Top 30 Songs of 2010

For the sake of originality, there are no artist repeats.

Also, if you like a song, I definitely recommend finding a higher quality mp3 stream, rather than trying to enjoy it in it's lowest quality form on youtube.

I hope you enjoy.

30. Clive Tanaka y su orquesta - Neu Chicago
It reminds me of tropic islands, of poorly recreated Hawaiian lauas, of those plastic leis you can buy at the dollar store. I love it.




29. Evenings - Still Young
It starts off chill and explodes with a noise-rock meets midi-file jam. Say what you will about chillwave, but you can't tell me this isn't catchy.





28. Mount Kimbie - Mayor
Post-dubstep at it's finest. I really love the voice samples, and the sudden synth attacks separate this song from you typical IDM.




27. Balam Acab - See Birds (Sun)
There's a light at the end of the tunnel...




26. Sleigh Bells - A/B Machines
While their 2010 debut Treats may have gotten old after a few listens, "A/B Machines" is as fun and upbeat as ever.




25. Millionyoung - Day We Met
The last minute is pure bliss.





24. Atlas Sound - Mona Lisa
Out of the 49 songs that make up the Bedroom Databank Volumes, "Mona Lisa" may very well be the catchiest tune. Honestly, this is on, if not, above Logos' level.




23. Caribou - Jamelia
A fantastic closer to an already incredible electronic LP.




22. Tanlines - Z
Glasser is featured on this track, providing vocals complimentary to this bass heavy chillwave song.




21. The Knife / Planningtorock / Mt. Sims - Colouring of Pigeons
This track is just unreal in almost every meaning of the word. I probably played it three straight times after first hearing it, but a song at this magnitude certainly merits that. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is pretty unlistenable, but "Colouring of Pigeons" is a gem from 2010 that didn't go unnoticed.



20. Blackbird Blackbird - Pure
Simply aesthetic.



19. J. Cole - 2face
"I'm playing daddy to another niggas daughter / don't worry even Jesus never saw his real father"...damn.




18. Girls - Carolina
I'll admit, it sounds a lot like "Hellhole Ratrace"; however, the build up and the execution make it the EP's standout.




17. Big Boi - General Patton
The words "epic" and "rap" and scarcely used in the same sentence, but I think it's entirely appropriate here with the production on this track.




16. Freddie Gibbs - National Anthem (Fuck The World)
Freddie Gibbs is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in the rap scene, and "National Anthem" further proves this.




15. The Tallest Man on Earth -The Wild Hunt
I could honestly put any song from The Tallest Man on Earth's 2010 LP, but I decided to just keep it simple and go with the album's opening title track.




14. Tyler, The Creator - Seven
Tyler goes hard on this song and the 18 year old's sick production just backs him with even more ferocity.




13. Nails - Suffering Soul
You hear that? It's the sound of your balls redropping. "Suffering Soul" is about as brutal as you can make a song. I can't get enough of the traumatized vocals and the gut-wrenching guitar tone.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SUFFERING SOUL



12. Gonjasufi - She Gone
It's probably the most accessible song on A Sufi and a Killer, but damn, if it isn't the trippiest thing you'll ever hear. The lo-fi production just makes this song (and the rest of the album for that matter). I also love the chorus, especially the subtle piano; let's be honest though, if it wasn't for Gonjasufi's wailing voice and the unyielding thumping bass, this song just wouldn't be the same.




11. Family Trees - Dream Talkin
I blindly purchased the 7” single ""Dream Talkin" earlier this year. Talk about a fantastic way to spend my money. "Dream Talkin" is short, but only after a few plays it proved the be relentlessly catchy.




10. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - In Motion
The Social Network was a phenomenal movie, but it goes without saying that the OST only added to the films greatness. In particular, In Motion is simple yet undeniably catchy; the perfect theme to almost any adolescent adventure.




09. Beach House - Norway
"Norway", the explosive track from dream-pop outfit Beach House, is the best song on their monumental 2010 LP Teen Dream. Victoria Legrand's vocals hit really hard here, especially in the choruses; her breathy chants matched by Alex Scally's jangling guitar is a high point for the band instrumentally. "Norway" is a great example of a song that is truly captivating, and one that only spells out a successful future for this still improving band.




08. Mathemagic - Breaststroke
"Breaststroke" is lazy, minimal, even monotonous; but gosh, it's easily one of the prettiest things I've heard all year. Everything is just caked in reverb; from the refrain of "It's alright" to the pulsing bass drum; it's a song that's just absolutely beautiful. The music video of this song gets it completely right. You're in the pool on a gorgeous summer day. You're with the girl you love, the friends you spend every day with. You just don't want it to end.





