Lodgers In My Mind

I've been really, really spoilt these past few days with new music. My ears are still ringing as I'm blown away by the amount of releases I have seen during this whole month. 

Ski Lodge is one of the bands that has by far enchanted me the most! 

Actually, this is the last project of Andrew Marr, who previously recorded with The Clementines. The multiple comparisons to their compatriots Vampire Weekend might be hard to avoid, that's true. However, their catchy songs with soft vocals which tend to be short and happy and deceivingly simple, gives the band their own pop sound an edge. Listen below:

 A Game

 I Would Die To Be

Despite they released their self-titled debut EP last September 13, there hasn't been an official album announcement. Nevertheless, I can only assume those tracks are warning shots for something promising in the near future. Ouch! After hearing these eargasms I'm craving more from theeeeem. Spin more tunes in Spotify! 

Venom Antidote

I'd seen the name Maika Makovski come up a few times in the past couple of weeks. Nevertheless, I couldn't delve into her songs till now and I have to admit that I'm pleasantly surprised with this Spanish artist (with a name like this, you would expect she's from Russia or Poland, huh?).

Her latest self-titled album was launched some time earlier this year and this is the clip for one of her best songs (IMHO). If you are repulsed by snakes, refrain from watching it.

Lava Love

Water War

If you though last summer is already far away, check out next slow down sequence about super-soaker water guns and balloons fight. This is a clip from Louis La Roche's latest release, a double A-side single Gimme Gimme / The Wall, off his forthcoming LP Hello You.

Gimme Gimme

The Wall

The album will be dropped on October 5 but in the meantime, you can stream the whole thing in soundcloud. Here's a sneak peak of the launch with two remixes of The Wall  by both Shook and J. Paul Getto, the first of which is chill groovy and the next nice and dancy.

Ah! The album art ain't all that's pretty damn awesome! (Click here)

Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals

Soft Landing - Baptism

Mark Wilkinson - Baptism by Fire


Crystal Castles - Baptism

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 Beach House -  Wedding Bell 

Bigott - Cool Single Wedding

 The Avett Brothers - January Wedding 

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Band of Horses - The Funeral 

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Funeral Face 

 Siskiyou - Funeral Song 

Autumn Rose In Bloom

Lucy Rose has one of those wondrous voices that hits you every-time you hear it. She posses a soft and delicate with a slight husk voice and writes songs with the sort of honest straight forward sincerity that can only come from the heart. Indeed, my love for broken-hearted, British, folk singing beauties has grown exponentially thanks to her excellent break-up song Middle Of The Bed. 

Despite she's been playing open mic nights in London since she was 18, she is now starting to gain recognition from peers (she featured on Bombay Bicycle Club's album, Flaws) and radio, which is leading to the release of her new single, Scar.

I've been craving something new from her for a while, and now my appetite has been sated by this calming, beautiful piece of melodic indie-folk, which also features friend and Bombay Bicycle Club lead singer Jack Steadman. This track was released last September 19. You can hit the jump for the striking video. 

Singing In The Rain

... or Rain In The Singing?

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Your suggestions are also included:

Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains 

(thanks to wearecovering)

The Jesus & Mary Chain - Happy When It Rains 

(thanks to jke)

(Both titles are quite similar. What a coincidence!)

The Resurgence

In yesterday's post, I told you about the new Sigur Rós album, despite the band has been idle over the past few years. (Click here).  Fortunately, this is not an isolated case and other outfits are making headlines these days because of their new musical material.

Jeff Mangum, the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of Neutral Milk Hotel, has set up a website dedicated to the music of his '90s band. As part of his effort to rekindle it, Mangum has prepared a self-released complete back catalog box set.

Planned to drop November 22, the vinyl-only box set will feature the entirety of NMH's music catalog. Including their two LP releases, On Avery Island and In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, the box set will also feature each of the band's EP releases along with fifteen previously unreleased tracks. This is a lot considering the band's short discography and the fact that they've been on hiatus since thirteen years ago, don't you think so?

Now listen below to two of the until now unreleased songs:

Oh Sister 

Ferris Wheel On Fire

Recognizing An Old Friend

This time I bring you some Spanish music since many of you keep asking for more bands from my country. I hope you like Lori Meyers, who took their name from one of their favorite NOFX tracks. [The lyrics deal with a guy having a childhood friend and recognizing her as a porn star many years later while watching TV].

Whilst sung in Spanish, their powerful songs have a more American sound since their last album was conceived in L.A. The band displays a wide range of pop songs containing catchy melodies and shiny guitar sounds. Needless to say, it won't take long before you're hooked. Trust me you won't be able to resist these songs or the temptation to blare them out and tap your feet!

Mi Realidad

¿Aha Han Vuelto?

Alta Fidelidad 

Take a peek below to hear the rest of their songs:

Pleasant Peasants

The Welsh indie-rock outfit under the name of Los Campesinos!* recently revealed that Harriet (violin, keyboards and vocals) would be leaving the band in September to continue her studies. A few days later, they announced plans for LP number four, Hello Sadness, due for release on November 14. Last week the band launched the first single from the album, By Your Hand, accompanied by a music video.

