Song of the Day 6/30/09: Darlings - Teenage Girl

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:06:00 GMT

“Teenage Girl” by Darlings sounds like if Jens Lekman fronted The Modern Lovers. Like all lo-fi songs, “Teenage Girl” skates by on its simplicity and amateurish charm. Immediately, from the jangly two-chord swing intro and verses, the song seems as if it’s existed forever, buried in the shelves of a college radio station from the early 80s. You can almost trick yourself into hearing that slanted and enchanted hiss behind the sleepy, effortless melodies. The scratchy guitars and playful drums don’t so much propel the song forward as they shuffle them along, interrupted periodically by an amiable, connect-the-dots guitar/keyboard line. Then, just before you drift into a soft, guitar pop reverie, a squall of feedback snaps you back in time for a brief, gloriously distorted temper tantrum before it returns to its sunny demeanor. “Got the heart of a teenage girl,” indeed.

- Kevin Na

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Darlings - Teenage Girl

Check out these similar artists:

Black Dice
Bishop Allen
Sonic Youth

Starfucker: Live at the Bottom of the Hill

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:09:00 GMT

Starfucker Fucking Rocks the Bottom of The Hill

For a group whose name mocks the very fan base they’re creating, Starfucker knows how to engage a crowd. Playing last Tuesday at the Bottom of the Hill, the Oregon based band brought energy, humor and talent. When this combination transfers to their record, they’ll have an army of starfuckers ready and waiting. In all sincerity the crowd consisted of mainly platonic starfuckers like “I’m in love with this band,” though there appeared to be some more lustful eyes in the crowd as well.

Before Starfucker performed Atole, a tweaker’s punk electronic group, which tried to energize the crowd with synthesizer whistles, and empty bass lines. Their sound depended heavily on tweaking EQs and a drum kit, which for most part felt redundant. By eleven the crowd had filled as Starfucker took the stage. Three of the four band members’ outfits caught my attention, as they indulged in what is becoming known in the blogosphere as a humorous antic. Lead singer Josh Hodges’ outfit was tame as he wore a hairnet, white undershirt and tight, I mean TIGHT, jeans. The other members were dressed in drag, wearing skirts and bright cardigan jackets with earrings to match. The band’s humor is sophomorically light, which is fitting because the most notable parts of both their album and performance are when they perform elated with bubbling electro dance hits.

Photos by: Charlie Homo

During their performance it was evident the band was highly talented. Each artist seamlessly weaved between multiple instruments during songs, while maintaining a succinct level and balance. Watching them maneuver is exciting, and it’s unfortunate that this same visual energy doesn’t translate into their record. Though “Pop Song,” and “rawnald gregory erickson 2nd” stand out on their debut album as pop songs full of catchy guitar distortion and edgy drumming, “Boy Toy” and “Medicine,” sound overly drone and robotic on the records, but amazingly more balanced live with pumped EQs and pounding drumming. Early in their set the group played “Pop Song,” riling the crowd into a mosh pit frenzy, which was surprising considering most of the crowd was female, and everyone was dressed to their hipster nines drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon. I thought hipsters just stood around looking apathetically cool.

Transitioning between songs, Starfucker played a recording of Zen philosopher, Alan Watts, who is well known for his opinions on comparative religions, particularly Asian religions and belief. It may be that Starfucker intends to draw from Watts’ desire to illuminate and reach higher consciousness, as they try to parallel bright disco infused grooves, with humor and thought. On “Medicine,” recently praised by Spin as a “song you must hear,” Hodges provides a dose of positive reinforcement as he sings “you’re perfect, drink your medicine” and then cuts and stabs Watts' recorded voice. When breaking from singing, Hodge dances like he’s inspired by Save The Last Dance, his hip twisting with a two step, and his arm pumping like a disco queen. The man can dance and sing—ladies he’s a keeper—and a crowd pleaser.

