August 31, 2012

Alex Clare is Too Close

Alex Clare brings us this soulful track called "Too Close".

Why do I not think a guy who sings like this would dress like that? Too cool.

August 30, 2012

Blood Red Shoes In Time to Voices

Blood Red Shoes have released a video for the title track from In Time To Voices. It's a powerful mid-tempo rocker and the video demonstrates the strength-building that can come from guitar playing. Intense.



Favourites: The Gaslight Anthem

The '59 Sound

August 29, 2012

Duke Spirit's Glorious new single, and more

Here's a cool new single by The Duke Spirit called "Glorious". They play great guitar and bass heavy alternative music with strong female vocals. Love it!

"Glorious"


And if you're new to this band, here are some great songs from 2008's Neptune.

"Lassoo"


"The Step And The Walk"


"Send A Little Love Token"


"This Ship Was Built To Last"

August 28, 2012

Favourites: James with Sit Down

I loved this song from the first time I heard it. And I had the opportunity to play it live, too. Fun song.

James, with "Sit Down"

August 27, 2012

Take Drugs release video, take drugs, get erased

Take Drugs are a Toronto punk band. I mentioned their EP Got Destruction here. Now they've got a video out for the track "Be Erased". Check it out below and catch these guys live. Really. Do it. All the cool kids are doing it. You want to be cool, right? Well, check out take drugs. The first listen is free.



And here's "I Hate the World Today".


August 26, 2012

More Cults

I really like Cults. The band. Not the gangs of delusional religious nutters.

The melodies they write are so nice and addictive. Familiar and retro, but unique and beautiful. I think they're a good antidote for a Monday.

"You Know What I Mean"

"Go Outside"

I previously posted "Abducted".


August 25, 2012

The House that Heaven Built by Japandroids

I know I posted this great, great song by Japandriods when they appeared on Jimmy Fallon, but now that they have an official video out, and that video was filmed in part at the iconic Lee's Palace here in Toronto, I have to post it.


I am loving Celebration Rock, the latest album by Japandroids. Get it now!

August 24, 2012

New music from The Joy Formidable - Wolf's Law

I really got to love The Joy Formidable in recent times, getting to see them live and enjoying their recorded output immensely, as evidenced by how they placed on my best of lists.

This new song, "Wolf's Law", is a quieter, piano-based song that steps up the intensity about half way through. It's not as bombastic as some of their tunes, and features a beautiful melody. The visuals fit perfectly.


Download the song here as well.

August 23, 2012

Very cool video for Bob Mould's The Descent

I posted Bob Mould's new song "The Descent" twice now, once in a live clip and once for the official track. Now the video is out.

Normally, I'm a song guy first and post videos mostly because they contain the song and they're an easy way to put the song on the site. However, in this case the video itself is cool. It's Bob playing a fired office worker who goes off to find himself. I think Bob does a convincing job.

Might we see some acting in Mr. Mould's future?


What an awesome song! Silver Age is out September 4.

August 22, 2012

New Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital

Please find below the eponymous video from forthcoming State Hospital EP by Frightened Rabbit. Enjoy as you see fit. The EP comes out September 24 and they're here in Toronto at my favourite venue The Mod Club October 10.

August 21, 2012

New Muse song called Madness

Muse have a new album called The 2nd Law coming out October 2. They've just released the lyric video for "Madness". It finds the trio experimenting with some new sounds and I think it will definitely get some strong reactions from fans.

August 20, 2012

New Mother Mother video

Mother Mother's new album The Sticks is out September 18. I posted the track "Let's Fall In Love" and now they have a violent, boxing themed video for the catchy tune for your sensory enjoyment.

August 19, 2012

Songs of the iPod: Great set of songs

On my usual random playlist, which serves up a mix from across my musical collection, I received the treat of a great little set of tunes. So great, that I had to share it. Awesome randomness!

Broken Social Scene with "7/4 Shoreline"


Rainbow Butt Monkeys with "Circles"


Husker Du with "Divide and Conquer"


and Dinosaur Jr. with "The Wagon"


Oldies but goodies.

August 18, 2012

New music from The Presets

The Presets have a new album on the way. Here are two tracks from it - "Youth In Trouble" and "Ghosts". The album, Pacifica, is out September 14.



And here's the first song I ever heard by The Presets, it's "Are You The One?" from their 2005 album Beams. It's one of my all-time favourite tunes. It'll getcha movin'!



August 17, 2012

Contstant Conversations from Passion Pit

"Constant Conversations" is another track from Passion Pit's latest release, Gossamer. It's a mellow, laid-back and the video has that retro, Mad Men-era aesthetic.

August 16, 2012

New music from The Heavy

The Heavy have a new album on the way called The Glorious Dead. Here's a song called "What Makes a Good Man?". You can get the album on August 21.



