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This week’s playlist of the top singles from the best album releases of the week kicks off with the smoking new single, “Up To Infinity” by the alternative rock band …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. Although “Up To Infinity” simmers down at midstream, it’s only a matter of a minute before it explodes yet again with a take-no-prisoners blowout that eventually cools down to a slow boil at the end.

Next, Pittsburgh experimental rock band Black Moth Super Rainbow unleash a trippy synth grinding romp on “Windshield Smasher,” accompanied by noisy, crashing cymbals, ghostly vocals, and a sinister bass rhythm.  If you love hard rock, and dark, brooding electronica, this opening double-shot of controlled chaos ought to fit the bill just right. It also made sense to start this playlist mix with these two singles because they (and others to follow) are Halloween-appropriate.  In fact, if they were on a bill together, we’d title the show,  The Trail of Dead Black Moths. Perhaps that’s stretching the Halloween theme thing a bit too far. Perhaps not. Either way, both tracks are fitting for a hard rock Halloween mixtape.

“Up To Infinity” - …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead from Lost Songs on Richter Scale/Superball Music

“Windshield Smasher” - Black Moth Super Rainbow from Cobra Juicy on Rad Cult

Titus Andronicus Drops Third LP, ‘Local Business’

The New Jersey indie rock punk band, Titus Andronicus, raise the ante on their earnest and unique brand of conceptual punk rock with the release of the new album, Local Business, which is our album of the week. The AOTW post is still in the works, so stayed tuned; it will include highlighted tracks, videos and a free mixtape featuring demos, cover songs, and live recordings from Titus over the years. In the meantime, here’s a video (via Pitchfork) for one of the singles, “In A Big City,” which is somewhat tame compared to the usual noisy bluster of Patrick Stickles and the band.

“In A Big City” – Titus Andronicus from Local Business

Bat For Lashes’ New Halloweenish single, “A Wall” Sets Tone For New LP

It’s kind of like finger nails on a chalk board every time we find out another indie rock band has signed to a major label (and of course we always wonder if the artist thought about their loyal fans who were with them before they became popular). This time around it’s Bat For Lashes signing with Capitol. We used to have the attitude that we wouldn’t profile artists that we, and many of you, like once they’ve traded in their DIY or a small label status for a contract with one of the four mega-conglomerate global entertainment corporations.

However, if a newly minted ‘corporate’ artist, like Bat for Lashes, The Decemberists or The Black Keys, to name just a few, are still putting out great music once they’ve “sold their souls to the evil corporates,” we’re not going to be so self-righeous (or at least give the appearance) as to refuse to acknowledge good music or share it with our listeners. Singles from Bat For Lashes’ just released third LP, The Haunted Man, have been making the rounds for months, including the upbeat goth-pop rouser, “A Wall.” Following that is the heart-aching, somber new single, ”Can’t You See?” from female singer and songwrtier, Steffaloo.

“A Wall” – Bat For Lashes from The Haunted Man

“Can’t You See?” - Steffaloo from Would You Stay on Mush

Former Brooklyn Art Collective Release Debut Album as People Get Ready

Now, let’s pick it up a little with the week’s sunniest, most infectious single, “Windy Cindy” by the Brooklyn quartet, People Get Ready. The band evolved from an arts collective (featuring members, Steven Reker, James Rickman, Jen Goma and Luke Fasano, who used to play with Yeasayer) formed years earlier. People Get Ready DIY released their self-titled debut album this week. Plus, The Amazing have a new single, “Flashlight,” from their Partisan Records’ release, Gentle Stream, available now (all this week’s albums are available for purchase quickly and easily from the album links at the end of this post).

“Windy Cindy” – People Get Ready from People Get Ready

“Flashlight” – The Amazing from Gentle Stream on Partisan Records

Paul Banks Synth Soaked Goth and of Montreal’s New 17-Track Compilation

Paul Banks‘ new single, “The Base,” is intriguingly goth-like, expansive, and progressive song, soaked in synths and rounded out by a steady, heavy beat, punctuated by moments of levity where Banks’ vocal range heightens, sounding briefly like Peter Gabriel, and backed by orchestral flourishes that, for a few seconds, seem to channel Sufjan Stevens‘ unique indie pop style. Overall, the song has a driving, yet somehow understated, magnetism about it that gets better with each spin.