07. Teenage Reverb - Double Exposure
Teenage Reverb is a criminally unknown bedroom ambient project. Like Foxes in Fiction, I've fallen in love with his work; both because of it's surprising quality as well as the fantastic price (completely free!). "Double Exposure" starts of slow, but that gorgeous guitar tone matched by the lazy, simple vocals warm up with surprisingly velocity. But before anything happens, everything falls apart; the guitar completely fades out, the vocals lost, the reverb segues into wavy bliss. The guitar softly clangs in the background, synths softly twinkle. And just as you're about to wonder if the song even had any purpose, the song makes a defiant return, lead by a outro that's arguably the catchiest of the year. The chanting vocals and that incredibly basic drum beat might seem lame, but I'd be lying to say if I don't absolutely adore them. Too bad it can't last a bit longer.




06. LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
I love it when songs unpredictably explode. The opener for This Is Happening, "Dance Yrself Clean", does just that. The synths and James Murphy's superb vocals really pull you apart here. It suffices to say this is easily LCD Soundsystem's best song, one that alone guarantees this album to be a must listen. Oh, and that uncontrollable feeling to just break out dancing is all too natural, don't worry.




05. Foxes in Fiction - 8/29/91
I'm a sucker for talking in ambient music. One of the more famous examples is Godspeed You! Black Emperor's "Sleep". The song opens with an old man looking back at Coney Island, his youth that's long past, his nostalgic childhood he wish he could relive, and the poor, inept version of the island that remains; it's unambiguously heartbreaking.

In "8/29/91", the poetic monologue that carries over is spoken by Charles Bukowski. It's honest, haunting, mesmerizing; the perfect addition to this ambient piece. Like "Sleep", "8/29/91" wouldn't be the same without this sample. Some excerpts:
"I had a gambler friend once who said: 'I don't care if I want to win or lose, I just want to gamble'".
"I used to laugh more. I used to do everything more. Now, I'm writhing and writhing and writhing." "
"I smoke too much, I drink too much, but I can't write too much."
"We're all set to die, all of us, what a circus. That alone should make us love each other, but it doesn't."
Incredible.




04. Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane
Whereas most electronic artists would just add a repetitive bass drum, Flying Lotus does so much more. There's claps, raucous synths, vocal samples thrown in every which way, violins, crunchy sounding cymbals, a rattling cage thing, bleeps and bloops, another vocal sample, more bleeps and bloops, saxophone, louder synths, and unexpected pauses; it's an incredible sounding clusterfuck, all along backed to that all too familiar repetitive 4/4 bass drum. The production is insane, and despite all the stuff that's added, it's legitimately a straightforward dance song. "Do The Astral Plane" my summer anthem, and a highlight to one of the years greatest achievements.




03. Kanye West - Dark Fantasy
Kanye has never sounded better. The rising calls of "Can we get much higher?" serve as both a musical standout and as foreshadowing; when's the last time a song has gone from a storytelling intro to an r&b-esque breakdown to arguably one of the dopest beats of the year? Probably never, but that doesn't matter to Kanye. And while the production might be on another level, lyrically, Kanye's on fire. The quoteable lines take up almost the entire song "So much head I woke up to Sleepy Hollow", "The plan was, to drink until the pain's over/but what's worse, the pain or the hangover?", "Too many Urkles on your team that's your Winslow". Can Kanye get much higher? I really don't know, but I have a feeling that he's proven that he certainly can.




02. Deerhunter - Desire Lines
I really wish more bands would take note of Deerhunter's simplicity. What's the need for ridiculously complex solos when you can just pluck a few notes and make something sound good? Neckbeards everywhere collectively argue against this, but what they fail to realize is that melody is what makes music sound good. "Desire Lines" is about as melodic as Deerhunter has been thus far. It's a standout track from Halcyon Digest, and potentially the best song in their already fantastic discography. The shoegazy jam that takes up the final 3 minutes reminisces of "Nothing Ever Happened", but "Desire Lines" is completely different; it combines the new, pop sounding Deerhunter with the lo-fi shoegaze jams of My Bloody Valentine. The result works tremendously well, making "Desire Lines" an unforgettable song that will only inspire generations of musicians to come.




01. Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
"Impossible Soul" is probably the fastest twenty five and a half minute indie-rock song that has ever been made. Actually, it might be the only one, but I digress; Stevens is really on to something with "Impossible Soul". He's ditched his old persona, no longer relying on his Fifty States Project. He's creating indie-rock in an entire different category. Like Kid A, Stevens has gone against everything he's been known for, vouching for experimental nature and uncharacteristic electronic music. The production is, at times, overwhelming. "Impossible Soul" is a collage of everything The Age of Adz is made of. Split into five different movements, it incorporates the new Stevens sound with the old; he seamlessly sings in autotune at one point and plays his acoustic guitar later on. It's a sprawling epic, a song that defines the man who has created it. Thanks Sufjan, you really did the unexpected here, and it completely paid off.

Part One:

Part Two:




Thanks for reading. My top albums will be posted next week.

Sorry for the lack of updates guys

I've been on a brief hiatus, but I return for my end of the year festivities. In the following weeks, I will post a top 30 songs of the year list, as well as a top 30 albums of the year list. Stay tuned.

