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Sounds like: North Mississippi All Stars, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Alvin Youngblood Hart

Download audio file (03-yo-own-backyard.mp3)

What’s so good?
Music fans love to sit around and muse about what it would be like for long-dead artists to jam with current performers, or how current stars would fit in if they found a time machine and rocked out with musicians in the past. Members of the South Memphis String Band must have had some of these thoughts on their minds as they sat down to record a dozen arrangements of traditional songs, folk-blues standards, and at least one original.

This supergroup, comprised of Alvin Youngblood Hart (Grammy Winning Bluesman), Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers), and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, The Black Crowes), masterfully channel jug bands of the past with expertise, passion, and giant helping of jamming soul. There doesn’t seem to be a jug player, but like any good skiffle or string group, the band features mandolin, banjo, and guitar, with touches of kazoo, fife, harmonica, washboard, and other simple percussion. The instrumentation helps the band get their old-timey feel, but the arrangements and attitude in the recordings are what evoke images of roaming the northern Mississippi hills during the great depression. The music itself recalls a time and place long gone, but the lyrics add another dimension to the romance of the past with songs about bootlegging, Jesse James, and Bloody Bill. Call-and-response work songs, fiddle jams, and spirituals all get a nod on the album, as well.

I’ve come to understand that the band isn’t particularly interested in having their music spread around the blogosphere, but this is the sort of album that is so good it would be a disservice not to tell everybody possible about it. This album does nothing less than cut
straight to the soul; the South Memphis String Band bring you back to a time you’ve only read about and seen in movies, a time before commercialization and profit in music, when songs were performed to praise, mourn, forget, remember, unite, and rejoice. Of course, I may be a touched bias—my predilection for folk music should be obvious if you’ve seen my Woody Guthrie tattoo. It seems that the three gents in this group are already well on their way to becoming the stuff of legend and lore, and I imagine even casual fans of folk and blues will agree. The album is a masterpiece the whole way through, and the only reason I felt remorseful after my first listen was because it was over. Oh, and I was hoping for a good ol’ “come a cay, cay, yippee, come a cay, cay, yippee, yippee, yippee, yay,” but I suppose I’ll have to see a live show for that.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/southmemphisstringband

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Song: Get Stellar – The Moment (Def Starr Remix)
Download audio file (05-the-moment-def-starr-remix.mp3)

OK. This dropped in the inbox the other day with the words “Here’s a track for you that’s not on Modular or Bang Gang”. Bloody relieved too! Don’t get me wrong, even though i did say that i’m going to (try) and do less posts on bands/acts that aren’t on Modular or Bang Gang, it was just a relief to see that there is some good indie electro disco (whatever other genre you want to include) that isn’t on the two aforementioned labels - Me And All My Friends

Bonus: Daft Punk – Something About Us (Def Starr Version)
Download audio file (Something-About-Us-Def-Starr-Version.mp3)

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Sounds like: Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, Heiroglyphics

Download audio file (Deltron-3030-Mastermind.mp3)

First up and perhaps most exemplary of the Bay Area’s unique style is the prolific “Del tha Funkee Homosapien”. A few months ago we reviewed Del’s most recent work “Parallel Uni-verses“, which seemed to be one of Del’s classic quick and fun LPs that he most likely put out because he was bored. Del is your favorite rapper you don’t know. Sure, you’ve all probably heard the name before, but do you really know what he’s all about?

Let’s pay a quick visit to his resume (prounced rez-oom). Homeboy has some of the most diverse “professional experience” in all the hip hop world. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Del released his first solo album at 19 with the help of his blood cousin, Ice Cube. From there he made his way up through the evolving Bay Area hip hop scene. After helping found the famous Bay Area group “Hieroglyphics”, Del proceeded to (between a couple multi-year acid disappearances) release several solo albums in conjunction with a handful of Heiroglypics LPs.

