Euphōnos

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - Freshman Year

2011-10-27T22:08:00.004+01:00

Hop Along, Queen Ansleis
Freshman Year

This is a wonderful, energetic acoustic folk trio with female vocalists. Thank my girlfriend for introducing this one to me, guys.

Download | Last.fm
acoustic, folk, female vocalists

Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving - Deaden The Fields

2011-09-07T22:30:00.001+01:00

Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving

Deaden The Fields

Download | Last.fm

post-rock, jazz

Giovanni Sollima - We Were Trees

2011-09-05T01:52:00.000+01:00

Giovanni Sollima

We Were Trees

Download | Last.fm

modern classical

Bersarin Quartett - Bersarin Quartett

2011-08-18T02:32:00.000+01:00

Bersarin Quartett

Bersarin Quartett

Minimalist ambient with classical twinges.

Download | Last.fm

ambient, minimal

Bodurov Trio - Stamps from Bulgaria 2008

2011-07-31T05:00:00.008+01:00

Bodurov Trio

Stamps From Bulgaria 2008

Piano jazz with a heady influence of Bulgarian folk music.

Download | Last.fm

piano jazz

Powder! Go Away - Laika Still Wants Go Home

2011-07-31T04:00:00.002+01:00

Powder! Go Away

Laika Still Wants Go Home

Wonderfully mature and emotionally moving post-rock about Laika, the Russian dog who was the first animal in orbit, and also the first to die there.

Download | Last.fm

post-rock

Dylan Mondegreen - The World Spins On

2011-07-30T21:21:00.002+01:00

Dylan Mondegreen
The World Spins On

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

We Are Wombat - Acoustic Demos

2011-07-30T00:14:00.003+01:00

We Are Wombat
Acoustic Demos

This is a folk band from my area. They play well together and make some great music (with banjo, so you know it's good). Check 'em out!

Download | Reverb Nation
folk, acoustic, lo-fi

A Hawk and a Hacksaw - Darkness At Noon

2011-07-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Darkness At Noon

Music from New Mexico with a melancholy, balkanesque style.

Download | Last.fm
folk, experimental

Dark Dark Dark - Wild Go

2011-07-24T17:56:00.005+01:00

Dark Dark Dark
Wild Go

Dark Dark Dark has a lot of charm. I really enjoyed their kicked back folk, full of piano, and enchanting vocals. This album is definitely worth the listen.

Download | Last.fm
chamber folk, female vocalists

Big Spider's Back - Warped

2011-07-07T20:10:00.003+01:00

Big Spider's Back
Warped

"BSB is a wonderful combination of lo-fi samples, shimmering echo, and decaying feedback."

Download | Last.fm
chillwave

Thieves Like Us - Play Music

2011-06-12T21:18:00.003+01:00

Thieves Like Us
Play Music

A laid back electronic album.

Download | Last.fm
electronic

SLik d - Summer Vibes

2011-06-11T13:04:00.003+01:00

SLik d
Summer Vibes

"Summer Vibes EP is a short but jam packed project that paints the picture of summer within audio form based off SLik d's frame of mind". I haven't posted any hip-hop for a while, and what better place to start than with some super chill West coast vibes. Definitely great summer music (even if it's raining, like it is here) and you can get this and all of his other albums for free on his bandcamp page.

Download | Last.fm
hip-hop

Submotion Orchestra - Finest Hour

2011-06-10T13:03:00.002+01:00

Submotion Orchestra
Finest Hour

Submotion Orchestra are a really great live band. They tend towards bass driven grooves and dense textures in their 'progressive live dubstep sound'.

Download | Last.fm
dubstep, chillout, acid jazz, downtempo

eX-Girl - Heppoco Pou

2011-06-09T20:25:00.000+01:00

eX-Girl

Heppoco Pou

eX-Girl are an experimental all-girl noise rock group from Japan. Last.fm describes their sound better than I ever could:

"Claiming to hail from the planet Kero Kero, they are described as psychedelic, space rock, jazz fusion, jagged alternating vocal harmonies, sugary synthesiser pop, punk, prog, epic/atmospheric, noise-rock, wavering 3 part a capella, borderline operatic vocals, often in the space of a single song."

