Official video for The Killers' Runaway

I know I only just posted the new Killers song "Runaways", but they've released the official video for the song, and I'm compelled to post it. It just struck me that this sounds like it could be a Jim Steinman song. Great fun athemic rock!

Free song from the new Whigs album

The Whigs are releasing their new album Enjoy the Company on September 18. You can trade your email address for the single "Waiting" here. It's a true Whigs rocker. A great three-piece rock song through and through. Trust me, if you like The Whigs, or straight ahead rock/alternative/indie/whatever-you-want-to-call-real-rock-music-these-days, you'll like it.

Great summer song from Grouplove

I know it's not new, but while driving along in the scorching July weather here in Toronto, Grouplove's "Tongue Tied" came up on the radio. With the sunroof and windows open on a hot summer evening, it's a perfect song.

Nada Surf are Waiting for Something

Many people who don't watch the indie/alternative scene closely will only remember Nada Surf by their one radio hit "Popular". That's a real shame, since they put out such consistently great music. Here are two of my faves, "Imaginary Friends" and "Waiting For Something".

Go check out more Nada Surf!

Surprise Song #5

Like Fungus

Okay, okay, this tune by Cloud Nothings called "Stay Useless" has finally grown on me.

Brendan Benson's Pretty Baby video

Brooding, melancholy, disturbing. Quite the mood you've set there, Mr. B.

Jack White's Freedom at 21

Here's the very stylish video for Jack White's "Freedom at 21" from Blunderbuss. Great album. I'm actually enjoying this more than any White Stripes albums.

Iggy Pop and Bethany Cosentino sing for True Blood

On a recent episode of True Blood, the track "Let's Boot and Rally" by Iggy Pop and Bethany Cosentino (of Best Coast) was performed. Listen, it's cool!

Check out DIIV

Have you heard of DIIV? They are one of those bands who fall victim to a cool name that some other band has already laid claim to. They used to be Dive, a band name taken by at least two bands. They just released their debut album Oshin. It's really, really good with swirling guitars and reverb soaked melodies. The first video is below for the track "How Long Have You Known?"

Runaways - New Killers

The Killers have a new album Battle Born coming out this fall. They've just put out the first track, "Runaways", for our listening and dancing pleasure. While it doesn't grab me like "Somebody Told Me" did when I first heard it, it does build to a strong, anthemic chorus. Check it out below.

New Mother Mother

Mother Mother are coming out with a new album called The Sticks on September 18. Here are two tracks, the powerful first single "Let's Fall In Love" and the title track. Bring it on Mothers - sounds great!

Another new Stars song

As I previously posted, Stars have a new album, The North, coming out September 4. They shared a song called "The Theory of Relativity" and now they're sharing another song, this one called "Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It". Listen below. Sounding goooood!

New song from The xx

The xx have released a new song from their new album Coexist. The song's called "Angels" and the album comes out September 11. It's a sparse track with a great melody. I'm looking forward to this album very, very much.

Listen to Passion Pit's Gossamer

A while back, I posted the great track "Take a Walk" from Passion Pit's new album Gossamer. The whole album is now up at NPR for streaming. Sounds like a fun and uplifting record. It will be out July 24.

Here's the video for "Take a Walk".

The Gaslight Anthem Handwritten previews are up

UPDATE: You can stream the album in full now at NPR. This is why I don't usually post teasers. Lesson learned. Again.

I don't usually post little teasers of tracks, but I'm going to make an exception for the new Gaslight Anthem. They have posted clips of all the songs on Handwritten on their youtube page. Check 'em:


"45"

"Handwritten"

"Here Comes My Man"

"Mulholland Drive"

"Keepsake"

"Too Much Blood"

"Howl"

"Biloxi Parish"

"Desire"

"Mae"

"National Anthem"

Sounds like another awesome Gaslight Anthem album to me!

Two from Mystery Jets' Radlands

At the end of April, Mystery Jets released their most recent album, Radlands. It's a pretty straight up guitar pop affair. Here are a couple of tunes for your listening and bopping pleasure.

"Greatest Hits"

"Someone Purer"

Don't strain my brain, dude

Nothing overly mentally taxing here. Let's hear it for youthful exuberance. Funeral Party with "Finale".

"New York City Moves To The Sound of L.A."

And here's "Giant Song"

I love this band's energy.  Favourite comment from YouTube: "I saw these guys live ages back and thought they were shit, now I want to go back in time and punch myself in the face." I think we've all felt like this at one time or another.

Bloody Beach

Fun song! Bloody Beach with "Gonzo Blues".

Amanda Palmer is naked and wants it back

Amanda Palmer has made headlines for her album fund raising efforts and has now released a song from her forthcoming album Theatre is Evil. The song is "Want it Back" and Amanda's naked in a lot of it, so I guess you shouldn't watch this with your boss or easily-offended co-workers around. NSFW.

Fun tune. I like it!

New Bloc Party song Octopus

Cool hook. Lots of energy. Destined to grow on me. What is it? An "Octopus". The first track from Bloc Party's new album Four, which comes out August 20.

Sleeper Agent

Here's a boppy song from Sleeper Agent called "Get Burned". You can dance like Molly Ringwald to this song.



And here's "Get It Daddy".

Lyrical Snippet of the Moment: The National

The National write some of my favourite songs. They write fantastic songs and come up with a great lyric too.

"I was afraid I'd eat your brains because I'm evil"

Roni video from Chikita Violenta

Just surfing around Arts & Crafts' web site and I realized I never posted the video for "Roni" by Chikita Violenta from their 2011 TRE3S album.

Enjoy!

Little Boots with Phil Oakley

Thought so. It's the male singer from Human League, Phil Oakley, singing with Little Boots on this track, "Symmetry".

And what the hell, here's one of my favourite old Human League tunes - "The Lebanon"

And here's a new song from Little Boots called "Every Night I Say A Prayer".

Cookie Duster!

Yup, it's another name for a big moustache: Cookie Duster. It's also Brendan Canning's (BSS, hHead) latest project.

Here's the video for "Two Feet Stand Up" from their début album When Flying Was Easy. Good tune. White stuff. Paint.

And here's another album track called "Cut Me, Focus".

New P!nk

I like a great, straight-up pop song, and P!nk has been delivering such things for years. This is her newest tune, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)". Such language, Pinky!




Nice one!

Maccabees with Went Away

It's good, straightforward rock and there's nothing wrong with that. The Maccabees with "Went Away".

New Dinosaur Jr. song Watch The Sky

Dinosaur Jr are releasing a new album called I Bet On Sky on September 18. Here's a song called "Watch the Corners". Groovy! Great guitar playing!

The View have a new album on the way

The View's new album will be called Cheeky For A Reason and it will be out July 9 in the UK. Hopefully it will be out in North America right away on July 10. "How Long" is the first single and here's the video.

That's messed up.

Favourites: Childhood memories

When I was less than 10 years old, my dad bought me a radio. My parents listened to classical music and CBC AM radio. The only pop or rock music I heard was on our old black and white TV with 3 channels (Do you remember Solid Gold or the Kenny Everett Video Show or The New Music?) or on this new radio. I discovered stations like CHUM-FM and CILQ-Q107 and my ears were opened. I heard songs like:

"Sausalito Summernight" by Diesel

Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light" as done by Manfred Mann

"Mama Let Him Play" by Doucette

"A Million Vacations" by Max Webster


"Surface to Air" by FM


"Something on my Mind" by Teenage Head


And since almost all these artists are Canadian, I'll say this is a great post for Canada Day.