The Morning Benders widely anticipated new album, Big Echo, officially drops today, March 9th. We have two terrific singles, the album opener, "Excuses" (via Stereogum) and "Promises," from the folks at Beggars Group. The band will embark on a six-week tour of the U.S. and Canada with a kick-0ff show tomorrow in Philadelphia (see the tour schedule).

"Excuses" - The Morning Benders from Big Echo

"Promises" - The Morning Benders from Big Echo


It goes without saying that Free Energy are one of the hottest indie bands of the past year. With their blissful 70's pop rock sound and energetic live shows, the band have won wide praise from the music blogging and mainstream press communities.

"Hope Child" - Free Energy from Stuck On Nothing

"Dream City" - Free Energy from Stuck On Nothing

- Stream Stuck on Nothing


One of our favorite shoegaze bands from the Garden State, Titus Andronicus, released the follow up album to their widely acclaimed debut, The Airing of Grievances, this week, and so far, it sounds like a real keeper. The band were nice enough to share not one, not two, but three tracks from the new album. Titus Andronicus will be performing a free in-store performance during SXSW at Waterloo Records on March 18 at 1pm in downtown Austin.

"A More Perfect Union" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Four Score and Seven (Part One)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Four Score and Seven (Part Two)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

- Titus Andronicus on MySpace

"The Mighty Sparrow" - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists from The Brutalist Bricks

"Even Heroes Have to Die" - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists from The Brutalist Bricks

- Ted Leo on MySpace

"I Will Live On Islands" - Josh Rouse from El Turista

- Josh Rouse on MySpace

- Stream El Turista via Spinner

"Do The Method" - Method Actors from This is Still It

"Bleeding" - Method Actors from This is Still It

- Method Actors on MySpace

"Crystals" - Thrushes from Night Falls

- Thruses official website

"Song for Dreaming" - Judson Claiborne from Time and Temperature

- Judson Claiborne on MySpace

Check out Part Two of the Best New Releases of the Week featuring Broken Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Frightened Rabbit, Mighty Tiger, The Ruby Suns, Thunder Power, The Besnard Lake, The Canon Logic and more.

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

Feetz to Da Beatz, Vol. I - Bands That Get You Dancing: Body Language, Yes Giantess and Friends Electric

2010 Releases You Might Have Missed: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

Best New Releases of the Week: Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

Band to Watch: Nashville's The Vermicious K'nids

Labels: New Releases

There are so many great new releases this week, that we had to break them up into two installments (and it's looking that way for next week as well). A list of artists and bands for part two of this week's best new releases is featured below. That playlist mix will be published tomorrow. But first, here is part one. Enjoy and share with friends.

The fourth LP from California rockers Rogue Wave comes on the heels of some recent bad news for the band, including the tragic death of an ex-band mate, Evan Farrell, and serious health issues suffered by band founder, Zach Rogue.

Rogue (his real last name is Schwartz), found himself bed-ridden for months after a freak back accident. During his recovery, Rogue told drummer Pat Spurgeon that he "wanted to make a dance record," later elaborating that Permalight, the band's newest album out today via Brushfire Records, was about "physical music, about the visceral experience of hearing music and letting your body move to it." Indeed.

Next, John Gourley, lead vocalist of Portugal. The Man, said recently that the band has kept their latest album, American Ghetto, purposely under wraps, stating: "Nobody gets the record early; we will not be soliciting reviews, airplay or any support from the industry." The band's new single is available today along with the official drop of the LP.

Also, check out fresh tracks from The Whigs (with another free download on their website), the popular UK indie electronica band, These New Puritans. Scroll down for new songs from A Weather, Dinosaur Feathers, Peasant, Butterfly Explosion, plus advanced tracks from next week releases by Titus Andronicus, Jatun and Method Actors.

"Good Morning" - Rogue Wave from Permalight (via Stereogum)

Rogue Wave on MySpace

"The Dead Dog" - Portugal. The Man from American Ghetto

Portugal. The Man on MySpace

"In The Dark" - The Whigs from In The Dark

The Whigs official website

"Orion Hidden" - These New Puritans from Hidden

These New Puritans on MySpace



Portland, Oregon's A Weather are an indie-folk band whose sophomore album, Everyday Balloons, drops today via Team Love Records (the label founded by Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes).

As with their debut album, Everyday Balloons was engineered by Adam Selzer (M. Ward, The Decemberists, Norfolk & Western) at Portland's Type Foundry Studios. Also, the rising popularity of Brooklyn's Dinosaur Feathers have made them a favorite on many bands to watch in 2010 lists. They debut their first LP, Fantasy Memorial, also drops today.

"Giant Stairs" - A Weather from Everyday Balloons

A Weather official website

"Vendela Vida" - Dinosaur Feathers from Fantasy Memorial

Dinosaur Feathers on MySpace



Peasant is a Pennsylvania indie artist with a growing following.
"Well Alright" - Peasant from Shady Retreat

Peasant on MySpace


Butterfly Explosion are a shoegaze, post punk band from Ireland that blend powerful spiraling music with delicate vocals to form rich soundscapes of lush melodies, weaving moments of ethereal dream-pop and explosive sonic bliss. The debut album, Lost Trails, was released in the UK and Ireland in February on the Irish label, Revive Records, and recorded and produced by Torsten Kinsella (God Is An Astronaut). It's official U.S. release date was yesterday, March 1, 2010.

