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Best New Releases: Fol Chen, Au Revoir Simone, Crocodiles, Big Boi, The Stone Foxes, Jay Bennett, Thieves Like Us, Loom, Mystery Jets

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Unlike most of the weeks of 2010 so far, this week’s new releases are not stacked with big-time, highly anticipated works, but there’s plenty of great MP3s to download online for free from new singles, LPs and EPs out this week.

The LA band Fol Chen continue  to explore their mysterious, sinister musical pursuits, building on an on-going narrative established with their debut, Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made. Expect thick synth keys and steady beats immersed in electro-pop and garnished with new wave influences. Fol Chen has won praise from Los Angeles Magazine, SPIN, NPR, Brooklyn Vegan, LA Times and many others. Add us to the list.

“The Holograms”Fol Chen from Part II: The New December

An amazing line up of artists came together to create remixes of Au Revoir Simone‘s 2009 LP, Still Night, Still Light, including Neon Indian, Jens Lekman, Max Cooper, Aeroplane, Punches, Tanlines and more.

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“Likely Story” (Aeroplane Remix) – Au Revoir Simone from Night Light

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There are also some interesting new releases this week from lesser known, but very talented, musicians who sent music in for review.  First to catch our attention was the band Mobile Wash Unit from New York. The band is the moniker for what was originally the one man music outfit Andy Snyder, who currently teaches philosophy at City University in New York.

The two tracks here are from his fresh album, Tent, which officially drops today via Astraea Records.

“Second Glance” – Mobile Wash Unit from Tent

“Hybrid Killers” – Mobile Wash Unit from Tent

Mobile Wash Unit on MySpace

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San Francisco rock band The Stone Foxes release their second album today, Bears and Bulls, DIY style. The band have previously opened for The Mother Hips and been hailed in publications like LAist, San Francisco Chronicle and Classic Rock Magazine. The Stone Foxes’ influences include The Band, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin.

“Killed Robert Johnson”The Stone Foxes from Bears and Bulls

“Stomp”The Stone Foxes from Bears and Bulls

“The Acrobat” Lee Butcher from All in Good Time

Well, who knows what these folks had in mind when they named their band, but it’s not exactly one that a booking agent  would have an easy time with. Perhaps the single from Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills‘ new LP, “Funeral Song”, is fitting, all things considered.   And of course one more semi oil related reference, the title of the band’s new album, out today, is Raw Materials.

“Funeral Song”Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills from Raw Materials

Other singles we like from new releases this week include fresh tracks from Crocodiles, Big Boi, Jay Bennett (RIP), Modern Skirts, What Laura Says, Loom, Mystery Jets, Luke Wesley and more.

“Sleep Forever”Crocodiles from Sleep Forever 7 inch

“Shutterbug”Big Boi from Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

“Twice a Year”Jay Bennett from Kicking at the Perfumed Air

“Forget Me Not”Thieves Like Us from Forget Me Not 7″ inch

“Quetzalcoatl’s Ship” Loom from Muu’s Way

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“Rebecca St. Claire”Modern Skirts from Happy 81 EP

“I Hope You Like This Song”Luke Wesley from Because We Never Talk About It

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“Flash a Hungry Smile” – Mystery Jets from Serotonin

Next week: New releases from Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, School of Seven Bells, The Innocence Mission, MIA, Sun Kil Moon and The Love Language, to name a few.

Danger Mouse and SparklehorseDark Night of the Soul [EMI, July 13]

School of Seven BellsDisconnect From Desire [Vagrant, July 13]

M.I.A. – // / Y / [Interscope, July 13]

Sun Kil MoonAdmiral Fell Promises [Caldo Verde, July 13]

The Love LanguageLibraries [Merge, July 13]

Blue GiantBlue Giant [Vanguard, July 13]