My Big Album Review Strikes Again. Wintermitts: Heirloom

Accordions, glockenspiels and handclaps dominate on the indie pop gem, Heirloom [buy], from Vancouver collective Wintermitts.
Alternating between French and English, lead singer Lise Monique's enchanting vocals are a combination of Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Josephine Olausson (Love Is All) and Sue Tompkins (Life Without Buildings). Enjoy.
Schoolyard mp3
DANS mp3

My Big Bonus Mp3s Strike Again:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Turn Into mp3
Love Is All: Talk Talk Talk Talk mp3
Life Without Buildings: Let's Get Out mp3

My Big Album Review Strikes Again. Parlovr: S/T

Merging the tense post-punk sensibilities of Talking Heads with the emotion and volatility of Arcade Fire, Montreal's Parlovr is a fiery three piece that demands to be heard. Their compelling self titled debut [buy] is a set of fist pumping indie rock anthems filled with urgency, drama and just the right amount of sarcasm. Enjoy.
On the Phone mp3
Hiccup mp3

My Big Bonus Mp3s Strike Again:
Talking Heads: This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) mp3
Arcade Fire: Neighborhood #2 (Laika) mp3

My Big "Best of" List Strikes Again. 2008 Edition.

This really isn't a "Best of" list as much as it's simply a highly subjective grouping of my favorite and therefore most played albums of 2008... in no particular order.

Gang Gang Dance: St. Dymphna [The Social Registry]
St. Dymphna [buy] from Brooklyn's experimental outfit Gang Gang Dance is light years ahead of anything else released in 2008 and 2009 and...
First Communion mp3
House Jam mp3


Vivian Girls: Vivian Girls [In The Red]
With sickeningly sweet harmonies sprinkled over gooey punk chords,
Vivian Girls' self-titled debut [buy] might just be the most delicious treat of the year.
Tell the World mp3
Where Do You Run To mp3


Titus Andronicus: The Airing of Grievances [XL]
The tracks on The Airing of Grievances [buy] from New Jersey's Titus Andronicus are loud, fast and brilliant punk anthems for the iGeneration.
Arms Against Atrophy mp3
Titus Andronicus mp3


Okay: Huggable Dust [Absolutely Kosher]
Huggable Dust [buy] from San Francisco's Marty Anderson a.k.a. Okay is the perfect combination of gentle indie pop melody and freak folk eccentricity.
My mp3
Loveless mp3


High Places: High Places [Thrill Jockey]
Brooklyn duo High Places' full length debut [buy] is the year's most stunning collection of seductive and intoxicating experimental electro-pop.
The Storm mp3
Golden mp3


Rings: Black Habit [Paw Tracks]
The bizarre and unhinged tracks on Black Habit [buy] from New York's Rings took up residence in the primeval/reptilian portion of my brain back in January and never left... in a good way... I think.
Mom Dance mp3
You Remind Me mp3


Peter Adams: I Woke with Planets in My Face [Self-released]
Lush melodies combine with gorgeous arrangements to create a near perfect indie pop symphony on I Woke with Planets in My Face [buy] from Cincinnati's Peter Adams. A must listen.
The Observatory mp3
Ziggurat mp3


Nite Jewel: My CD [Human Ear Music]
Full of damaged beats and tortured vocals, My CD [buy] from L.A.'s Nite Jewel is the perfect soundtrack to a night of dancing and diazepam.
Artificial Intelligence mp3
What Did He Say mp3


Chairlift: Does You Inspire You [Kanine]
Brooklyn psych rockers Chairlift deservedly broke big this year with the catchy hooks and otherworldly melodies on their fantastic debut, Does You Inspire You [buy].
Planet Health mp3
Bruises mp3


No Age: Nouns [Sub Pop]
Nouns [buy] is the stunningly fuzzed out sophomore full length from L.A.'s No Age. Pop punk at it's most dissonant and danceable.
Eraser mp3
Teen Creeps mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. François Virot: Not the One

The whimsical track Not the One from the album Yes or No [buy] by France's François Virot is experimental folk-pop for fans of Benoît Pioulard and Panda Bear.
Not the One mp3

My Big Bonus Mp3s Strike Again:
Benoît Pioulard: Ragged Tint mp3
Panda Bear: Bros mp3

My Big 12" Review Strikes Again. Nodzz: S/T

After a very successful pressing of the 7" single, I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana), San Francisco's Nodzzz have sprinted to release a short (10 songs in 16 minutes) but very satisfying self-titled 12" [buy] full of catchy garage pop on Brooklyn's What's Your Rupture? label.
I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) mp3
Is She There mp3
In the City (Contact High) mp3

