Delorean - Stay Warmer, Love

Every summer, there are a few albums that stand out as sun-splattered, electronic-synth goodness. Last year, it was records like Passion Pit and Phoenix that wafted through the sandy airs of my summer. This year, I do believe I've found an album to rock out to on sunny, beach Saturdays and also relax to when the late afternoon rolls around. Delorean is an electro/dance group hailing from the Basque country in Spain - they've toured with the likes of Miike Snow (refer back to my post of the best albums of 2009) and jj. Their latest album, Subiza, was just released at the end of March, and the following are my favorite tracks so far.
Delorean - Stay Close
Delorean - Warmer Places
Delorean - Real Love

And here is an oldie but goodie from them ---
Delorean - Deli

Yeasayer

With Coachella music festival quickly approaching, it seems as though my posts may start heavily reflecting the acts that are appearing. In this vein, Yeasayer is a band that I was extremely hesitant about at first; having noticed the band's name all over music websites like Stereogum and Pitchfork, I was unsure of what to expect. With a single listen to their song, O.N.E., I was h.o.o.k.e.d. They define themselves on their myspace as "ENYA with BOUNCE", and I have to admit, they couldn't have said it better. Psychedelic, yet catchy, their songs have converted me from a sceptic to a devotee. And if you were wondering why their sound is so out-of-this-world, they have made it public that their latest album was a brainchild of an LSD trip the band shared in 2008. I've included their super trippy video for their song, Ambling Alp, and O.N.E. underneath. Check 'em out!




Yeasayer - O.N.E.

Broken Bells

One of the most exciting things you can stumble upon these days in the music world is an amazing collaboration, and even more exhilarating is a band that combines two incredibly different sounds into one masterpiece. Such is the case with the new band Broken Bells: a collaboration between James Mercer, the lead singer of The Shins, and Brian Burton, formally known as the producer Danger Mouse. Combining the epic voice from Chutes Too Narrow and the producer who mixed the legendary Grey Album (Jay-Z's Black Album and The Beatles' White Album) obviously sounds like it could not go wrong - but not only does it succeed, it surpassed all my expectations. The album is not even out yet, but their first release, The High Road, is just short of incredible. Check out their first single below, buy the album on March 9th, and once you fall in love after listening to this one track GO TO THEIR SHOWS in NY on the 10th and LA on the 14th!

Broken Bells - The High Road

Mini-temper tantrums

The Temper Trap 

One of the amazing discoveries I've made recently from my searches online for pleasure & for work is this amazing Australian band. In the crazy whirlwind of getting back to work after a few months off, The Temper Trap's album Conditions has been a point of solace and pure joy. Their sound is unique, as if you took a splash of Radiohead and TV On The Radio, mixed that with a hint of Phoenix and a strangely enough, a dollap of the eeriness in Sigur Ros. Each song sounds like a clip from a movie, whether it's a soundtrack to a love story, or a flash of a desert road trip. The final confirmation that this band was headed to the top of my list was hearing that a fellow Melbourne-ian, Daniel Merriweather, is a huge fan (I'll have to post about him and his special performance for our show this past week soon! It was a-ma-zing). The best thing about them, besides the music - they'll be at Coachella this year! (and you can only imagine the excited countdown I've got going over here)

PS - If you recognize "Sweet Disposition," but you can't place it -- it's from the trailer for the film 500 Days of Summer ;)

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
The Temper Trap - Fader
The Temper Trap - Love Lost

Nine of 2009

As this year (that felt like a decade in my life) comes to a close, I'm forced to look back at the music I loved, replayed and then overplayed in the past 12 months. Each of the following albums would probably be completely scratched CDs right now (were they not digital) due to how much I simply needed to hear them at some point in 2009. These may or may not be new to you, but hopefully they'll give you a taste or reminder of greatness that was released recently. And if you're a stickler for good round numbers (which I usually am, so I feel for you) - this is a disclaimer: In honor of 2009 & because I will not add an album I am not or was not in love with just to make it an even number, there are only 9 deserving albums on this list. In no specific order, here goes...