"Closer" - Butterfly Explosion from Lost Trails

"Chemistry" - Butterfly Explosion from Lost Trails

Butterfly Explosion official website

Check back tomorrow for part two of the Best New Releases of the Week, featuring reviews and music from the debut Twin Tigers' debut release, plus Emma Pollack, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Paparazzi, Jen Wood and The Megaphone Thrift. You might also want to view previous playlists of Best New Releases of the Week - packed with great music.

In Advance: Titus Andronicus, Jatun and Method Actors

A new feature we are adding to the end of each New Releases playlist mix provides a sneak peak at a few tracks that will be coming out next week. Look out for more new releases next Tuesday - it's a huge week for drops, so stay tuned.

"Four Score and Seven (Part One)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Circuit Eater" - Jatun from Blanket of Ash

"Do The Method" - Method Actors from This is Still It

Labels: New Releases

This is a blockbuster week for music releases as evidenced by the sheer number of tracks featured in this post. Brooklyn's prog-rock quintet, and grads of the Rhode Island School of Design (which has also given us The Talking Heads, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav), Fang Island, belt out punk inspired pop with spirited vigor, triumphant harmonies, riff-heavy jams and uplifting tempos.

The Shout Out Louds return with their third album, Work, that will be followed by an extensive European and North American tour, including a sold out show next week at New York's Music Hall of Williamsburg. Shearwater are back with a new album, The Golden Archipelago, and the featured track, "Black Eyes."

Denmark's experimental pop band Efterklang released their new album, Magic Chairs, and will kick off a U.S. tour next week. The recently disbanded The Fate Fictions dropped their final album today, and the long-awaited new album from San Francisco's Brian Johnstown Massacre also dropped today. Another San Francisco band, Man/Miracle, released their new LP, Shape of Things, today. The band will perform tomorrow night as part of the city's 18th annual Noise Pop festival.

We also have new singles from fresh releases from Blood Feathers, Wolf People, Toro Y Moi, We Are Wolves, Holy Fiction, Xiu Xiu, Quasi, Holly Miranda, The Exhibition and others. Enjoy.

"Life Coach" - Fang Island from s/t debut
"Daisy" - Fang Island from s/t debut
Fang Island on MySpace

"Walls" - Shout Out Louds from Work
Shout Out Louds official website

"Black Eyes" - Shearwater from The Golden Archipelago
Shearwater official website

"Hot Sprawl" - Man/Miracle from Shape of Things
Man/Miracle official website

"Modern Drift" - Efterklang from Magic Chairs
Efterklang on MySpace

"Parallel World" - The Fake Fictions from Magic Infinity EP
The Fake Fictions official website

"Let's Go F**king Mental" - Brian Jonestown Massacre from Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?
Brian Jonestown Massacre

"Don't Know You at All" - Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious
Blood Feathers on MySpace

"Repulsion" - Quasi from American Gong
Quasi on MySpace

"October Fires" - Wolf People from Tidings
Wolf People on MySpace

"Blessa" - Toro Y Moi from Causers
Toro Y Moi on MySpace

"Gray Death" - Xiu Xiu from Dear God, I Hate Myself
Xiu Xiu official website

"Iron Eyes" - Holy Fiction from Hours From It
Holy Fiction on MySpace

"Colors" - April Smith & The Great Picture Show from Songs For A Sinking Ship
April Smith & The Great Picture Show

"Waves" - Holly Miranda from The Magician's Private Library
Holly Miranda on MySpace

"Rapture" - Elaine Lachica from I Think I Can See the Ocean (feb 23 via
Elaine Lachica on MySpace

"Half Truth" - Dead Leaf Echo from Truth
Deaf Leaf Echo on MySpace

"Bright New Worlds" - The Exhibition from s/t EP
The Exhibition website

We realize that all of this music is a bit overwhelming, but it would be a disservice to our regular visitors, subscribers and new visitors to exclude certain tracks for the sake of creating a smaller list of releases - we feel all of the tracks we represent are worth the space they consume. While we do filter which tracks from new releases to present to you all (many do not "make the final cut"), we also try to be as thorough and eclectic as possible, and let you decide which songs you like the most in an effort to help you decide which albums you want to purchase for your music collection.

Reminder: You can stream continuously all of the songs in any of the playlists featured on IRC - while you do other things - just by clicking on the first song.

Next Week: Rogue Wave, Dinosaur Feathers, Portugal. The Man, The Whigs, Butterfly Explosion, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Peasant, Kiki Pau and more.

