Little Joy

Little Joy is a Brazilian/American rock band formed in 2007 by Los Hermanos singer/guitarist Rodrigo Amarante and The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Amarante and Moretti met in 2006, at a festival in Lisbon where they decided to collaborate on a new project. In 2007,  Amarante travelled to Los Angeles to collaborate with Devendra Banhart on Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon album. 

 The band then moved into a house in Echo Park  to write more original music and record some demos. The band named themselves after a cocktail lounge not far from their house. Their self-titled debut album was recorded with the help of producer Noah Georgeson. It was released by Rough Trade Records on November 4, 2008. I've had the album for a while but it wasn't until know that I really have gotten into it and Pitchfork calls the album a perfect barbecue album, so you know it has to be good.

Little Joy - Brand New Start (YSI)

Little Joy - Keep Me in Mind (YSI)

Little Joy - Evaporar (YSI)

The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack formerly known as the Muslims is a foursome from San Diego and have recently moved their home base to Los Angeles. Their sound is an awesome blend of the 1990's the Stone Roses, the Strokes, and even a bit of early Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Shortly after coming to life, the band was forced to change its name to The Soft Pack in an effort to avoid the intolerant jabs at live shows. Extinction has an awesome music video directed by Russ Finkelstein & Matt Lamkin:

Its whimsical nature brings reflections on their similarity to the Violent Femmes. Bright side and Right and Wrong are both solid tracks from their first post-self titled EP called "The Muslims" Definitely look for this band to be doing big things this year.

The Soft Pack - Extinction (YSI)

The Soft Pack - Bright Side (YSI)

The Soft Pack - Right and Wrong (YSI)

Electrooo

Bridging the gap between my love for indie and house music, I feel like I haven't been listening to enough Electro lately. Considering how highly I hold live acts such as MSTRKRFT and Justice, I figured it was about time for some new favorites. Enjoy.

CLASSIXX & Villains - I'm On It feat. o8o (YSI)

Scott Cooper & Andy George - Jump & Twist (Jokers of the Scene Remix) (YSI)

D' Secret Svc - Tight Jeans (Fukkk Offf Remix) (YSI)

Eriq Johnson - Silver Grace (Fukkk Offf Remix) (YSI)

Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now (Mixin Marc Mix) (YSI)

DatA - One in a Million (Club Mix) (YSI)

A Little Dre

While this single is in fact off of Eminem's new Relapse album, the true news here is the return of Dre on the mic. I really do not like Eminem's new songs, especially his voice he is using in his raps. The song is pretty good though, with a good beat to nod your head to. I'm getting a bit tired of Eminem's pop culture references. Every time I hear Dre's voice come on, though, the song just feels right.

Eminem - Old Time's Sake Feat. Dr. Dre (YSI)

The Field

Just in case you guys hadn't heard it, hear is the new the Field single. His last CD is one of my most consistently played, as it fits for almost any mood I'm in. This new single picks up where he left off, but adds some more live drum instrumentation. It is pretty standard - nothing special, but at least in the same style I have grown to appreciate.

The Field - The More That I Do (YSI)

Beck

Beck's debut album, One Foot in the Grave (1994) was re-released with a bonus disc of material by K. Records this week. Double album available in vinyl, also. This was before he was hooked up with a hip-hop producer to cut the single "Loser" later that year. Think of it as the Oh Me Oh My... of Beck's career - a collection of demo's basically.

Just because it's sort of related, I wanted to add this beautiful clip from an otherwise awful movie. It's a cool effect, how they introduce the fighters as if they were characters in an N64 game. It reminds me of 1080. Anyway, the song in the background is "1000 Pesos" -- by Beck.

Sleeping Bag - Beck

Painted Eyelids - Beck

Teenage Wastebasket [Electric Version] - Beck

Mattress - Beck

Death Cab for Cutie

Bellingham, Washington's Ben Gibbard and his boys from Death Cab for Cutie have recently released their fifth EP entitled "The Open Door" on Atlantic Records. The EP is a companion piece to their last LP "Narrow Stairs," which was released nine months before. The five song EP consists of four abandoned tracks from Narrow Stairs and adds one ukulele demo called "Talking Bird." The Open Door basically takes over where Narrow Stairs left off. Its release is coming in support of Death Cab's last tour promoting its last LP before they head back to the studio. My Mirror Speaks is pretty standard Death Cab fare that seems straight from Narrow Stairs aside from its title lyrics. Loyal Lover gives the standard formula a more my bloody valentine feel with its distortion. I know its not going to get people up and dancing but is always a good bet when getting sensitive.

Death Cab for Cutie - My Mirror Speaks (YSI)

Death Cab for Cutie - I Was Once a Loyal Lover (YSI)

Death Cab for Cutie - Talking Bird (Demo Version) (YSI)

Some More Progressive

Considering how much progressive I have been listening to recently, I decided to just put a few of my favorites of the last few weeks together into a post. For me at least, this is the kind of music you can listen to wake you up in the mornings, have on while you do work or put on after a night out to keep a calmer vibe.

Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan - Silence (YSI)

Smartminds - Miami Mood (YSI)

Glenn Morrison - No Sudden Moves (YSI)

Feed Your Head

While wandering cyberspace and such, I came across this really creative video. As far as I can tell, the artist's name is Pogo - another musician from Perth - who composed this beat taking 90% of its sounds from the 1951 classic Alice in Wonderland. The result is actually a pretty cool song, but the gem is this video that accompanies. It's tough to make out the remixed lyrics, but this could be close:

We choose to love all our trouble. (x4)

There is a long way to love that I have to travel. (x4)

There is a long way to love but you are trouble. (x4)

But I ... still love... still love... still love...

One-Hit Wonders

I have two one-hit wonders for you guys to check out. These two bands are pretty horrible but they both have one fucking awesome song to cling to. Maybe I'm being way too "metal" because I think their sounds are whimpy, but they both need to assert themselves more. I think that's the same reason I never got into Of Montreal.

Anyway these two singles are awesome.

One For the Team - Garden (YSI)

Band from Minneapolis/Chicago? (thats from their site). Their just celebrating the release of their third album called "Build a Garden". 

Wave Machines - Keep the Lights On (YSI)

From Liverpool, England on Neapolitan Recordings. I think they have a big potential.

Also the Band Pictured Above.