Big Jet Plane

It was 31 degrees celsius in Toronto today and you could see the heat rise from the pavement making the air look a bit wavy. I was driving and listening to Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone.

Most folk music reminds me of the winter. It's probably because of the melanchony, introspective quietness that's found in alot of acoustic guitar songs. And yeah, it's true that Angus and Julia Stone fall into this category with their hushed tones and lush guitar work. But it was strange how the intense temperature gave the perfect backdrop to these songs. It's not beach music by any means, but these are folk songs meant for hot weather. It just evokes the sentimentality of summer days.

It's amazing how context can change things.

Angus and Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (mp3) (iTunes)

Take My Hand

New Cut Copy! They've got the first song off of their next LP available for download from their official site for the low low price of an email address.

It reminds me a little bit more of stuff from Bright Like Neon Lights rather than In Ghost Colours. It's more ambient, fuzz and straight-forward math-rock than the shimmery post-New Order dreamscapes of In Ghost Colours. It's still got the heart that's so hard to find in electro-pop, but this time, it's ruled with more black and white logic.

Can't wait to hear more of it.

Cut Copy - Where I'm Going (mp3) (download from official site)

Cymbals Likes Pavement

What's this? A British band that likes Pavement? I think you had me at "hello." Cymbals has released two tracks, one is energetic, falsetto-inducing angular post-punk and the other is a stylized cover of Pavement's "Kennel District." I'm not such a fan of their cover, but their original track, "Summer Job" is quite addictive. They have no other information posted anywhere on the web or their official myspace, but I hope there's more music to come from these Londoners.

Cymbals - Summer Job (mp3) (bandcamp)

Cuff the Duke

The first time I ever saw Cuff the Duke perform, I hated them. They were opening for another band a few years back and it was the first time I had ever even heard of them. I thought they sounded like a weird mix of experimental Radiohead and country-folk. It was WEIRD.

Somehow I keep running into their songs on TV, on the internet through Podcasts and whatnot. They do have a country-ish twang to their sound, but no KID A weirdness, thank goodness. It's actually pretty good stuff.

And now I'm trying to figure out if they ever sounded like Radiohead or if I was just completely out if it that night. W-T-F?

Cuff the Duke - Follow Me (mp3) (buy)

Animal!

Staring contest!

It's OK Go's Dan vs Animal from The Muppets. Loser gets to be roadie for the winner for a year!

You Say Party

You Say Party! You Say Die! has taken some time off after the passing of drummer, Devon Clifford and just released an official press statement regarding the future of the group.

The press release states that after Devon's parents' blessing, they will forge ahead as a band. Krista Loewen has opted out to pursue school, while good friends Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat will complete the five piece lineup.

The band will no longer be called "You Say Party! We Say Die!," but simply you "You Say Party."

You Say Party! - Laura Palmer's Prom (mp3) (buy)

We're Having Fun Now

All that is known about Jenny and Johnny is that this is a duo comprised of Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley) and Johnathan Rice. They're releasing music at the end of the summer and are going on tour, but boycotting Arizona because of their recent politics. They want you to know that they're having fun and they think you should too.

Jenny and Johnny - Scissor Runner (mp3) (download from official site)

Shine a Light

Wolf Parade: Angular guitar, vocal yelps, frantic post-punk awesomeness. Expo 86 is out June 29, 2010.

Wolf Parade - Little Golden Age (mp3) (buy)

Wolf Parade - Shine a Light (mp3) (buy)

I Have a Story To Tell....

Fullerton, California's the Steelwells sure captured my attention with their indie/dance/rock/pop hybrid. And that's kinda hard to do nowadays. With the proliferation of music on the internet, there's just too much to get through and my attention span has seriously disingrated into what's probably normal for a fifth grader.

Once you hear the Steelwells, you can tell it's indie rock of the late 2000's. It's quintessentially indie and they do it SO well!

Steelwells - Boxes (mp3) (buy)

Listen Honey

Every so often, I get an album that I can't stop listening to. These are the ones that get played on repeat in the car stereo. You know, the ones that only have one CD drive and are not adaptable to mp3 technology. Out sheer addiction to the songs (and laziness), the Tails' self titled album is one I can't stop listening to.

A little info about the Tails: they're two cousins from South Beach, California who engaged in many years of musical rivalry over who can write a better song. Somewhere along the line, they decided to join forces, hire Robb MacLean as producer and thus begot a self titled EP.

They've got insanely catchy tunes that just ask to be put on repeat. It's like musical candy. It seems light and sugary at first, but the lyrics are deceptively sly. It's such good stuff, can I have some more?

The Tails - Surely (mp3) (myspace)

The Tails - Appreciate (mp3) (myspace)