Previous New Releases Mixes

2/16/10: Music Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

2/9/10: Music Showstar, Yeasayer, Hot Chip, Galactic, Vinca Minor, Drew Danburry, FM Belfast and More

2/2/10: Music from Midlake, The Album Leaf, King of Prussia, Seth Augustus, The Heligoats and More

1/26/10: Music from Beach House, The Magnetic Fields, No Through Road, Woodpigeon, Retribution Gospel Choir, Citay, Boy Genius and More

Labels: New Releases

This week's new releases include the fresh songs, as well as some tracks that have already made the rounds and are now being repackaged and re-issued in various forms. For example, Brooklyn's popular, but still unsigned, band Bear Hands, have re-issued their single, "What a Drag," today on white vinyl, and will celebrate this evening at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York, a kick-off show for an extensive tour of the U.S. with We Were Promised Jetpacks and Passion Pit. The band's shows with Passion Pit have already sold out in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Vancouver.

Los Angeles blog buzz band Local Natives' LP, Gorilla Manor, celebrates its official release today, but some of the tracks - and good ones at that - were leaked last fall, making them a band to watch in 2010. Bear Hands kicks off a European tour tomorrow night with a sold out show in Paris, and will then return to the perform three shows at next month's South by Southwest in Austin, followed by sets at Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals.

Other tracks featured below from new releases include The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, SPEAK and El May, as well as a handful of releases from last month that we didn't have time for, or that we just recently learned about, but are worth checking out.

"What a Drag" - Bear Hands from What a Drag
Bear Hands on MySpace

"Sunhands" - Local Natives from Gorilla Manor
Local Natives on MySpace

"Constellations" - The Hush Now from Constellations
The Hush Now on MySpace

"Measure" - Field Music from Field Music
Field Music on MySpace

"Weapons V" - Son Lux from Weapons EP
Son Lux on MySpace

"Carrie (Mindfull)" - SPEAK from debut EP
SPEAK on MySpace

"Don't You" - El May from s/t debut
El May on MySpace


Los Angeles indie folk pop band The Good Listeners released their third album, Don't Quit Your Daydream, last month via Three Finger Records. The LP was recorded during a month long journey to twelve cities across the US, and also made into an indie film documentary by the same name. At each stop on their adventure, the duo collaborated with a cast of strangers and musicians who forced them to reconsider what a life dedicated to the pursuit of music really means.

"Insect Losing Balance" - The Good Listeners from Don't Quit Your Daydream
The Good Listeners on MySpace

January Releases from Cop Shades, Sun Hotel, The Houston Brothers and More

In January, the experimental indie rock band Cop Shades released their debut album as a free download via Superbob Records - a label formed in 1993 by Ken Kelley, the drummer of The Monoxides. Cop Shades deliver gritty and fuzzy guitar rock almost guaranteed to attract rock fans who are hungry for something fresh and edgy.

Sun Hotel is an indie band from New Orleans that we are really beginning to like; we'll have more about them in our upcoming Bands to Watch in 2010 issue. The band released their LP, Team Spirit, on January 28th. Also, check out tracks from January releases by Adam Green, The Houston Brothers, Gobotron, and Charlie Hunter.

"I Sh*t Ponies" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
"The Sorority" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
Cop Shades on MySpace

"Allways" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
"Plantation Land" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
Sun Hotel on MySpace

"Castles and Tassels" - Adam Green from Minor Love
Adam Green on MySpace

"Confederate Dunce" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
"Wasted Youth" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
The Houston Brothers website

"Never Turn Around" - Gobotron from On Your Mark, Get Ready...
Gobotron on MySpace

"High Pockets and a Fanny Pack" - Charlie Hunter from Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You That You Will Not be Getting Paid
Charlie Hunter official website

Labels: Bear Hands, Field Music, Local Natives, New Releases, The Good Listeners

The new releases for 2010 are starting to pile up folks, so we'll have a new batch of songs ever Tuesday from all the latest, and greatest, releases.

Showstar are from the small Belgian town of Huy, and are quite popular in their home country, France and the UK, and are still chipping away at building a strong North American following. Think Ringo was produced by Gareth Parton (The Go! Team, Foals, Pete And The Pirates) and recorded in London and Belgium. Showstar has previously opened for bands like The Rakes, The Thrills, Ash, Mogwai, The Charlatans, and Stereophonics. Think Ringo is available for pre-order now, and officially drops on Monday, Feb. 15th. We'll have another track from Showstar in our Valentine's playlist mixes later this week.

"Gold Mine" - Showstar from Think Ringo

"We Are the Residents of the Lost Club" - Showstar from Think Ringo

Showstar Official website

Showstar on MySpace


New Releases from Yeasayer, Galactic, Hot Chip and More


More great releases this week worth your money include Yeasayer, Vinca Minor, Galactic, Hot Chip, Shellshag, Pantah Du Prince, Drew Danburry, Puerto Muerto. We also have new songs from recent releases from Yours Til Death, FM Belfast, and Brother Gruesome.