“The Base” - Paul Banks from Banks on Matador

Veteran indie rockers of Montreal prove once again why they’ve remained an important band in a genre they helped popularize during the past 15 years. The band’s new release, Daughter of a Cloud, is a 17-track compilation of B-sides and outtakes from the period of 2008 to 2011. It includes the single, “Sails, Hermaphroditic,” a perfectly compelling, upbeat track thanks to its genius, electrifying blend of pop, rock, dance and soul, a phat groove, and the Prince-like vocals of the band’s founder, multi-instrumentalist, serial collaborator, songwriter and singer, Kevin Barnes.

Earlier this year, of Montreal released LP No. 11, Paralytic Stalks (see our post), which received mixed reviews across the board, with publications like Pitchfork, Spin and Rolling Stone basically slamming it, contrasted to thumbs up from CMJ, The New York Times, and Paste and Prefix magazines. However, Daughter of a Cloud, can’t really be compared to Paralytic Stalks because the former is a compilation of music created over a period of nearly four years. It’s definitely a must-have for hard-core of Montreal fans. Following of Montreal is the fantastic new single, “Art and a Wife” from Canadian indie band, Rah Rah. In 2009, the band broke through after being named the “Best Alternative New Artist” and “Best New Canadian Artist” on iTunes’ ‘Best of’ lists, and it sounds like they’re just getting better as time goes on.

“Sails, Hermaphroditic” – of Montreal from Daughter of a Cloud on Polyvinyl Records

“Art and a Wife” – Rah Rah from The Poet’s Dead on Hidden Pony Records

Indie Bands Other Lives and Your Youth Drop New Albums

Other Lives and Your Youth are two relatively new indie bands that do not have a great deal of exposure but, little by little, they are getting their songs out on blogs, music sites and via touring, YouTube and social media – all essential components for most bands to build a following and make a living in the fiercely competitive business of indie and alternative rock.

“Take Us Alive” – Other Lives from Mind The Gap EP on TBD Records

“Thick Gold (Bodied)” – Your Youth from Battery EP on Old Flame Records

Reptile Youth go straight for the danceability factor on their latest single, “Speeddance,” fusing together a mean beat, goth inspired synths and a 80′s new wave groove along with authoritative lead vocals. There are moments in the song where we swear we can hear David Bryne and The Talking Head‘s classic track, “Burning Down The House.” Another dance track, “I’m Just Me,” from the sophomore album, Free Dimensional, by Diamond Rings – with its infectious, crazed drive – fits perfectly following “Speeddance.”

“Speeddance” – Reptile Youth from Reptile Youth on hfn music

“I’m Just Me” - Diamond Rings from Free Dimensional on Astralwerks

…Etc.:  Andy Burrows, ExDetectives, Matt Bauer, The Amazing and More

The following are other singles from this week’s new album drops by Andy Burrows, ExDetectives, Matt Bauer, Talk Normal, and GRMLN.

“Company” - Andy Burrows from Company on [PIAS] America

“Second Chance” – ExDetectives from Farthest Star on Post Planetary

“Tonight We Get To Sing Our Songs” – Matt Bauer from No Shape Can Hold Me Now EP on Crossbill Records

“Cover” – Talk Normal from Sunshine on Joyful Noise

“Coral” – GRMLN from Explore EP on Carpark Records

Purchase MP3, CD, Vinyl Editions of this Week’s Releases via Amazon

You can easily and quickly purchase any of this week’s new releases by clicking on, where applicable, links for the MP3, CD or vinyl edition of the album(s) of your choice. All MP3 albums from Amazon work perfectly fine with all kinds of MP3 players, including iTunes. Plus, you get fast, affordable shipping for CD and vinyl copies, and in some cases, a corresponding MP3 download code as well. If you ever lose your music for whatever reason, you can re-download it for free. There is also free cloud storage from Amazon’s popular, award-winning cloud services available for most purchases.