Despite somewhere around ten album releases between 1990 and 2000, Del remained an underground superstar… a mystery to the mainstream. Then came the new millenium and the release of two of my favorite hip hop albums of all time. First, in 2000, alongside legendary Bay Area producer Dan the Automator, Del released the groundbreaking “Deltron 3030″ album. At a time when the world was in commotion over a potential Y2K disaster, Del launched us head first into outer space on a ride through the cosmos in the year 3030. The themes: outer space, psychadelics, social sattire, or the otherwise general ridicule of society. It was beautiful. I never wanted it to end. Finally Del seemed to have hit his stride — surely Deltron 3030 would become Del’s claim to fame, skyrocketing him to national success.

Well, turns out that while Deltron 3030 is still one of the most legendary underground albums ever released, it never made it big on the national scene. (For some perspective, remember that 2000 was also the same year that the nation became entranced by the supposed “first white rapper”. But that’s a whole different story)

What came next? Within the next year, two relatively unknown British producers approached Del and asked him to be the lead MCee on an unprecedented new project to be named “Gorillaz.” By 2001, Gorillaz self-titled album was released and Del took the lead spot on the two chart topping singles, Clint Eastwood and Rock the House. Del’s flow and style were at it’s best with Gorillaz, which quickly climbed to the top of the charts. Surely the world would notice? Well… not so much. Del’s abilities on the mic were overshadowed by Gorillaz’ general creativity and unique fusion of several genres. Few took notice to the man behind the rhymes.

All’s well with that though — I doubt Del needs the attention. Supposedly a Deltron II is in the works? One can only hope.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/delthefunkyhomosapien
heiroglyphics | hieroglyphics.com/artists/del/

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Song: Phoenix – Rome
Download audio file (Phoenix-Rome.mp3)

Phoenix is one of those bands that just got past me somehow. I hadn’t really heard anything about the band until they released the latest Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and then I happened to catch their SNL performance, purely by accident, sparking my curiosity. Not the usual musical fare for my ears, but there is something extremely palatable and refreshingly upbeat about the songs on their latest release. How can you not find yourself singing along with “Lisztomania”? A song title that was lifted from the term coined by German writer and poet Heinrich Heine to describe the effect that Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt had on his fans - Sonic Itch Music

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Sounds like: Beach House, The Drums, Mates of State

Download audio file (Shout-Out-Louds-Fall-Hard.mp3)

What’s so good?
There must be something in the crisp air over in Nordic Europe, because Sweden keeps producing great indie pop/rock music (think: Peter Bjorn and John, Jens Lekman, The Concretes, I’m From Barcelona and José González are all from Sweden!). And now, with the Shout Out Louds’ latest album, Sweden has one more chance to prove itself. But are the Shout Out Louds one of Sweden’s greatest?

Though I fell hard for their Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (2005) and Our Ill Wills (2007) releases, this third album by Shout Out Louds takes a decidedly marked twist from its predecessors. In particular, there was always a bit of darkness to lead singers Adam Olenius’ voice in the earlier albums; he had grit that carried them through.

The new album “Work” starts off promising with a Mates of State-esque undertone to “1999″ peaking my curiosity, but thereafter, it’s hit or miss. The songs vary from surf rock to dream pop, with the occasional pure indie rock song. And yet, the overall sound is all a little fuzzy. Gone are the days with full bands, and great catchy rock tunes. These guys used to be one of my favorite bands to run to — their music would keep me going. This new sound, however, would most definitely not keep the amp up. Perhaps it’s because they’re drawing more on a stripped down dark 80’s new wave/post-punk sound.

To be fair, one of Shout Out Louds most loved hits was “Impossible” from “Our Ill Wills”. Therein lies the problem: “Impossible” was never one of my favorites, and their new direction draws on the success of that song. For fans of the hit single, “Work” might still create a special place in your heart.