"Ambling Alp" - Yeasayer from Odd Blood
Yeasayer on Secretly Canadian

"Many Are Cold" - Drew Danburry from Goodnight Gary
Drew Danburry on MySpace

"Waves" - Vinca Minor from Isolation
Vinca Minor on MySpace


"One Life Stand" - Hot Chip from One Life Stand
Hot Chip official website

"Dark Water" - Galactic from Ya-Ka-May
Galactic on MySpace

"The Splendour" - Pantha Du Prince from Black Noise
Pantha Du Prince on MySpace

"Resilient Bastard" - Shellshag from Rumors in Disguise
Shellshag on MySpace

"Your Neighbor's Trampoline" - Raina Rose from When May Came
Raina Rose website

"Drumming for Pistols" - Puerto Muerto from s/t debut
Puerto Muerto on MySpace

Recent releases from Yours Til Death, Brothers Gruesome & FM Belfast


The following are songs that were either sent to us late, or that we didn't have time to listen to and publish prior to the release date. First up, a double shot from the Silverlake (an area of LA east of Hollywood) band Yours Til Death. The band was the brainchild of singer/songwriter Adam Ross, who recently completed a world tour as guitarist for Rihanna. Ahhh, but don't worry, the band, which also features drummer Hayden Scott and bassist Dave Berg - are alternative rockers who can deliver a thrashing, forward-driving sound ("Cut and Paste"), as well as catchy, melodic ballads, such as on the track, "Look the Other Way." Following Yours Til Death is Iceland's popular electro-indie band, FM Belfast and OK City's relatively unknown Brother Gruesome.

"Cut and Paste" - Yours Til Death from their Delivered EP - released Jan. 7th

"Look The Other Way" - Yours Til Death from their Delivered EP

"Par Avion" - FM Belfast from How to Make Friends - released Feb. 2nd
FM Belfast on MySpace

"Naked Girls.com" - Brothers Gruesome from s/t EP - released Jan. 12th
Brother Gruesome on MySpace


More Posts/Playlists You Might Enjoy:

Best New Releases of the Week: (2/2) Midlake, The Album Leaf, King of Prussia, Seth Augustus, The Heligoats and More

Best New Releases This Week (1/26): Beach House, The Magnetic Fields, No Through Road, Woodpigeon, Retribution Gospel Choir, Citay, Boy Genius & More

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. II - Ex Norwegian, We All Have Hooks for Hands, Pistol for Ringo and Fredrik

Artist of the Week: DIY Singer/Songwriter Brent Nettles

Indie Record Label Spotlight: Standard Recording's Everthus The Deadbeats, Amo Joy, Everything, Now! and Big Big Car

Band to Watch: Nashville's The Vermicious K'nids

In Dee Mail Special Edition, Vol. VIII: The Middle East, The Love X Nowhere, Emanuel and the Fear, Solfege Radio and More

Labels: FM Belfast, Hot Chip, New Releases, Showstar, Yeasayer

Bella Union recording artist Midlake officially release their long-awaited 2010 album today, The Courage of Others. The band kicked off a three-month tour last week, and played to a sold out crowd Saturday night at Liverpool's The Willamson Tunnels. Midlake's tour will take them from the UK and throughout Europe through Feb. 18th.

On March 1st, after a little more than a week off, the band will resume their 2010 winter tour in Tucson and jaunt up the west coast of the U.S. to Canada, then through the heartland with a final stop in their homebase of Denton, Texas on March 13th. After a month hiatus, Midlake will set out for a two-week long tour of Europe. No official word if the band will perform at SXSW, but it's possible, since they will not be out on tour during the south's biggest music event that takes place in Austin from March 17-21st.

"Acts of Man" - Midlake from The Courage of Others
Midlake official website

Brooklyn band Bottle Up & Go have been rising on the indie rock radars in recent months, and no wonder. The band's 2009 EP, These Bones, is magnificent, and we're thrilled to share a new single with you all, produced and engineered by Jake Aron (Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer) and mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Black Dice, Obits) with Bear Hands' Val Loper on bass.

Other new releases this week include new albums from The Album Leaf, King of Prussia, Seth Augustus, The Heligoats, and tracks from January releases that we missed, including LPs from Los Campesinos, The Tenant, Worker Bee and Oh No Ono.

"Rather Be Dead" - Bottle Up & Go, single
Bottle Up & Go on MySpace

"Falling from the Sun" - The Album Leaf from A Chorus of Storytellers
The Album Leaf official website

"Waitin for Somethin'" - King of Prussia from The Time Of Great Forgetting
King of Prussia on MySpace

"Tiny Little Head" - Seth Augustus from To the Pouring Rain
Seth Augustus official website

"Fish Sticks" - The Heligoats from Goodness Gracious
The Heligoats on MySpace


January Releases We Missed:

"The Sea is a Good Place to Think about the Future" - Los Campesinos from Romance is Boring - Jan. 26, 2010
Los Campesinos official website

"The Stranger" - The Tenant from Listening/Visitors - Jan. 5, 2010
The Tenant on MySpace

"No Dreams" - Worker Bee from Tangler - DIY on Jan. 11, 2010
Worker Bee on MySpace

"Old Soul" - Giant Cloud from Old Books EP - Jan. 19, 2010
Giant Cloud on MySpace

"Internet Warrior" - Oh No Ono from Eggs - Jan. 15, 2010
Oh No Ono on MySpace

Labels: Midlake, New Releases

All the hype over Beach House's new album, Teen Dream, out today via Sub Pop Records, is more than well earned. We are not just going to jump on the BH band wagon (after listening to Teen Dream again and again for two weeks straight), but, we're willing to go a step further - regardless of what other sensational releases come out in the next 11 months, we think Teen Dream could be the best album of 2010 (although Midlake is poised to pose a strong challenge).