Avey Tare - Down There

Click here to watch the music video for "Lucky 1"
Click here to listen to "Cemeteries"
Click here to listen to "Heads Hammock"

Despite being a year without a new Animal Collective album, we've had our fair share of Animal Collective releases. From the trippy, visual eye-fuck of ODDSAC to the largely anticipated LPs from Panda Bear and Avey Tare, Animal Collective fans are surely being treated in 2010.

For an Animal Collective related record, however, Down There is surprisingly empty. The structure is laid back, nothing more than a man and is sampler.There's something oddly hypnotic about Avey Tare's voice and the drug laced samples that subtly contribute to it; and while it may directly contrast the Animal Collective most fans are certainly used to, I can't help but love the atmosphere it creates.

Yes, this album definitely swims; not in a lush, blue ocean though, but in a dark, murky swamp. The bass drum sustains and the background crawls with watery effects. The album's cover art of the crocodile is entirely appropriate here; Down There is truly an ode to the crocodile and the gloomy, indistinct life it lives.

White Denim - Last Day of Summer

Click here for free download

The only thing better than free music is free music that's actually really good. White Denim's Last Day of Summer is an appropriately named collection of self released songs. It's a great variety of music,; filled with abrupt changes and the loose structure that White Denim is known all too well for. There's never really a moment of clarity, which makes this record largely aggressive; but between the mishmash of jazz, math rock, and blues riffs lies a uniquely commendable record, one that will surely hold us over for their soon to be completed third studio LP.

Eddie K & Minus ft. Beezy - Serial Killa

You gotta love that feeling when you stumble on a dubstep song that's just truly massive. "Serial Killa" wobbles, and it wobbles hard. It features an ascending bassline that borders on insanity, but I guess that's perfectly alright in the dubstep world. I'm not really sure how I feel about the voice sample in the intro/outro, but the drop in this track totally makes up for it.


By the way, I just found out that this was dropped by Rusko live (you can watch here). Looks like a pretty bangin' crowd.

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

Click here to hear the entire album for free.


The Age of Adz is an ambitious record.

OK, that might be a bit too straightforward, but Sufjan Stevens' latest album is almost nothing like his previous 4 studio efforts. He's taken a completely different direction, most notably with electronics, and has completed an album which soars far above my expectations.

Admittingly, I may have gone into this album relatively close minded. I love Stevens for Illinois, Michigan, and the underrated Seven Swans; but even I must admit that I really want him to get back on track with the Fifty States Project.

Most fans can agree with me here. When it was announced that Stevens was releasing a triple LP Christmas album, we laughed and wondered what that crazy Sufjan would do next. When he re-released his Chinese New Year album, we quietly accepted it. When he released the BQE, we sighed and moved on.

Don't get me wrong, Stevens has yet to release a legitimately disappointing album, but I think I can speak for everybody in saying that I wanted something new. And by something new, I mean a studio album.

This all changed last month, when Stevens surprised everyone with the sudden release of the All Delighted People EP. At 60 minutes, it's hardly an EP, but it did provide the indie rock community with a great record.

And instead of making the fans wait any longer, Stevens announced the release of The Age of Adz shortly thereafter. The Age of Adz would mark his first studio full length in 5 years, the first since Illinois.

Yes folks, the Fifty States Project is presumably dead, and I really don't give a fuck.

The Age of Adz is essentially Stevens' Kid A: an album that utilizes the studio as a means of advancing the album to new territory. Unlike the folksy Illinois, The Age of Adz is full of electronic drums, synth bleeps and bloops, and even auto-tune. Yes, auto-tune, the much divisive pitch correction tool. Stevens doesn't care though, he'll find a way to make it sound great.

The amount of production that Stevens puts into this album is almost crowded, leaving hardly any room for a listener to dissect certain songs on a first listen. It's true. At times, you'll be blasted with a barrage of synth, glitchy cuts, vocal choirs, drum fills, guitar solos, electronic bass drums, flurrying woodwinds, demonizing horns, and fuzzed out guitar wankery. Stevens uses this well effect well though; both as a means of crescendo, as well as a nice contrast between the verses and choruses. Take "I Want To Be Well" for example: there are multiple times where the song builds up only to drop out to just Stevens and his good ol' guitar; In fact, these parts are arguably the quietest on the album.

Lyrically, it's clear that Stevens is heart broken. On the somber opening track "Futile Devices", Stevens admits he can't tell a girl he loves her. On "Now That I'm Over", Stevens sings "I wasn't older yet / I wasn't wise, I guess / Somewhere I lost whatever else I had / I wasn't over you". He's hurt, frusturated, pissed off, and it culminates in the fiery conclusion of "I Want To Be Well", where he repeats the phrase "I'm not fucking around" while the songs builds up into a fiery inferno.

