I'VE BEEN STRUCK BY AN IDEA

TOP 5 WEEKLY PLAYLIST COMING SOON STAY TUNED AND IN THE MEAN TIME LOOK AT THIS PICTURE OF EZRA KOENIG ...yeah.

March Madness? Try MAY Madness!

The title says it all, but I'll say it again: MAY MADNESS. Or, in other words, April showers bring May releases!

I may or may not be peeing myself with excitment. May is going to rock. The mixture of floral dresses/leather jackets and album releases will have me in a semi-permenant, uncharecteristic, euphoric mood. If anyone wants to find me, I'll be hiding behind my xylophone in the band room with my earphones in, plotting how to pay my parents back for all of the albums I buy without blowing all of my tutoring money.

Here's a few albums that'll be hitting iTunes this May:

Cults, an indie pop duo, exploded with popularity after releasing three songs. That was last year. You can imagine the racket 11 more songs will create. This year, they've decided they will release eleven, with the unveiling of their self-titled album. We can look forward to some great dance parties this summer, when the album hits stores in Europe May 31st, and US on June 7th.

Dreamy indie/alt band, The Antlers, plan to release their new album Burst Apart on May 9th. You can expect a serious falsetto, backed with steady drums, head-spinning synths, and electric guitar. They've released their single, "Parentheses", which is up to listen to at Pitchfork.com (<--click!) and you can pre-order the album from their site (<--click!) and immediatley recieve a digital copy of "Parentheses".

The Fleet Foxes are back and better than ever. Out May 3rd, Helplessness Blues has been creating quite the buzz. This is no sophmore slump according to critics, and I'm ecstatic to verify this upon hearing their first single, Grown Ocean. It seems they've kept the poetic lyrics, the misty, harmonic voices, and distant guitars, and I couldn't ask for more.

Death Cab for Cutie plans to release Codes and Keys on May 31st. I have to say that while listening to the newly released second single, "Home is a Fire", I was brought back to the days of Postal Service. The song tackles the mod-electro-rock vibe that I thought was foreign to Death cab. Evidently, I was wrong. The sound compliments the band, and I applaud them for taking a new (catchy) direction.

PS: the band did this live music video thing to their first single, "You Are a Tourist", airing it as it was being recorded, something that few bands have dared to do. I personally think the video is like some tricked out house of mirrors/amusement park or something, but you can decide for yourself: http://www.youareatourist.com/

That's all for now. Have a listen and let me know: what release are YOU most excited for?

Goodbye, LCD Soundsystem

They were loud, they were quirky, they were extravagent, and now they're gone. On Saturday, April 2nd, at Madison Square Garden, LCD Soundsystem hit the stage for the last time. With openers such as Shit Robot, and guests as panic-inducing as Arcade Fire, who crashed North American Scum (which is ironic--they're quite Canadian) the indie-icons rocked out for three hours, and left in a style we music groupies haven't seen in ages. They closed with New York I Love You, showering fans with white balloons and left. They just left. Now, that's not to say there hasn't been a band that's broken up, and stayed that way. The Smiths, for example, haven't ever officially gotten back together, and Neutral Milk Hotel hasn't been heard from since '98. But what band has ever gone out with such poise? The music industry was accustomed to bands attempting to murder eachother, or members OD'ing, ultimatley leading to a long break up, and hasty reunion twenty years later, that when LCD Soundsystem announced that they were breaking up, not because they hate eachother, but because they've got things to do, majority of us were like "Oh...you can do that?" As much as I'd enjoy a reunion in, say, 2032, when they're 70 and have all got terrible arthritis or something, I like to think they'll keep their dignity. They won't pull a Sex Pistols, an AC/DC, a The Who, no, they'll stay put and produce. (James Murphey and other members already have produced wonderful music with Spoon, and many other bands) In some ways it's comforting to know that the next couple of years will be musically controlled by LCDS. We can anticipate incredible beats and glorious riffs thanks to James and the band. So, LCD Soundsystem, I tip my hat to you all, wipe a tear for the loss, but look forward to hearing the birth of new bands, of new music, all of which you're behind.

The Ravonettes

The positivley wonderful Danish duo, The Raveonettes, have released their single, "Recharge and Revolt" that will accompany their upcoming album, Raven in the Grave (out April 4th, 2011!) With a past filled with hauntingly beautiful, and clever lyrics ("I fell out of heaven/To be with you in hell/"...que the chills!) The Raveonettes have lived up to their reputation. The single is mysterious, with muffled vocals and a steady riff, and accompanied by perhaps one of the most thought-inducing videos around. Have a listen. Recharge and Revolt - The Raveonettes

Peter Bjorn and John

Swedish rockers Peter Bjorn and John (aka PB&J, the coolest band name ever), have returned with a new single "Second Chance".