"Norway" - Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)

Stream Teen Dream on Spinner

Beach House on MySpace


Magnetic Fields - Realism

One of our favorite bands of all time, The Magnetic Fields, are back with their follow-up to Distortion, a folksy LP, titled Realism, which drops today via Nonesuch Records. Unlike the electric edge and reverbs of the appropriately named Distortion LP, Realism - meant to be a 'companion' piece' - centers more on acoustic strumming, folk sensibilities, flourishing keys and subject matter such as cults and shipwrecks. The blogger Spork wrote: "The Magnetic Fields continue their playful love-hate relationship with pop music with Realism, a new album full of love songs, un-love songs."

"Walk on a Lonely Road" - The Magnetic Fields from Realism (2010)

Magnetic Fields on Nonesuch Records

Magnetic Fields on MySpace

Magnetic Fields official website

Have You Seen This? Free, Legal downloads of Magnetic Fields' covers


Beastie Boys Vs. Alphabeat - "Intergalactic Spell"

White Panda Records sent us a mash up yesterday of The Beastie Boys vs. Alphabeat on a song called "Intergalatic Spell." Pretty cool; nice going White Panda - we're really starting to love you guys.

"Intergalactic Spell" - Beastie Boys vs. Alphabeat via White Panda Records from the Versus mixtape (2010)

No Through Road - Winner

Australian band, and Low Transit Industries recording artist, No Through Road, drop their second album, Winner, today. The songs, as evidenced by the "Girls Are The Devil" (but really, they're not) track below, demonstrate NTR's soaring, shredding and dark anthem-like rock, featuring elements of goth and punk - "like a Kiwi-distorted combo of Strokes, You Am I, Guided By Voices, Interpol and Pavement."

"Girls Are The Devil" - No Through Road from Winner (2010)

No Through Road on MySpace

Get Winner from Low Transit's Bandcamp page


Spirit Spine - Jungle Bridges

One of our top featured unsigned artists of 2009, Spirit Spine (aka Joseph Denny), who impressed us last year with his DIY home-recorded self-titled debut, is back with a new EP. In the span of less than a year, Denny has signed with Lovegiraffe Records and opened for well-known indie artists such as Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi.

"Slept Away" - Spirit Spine from Jungle Bridges (2010)

"Crashers" - Spirit Spine from s/t debut (2009)

Spirit Spine on MySpace


Retribution Gospel Choir - 2

Remember the spectacular slowcore band Low from Duluth, Minnesota? Well, they are one of the best 'underground' bands of the past two decades (and despite rumors, have not split up), and easily one of Minnesota's greatest contributions to the indie rock genre. Low's frontman Alan Sparhawk took some time off to form Retribution Gospel Choir in 2007 along with original Low bassist Steve Garrington and Eric Pollard on drums and vocals.

Their new album, 2, drops today via Sub Pop Records. RGC are currently on tour through mid-April, with jaunts throughout North America and Europe. Check the tour dates via their website link below or their MySpace page.

"Hide It Away" - Retribution Gospel Choir from 2 (2010)

Retribution Gospel Choir website


Woodpigeon - Die Stadt Muzikanten

Die Stadt Muzikanten is Woodpigeon's third full-length album and follow up to the internationally acclaimed Treasury Library Canada. The band's latest album was released on January 12 in Canada, via Boompa Records, and is available today in the States.

"Empty-Hall Sing-Along" - Woodpigeon from Die Stadt Muzikanten (2010)

Woodpigeon on Myspace



Citay - Dream Get Together

Surprisingly, a lot of music folks don't know about one of San Francisco's best bands - the psych pop rock outfit, Citay. The band's new album, Dream Get Together, is colorful, vibrant and full of fire and thrust, as demonstrated on the LP's opening track, the swinging, seven-minute psychedelic rock jam, "Careful with that Hat." The LP drops today, January 26th, via Dead Oceans Records.

"Cafeful with that Hat" - Citay from Dream Get Together (2010)

Citay on MySpace


Boy Genius - Staggering

Jason Korenkiewicz began writing songs in 2006 for what was then a two-man acoustic project. At a party one night that year, someone declared them, "neither boys, nor geniuses," and thus the name of the Brooklyn indie pop band came to be.

The band recorded their first two EPs, and their debut LP, Anchorage, with New York engineer Josh Clark, who is credited for his work with Beirut and the New Pornographers. For their latest album, Staggering - out today on Greenpop Records - the band worked with legendary producer and musician Mitch Easter, who is known famously for his work with bands such as Dinosaur Jr., REM, Pavement, Superchunk, Velvet Crush and many others.