Like the characters they dress themselves to be on stage, reverting to a youthful aura of fun, free of the economic burdens, the 9-5, these kids rock the stage freely like a garage band. While Josh Hodges leads with a stern and emotionless face, his rare smiles, are bright with the same energy that radiates from the band’s curious and experimental playful style. Unfortunately unlike a similar band, Passion Pit, whose records are equally flush and vivacious as their on stage performance, Starfucker screw themselves more often on the album with an incomparable sound to their packed concert full of eager starfuckers getting ample doses of energetic positive “medicine.” Enjoy them in town, and get ready for their follow up album.

- David Johnson-Igra

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Starfucker - Pop Song

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Starfucker - German Love

Song of the Day 6/29/09: Herbaliser - Geddim!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Herbaliser's range is really quite impressive. Last time we wrote about them, they were pumping out horn-driven pop hits for Same As It never Was, a funk-drenched album that the betterPropaganda crew went ecstatic over for a while. One disc later, "Geddim!" flaunts something more complex and jazzy, recalling the speedy intricacy of all of Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. And it still manages to maintain the funky vibe we've all come to adore. Be sure to get your hands on Session 2, out early August - among a crop of bigger names, this is maybe my most anticipated disc since Animal Collective's latest.

- Phillip Taylor-Parker

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Herbaliser Band - Geddim!

Check out these similar artists:

Boozoo Bajou
Coldcut
Sixtoo

New Songs: 06-21-2009 - 06-28-2009

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

	Cale Parks - One At A Time [MP3] - To Swift Mars - Polyvinyl Records
	Obits - Two-Headed Coin [MP3] - I Blame You - Sub Pop Records
	Body Language - Huffy Ten Speed [MP3] - Speaks - Moodgadget
	June - Languor [MP3] - One - Moodgadget
	Sally Shapiro - Miracle Bogdan Irkük Remix [MP3] - My Guilty Pleasure - Paper Bag Records
	Poison Arrows, The - An Unexploded Dream (New Crystal Aquarium Remix) [MP3] - First Class, And Forever - File 13 Records
	Darlings - Teenage Girl [MP3] - Yeah I Know - Famous Class
	Jack Peñate - Tonights Today [MP3] - Everything Is New - XL Recordings
	Herbaliser - Geddim! [MP3] - Session 2 - !K7
	Faunts - Hurts Me all the Time [MP3] - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of. - Friendly Fire Recordings
	Miike Snow - Burial [MP3] - Miike Snow - Downtown
	Blank Dogs - Tin Birds [MP3] - Under and Under - In the Red Records
	Youth Group - Two Sides [MP3] - The Night Is Ours - Ivy League
	Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things [MP3] - Grrr... - Dead Oceans

Weekly Batch: June 22- 26 '09

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:22:00 GMT

Every Friday we bring you our weekly batch of uploads. Download all the songs that went up the week of 6/22-6/26 right here, right now.

You can download the following mp3s individually OR play them all in a row. Click on the artists at the right under Related Downloads to learn more about each band and see similar music suggestions.

[RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE] Play All [RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE]

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Cale Parks - One At A Time {Polyvinyl}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Obits - Two-Headed Coin {Sub Pop}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Body Language - Huffy Ten Speed {Moodgadget}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] June - Languor {Moodgadget}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Sally Shapiro - Miracle (Bogdan Irkuk Remix) {Paper Bag}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Poison Arrows - An Unexploded Dream (New Crystal Aquarium Remix) {File-13}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Darlings - Teenage Girl {Famous Class}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Jack Penate - Tonights Today {XL}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Herbaliser - Geddim! {K7}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Faunts - Hurts Me all the Time {Friendly Fire}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Miike Snow - Burial {Downtown}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Blank Dogs - Tin Brids {In the Red}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Youth Group - Two Sides {Ivy League}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things [Dead Oceans}

New Video: MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker featuring John Legend

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker featuring John Legend
Set in a run-down Los Angeles 99 cent-type store, this video is a stylish visual story about two young lovers who find a moment of transcendence amidst the decay and commerce. Directed by Vincent Haycock.