It's so good.

Have a listen.
Second Chance - Peter Bjorn and John

Adele/21

When Adele's sophmore album became available for pre-order on iTunes, I, without hesitation, hit that pre-order button and counted down the days until I could call it my own. When the day came, I sat and listened to the album song by song, straight through, and thought only one thing: genius.

I hesitantly say that 21 is perhaps, my favorite album of 2011 (So far. I mean, who's to say The Killers and the Velvet Underground won't make a whole album together, and feature The Vaccines on it? That'll be the day.) The album has a R&B, jazz, pop, straight blues, vibe that compliments her voice brilliantly. It's obvious that in the two years between her albums, she's gone through and awful lot. From love, in "I Found a Boy" to hopefulness, in "I'll Be Waiting" to terrible heartbreak, in "Someone Like You", Adele is sharing those experiences with you. Check out her album, 21. I promise you won't regret it.

Have a listen to this version of "Someone Like You" by Adele, with a small interview.

Someone Like You - Adele (Live in her home)

LCD Soundsystem Goes Out With a Bang

Electro-gods LCD Soundsystem has announced their farwell concert to take place Saturday, April 2nd. The show is expected to be epic and massive, jam packed with guests, and will be at Madison Square Garden. Those who attend have been asked by the band to wear black, white, or black and white, as it is the 'funeral' of the band. The band states on their site: "We are retiring from the game. Gettin’ out. Movin’on. But for just one more night, we will be playing with friends and family for nearly 3 hours–playing stuff we’ve never played before and going out with a bang. And we’d like you to be there."

Tickets are expected to go on sale February 11, with a fan pre-sale on the band's site, and pitchfork. More information is expected to be posted tommorow.

Thank you, LCD Soundsystem, for the invitation, and what's more, thanks for the top-notch eight years of comical babbling to electronic beats that you have provided us. May you live posthumously. (Expect a full eulogy April 2-4!)

For more information check out:

LCD Soundsystem Official Site

Pitchfork: LCD Soundsystem Announce Farwell NYC Show

MNDR

MNDR, aka Amanda Warner and Peter Wade, hasn't been around for long. Early 2010, they were the elusive "best kept secret" artist on your playlist. You didn't know much about them, except those circular, spacey, trademark glasses of Warner's. Now, nearly a year later, they're hitting Terminal 5 this coming Friday (February 4th) and has dropped an angelic, choir-backed, synth packed single, Cut Me Out. Have a listen. You can find the free download of the single here.

Iron & Wine/ Kiss Eachother Clean

(At last! A timely review!) A few days ago, Iron & Wine's new album hit iTunes early. Eagerly, I downloaded the whole album with out a second thought. Surely I knew what it would sound like: whispered vocals, soft acoustic guitar, and a female harmonizing the lengthened words of the chorus. I have never been more wrong in my life. Sam Beam has taken a new approach to his music. For starters, it's louder, which isn't saying much, yet it still is not the quiet, strain-your-ears-to-hear Naked As We Came sound. Although it still keeps the harmonic chorus and soft guitar, Beam has incorperated new sound: saxaphone. In his wonderful, seven minute masterpiece, "Your Fake Name is Good Enough For Me" the first forty-two seconds consist of jolly, swing-era, big band music...and did I hear an electric guitar in there, or was that my imagination? Despite what some of his stubborn fans say, Beam has sucessfully tackeled this new sound triumphantly. Five stars! Have a listen. Iron & Wine - Your Fake Name is Good Enough For Me

The Decemberist/The King is Dead

It seems as though the Decemberists have traded medival storytelling and long numbers rather than songs, for songs rather than numbers, and a ton harmonicas and accordians. If that makes sense. The King is Dead is loaded with country vibes, blaring harmionies and woeful ballads. I do love it, but part of me still years for the eccentric tales of Picaresque.

Anyway, my favorite is probably either their single, "Down By The Water", or January Hymn". I also suggest listening to "Don't Carry it All".

Have a listen. The song names are all linked.

Twin Shadow

Usually when I listen to electro, or anything remotley electro, I thoughtfully begin to plan my death. But then I met Twin Shadow. I was sent a copy of their song Castles in the Snow, and as it was playing, I think I said something along the lines of: "Hello, Twin Shadow. Where the hell have you been all my electro-hating-electro-hating life?"

Basically, if you like Crystal Castles, you'll like Twin Shadow. If you like Yesayer, you'll like Twin Shadow. If you like music you'll like Twin Shadow.

Have a listen.
Castles in the Snow - Twin Shadow