My Big Album Review Strikes Again. Sin Fang Bous: Clangour

With the release of the LP, Clangour [buy], Iceland's Sindri Mar Sigfusson takes a break from the mellow alt/folk sounds of Seabear to become experimental/weirdo popster Sin Fang Bous. A gorgeous transition. Enjoy.
For fans of The Microphones, Animal Collective, The Music Tapes.
Advent in the Ives Garden mp3
Catch the Light mp3

My Big Bonus Mp3s Strike Again:
The Microphones: I Want Wind to Blow mp3
Animal Collective: Grass mp3
The Music Tapes: Majesty mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. Wavves: So Bored

Beneath it's lush layers of sweet scum, the track So Bored from San Diego's Wavves is a charming little lo-fi slacker anthem that sounds like The Beach Boys, My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain... being played on vinyl all at the same time.
So Bored mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. Little Teeth: Japanese Candy

The San Francisco indie label, Absolutely Kosher, is gaining a reputation for delivering some wonderfully offbeat artists --- 60 Watt Kid, Okay and now Little Teeth.
The track Japanese Candy, from the album Child Bearing Man [buy], is laced with bizarre vocals and a skewered pop melody that will keep you awake at night --- in a good way. Enjoy.
Japanese Candy mp3

My Big Bonus MP3s Strike Again:
60 Watt Kid: 2012 Breakdown mp3
Okay: My (from the album Huggable Dust buy) mp3

My Big EP Review Strikes Again. Bridge Underwater: Four Songs

Via the Biography section of BridgeUnderwater.net:

Facts:

Bridge Underwater is the music of one man.

The music is created in Philadelphia, Pa.

Bridge Underwater has been active since 2005.

All Bridge Underwater music is available for free at Last.Fm.

Here are a few more that I think are worth mentioning:

Facts:

Bridge Underwater is pitch perfect indie pop.

The music will make you smile.

Bridge Underwater has produced a vast discography

in a relatively short amount of time.

Here is some Bridge Underwater music

from the Four Songs EP.

Enjoy.
More Tools mp3
New Age Love Song mp3
The Sound of the Fury mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. Mattress: Pollution

Pollution is the brilliant and bizarre opener to the album Heavy Duty [buy] --- which incidentally was recorded on a digital 8 track --- from weirdo pop warbler Rex Marshall a.k.a. Mattress.
Think Nick Cave... but creepier. I love it.
Pollution mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. Homesick Elephant: Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins Cover)

Reaching back to a chapter of the 1980's that many would just as soon forget, the pop-folk duo of Homesick Elephant (Kevin Kelly and Sara Fitzsimmons) have delicately reinvented the track Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins from the Top Gun soundtrack [buy]. Enjoy.
Danger Zone mp3

My Big New Band Alert Strikes Again. They That Cried Wolf

The blossoming U.K. band, They That Cried Wolf, is a clever little indie pop four piece that reminds me of (Wild Mood Swings era) The Cure and more recently Black Kids.
With super catchy synth driven pop hooks and alternating male/female lead vocals, They That Cried Wolf's upcoming EP is certainly a release to keep an eye out for. Enjoy.
She's Been Drinking mp3
Tame the Beast mp3
Bed Talk mp3

My Big Bonus MP3s Strike Again:
The Cure: Mint Car mp3
Black Kids: Hit the Heartbreaks mp3

My Big Track Review Strikes Again. Videotape: Night Lights

Videotape's track Night Lights, from from the album My Favourite Thing [buy] is gentle and non threatening indie rock for fans of Band of Horses and Rogue Wave. I like it like a fat kid likes cake.
Night Lights mp3

My Big Bonus MP3s Strike Again:
Band of Horses: The Great Salt Lake mp3
Rogue Wave: Lake Michigan mp3

My Big Album Review Strikes Again. Meho Plaza: Meho Plaza

Relying heavily on the sound of bands like Wire and Gang of Four, Los Angeles' Meho Plaza's self titled debut [buy] is an aggressive and urgent collection of post-punk tracks for a new generation of disinterested and angry youths --- that actually have good taste in music. Well done lads.
I Sold My Organs mp3
Your Future Looks Bright mp3

Meho Plaza Tracklisting
I Sold My Organs
Your Future Looks Bright
Let's Play Police
The Beach
We'll Drink the Blood
George Washington
I'm A Green Beret
Lacrosse
The Instruments
Visionary Bug
A Running Man
Reef

My Big Bonus MP3 Strike Again:
Wire: Ex Lion Tamer mp3
Gang of Four: Naturals' Not In It mp3