Song of the Day 6/24/09: Lusine - Two Dots

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:40:00 GMT

My first exposure to Lusine was his set at the Ghostly 10 Year Anniversary party, one of the few shows where I expected brilliance even from the unknowns, based solely on the strength of Ghostly's reputation. The massive lineup shattered my high expectations, and among names like Tycho and Michna, Lusine was one of the bright spots of the night. He composes music like a pointilist paints, with minute elements congealing to form an interconnected whole. "Two Dots" is a sampling of his refreshing form: echoes speckle the backdrop of this track, supplementing soothing vocals - some of them cut up and some of them whole, though the former is somewhat imperceptibly birthed from the latter. It builds steadily to the end, each new layer of echoes occupying a space which doesn't seem to exist until it's filled. Quite a fresh approach - we can't recommend this one enough.

- Phillip Taylor-Parker

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Lusine - Two Dots

Check out these similar artists:

Apparat
Four Tet
Ulrich Schnauss

Grizzly Bear: Good or Fad?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:13:00 GMT

Grizzly Bear's new album, Veckatimest, is a front-runner in many a "Top 10" list this year. Their tour is sold out everywhere. Their faces have been in every newspaper, magazine, site, and blog. The light has been shining on them and it seems they can do no wrong. And, for these reasons, I had grown skeptical about their talent and, more importantly, my own admiration for their music. Yes, I did love it myself when I first heard Veckatimest several months ago. But, my admiration began to wane as more and more praise was given to the band over the past few months. This is not due to a distaste for the norm or some sort of high horse I ride. I'm not a hipster. I'm not a dick. My feelings about Grizzly Bear began to waver because my original perception of the band involved a higher standard - a standard of originality and mystery that was set when I first heard Yellow House. On that record, the band molded folk and rock music into baroque, orchestral gems. The album drizzled, thundered, poured, and shined. Its melodies were simultaneously haunting and uplifting. Upon hearing Veckatimest, my reaction was similar. I heard the harmonies, the movements within each song, and the inclination toward grinding, reverberated guitars that its precursor, the Friend EP, hinted at. It sounded like Grizzly Bear and I loved it. But, I didn't listen as deep as I should have until the flurry of rave reviews popped up in every popular media source. Egged on by this fan frenzy, I forced myself to listen more closely in an attempt to discover why writers at places like the New York Times and Spin, not just those at the Pitchforks and the Gorilla Vs. Bears, were proudly hyping the album. And, what I discovered, at its core, was not shades of experimentalism or originality, but an overtly pop sound scattered throughout the album. There are actual ditties on this record, which is far from the sound that I fell in love with on Yellow House. The album's single, "Two Weeks," is as blatant a pop song as anything you'd hear on FM radio. Whereas, the closest thing to pop radio material on Yellow House, "The Knife," would be labeled "too weird." I'm definitely a fan of pop music, but the Grizzly Bear I knew was far from pop - approaching it maybe, but definitely not a pop band. Listening back through the record made it much clearer that Grizzly Bear had become a sunnier and catchier band and I had been fooled into believing that they were still as powerful as I once viewed them. That is, until I saw the band live.

Although it was the last stop on their U.S. tour, I highly doubt that their brilliance was just one last hurrah, like a final dash to the finish line. Rather, I believe the band is just naturally-fucking-amazing, night in and night out. I know that makes me sound like a starstruck kid - or worse, a blogger (zing!) - but, it was undeniable last night.

What makes Grizzly Bear so captivating is that they are extremely talented musicians, a facet that is hidden behind the vastness, the shear space, on their recordings. That is, the grandiosity of orchestration - instruments, melodies, and rhythms all colliding - overshadows the individual talents of each Grizzly Bear member. Their recordings are symphonies without solos, so there's no showcasing of singular skills. Live, however, the musicianship and emotion is visible, allowing you to grasp, not only the individual aptitude of each member, but the collective tightness of the whole band. Ed Droste sings every note with the utmost passion. Dan Rossen converts every jazz chord into guitar rock beauty. Chris Taylor grinds every bass line and adds every atmospheric woodwind part, cleverly disguising their calculation as improvisation. And, last but certainly not least, Chris Bear rips through every polyrhythm while harmonizing with each member of the band. Grizzly Bear is a well-oiled machine and undoubtedly one of the most talented and deservedly beloved bands around.