Download | Last.fm

noise rock, experimental, Japanese

Benighted - Ballad Rage (Part I)

2011-05-13T18:32:00.000+01:00

Benighted

Ballad Rage (Part I)

Black metal with influences from post-metal and prog metal from Sweden.

Download | Last.fm

black metal

Mighty Blue Kings - Come One, Come All

2011-04-16T18:55:00.003+01:00

Mighty Blue Kings
Come One, Come All

These guys were a faithful part of the ’90s retro resurrection of mid-century swing jazz. Total dancin' music.

Download | Last.fm
swing, jazz

Peter Stampfel & Jeffrey Lewis - Come On Board

2011-04-16T18:20:00.004+01:00

Peter Stampfel & Jeffrey Lewis
Come On Board

Sweet collaboration between NY folk legend Peter Stampfel (of Holy Modal Rounders) and euphōnos folk favourite Jeffrey Lewis.

Download | Last.fm
folk, singer-songwriter

Nameless Dancers - Morning Touches

2011-04-15T21:41:00.003+01:00

Nameless Dancers
Morning Touches

Super laid back, yet rather energetic nu-jazz, lounge music all the way from Russia. You can get all of their albums for free from their blog.

Download | Last.fm
chillout, lounge, nu-jazz

Degiheugi - The Broken Symphony Lp.03

2011-04-15T19:13:00.004+01:00

Degiheugi
The Broken Symphony Lp.03

I can't believe this album has been floating around since 2008 without so little recognition. This guy makes amazing trip hop, and better yet, he gives it all away for free on his website. This really is a step away from the more traditional approach to trip hop that our other favourite Emancipator makes, yet equally it's as golden. Also, he has a collaborative track on which there's improvised ukulele playing, have you ever heard that in trip hop before?

Download | Last.fm
trip hop, electronic

The Ex - Catch My Shoe

2011-03-07T14:18:00.001Z

The Ex

Catch My Shoe

Anarchic punk/post-punk with lots of African and a few jazz influences. This is one of my favourite albums of the year so far.

Download | Last.fm

post-punk, experimental, world

Playtime Posse - Summertime Sounds of the Playtime Posse

2011-03-04T14:05:00.002Z

Playtime Posse

Summertime Sounds of the Playtime Posse

Hip-hop group featuring Pat the Bunny of Wingnut Dishwasher's Union and Johnny Hobo fame. No artwork for this as far as I can see.

Download | Last.fm

hip-hop

Pascal Pinon - Pascal Pinon

2011-02-27T04:49:00.004Z

Pascal Pinon
Pascal Pinon

This is music by two Icelandic twins, Jófríður and Ásthildur, with cute vocals and folkish sound. Quite enjoyable, especially if you admire the Icelandic language (although, a few songs are in English).

Download | Last.fm
Icelandic, female vocalists, folktronica

Chilly Willy - Feel Good Summer Jams

2011-02-22T18:47:00.003Z

Chilly Willy
Feel Good Summer Jams

Dream-hop/Glo-hop. Yeah, not even kidding.

Download | Last.fm
electronic

Blackbird Blackbird - Summer Heart

2011-02-21T17:02:00.002Z

Blackbird Blackbird
Summer Heart

Joyful blissed out melodies. Like dancing on a warm beach.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms Possessed

2011-02-20T18:22:00.004Z

Neon Indian
Psychic Chasms Possessed

This is the bonus disc edition of Psychic Chasms which includes both the original album and nine exclusive remixes by artists like Toro y Moi, Body Language, Javelin, Bibio, Yacht, Darby Cicci (of The Antlers), Twin Shadow, DNTEL and Anoraak.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave, lo-fi

Anoraak - Wherever the Sun Sets

2011-02-20T14:04:00.003Z

Anoraak
Wherever the Sun Sets

Pretty chill French electro.

