POOL PARTIES!!!!!

Like most NYers into indie music and free concerts, I was quite distraught at the announcement that McCarren Park Pool was being turned back into a pool (LAME!)

BUT, on the positive side, a new location for the parties has officially been announced and a partial schedule has been released here, so the McCarren Park Pool Parties are now the Williamsburg Waterfront Concerts.

YAY!

Park Slope is the place to be on Wednesday

So, for those of you who did not manage to score tickets to MGMT's sold out performance at Celebrate Brooklyn, don't despair! Some of my favorite bands are playing at some my favorite Park Slope music venues tomorrow night:

Head to Union Hall to bask in the beautiful dramatic melodies of NYC band Ravens & Chimes. Doors at 7:30pm. Cover $8.

Mosey on over to Union Hall's sister bar, Bell House, to rock out to NYC band Apollo Run and my fave Detroit trio, The Hard Lessons. Doors at 7:30pm. Cover $8. 18+

So many great shows, so little time... This is one of those situations I wish I could be in many places at once.

This Is Where We Are [mp3] - Ravens & Chimes (iTunes)
Love Song [mp3] - Apollo Run (iTunes)
Arms Forest [mp3] - The Hard Lessons (iTunes)

Carina Round @ Pete's Candy Store

Last night I headed to Williamsburg to see British songstress Carina Round at Pete's Candy Store. Having never seen a show there, I have to say I was a little surprised at the tiny, long, cramped space which is really not conducive to watching shows. The equipment wasn't helping Carina's cause either, buzzing, distorting and even shocking her when she got too close to the microphone. I think I liked her best when she went completely acoustic. Carina has a strong, versatile voice and a lot of charisma, but I did think that she could use a little work on her songwriting, because it didn't really strike me as in any way unique or different. She is definitely an artist that has a lot of potential and I am looking forward to watching her musical talent grow and develop.

Here is an remixed mp3 of my favorite song that she performed last night, "Backseat" (although I will admit I'm not a fan of the remix but I like the original quite a lot - watch the video to hear the original).

Backseat (Flash In The Pan Remix) [mp3]

Backseat from Carina Round on Vimeo.

The Pierces @ Webster Hall

Wednesday night I finally had the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands live - The Pierces. Opening for them was singer-songwriter Trevor Giuliani and a band that I love to watch live, Hymns. Sadly, I'm a bit short on time so this review is going to be very short.

Trevor Giuliani's music is relaxed but catchy. He has one of those effortless voices that is so pleasant to listen to and he was a good start to the night. Hymns were great, as I knew they would be - very rock 'n' roll, lots of energy, got the audience pumped. The giant American flag painted on the wall behind them made me realize how very Americana their music is. I can totally picture them playing in some smokey bar in the South in the '70s.

The Pierces were wonderful. They played most of my favorites (except for "Lies") and a new song or two. They had little synchronized dances or gestures that they would do together, which was cute. They're totally adorable and I loved both of their outfits. And they even slightly poked fun at their Gossip Girl appearance.

All in all a good show. I wish I had time to write more about it.

Wasting Your Town [mp3] - Trevor Giuliani (pre-order his album on mypace)
Streets Alone [mp3] - Hymns (iTunes)
Secret [mp3] - The Pierces (iTunes)

When the day's been long and hard...

Iron and Wine is always there.

This is an old one, originally off their 2004 album Passing Afternoon and featured again on the Around the Well (Bonus Track Version) release last month, and I feel a bit guilty about posting such an old song, but at the same time, it's been one of those weekends. I certainly needed this and maybe others out there do to, so, here you go. Add it to your collection if you don't have it at the very least.

Communion Cups and Someone's Coat [mp3] (iTunes)

The MJ Post

You knew it was coming.

Thriller was an amazing album, leading to seven astounding hits, "The Girl Is Mine" (#2), "Billie Jean" (#1), "Beat It" (#1), "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (#5), "Human Nature" (#7), "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (#10) and, of course, "Thriller" (#4). It won eight Grammy awards and seven American Music Awards, topping the charts for 9 months and remaining in the Billboard album standings for more than 2 years. Worldwide, Thriller has sold 51 million copies.