It was certainly a memorable experience to see the band live, especially at The Fillmore, a room that aptly captures their sound, preferred lighting sequences, and stage presence. But, what was most profound about seeing Grizzly Bear live was that it reaffirmed my admiration, my initial reaction, to Veckatimest. True, it is a more accessible record, but each pop melody is backed by the changes and four-part harmonies that are at the heart of Grizzly Bear's signature sound. Veckatimest is less about the grand rushes and subtle trickles of sound that made Yellow House an all-time favorite; it is more about consistency in sound. There are certainly those same crescendos and decrescendos, but it is less about the whirlwinds and more about the breezes. There are flashbacks of Yellow House throughout the record, which is a welcomed delight. But, there are also some pop songs on the album that are just as delightful, ones that are still filled with the intricacies and lushness that seems to come effortlessly from Grizzly Bear. It is a more polished and stable sound, which is indicative of the band's maturity and progression in musicianship. And, to see this musicianship, along with the emotion, played out before you, you can't help but fall in love with this band......again.

- Caleb Morairty

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grizzly Bear - Alligator

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grizzly Bear - He Hit Me

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grizzly Bear - On A Neck, On A Spit

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grizzly Bear - Deep Sea Diver

Label Spotlight Series

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:33:00 GMT

Have you checked out any of our Label Spotlights yet? Every month we feature a new record label. These labels are the cream of the crop - the tastemakers. They put out records because they love them and they know we’ll love them too. They hold their genres dear, but have the courage to branch out. They believe in the music they release and, no matter what the sales expectations were, every album is a success because they released something they loved.

Each spotlight features a music sampler and multiple mp3 downloads!

Astralwerks - With the heart and mind of an indie and the body of a major, Astralwerks continues to expand and showcase talented artists from across the globe.

In The Red Records - In The Red can do no wrong. I am convinced that they are the rockin-est label there is around.

Kill Rock Stars - Riot-grrrl punk and noise rockers who actually give a shit about their community.

Morr Music - Morr likes pop music sprinkled with a little bit of electronic.

Mush - Mush Records takes more risks than Kobayashi with his health in a hot-dog eating competition, unlike Kobayashi Mush never disappoints.

Polyvinyl Records - Polyvinyl gives you the good lovin' happy fun times that you so sorely miss, as we become jaded and sucked into the bitter adulthood abyss.

Slumberland - What's a better way to kick off our Record Label Spotlights for 2009 than with a label that is celebrating their 20-year anniversary?

XL Recordings - 2008 saw XL supersized, with massively successful releases from Vampire Weekend, Grammy winning songbird, Adele and not to mention the renewed saturation of MIA's "Paper Planes" (thank you/curse you Jay-Z and Seth Rogan!).

New Songs: 06-14-2009 - 06-21-2009

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

	Refix - Roll On (featuring Emily Zuzik) [MP3] - Roll On - Dojo Studios
	Bowerbirds - Beneath Your Tree [MP3] - Upper Air - Dead Oceans
	Cage - Look At What You Did [MP3] - Depart From Me - Definitive Jux
	The Antlers - Two [MP3] - Hospice - French Kiss Records
	Nino Moschella - Continue To Call [MP3] - Boom Shadow - Ubiquity Records
	Fiery Furnaces - The End Is Near [MP3] - I'm Going Away - Thrill Jockey Records
	The Veils - Three Sisters [MP3] - Sun Gangs - 4AD
	Matthew Dear - Making Out [MP3] - Beginning Of The End: The Spectral Sound Singles - Ghostly International
	Matthew Dear - Future Never Again [MP3] - Beginning Of The End: The Spectral Sound Singles - Ghostly International
	Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin of Myself (Go! Team Remix) [MP3] - Eating Us - Graveface Records
	Lusine - Two Dots [MP3] - Two Dots - Ghostly International
	Polvo - Beggars Bowl [MP3] - In Prism - Merge Records
	Major Lazer - Hold The Line [MP3] - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do - Mad Decent

Weekly Batch: June 15-19 '09

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:01:00 GMT

Every Friday we bring you our weekly batch of uploads. Download all the songs that went up the week of 6/15-6/19 right here, right now.

[RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE] Play All [RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE]

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Bowerbirds - Beneath Your Tree {Dead Oceans}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Cage - Look At What You Did {Definitive Jux}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Antlers - Two {French Kiss Records}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Nino Moschella - Continue To Call {Ubiquity}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Fiery Furnaces - The End Is Near {Thrill Jockey}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Veils - Three Sisters {4AD}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Matthew Dear - Making Out {Ghostly}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Matthew Dear - Future Never Again {Ghostly}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin of Myself (Go! Team Remix) {Graveface}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Lusine - Two Dots {Ghostly}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Polvo - Beggars Bowl {Merge}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Major Lazer - Hold The Line {Mad Decent}

Song of the Day 6/18/09: Nino Moschella - Continue to Call

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:41:00 GMT

"Continue to Call" has a little bit of a stylistic identity crisis at the start - from Spencer Kruggish detuned keyboard rock to electro/dance vibes - before it finally settles into its soul / funk cradle. Good thing - the bulk of the track by Nino Moschella trumps what was for me a skeptical start, spilling out from this freespirited core which so rarely comes naturally in music these days. Take or leave the "I'm gone and I'm empowered" relationship story - this one's good for mindless groovin' if you're so inclined. It's not as bombastic as most revivalist music - keeps it simple, thick bass and funky guitar trills, and Moschella's voice carries the whole song through with spectacular ease.

- Phillip Taylor-Parker

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Nino Moschella - Continue to Call

Check out these similar artists:

Jamie Lidell
Jackson & His Computer Band
Charles Bradley

Win a Pair of Tickets to Green Velvet!

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:22:00 GMT

We're giving away a pair of tickets for Green Velvet this Saturday at Mezzanine in San Francisco! Details below!

TO ENTER: Send an email to contact@betterpropaganda.com with the subject line - Green Velvet. We'll chose a winner at random Friday afternoon so be sure to send your emails in before 4pm on Friday 6/19. A pair of tickets will be waiting for you and friend at will-call!

This Saturday June 20th Mezzanine, Rockit Science and Prismatic present

GREEN VELVET and DESIGNER DRUGS

Plus Richie Panic (Blow Up), Eric Sharp (Rock It Science) and Andrew Phelan (Prismatic)

Doors at 9 PM
$15 - $18 Advance
Tickets at going.com/gvmezz

New Video: Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! Interview

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! Interview
We have an exclusive Holy Ghost! interview courtesy of Scion Audio Visual. Check out the podcast here on betterPropaganda.com first.

Song of the Day 6/17/09: Discovery - Orange Shirt

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:49:00 GMT

Discovery’s“Orange Shirt” is an overindulgent taste of hi hats, synthetic drums and playful keys. The new band from XL blends electro, indie and hip hop into an unfamiliar combo with familiar elements. At first the beat sounds like radio hip hop producers Timbaland or Pharrell, with heavy emphasis on 808 drums broken with repeating synthesized chords. Oh wait, did I mention the duo is comprised of the familiar Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot? The vocals and lyrics make this track as he sing with an apathetically soft and sweet voice, “I promise to leave before your mother wakes up in the morning.” Like Chester French, Discovery takes aspect of hip hop and reinterprets them into something creatively different. I suggest you take look at some of their other tracks at their homepage.

- David Johnson-Igra

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Discovery - Orange Shirt

Check out these similar artists:

Vampire Weekend
Ra Ra Riot
Postal Service

New Songs: 06-07-2009 - 06-14-2009

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

	Throw Me The Statue - Ancestors [MP3] - Creaturesque - Secretly Canadian
	The Skygreen Leopards - Dixie Cups In The Dead Grass [MP3] - Gorgeous Johnny - Jagjaguwar Records
	Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix) [MP3] - Party In My Head - Nobody's Bizzness
	Mos Def - Auditorium [MP3] - The Ecstatic - Stones Throw
	The Polyamorous Affair - White Hot Magic [MP3] - Bolshevik Disco - Manimal Vinyl Records
	Discovery - Orange Shirt [MP3] - LP - XL Recordings
	The Strange Boys - Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up [MP3] - ..And Girls Club - In the Red Records
	BLK JKS - Molalatladi [MP3] - After Robots - Secretly Canadian
	These United States - Honor Amongst Thieves [MP3] - Everything Touches Everything - United Interests
	Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend [MP3] - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop Records
	Grand Archives - Silver Among The Gold [MP3] - Keep in Mind Frankenstein - Sub Pop Records
	Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20 [MP3] - The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Friendly Fire Recordings
	Anti-Pop Consortium - Capricorn One [MP3] - Flluorescent Black - Big Dada
	Felix Da Housecat - Kickdrum [MP3] - He Was King - Nettwerk
	Thieves Like Us - Really Like To See You Again [MP3] - I'd Really Like To See You Again - Fantasy Memory

Weekly Batch: June 8- 12 '09

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:48:00 GMT

Every Friday we bring you our weekly batch of uploads. Download all the songs that went up the week of 6/8-6/12 right here, right now.

[RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE] Play All [RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE]

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Throw Me The Statue - Ancestors {Secretly Canadian}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Skygreen Leopards - Dixie Cups In The Dead Grass {Jagjaguwar}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix) {Nobodys Bizzness}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Mos Def - Auditorium {Downtown}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Polyamorous Affair - White Hot Magic {Manimal Viny}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Discovery - Orange Shirt {XL}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Strange Boys - Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up {In The Red}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] BLK JKS - Molalatladi {Secretly Canadian}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] These United States - Honor Amongst Thieves {United Interests}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend {Sub Pop}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Grand Archives - Silver Among The Gold {Sub Pop}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20 {Friendly Fire Recordings}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Anti-Pop Consortium - Capricorn One {Big Dada}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Felix Da Housecat - Kickdrum {Nettwerk}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Refix - Roll On (featuring Emily Zuzik) {Dojo Studios}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Thieves Like Us - Really Like To See You Again {Shelflife}

New Video: Fischerspooner - We Are Electric

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Fischerspooner - We Are Electric
"We Are Electric" is the new music video from Fischerspooner's album Entertainment. It was directed/edited by Jason Cacioppo & Adam Dugas through Subvoyant.

Song of the Day 6/11/09: Mos Def - Auditorium

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:54:00 GMT

There's no obvious coherent praise to be heaped upon "Auditorium," Mos Def and Slick Rick's latest track - it's more like a grab bag of disconnected but interesting moments that build to make a fresh hip hop song. I dig the beat, real subdued and vaguely Middle Eastern in instrumentation, and while that approach isn't mindblowing or innovative, it steps far enough away from typical hip hop to be engaging (especially with hiccups of silence at the ends of most verses). The rhymes are slick, especially the commentary on embedded distrust that comes with the territory of Iraqi occupation ("Lookin' at me curious, a young Iraqi kid / carrying laundry, what's wrong G, hungry? / no, give me my oil, get the fuck out my country"). And I dig the overall approach, which is damn near shy, a word you never get to apply to hip hop. You'll get "humble" from some MCs, yeah, but shy is almost unheard of - and it works.

- Phillip Taylor-Parker

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Mos Def - Auditorium

Check out these similar artists:

The Coup
Aesop Rock
Medina Green

Song of the Day 6/10/09: Andrew Bird - Oh No

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:55:00 GMT

After the propulsion of emo/indie/rock during the Garden State soundtrack era, with bands like The Shins milking the tit of success until they were surrounded in soothing booty, seemingly tainting this genre for listeners as trendy and pop, Andrew Bird remained a hit on Pitchfork, but overlooked by most. “Oh No,” is a sharp social criticism as Bird’s softly sings “Arm in Arm we are the harmless / sociopaths, oh / Calcium mines you buried / Deep in your chest.” As he whistles through the time, the guitar sweeps gently with Bird reminding the listener this is not a love struck Shins song for all the sounding similarities, “so let’s get out of here / past the atmosphere” and join Bird free of the calcium mines.