For fans of “Please Please Please” or “Hurry Up Let’s Go,” the new album features few of those thumping, indie rock anthems. The first single to be released from “Work”, “Walls” is one the few standout sounds-like-old-them songs. And with “Walls”, the driving sound of rock definitely delivers, that is, if you wait until half-way through the song for the tune to pick up. For “Walls” alone, it’s all worth the wait.

Overall, Shout Out Louds are less sparky, as if maturity has made this band boring. There’s a lot of brooding under all of these songs, and it all comes as a little musically unexpected. Songs like “Play the Game” and “Moon” are just too mellow for what Shout Out Louds can be. (On “Moon,” why wait until almost 3 minutes into the song to pull those strings out?). “Too Late Too Slow” is just that: it’s too slow and it lacks hooks. Sure, every band wants to aim for diversity of sound, but here, there’s a lack of continuity; there are a few good songs, and the rest just don’t stand on their own.

I’ve been crawling the web trying to find other reviewers who agree with me, and I’m drawing a blank. While most reviewers are hesitant to call this a 2010 great, most still seem to give “Work” a favorable review. I want to like this new album. And the more I listen to it, the more I am convincing myself that this is good stuff. Yet the reality is that it’s just plain hit or miss, and if you want us to love it, we need to love all [or most] of it.

“Show Me Something New” is the one song that almost nails it; there’s a nod to their past, with a wink to the future. Too bad there’s not more of that sound.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/shoutoutlouds

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Song: Hawa – D.A.N.C.E (Justice Cover)

Download audio file (D.A.N.C.E.-Justice-Cover.mp3)

A few years ago I use to be vinyl fiend, back when the Sound Library was on Avenue A I would spend entire days crate-digging and hogging up the listening station till I get kicked out. The way vinyl sounds is second to none and lightyears away from the crappy Mp3 format which unfortunately dominates the listening experience these days. I’ve been on an anti-MP3 campaign for sometime now and have started focusing on my vinyl collection again. My campaign led me to Rock & Soul yesterday where I found a 7inch of Hawa’s D.A.N.C.E. cover, fresh. Producer Patchwork transforms this electro hit into a northern soul classic. We always hear people remake old songs but it’s always a special occasion when someone makes a new song vintage. If you like this sound check out the Dynamics, The Daptons, Shawn Lee & The Ping Pong Orchestra and of course anything by Mark Ronson, enjoy - Et Musique Pour Tous

Bonus: Klaxons – As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)
Download audio file (as_above_so_below_justice_remix.mp3)

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Sounds like: Fridge, Xiu Xiu, Sightings

Download audio file (01-Scissor-2.mp3)

What’s so good?
According to the press release accompanying Liars’ forthcoming Sisterworld, the album creates “a space [...] somewhere remote from the false promises and discarded dreams amassed in LA. In it Liars explore the underground support systems created to deal with loss of self to society.”

Sound familiar? That’s basically the plot of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, which tells the story (I think) of a woman who willfully creates a supplemental persona to deal with the guilt and frustration that dictates the remains of her shattered life. I don’t know that Sisterworld has as neat of a narrative structure. Then again, Liars are no strangers to narratives conceits: They Were Wrong, So We Drowned was about witches on Walpurgisnacht, and Drum’s Not Dead was about negotiating the twin monsters of fear and confidence. I bring up Lynch because I approach both artists in much the same way. My investment in their work is not conditional: I don’t need to be able to account for every image or sound to feel engaged and involved and, ultimately, moved. Honestly, I’m usually more interested in figuring out what, exactly, it is in their art that elicits reactions that range, literally, from anxiety to nausea. As with Lynch, the atmospherics do most of the heavy lifting. The white noise and industrial drone that accompanies much of their music carve out a cavernous space that accommodates any spooky sound they can imagine. These are the tones and textures that are the public face of Liars’ superabundant weirdness. They provide the soundtrack to Andrew’s interest in things that are truly terrifying: malevolent spirits, lost identity, unmotivated violence, crippling fear, uncontrollable ego, forests at night, post-industrial Los Angeles, claustrophobia, agoraphobia.