They definitely still have that 70s-modern, grimy funk with the heavy hits on the one kinda sound.


August 15, 2012

New Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes has put out a video for the first song from her new album. The song is called "Laura" and the album is The Haunted Man. It will be out October 15.

Listen to this lovely song below. The chords and vocals in the verses remind me of "Working Class Hero" and the soaring chorus will lift your heart.



August 14, 2012

New Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro are a fairly heavy but still melodic band from Scotland. For my money, 2007's Puzzle is their greatest album (so far).

They've got a new one on the way. It's called Opposites. You can check out "Stingin' Belle" below. I like it!


As for a release date, the band's web site somewhat-ambiguously states, "You'll also be able to pre-order 'Opposites', and get your hands on 'Stingin' Belle', from September 17th."

August 13, 2012

Men Without Hats are back!

If you lived through the 80s or listened to popular music since the 80s you've probably heard "The Safety Dance" by a Montreal band called Men Without Hats.

Well, they're back!

Here's a track from their recently released album Love in the Age of War. Sounds good, with an unmistakeable Men Without Hats sound courtesy of those classic keyboards and Ivan's voice.


You can get the mp3 at Spinner.

And just cuz I can, here's "The Safety Dance". An all-time classic.

August 12, 2012

Favourites: Spoon with Car Radio

Seriously. Great tune. If you don't know it, listen to it. If you know it, listen to it again. It's worth it.

Spoon. "Car Radio". A Series of Sneaks. 2002.

August 11, 2012

More Parakeet

Did you see this post on a song by Parakeet, the side project of Yuck's bassist?

Whether you did or whether you didn't, you should hear more from this great band.  Here is "Paper Scissors Stone",



And "Shonen Hearts".





They've also done a trilogy of covers and accompanying videos.

Here's their version of Husker Du's "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely". Beautiful version.



"Restless", originally by Gumball,



And "Campaign Against Torpidity", originally by No Wings Fins or Fuselage.



I love this band's loud, fluid, reverby sound.

August 10, 2012

New Stars song #3

If you've already heard "The Theory of Relativity" and "Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It" from the new Stars album The North, check out "Backlines". The new album is released September 4.

August 9, 2012

Another new song from The xx's Coexist

I love the quiet beauty of The xx's music. Here's another new song from Coexist. The song is called "Chained" and the new album is out September 11.



August 8, 2012

New Bob Mould: The Descent from Silver Age

I'm so excited. A first (official) taste of the new Bob Mould album Silver Age. "The Descent" is below. In short, it sounds amazing. Very much like Sugar in it's cranked guitars, insistent drums and often-imitated-never-duplicated vocals.

A gig announcement for The Mod Club here in Toronto is all it will take to make it all complete for me.

The album is out September 4.



Also, the Sugar reissues are out. They contain enough bonus material that I'll probably buy them again myself. Here's a shot of the FU:EL vinyl pressing.


August 7, 2012

Great new Chairlift song

You remember the Chairlift song "Bruises" from the iPod nano ad. Here's a new song from them called "Met Before" that turns what you know about Chairlift on its head. It's faster, more agressive, with a pounding bassline and 80s approved synth sounds. Great chorus, too.

Their latest album Something is out now.

August 6, 2012

August 5, 2012

Cover of Platinum Blonde's Not In Love

It's Crystal Castles with a cover of 80s Canadian music darlings Platinum Blonde's "Not In Love" sung by 80s musical legend Robert Smith of The Cure.


And why not, here's the original.  I was actually at this very concert.


And a great song by The Cure - "Just Like Heaven".

August 4, 2012

What's the time? 2:54

2:54 is one of those bands that I had heard of, but for one reason or another, or because of compete and total lethargy and apathy, I did not seek out a song to sample. It's a good thing that their song sought me out, because I like it. The song is called "Creeping" and you might like it too. Or you might be sitting there going, duh, what took you so long, doofus.



August 3, 2012

Favourites: Cold War Kids

I love this song. I saw Cold War Kids open for Muse a few years back and really wanted to see what they would do live. I didn't like anything else they played. But I still love this song.

From their 2006 album Robbers & Cowards, this is "Hang Me Up To Dry".

August 2, 2012

The Wombats

The Wombats are a British mop-top group... Shit, that's wrong.

I have their 2007 album The Wombats Proudly Present..A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation, but managed to miss 2011's The Wombats proudly Present... This Modern Glitch. Here's a song from that album called "Jump Into The Fog".


And another one called "Techno Fan"

The first song I heard from these guys. The great, bouncy track "Let's Dance To Joy Division".

August 1, 2012

New video for new P!nk

Here's another case where I posted the song, and now we have a video. It's P!nk with "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)". The new album is out September 18 and it's called The Truth About Love. Finally it will be revealed.

The song is pure Pink - a great, catchy pop song with plenty of attitude.