Boy Genius consists of Korenkiewicz (guitar and vocals), Marisa Cerio (lead guitar), Lisa Klimkiewicz (drums), and Jeffrey Mensch (bass).

"Old New England" - Boy Genius from Staggering (2010)

"Ramona Saves The Day" - Boy Genius from Staggering (2010)

Boy Genius on MySpace


Other Releases Today:

"When You Walk in the Room" - Fyfe Dangerfield from Fly Yellow Moon (2010)

"Spy on the Floor" - Chicago Underground Duo from Boca Negra (2010)

"Hurried Feathers" - The Berndt from GBGBG (2010)

Better Late Than...

The following are tracks from other January releases that we missed for one reason or another.

"Lovely Weather" - The Vandelles from s/t debut (2010)

"City Kids" - Boy Without God from single release (2010)

This track is provided under the Creative Commons license via Bad Panda Records

"Poor Boy Can't Dance" - Barton Carroll from Together You and I (2010)

Check out all previous installments of Best New Releases of the Week

You Might Also Be Interested in These Posts:

Band of the Week: Boston's Elephantom Endorsed by Grizzly Bear; Blog Exclusive of Track for Upcoming LP

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. I - Ex Norwegian, We All Have Hooks for Hands, Pistol for Ringo and Fredrik

Best New Releases This Week (1/19/10): Spoon, Surfer Blood, The Eels, Feral Children, Editors, Big Star, Dinowalrus & Len Price 3

Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2009, Vol. III: Neko Case, Public Radio, Bishop Allen, Harlem Shakes, Deer Tick & More

In Dee Mail Special Edition Vol. VII - Essex Chanel, Scares The Daylights and The Binary Marketing Show

Favorite Indie and Alternative Songs of 2009, Vol. II - The Big Pink, The Thermals, Dan Auerbach, Telekinesis, Faunts & More

Labels: Beach House, New Releases, The Magnetic Fields

Every Tuesday, IRC posts what we think are the best new releases of the week. We shift through, and filter out, dozens and dozens of new releases each week, so that you don't have to. The artists and bands featured on IRC over the years are those which we invest in as well - we buy their music, go to their shows when we can, tell others about them, and so on.

Today's new releases include the long-awaited Transference from one of the best garage rock bands of the past decade, Spoon; plus fresh tracks from Florida's Band to Watch in 2010, Surfer Blood, The Eels, Feral Children, Major Stars, Editors, The Len Price 3, Dinowalrus.

Easily one of the best indie garage rock (or whatever you want to label them) bands of the past decade, Spoon, is back with a new album out today, Transference. While we haven't had the chance to listen to it thoroughly enough to give a reliable opinion, if the first single, "Written in Reverse," is any indication of the rest of the album, it looks to be yet another fantastic album from Spoon. Stream the album here. So far, it sounds fantastic.

"Written in Reverse" - Spoon from Transference (2010)
Spoon official website


Surfer Blood, a Floridian indie pop band signed with Kanine Records, have exploded in popularity in recent months, especially after appearances during CMJ in New York, and the release of advanced singles from their debut LP, Astro Coast, out today. The band, who lists their influences as female American authors, will launch a two-month tour of North America (and a brief jaunt in the UK), ending with four sets at Austin's South by Southwest.

Surfer Blood are touring with some of our favorite indie bands, including fellow Floridian indie band, Holiday Shores (whose 2009 debut LP is one of the best of the year), jungle surf -retro classic rock Nashville band, Turbo Fruits, plus other greats like British Sea Power, Pete and the Pirates, Monotonix, and two of Brooklyn's hottest new rock/tropical pop bands, The Drums and Beach Fossils.

Doubling, and tripling, up with such an amazing line-up of buzz bands on an extensive tour is a clear indication of a band's respect in the indie-sphere - with fellow musicians, critics, bloggers and, most importantly, indie music fans. We've already listen to Astro Coast again and again, and it is definitely one of the 2010 albums you want in your collection.

Although the release would have been suited more appropriately for a summer release, it might just be comforting to delve into the sun soaked harmonies, breezy melodies and hot rythyms of Astro Coast as an antidote to the depths of winter that grip most of the country right now.

"Swim" - Surfer Blood from Astro Coast (2010)
Surfer Blood on MySpace


Some critics are calling The Eels newest album, End Times, out today, perhaps their best release ever. At first listen (it's available for full stream via Spinner), that just may be the case. Time will tell, but so far, End Times is likely to satisfy new and old fans of one of rock's most quirky, talented bands.

Also, don't miss Seattle band Feral Children's new single from their fresh LP dropped today, plus new releases from Major Stars, Editors' latest, In This Light & On This Evening, available as a full album stream (via Spinner.) and other releases worth noting from Dinowalrus' %, and the UK's The Len Price 3's newest LP, Pictures.

