we'll still be best friends when all turns to dust

Free Energy - Bang Pop
Fluffy whimsical indie pop with the grooves of the electric guitar. You're at a carnival wondering where this awesome melody is emanating from. Digging into a entire cauldron of candy floss, you search and find their beats amidst all that sugary sweet stuff. Surely a feel good song suitable for any summer house party in the garden. And hell, I have to agree with youtube user dickynights, they certainly do sound like early Weezer here. Influence much?

The Morning Benders - Excuses
It's one of my favourite songs for the year so far - a hazy blend of youthful innocence and lost naivete. This is an instrumental/orchestra version of the original where they roped in their friends and San Francisco music found-abouts, trying to recreate the wall of sound. The strings bring about a melancholy that they otherwise couldn't convey, and seems to suit this instrumental take very well. Also at the start and end, listen to what Chris Chu says about the song. Check out the studio version right here.

The Morning Benders - Boarded Doors
What a kitschy and cute video to go with this jaunty song. Singing as if he's skipping along, prodded along by that staccato of a melody, he sings of lost/unreciprocated love and how he doesn't know where else to go, like a lost little boy. Clearly, they were already of lovely music even before "Big Echo", which gave sorta gave them their big break.

stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost

The Golden Filter - Memorial Day
This was put up by the band themselves on youtube, stating that it was written and recorded in summer '07, pre golden filter. It's chockful of dreamy hazy vibes reminiscent of dreampop, quite unlike the electronic dance stuff they're known for currently. It's interesting to note that they've dabbled a bit in other genres, but I think they might have done just as well if they dove into dreampop. Maybe they might surprise us and release such an album after "Voluspa".

Dent May - Eastover Wives (mp3)
I absolutely love this song. Incorporating that oldies charm into Eastover Wives along with a lovely mix of emotive vocals and jazz elements. It's just like being in front of the warm comfort of the fireplace as the snow plunders everything outside the house, reducing all to just a pristine white.

Sufjan Stevens - Enchanting Ghost
A mercurial singer/songwriter of our time, he's suddenly dropped an entire EP of songs. Coming in just under 60 minutes, this is an EP of epic proportions since it is uncommon to have such lengthy EPs. Additionally, he's priced the EP at USD5 on bandcamp which is supremely value for money considering it's almost 60 minutes of awesome stuff. This is what's said on bandcamp, "All Delighted People is built around two different versions of Sufjan’s long-form epic ballad "All Delighted People," a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s "Sounds of Silence." Sounds delightful, yes! The song was originally workshopped on Sufjan’s previous tour in the fall of 2009."

Enchanting and pleasant, at times one would also feel for him as his heart-rending delivery on matters of the heart strikes a chord within. The simple plucking of the guitar drives this song, backed occasionally by the sweet staccato of the piano, he delivers us nothing but the best that one can expect from him.

i tell you miserable things after you are asleep

In the wild land around the farm, there is constant change, yet it feels timeless. The beeches and hemlocks along the creek look the same. The ship-rock that always seems to be sinking in the middle pasture hasn’t sunk an inch in all this time. This is a rabbit year, but these look like the identical rabbits I saw a few years ago.

None of this is true in the garden. You can plant for shape, color, scent, whatever you like. But unless you confine yourself completely to annuals, you’re cultivating your consciousness of time. Every garden leaves the traces of its origin in the gardener, which means that it’s hard to look at even the maturest beds and borders without remembering the digging and planting and waiting it took to bring them to this point.

- Garden Time by Verlyn Klinkenborg


Ra Ra Riot - Boy
Ra Ra Riot having laid low for a little, except for Wes Miles who was active with Rostam Batmanglij as Discovery, are back with a new offering simply titled "The Orchard". Apparently the tracks have been out for a little more than a couple of weeks. A real nippy number, it's perky and Wes Miles' vocals drip with earnestness and longing. The hooks are definitely present but their signature strings are pretty much non existent here. Obviously, these guys are back and ready to roll.

Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic
You know what they say about the apple not falling too far from it's tree. Well, it's analogous to some extent. It's real rambunctious pop, with lovely interplay between their strings and drums/guitar. It segues real neatly as he croons about over-dramatic girlfriends that is beyond his comprehension.

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Yeasayer are up with their usual unusual stuff. The tribal melodies that permeate is part of the overall package that is an experimental yet folk-ish sound balanced with some slightly vague lyricism. The might seem pretentious and thought of as trying too hard initially, but I actually warmed up to the song after 2 listens. If you strip away the heavy sounds, the song might actually appeal to even more, but this is Yeasayer for you. Here's the official video. But it is really queer and disturbing (in a non gory/grisly manner). Check it out if you want, but it's highly likely to put one off.

The National - Conversation 16
I'm not exactly sure why I'm only posting this song now. Somehow, their new album "High Violet" didn't register with me. I don't know why. But the odd listens here and there, and suddenly I'm taking to most of this album, particularly Conversation 16. I think it's understated brilliance. Introspective and mellow; sombre yet glorious, the drums fill out the very little space left by Matt Berninger's deep and curiously affecting baritone. It resonates within you, and singing about zombies, be it metaphorical or literal, makes you wonder what is going through his mind. It could be an epiphany, but whatever it is, this is utter satisfaction.

something in you makes me want to try

Clare & the Reasons - Ooh You Hurt Me So
I love a jaunty song anytime. Expressive vocals by Clare Manchon is underlied by a subtle vulnerability which she seems more than happy to conceal from us. Melodious whistling and slow taps on the guitar complete this absolutely lovely song.

Fyfe Dangerfield - She's Always A Woman
Fyfe Dangerfield covers this original by Billy Joel so brilliantly. Such a woman seems more than a handful, yielding that emotional bedlam that Mr Dangerfield struggles to contain. Inevitably, it brings comparison to the legend that is Billy Joel. While his cover certainly cannot match the grandiosity of BJ, he evokes a certain rawness, that could largely be attributed by his scruffy look, and brings about a contemporary twist.

Fanfarlo - Ghosts
When you listen to their brand of chamber pop, you get a feeling of uniqueness they try to make their own as they marry pop sensibilities with grand orchestral proceedings. Effervescence spills through as a myriad of instruments used by this 5 man band strive to make themselves heard, and everything dovetails nicely as Bathalzar leads the way with mellow vocals that swoon and bears an uncanny resemblance to David Bryne.

it's the start of the end

Cullen - Easily Impressed
Mr Cullen here, who hails from Melbourne, cites Phoenix, Daft Punk, The Beatles and Weezer amongst others as his influences. Debut single Easily Impressed has an intro with Daft Punk-ish synths for a solid backing rhythm. His sweet boppy voice fits the confession of a song to a T, especially in the repeated chorus. A sweet package all in all, his off kilter pop sensibilities in the vein of Phoenix would definitely appeal to the masses.

Grizzly Bear - Foreground (Phoenix Remix)
This has got to be either the smartest or the laziest idea Phoenix has come up with. I think I'd go with the former. Just follow the instructions as said. Personally, I liked what I tried on my first try. I started Foreground when Canon in D Major reached 1:00. Canon in D Major is a slow and classical piece which totally melds into the piano backed masterpiece, where Daniel Rossen holds fort. Brilliant idea, really.

Crystal Castles - Baptism
Permission to go ape over this song please. Been quite a while since we've heard from CC. It's mind blowingly catchy with 8bit synths, warpy vocals that can't be deciphered, deep bass beat that goes thump thump in your head. Delish.

Kinema - My Girls (Animal Collective Cover)
I'm loving this cover by Kinema, and according to themselves, they sound like "really good". I've got to agree with them, though it seems to have polarised opinion on youtube. Uber dancey rendition of AC favourite, My Girls.

Kinema - Let's Get To It
Groovy downtempo electronica (of sorts), this trio quote Giorgio Moroder, Aeroplane, Erlend Oye as influences. Also imbued are certain poppy hooks that are so damn infectious, they seem to be destined for bigger things.