The last song, "Impossible Soul", clocks in at a little more than 25 minutes. As far as indie-rock standards are concerned, it's quite lengthy. This is Stevens at his best though. The song is made up of 5 different movements, including a haunting middle piece which is fronted by Stevens singing in auto-tune backed by a chanting choir. A piano faintly plays in the background, weird electronical glitches zoom in and out; if there is a comparison as blatant as this to Kid A, then I don't know what else to say.

"Impossible Soul" ends with a beautiful 3 minute guitar piece. It really is captivating; something that will surely bring the new and the old fans together. And while this may be a bittersweet ending,I don't think this album could end any other way.

I guess we'll have to wait and see if fans of Stevens' folk albums will appreciate this turn in style. There's no doubt it will turn away many, but it goes without saying that this will definitely bring more people in. The Age of Adz is a remarkable achievement from a man who's released his fair share of indie-rock classics. Whether he keeps this electronic sound or not, it's clear that Stevens' doesn't want to be categorized as that guy who makes albums about states. He's definitely changed, and The Age of Adz proves it's for the better.

Royal Forest - Civilwarland

"Civilwarland" beings with a dingy, held down synth backed by a basic 4/4 drum beat. Needless to say, I starting to become a tad inattentive.

Then, there's a sudden break.

The synth and drums drop out, and the guitarist makes his debut; he plucks a welcoming riff, an almost direct contrast to the abrasive synth. The vocalist falls next in line "All our life / the butter knife / will melt inside / this house". The bass drum starts pounding, my foot begins to tap along; who knew, there was a gem hidden in this track.

There are many sporadic moments, drawing comparisons to Modest Mouse and Cymbals Eat Guitars. At one point, the song even goes blank. The singer softly sings away from the mic, his voice peeling away at your anticipation for a climax. It's all too predictable, as we're answered with an admirable conclusion that's entirely satisfying.

Although nowhere near perfect, Royal Forest have made a great debut of an album. You can download the entire album for free here, or you can stream the tracks above.

Deerhunter - Desire Lines

"Desire Lines" is the latest masterpiece from a band that just can't learn to take a break.

There will be a lot of comparisons to "Nothing Ever Happened", and I think that's perfectly all right. "Desire Lines" has the same formula, a slow, climbing riff that eventually extends into an outlandish jam. It's all held down by Josh Hauver's relentlessly addictive bassline, which the band plays against for 3 minutes. Incorporating many shoegaze elements from the band's past, Deerhunter has reached new territory in terms of melodic ecstasy. If that's not enough, Lockett Pundt surprises us all with an astonishingly professional voice. Deerhunter hasn't sounded so impressive until now.

Nails - Unsilent Death

I've seen my fair share of metal fanboys. Unfortunately for the genre, it's overrun with power-metal obsessed nerds and neckbeards who find Cannibal Corpse to be "fucking hardcore".

Well fanboys, meet Nails.

It terms of the Brutal scale, this will surely pull off a 10. The harsh, growling vocals and the callous, whining guitar is just startling. Hell, I couldn't help but sit back a few times and stare off, wondering if I was actually listening to a song or rather some guy getting the piss beaten out of him.

The songs are short and punishing. There are hardly any breakdowns. At any moment where you think the song will stray off into a brief, lucid section, you'll be met with an abrupt wall of concentrated rage.

At only 15 minutes long, this album flies by. But that doesn't mean the impact isn't there. This is a must for fans of heavy shit.

Nas + Godspeed You! Black Emperor - It Ain't Hard To Tell (Four Tet mix)

The other day I was browsing youtube when I stumbled across the above video, a mix of Godspeed You! Black Emperor's "Sleep" and Nas' "It Aint Hard To Tell". The mix, created by Four Tet, combines arguably two of the most influential songs from their respective genres, fusing them together to create a track both engaging as it is unique. The reaching climax from "Sleep" accompanied by Nas' staggering lyricism fit all too well, provoking the question as to what an entire album of Nas+GSY!BE would sound like. Get on that Four Tet.

Blackbird Blackbird - Pure (Music Video)

Blackbird Blackbird – Pure (Official Music Video) from Isaac Bauman on Vimeo.

Filled with abrupt cutback techniques to birds, kaleidiscopes, and a girl that looks like a cross between Mary-Louise Parker and Linda Cardellini (ie: gorgeous); this is a worthy music video to one of my favorite songs of the year.

Shuffler.fm

It's hard to keep up with the overwhelming amount of music that's hyped every week. I try my best to follow various blogs such as GvB and The Needle Drop, but let's face it, there's no way in hell I'll be able to be up to date on all the new releases every day.

That's where Shuffler.fm comes in. As the site reads, "It's like pandora or MTV for music blogs".

By simply choosing a genre, Shuffler.fm will automatically stream hyped tracks that are being posted on various blogs. It's free, easy to use, and great for finding obscure bands.