Florence and The Machine: Lungs

I take the last sentence back: this album is first in my list for a reason. Florence Welch's voice is hauntingly unique and superbly refreshing in a music world filled with remixes and autotune. Each song is more powerful and astounding than the previous. The following are some of my favorites, but this album is without a doubt worthy, if not necessary to hear from start to finish.

Florence and The Machine - You've Got The Love

Florence and The Machine - Hurricane Drunk

Florence and The Machine - Cosmic Love

Miike Snow: Miike Snow

This Swedish band has some of the catchiest yet complex electro-pop songs I've heard in years. Though from the words "swedish" and "pop", you'd expect cheesy hits a la Ace of Base, Miike Snow brings us an indie, heavy and sometimes dark mood through the electronics resonating in their songs. I've found myself putting multiple songs on this album on repeat for days at a time- that's how catchy they are while also being qualitatively impeccable.

Miike Snow - Animal

Miike Snow - Burial

Miike Snow - Silvia

La Roux: La Roux

I've definitely talked about La Roux once or twice before on this blog, so if you've read this or talked to me in the last year, you have heard of this firey-haired Brit. Just as much of the music coming out of the UK is these days, La Roux's singer Elly Jackson is innovatively bringing back the sounds of the 80s in the most refreshing and catchy way. Her songs are infectiously rhythmic and evocative of a "Depeche" mode in music. Just like her David Bowie hairdo, she stands above the rest in this year's pop competition.

La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy

La Roux - Bulletproof

La Roux - Quicksand

The xx: xx

The xx brings something new and exciting to the music frontier today: minimalism. Fronted by singers Romy and Oliver, two TWENTY year olds from the UK, The xx makes their mark through speaking and singing softly to heavy yet often sparse beats. The most amazing thing about this band, other than their age and style, is that their music is supersaturated with raw emotion - something rare and so valued in music today. I was lucky enough to see them perform recently at a relatively intimate venue, and all I'll say is - get into them quick before their surely imminent explosion.

The xx - Crystallized

The xx - Islands

The xx - VCR

Julian Casablancas: Phrazes For The Young

I have to preface my explanation of this album with the honest confession that in my eyes it would be very hard for Julian, the lead singer of The Strokes, to do wrong with a solo album. However, no matter how much expectation I had, Phrazes more than stands up to his prior work. This short 8-song venture is a captivating mix of smokey, deep vocals and playful yet intense instrumentals. The following gives you a taste of the highest of highs on the album (11th dimension) with perhaps the mellowest (Tourist).

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

Julian Casablancas - Left And Right In The Dark

Julian Casablancas - Tourist

Kid Cudi: Man On The Moon

Kid Cudi may be the "break out artist" of 2009, crossing over almost every genre in his music by melding rap, hip hop, electronic and even indie hipster music into one. With appearances from indie-synth stars like Ratatat and MGMT, and hip hop masters Kanye and Common, you know there's something stellar coming from this kid from Ohio. Though at first listen, there's almost an eery, frightening tone to some of this album, with a couple more plays you realize the weight in the songs is satisfyingly heavy and actually quite impressive. There is serious talent coming from Kid Cudi, so be warned by this first album that there's more to come from him (there better be!)

Kid Cudi - Day N Nite

Kid Cudi - CuDi Zone

Kid Cudi - Make Her Say

Lady GaGa: The Fame Monster

Not much needs to be said of an artist with as huge of a following and presence in the music world as Lady GaGa. Whether she's the new Madonna, Marilyn Manson, or Britney Spears, she has her own revolutionary image and a bundle of amazingly produced and executed songs to go with it. Her album is without a doubt one of my, along with probably every teenager and gay man alike's, favorite albums of 2009.

