes - So Easy
El Perro Del Mar - Change Of Heart
Weezer - The Girl Got Hot
Stellastarr* - Freak Out
Sea Wolk - Stanislaus
Speech Debelle - Spinnin'
The White Buffalo - Love Song 1
Caravan Palace - Jolie Coquine
Kid Cudi - Cudderisback
YACHT - Psychic City (Voodoo City)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Hanuman
The Subjects - Winter Vacation
Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
Rubik - No Escape
Lady Gaga vs. Journey - Just Stop Believin'
The Mountain Goats and Kaki King - Thank You Mario! But Our Princess Is In Another Castle!
The Whigs - In The Dark
Junior League Band - South Carolina Blues
Hot Chip - I Feel Better
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster
A Fine Frenzy - What I Wouldn't Do
Hey Marseilles - Rio
Mark Mallman - White Leather Days
Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside

Broken Bells

I haven't even finished listening to this tune for the first time and I'm already posting it. I'd read about Broken Bells but hadn't heard them yet (but then again, their album just came out today). This song is awesome. Plus, it's Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, and James Mercer, aka the lead singer of the Shins. Before I even pushed play I knew it would be amazing.

The Ghost Inside

Mark Mallman

This song is just funny.  Every time I listen to it, I think, "why am I listening to a song called White Leather Days," but then I continue to listen because it's oddly very catchy, despite it's super-cheesiness.

Plus, Mark Mallman apparently has an alter ego named Mallwolf who sometimes comes out at concerts.  And that is just hi-larious.

White Leather Days - Mark Mallman

Hey Marseilles

This song isn't really that new, but it's got some awesome clapping.  You can even watch them do it in this video.  Sweet.

Rio

A Fine Frenzy

I used to hate chick music. It didn't really matter what it was, if a girl was singing, I wouldn't like it.  I blame it on Alanis and her misuse of ironic.  Thankfully, I think I am out of that stage, as it seems that I keep posting about chicks who make music.  Despite what her name might lead you to believe, this is just a girl who plays the piano and sings, simple happy tunes. At least this one is. 

What I Wouldn't Do - A Fine Fr...

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

I first listened to Thao on a drunken walk home one night, when blasting music on my iphone and discovering the secret Karpeles Manuscript Library near my office were two of the greatest things ever. I didn't remember the Thao part until about 3 weeks after listening to this song on my "songs to listen to" playlist, aptly title "_" so that it stays at the top.Then it slowly came back to me, and I've been listening ever since.

Know Better Learn Faster - Tha...

Hot Chip

My old roommate went through an extended stage (I swear it was like 3 months) where he only seemed to listen to Playboy by Hot Chip.  Not that I don't love me some electropop, but now all I can think of when I hear Hot Chip is Joe Goddard rapping "Driving in my Peugeot, yeah yeah yeah/ 20-inch rims with the chrome now, yeah yeah yeah/ Blazin' out Yo La Tengo, yeah yeah yeah."

Thankfully, they have come out with an excellent new song, I Feel Better, that is much less monotonous than Playboy, and features strings. And who doesn't love a pop song with strings.

Junior League Band

Their sound is completely different than the Whigs, but Junior League plays some great bluegrass. Lissy's also trying to make a go of it as a solo career.  If you're an east coast resident, I highly recommend seeing these guys live.

South Carolina Blues - Junior ...

The Whigs

The Whigs have made quite the name for themselves in the last few years. This is the first single of their upcoming album. Can't wait to hear the whole thing.

In The Dark - The Whigs

The Mountain Goats and Kaki King

It's February, I'm in a new city, and I'm back! Now that I'm working full time, I sadly probably won't post as often, but whenever you're looking for some new tunes to round out your collection, I'm still you're gal.

First up is another theme week: artists I went to high school with.  Even though you can barely hear Kaki in this song, if that faint female voice is even her, it's her only song currently in my rotation.

And how cute and sad is this video.  I always loved toad. 

Happy New Year Mashup: Lady Gaga vs Journey

I'm a sucker for good mashups, and really what mash would make a better addition to your New Years Get Psyched Mix than Journey and Lady Gaga. Because won't you always remember 2009 in disco sticks and New Directions?  

Just Stop Believin'

Right click to download

Rubik

These guys are Finnish. That's all I can think of to say at the moment.  Just listen to the song.

No Escape - Rubik

Say Hi

They used to be called Say Hi To Your Mom.  Ha.

This tune was featured in Gossip Girl.  It is excellent.

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

The Subjects

These guys have kind of a cool story. Two teachers formed the band with two students, and they actually made it work. Can't really imagine playing SXSW with my high school teacher, but whatever works I suppose.

Winter Vacation - The Subjects

Rodrigo y Gabriela

If you've never seen these two play, watch this video.  They are unreal. And their new album is finally out. 

Hanuman - Rodrigo y Gabriela

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

After seeing Where the Wild Things Are, I'm now in love with Karen O, not that I didn't think the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were fabulous before that.  I've been slowly collecting tunes off of their latest album, It's Blitz, and this one has been constantly in my head for the past 3 weeks. 

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Ye...

Thanks to Wikipedia, I just learned that it was featured in ads for the Hills and the City, which my lack of television made me completely unaware of. So perhaps it will be familiar to a few readers out there. :) 

YACHT

YACHT is actually just a dude who used to be a member of The Blow, whose free iTunes single, True Affection, has a frighteningly high play count in my iTunes. While this song is definitely odd, it's just odd enough to work.

Psychic City (Voodoo City) - Y...

KiD CuDi

I have no idea how hard it is to rap because, surprise surprise, I am not a rapper. I would gather that it is fairly difficult to find an indie pop song and rap over it and make it sound like you wrote the song to go with your rap. That is exactly what Cudder has managed to do in this abruptly-ending rap over Vampire Weekend's Ottoman. Thanks to the nice "goodbye" at the end, long before the background song is supposed to end, you'll want to listen over and over.

Cudderisback

(Not sure where he went, since his debut album just came out in September...)