"Little Bird" - The Eels from End Times (2010)
"End Times" - The Eels from End Times (2010) - via Stereogum
Get End Times on CD, digital or vinyl

"On A Frozen Beach" - Feral Children from Brand New Blood (2010)
Feral Children on MySpace

"The Space You Know" - Major Stars from Return to Form (2010)
Major Stars on MySpace

"Papillon" - Editors from In This Light and on This Evening (2010)
Editors' official website

"Nuke, Duke 'Em" - Dinowalrus from % (2010)
Dinowalrus on MySpace

"After You're Gone" - The Len Price 3 from Pictures (2010)
The Len Price 3 on MySpace

See/listen to last week's best new releases.

Labels: Beach Fossils, Florida Bands, Holiday Shores, New Releases, Surfer Blood, The Drums

For those of you not familiar with this series, IRC regularly profiles the best and most talented new and relatively unknown musicians and bands who send their music via email (thus, the silly title, In Dee Mail) by following the submission guidelines published on IRC's about page.

First up, the collective of musicians who have collaborated with members of Animal Collective is ever-expanding, and our next featured artist is just one of dozens. Sore Eros is the musical brainchild of Robert Robinson and has seen a number of different incarnations over the past decade.

In 2004, Robert moved to L.A. and, through a mutual friend, began to collaborate with Ariel Pink, who had recently signed with Animal Collective’s Pawtracks label. That led to Robinson being recruited by Animal Collective's Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) to accompany him on his British tour preceding the release of one of the best albums of the last decade, Lennox's debut solo release, Person Pitch.

"I met Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) about 12 years ago," Robertson told IRC. "We were both going to school in Boston. We kind of made up this band called The Hunted with a few of our friends. We only recorded a few songs, and those tapes are now lost (thankfully)....For the Panda Bear tour, I was supposed to play in Ariel Pink's band, but he got deported, so Noah was kind of enough to let Gary War and I to play in his band. I never heard any of the songs (neither did anyone else) that he was doing for that tour. Those songs would later become Person Pitch."

Upon the completion of the tour with Panda Bear, Robinson reignited his Sore Eros project. During the process of writing and recording his solo effort, Robinson collaborated with high school friend Adam Langellotti to produce the brilliant debut LP, Second Chants, released in February of last year via Shdwply Records.

Contributors to the album also include Kurt Vile, Gary War and Andy Tomasello (aka, Eat Cloud). Second Chants received wide critical acclaim, mostly on indie music blogs; here's an excellent review of the LP from TinyMixTapes.

There are so many terrific, even gorgeous, songs on Second Chants that it was a bit difficult to decide which to include without posting half of the LP's songs; that said, we strongly recommend getting a copy of this debut. We are almost sure that more people - especially Animal Collective/Ariel Pink/Panda Bear fans - will likely appreciate the work of Sore Eros.

Robinson has been working on the follow-up to his debut LP, and has been kind enough to share a new demo track, "Giraffe's Kiss," exclusively with IRC. He has also revealed exclusively to us that the new album title will be Know Touching, with hopes of releasing it sometime in the next month via Shdwply Records.

Robertson described to IRC the production of Know Touching: "We are still trying to grasp the
vibe for this record. Second Chants was a very inner record. Most of the songs were improvised and written in a very subconsciousness flowing way. I took most of the sketches that seemed to have interesting melodies and built them from there...Adam Langellotti came up with some really amazing orchestrations, and the sketches actually became songs."

"We recorded Second Chants in Pro Tools, where there was unlimited tracking and we went kind of crazy with layering and effects, creating that "chant" effect...with Know Touching, we are taking a different approach (by) recording...on 1/2'' 8-track reel-to-reel. This is limiting our use of layering and effects and forcing Adam and I to concentrate more on the actual song writing itself. The album is much more tangible."

From the yet unreleased new LP:

"Giraffe's Kiss" - Sore Eros from Know Touching (2010)

"Fooled Me" - Sore Eros from Know Touching (2010)

From the magnificent debut Second Chants:

"Lips Like Wine" - Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)

"Whisper Me" - Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)

"Smile on Your Face"- Sore Eros from Second Chants (2009)

Purchase Second Chants via InSound
Sore Eros on MySpace


The Melloncollies are the latest in a hallowed line of Brooklyn-bred quintets to unfurl the witty sonic flag and punch back: yes, pop can be daring. Their debut album, Goodbye, Cruel World, is abrasive, edgy and full of sheen. Another Brooklyn band poised to breakout in 2010.

"Simple Naive Someone" - The Melloncollies from Goodbye, Cruel World (2009)

The Melloncollies on MySpace


Formed in Brooklyn in 2007, and founded by former members of Philadelphia's Asteroid #4 and psych-pop ensemble Three Four Tens, the band Himalaya is making its hallucinogenic mark on NYC with its signature sound, and a self-titled debut that packs a psychedelic punch.

Employing deep drones, ghostly melodies, and spacey, noisy waves of guitar, Himalaya calls to mind their influences - from Spiritualized and Spaceman 3, to the Jesus and the Mary Chain and Pink Floyd. Himalaya's self-titled debut is a collection of nine songs that embody the band's distinct voice, unrelenting style, and sonic spaciousness.