The man knew how to put on a show and to energize every single one of his performances, and if you need convincing, simply watch the video from his 1983 performance of Billie Jean (where he debuted the moonwalk) here. He was no doubt the King of Pop, the creator of so many ingenious musical, film and dance innovations and it is truly sad to see him go at such a young age. Michael, you will be remembered and missed.

Thriller [mp3] (iTunes)

Links of Note:

Minneapolis's City Hall Bell Tower adapted five of Michael Jackson's songs for the bells and rang them in tribute.

check out a candid post about MJ's death on Lisa Marie Presley's myspace.

Best Week Ever has a "Reliving 20 of MJ's Greatest Hit Songs" post and a top "50 photos of MJ and Famous Friends" post.

Buzzfeed has a compilation of Newspaper Covers From Around the World that feature Michael's passing.

A concept map of how Michael Jackson influenced other songs/musicians.

Hype Machine is, obviously, being overloaded with blogs sharing mp3s of Michael's songs and various covers.

and if you really want to make yourself depressed, the 911 call has been released.


Also, let us not forget the passing of legendary Farrah Fawcett. If you ever managed to catch the documentary capturing her staggering attitude and strength during her battle with cancer, you probably felt the same sting of sadness that I did upon hearing of her loss.

The Broken Remotes - "Boxer's Arm"

Back in February, LA locals The Broken Remotes released a single called "Boxer's Arm" -- in December '08 , lead singer Jon Leahy told me he'd broken his arm right before the recording sessions started in December. Ironically enough the name of the fracture was the Boxer's Fracture.

I love the mix of urgency and stagnation in the guitars. It sounds like something is trying to build up but there's a dam holding it back -- just like the weariness in Leahy's voice, and the lyrics about a lover who knows something is wrong but is just waiting for all hell to break loose.

Hear it for yourself:

"Boxer's Arm" - [mp3]

Florence and the Machine

We're going to keep this one short and sweet today. Florence and the Machine was one of the bands listed in our "Bands to Watch For in 2009" and the debut album, Lungs, finally arrives July 6th. Its looking as promising as possible, people. Florence is still an awesomely insane performer and delivers inciting rock-pop indie nuggets. Below is the first single from the album to be released that was not already on the EP A Lot of Love, a Lot of Blood, so enjoy.

Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) [mp3]

Drug Rug

Drug Rug's upcoming album, "Paint The Invisible Fence" (due out in August), is poppy and catchy (unlike the band's rather unfortunate name - in my personal opinion) and I can't stop listening to it. To be honest, at first, I kind of dismissed Drug Rug. I had only heard one song, but it was too underproduced for my personal tastes. I realize this is a "sound" that many bands are purposefully utilizing right now (ie The Pains of Being Pure at Heart), but it's something that I don't particularly like as I think there is no excuse for sounding like you recorded in a garage in the 1970s. What with the low prices of decent recording equipment these days, it is not that hard to sound good, and I personally like to be able to hear all of the instruments and understand the lyrics.

But even though I had dismissed Drug Rug on first listen, something inspired me to download their full album when I received it in my inbox and I can't stop listening to it. I love the classic rock 'n' roll beats that drive it, the poppy guitars that make my head bop, the retro-sounding male-female vocal harmonies. There's rock, pop, and hints of country, blues, and retro in there. This is definitely a great summer album (a shame it's not coming out until August), perfect for driving down the highway on a sunny day with the wind in your hair. Here's a track to enjoy in the meantime:

Never Tell [mp3]

Zero 7 - new album in September

Zero 7 is coming out with a new album, Yeah Ghost, due out September 8th. Here's a preview:

Everything Up (Zizou) [mp3]

Rooftop Films Dates

A few exciting upcoming shows/screenings at Rooftop Films here in Brooklyn featuring bands The Albertans and one of my favorite bands of this year, The Antlers:

THURSDAY JUNE 25
Film: WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE
Venue: BAM GGMC Parking Lot (Outdoors across from BAM)
Rain: In the event of rain the show will be held Tuesday, June 30. Check www.rooftopfilms.com or call 718-417-7362 on the day of the event if the weather seems questionable.
8:00PM: Doors open
8:30PM: Sound Fix presents live music by The Albertans
9:00PM: Film
11:00PM–12:30AM: After-party: Open Bar on-site, courtesy of Radeberger Pilsner
Tickets: $11 at the door or online: http://newyork.going.com/event-609974;Rooftop_Films_BAMcinemaFEST_Kunstler#

FRIDAY, June 26
Film: HUMPDAY
Venue: on the roof of the Open Road Rooftop
8:00PM: Doors open
8:30PM: Sound Fix presents live music The Antlers
9:00PM: Films
11:30PM - 1:00AM: Open Bar at Fontana’s (105 Eldridge St), courtesy of Radeberger beer
Tickets: $9-$25: http://newyork.going.com/event-602767;Rooftop_Films_Humpday#
No refunds. In the event of rain, the show will be indoors at the same locations.

Furniture [mp3] - The Albertans - Sex With an Angel (iTunes)

Sylvia [mp3] - The Antlers - Hospice (iTunes)

Predictions: Grey's Anatomy Music

Soooooo let me just tell you what went on in my head when I first thought of the crazy possibility that perhaps Courtney Marie Andrews could be a Grey's Anatomy Prediction and then verified that she could be via my list: "Wait, what? Seriously? This one hasn't already been featured on Grey's? Really? I mean, come on, its Courtney Marie Andrews, indie/folk/pop darling extraordinaire. I mean, really? The girl even plays the BANJO, people. "

She can be dark, she can be peppy, she can be almost obnoxiously inciting. Camman! - perfect for Grey's.

Her upcoming album Painter's Hands and a Seventh Son will be released July 31st as well, so enjoy some tracks from it below.

The Buffalo & the Bird [mp3]
A Seventh Son [mp3]

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a fabulous assemblage of eight musicians that intertwine the elements of indie rock music, electronica and the psychedelic disco funk vein of the 70s. The center of the imaginative group are DJs Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, collectively known as Embassy Sound Productions (ESP). The whole group is fresh from New York, just debuting as a group not even a year ago. The debut self-titled album drops next tuesday, but take a listen to the awesome song "15 to 20," which features Lady Tigra, and try not to get the phrase "5 10 to 15 20, 25 30, 35 40, 45 50, all that money still riding the bus" stuck in your head.

15 to 20 [mp3] (iTunes)

Taller Children Video

Remember when we posted about Elizabeth & the Catapult's song "Taller Children"? Well they made a music video for it. And it's kinda adorable.

Elizabeth & The Catapult :: TALLER CHILDREN



Read GFP's interview with Elizabeth here.

Meese

Meese is releasing their debut album Broadcast, a collection of rock-infused pop songs with a side of avant-garde electronic flair, on June 30th. The first single looks to be the toe-tapping "Next In Line," which frontman Patrick Meese says is his favorite song to play live simply cause it makes him feel like a badass. After giving the album a listen through, there's certainly many catchy bits thrown in amongst melodic rock/pop anthems that beckon some head-bobbing, meaning that this album is perfect for those summer drives with the windows down. The band is ready to set off on their tour with The Fray, Jack's Mannequin and Copeland this summer, so check out below the vid for tour dates.

VIDEO FOR "NEXT IN LINE"

Next In Line [mp3] Support the artist! Preorder the album here.

6/30 - Twist & Shout - Denver, CO (free show)
7/1 - Hodi's Half Note - Ft. Collins, CO
7/3 - The Marquee w/ Copeland - Tulsa, OK
7/5 - Launchpad w/ Copeland - Albuquerque, NM
7/7 - The Clubhouse w/ Copeland - Tempe, AZ
7/8 - House of Blues w/ Copeland - San Diego, CA
7/9 - Downtown Brew w/ Copeland - San Luis Obispo, CA
7/10 - Boardwalk w/ Copeland - Orangevale, CA
7/11 - Fiddler's Green w/ All American Rejects - Denver, CO (KTCL's Big Gig)
7/12 - House of Blues w/ Copeland - Anaheim, CA
7/14 - Dodge Theatre w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Phoenix, AZ
7/16 - The Journal Pavilion w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Albuquerque, NM
7/17 - The Pearl w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Las Vegas, NV
7/18 - USANA Amphitheatre w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Salt Lake City, UT
7/21 - The Target Center w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Minneapolis, MN
7/22 - Starlight Theatre w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Kansas City, MO
7/24 - Superpages.com Music Center w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Dallas, TX
7/25 - Cynthia Woods Pavilion w/ The Fray & Jack's Mannequin - Houston, TX

