Thread for my album/song recommendations

[someguy]

After getting a few requests to make more of a presence in the music forum, I thought this would work best for me. Rather than make a whole bunch of different threads I'll just make this my spot for throwing up anything I enjoy. I want to upload entire albums if I can, but that'll be down to the moderators. For now, I'll put up a song or two.

Now my first album is the most recent one I've heard and enjoyed.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7354/l33236e5aa604a5f645f49blv0.jpg

Blink of a Nihilist by BC Camplight

I'd like to call this a good summer pop album, but it's like Of Montreal's newest album in that it contains a lot of good pop melodies versus some dark and bizarre lyrics. I've read this album being compared to bands like The Beach Boys (kind of see that) and The New Pornographers (don't really see that at all). The album gets a lot stronger for me the more I listen to it, and it's definitely one of the better albums to come out this year.

MP3s:

Suffer for Two (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2114743ebad9ca/)
Soy Tonto! (http://www.zshare.net/audio/21148078ed330a/)

[someguy]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00023B1LW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
http://blowup.kohlberger.net/wp-content/files/paperchase.jpg

God Bless Your Black Heart/Now You Are One Of Us by The Paper Chase

I haven't listened to the first two albums by The Paper Chase, although I've been meaning to for a while. Last year I got introduced to the band with Now You Are One Of Us. I listened to it once and then got rid of it, but listened to it again a few months later and immediately liked it. The band is classified as emo sometimes, and I think that the only 'emo' thing in it is the whiny sounding vocals. I think the music is like the soundtrack to an epic horror film. There are a lot of samples from different horror films/shows/etc. throughout the albums, and it works pretty good (Tool fans should immediately recognize one of the samples on Now You Are One Of Us) in getting the effect they want. I think they're a pretty underrated/overlooked group for the most part, and I hope they'll expand on this kind of music with their next albums.

MP3s:

Your Ankles To Your Earlobes (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2095748e125597/)
Said The Spider To The Fly (http://www.zshare.net/audio/21160855b5207b/)
Wait Until I Get My Hands On You (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2116162cbc05a7/)
We Know Where You Sleep (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2116193f8cebdd/)

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I don't know a lot about uploading, but this is a good idea, someguy.

[bowieee]

I know this thread is going to be a valuable resource. I don't know how you find these bands someguy but your a constant resource so hell yeah. I'll check out these bands later on this evening.

[someguy]

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5092/13281wv5.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drg600/g626/g62605nfq14.jpg

Afro Finger & Gel/Out of Breach (Manchester's Revenge) by MU

Ah, Mu. American DJ Maurice Fulton was living in England when he met Mutsumi. They fell in love and married each other. He decides to make music with Mutsumi, where he would provide some excellent dance beats while she would 'sing' over them. I put sing in quotations because it's a variation of everything. Shrieking, screaming, swearing, uttering incomprehensible broken English phrases, doing awful voice changes and much much more is abound. Her husband makes really excellent dance music to go along with her, and the combination ends up paying off really nicely. It's pretty fucking weird of course, but MU has a kind of charm inside all the maniacal bits. Afro Finger & Gel is the first album and their best out of the two. Groups like The Rapture or !!! get called punk music you can dance to (or dance punk) by people but I'd say that this is pretty much how dance punk should be. Out of Breach is a good album, but when you compare it to Afro Finger it's so much inferior. Highlights on that album are the bassline in We Love Guys Named Luke (horribly gnawing but awesome) and all of Paris Hilton. Definitely more hilarious than Afro Finger. A lot of people will be weirded out by this definitely, but it might surprise you. I've seen people who I would never expect to like this enjoy it and vice versa.

MP3s:

Jealous Kids (http://www.zshare.net/audio/212101703df3ef/)
Tell You Something (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2121056066fc8b/)
We Love Guys Named Luke (http://www.zshare.net/audio/21210783f9dcb2/)
Paris Hilton (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2121103d55c5b7/)

[someguy]

http://www.gonzai.com/wp-content/photos/Dondolo.jpg

Dondolisme by Dondolo

Europe really loves their synthesizers I guess. This guy is French, and he definitely has the 80s sound. Although rather than being the trashy Miami Vice type sound that the group Pleasure it's a lot less exaggerated and ridiculous. Still kind of ridiculous though. Dondolo (I am assuming this is solo work) tends to just talk hurriedly in French over the music, I think it makes the songs better. The songs sound pretty epic too at points. If you love synths and throwback music try this out.