Download | Last.fm
electronic

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms

2011-02-20T13:55:00.004Z

Neon Indian
Psychic Chasms

Neon Indian is one of the earliest chillwave artists I remember breaking onto the scene back in 2009. 'Borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered 80s' is probably the most accurate descriptor for this.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, lo-fi, electronic

The Pillars Of Creation - Panorama Blue

2011-02-19T19:00:00.003Z

The Pillars Of Creation
Panorama Blue

His music is said to be a synth trip to a beach in space. Space being one of his biggest inspirations.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, electronic

Moss of Aura - Still Parade

2011-02-19T18:36:00.002Z

Moss of Aura
Still Parade

Pretty sweet chillwave. Sounds straight up electro at some points too.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, electronic

Korallreven - The Truest Faith

2011-02-19T18:31:00.001Z

Korallreven
The Truest Faith

More dreamy balearic chillout music.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillout

jj - Kills

2011-02-18T22:03:00.004Z

jj
Kills

This is jj's amazing mixtape, released on Christmas eve last year. It's basically these guys mixing pop hits in with their usual balearic bliss. I pretty much loved this the moment I realised they'd remixed Paper Planes and one track later Empire State of Mind.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave

jj - nº 3

2011-02-18T21:57:00.003Z

jj
nº 3

I definitely prefer this one to nº2, probably because this is more poppy. Still chill as fuck, though.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave

jj - n° 2

2011-02-18T21:47:00.002Z

n° 2

Wishy, washy, balearic, chill, enchanting!

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave

Clive Tanaka y su Orquesta - Jet Set Siempre 1º

2011-02-16T19:42:00.000Z

Clive Tanaka y su Orquesta

Jet Set Siempre 1º

This guy's story is interesting. He was a hikikomori for 11 years and never left his room. When Clive became hikikomori in 1991, he had no computer or Internet for amusement, only books and magazines that his parents would leave by his door, on a tray with his meals, and television. One day, his older sister put in front of his door a big box of her cast-off magnetic tape cassettes of 70’s and 80’s disco music. At night, Clive’s family heard him dancing and singing along. Which gave his mother an idea. One New Year’s Day, his mother left a Yamaha DX7 keyboard outside his room. He credits the music from helping him emerge from isolation in 2002.

This was released as a tape and on the web. This is a Webrip. His music blurs the boundaries between chillwave and synthpop. Some of it is really uplifting and happy and sometimes its glitchy and spacey... oh and I even heard steel drums in there somewhere!

Download | Last.fm
electronic, lo-fi, chillwave

Walsh - Smoke Weed About It

2011-02-16T18:31:00.003Z

Walsh
Smoke Weed About It

Mix of lo-fi dub and chillwave.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, electronic, dub, lo-fi

Toro y Moi - Underneath the Pine

2011-02-15T07:29:00.004Z

Toro y Moi
Underneath the Pine

There has been a Webrip of this floating around for a week or so, but this is ripped from CD and just dropped a couple of hours ago. It's the new album from high flying chillwave artist Toro y Moi whose massively popular discography we've posted previously.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, electronic

Nucular Aminals - Nucular Aminals

2011-02-14T10:15:00.004Z

Nucular Aminals
Nucular Aminals

This arrived straight in my inbox from Aphonia Recordings, the label from which the band recently emigrated. They've ended up on a different label now, but in order to drum up some interest for their upcoming tour, I was asked to take a listen to their stuff.

The trio who up until recently were only a duo, play a unique blend of melancholic acoustic pop that had me swaying in my seat for pretty much the entire duration of the album. If you like it, I encourage you to buy the album from bandcamp, which you can do for only $7!

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

chocolatre - tot

2011-02-13T16:52:00.002Z

chocolatre
tot

Japanese indie pop with lots of lovely jazz instrumentation and smooth female vocals.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, japanese, jazz

Lightning Love - November Birthday

2011-02-13T16:48:00.002Z

Lightning Love
November Birthday

Sometimes there's a piano and sometimes there's a synth. But it's always cute.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, twee

PePePiano - PEPEPIANO

2011-02-13T16:44:00.002Z

PePePiano
PEPEPIANO

Chillwave that makes you feel like you're in space and on the beach at the same time.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, chillwave

Teams vs. Star Slinger - Teams vs. Star Slinger

2011-02-12T20:17:00.003Z

Teams vs. Star Slinger
Teams vs. Star Slinger

More chillwave! This time it's British instrumental hip-hop producer Star Slinger and U.S. chillwave band Teams. This is a perfect mix of soulful hip-hop beats and washed out surf style chillwave.