*due to possible copyright infringement, i took down these songs (go get them on itunes and support her!)

Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Another band that need no introduction, Phoenix has perfected alternative popular rock music in its essence. There aren't many bands that I think can do no wrong, but this French foursome has gotten almost every song in their four studio albums completely right. Initiating out of a band with members of Daft Punk, it's without question that Phoenix has a great grasp on creating melodies and popular dance-worthy hits. As expected, their newest release delivered 10 new tracks to add to my most played on itunes.

Phoenix - Lisztomania

Phoenix - Rome

Phoenix - Lasso

Passion Pit: Manners

Just as music is often a soundtrack to our lives, this quaint electronic cd took hold of my summer spending time on the beaches of Santa Monica, and will forever be stamped in my memory as the melodic backdrop to those few months. Additionally, this album happens to be an amazing, uptempo mix of quirky beats and cheerful sounds. In their debut album, Passion Pit grabbed the attention of much of the mainstream with their great dance songs, and I just happen to be among the mass of individuals who are looking forward to their next endeavor.

Passion Pit - Little Secrets

Passion Pit - Sleepyhead

Passion Pit - The Reeling

Top Tracks

Now that I have introduced you to my favorite full albums of this past year, I feel that it's only necessary to give recognition to the songs that solely made their mark. Each of these may or may not be an excerpt from an album I did enjoy, but on their own they are works of art and worth pointing out solo. I have to say, I think the most exciting part of making these "best of" lists for the past year is that they thus make room for the next batch to come in 2010. Please enjoy!


Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
Mayer Hawthorne - Just Aint Gonna Work Out
Local Natives - Airplanes 
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
Bobby Ray - I'll Be In The Sky
VV Brown - Shark In The Water
Devendra Banhart - Baby
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Miike Snow Remix)
Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl

Ivy League - Elite, not Elitist

Stumbling upon an amazing new cd at work is a frequent occurrence - however, finding an album of a new and great band who happen to have a member who dated my roommate in high school is QUITE rare. Princeton may sound pretentious initially, but the band's tunes are FAR from inaccessible. Their "Magnetic Fields" meets Santa Monica beach vibe is so appealing as the summer rolls out, you'll find yourself humming these sweet beats in the shower and hoping to fall asleep in the hammock with their lullabies. Watch for their album out later this month!

Princeton - Calypso Gold
Princeton - Shout It Out
Princeton - The Waves

Lack of Concentration

Two Laurens, Making a Playlist -

As the first of (hopefully) many guest playlists, here is another Lauren's contribution to the music blog world - her favorites of the moment, and our soundtrack for a morning of attention deficit.

Blonde Redhead - 23
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
Miike Snow - Silvia
Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset, Part 1
MF Doom - Gazillion Ear
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Delta Spirit - People C'mon
Papercuts - Future Primitive
Portugal.The Man - The Sun
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream

In my ears today

Without rhyme or reason, we all go through different music moods each week, if not for months at a time. Here is a taste of where my music appetite lies these days:

Dan Black - Symphonies
Braids - Lemonade
Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl
Delorean - Deli
Regina Spektor - Dance Anthem of the 80's
Matt Nathanson - Come On Get Higher (Live)
The Wannadies - You and Me Song
Late of the Pier - The Bears are Coming
Albert Hammond Jr - GfC

Artist Spotlight

Hockey
As many fellow New Yorkers, I am constantly searching for music that can compare to The Strokes. Recently, thanks to my amazing experience working at a job where new music comes to my desk daily, I came upon this Portland-based punk/new wave/soul band, Hockey. They've been getting big in the UK, signed to Virgin, and I'm thinking they should be blowing up here in no time -- mostly because I've been rocking out in my car to them loudly for the last few months, hoping all passers-by hear the music blasting and get on board ;)

Here are a few of my favorite tracks, I hope they will be yours soon too

Hockey - Too Fake
Hockey - 3am Spanish
Hockey - Song Away