December 30, 2009

Best Albums of 2009 Round-Up


Well the year and decade are just about at their end - and both were fantastic for music. I can only hope the coming year and decade continues to bring us exciting, innovative and groundbreaking music from those we are hoping and expecting it from (see my most anticipated albums of 2010 post HERE) and, sometimes even better, from those just getting started (the future xx's). Before the new year, I want to leave you with 3 things: (1) my top 10 albums of the year (below), (2) links to some of the best music blog & magazine end of year lists and (3) the most exciting music news for 2010 already: Radiohead back in the studio THIS January (we can only hope for that In Rainbows follow-up to kick off the decade Kid-A style).

Happy New Year Everyone!

DYB's Top Albums of 2009
10. Passion Pit - Manners
9. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
8. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
7. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
6. Handsome Furs - Face Control
5. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
4. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
3. The xx - The xx
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


Pitchfork's List: HERE
Stereogum's Reader Poll: HERE
Metacritic's Compilation of Year-End Top Ten Lists: HERE


Enjoy,
MD

December 14, 2009

Quickie: Spanish Lost Season 6 Promo featuring Radiohead


This is awesome (and completely hilarious) in all the best ways possible!

In this Spanish language promo for one of TV's best shows, Lost, entering its final season (sad, but exciting), possibly my favorite song of the decade, Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" (off Kid A) plays over this hilariously stereotypical and overdramatic ad that would work perfectly for any Telemundo soap opera.

Should help make the Monday work just a little more bearable:




Enjoy,
MD

December 4, 2009

Quickie: More New Vampire Weekend and Introducing Toro Y Moi

(Vampire Weekend)

NOW I am VERY excited about this new Vampire Weekend CD! (There goes the CAPS lock again) First they drop an all-out punk song, "Cousins", as their first single and now they take a page out of Animal Collective's playbook for the b-side to the "Cousins" single on "California English, Pt. 2". Keep in mind, this is just a b-side and more of a musical idea than a fully constructed song - but if this is any hint of the willingness of VW to push the limits of their sound, January 12th can't come fast enough (or at least the next leaked song off Contra). And Pt. 2 does seem to imply a Pt.1 that may be on the album...and just a bit more fully formed perhaps? Let's hope. In the meantime check it out on Youtube:




(Chaz Bundick aka Toro Y Moi)


So here's the second music video shot in Paris posted here for the week - why not? Especially when the song "Talamak" by Toro y Moi is made for driving and the video takes us on a trip at dawn on a nearly traffic-less tour of the French capital. Toro y Moi is one-man show from South Carolina, Chaz Bundick who's lo-fi loop-driven dreamy electronic sounds play like a marriage of Washed Up (also from SC and raved about HERE) and Bibio (who put out one of the absolute best albums of the year and is also the man responsible for DYB's first ever music post HERE). Toro Y Moi is great on its own right - check video out below and get the song HERE:







Enjoy,
MD

December 3, 2009

Phoenix Perform "1901" and "Lisztomania" for The Take Away Shows


For those unfamiliar with the Take Away Shows directed by Vincent Moon, it is time to get acquainted (All the shows are available for viewing HERE). The concept is simple: take a great artist and bring their music outside - to a park, field, square, even an elevator - in an atypical setting and just let it play out. No editing just letting the music and the environment interact and see what happens. The National, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, you name it have done some fantastic shows in the past. Now it is Phoenix's turn. They play "1901" in front of a couple about to be married and a small crowd in Trocadero square right next to the Eiffel Tower and then take over a double decker tour bus to play "Lisztomania" riding right by that famous Paris landmark. Check out the whole series (including "Long Distance Call" and some detail on the event HERE).

"1901":




"Lisztomania / One Time Too Many":



Enjoy,
MD

December 1, 2009

Ten Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 (and some other rumored hopefuls)


Before we fully wind down 2009 and I discuss my favorite music of the year and the decade (both to come in the next few weeks), I thought I would start with the future. I have already posted singles from some of the most anticipated and exciting albums of 2010 with Yeasayer's "Ambling Arp" and Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" so I thought I would go one step further. These are my top 10 most anticipated albums of the upcoming year in no particular order (other than release date for those with them). I have also include a few albums that have been rumored to drop in the coming year because it is always fun to dream. To prep everyone for these exciting releases, I have put together a lala playlist in the upper right corner with a couple of the best tracks from these bands to keep you occupied until the release dates.


