"Junkyard" "Bush" (Suicide Squeeze) Page France's Hello, Dear Wind is being re-released by Suicide Squeeze on Sept. 12. Here are two more tracks from the indie pop band's positively received sophomore CD.
"Novotel" (Insound) Since he and former Moldy Peaches bandmate Kimya Dawson parted ways, Adam Green has proven to be a bit of a novelty act. Nonetheless, it's still fun to hear what the goof has been up to. This song is from his just-released Jacket Full of Danger.
If you've looked over my top singles of the year lists, you're probably aware that I can appreciate a good pop song just as much as I can a great indie record. So I've decided to take advantage of YouTube and give readers a chance to check out what radio hits are getting highest play on my iPod (and that are most likely to pop up on my year-end list). Timbaland, by the way, is having quite a comeback year. With "Sexyback" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous", he may end up with the two biggest hits of the summer.
"Flower Gardens" (Sub Pop) It seems like Canadian Chad VanGaalen gets bored doing the same thing over again and he refuses tie himself down to any definitive sound. "Flower Gardens" (from his upcoming Skelliconnection) roars with a thumping beat and stuttering vocals, a sound unlike anything on his previous (and eclectic) release Infiniheart.
"When The Creepers Creep In" "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" (Ian Dury cover) (TheVillageGreeMusic.com) Both of these tracks appear on an iTunes-only EP available to download now, but "When The Creepers Creep In" will also appear on The Village Green's upcoming full-length debut Feeling the Fall, which will feature more of the Portland, Oregon duo's psychedelic garage rock.
"Dart for My Sweetheart" (Domino) The album Derang Derang drips with Archie Bronson Outfit's blue-eyed blues psychedelica. You can find this track on the new CD, which hit stores this week.
"Who's That Knocking" (Drag City) Former Slint and Tortoise member David Pajo, aka Papa M, is soon-to-release 1968. This song from the album is another example of Pajo's expertise in atmospheric post-rock, but with a haunting Elliott Smith-like vocal.
"Mingulay Boat Song" (Anti-) Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys (available Aug. 22) collects singer/songwriters like Nice Cave, Lucinda Williams, and Loudon Wainwright III to sing traditional rhythmic, ship-propelling sailor songs. So grab a paddle and listen to this track performed by Richard Thompson.
"Dogwood Rust" (Sub Pop) Comets on Fire follows up the breakthrough success of Blue Cathedral on Aug. 8 with their new album Avatar. The track "Dogwood Rust" thrusts you into a whirlwind of choatic psychadelica, kind of like a bad trip.
"Dorothy at Forty" "Bad Sects" (Saddle Creek) Cursive is known for their unexpectedly gorgeous dissonant style. These two very different multi-textured, mood-shifting tracks appear on their upcoming album Happy Hollow, in stores on Aug. 22.
"Launch Yourself" (Domino) Adem Ilhan, former member of instrumental electronic band Fridge, balances ethereal vocal harmonies and meticulously designed rhythms on this track from his sophomore effort Love and Other Planets, which is finally released stateside on Aug. 22.
"Crazy for Leaving" (Secretly Canadian) Catfish Haven may be from Chicago, but their Southern-fried soulful jam-band melodies would make you think otherwise. This track appears on their full-length debut Tell Me, available Sept. 12.
"Carrboro Woman" "Lonesome Warrior" (Saddle Creek) Eric Bachmann, one-time frontman for both Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers, gives us his first official solo CD, To the Races, on Aug. 22. He wrote most of the album last summer, when he decided to live in his van, yielding a collection of bare-bones roots ballads.
"Brock Landers" (Rough Trade) A great song for your summer road trip mix tape from this California band, which shares members with Beachwood Sparks. The track appears on The Tyde's new album Three's Co., available Aug. 29.
"In the Morning" (Domino) The formula doesn't deviate much from the organic electronic sound of their debut CD Last Exit, but can't say I mind much. This track is from their soon-to-be-released CD So This Is Goodbye.
"Do You Like Blondes?" (859 Recordings) Not surprisingly, this track from Matthew Friedberger's forthcoming solo CD Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School is the kind of accessible, quirky experimental pop that made him such a critical darling in his band Fiery Furnaces.
"Dream" "Love Endeavor" (World's Fair) Hyper-eclectic Brooklynite Alice Smith is one of those rare uncategorizable artists who make you forget that genres even exist at all. It's soul, it's indie pop, it's caberet, it's electronic, it's jazz. And she's pretty good no matter what label you place on her.
"Dangerous" (Jade Tree) Seattle's Panda and Angel float through this dynamic, mood-shifting, guitar-heavy track from their self-titled debut EP, which hits stores on July 25.
"The Freed Pig" "Give Me Indie Rock" (Domino) Sebadoh III collects tracks Lou Barlow home-recorded before his official departure from Dinosaur Jr. Domino is remastering and reissuing the CD with a bonus disc of even more low-budget recordings. Here are two tracks featured on the double album.
"So Far We Are" (Toolshed) Another track from Two Thousand, but this one may actually live up to the band's indie pop reputation. Maybe French Kicks haven't completely lost their skills in creating interesting, infectious melodies.
"Tax Dollar" (Kill Rock Stars) Bay area electro-punk band Erase Errata thrash through this superfun chaotic dance track from their forthcoming album Nightlife, due July 25.
"Get Out, Get Out, Get Out" (Secretly Canadian) Jason Molina, formerly known as Songs:Ohia and member of Magnolia Electric Co., gives us a hauntingly bleak and gorgeous preview of his uncoming album Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go on this sparse but powerful track.
"White Light / White Light" (Toolshed) Energetic indie dance band Supersystem are back with their sophomore album A Million Microphones on Aug. 22. "White Light / White Light" is a signal that they still excell at producing punk and funk influence electronic pleasures.
"Idecide" (Barsuk) What Made Milwaukee Famous' mildly aggressive indie pop combines fierceness and grace on this track from their debut CD Trying to Never Catch Up.
"Stranded" "Juliana" (TheWarmth.com) Two very different tracks from Chicago band The Saturday Nights' self-released debut Queenslandicus. While "Stranded" is a capsule of sweet twee pop, "Juliana" is an homage to dirty 70s guitar pop (think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). The CD is already available through their website.
"You (Single)" (Polyvinyl) The Intelligent Design of Joan of Arc collects rarities from the Chicago band's decade-long history. The album, which features this track, is available July 25.
"Hitch a Ride" (FunkyNashville.dk) This track from Danish band Funky Nashville sounds like it belongs on a Taratino score. Except vocalist Sverre Stein Nielsen kind of reminds me of an indie pop version of James Taylor. The band's U.S. debut LP of the same name arrives on July 11.
"Mountain to Sound" "Idiot Driver" (Toolshed) Later this month, Merge is reissuing Spoon's first two recordings Soft Effects EP and Telephono on one deluxe CD. Here's are two tracks from the then indie pop unknowns that appear on the disc.
The old Listening Room was kind of silly. We at The LARRY Page have concluded the kids will like this better.
To download MP3s, right-click on link and choose "Save Target As." Most MP3s are only available online for a limited time, so some links in the archives may no longer work. The LARRY Page does its best to ensure all downloads that appear in Hobby Box are legal.