The new stuff was conceived in Girona, Spain, earlier this year (when I told you Spain is in vogue, I was rite, huh?). The end result is billed as ten songs of love, loss and heartbreak. In other words, the prototypical Los Campesinos! record. In fact, we could not expect anything different with that "positive" title.

* Los Campesinos! refer to "The Peasants" in Spanish.

Swenglish

Everything about this band makes me nostalgic about something (better said, someone). Listening to this music, I can't stop thinking about those better days and my eyes are always filled with tears that no cloth, napkin, or tissue can sop up. Thus, I attempt to listen to it as little as possible, even though I've had a big soft spot for Swedish Hello Saferide (I really loved it back then, most likely still do).

Apart from anything else, I haven't really given a chance for Annika Norlin's another moniker Säkert! until now. Mostly because the lyrics are a big part of her charm and my Swedish skills are nowadays pretty non-existent. It looks like she's venturing into new territory with her new stuff, because now Säkert! songs have been released with English lyrics. Without a doubt, it's a moving, charming collection that has neatly filled a gap for her many non-Swedish speakers fans, and a most welcome addition to her consistently impressive body of work. The album entitled På Engelska is now out and available and the new music video is called Can I.  With regard to it, it's your chance to tell the world what you have dared to do. Are you up for the challenge? I dare you.

And how could I not post Hello Saferide's Anna video, if I write about Annika Norlin. It'd be a sacrilege! I had the chance to see her live just a few feet away and I can tell you that there were moments where she nailed an emotion that could inevitably take my breath away.

If you're Spotified, click the button below to listen carefully to these glorious latest songs by Annika:

The Day The Sky Exploded

Instrumental rockers Explosions In The Sky have recently released the clip for Be Comfortable, Creature, a cut off their latest album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. Perhaps Explosions have been in touch with Herman Düne, whose video for the song Tell Me Something I Don't Know  follows around a furry blue creature (click here). Mnmnm... Do you think they came from the same planet?

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Unfortunately, today we have to remember a time when Manhattan (NYC) saw its own explosions in the sky. Ten years after September 11th attacks.

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A Tribute To The Fandom

A few days ago I brought you the premiere of the new album by Nathan Williams (click here). Now it's time for Best Coast, the band fronted by his girlfriend Bethany Cosentino.

Earlier this week we were graced with a video for Our Deal, taken from last year's stellar Crazy For You, which combines elements of Romeo & Juliet  and West Side Story.

If this clip has engaged with your feelings while watching, press the button to enjoy the full version.

We didn't have to wait long to get our Best Coast fix satisfied, as the band have recently posted on their blog a previously unreleased cut with How They Want Me To Be, as a thank you to all their fans who have been with them since day one. Bethany also drafted a nice note, which you can read here. According to the outfit's site, the tune is meant to serve as a snack to tide fans over until their still-in-the-works second album is ready for release, though we shouldn't expect it anytime soon cuz it will likely be re-recorded and fleshed out a bit.  

Check out How They Want Me To Be below:

 

Request From A Fan

 I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl 

I Want To Meet Dave Grohl  is the name of the new single from the Californian band Wavves. The song, dedicated to the former Nirvana drummer and current frontman of Foo Fighters, is the advanced preview of the EP entitled Life Sux (a little bit depressing, yep), which will be released on September 20. I think by that stage they have already met Dave, rite?

Furthermore, the album is the outfit's debut on his own label, Ghost Ramp, and includes contributions from Best Coast, whose frontwoman, Bethany Cosentino, is the actual girlfriend of Nathan Williams, the man behind Wavves.

Vacation After Vacation

Hey, here I am again.

This song is dedicated to all those who, like me, have enjoyed a summer holiday basking in the sun and now are suffering from post-vacation blues, a small crisis that must immediately be attended to and which could have been completely avoided had you not left town. Definitely it isn't easy to get back into the routine!

We're Drumgry!

The sophomore album from Brooklyn band The Drums, Portamento, will be official released next September 13.

The trio seems to be totally immersed in this project since their debut album was launched not so long ago.

Channeling a sound somewhere between Vampire Weekend and '60s surf-rock, their Beach Boys-eqsue aesthetic single Let's Go Surfing beams with the heady optimism mixing drums with pleasing melodies and lyrics about, well, surfing.

 

In their music video for Money, the first track to appear from their upcoming LP, these rockers gave us an inside look into their practice studio.

Now, we can get a slightly creepier and lo-fi peek at their beloved hole in the wall with their live performance of the track What You Were. The video features the band shot through the lens of some security camera, strumming through yet-another '80s-inspired New Wave rock number full of forlorn.

Although Portamento still isn't due out for a few weeks, if you're on a Drums kick, you can now check out an album stream of the all twelve tracks by clicking here.