MP3s:

J'ai Deux Amours (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2120765b02b5f5/)
Fluffy Angel (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2126923397cc94/)

And this is the first album link I have here. If you like the songs, get the album. You'll just need Winrar to extract the files.

http://anonym.to/?http://www.sendspace.com/file/k6aq97

[Sigur509]

Said The Spider To The Fly is one of my favorite songs ever. A friends showed it to me about a year ago. Im listening to it right now.

[Scarfather]

Originally posted by Sigur509
Said The Spider To The Fly is one of my favorite songs ever. A friends showed it to me about a year ago. Im listening to it right now.

Kind of sounded like incessant single note banging with terrible lyric structure to me. (Not to mention the usual indie vocals. Bad.)

[someguy]

lol

[Scarfather]

Originally posted by someguy
lol

Nobel Prize.

[someguy]

It's better than just trolling up a thread.

[Scarfather]

It's always the ones who are disagreed with who call stating an adverse opinion trolling.

I'll keep my opinions out of your topic someguy.

[someguy]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[Sigur509]

Well fuck me, I still love the song. Thanks for reminding me of it.

*starts to jam*

[XHendrix24]

I think some people tend to forget that there's a vast difference between expressing a negative opinion about something someone offers up and just trashing it in an effort to be negative.

Anyway, I'm kind of surprised by the BC Camplight pick, because I had actually heard of this one elsewhere. Last time I checked them out, thought it was pretty impressive and left it at that, but since at least two people seem to think there's something special about this album, I think I'll actually give it a chance now. Really like the sample songs you posted - that first one's a killer. Kind of reminds me of Of Montreal a bit, actually - albeit seemingly a bit more mellow. Somewhere between Of Montreal and The Beach Boys. And I just noticed that's how you described it in the first post, so I guess that's pretty dead-on. :p I think the only real New Pornographers connection would be the good pop sensibility/hooks in the songs. Very catchy stuff (which reminds me, can't wait for the new NP album).

Not a big fan of The Paper Chase, though. The singer kind of reminds me of the dudes from Bright Eyes/Say Anything, and I'm not a big fan of either of those bands (aka I hate this dude's voice just about as much as the dude from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and feel that while it certainly drips with emotion, it's at the cost of singing on tune most of the time and eventually the emotion starts coming off as a bit phoned in - which is saying a lot since I usually love weird voices). The music sounds alright though (at least on the first track), so if you can stand his voice/the lyrics, I could maybe see why you'd be interested in the band. Not really my cup of tea, though. ;)

The MU thing was okay, though I think it came off as a bit too much of a novelty. Not something I could really see myself seriously listening to much. Not too into dance music in the first place though (although I admittedly liked the new !!! album a fair deal), but it was at least an interesting listen.

Dondolo was a decent listen, but not really something I'm ever going to want to listen again, realistically. I like the French, and the synth isn't quite as much of a novelty as I expected it to be, but it still kind of sounds like something that would have an extremely dated video that people would laugh at on Youtube.

I did like the BC Camplight, though. Good stuff. :cool:

[someguy]

Thanks for the constructive words Hendrix. Next recommendation:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dsMhucDeL._SS500_.jpg

The Great Unwanted by Lucky Soul

I heard this about a month ago and it immediately grabbed me. The group is like The Pipettes in recreating that whole 50s/60s pop sound, however Lucky Soul puts The Pipettes to shame. There's usually at least one really great moment in each song, and the balance of the upbeat pop songs (Get Outta Town!) with more low key ones (Baby I'm Broke) is better than the ones on We Are The Pipettes. I like mentioning that group with Lucky Soul only because they are almost the exact same in sound. I guess I'd call Lucky Soul a cross between The Cardigans and The Pipettes. Plus their lead singer is pretty cute (along with a good voice).