Sisterworld, the band’s fifth album, continues the tradition of radical reinvention that has dictated the band’s narrative for a decade now. The album isn’t as exhilarating as They Threw Us, nor as abrasive as Drum’s Not Dead. Sisterworld sheds a lot of the biker rock posturing that dominated their eponymous forth album in favor of a creepier, more expansive aesthetic. The record requires a fair amount of a patience to get through the first couple of times. Frankly, it’s lugubrious in places, but those moments are a necessary antithesis to the towering infernos of hysteric noise that rise up suddenly in almost every song. The self-released “Scissor” opens the album and sets the basic template for most of the album: a ponderous murder ballad accompanied by the gentle piano and strings cracks open to reveal a molten core of caveman rage.

Thematically, Sisterworld draws heavily from the mood of They Were Wrong. Both albums are concerned with hysteria, and there’s plenty unaccountable panic seething below the surface of the album. And when that panic breaks the surface tension of the song, Liars are capable of evoking profound violence. On ‘Scarecrow On a Killer Slant,” a gale force guitar riff blows in after a frightening bridge: “We should take the creeps out at night/Drag them incomplete by their ears/We should nail their thoughts to the wall/Stand them in the street with a gun/And then kill them all!” The violence of the music when coupled with the brutish lyrics makes for a potent combination that threatens to peel the paint off your walls. Liars unleashes similar musical firestorms throughout the record. The martial pomp of “Goodnight Everything” sounds like nothing less than the horn flourishes that will greet the ascent of the Antichrist. And the closing minutes of “I Still Can See an Outside World” rage with the intensity of an industrial fire. And while you wait for even more explosive crescendo, they suddenly pull back, which is more unnerving than watching the band burn down the whole structure of their composition. But this what makes Liars such an effective band: they overwhelm you with noisy pyrotechnics before abandoning you, alone, anxiously awaiting the next strike.

A couple of years ago, I heard “It Fit When I was a Kid” at a party. It was wrong. When the context of the song is removed (especially its preceding downer “Drum Gets a Glimpse”), a lot of its power is drained; it just sounds like weird noise. Liars make music that refuses to be relegated to the background. Their albums demand your attention. Sisterworld is no exception. This is 42 minutes of punishing music that gets deeper and weirder with each listen. Listening to the album endlessly for a few days has been pretty taxing. I don’t think music this creepy, this brutal is meant to be lived with in that way. I won’t always be in the mood to listen to it, but I’m not always in the mood to watch David Lynch either. That shouldn’t detract from the raw power of the album because the best records are the ones that almost force you to stare unblinking into their depths.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/liarsliarsliars

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Song: Radiohead – Nude (Holy Fuck Remix)

Download audio file (17-Nude-Holy-Fuck-Remix.mp3)

My copy of iTunes informs me that I have 374 Radiohead tracks presently on my hard drive. I also have a very significant number of bootlegs (lets just say it is well over 25 bootlegs) that are not stored on my hard drive from when I was *slightly* more obsessive than I am today w/r/t Radiohead. Instead of indiscrimantly dumping tons of widely available MP3s on you, what I hope to offer is a Musical Pairings curated mix of top Radiohead live tracks, rarities, etc. I have many more MP3s that are worth sharing, but I wanted to keep this manageable - Musical Pairings/SF

Bonus: Holy Fuck – Balloons (Foals cover)
Download audio file (Balloons-Foals-Cover.mp3)

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Song: Don Diablo Vs Phoenix Vs Jay Z – 99 Fences

Download audio file (Don-Diablo-vs-Phoenix-vs-Jay-Z-99-Fences.mp3)

Jay-Z is a living legend and after over the past few years a string of bootleg remix albums have been released which featured Jigga in ways we never imagined. The Grey Album, Viva La Hova, Jaydiohead, Nigerian Gangster, OJAYSIS and Billboard Gangsters all had their ups and downs but I prefer the one off mashup classics like Brush Your Bittersweet Shoulders Off that we featured a while back.