Download | Last.fm

electronic, soul, instrumental hip-hop, chillwave

Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP

2011-02-12T20:11:00.005Z

Beat Connection
Surf Noir

Dance chillwave. Yeah, that's right. Dance chillwave. Primarily chillwave, but you can definitely hear the dance elements kicking through.

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, lo-fi, electronic, tropical, dance

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Let It Sway

2011-02-12T15:03:00.003Z

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Let It Sway

We love SSLYBY here. Indeed, one of the first albums we ever posted was their 2008 release. This is their latest release and goddamn, it's some sweetass indie pop.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

The Loves - ...Love You

2011-02-12T13:39:00.003Z

The Loves
...Love You

Retro-modern-genius-pop (seriously).

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

Free The Robots - Free The Robots EP

2011-02-12T02:26:00.000Z

Free The Robots

Free The Robots EP

Jazzy, jazzy trip-hop. I've had this on all day, and it doesn't get old.

Download | Last.fm

trip-hop, acid jazz

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant - Gear Blues

2011-02-08T18:04:00.000Z

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant

Gear Blues

Energetic and loud garage rock with a hint of the blues, right from Japan.

Download | Last.fm

garage rock, japanese

Pertegò - Hjarta

2011-02-06T11:58:00.002Z

Pertegò
Hjarta

First of all, apologies for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks. Two of our contributors are without ability to upload (one without internet access at all) and a new semester at University started for me last week, so I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and haven't really listened to much music lately. During times like this, I encourage you to look back into our archives, which can be accessed via the menus on the right of the blog. We have posted over 430 albums, so I'm sure you'll find something that you like.

Anyway! I hope this quite divine post-rock from Italy can make up for it. They have quite a unique approach to creating their blend of ambient tinged post-rock.

Download | Last.fm
post-rock, ambient

Folk the System - Folk the System

2011-01-17T21:17:00.002Z

Folk the System
Folk the System

Wonderfully upbeat folk punk!

Download | Last.fm
folk punk

Matt Shadetek - Flowers

2011-01-16T21:39:00.005Z

Matt Shadetek
Flowers

Dubstep from the UK (where else?!) infused with tropical and reggae beats.

Download | Last.fm
dubstep, electronic

Keep Shelly in Athens - In Love With Dusk

2011-01-16T15:53:00.004Z

Keep Shelly In Athens
In Love With Dusk

I can't believe this release slipped under my nose for so long! Fell in love with these guys after hearing a couple of demo tracks they put out some time in the middle of last year. I think this review really nails down their sound: 'Sensually manoeuvring their way across balearic soundscapes, enigmatic Grecian duo Keep Shelly in Athens help dim the lights and set the mood with our first 12" EP release. Whether they're exploring the most laid back, lounge-y vibes or dropping smooth bass laden '90's RnB cuts, one thing is clear: KSiA's musical approach is strikingly strange and erotic.'

Download | Last.fm
chillwave, electronic, lo-fi

Sonic Coaster Pop - Future Electro Star

2011-01-16T15:15:00.004Z

Sonic Coaster Pop
Future Electro Star

Yet more shibuya-kei/picopop. Described as 'cute super hyper insanity'. Pretty accurate, I'd say.

Download | Last.fm
shibuya-kei, picopop

The Positions - Bliss!

2011-01-16T12:22:00.000Z

The Positions

Bliss!

Fun indie pop with horns.

Download | Last.fm | Bandcamp

indie pop

Auditory Canvas - Fabric of Life

2011-01-15T00:40:00.002Z

Auditory Canvas
Fabric of Life

Some pretty chill IDM.

Download | Last.fm
idm, chillout, downtempo

Spaghetti Vabune! - Summer Vacation, Sunset Vehicle

2011-01-14T00:01:00.003Z

Spaghetti Vabune!
Summer Vacation, Sunset Vehicle

Shibuya-kei influenced Japanese indie pop.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, japanese

EeL - Kung-Fu Master

2011-01-13T21:50:00.004Z

EeL
Kung-Fu Master

'Her music is comparable to the sounds that would be produced if a toy box had just exploded and the toys were free to party.'

