Cayucas is a California-based group, whose namesake is a seaside town in San Luis Obispo with a sound to match. Channeling the likes of Beck and Tame Impala, “High School Lover” is a laidback lo-fi number with a nostalgic feel. Pick up a FREE download of the track off debut album Bigfoot below, which will be out April 1st next week.
In case you haven’t heard, Local Natives and their gorgeous harmonies are back on their new album, Hummingbird, released January 29 via Frenchkiss records (and I insist you visit the label’s previously linked fb page, for no other reason than to view the absurdly awesome cover photo). The LA-based band does not disappoint with their sophomore effort, retaining their original melodic appeal while putting forth some new introspective material.
Local Natives are playing two sold-out shows at 930 Club in DC next month – April 5th and 6th. Sad to say, I do not have a ticket. If someone wants to remedy this, please contact me immediately. I was also delighted to see that directly following their DC stop, the group will be headed to my hometown, Tulsa for a performance at Cain’s Ballroom on the 9th. Nice!
Sample a couple of tracks off the new album – “You & I” and “Heavy Feet” – below, along with another favorite off the debut album Gorilla Manor.
oh what a fool I was to think / that I could get by on a smile and a wink
Foals first landed on my radar with the release of their debut album, Antidotes in 2008. The indie group from Oxford have been making steady music ever since (particularly prominent in the UK), dropping their third studio album Holy Fire this month.
Although as a whole the music is a little too post-punk for me, I dig this house remix by the also Oxford-based (and totally amazing) producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED) of their latest single “My Number.” Hot Chip also attempted a makeover over the song, but I much prefer TEED’s version. Check it out below, along with earlier effort of theirs “The French Open.”
Update: Foals will be coming to DC’s 930 Club May 5th!
I had the opportunity to see Tanlines at DC’s Black Cat last month and the dynamic Brooklyn duo managed to exceed my expectations. Not only do they have a fantastic live energy, but their music also has an element of world fusion which I wasn’t aware of going into.
“All of Me,” from their debut album Mixed Emotions released last March was their first single that caught my attention; then after the concert I had to go and uncover a bunch more. “Real Life” is a shining example of the sheer exuberance that radiates from Tanlines. As if that weren’t reason enough to listen to them, they also have a great handle. Who wouldn’t want to soak up tanlines all year long? Vitamin D-deprived crazy people, that’s who.
Ok I’ll admit, the above still is not from the featured track, but the image from a video by the same artist was too wonderful not to include (so I have a thing for romantic imagery). But I digress — this indie rock track currently clattering its way up the indiesphere comes from Nashville duo Wild Cub. Off their album Youth released this August, “Thunder Clatter” is a joyous listening experience full of “indie-harmonic, fast-paced percussive, love-based majesty.”
Wait one minute, I had to listen for it, it was hidden in the fall
Canadian progressive rock group The Zolas released their second LP, Ancient Mars last month and have been gaining popular momentum ever since. Best single off the duo’s sophomore album is the seriously catchy “Knot in My Heart,” aptly described by 32ft/second as:
“one of those pop songs that traffics in the dark sorts of solipsisms of the early 20s, the sort of sea sick pains that you wake up with, a grinding anxiety of love and loss, […] set to a bouncy, modulated chorus that tickles every dopamine receptor available.”
The 1975 is a group from Manchester, who will be releasing their new EP, SEX November 19th. Their classic indie rock sound and earnest vocals as displayed on the track “You,” will tug at the heart strings and pull you in.
it’s my party and I’ll cry ’til the end
you must try harder in kissing all of my friends
…it takes a bit more…
Digging this rework of British singer-songwriter Ben Howard’s “The Fear,” from Belgian producer Moonlight Matters.
I been worryin’ that my time is a little unclear
I been worryin’ that I’m losing the ones I hold dear
I been worryin’ that we all live our lives in the confines of fear
Brooklyn-based indie group The Dig have a charming sound reminiscent of The Strokes, and happen to be making the first stop of their 2012 fall tour at DC’s Red Palace tomorrow. So the only question is, who wants to go?
The time has come to resurrect my humble indie blog. Over the years I have created several domains with the intention of sharing music, that for one reason or another never came to fruition…save for a sprinkling of music musings on an analogous tumblr account. Part of the problem was that I could never quite figure out the best way to share songs, but now with the advent of SoundCloud the solution is pretty simple. Thus, I integrated my old tumblr logs into WordPress and from here on out all posts will be solely dedicated to great tunes!
Bloc Party is also back with their fourth and aptly-titled new album, “Four,” which was released last month. They played at the 930 Club in DC yesterday, and while I’m sure it was a stellar show, alas my attendance was not meant to be. Here are a couple of my favorite tracks off the new album:
poetry in an empty coke can 