Vampire Weekend - Contra (January 12): Only two weeks into the new year and Vampire Weekend is following up their nearly universally acclaimed self-titled debut with Contra. I have already raved about their first single, "Cousins", below HERE and word from those who have heard it all (unfortunately I am not one of those people) is that it is just the beginning. "Cousins" has me very hopeful that there won't be a sophomore slump from these Columbia alums.


Spoon - Transference (January 26th) - Another band that I won't shut up about HERE. From "Mystery Zone" which leaked a few weeks ago to their single, "Written in Reverse" which came out today on iTunes, their follow-up to Ga Ga Ga Ga looks to be another excellent effort from the band that just can't seem to put anything out that isn't strong to quite strong.


Hot Chip - One Life Stand (February 9) - Hot Chip is one of those bands that is so consistently great you sometimes forget about them. Made in the Dark was one of the most tragically underrated albums of 2008 with excellent singles at nearly every turn from "Ready For The Floor" to "Out At The Pictures". Their blend of R&B with electronica is taken to the next level with lead singer Alexis Taylor's subtle yet intoxicating vocal delivery (It has always struck me as similar to The Notwist's Markus Acher in that way - another favorite band for another posting). The One Life Stand tracks to hit the web so far are no less stunning. "Take It In" starts off like an 80s New Order influenced dance jam and slowly seems to mellow and build at once - loving this HERE. The title track is great too HERE.


Yeasayer - Odd Blood (February 9): I have already raved about single, "Ampling Amp" HERE. They seem even more sonically adventure on the new single than the previous album's best work, including "Sunrise" on the lala player playlist. Look for this one to be heavily blogged about in the new year. Yeasayer is the 2010 MGMT (until MGMT comes out with their own debut follow-up Congratulations in Spring 2010)



LCD Soundsystem - TBD (March): Another band I absolutely LOVE (as evidenced HERE). James Murphy is one of the most talented musicians and producers in the game PERIOD. When I talk about him or LCD Soundsystem I have trouble with my CAPS Lock like Kanye. Pat Mahoney, co-founder with James Murphy of DFA and the drummer in LCD had this to say on the new album: "different than Sound Of Silver and certainly different than the first one ... It still sounds very much like us, like James. It's maybe slower and it has kind of got some more rock stuff back in it. It also has a bunch of disco influences." It could be a country record and I would still give it a whirl.

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (TBD): Big Boi is one half of the best hip-hop group of my lifetime, Outkast. So anything by these guys (the other half is Andre 3000) is going to be highly anticipated. Many expected this to drop in 2009, but there have been issues with its release. We have seen two excellent tracks already hit the web from it though with "Shine Blockas" HERE (one of the best hip-hop jams of the year) and "Fo Yo Sorrows" (just the type of fun as hell track you would expect off an Outkast record). This record should be sick - more details in this interview with Pitchfork HERE. (In it he gives us hope for a new Outkast record in 2010 too!)

The National - TBD: The National's last two albums Alligator and Boxer are two of my absolute favorites of the past decade. Easily one of the bands I have spun the most in that time period. Listen to the anthemic and totally awesome "All The Wine" off Alligator and "Apartment Story" off Boxer in the lala playist. Lead singer Matt Berninger has a way with phrasing - it is simple, understated at times jarring but always spot on. With instrumentation by the Dessner brothers, two of the most talented musicians in indie rock today, this new album is going to be great.




Interpol - TBD (Early 2010): Interpol's first album, Turn Of The Bright Lights, is perfect or it was when it came out in 2002. In the aftermath of September 11th, these New Yorkers painted the perfect desolate landscape of the city yet there music was still so hopeful and so damn cool. Their second album was strong and the third unfortunately weak, but Interpol has been talking a lot about getting back to where they started. Drummer Sam Fogarino told PASTE, "The new record falls back towards the first ... That big wash of reverb? It's back." Thank God. Check out old favorites "Untitled" and "NYC" in the playlist.