Download | Last.fm
electronic, shibuya-kei, japanese

→Pia-no-jaC← - This Way Up

2011-01-12T20:27:00.001Z

→Pia-no-jaC←

This Way Up

→Pia-no-jaC← are rather a hard band to classify. Their music is certainly not nu-jazz, though it sounds from the instruments involved that it might be, and while instrumental doesn't come close to a good description, it's the only one that particularly works. Consisting of a piano player and a cajon player, their unique blend of instrumental music, infused with oriental hints, is augmented by the brilliantly dynamic piano and the complexity of the drumming.

Download | Last.fm

instrumental, japanese

Qypthone - Episode 1

2011-01-11T23:48:00.002Z

Qypthone

Episode 1: Early Qypthone Complete

In keeping with the shibuya-kei theme we have going tonight, here is one of my favourite albums of the genre. Qypthone play a fairly unique style of shibuya-kei: their sound is very much more over to the jazzy bossa nova side of things than other more poppy acts like Capsule. There are lots of lovely loungey layers to it, too, and some great sampling. Pretty much sounds like a Brazillian carnival.

This is a compilation of their first three mini-albums [Qypthone, Organic Sound Theatre, Modernica In The House!] plus some unreleased bonus tracks, all remastered.

Download | Last.fm

bossa nova, shibuya-kei, japanese

Groovy Airline - Kiddergarten Scene

2011-01-11T22:37:00.005Z

Groovy Airline
Kiddergarten Scene

Two things before I describe the music. First, I apologise for the low quality of the cover. I couldn't find another copy. Second, I'm not sure if 'Kiddergarten' is the correct translation, but, according to the place I first found this album, it is correct. Now, the music! Mostly in Thai, this is some sweet indie pop that the band themselves describe as 'club pop'.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, thai

PINE*am - Pull the Rabbit Ears

2011-01-11T16:12:00.003Z

PINE*am
Pull the Rabbit Ears

Even more Japanese electronic music from me today! PINE*am apparently stands for 'Playing Intense Neutral Electronica ad nauseAM' amongst other things. Pretty chilled out, but still groovy and within the shibuya-kei tradition of making infinitely danceable songs, regardless of whether they're fast or slow.

Download | Last.fm
electronic, shibuya-kei, picopop

COLTEMONIKHA - COLTEMONIKHA 2

2011-01-11T15:49:00.003Z

COLTEMONIKHA
COLTEMONIKHA 2

More Japanese electronic on the contemode label. This time it's COLETEMONIKHA, a duo formed as a collaboration between fashion and music. Sakai Kate, designer of the brand “Made in COLKINIKHA” is the vocalist. Nakata Yasutaka of Capsule completes the duo. This project has less energy and rave potential than Capsule, but it's more cutesy (or 'pico' if you like).

Download | Last.fm
electronic, picopop

From Monument To Masses - The Impossible Leap In One Hundred Simple Steps

2011-01-09T00:32:00.001Z

From Monument To Masses

The Impossible Leap In One Hundred Simple Steps

From Monument To Masses was a politically charged post-rock group who disbanded mid-last year. Their name is a challenge to the "Great Man theory" which states that it is the impact of men of great power who direct the flow of human society. Music-wise, they play post-rock with more of a traditional rock feel and texture. There are no sung lyrics, but vocal clips and samples from TV, radio, films and such create a political texture and theme.

Download | Last.fm

instrumental rock, post-rock, political

Jizue - Bookshelf

2010-12-31T04:00:00.000Z

Jizue

Bookshelf

Some more great post-rocky, loungey piano jazz from Japan.

Download | Last.fm

nu-jazz, post-rock, japanese

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

2010-12-30T09:00:00.000Z

Black Moth Super Rainbow
Dandelion Gum

Posted one of BMSR's EPs here a couple of years ago and I have no idea why I haven't posted anything else of theirs since. They've made an album since then, which I will get around to posting eventually. This the album they released the year before the EP. It case you need a refresher on what they sound like:

“Deep in the woods of western Pennsylvania vocoders hum amongst the flowers and synths bubble under the leaf-strewn ground while flutes whistle in the wind and beats bounce to the soft drizzle of a warm acid rain. As the sun peeks out from between the clouds, the organic aural concoction of Black Moth Super Rainbow starts to glisten above the trees.”