Phoenix’s Fences and Jay-z’s 99 Problems combined with the Don Diablo production is up there with the best of them - The Mahogany Blog

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Sounds like: Noah and the Whale, We Were Promised Jetpacks

Download audio file (Frightened-Rabbit-Swim-Until-You-Cant-See-Land.mp3)

What’s so good?
Frightened Rabbit are receiving infinitely more mainstream attention than they did back in the post-”Midnight Organ Fight” days. They placed top of my albums of 2008 list at a time when their rallying Scottish folk-rock had barely brushed the top of the blogosphere.

Now, a week before the release of their third album “The Winter Of Mixed Drinks” – they have taken the title of the most streamed artist on the UK Myspace charts. All of this from a band who a couple of years ago could sell out 400-strong venues across the US, whilst barely filling local pubs in Scotland or the UK.

Their new album has been streaming on Myspace in full for a week or so, and sounds fantastic. Although I have a few MP3s from the new one; strictly speaking i’d be breaking copyright by putting them up. So you’ll have to live with the singles, which as fantastic as they are, have been around for a few months. The Winter Of Mixed Drinks drops March 9, 2010 in the US and today in the UK.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/frightenedrabbit

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Song: A-Ha – Take On Me (Twelves Remix)

Download audio file (03-take-on-me-the-twelves-remix.mp3)

A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’ is a classic, not just an 80’s classic, A CLASSIC. Dont argue with me on this. Brazilian remix artists The Twelves are without doubt my favourite remixers at the moment. There’s none better for taking a tune and just giving it a little disco twist that gets all the girls (and me) shaking our thang. I LOVE THIS - My Band’s Better Than Your Band

Bonus: Fever Ray – Seven (The Twelves Remix)
Download audio file (FR_Seven-TheTwelvesRemix.mp3)

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Sounds like: Portugal. The Man, White Rabbits, Guided by Voices

Download audio file (02-Aloha-Moonless-March.mp3)

What’s so good?
The last place one would expect to encounter a little bit of Hawaii is probably Ohio. Sure, they’re both U.S. states, but I think the similarity stops there. Fortunately for Ohio, a decade-old veteran experimental indie-rock quartet by the name of Aloha are once again bringing a little bit of sunshine and balminess to an otherwise harsh Ohioan winter — just in time for Spring! When their last record ‘Some Echoes’ was released, the leading track ‘Brace Your Face’ worked its way into my favorite song list with little resistance. Now, four years later, their new album ‘Home Acres’ attempts to pick up right where they left off.

Though the album cover for Home Acres may be a bit gloomy, Aloha’s four members (now scattered throughout the East Coast) have no problem creating a quick-tempo, reverb-filled and smiley album. One key to this happy formula (beside the heavy presence of drum-line style percussion) is the use of marimbas and vibrant synthesizer, elements that have abounded throughout their former releases.

My only qualm might be that the band does not seem to have evolved in any astounding manner over the last three/four years–something I have come to look for in new releases from bands that I like. As a result, while I find the album to be enjoyable, it might end up being somewhat unmemorable for certain listeners. That said, if this is your first exposure to the quartet, I think you’ll do yourself well to go out and purchase the album.

