Daily Tune: Local Natives – Black Balloons

A brand new album from Local Natives was released today! I’ve had a chance to listen to it once through and then revisit a couple songs on the way back from work and well, if you liked Gorilla Manor you’re gonna love Hummingbird. We features the same heavy percussion and intimate yet powerful feel that we all fell in love back when “Wide Eyes” was first released. My only issue with the album is that it doesn’t try anything particularly new or have any immediate stand out tracks. Don’t get me wrong the album is good just from the fact that it’s more of the same from a fantastic band but most of the songs would’ve fit right in on their last album. With that being said, I still have to listen to it some more and then I can come to a firm stance.

Daily Tune: Cold War Kids – Miracle Mile

 

Cold War Kids are back! Their newly released track “Miracle Mile” is sublime indie rock. It’s driven heavily by piano and soaring vocals that should more than enough to put a little hop in your step. Look forward to more in their upcoming LP Dear Miss Lonelyhearts.

 

“I was supposed to do great things…”

905 Mixtape: We Are Infinite

“In this moment I swear… we are infinite”

It’s been a long time since I made one of these mixtapes. Beyond school and other time devouring activities the main reason for not putting one out was simply a lack of inspiration. But lately my life has been pretty awesome. I’ve moved into a beautiful new city, I’m working a new job and I’ve just seen one of the most touching and inspirational movies ever made.

The movie I’m talking about is The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this, watch it and then come back and listen to the mixtape. This is the kind of movie where every person over the age of 14 can connect deeply with one of the many themes and issues in this film (Think Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dazed and Confused, The Breakfast Club, and pretty much any film made by John Hughes). Every character is brilliantly acted and I found myself literally depressed at the end because the characters I had grown to love had simply ceased to be in my life. I actually had to watch it the next day to compensate!

I really hope this mixtape can capture the feeling I had when watching the film. The sense that you’re completely understood. The moment when your smile is so big that your face starts to hurt. The tingling sensation that rushes through your body when you feeling like you can do anything. The feeling of being infinite.

 

Download Here

Tracklist:

1. Michael Brook – Charlie’s Last Letter
2. Team Me – Weathervanes and Chemicals
3. Alt-J – Dissolve Me
4. Mardeen – Oh Dad
5. Plaid Dragon – Bird Years
6. Future Screens – All My Daydreams
7. Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot
8. Japandroids – Fire’s Highway
9. Oberhofer – Haus
10. San Cisco – Fred Astaire
11. Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen

Daily Tune: Bear’s Den – Pompeii

For my first daily tune back from the hiatus I’ve chosen this folk gem, “Pompeii.” Bear’s Den is a 3-piece indie-folk band that have captured the attention of bloggers everywhere and even managed to land opening spots for the likes of Matt Corby, Of Monsters and Men, and Mumford and Sons. However, unlike Mumford and Sons this song is more about raw emotion than hoedowns.

It’s simple, beautiful and easy to get lost in. Pompeii is a solemn piece about the death of his mother and we’re able to feel the regret, sadness and longing that are woven through the lyrics. Even though it has a melancholy core there is always a sense of hope throughout the track that carries you through. This is a definitely a band to watch out for.

Daily Tune: Freelance Whales – Locked Out

Freelance Whales hold a special place in the heart. They were one of the first bands that I discovered when I got into the indie scene in 2009. Songs like “Starring” and “Generator^First Floor” bring me back to a time when I was discovering all of this great music that I had no idea existed. So with that being said, it should be no surprise that I’m extremely fond of this track. Freelance whales create music that always have this youthful sense of wonder and innocence. “Locked Out” is no different. It practically bursts with happiness and has no trouble bringing us back to memories from our youth. Though the folk instruments keep everything deceitfully simple, the horns and simple refrains of “we have the rations to go anywhere” make this one hell of an indie anthem. Locked Out is available as a free download from the band’s website. Their sophomore album Diluvia comes out on October 9th.

Daily Tune: Kids These Days – I Don’t Know

New song from my favorite up and coming band? Count me excited. Listening to a Kids These Days track is like time traveling through the entire history of popular music in one listen. There’s just elements of every genre which makes for a completely unique yet familiar experience. The band goes a bit harder in this one trading their clean guitar sound for a much more grittier and distorted groove. There’s just so much to love about this song. From the reverb-ed out crooning from the lead singer to the frenetic energy that MC Vic Mensa dumps on the track. Oh yeah… and then there’s the absolutely ridiculous dueling trumpets solo. Pure insanity. I hope you enjoy watching this band rise to the top with me.

Daily Tune: Siskiyou – Twigs & Stones

This is a not so new song by Siskiyou but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. If you’re not familiar with the band, they’re actually the side project of indie darlings Great Lake Swimmers. This song starts out soft and acoustic with Erik Arnesen singing in a voice that I find very similar to some of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s early work. However it evolves into something more dramatic. The instrumentation is like Beirut + Frightened Rabbit which is pretty much my dream combination. This is another one of those songs that I could see playing in an episode of Chuck. There is no higher praise I can give than that.

Daily Tune: Paul Stewart – Horses Mouth

This song reminds me of an early morning in the spring. The sun’s not quite out and there’s some fog creeping across the distance. Paul Stewart’s Horses Mouth has created an utterly captivating piece of music. Careful picking, soft piano and Paul’s voice pick you up and carry you across a deceptively rich soundscape. Accordions, trumpets, synthesizers, and clarinets all make small cameos in the track and add to the delicate atmosphere that the song exudes. It’s hard not to get lost in it all.

Daily Tunes (February 28th and 29th)

I kind of forgot to do post a daily tune yesterday. I’m really really busy now but I promised that I’d keep this up so I’ll post up to songs today to make up for it.

Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

http://soundcloud.com/iceland-music-export/of-monsters-and-men-little

I don’t have enough praise for this band. They’re such a unique sounding band and their songs have tons of different elements. This infectious piece of indie-pop comes off of their debut album My Head is an Animal. It has beautiful vocals and uplifting horns. It’s just impossible to listen to this without a smile on your face!

Terence Ryan – Skeleton (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Remix)

http://soundcloud.com/3qtr/terence-ryan-skeleton-ft-yeah

This is probably one of my favorite hip-hop songs right now. Terence Ryan takes Skeleton by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and gives it his own spin. I love hearing rappers sample and remix indie songs just like Chiddy Bang or Hoodie Allen. Terence has some fantastic verses and gives Skeleton a subtle but appreciated facelift to fit his rapping. He maintains the feel of the original, but I have to say that I like this version a bit more. This is definitely going in my new mixtape.

Daily Tune (February 27th 2012)

Bahamas – I Got You Babe

This track is a really feel-good track. Bahamas aka Afie Jurvarnen is a Canadian singer-songwriter who just happens to be Feist’s guitar player. This song has one of the most memorable guitar riffs I’ve heard in a while. It’s so simple and relaxing but infectious at the same time. In a world filled with sappy indie love songs, it’s great to hear one that breaks the mould. If you like this song, you should check out his album Pink Strat.