Panda Bear - TBD: Panda Bear aka Noah Lennox is one of the masterminds behind Animal Collective and his solo album Person Pitch will most definitely be on my best of the decade list. He is one of the most innovative and constantly changing forces in music. He talks about it being "darker" and more "raw" than his previous effort and "totally different" than Animal Collective's brilliant Merriweather Post Pavillion. I can't wait - in the meantime I will have to listen to "Comfy in Nautica" and "Bros" on repeat (lala playlist on the upper right - hint hint). They are pure sonic bliss.

Arcade Fire - TBD: When your previous two albums are all over everyone's best of the decade list, Funeral in particular, there is going to be a lot of anticipation around this one. Arcade Fire's "Rebellion (Lies)" is one of my favorite songs of all-time (to hell with just of this decade) and "No Cars Go" off Neon Bible is great too. Usually the third album is where things really start to blossom (a la OK Computer) - no pressure.


Other Potential Releases To Wet Your Appetite:


Radiohead: They have talked about never doing an LP again with Thom Yorke telling The Believer, "None of us want to go into that creative hoo-ha of a long-play record again." (That day was the saddest of my life). But in a recent interview with NME, Ed O-Brien stated, ""We were misquoted. We will be making an album!" (The best day of my life). Who knows but even a hypothetical Radiohead album is better than most albums.


Justice: The follow-up to t should be dancey electro heaven.


The Shins w/ Danger Mouse: After James Mercer announced he fired his current band, he announced he would be making an album with Danger Mouse. This has my attention.



Enjoy,

MD

November 19, 2009

Quickie: New Vampire Weekend

(Awesome new cover for equally awesome new single, "Cousins")

Been a busy week, but look for a slew of new posts next week as I will be blogging from sunny Florida.

Vampire Weekend exploded onto the blogsphere and then the mainstream with their excellent and commercially successful self-titled debut. Influenced heavily by Paul Simon ripping afro-pop, Vampire Weekend make their Graceland. Now these Columbia University alums are dropping their sophomore album, Contra, on 1/12. After a leak of the song "Horchata" I was a bit concerned about a sophomore slump - it had some of the charm of the last offering, but less of it (the classic symptom of most sophomore outings). But first single, "Cousins" (video below) brings this right back near the top of my list of anticipated 2010 albums. "Cousins" is bursting with energy as much influenced by Paul Simon as The Clash. Vampire Weekend showed some inclinations for punk music on the aptly titled "A-punk", but this track blows that one out of the water (and A-punk was one of my favorites on the first album). Lots to be excited about here! Check it out:





Enjoy,
MD

November 10, 2009

Everything You Need to Know About (EYNTKA): Spoon

It is like Wikipedia, if Wikipedia was only concerned about you sounding cool.

(Britt Daniel, front left, and Jim Eno, front right, of Spoon)


Exciting News: Spoon are coming out with their seventh LP, Transference, due January 26th 2010! They dropped one of the songs off the album as a single a few months back called Got Nuffin'. (Fun fact: They enjoy misspellings - you can see them all over their song titles) Check out the song: LINK (Also on the upper right in the lala playlist)

Background: Spoon is one of the defining bands of the 00s. They formed in Austin, Texas and are considered a huge influence on the bands coming out of that exciting music city. While technically, Britt Daniel and his right hand man, Jim Eno, started the band back in 1993 and had released two full LPs and a slew of EPs in the 90s, it was the 00s that saw their distinctive sound take full form. They have had some rotating backing members, but the current other players include Rob Pope on bass and Eric Harvey on keyboard.

The Sound: Their brilliance like so many of the great bands before them from the Beatles to Nirvana is quite simple. There is little technical wizardry - it is simple guitar, piano, drums and bass. The brilliance is in their interplay - the layering of the instrumentation, the classical music like movements and the continued variations always in touch with the song as a whole. They are like the Beta Band meets Gang of Four. They are punks working within the pop construct, but just barely.

Hipster Talking Point: Is Spoon referred to so often as underrated that they are in fact overrated? Obnoxious hipster response: "Once they started showing up in the Billboard Top 10 and playing SNL I was through." Correct answer: Either (a) bitch slap (b) rolling eyes and walking away or (c) "Each of their 4 albums released this decade is front to back loaded with hits of pop, rock and experimentalism gelling like late 60s Beatles or Stones. This is rock n' roll at its finest. Only when your mom knows about these guys are they overrated" (Sorry Mom).

Key Albums / Song Highlights / Cliff Notes Description:
Note: All of the songs mentioned can be listened to on the lala player in the upper right - check them out.