Song of the Day 8/26/10

Cee-lo - Fuck You




I admit, I've been a little unreliable with the Song of the Day's recently. It's a lot of work (no it's not), and on some days, I'm actually too lazy to find new music.

Cee-lo's "Fuck You" is a great way to bring this feature out of hiatus. "Fuck You" is instantly catchy; just a down to earth fun pop song that's hard to dislike. Cee-lo sings about gold diggers and cheating bitches, all the while calling them out with a nice chorus of "fuck yous". It's a fantastic pop song, which is sort of ironic, considering it'll only be known in it's edited form to the mainstream public. The edited version will be called "Forget You", and although I've yet to hear it, I can't fathom how it'll be better than this.

unouomedude - Marsh (2010)

Excuse the painful name, this is legitimately good chillwave. And it's free! You can download here, or stream below.

Hooray! - Puddles

Hooray! is my latest bandcamp ambient find. Although the album starts off like a spa infomercial, it'll surely grow on you shortly after. Puddles is a really pleasant listen, and I really don't think there's nothing wrong with that. You can stream the tracks below, or you can go here to download this album.

Foxes In Fiction - Swung From The Branches

Really beautiful ambient right here. Plus, you can download for FREE. If you want, you can also get ordering information for tape cassettes here.

Teenage Reverb -Summit Demos (2010) / Isolation Tape Night (2010)

I absolutely love finding obscure bands with a lot of promise. Earlier this year, I predicted the rise of Blackbird Blackbird. Upon discovery, his last.fm profile had around 9000 plays; now it's peaking at around 161,000. Excuse my language, but holy shit! This guy is getting a ton of hype now, and I really hope he can continue with more success.

Moving on, my latest bandcamp find is Teenage Reverb. He's young, unknown, and he makes really great music; basically, a perfect candidate for my blog.

His music varies from beautiful ambient, to deerhunter-esque indie, relying heavily on bass at times and making use of synthesizers and other effects. The songs are short, but sweet, and at times cross experimental plains; all the while remaining perfectly refreshing to the listener.

Teenage Reverb's first two EP's are Summit Demos and Isolation Tape Night . You can download both, for free, at his bandcamp here. Or, you can stream both albums below.

Bar 9 - "Motion"

Dirty.

Flying Lotus - Camera Day

Flying Lotus - Camera Day (taken from Pattern+Grid World) by Warp Records


To date, Cosmogramma is arguably my favorite release of the year. It's so layered and complex, I just can't get enough of it. What better way to follow this up than with the release of a brand new 7 song EP? Pattern+Grid World is due out September 21 on Warp Records.

To prep the release of this new EP, Warp Records has released a brand new track from Flying Lotus. You can check it out streaming above.

Tracklist:
01 - Clay
02 - Kill Your Co-Workers
03 - PieFace
04 - Time Vampires
05 - Jurassic Notion/M Theory
06 - Camera Day
07 - Physics For Everyone!

Song of the Day 8/17/10

The Wrens - Crescent

From their forthcoming album (their first in 7 years), "Crescent" is simply a demo of a song we'll hear in the future, but that doesn't stop it from being seriously great.

Song of the Day 8/16/10

Rollz - The Truth Hurts




Drum and Bass is really hit or miss for me. The fast tempo can easily come across as cheesy, making the music sound more like video game music than anything else. However, up and coming artist Rollz does it right. Featuring some nice bass, this one flows surprisingly well.

Song of the Day 8/11/10

Kanye West - See Me Now FEAT. Beyonce & Charlie Wilson

Click here to listen to the track

Song of the Day 8/9/10

Animal Collective - Screens / Mr. Fingers
ACSAC by user482219


From Animal Collective's visual film ODDSAC, it appears that they're back to their mind blowing experimental past. "Screens" sounds like a track from Sung Tongs, while "Mr. Fingers" is a total clusterfuck of samples. This will definitely please the hardcore fans, but nonetheless, we're all still waiting on the August 10 DVD release (pre-order here).

Family Trees - Dream Talkin

Purchase at Father/Daughter Records

The debut 7" from Brooklyn's Family Trees is a magnificent intro to this little known folk musician. "Dream Talkin" is my jam, fo' rizzle.

Song of the Day 7/23/10

Fucked Up - Year of the Ox

Click here to listen to "Year of the Ox"

The latest entry in Fucked Up's Chinese New Year 12" series might be their best one yet. "Year of the Ox" punches, and it punches hard. But even with it's standard hardcore moments, the song jumps on the experimental side with an extended, almost post-rock intro, beautiful violin solos, and even vocal appearances from Zola Jesus. Fucked Up have come a long way, and their consistency matched with their continuing development might rank them as one of the premier hardcore bands out there.

Mickey Mickey Rourke - Festive Bummer (2010), MMR (2010)

Here's some more ambient for you, this time brought to you by LA's Miller Rodriguez. His moniker is Mickey Mickey Rourke and his music is yet another spin on the ambient genre. Both MMR and Festive Bummer are drenched with shoegaze drones, calling on inspiration from various psychedelia influences. You can stream both of them at their respective bandcamp pages, or, if you want to download them, you can pay 6 dollars for the entire album.