Home Acres will be released by Polyvinyl Records on March 9th, 2010. You can click the image above to pre-order.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/aloha

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Song: Broken Social Scene – World Sick
Download audio file (brokensocialscene-worldsick.mp3)

What Others Say:

Finally, after a lengthy hiatus, the mega group is set to release a brand new album titled Forgiveness Rock Record, which will be released in May. The band will feature the core group of members including Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Justin Peroff, Charles Spearin, Andrew Whiteman, Sam Goldberg and Lisa Lobsinger. Of course, the usual guests you would expect to accompany a BSS record will also be making an appearance (Feist, Amy Millan, Emily Haines, Jason Collett, etc.). – The Yellow Stereo

Bonus: Broken Social Scene – Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl
Download audio file (Broken-Social-Scene_07_Anthems-For-A-Seventeen-Year-Old-Girl.mp3)

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Sounds like: The Books, Atlas Sound, Mesita

Download audio file (12-Jimi-Bleachball.mp3)

What’s so good?
Back in my day, kids were lazy. I was lazy, my friends were lazy, all my cousins by the dozens were lazy. We didn’t do shit. We have few accomplishments to our name: we memorized nearly every line of dialogue from The Simpsons‘ first ten or twelve seasons, we made both the Boomers and Gen Yers hate us, we got obscenely educated at the cost of near life-long debt.

Download audio file (Foxes-in-Fiction-Please-Note.mp3)

But, goddam, kids these days record albums in their bedrooms, throw them up for free on the internet, and then develop a small following over the course of a single weekend. Both Hooray! and Spirit Spine have released work this year good enough to guilt me severely about my wasted youth. Warren Hildebrand, the man behind Foxes in Fiction, is another in a line of them this year that have been flooding my inbox with their admirable work. Foxes in Fiction have released a 19 song album for free. The album is filled with dreamy songs that barely coalesce enough to call them songs. The albums borrows heavily from Atlas Sound. But instead of simply aping Bradford Cox’s sound, FiF use found sound and cut-up methods a la The Books. The combination is striking and original.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/foxesinfiction

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What Others Say:

It’s almost a sure bet that when one of my favorite bands covers one of my favorite songs it’ll be worth listening to. This cover comes from the wonderful year 2005 and it’s still hot. – Knox Road

Bonus:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Elite Force Re-Fix)
Download audio file (Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs-Maps-Elite-Force-Re-Fix.mp3)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (TGIK Remix)
Download audio file (Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs-Maps-TGIK-Remix.mp3)

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Song: Stars – Ageless Beauty (Most Serene Republic Remix)
Download audio file (Stars_Ageless_Beauty_Most_Serene_Republic_Mix1.mp3)

What Others Say:

Piano and electric guitar are the driving forces behind The Most Serene Republic’s sound, while their vocals usually take a back seat to the accentuated instrumentation. The vocals aren’t really meant to stand on their own – most of the time they seem to complement the jangliness of the music. – Knox Road

Bonus: Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (Final Fantasy Mix)
Download audio file (exloverffremix.mp3)

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Song: The Whitest Boy Alive – Burning
Download audio file (Whitest-Boy-Alive-Burning.mp3)

What Others Say:

Racial stereotyping aside, Sean answered this way because The Whitest Boy Alive is really “white,” in that they play things that could be funk in a really uptight staccato way. The band obviously understands this because they chose a particularly self-deprecating name. The group started as a Berlin electronic outfit but has since become one comprised of all live instruments. There’s also a familiar and much-loved face handling guitar and vox duties. That guy really keeps busy, huh? This song is insanely catchy and good. – One Sweet Song

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Sounds like: Land of Talk, Rainer Maria

Download audio file (01SlowBurningCrimes.mp3)

What’s so good?
Sometimes I’m not even sure how I find new music. Do I stumble upon it while reading other blogs? Scanning upcoming concerts? Clicking through the friends of Myspace bands? Either way, the search is usually long, and not always fruitful. That is, until I hear one song that really stands out. People say that first impressions are important. Well, when it comes to music, those first 30 seconds are crucial: either I’m hooked or I’m not. This week, during my usual online music stumbling, I came across a five-piece band from Philly, East Hundred, and their first 30 seconds rocked it.

Today’s indie rock scene doesn’t always have enough female fronted bands that get me addicted. But, with bands like Land of Talk, Rainer Maria and now East Hundred, I say “Hand these chicks a mic, and let their vocals spill out emotion!” East Hundred’s story isn’t all that unpredictable: boys grow up together, boys make music, one asks girlfriend to add vocal track, girl and boy break-up, band survives and grows from it musically (The break-up lyrics really shine through on “Pony”).