Download | Last.fm
electronic, psychedelic

The Pyongyang Metro - Tower of White Tigers

2010-12-29T09:00:00.000Z

The Pyongyang Metro
Tower of White Tigers

I found this album a while ago, and I was looking through my library for more stuff to post and found out that these guys are now on Bandcamp, so check them out there too. I don't think they were on bandcamp a couple of years ago when I found this but hopefully it means they're going to me releasing new stuff. The Pyongyang Metro are a garagey pop-punk band that write short songs have a thing for North Korea's largely mysterious subway system.

Download | Last.fm
punk rock

Drums & Tuba - Vinyl Killer

2010-12-28T09:00:00.001Z

Drums & Tuba
Vinyl Killer

Even when performing at full-tilt, the magic of Drums & Tuba’s music is in its subtleties. Tempos and dynamics are emphasized. Laptop noises swim in the background. Tubas, guitars and drums have engrossing conversations. After 11 years, seven full-length albums, two EPs and hundreds of shows, the trio has gelled into a seasoned musical entity with a decidedly unique vision—to take carefully-constructed rock grooves and translate them through a wide array of instruments and electronics.

Download | Last.fm
post-rock

WAT - Wonder

2010-12-27T15:54:00.001Z

WAT

Wonder

WAT (shortened from their old name, We Are Terrorists) are a French group who play fuzzy electro-rock with cutting, sharp melodies and a few hip-hop influences.

Download | Last.fm

electro-rock

A Smile and a Ribbon - The Boy I Wish I'd Never Met

2010-12-26T13:54:00.002Z

A Smile and a Ribbon
The Boy I Wish I'd Never Met

A Smile and a Ribbon is Rebecca Mehlman and Martin Lindqvist, a Swedish combo who was more-than-willing to take the unlucky fate of Rebecca’s failed relationship and set it to music. The result is bubblegum pop most sanguine. It’s a pure P!O!P! album that draws influences from 1950’s girl bands, 90’s twee, and a whole lot of quirky personality.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, twee

The Soviettes - LP

2010-12-25T09:00:00.001Z

The Soviettes
LP

Some pretty catchy female dominated punk rock.

Download | Last.fm
punk rock

Ashby - Looks Like You've Already Won

2010-12-24T09:00:00.001Z

Ashby
Looks Like You've Already Won

Pop songcraft with an atmospheric approach to production employing a wide range of acoustic and electronic instrumentation. It's bordering on dream pop in some places. A great relaxing, light album if you're studying or sleeping. Or, if you're pregnant... since one of its popular tags on last.fm is 'music for pregnancy'.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, dream pop

Eggstone - Somersault

2010-12-23T09:00:00.001Z

Eggstone
Somersault

A pretty good album from this Swedish indie pop band.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

Wild Carnation - Tricycle

2010-12-22T09:00:00.001Z

Wild Carnation
Tricycle

Some twangy guitar drenched jangle pop from the mid-90s.

Download | Last.fm
jangle pop, indie pop

The Corner Laughers - Ultraviolet Garden

2010-12-21T09:00:00.001Z

The Corner Laughers
Ultraviolet Garden

Someone called this "catchy indie-pop sugar rush" music. That isn't a bad description but I'd like to add some adjectives: infectious, hilarious, enchanting. That'll do! These guys combine power pop, twee pop, folk rock, jazz and a lot more. But they're mostly indie pop.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

The Peculiar Pretzelmen - Innumerable Seeds Of Calamity

2010-12-20T09:00:00.001Z

The Peculiar Pretzelmen

Innumerable Seeds Of Calamity

Old-timey, foot-stamping, fire and brimstone, earthy and rootsy americana with a fair few cabaret influences.

Download | Last.fm

americana, dark cabaret

Gangstagrass - Gangstagrass

2010-12-19T09:00:00.010Z

Gangstagrass
Gangstagrass

Hip-hop with lots of bluegrass samples. Crazy, in a good way.

Download | Last.fm
bluegrass, hip-hop

Tuba Skinny - Six Feet Down

2010-12-18T09:00:00.002Z

Tuba Skinny

Six Feet Down

Tuba Skinny play nostalgic dixieland jazz, reminiscent of the '20s and '30s. One of my favourite albums this year.