Update: Apparantly MMR is being released as a free download over at Orchid Tapes. Definitely give it a listen if you like the bandcamp stream.

Deerpeople - Deerpeople EP (2010)

Deerhunter, Deertick, Deerhoof, and now Deerpeople. At this point, I think the deer should just be retired by indie bands. I honestly do believe that there are like two hipsters in some underground bunker hard at work trying to figure out the next ironic animal (considering Bear, Deer, Mouse, and Panda are all pretty much taken)... But hey, maybe that's just me....
Anyways, here's some awesome, free, indie rock for you. Nothing wrong with that! Go here to stream/purchase the debut EP from this Oklahoma indie band.
They also have a pretty sweet deal where, for only 5 dollars, you can have the CD shipped right to you, with custom artwork by the band and even a personal letter! Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, and at the rate this album is growing on me, I might have to check that out.

Song of the Day 7/22/10

Freddie Gibbs - Oil Money (ft. Chuck Inglish, Chip Tha Ripper, Bun B & Dan Auerbach)

"Oil Money"[unfortunately, the only version out there right now is edited]

Click the above link to download "Oil Money", the latest track from Freddie Gibbs. This might be his best yet; sick beat, dope lyrics, and great appearances by all the guests. "Oil Money" is slated to be the last track on Gibbs' upcoming EP, Str8 Killa. You can find that record over at Decon Records August 3.

[via]

Sleepbot

http://www.sleepbot.com/ambience/broadcast/

Sleepbot is paradise for any lover of ambient music. The site description reads:

Peaceful streaming audio featuring a random cycling of some of the most sleep-worthy tracks ever created. Live on-line sedation is available 24 / 7 / 365 and all without a doctor's prescription.

24/7 free ambient audio; perfect for doing homework, sleeping, or just filling in the space if you can't find anything to listen to. The site also features a live listener map which shows who is listening, where, and for how long. That same map also tracks how long you've been listening in total, so if you log in an hour one day and two the next, it will show your total time being three hours, as well as your current time at that very moment.

The site also features a large archival of past playlists, all of which instantly streamable. My favorite part: Despite being around since 1999, the website looks to be running the same format. It's accessible, easy listening, and entirely free. Give it a try; you can thank me later.

New Ra Ra Riot song: "Boy"

Go here to listen to "Boy", and if you give an email address, you'll receive a download link free of charge. I'm liking this a lot, then again, I'm a sucker for the cello. I really love the breakdown towards the end of this song; it really is just another great summer jam to drive to, not that there's anything wrong with that.

New Deerhunter Single "Revival" (plus unused demos and a B side)

Our first preview of Halcyon Digest has finally been released by Deerhunter free of charge! Go to this website (password is tapereel), and click on the reel-to-reel tape player. This will open the link to the single for "Revival", which also includes the B side "Primitive 3D".

Other links on the page bring you to demos that are now being released for the first time (none of these will appear on the forthcoming album, but you can download them for free for the hell of it). The other songs are "Radio Play", "Scruffy Scruff", and "Daybeams".

[via]

Song of the Day 7/21/2010

Animal Collective - Baleen Sample (2006)



After releasing the magnificent psych-folk release Sung Tongs, Animal Collective had some songs left over. The follow up EP, entitled Prospect Hummer, was as lush and memorizing as what had been previously released. "Baleen Sample" is just beautiful, driven by hundreds of guitar samples flowing in and out. It's an endless fountain of youth and psychedelia, and when the song finally ends, it's just as easy to pick right back up again.

Oval - Ringtone (2010)

Glitch artist Oval has released a new EP online which you can download for free. It's definitely got it's moments, even if it is extremely abstract, loud, and poppy. You can stream the album here, and if you dig, you can download the album.

Menomena - Mines (2010)

The good people over at NPR have Menomena's fourth ablum, Mines, streaming in its entirety. You can check it out here. These tracks are full, and I mean full of subtle instruments and effects. Even the quietest moments in this album have plenty of hidden layers to discover. And even without it's fine production, to its core, Mines is just an extremely solid peace of work. Oh, and on a briefly related note, you can download the singles "Taos" and "Five Little Rooms" free of charge over at Stereogum.

Song of the Day 7/20/2010

Chiddy Bang - Dream Chasin


Chiddy Bang "Dream Chasin"

Chiddy Bang | MySpace Music Videos

Chiddy Bang is Philly based duo Chiddy (MC) and Xyphoon (DJ/Producer). They combine rap with indie electronica, resulting in easy listening alternative hip-hop. If you like what you hear, check out their fantastic remix of MGMT's "Kids".