MP3s:

One Kiss Don't Make A Summer (http://media.putfile.com/summer-86-38)
Struck Dumb (http://media.putfile.com/struck)

Album link Here (http://anonym.to/?http://www.mediafire.com/?8yzyrwdw14d)

[someguy]

Rather than blabber on for a bunch, I'll give a more proper description of my next album I'm putting up here:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8638/l71eaf04fabda04471ec0b9af5.jpg

Super Taranta! by Gogol Bordello

"Another stunning addition to the band’s catalogue of extreme music Producer Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, PJ Harvey) helps deliver a deeper, crisper sound that captures the frenzy of their live performances.

“With SUPER TARANTA! Gogol Bordello is going to conquer the world,” boasts Eugene Hutz, Gogol bandleader and agent provocateur. “Everything on the album is taken to the next level. It’s more direct, more abstract, more focused, with more dark humor. The dub parts are deeper; the fast parts are faster, its pure orgasmo hysteria.”

Gogol Bordello chose producer Victor Van Vugt to help them bring their extreme vision to vibrant life. “Victor has been a fan since the beginning of the band and we often spoke about making an album together. He’s not afraid to experiment in any way; he’ll go wherever we’re willing to go. If we say: ‘This track is gypsy speed metal dub,’ he says: ‘OK let’s do it.’ No hesitation.”!"

MP3s:

Harem In Tuscany (Taranta) (http://www.zshare.net/audio/22097283d833a1/)
Supertheory of Supereverything (http://www.zshare.net/audio/22097667e84f93/)
Album Link (http://anonym.to/?http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/3194785488/gogbor.zip)

I'll basically sum this up as Insane Russian-sounding Gypsy Music.

[someguy]

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3883/b000le161201sclzzzzzzzswc2.jpg

The Slow Bang by Madeline

So, this girl is from the southern part of the US and just makes very mellow pop. The album is mostly her and an acoustic guitar, and while it definitely seems 'been there done that' at points there is a lot to enjoy on it. She has a nice voice, and everything feels pretty intimate. Pleasant stuff, and aside from a few bad lyrics this is some great easy listening.

To Hell and Back (http://anonym.to/?http://www.madelinesongs.com/music/ToHellAndBack.mp3)
Good Houses (http://www.zshare.net/audio/23894307eed12d/)

Get the album here (http://anonym.to/?http://rapidshare.com/files/26755485/Madeline_-_The_Slow_Bang_V0.zip.html)

I was busy for the last 2 weeks, but now I can get back to putting up some more recommendations.

[Superplasmatron]

slow bang sounds gay enough for me, i'm downloading it

[bowieee]

Ok I finally set enough time aside to give these tracks the time they deserve and here is my break down on my thoughts:

BC Camplight was good. They were a fun listen.

I really liked the Paper chase. At first I didn't like the sound at all but as I went through all the tracks they really grew on me to the point where I want to pick up a few of their albums. i can't believe I never heard these guys before someguy thanks for the heads up!


Mu is the kind of music that's fun to blare while doing stuff. It's total random background music and has so much going on in it that it never gets boring.

Dondolo~ Man I'm such a synth whore. I love that instrument so obviously these songs had me from note one. I'm going to download this entire package and if I like it enough as a whole I'm a vistin amazon.france for an offical copy. Sweet sweet synth.


Lucky Soul ~ I wish I could get into this but something about the tone and flow of the songs kept me distant

.
Gogol Bordello ~ I've been reading alot about this guy over the past few months. i didn't really like what I heard from his earler work but this stuff sounded more polished and cohesive as a whole. Looks like I'll have to invest some time into the new album when it hits the streets.

Madeline ~ This is the sort of music I usually eat up right away but nothing struck me as above the norm with these tracks. Maybe I just have to let them sink in and give them another whirl but they felt sort of plain.

Thanks Someguy, In my old age I've gotten lazy in doing the footwork of discovering new bands and your an invaluable source of discovering stuff that flew under my radar. So my hat's off to you.

[someguy]

I'm glad some of you are enjoying what I put up, in fact I'm glad that people are reading the thread. I appreciate the comments on the music, I'm all for putting in your thoughts constructively. This stuff just gives me more reason to post up more music here.

Alright, not going to focus on an album here. Just going to put up some songs I enjoy.

DVNO by Justice (http://www.zshare.net/audio/24030336925e30/) - The album is a massive disappointment, but this is easily the best of the newer tracks on the album.

Patrick 122 by Mr. Oizo (http://www.zshare.net/audio/1748622e756afc/) - The second half of this song completely makes up for the somewhat enjoyable first half. Listen to that sax!