Download | Last.fm | Bandcamp

jazz, dixieland

Dandelion Junk Queens - Black Hearts & Red Balloons

2010-12-17T09:00:00.000Z

Dandelion Junk Queens
Black Hearts & Red Balloons

They say they're not a jug band, but a JUNK band. A badass mix a folk punk and old time jug band music.

Download | Last.fm
folk punk

Hiawata! - These Boys And This Band Is All I Know

2010-12-16T09:00:00.000Z

Hiawata!
These Boys And This Band Is All I Know

I can't believe I didn't post this album here already. It's been one of my favourite indie pop releases ever since I heard it back last year when it was released. The song Labrador is one of my favourite songs. Lovely, brotherly indie pop from Norway.

Download | Last.fm

indie pop

Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special - Ignition!

2010-12-15T09:00:00.000Z

Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special
Ignition!

Some brilliant rockabilly that sounds like it should have been recoded 50 years before it was in 2001! (Probably because Brian Setzer is involved).

Download | Last.fm
rockabilly, punk

Cats In Paris - Courtcase 2000

2010-12-14T09:00:00.023Z

Cats In Paris

Courtcase 2000

Cats In Paris are a fun, rather odd band from Manchester. They describe their music as "synth-prog-pop", which is probably about right. Synthy leads, a violin, and some 8-bit influences. Lots of fun.

Download | Last.fm

progressive pop

All Girl Summer Fun Band - All Girl Summer Fun Band

2010-12-13T09:00:00.000Z

All Girl Summer Fun Band
All Girl Summer Fun Band

All girls, all fun and all cute indie pop!

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, twee

Frittenbude - Nachtigall

2010-12-12T09:00:00.000Z

Frittenbude
Nachtigall

Download | Last.fm
German, electropunk

Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk

2010-12-11T09:00:00.000Z

Monsters Of Folk
Monsters Of Folk

Supergroup! Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Jim James, and M. Ward. With these four, you know it's an excellent folk recording.

Download | Last.fm
folk

The Gerbils - The Battle Of Electricity

2010-12-10T09:00:00.000Z

The Gerbils
The Battle of Electricity

Download | Last.fm
indie pop, twee

Supershirt - Du Bist Super

2010-12-09T09:00:00.000Z

Supershirt
Du Bist Super

German electropunk. Music you can move to.

Download | Last.fm
German, electropunk

Catholic Spray / Zyklon Beach - Fruits Of The Moon split

2010-12-08T09:00:00.000Z

Catholic Spray / Zyklon Beach

Fruits Of The Moon split

Trashy, punky, French garage rock. Can't go wrong.

Download | Last.fm: Catholic Spray | Zyklon Beach

garage rock, punk

Everlovely Lightningheart - Cusp

2010-12-07T09:00:00.001Z

Everlovely Lightningheart

Cusp

This is a lovely little gem I found in an Oxfam shop a few months back. After an incredibly beautiful, haunting piano intro, the one track (40 minutes) on the album delves into various noisy soundscapes; just about anything you can imagine that makes a noise is used here.

Download | Last.fm

ambient, noise

Friska Viljor - For New Beginnings

2010-12-06T09:00:00.000Z

Friska Viljor
For New Beginnings

Indie pop with a wide range of instruments, including mandolin, ukulele, glockenspiel, accordion, clarinet, and saw. Good lyrics and vocals. This is some of the best stuff I've heard all year.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

BEAT!BEAT!BEAT! - BEAT!BEAT!BEAT!

2010-12-05T09:00:00.002Z

BEAT!BEAT!BEAT!
BEAT!BEAT!BEAT!

Download | Last.fm
math rock

Northern Portrait - Criminal Art Lovers

2010-12-04T09:00:00.000Z

Northern Portrait
Criminal Art Lovers

Northern Portrait are an indie pop group from Denmark. Although when I first listened I could have sworn their vocalist was British.

Download | Last.fm
indie pop

The Sugar Stems - Sweet Sounds of the...

2010-12-03T09:00:00.000Z

The Sugar Stems
Sweet Sounds of the...

Bands everywhere are partying like it’s 1963 in 2010, digging out old girl-group harmonies and Brill Building melodies and sprucing them up with crunchy guitars. Sugar Stems aren’t exactly revolutionaries in this regard, but the Milwaukee band’s debut, Sweet Sounds Of The Sugar Stems, is still a sparkling example of how this template can spin infectious power-pop gems that marry sexy purr with giddy energy.