Jojo Mayer & Nerve - ep2 (2010)

Do you like dubstep? How about dubstep performed live? Yeah, it's actually possible, and Jojo Mayer & Nerve is proof of that. The drumming on this EP is so insane, I actually thought it was fake at first. You can listen to the album streaming, and if you like what you hear, you can purchase it on their bandcamp.

Song of the Day 7/19/2010

Cut Copy - Where I'm Going

Click here to listen (right click + save as to download)

From the new 7", which will be out later this month.


[via]

Major Lazer - Lazers Never Die EP (2010)

Hear the entire EP streaming here. Support the artist by buying the record at Amazon.

Blackbird Blackbird - Summer Heart LP (2010)

Finally, Blackbird Blackbird has released his debut full length, which you can find streaming on his bandcamp. This guy really came out of nowhere for me, and I can safely say for the past month, he has been dominating my last.fm. Please, support this artist and buy this one if you like it. He's going to be big soon. I promise.

White Rainbow - Sea Thru (2010)

Awesome ambient music. If you like what you hear, you can download this album for free on his bandcamp here.

[via]

Song of the Day 7/15/2010

Sultan - There Goes My Girl

Sultan- There Goes My Girl

(right click + save as to download)


This one's really easy on the ears. If you're having a mellow day, this is for you. "Summer Sigh" isn't Sultan's only release though, if you like what you hear, check out her 7" streaming on bandcamp here.

[via]

RxRy - s/t (2010)

I love me some ambient, minimal techno. I also really enjoy albums that artists release for free. If you agree with both of those previous statements, go here to download RxRy's self-titled release.

[via]

Song of the Day 7/14/2010

The Procedure Club - Rather




This is an example of a great music video you can record in under 15 minutes. Yeah, the editing may have taken a bit, but it's still really simple. Not complaining though; a lot of fun to watch. Oh, and they're from Connecticut (holla!).

[via]

Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises (2010)

Purchase here
Listen to the entire album streaming on Sun Kil Moon's Myspace

This one's really impressive. Sun Kil Moon, the solo project of singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek (of Red House Painters fame) makes incredibly intricate and beautiful sounding folk rock. His guitar skills aren't just chords though, to he honest, this isn't your standard folk album. It's technically superb and incredibly deserving. Don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself at the above link.

Song of the Day 7/13/2010

Magic Kids - Summer




From their debut LP due out August 24 on True Panther Sounds, "Summer" is a fun, indie-pop affair. I really love the strings on this one. Also, the ending reminds me of 1950's doo-wop for some reason. I dig.

The Books - The Way Out (2010)

The Books have finally returned with their first full length album in 5 years. You can listen to the entire album over at NPR for free at this link.

Hear the new Best Coast album right now

http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/features/best_coast


[via]

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

The band's fourth album is due September 28 on 4AD.


[via]

Song of the Day 7/12/2010

Panda Bear - Tomboy



Low quality leaks of "Tomboy", the self titled single to Panda Bear's 3rd album, has hit the internet. I think I can speak for all of us in saying I'm really looking forward to this one. If you like what you hear, you can check out the b-side "Slow Motion" here.

Song of the Day 7/09/2010

MillionYoung - Day We Met




This is the last chillwave song I'll do for a while. I promise. But in all seriousness, the closer to MillionYoung's second EP, Be So True, is a perfect end to an already brilliant album.

Vacation

Mixtape #1

Mixtape 1 by Tolland Indie


For the first edition of the Weekly Mixtape, I decided to make something really pleasant. Go outside, crank the volume and just chill. You'll find the majority of these tracks posted in previous blog posts. Enjoy!

Big Boi - Mixtape For Dummies (2010)

Click the album cover for free download

Talk about a great deal; Big Boi's new mixtape (which is being released 3 days before his studio album) covers a large variety of songs from both his Outkast and solo career. From his twitter, Big Boi claims that this is the perfect 4th of July road mixtape. I guess I'll have to test that out tomorrow when I drive down to cape cod. This one's too good of a deal to pass up, download away.

tracklist:
01 Mix Tape for Dummies Intro
02 Playa's Ball
03 Benz or Beamer
04 Dirty South
05 Royal Flush
06 ATLiens
07 Shutterbugg
08 Throw Ya Hands Up
09 Cruisin' in the ATL Skit
10 Hootie Hoo
11 Hood Figga
12 D-Boy Skit
13 So Hood
14 Kryptonite
15 B.O.B.
16 Ghetto Music
17 The Way You Move
18 Henry Welch and Lil Rod Skit
19 Hold Up [ft. Chris Brown]
20 Record Store Skit
21 Love in Your Mouth
22 So Fresh, So Clean
23 85
24 Elevators
25 And I Luv U
26 Tell C-Bone
27 She Got a Friend
28 Gangsta Shit

[via]

Song of the Day 7/2/10

Philip Selway - By Some Miracle

By Some Miracle by Philip Selway


Phil Selway, famed drummer of Radiohead, has announced the release of his debut solo album Familial. You can find details of purchase here, but in the meantime, check out the first track from his album (which Selway is posting online for free on his website!). I didn't know Selway had it in him, but I guess Selway is living proof that drummers can sing...and play guitar...and make really good music. I love how simple this one sounds; not a whole lot going on instrumentally, but the atmosphere created is perfect, further matched by Selway's profound lyrics. Really looking forward to this one.