Go Places by The New Pornographers (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2403082a9d959a/) - Their new album is one of their best, although it's much more mellow than their previous albums. I love the new direction they're going in.

Boyz by MIA (http://www.zshare.net/audio/227149443a5b36/) - Shit, I thought Arular was just a pretty enjoyable album but she's definitely improved with this. Really great song.

For Reverend Green by Animal Collective (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2403156721487a/) - Their new album looks to repeat what Sung Tongs and Feels did for me. Two or three tracks which end up being some of the best songs of the year, and the rest being very mediocre. This is one of the great tracks.

[bowieee]

That new animal collective track oozes greatness by the bucket load.


When is the album due out?

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by bowieee
That new animal collective track oozes greatness by the bucket load.


It's the best one out of the leaked tracks so far. But beware, there is a track that is just bad.

[Superplasmatron]

i now have 4 animal collective tracks, and thats the best

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by someguy
Boyz by MIA (http://www.zshare.net/audio/227149443a5b36/) - Shit, I thought Arular was just a pretty enjoyable album but she's definitely improved with this. Really great song.


This seriously has to be the song of the year for me so far. Amazing track.

[someguy]

Originally posted by bowieee
When is the album due out?

September (!)

6 tracks have gotten online out of the 9 for the album.

[someguy]

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_3/images/music-kronos.jpg

Black Angels by Kronos Quartet

We know of Kronos from their work with Darren Aronofsky for his scores in Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain. This is something they did over a decade ago or so and it's a pretty effective album. The title is named after the first piece on the album. Black Angels was made around 1970, with the Vietnam war as the major influence for it. The strings go a bit crazy at points, there are plenty of shouts and other random noises throughout and everything has an unnerving tone. Everything on the album save for 'Spem in Alium (Sing and Glorify)' was composed in the 20th century. I remember reading a comment on the album about how it sounds like a soundtrack for a Kubrick movie that was never made, and I'd say that's pretty accurate. Don't expect a happy listen with the album either, pretty much every track keeps in theme with the title piece. If you like Kronos' work, definitely get this.

MP3s: None, since the best parts are split up into multiple tracks.

Album link (http://anonym.to/?http://www.mediafire.com/?8byg9ivnaex)

[bowieee]

Originally posted by someguy
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_3/images/music-kronos.jpg

Black Angels by Kronos Quartet

We know of Kronos from their work with Darren Aronofsky for his scores in Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain. This is something they did over a decade ago or so and it's a pretty effective album. The title is named after the first piece on the album. Black Angels was made around 1970, with the Vietnam war as the major influence for it. The strings go a bit crazy at points, there are plenty of shouts and other random noises throughout and everything has an unnerving tone. Everything on the album save for 'Spem in Alium (Sing and Glorify)' was composed in the 20th century. I remember reading a comment on the album about how it sounds like a soundtrack for a Kubrick movie that was never made, and I'd say that's pretty accurate. Don't expect a happy listen with the album either, pretty much every track keeps in theme with the title piece. If you like Kronos' work, definitely get this.

MP3s: None, since the best parts are split up into multiple tracks.

Album link (http://anonym.to/?http://www.mediafire.com/?8byg9ivnaex)

I looove this album. It's the only kronos stuff I own outside of Requiem for a dream. it scares the hell out of my friends when I play it while driving them around town.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by bowieee
I looove this album. It's the only kronos stuff I own outside of Requiem for a dream. it scares the hell out of my friends when I play it while driving them around town. i like there howl album i friking love there take on ginsburgs classic poem

[someguy]

I've already spammed this artist on here, but if you haven't listened yet please do.

http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Features/Marissa/MN-red3__2_.jpg

Songs III: Bird on the Water by Marissa Nadler

Got inspired to do this after hearing her cover of No Surprises on that OK Computer cover thing. She's very low key (kind of reminiscent of Madeline) but her biggest asset is her voice. I'll just give some mp3s with the album and let you decide.