Their last release in early 2009, Passenger, starts out strong with “Slow Burning Chimes” and “Plus Minus,” setting the standard high. These two songs are just the kind of female-fronted kick-ass indie rock we should all love; the kinds of songs that make me want to see East Hundred live. For me, the energy, emotion, and on-stage interpersonal relationships all fuel the experience with the music.

Other songs on the album are less stand-out. By starting with their two strongest songs first, I think they make the transition difficult as a listener. While “Along the Way” is chillingly haunting (in a beautiful way), the album tends to slow down, and mid-way through, I start to lose interest. There’s an energy lacking here, as the fuel from earlier songs mellows out. I will give them one credit: there’s a certain tension in later songs that captivates me. With this in mind, “Sigh and Wave” might deserve another listen. It must be no coincidence that the album ends with a nod to acceptance of the inevitable end. “Take it Easy,” you’re pulling at my heart strings.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/easthundred

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Sounds like: Ty Segall, Black Lips, Bob Dylan

Download audio file (03-Be-Brave.mp3)

What’s so good?
Have you ever wondered what The White Stripes would sound like if Jack had been born in 1945, started the band in 1963, and sang with the voice of a young Bob Dylan? Well, me neither, but if you were, this album from The Strange Boys would give you a pretty damn good idea. The decidedly lo-fi, bluesy, folk inspired and just plain awesome sound harks back to a homespun time of synthless choruses and voices unspoiled by autotunes. Ryan Sambol (Guitar, Vocals) has an heir of folk storyteller, and straight forward but well played instrumentals provide an excellent backsplash for his raspy delivery.

“Be Brave” clocks in at around 32 minutes, so please don’t worry about investing too much of your precious time away from the modern musical comforts of electro-pop, but do take a close listen and revel in the simplicity, and even (gasp) a few acoustic melodies. The Strange Boys may be just one just one of many bands still nurturing the musical seeds sowed during the early days of rock and roll, but they do it with class and what appears to me to be a real respect for the pioneers of their craft. So please, check this out; I promise you won’t end up pissing on that totally rad Miike Snow remix bootleg you bought from the hipster at the record co-op downtown.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/thestrangeboys

Click image to visit the Hood Internet

Song: Empire of the Sun – We Are the People
Download audio file (THI_GBearDeadPrez.mp3)

What Others Say:

I used to rag on Hood Internet as the poor man’s Girl Talk, but I don’t think that’s fair anymore. When you rock out to GT, you’re slightly embarrassed because you recognize every single song fragment. When you rock out to THI, you’re slightly embarrassed because you’ve never heard of 90% of the artists cut up for material. – Too Much Happiness

Bonus: The Hood Internet – Billie “Wildcat” Jean (Michael Jackson vs. Ratatat)
Download audio file (michael_jackson_ratatat.mp3)

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Sounds like: Bon Iver, Beirut, Rich Aucoin

Download audio file (Mesita-Living-Breathing.mp3)

What’s so good?
I don’t do this often. It’s a first, in fact. With the 30-40 PR emails that Indie Shuffle receives every day, it’s hard to sift out what sounds good and what doesn’t. I tend to avoid the remixes and head straight for the full albums, which constitute only a small portion of what gets sent my way. Technically, Mesita didn’t even send me a full album. He sent me a single. That single is pretty darn good, and I think it’s worth sharing with the world. Not to mention that the additional tracks on his Bandcamp tend to indicate that this isn’t a fluke. I highly encourage you to visit it by clicking the image to the right.