Baths - Cerulean (2010)

Go here to listen to the entire album streaming, RIGHT NOW

Baths has been gathering quite a bit of buzz over the past year, but now I think it's safe to say that, after the release of this album, he is going to get pretty big. You can listen to the entire album at the above link, and if you like what you hear, you can purchase the album at that very same website.

Freddie Gibbs - National Anthem (Fuck the World)

Freddie Gibbs is one of the biggest up and coming rappers out there. Like seriously, this guy is going to be huge. The Str8 Killa EP, which is being released later this year, includes the song "National Anthem (Fuck the World)". You can listen to that song here.

[via]

SUNBEAM RD. - Turtles, Magnets, Animals EP (2010)

Click the album cover for FREE download link

This 5 song EP is an excellent, well produced release by a little-known band from San Francisco. You can stream the album at the above link, and if you like what you hear, you can download it free of charge.

[via]

iamamiwhoami - t

If you aren't familiar with the mysterious iamwhoiam, then you haven't really missed much. Although many speculate that it is a side project of Jonna Lee, it is still generally unknown who is the main artist behind the act, or if this is even a collaboration and not a solo project. Here's another video by iamamiwhoami, showing off another great song, and a well directed music video.


[via]

Song of the Day 7/1/2010

Houses/Teen Daze - Destiny


Yet another awesome summer song, this time brought to you by a collaboration between Houses and Teen Daze. Just sit back, relax, and let this one wash over you. Listen to it here.

The Roots - How I Got Over (2010)

Click the album cover to hear the entire album streaming on their myspace.

The Roots return with their 9th LP, and this one might be their best yet. If you like what you hear, you can buy their album on this website.

Brothertiger - "Wind at My Back"

More nostalgic chillwave for ya. This one's from Brothertiger. If you like what you hear, check out his EP, which is streaming here.

Wavves - King of the Beach (2010)

Click album cover to hear King of the Beach in its entirety.

I really didn't like the ultra lo-fi Wavves stuff at all. But surprisingly enough, when you can actually hear the music, Wavves is actually pretty good.

On their newest album, King of the Beach, Wavves shows off their beach rock side, as opposed to their headache-inducing, ultra lo-fi side. Honestly, this album is a lot of fun. To top it all off, Wavves is streaming the album, for free, right now! If you like what you hear, you can buy King of the Beach here.

Professor Green: "Just Be Good to Green [ft. Lily Allen] (Joker Remix)"

20 year old dubstep producer Joker is one of the best to emerge from the Britain dubstep scene. Today, Joker released a remix of British rapper Professor Green's "Just Be Good to Green"; turning a completely average rap song into dubstep gold.

[via]

Digital Mystikz - Return II Space (2010)

Listen to track "Return II Space" here

Set to be released on July 5th, Digital Mystikz return with their first full length. Not much is known about the tracklisting from this album, except that the title track Return II Space should be on there. Also, while Digital Mystikz is known as a duo between dubstep producers Mala and Coki, it is unknown whether Coki will make an apperance on the album.

Regardless, this should be another fantastic release from the UK dubstep scene if the title track is any indication.

Teen Daze - Four More Years (2010)

Click here to listen to "Shine On, You Crazy White Cap"
Click here to listen to "Shine On, You Crazy White Cap" (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)
Click here to listen to "Neon"

Owning the internet blogosphere with such indie hits like "Shine On, You Crazy White Cap" and "Neon", chillwave act Teen Daze have announced the release date of their debut, Four More Years. The album will be released digitally July 23, and physically as a 12" on August 10.

1. Four More Years
2. Gone For The Summer
3. Neon
4. Around
5. No Regrets
6. Shine On, You Crazy White Cap
7. Saviour
8. Spin Around, Go Ahead

[via myspace]

Song of the Day 6/30/2010

Ghost Hunter - Island Barbados

Island Barbados by ghosthuntersounds


From his soon to be released Island Barbados 10" (on House Anxiety), the title track is an excellent collage of swirling synths and dubstep rhythms.

El Guincho - Piratas de Sudamérica (2010)

YT044 - El Guincho - Piratas de Sudamerica by Young Turks


This is the first of a series of limited edition EP's by El Guincho. You can listen to the entire EP for free above, or you can buy the album here.

Sadsic - [son] (2010)

Click album cover to download, or click here for a stream of the album.


In the span of 2 years, Sadsic has released 9 albums. You'd think the guy would take a break, but his latest, [son], is an hour and thirty minutes long, and full of lo-fi electronic goodness.