- David Johnson-Igra

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Andrew Bird - Oh No

Check out these similar artists:

Luke Temple
Jolie Holland
Calexico

Fingertips Explores the Archives: La Rocca - This Life

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Jeremy from Fingertips scours the betterPropaganda archives, highlighting gems buried a few years back in our database.

This week we bring you "This Life" from La Rocca.

A comfy stomp of a piano riff leads, brain-buzzingly, into a song as brash as it is cheerful, as expansive as it is, also, introspective. This young Irish band will bring some inevitable early-U2 comparisons, both for the country of origin and for singer/guitartist Bjorn Baillie's semi-resemblance to a young Bono. But the comparison doesn't hold for long, to my ears. There's some deep-seated, rather un-U2-like awareness of down-and-dirty classic rock suffusing the groove these guys lay down here, to begin with. And anyway, this quartet isn't quite so Irish as all that--one of them is from England, they started playing together in Cardiff (in Wales, you know), and the whole gang moved to LA before too long. "This Life" is a track from the La Rocca's debut full-length CD, The Truth, released in August 2006 on Danger Bird Records.

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] La Rocca - This Life

- Jeremy Schlosberg
www.fingertipsmusic.com

Weekly Batch: June 1- 5 '09

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:55:00 GMT

Every Friday we bring you our weekly batch of uploads. Download all the songs that went up the week of 6/1-6/5 right here, right now.

[RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE] Play All [RICH MEDIA, CLICK TO VIEW ON SITE]

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Cave Singers - Beach House {Matador}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Rio en Medio - Fall Up {Manimal Vinyl}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Bodycode - What Did You Say {Ghostly}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Sage Francis - Strange Famous {Epitaph}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] General Elektriks - Take Back The Instant {Quannum}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Ape School - My Intention (Yppah Remix) {Counter}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Lee Fields - Love Comes and Goes {Truth & Soul}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Viva Voce - Octavio {Barsuk}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Budos Band - The Proposition {Daptone}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Yo La Tengo - Periodically Double or Triple {Matador}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Choir of Young Believers - Action/Reaction {Ghostly}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] What's Up - Harper {Obey Your Brain}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] The Clean - In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul {Merge}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Redman - I Hold the Crown (Gigi Barocco Remix) {Scion}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Larry McDonald - Set The Children Free (Lenny B Dub Remix) {MCPR Music}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Larry McDonald - Head Over Heels {MCPR Music}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Portugal. The Man - People Say {Equal Vision}

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Vetiver - Strictly Rule {Sub Pop}

Song of the Day 6/4/09: What's Up - Harper

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Math rock meets Nintendo-all-grown-up meets a legitimate songwriter for once - "yeah, that's What's Up!" Okay, I've been waiting to use pun ever since Content Imagination rocked my face off for the first time, but joking aside, "Harper" is indicative of what results from fly-by-night musical genres locking arms with a songwriter who knows his way around complex arrangements. Nurtured under the wing of The Advantage and Marnie Stern, Robby Moncrieff mixes jackhammer single-note repetition with whiplash time signatures to deliver the sort of stutter-step whimsy which is reminiscent - but not at all derivative - of his bandmates in projects past. "Harper's" a killer preview, but if you're into stuff like Marnie Stern, Hella or Battles, be sure to cop the album for the full effect.

- Phillip Taylor-Parker

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] What's Up - Harper

Check out these similar artists:

Hella
Battles
Marnie Stern

Passion Pit: Manners

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:38:00 GMT

The story of Boston's Passion Pit is a familiar one: boy (Michael Angelakos) creates a low-ambition musical project (a gift for his girlfriend), it ends up wowing his friends and peers, boy is encouraged to share it with others, boy attracts a label (Frenchkiss), boy puts out EP (Chunk of Change) on said label, boy's EP gets the blogosphere buzzing, boy puts together a band and delivers debut LP (Manners) to an eager public.

The narrative certainly is an appealing one. It's the latest incarnation of the "manager drives by four dudes jamming in a garage" tale, or the classic "waitress discovered while singing karaoke." And the reason we are drawn to these stories is because they suggest that good music can't be suppressed. These songs will get out there somehow, circumstances be damned.