Every song is packed with big open chords and even bigger vocal harmonies supplied Borst and Fredrichsen, particularly on the soaring “I Don’t Wanna Be Around You” and the riff-heavy “Next To You.” Fredrichsen’s rockabilly past with The Leg Hounds sneaks in for the album-opener “Goin’ Down,” as well as the walking shuffle of “You’re So Fine,” and melancholy closer “Make You Love Me.” Sugar Stems may not be smashing any boundaries, but Sweet Sounds is smashingly good at mining pleasures within its own sugary parameters.

Download | Last.fm
powerpop, indie pop

Bonaparte - Too Much

2010-12-02T00:00:00.000Z

Bonaparte
Too Much

I really enjoyed this guy's vocal style.

Download | Last.fm
dance punk

Cars Can Be Blue - All The Stuff We Do

2010-12-01T06:41:00.007Z

Cars Can Be Blue
All The Stuff We Do

"D-E-E-P-D-I-C-K-I-N-G for me!"
Fun, upbeat indie pop with cute, comical, vulgar lyrics.

Download | Last.fm
twee, indie pop, female vocalists

The Midwest Beat - At The Gates

2010-11-30T13:28:00.004Z

The Midwest Beat
At The Gates

Not a pop band in the sense of contemporary pop-punk or power pop, mind you. The Midwest Beat live in a chronologically distant world where precise song structures, jangling guitars and tight vocal harmonies ruled the day. Big Star, The Byrds, The Kinks and the Zombies are their regular touchstones, bands whose own careers were at their peak a decade or more before the foursome's members were born. Do excuse the rather eclectic genre tags, but it does truly fall into each of the categories.

Download | Last.fm
powerpop, country, garage rock, americana

The Films - Don't Dance Rattlesnake

2010-11-28T19:58:00.003Z

The Films
Don't Dance Rattlesnake

Upbeat indie rock. I'm not always one for the genre, but this is good shit.

Download | Last.fm
indie rock

BRAHMS - Demos

2010-11-28T01:34:00.004Z

BRAHMS
Demos

This isn't actually an album, but several songs by the band BRAHMS. I'm not aware that they've released anything official, but they're rather hard to find on the Internet. I saw them open for Passion Pit a few months ago, and they were excellent.

Download | Last.fm
electronic

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band - Between My Head And The Sky

2010-11-23T23:57:00.000Z

Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band

Between My Head And The Sky

I've had this album playing a lot over the past few days. It's Ono's first album under the Plastic Ono Band moniker since 1973, and damn! It's a wildly diverse mix of styles, from the almost electronic-cum-acid rock The Sun Is Down to the acid folky Melting Mountains. Yoko goes with her distinctive vocal style over the album; it's a sort moaning, spoken word, sometimes with an almost guttural stacatto style effect, and it works very well across the whole album.

Download | Last.fm

avant-garde, experimental rock

American Suitcase - Pillowsky

2010-11-21T22:41:00.007Z

American Suitcase
Pillowsky

American Suitcase is a jangle pop band from Norway.

Download | Last.fm
jangle pop, indie pop

Major Organ And The Adding Machine - Major Organ And The Adding Machine

2010-11-21T21:46:00.007Z

Major Organ And The Adding Machine
Major Organ And The Adding Machine

Once thought to be the side project of Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel, Major Organ and the Adding Machine is an experimental, indie pop supergroup composed of anonymous musicians. The only credited member of the group is Major Organ, who may or may not exist. However, the presence of Kevin Barnes, Jeff Mangum, Julian Koster, and others from the Elephant 6 group is easily detected. All in all, the album is a little different and quite noisy, but definitely fun. If you are an Elephant 6 fan, then this is definitely for you.

Mediafire | Last.fm
experimental, indie pop

ミドリ - ファースト

2010-11-20T01:10:00.000Z

ミドリ [Midori]

ファースト [First]

As requested, here's Midori's first album. There's more of a vein of straight hardcore punk in here, but there's definitely that jazz element that dominates at points. Badass stuff.

Download | Last.fm

jazzcore, free jazz, japanese