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Out next week for vacation…. will be re-posting again on 8/7.

1. Deerhunter – Revival
Deerhunter = Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver and Lockett Pundt from Atlanta, Georgia. Originally formed in 2001, they have certainly seen their fair share of band members coming and going. This new song finds the band’s sound tighter than ever, and it truly does seem like a revival for the band. It’s optimistic and hopeful, a lighter side of Bradley Cox. You can visit the website set up for this album HERE and you can get the song courtesy of Gorilla VS. Bear HERE. Halcyon Digest is out on 9/28 via 4AD.
Deerhunter – Revival

2. Dreamend – Pieces
Dreamend is the project of Chicago-based Ryan Graveface, also known for being a member of the band Black Moth Super Rainbow. In the band bio the album is described as, “a nightmarish American folk sound that evokes the faded scenery of ghost towns and eerie midnight drives.” It sounds a bit like a lullaby with a twist, topped off with rolling banjo and Edgar-Allan-Poe-esque lyrics. Ryan was joined by members of The Appleseed Cast for this record and also Tobacco from Black Moth Super Rainbow. You can pre-order the album So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite now HERE.
Dreamend – Pieces

3. Chief – Night & Day
Definitely my pick of the week. Chief = Evan Koga, Mike Moonves, Danny Fujikawa and Michael Fujikawa from Santa Monica, CA. Paul Lester from The Guardian described their sound perfectly as “a romantic idea of listlessly driving along a freeway in the smog-drenched midday sun, in a semi-stoned state, sometime between 1970 and 1977, i.e. before disco, new wave and metal took hold.” There is definitely a 1970s Laurel Canyon sound to this band, and it works perfectly. If you are in LA, please go see them when they play at the Bootleg Theater on 8/20. Ticket information for that HERE. Their album Modern Ritual is out on 8/20. Pre-order it now HERE.
Chief – Night & Day

4. Still Corners – Endless Summer
This band, much like Cults, is shrouded in a bit of mystery. After all of my research, I was only able to get 3 of the 5 band members names: Olivia (singer), Greg and Leon. They are from London and list their influences as cathedrals, automatic writing and John Carpenter. It definitely sound like something David Lynch would have used in Twin Peaks; It has a perfectly mysterious, spooky and sensual quality to it. You can listen to other tracks on their MySpace page HERE. You can get this single now HERE.
Still Corners – Endless Summer

5. Cut Copy – Where I’m Going
Cut Copy = Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey and Mitchell Dean Scott from Melbourne, Australia. It sounds to me that the boys of Cut Copy have been listening to The Beach Boys. They have given their electronic sound a much more laid-back surfer vibe. It’s Britpop and Surf Rock, hidden under the guise of upbeat electronica. It’s what you want playing in your car on the way to the beach or on a long road trip. Get this track for free now HERE. Their yet to be titled album is due out January, 2011.
Cut Copy – Where I’m Going

6. Menomena – Taos
Whether or not it’s true, I am pretty into the rumor that this band’s name comes from the muppet song Mahna Mahna (watch the video for that HERE). Made up of Brent Knopf, Justin Harris and Danny Seim, the band formed in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. Their new album Mines, has been in the works since 2008 and Danny stated the band was “working on a U2 time frame…We have a ton of material to use and we have to structure the stuff, pick up instruments and find songs.” The track is indie rock at its very best. Track courtesy of Stereogum HERE. You can pre-order Mines now HERE.
Menomena – Taos

7. Robyn – Dancing On My Own
Sweden-based Robyn, to me, surpasses both Lady Gaga and Katy Perry in her ability to make electropop tracks that have a real depth to them. How can you not fall in love with her song “With Every Heartbeat”(Video for that HERE)? This track came out last month and immediately charted in the UK top 10. It is off her first of 3 albums set to be released this year. She’s come a long way from her discovery at 12, when she wrote the theme song for a Swedish television show, officially becoming a pop songstress at 16. Perhaps it is her already long career length (she is 31 now) that explains why she continues to reinvent and recharge the female electropop genre. You can buy her album Body Talk Pt. 1 now HERE. Body Talk Pt. 2 and Speak Your Body: Body Talk Pt. 3 are due out later this year.
Robyn – Dancing On My Own

8. Family Trees – Dream Talkin
Currently unsigned, Family Trees = Yan Trott, Amanda Finn and Joe Pruitt from Brooklyn, NY. Their MySpace page lists their influences as: Yes, Beach Boys and Microphones. They definitely have a sleepy Beach Boys quality to them, but they also have an incredibly catchy-stick-in-your-head sound. This should fit in perfectly with your summer soundtrack. You can buy this single now HERE.
Family Trees – Dream Talkin

Oldies but worth a re-listen:

1. The Animals – House of the Rising Sun
Badass.

2. The Persuaders – Thin Line Between Love & Hate
Live & amazing

3. Jose Feliciano – Sunny
Sunny indeed.

Filed under: Music by admin