"Melt Away" - Himalaya from s/t debut (2009)

Himalaya on MySpace

Matias Aguayo’s "Rollerskate" is an exercise in how catchy a simple, repetitive hook can be. Out on Kompakt Records from his latest release, this tune is a body-moving beast, a dance floor hit at heart with a chill-out backbone. Fans of El Guincho or LCD Soundsystem will likely dig this track.

"Rollerskate" - Matias Aguayo from Ay, Ay, Ay (2009)

Matias Aguayo on Facebook

Stay tuned, we have oodles of music to share with you all in coming weeks. In the meantime, you can also browse through the In Dee Mail series to pick up a lot of great tracks from talented artists and bands you probably won't hear about anywhere else.

Labels: Himalaya, In Dee Mail, New Releases, Sore Eros, The Melloncollies

It's not all about Vampire Weekend, but as far as new releases this week, it largely is all about Vampire Weekend. In an addition to our special feature here of the release of their new LP, we want to share with you great music from Dreamboat Money, Technoir MA, Final Fantasy, We+Are+The+City, The Scruffs, Jason Boesel, Nana Grizol and The Paperbacks (in no particular order).

So, one of the most anticipated sophomore albums of the past few years is finally out; Vampire Weekend's new album, Contra, the follow-up to their half-million-selling, self-titled debut, hit the store shelves today. From our very early listen - thanks to an album stream on the band's site, and via NPR, Contra is an impressive collection of fun, witty and masterfully written and recorded songs that will surely refuel the band's astronomical success.

That said, it will take some time to absorb the complete LP in its entirety; the danger is in the fact that the band has been so exposed (over-exposed?) and wildly popular (hyped?) in the past year and a half - propelling them out the 'indie' scene to the mainstream - that Contra will be held to a higher standard than if they were just another band.

There is no doubt that Vampire Weekend is a band of immensely talented, young musicians who weave upbeat and interesting songs that incorporate various musical styles (from Afro-pop to Latin fusion), instrument experimentation, falsetto vocals and choruses and compelling lyrics that result in memorable, catchy tracks.

In the end, despite what the critics and bloggers say, it will be the fans of Vampire Weekend, as well as the more casual listeners, who ultimately decide the success of the band's sophomore release in the coming months.

After having seen Vampire Weekend perform live at least four times in the past 18 months, we must say that, if you get a chance, they are a spectacular live band, and often prefer to play in smaller venues, as their most recent tour so well demonstrated.

Following a CD release party tonight at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, the band are setting out on a four-month European and North American tour that includes a string of already sold out shows in the UK. Check Vampire Weekend's MySpace page for the full tour schedule.


- Order the LP and stream individual tracks via Beggars Group or XL Recordings
- For a limited time orders of the CD or LP will ship with a bonus 3 song CD* containing:
1. "Contramelt A" (album mega-mix version A)
2. "Contramelt B" (album mega-mix version B)
3. "Cousinz" (Toy Selectah Mex-More Remix)

"Horchata" - Vampire Weekend from Contra (2010) - via Stereogum

"White Sky" (Live on Jimmy Fallon) - Vampire Weekend from Contra (2010)

See all of IRC's posts about Vampire Weekend dating back to early 2008.


The next band from Vancouver, British Columbia, we think are one of the newest Canadian bands to watch in 2010. Dreamboat Money's impressive debut, If Found Please Listen, was released officially today via Hipjoint Records, and is available as a free download on Active Minds Productions.

"I Can't Wait To Come Home" - Dreamboat Money from If Found Please Listen

"It's About Time?" - Dreamboat Money from If Found Please Listen

Technoir MA made the decision to record a second EP merely days after completing their first back in May of this year; the thought being that the new EP would become a slightly harder hitting companion piece. When they cut the tracks the third weekend of September, they spent more time with the overdubs, often improvising them. As a result, the Ramones-meets-New Order pulse of "Desire" was given a jangle-like lilt, "Sparks" became simultaneously more aggro and more shoegaze, while the guitar-break in "Use of Force" became an elaborate three-part "surf orchestra".

Hitting their groove, "Return" was recorded on the fly creating a neatly guided detour into darker and spacier territory before the sonic jump of "Use of Force". Having finished the overdubs and mixing in early October, the EP was realized to be a document well beyond a companion piece to the first record and christened it 2/B. The band will be promoting 2/B in 2010 as if it were a proper LP, with plans to take it on the road along with a batch of new songs.

"Sparks" - Technoir MA from 2/B (2010)


Other songs from new releases today you might enjoy:

"Lewis Takes Action" - Final Fantasy from Heartland (2010)

"There Are Very Tiny Beasts in the Ground" - We+Are+The+City from In a Quiet World (2009)

"Treasure Girls" - The Scruffs from Conquest (2010)

"Hand of God" - Jason Boesel from Hustler's Son (2010)

"For Things That Haven't Come Yet" - Nana Grizol from Ruth (2010)

"Slow Learners" - The Paperbacks from Lit from Within (2010)

Labels: Dreamboat Money, New Releases, Technoir MA, Vampire Weekend