Mesita is the ongoing project of a 21-year-old self-taught multi-instrumentalist and coffee enthusiast from Littleton, Colorado. He’s been recording music for a long time now and has an album and an EP (so far!) under the Mesita name. Cherry Blossoms was recorded in his basement back in May of 2008 and the EP No Worries was recorded in that same basement just this last summer. He is working on brand new music and hopes to let you all here it soon! – Mesita Music

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/mesitamusic

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Song: Gorillaz – Superfast Jellyfish (Feat. Gruff Rhys And De La Soul)
Download audio file (Gorillaz-Superfast-Jellyfish.mp3)

What Others Say:

Can’t say I was a fan of Stylo, unless you are talking about Alex Metric’s remix. For me, it just didnt have that catchy punch the Gorillaz are known for. I have been having a couple of doubts concerning their third Gorillaz studio album Plastic Beach, but thanks to listening to this song, all my doubts are gone! Superfast Jellyfish features Welsh musician Gruff Rhys and Long Island, New York influential hip-hop group De La Soul….. yes.. De La Soul.. same guys from “Feel Good Inc” of their Demon Days record – The Music Ninja

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Sounds like: Tilly and the Wall, Jenny Lewis, The Moldy Peaches

Download audio file (She-Him-Thieves.mp3)

What’s so good?
I am pretty ambivalent about She & Him. I like them; I dislike them. From day to day, I never know how I feel about them. I have legitimate complaints about the band (they are far too cute for their own good), but I also hold grudges against them that are patently unfair (they are fronted by a movie star). And although I liked their debut album enough, I wasn’t clamoring for another outing from the duo. But goddam if “Thieves,” the newest song to leak from the album, doesn’t confuse the situation a bit. The song is 4 minutes of perfect pop. It splits the difference between ballads from the 1950s and AM country from the 60s, and is a terrific combination that works better for the band than anything else they’ve done.

Deschanel’s voice sounds markedly different. While she once sang directly from her diaphragm, she’s now squeezing out the song from the bottom of her throat. The trick lends some sobbed-out sorrow to her heartbreaking lyrics. I don’t know if it makes me excited to hear the rest of the album (“In the Sun” is pretty forgettable . . .), but at least I have a song to lean on if I remain indecisive about She and Him.

Vol 2 is due on March 23rd on Merge.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/sheandhim

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Sounds like: Grizzly Bear, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Yeasayer
Download audio file (03-Grow.mp3)

What’s so good?
This isn’t exactly brand spanking new, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for us to let great music slip through the cracks. Le Loup are a DC-based six piece who revel in reverb-heavy textures and lush harmonies. “Family” is their second full-length album off Hardly Art, an imprint of Sub Pop, and is the first album since the band solidified its lineup. It’s mild freak-folk jams are soothing, celebratory, and haunting.

The best part about this album though is the sense of balance throughout. Even though Le Loup started as the solo project of Sam Simkoff, the band now emphasizes its identity as a family on their website, and the cohesion really comes through in the music. There isn’t a single element of the multi-layered tunes that overpowers the others; not even Simkoff’s vocals. Each member adds an equal contribution to the sound, and the result washes over in waves that are both complex and tranquil.

Elsewhere on the web:
myspace | myspace.com/leloupmusic

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Song: Empire of the Sun – We Are the People
Download audio file (Empire-of-the-Sun-04-We-Are-The-People.mp3)

What Others Say:

You know what’s better than drooling in anticipation over a new MGMT album (even if you think it’ll suck)? Listening to a band that sounds just like them! Empire of the Sun’s debut is more than a year old now, but they’ve captured the rapture of MGMT singles only like MGMT can. I’ve written already about the mashup with Wiz Khalifa, which I think is one of the top two mashups of 2009. “We Are The People” features the vocal-emoting, often hollow lyrics that make it seem like it could be about anything. Add a big chorus with backup vocals and you’ve got a recipe for success – Idealize LA

Bonus: Wiz Khalifa – The Thrill (feat. Empire of the Sun)
Download audio file (The-Thrill-feat.-Empire-of-the-Sun.mp3)