A Series of Sneaks (1998) - "Car Radio" - More experimental, less polish. Missing that production sheen. Still ripping a bit from the Pixies.
Girls Can Tell (2001) - "The Fitted Shirt" - They begin to strip down their sound, beginning their minimalist approach, production is much tigher and refined.
Kill The Moonlight (2002) - "The Way We Get By", "Stay Don't Go", "Vittorio E", EVERY SONG - this is their magnum opus, no doubt. Stripped down rock n' roll perfection. One of my favorite albums of all-time.
Gimme Fiction (2005) - "I Turn My Camera On" (Personal favorite song of theirs - can't describe how utterly brilliant this song is. This is as if Prince and the Stones got together and put out a song better than anything either of those groups had ever done) - To follow-up Kill The Moonlight with this is incredibly impressive. This album is more sonically rich and diverse, but less focused. Other highlight is "My Mathematical Mind".
Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007) - "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb", "Finer Feelings" - This album sees Spoon more focused, back to more minimalist instrumentation, but more experimental than Kill The Moonlight. Some consider this to be on par with Kill The Moonlight (and it is damn close).
Transference (2010) - Can't wait!

Rarities & Covers: For those all ready attuned to Spoon's brilliance and looking for some more, here are a bunch of rarities and some videos of the new albums tunes played live. LINK

Enjoy,
MD

November 2, 2009

New Spins: Notorious + Miley, MJ, Chromeo, Shwayze & MORE


Only the best remixes, mashups and reimaginings of other tracks. Remixes are basically the hipster excuse to listen to pop music without having to fully admit to likely the underlying pop song.

Notorious B.I.G & Miley Cyrus - Party And Bullshit In the USA (Hathbanger Mash-up Remix) - This is the best mashup I have heard this side of Girl Talk and old-school Danger Mouse. It has been blowing up all over the blogsphere and for good reason. Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" is absolute pop candy and it serves as a perfect backdrop to Biggie's flow. A must on any party mix of the moment. LINK

Michael Jackson - Thriller (Discotech Remix) - Anytime you hear "Discotech" at the beginning of a remix you know you are in good hands. He has been the most consistent producer of party remixes as of late and this is no exception. Outside of adding some jamming synths in the beginning, it is pretty true to MJ. For the most part any remix of MJ should mainly just let him be MJ. LINK (You can peruse a bunch of other interesting Thriller remixes here as well)


Chromeo - Night By Night - This one is the original version and its on here because it is by far the best mix out there and these guys are DJ / producers so I think they deserve a shot to make the best mix of their own song. This song could be a lost track from Daft Punk's Discovery (in other words it is amazing). LINK
Shwayze - Get U Home (Alan Wilkis Remix) - Alan already put out my favorite Phoenix remix of the year (his spin on the great "1901"). His take on Shwayze is blowing up right now and is just an all-out banger. Great track...love the chorus - just epic. LINK


Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Jakwob Remix) - It seems like a new electro-pop golden girl comes out of Britain every week (see: Little Boots, La Roux, etc. in my previous New Spins post: HERE) and they are all so damn good. Layered vocals, breakbeats...need I say more LINK

Enjoy,
MD

October 30, 2009

Introducing: Sleigh Bells, Warpaint, Freelance Whales, Joker and MORE

So there has been a lot of exciting new music coming out recently across a huge spectrum of genres. I have been slacking a bit recently and haven't had the chance to bring as much of it to your attention as I would like - SO this is my grand attempt to rectify that. Here are the new bands (and one a little less new band with new stuff, but no less noteworthy).

Sleigh Bells is a duo consisting of beat master and songwriter Derek Miller and his muse Alexis Krauss on vocals. "Crown on the Ground" LINK has been spinning on repeat all week for me. This song is not for weak - it is an all out banger. If Jack White and Timbaland produced a club anthem for M.I.A to sing this would be it. What starts as a somewhat jarring guitar riff, opens up completely with bass pumping well into the red. Krauss sweetens up the song just enough with her M.I.A meets Annie delivery to make the song a perfect party anthem. Love, love this track. And the rest of their output so far is just as strong. "Beach Girls" LINK continues with the M.I.A. lite (but not too lite) vibe and on "Ring Ring" LINK they change it up completely with Krauss singing an awesome new melody over the already fantastic Funkadelic track "Can You Get to That"(listen to the classic original on my LALA playlist in the upper right corner) - she completely makes it her own. These guys are about to blow up.