No Surprises (Radiohead cover) (http://www.stereogum.com/mp3/okx/10%20Marissa%20Nadler%20feat.%20Black%20Hole%20Inf inity%20-%20No%20Surprises.mp3)
Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen cover) (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2648610c3a3e67/)
Silvia (http://www.zshare.net/audio/2648701fc4f4a5/)


Songs III: Bird on the Water album (http://www.mediafire.com/?5uqmw3dndqu)

For those morally against downloading, try out a free stream of the album here (http://www.kemado.com/ecards/marissanadler/#)

[bowieee]

Her other stuff doesn't really gel with my tastes but that no surprises cover is A+ stuff

[someguy]

She does a cover of Clowne Towne by Xiu Xiu if you're interested in that.

[bowieee]

actually I am. Very interested

[someguy]

http://www.zshare.net/audio/26699010799dfe/

[bowieee]

You are a music super hero Someguy.

The song is beautiful.

[bowieee]

I've been listening to God Bless Your Black heart pretty much all day today.

I just wanted to bump this to show how I'm relishing it's goodness.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I'm a bit behind on this thread.

BC Camplight- I'd probably like it if I listened to it again. But for now...."meh."

The Paper Chase- so-so. XHendrix pretty much summed it up.

MU- Ugh.

Dondolo- Meh. I'll try to give it another chance, but nothing about it really grabbed me.

Lucky Soul- I thought I was going to dig the song until the vocals came in. It's not that her voice is bad...there just isn't anything alluring about it at all.

Gogol Bordello- quite amusing. Catchy, too. I'll look into this.

Madeline- I'm quite surprised, before I clicked on the link I had already come up with a witty response about how much it sucked (or would have)....but I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's not usually the kind of thing I go for, and it's really really simple....but it's pretty damn good.

Marissa Nadler- the No Surprises cover was kinda lame, seemed a little too fluttery at times with the backing vocals. The other stuff was ok but not that good.


How you're able to find some of this stuff, someguy, I'll never know.

[someguy]

Alright, I was on vacation for some time but now I am back with a new recommendation.

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2247/1551587ha0.jpg

Dystopia by Midnight Juggernauts

I only heard of the Juggernauts from their (very good) re-mix of Dragonette's song I Get Around. This is their debut album, and I have to say that it beats the hell out of Justice's album. Their stuff is similar to The Supermen Lovers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsio3uDnwm4) for me, specifically the song in the link there. There's a lot of good (but simple) drum work, shimmery synths and vocals that remind me of Bowie and David Byrne. There are a few weak spots on the album, but their good stuff is some of the best music to come out this year. If you're into the whole Daft Punk/Justice thing among other techno/dance music definitely check this out.

MP3s:

Into the Galaxy (http://www.zshare.net/audio/3046200d817780/)
Ending of an Era (http://www.zshare.net/audio/30466285f1ad26/)
Nine Lives (http://www.zshare.net/audio/3046665170f932/)

and a bonus...

I Get Around (Midnight Juggernauts Re-mix) by Dragonette (http://www.zshare.net/audio/304673165f5dda/)

[bowieee]

I just ordered Dystopia I was sold after the first track. I'm realling liking this branch of music that's slowly developing. I pretty much have no idea where you find these obscure dance bands someguy but I'm enjoying the hell out of some of their work.

[someguy]

Alright, going into the spoken word/comedy territory for this one

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004YL1M.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1116036386_.jpg

Blue Jam by Chris Morris

The schmoes across the pond will definitely know this. Chris Morris is a guy who has gained controversy in the UK before because of the things he's pulled off. He did plenty of pranks on his show Brass Eye, to the point of getting a bill into British parliament over a fake drug. His special on pedophiles got a pretty large and angry reaction from the press. He's done plenty more, but don't think that he's just someone relying on shock value or offensive material. He's actually pretty funny. After Brass Eye ended, he did a radio program called Blue Jam. It played late at night (appropriately) and was a sketch comedy radio program. It wasn't a typical sketch comedy show though, since everything was blacker than black in its humour. It just didn't want to make you laugh, it wanted to scare you also.

This is an album released a while ago that was a "best of" in a way. It was just different popular sketches from the show compiled together. The show had a lot of music breaks which worked well with the format, and while there isn't any music break on here the sketches are still great. This is definitely an experimental form of comedy, and I think that Morris succeeded with it. It might not be your thing, but it's something hard to enjoy in the first place. I'm not going to post any mp3s from it, I'll just give the album since I think it's better to hear it all than seperately.