Cisco Adler – Aloha | CD Vinyl MP3

The Amazing – Gentle Stream | CD Vinyl MP3

…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Lost Songs | CD Deluxe CD MP3

Autumn Owls – Between Buildings, Toward the Sea | CD Vinyl MP3

Paul Banks – Banks | CD Vinyl MP3

The Barnaby Bright – The Longest Day | CD MP3

Basement – Colourmeinkindness | CD Vinyl

Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man | CD Vinyl MP3

Matt Bauer – No Shape Can Hold Me Now [EP] | MP3

Behold the Arctopus – Horrorscension | CD MP3

Tony Bennett – Viva Duets | CD MP3

Rafiq Bhatia – Yes It Will | CD Vinyl MP3

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Cobra Juicy | CD Vinyl MP3

Nathan Bowles – A Bottle, a Buckeye | CD Vinyl MP3

Andy Burrows – Company | Vinyl MP3

C.F.A. – Managed By the Devil, Brought to You By the Grace of God | CD MP3

The Cairo Gang – The Corner Man | Vinyl MP3

Cemeteries – The Wilderness | CD Vinyl MP3

Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson – Wreck & Ruin | CD Deluxe CD Vinyl MP3 Deluxe MP3

Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu | CD MP3 Deluxe MP3

The Datsuns – Death Rattle Boogie | CD Vinyl MP3

Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional | CD Vinyl

The D.O.T. – And That [EP] | MP3

The Eeries – Home Alone | MP3

Fontanelle – Vitamin F | CD Vinyl MP3

Fossil Collective – On and On [EP] | MP3

Further Seems Forever – Penny Black | CD Vinyl MP3

Philip Glass – Rework: Philip Glass Remixed | CD Vinyl

Goodtime Boys – What’s Left to Let Go | CD Vinyl MP3

Grmln – Explore [EP] | Vinyl MP3

Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited II | CD MP3

Hank & Cupcakes – Ain’t No Love [EP] | MP3

Harouki Zombi – Objet Petit A [EP] | MP3

Hero Jr. – Backup Plan | MP3

Hunter Valentine – Collide & Conquer | CD MP3

Jerzey Street Band – Breaking Radio Silence | MP3

Johnny 5th Wheel & The Cowards – Music to Shake’n’Shuffle to | MP3

Aidan Knight – Small Reveal | MP3

Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid: M.A.A.D. City | CD Deluxe CD Vinyl MP3 Deluxe MP3

Kopecky Family Band – Kids Raising Kids | CD MP3

Land Observations – Roman Roads IV-XI | CD Vinyl MP3

Ryan Leslie – Les Is More | CD MP3

Main Attrakionz – Bossalinis & Fooliyones | CD Vinyl MP3

Michael Mayer – Mantasy | CD Vinyl MP3

Minta & The Brook Trout – Olympia | CD MP3

Naked Truth – Ouroboros | CD MP3

Of Montreal – Daughter of Cloud | CD Vinyl MP3

Other Lives – Mind the Gap [EP] | CD MP3

P.O.S. – We Don’t Even Live Here | CD Vinyl MP3 Deluxe MP3

People Get Ready – People Get Ready | CD MP3

Pig Destroyer – Book Burner | CD Deluxe CD Vinyl MP3

Sassparilla – Magpie | MP3

Neal Schon – The Calling | CD MP3

Shiny Toy Guns – III | CD Vinyl MP3 Deluxe MP3

Sinkane – Mars | MP3

Solid Gold – Eat Your Young | CD MP3

State Radio – Rabbit Inn Rebellion | CD MP3 Deluxe MP3

The State Stereo – Crossing Canyons [EP] | MP3

Steffaloo – Would You Stay | MP3

The Sword – Apocryphone | CD Deluxe CD Vinyl MP3

Talk Normal – Sunshine | CD Vinyl MP3

Titus Andronicus – Local Business | CD Vinyl MP3

Tweaker – Call the Time Eternity | CD MP3

U.S. Girls – Gem | CD Vinyl MP3

David Virelle – Continuum | CD Vinyl MP3

We Are the Physics – Your Friend, The Atom | MP3

We Were Skeletons – Blame & Aging | CD Vinyl MP3

Yellow Ostrich – Ghost [EP] | MP3

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