The only similarity that Warpaint shares with Sleigh Bells is female vocalists. But Warpaint has 3 and their harmonies and haunting, minimalist instrumentation is what draws me in here. On "Billie Holiday" LINK over a simple plucked acoustic guitar, the three beautifully harmonize simply spelling out the title (character's) name over and over - the result is mesmerizing. "Stars" which has an awesomely dark, dreamy and creepy video (below) is similarly using their combined voices to drive haunting melodies. "Elephant" LINK picks up the beat a bit with electric guitar and percussions, but as always the voices are the highlight. If that weren't enough to get you excited, John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed their EP, Exquisite Corpse, out now.




Freelance Whales seems to take inspiration from everywhere - the vocals sound like Ben Gibbard meets Sufjan Stevens, the lyrics definitely influenced by Death Cab as well and some Arcade Fire, the instrumentation all of the above and even some Passion Pit-esque electronics. Their debut album, Weathervanes, feels more of the middle of this decade - more of a heart-on-your-sleeve record with just brilliant, classically influenced musical compositions. These guys have a lot of talent and have put out one hell of a debut. Check out "Generator^First Floor" LINK (their "Rebellion (Lies)") and "Starring" LINK (Passion Pit similarities here) and really the whole album. Great stuff.


Joker is 20 year old dubstep producer out of Bristol, England. I like dubstep, but LOVE it's influence when infused with other genres. Joker takes Simian Mobile Disco track "Cruel Intentions" LINK featuring vocalist Beth Ditto and drops in some awesome breakbeats turning this into a perfect dance floor track. One of my favorite songs of the moment. You can check out his "Rising" profile on P4K HERE for more info on his original stuff which is pretty damn good too.

Finally, check out this new Yeasayer tune, "Ambling Alp", the first single off their second album, Odd Blood, coming out February 19th. You can download it for free on their site HERE. They have such a great sound. Like MGMT but more adventerous - love these guys and loving this tune. Check it out. And if you are unfamiliar with Yeasayer check out "2080" and "Sunrise" in my LALA playlist in the upper right corner.


Lots of new tunes to carry you through the weekend. Hope you enjoy and let me know in the comments what you are digging.

Enjoy,
MD

October 27, 2009

THE Supergroup: Them Crooked Vultures


Seems like the Traveling Wilburys may have had a bigger impact on music than I realized. The late 80s first true "supergroup" included four outright legends: Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Not too bad. Of course the sum definitely didn't add up to the parts though they had a few decent songs. Looks like the "suergroup" can be added to the list of 80s influences on the current music landscape. From Thom Yorke and Flea teaming up, to the Monsters of Folk (Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Connor Oberst of Bright Eyes and M. Ward of, well, M. Ward) everyone is doing it.

Them Crooked Vultures may take the cake though for the most insanely awesome of all of these pairings. Dave Grohl returns back behind the drums for the first time since Nirvana, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age takes lead guitar and vocals, and JOHN PAUL JONES of LED F'ing ZEPPELIN is on bass. This is a match made in hard alternative rock heaven. There first single, "New Fang" you can listen to below. And unlike the Traveling Wilburys this is no victory lap - these guys are really going for it. Really digging this.




Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and John Paul Jones are coming to Los Angeles to start their tour (of course it's in LA) on November 17th, the same day their self-titled debut album drops. Tickets go onsale THIS Saturday October 31st at 10am on Ticketmaster. Also, should be a pre-sale on Thursday through Live Nation - I will keep you posted. It's not quite a Led Zeppelin reunion tour, but pretty exciting nonetheless. Look for more dates to be added in the near future. http://themcrookedvultures.com/tour/

Enjoy,
MD

October 20, 2009

Julian Casablancas announces LA residency


Julian Casablancas has announced his LA tour dates. He will be taking up residency for every Friday in November at the recently renovated Downtown Palace Theatre. Not only is Julian following the now apparent trend (does two count as a trend) of frontmen of great bands debuting their live material in Los Angeles, but he is also doing so in a recently renovated Theatre a few blocks from the "other" recently renovated Orpheum Theatre where Thom played. Even more eerie, the Palace Theatre was actually called the Orpheum Theatre until its name was changed in 1926 when the new Orpheum Theatre opened.