Blue Jam (http://anonym.to/?http://www.mediafire.com/?et0o99gdt0c)

[someguy]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drh400/h436/h43658sehi4.jpg

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind

To say that Carolina Chocolate Drops are an anomaly in the 21st century would be a huge understatement. Here are three twenty-something African-Americans playing a brand of acoustic, banjo- and fiddle-driven string band music that is nearly extinct today, and in fact peaked in the pre-WWII era. Although a number of Southern-bred black string bands gained popularity during the first half of the 20th century -- this band's name pays tribute to one of them, the Tennessee Chocolate Drops -- the style is generally associated with Caucasian musicians from the Appalachians, not with African-Americans from the North Carolina Piedmont style, so the emergence of a new group reactivating the tradition is truly a phenomenon. So is the music. This is no novelty; the Carolina Chocolate Drops are serious scholars of this sound and are adept at re-creating it. Two of the members, Rhiannon Giddens (fiddle, banjo) and Justin Robinson (fiddle), are from the Carolinas, and the third, Dom Flemons (guitar, jug, harmonica, percussion, banjo), is an Arizona native. All had established solo careers when they met in 2005 at a North Carolina event called the Black Banjo Gathering. Soon thereafter, coached by octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson and inspired by Piedmont antecedents such as Dink Roberts and Elizabeth Cotten, they began developing their own take on the traditional black string band sound, not so much updating it as giving it new life. The 14 uncredited (read: traditional) songs on the record touch on ancient blues and country, but to align what the CCD do with either of those branches would be an error. Songs like "Ol' Corn Likker" and "Black-Eyed Daisy" evoke a time and place far removed not only from the present but from contemporary notions of what those genres signify. When the trio plays "Dixie," you're listening not to a patriotic rebel anthem but a yearning, mournful moan. And the purity of Giddens' solo a cappella vocal on "Little Margaret" belongs to an era when music was not something to be sold but something from the soul. The Carolina Chocolate Drops have stated that they are on a mission to keep this tradition alive, and that they do. But they do so not from the staid position of lecturers on ethnomusicology or as strident sociopolitical posturers but as musicians truly in love with this disappearing slice of Americana, more specifically a little known slice of black Americana. That they do it with zeal as well as respect, and that they have the talent to back up their knowledge, is why it works on its own merits, not merely as a historical study.

MP3s:

Ol' Corn Likker (http://www.zshare.net/audio/323142360a9811/)
Little Sadie (http://www.zshare.net/audio/3231516ec3ee9e/)
Video of Georgie Buck (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdLRCSOZ7wo)

Get the album here (http://anonym.to/?http://www.sendspace.com/file/6xrqby)

[someguy]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dri900/i930/i93040swh9t.jpg

West Coast by Studio

Having quietly made their initial splash with the Yearbook 1 collection (helped by generous MP3 sharing of same, along with related singles), Studio re-released most of it (subtracting "No Comply" and "Radio Edit") to create West Coast, which sent the simmering buzz about the group into overdrive. Little wonder why -- while perfectly in sync with any number of European acts playing around with a restrained, crisp energy to their techno (it's no surprise someone like Prins Thomas was an early booster), the duo of Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg brings not only a sheen of '80s electronics but that decade's art-inclined rock & roll. The Cure in particular have a huge influence by the duo's own admission -- one commentator's description of West Coast sounding as if Seventeen Seconds had been recorded in Nassau rather than London is as perfect a summation as any. Part of it is certainly due to the occasional lost and forlorn vocals, but the plunging bass and sharp guitar have a lot to do with it too, as the majestic 16-minute opener, "Out There," makes perfectly clear, while the polyrhythms on "West Side" and steel drum break on "Self Service" are more than Lol Tolhurst could have ever come up with on his own. This said, Studio are far from a one-trick pony, and the six cuts on West Coast more often than not deftly suggest numerous syntheses and new approaches to old styles rather than direct cloning -- almost as if a previous decade's sonic elements had been liberated from the songwriting context of their time and reassembled in new ways. Shimmering synths turn into astringent yowls coasting above the beats, dub echo hits the kind of romantic swoop suggesting Anne Dudley's strings for Wham!'s "Careless Whisper," while the concluding "Indo" dispenses with overt beats entirely for a liquid flow of guitar and synth tones and rhythms.