Similarly, everything about Manners is irrepressible. The keyboards and synths buzz and whirr excitedly, the bass is lively and clean, the compressed drums are dynamic and punchy, and although Angelakos' falsetto borders on the ridiculous, it is inarguably earnest and his melodies are spirited. Nothing recalls exuberance quite like little kids chanting "higher and higher" over chopped up synths, like on "Little Secrets." This is an album to dance wildly to in your room, not sexily in the club. Even when Passion Pit tones it down on songs like "Moth's Wings," the boundless enthusiasm is still apparent in the shimmering wall of keyboards and group vocals.

You'd think that with a high-energy sound like Passion Pit's, Manners would have its share of clunkers (cough MGMT), or at least have trouble maintaining itself for 11 songs. Nope, this is an album on which the singles are not the only tracks worth hearing. If anything, Manners actually keeps its manner (heh heh, sorry) a little too well. The insistent chirpy tone can become incessant as the songs start bleeding into each other. Passion Pit does mix it up on songs like "Swimming in the Flood" and the Chunk of Change throwback "Sleepyhead," with the former's more melancholic feel slowing it down while the latter hinges on a nifty soul sample, pitched chipmunk style. But the band approaches every song with the same giddy mentality that can result in an impenetrable Technicolor sheen.

However, those trifles can be forgiven by Passion Pit's desire to provide nothing more than the marriage of a joyous hook to some catchy electro-pop. Nuance might not be their thing, but that probably isn't heavily considered when making a slick and playful pop record. And just because it's fun doesn't mean it's irreverent or void of any substance. Manners might be too shiny for some, but no one can accuse it of being hollow.

- Kevin Na

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Passion Pit - Moth's Wings

[ play ] | [ download mp3 ] Passion Pit - The Reeling (Wallpaper Remix)

	Kode9 - Portal [MP3] - Portal - Hyperdub Records
	Jogger - Nice Tights Nosaj Thing Remix [MP3] - Friends of Friends Remixed - FoF Music
	Blue Roses - Doubtful Comforts [MP3] - Blue Roses - Beggars Banquet
	Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel [MP3] - Fool's Gold - IAmSound
	Lightning Dust - Never Seen [MP3] - Infinte Light - Jagjaguwar Records
	Magnolia Electric Company - Little Sad Eyes [MP3] - Josephine - Secretly Canadian
	Black Heart Procession, The - Rats [MP3] - Six - Temporary Residence LTD.
	Ganglians - Lost Words [MP3] - Monster Head Room - Woodsist
	Talbot Tagora - Ichthus Hop [MP3] - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art

betterPropaganda

New Songs: 06-28-2009 - 07-05-2009

Weekly Batch: June 29 - July 3 '09

New Video: Jenny Lewis - Black Sand

Fingertips Explores the Archives: Devics - Come Up

Song of the Day 6/30/09: Darlings - Teenage Girl

Starfucker: Live at the Bottom of the Hill

Song of the Day 6/29/09: Herbaliser - Geddim!

New Songs: 06-21-2009 - 06-28-2009

Weekly Batch: June 22- 26 '09

New Video: MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker featuring John Legend

Song of the Day 6/24/09: Lusine - Two Dots

Grizzly Bear: Good or Fad?

Label Spotlight Series

New Songs: 06-14-2009 - 06-21-2009

Weekly Batch: June 15-19 '09

Song of the Day 6/18/09: Nino Moschella - Continue to Call

Win a Pair of Tickets to Green Velvet!

New Video: Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! Interview

Song of the Day 6/17/09: Discovery - Orange Shirt

New Songs: 06-07-2009 - 06-14-2009

Weekly Batch: June 8- 12 '09

New Video: Fischerspooner - We Are Electric

Song of the Day 6/11/09: Mos Def - Auditorium

Song of the Day 6/10/09: Andrew Bird - Oh No

Fingertips Explores the Archives: La Rocca - This Life

Weekly Batch: June 1- 5 '09

Song of the Day 6/4/09: What's Up - Harper

Passion Pit: Manners