OK enough with the history here are the dates and ticket prices:

November 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th.

Tickets for individual shows range from $35, $40, and $50. Tickets go on sale starting this Friday, October 23rd at 10:00am.

Hope to see you all there!

Enjoy,

MD

For the Phoenix obsessed (like myself)

Below is the first (from what I can tell) of a series called Musicvision. It takes an artist and goes through the 20 songs that changed their lives and helped cultivate the band's sound. Phoenix, one of my favorite bands, is featured in the first series. I have watched 10 minutes so far and I am in love. This is PERFECTLY executed. It allows the songs to breathe and really be absorbed by the listener while adding a commentary track, highlighting the song's profound influence on the band. Brilliant concept and really astonishingly well-executed.




Excited to see more of these!

Enjoy,
MD

The XX first US performance - "Basic Space"


The XX launched on to the scene earlier this year with one of the most exciting debut album I have heard in years (check out my previous Introducing post HERE). Look for it to be in the top few come my year end lists. Here is the XX performing for the first time in the states with the excellent, "Basic Space". Love how this video is shot. Given the precision of every sparse note in the song, it is an exciting one to follow along and see the music unfold. These guys are only 20 years old and on their first tour so I expect to see their live show improve dramatically as they continue to fine tune their live chops. Very nice start though:






Thanks to Wes for the tip (the hipster Skywalker to my Yoda).


Enjoy,

MD

October 13, 2009

Los Angeles: Music Capital of the World?

(Julian in studio with dog? Also, did he make the record using a full-size Guitar Hero guitar?)


First, Thom Yorke graces Los Angeles with the first (and to this point ONLY) live shows of his solo material with his new as-yet-to-be-named band including Flea on bass. Now, word from Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes, is that he will play a series of shows EVERY FRIDAY in November in Los Angeles to debut his solo material off his new album, Phrazes For The Young, out on November 3rd (OK, technically Julian debuted this material at a show in Tokyo a month or so back, but I am going to ignore that little fact.) So now that the lead singers of two of the most influential bands of our time decide to debut their solo outfits in my fair city, I can only draw one conclusion: Los Angeles is the greatest music city on the planet.

The Julian Casablancas show details have not been revealed yet, but when they are you will be the first to know.
In the meantime, in preparation for the Phrazes For The Young release, check out Julian's first single off the album, "11th Dimension" LINK. This song finds Julian shifting his focus up a generation. While The Strokes' music was dominated by 70s Television-style guitar riffs, this lead single allows 80s synth to take center stage. The guitar riffs are still there, but serve more as accents. This just sounds like Julian having a damn good time and I am really enjoying this one. It shares more with The Strokes' latest release, First Impressions From Earth (which was seriously underrated and overlooked) than their previous efforts. You can stream the single on the Lala Player in the upper right along with some great old Strokes songs, "12:51" and "Electricityscape". Looking forward to hearing the whole album soon - both on my iPod and in Los Angeles in November!

Enjoy,
MD

October 12, 2009

Free AND Legal Downloads from Great New Bands

(Free Energy)(The XX)
(The Big Pink)


Thanks to Urban Outfitters (never thought I would start a sentence like that and ACTUALLY mean it) and their LSTN series, we all have access to 25 new songs from up and coming bands absolutely free through iTunes.

Their latest compilation LSTN #7 includes some of my favorite current artists, The XX, The Big Pink, Free Energy, Washed Out and Rain Machine all of whom have been raved about in past posts on DYB. Maybe I should give Urban Outfitters more credit or myself less (I am thinking the latter). Either way I seem to share a similar music sensibility with the mass retailer's taste makers and I am going to have to just accept that (through numerous therapy sessions). I am willing to neglect my pride to introduce more of you to great music - and this compilation does have that in spades. Other interesting artists to check out on here: The Dodos and Girls. Here is the LINK. Just click in the upper right hand side on "Click Here To Download" and it should open up your itunes for the download.

LSTN #6 is also available for download in iTunes. #1-4 are available to download as zip files. #5 has expired but is still available for free streaming.

Let me know what bands you like in the comments and I will write some posts on them!

Enjoy,
MD