I think that these descriptions do a much better job than I would writing up about these albums which isn't why I'm exactly throwing up my thoughts in a paragraph or two lately. To me, this sounds like the more laid back 80s sounding music but stretched out to epic lengths and given some extra modern touches.

MP3s:

Self Service (http://www.zshare.net/audio/3342068ad42e5d/)
West Side (http://www.zshare.net/audio/33421858f625f5/)


Get the album here (http://anonym.to/?http://www.sendspace.com/file/lpxzcy)

[someguy]

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/484/untitleduh9.png

Pop-Up by Yelle

Time to go back to my synthy girl pop stage I guess. Unfortunately, Yelle usually gets comparisons to Uffie and it's pretty insulting since Yelle is a million times better than anything Uffie does (but then again, almost everyone is a million times better than Uffie). Basically take Dondolo or Pleasure's music and have a girl singing French over it. I should put a little disclaimer though, this album is purely a guilty pleasure and nothing more. I'm expecting people to hate it outright, but I have a soft spot for trashy pop music. Hopefully I'll be wrong in my thoughts.

MP3s:

A Cause Des Garcons (http://www.zshare.net/audio/33650111f1bd44/)
Tristesse/Joie (http://www.zshare.net/audio/3365050a1a91f9/)

Get the album here (http://anonym.to/?http://www.mediafire.com/?ezho04gwfy0)

[someguy]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41m-82zYImL._SS500_.jpg

Obligatory Villagers by Nellie McKay

I've noticed that a lot of people know who Nellie McKay is, but haven't heard her music. I fell into the same category, and decided to listen to this. For those who don't know, McKay was seen as another Norah Jones type singer and when her first album 'Get Away From Me' came out she had a bit of success. She wanted her second album to be released in a double disc format, but the record label wouldn't and eventually dropped her. She released the second album last year, and now brings out her third.

This album definitely made me want to get her previous albums as soon as possible. It's a hair over 30 minutes and everything on the album comes off as pretty light-hearted. Her lyrics are pretty weird and play off like something that I really should hate but her delivery is done so well I can forgive it. The album sounds like a musical soundtrack at points and also throws in a lot of horns. For a quick and breezy listen, give it a try. Just don't get too hung up on the lyrics.

MP3s:

Testify (http://anonym.to/?www.zshare.net/audio/355067040c8a37/)

Get the album here (http://anonym.to/?http://www.zshare.net/download/3514331acad2a6/)

[someguy]

Alright, might as well throw a few good things I've heard this year that I haven't posted yet.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2419/ccdr4.jpg
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8482/l696162374f19746ff9fe67qe0.jpg

Alice Practice EP/Crimewave EP by Crystal Castles

Basically it's a girl screaming over 8-bit noises from the old Atari video games. Their debut album comes out in a month or two, but most of the material on it will come from these two EPs. I'm just a big fan of the keyboard freak out moments they throw around a bunch.

Love and Caring (http://www.zshare.net/audio/61019392792829/)
Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs Health) (http://www.thecultureofme.com/mp3/crystal-castles_crimewave.mp3)
Alice Practice (http://www.zshare.net/audio/6102043f5c3612/)

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My Secret Lover by Private

More 80s throwbacks with synths! They're from Norway, the singer produces for Junior Senior (and he sounds a hell of a lot like Michael Jackson) and it comes inches away from trumping Pleasure as my favourite pop album this year.

My Secret Lover (http://www.zshare.net/audio/6102162423d739/)
I Can't Wait (http://www.zshare.net/audio/61022285171857/)

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6084/964797547lsu9.jpg

S/T by Health

Decided to hear the original Crimewave after listening to the remix by Crystal Castles and I liked it. It's some good noisy rock music. Reminds me of a really toned down Lightning Bolt at points.

Crimewave (http://www.zshare.net/audio/61024104721286/)
Girl Attorney (http://www.zshare.net/audio/6102435f02a113/)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2057/513ndk2brrhlss500mx9.jpg

Autumn Fallin' by Jaymay

Same vein as Regina Spektor, Madeline, etc.

A lot of cheery break-up songs.

Blue Skies (http://www.zshare.net/audio/61024994b47952/)

I have more around these just came to mind immediately.