Theme Thursday - Flu

So for the first time in my life, I have the flu. It has not been pleasant. Thus my update for today will be quick. But out of curiosity I typed "flu" into my iTunes search bar to see what songs would come up. This was the only one that came up, but it's a good song. Anyone else got any good ones for "flu"? Not the easiest theme I've ever picked...

Bird Flu [mp3] - MIA - Kala (iTunes)

Dave Matthews Band's "Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King"

Dave Matthew's new album was released last week. My feelings about this album during those anticipatory months (years!) have been very much akin to the feeling I had while watching The Blair Witch Project after it was totally clear it was all a fake. I have very fond memories of DMB--living on the beach, he was a total staple. I loved his crazy awesome voice and insightful lyrics.

And then, I grew up. Mass disillusionment gave way to utter disappointment. I find this album totally over produced, over the top and, honestly, *sigh* the biggest let down yet.

(Geez, Lauren, tell us how you really feel.) Check it out yourselves! I welcome differing opinions.

Spaceman [mp3] (iTunes)

Shake Me Like a Monkey [mp3] (iTunes)

Stream Regina's entire album!

Regina Spektor's upcoming album, Far, is now available in its entirety streaming on her myspace. Check it out.

Heathers

Last night I went to see Dublin twin duo Heathers at Death by Audio. And yes, the band is named after the killer '80s movie (sorry I couldn't resist) starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannon Dougherty. They even have a song called "What's Your Damage?" But no, their names are not Heather - it's Louise and Ellie.

I'm sure they get this comparison a lot, so hopefully they think of it as a good thing - Heathers is the next Tegan & Sara, but Irish (and therefore even cooler). They are cute twins who utilize stellar vocal harmonies and whose primary (or well, only in this case) instrument is an accoustic guitar. Their voices even have similar timbre to Tegan & Sara's voices at times. Their music has a pretty quality to it, but is also quite catchy and a little gritty at the same time. I really enjoyed their set, although it felt WAY too short. They played without any amplification, which was cool. And they looked at each other instead of the audience because Louise said that if they look at the audience, they start cracking up. They even played a song that was written mostly in Gaelic, which I really liked (although I really liked almost every song to be fair). Their album, Here, Not There, is one of those rare albums that I legitimately like every single song just about.

The band after Heathers was called Ghost Mice, who was a lot of fun. Their fans are the least disinterested hipsters I've ever seen at a concert and the show quickly turned into a giant sing-a-long. While I actually agree with Ghost Mice's own assessments that they weren't doing all that well at this particular show, I still saw the potential and can understand why they seem to have a pretty large following (although a few songs were a little too preachy for my tastes).

Let me finish off by saying Death by Audio is a bizarre space. Even though it's on myspace and appears with very little searching on Google Maps, it is apparently not a "real" venue (and yet they carded us?). I'm all for the DIY/renegade feel of the place, though I do wish that maybe the ceiling didn't look like it was going to fall down around you (see photo above).

Slices of Palama [mp3] - (iTunes)

Photos by Jason Kruczynski

If "My So Called Life" were a song...

I stumbled upon Meryn Cadell's gem of a song The Sweater long ago...actually, I was able to find this song while my awkward dating years were still in motion (that, of course, assumes that those years are altogether behind me, which, honestly, I'm not sure is entirely the case).  Every once in awhile, I will put The Sweater on and jam out, waxing poetic about middle school and little Joe Humphries, my first love (which, by the way, ended quite tragically, when he threw a handful of dirt at my favorite puff-paint sweatshirt).  

All you girls out there, enjoy.  Boys, take note.

The Sweater - "angel food for thought" [mp3] (iTunes)

Laura Jansen

Lauren Jansen just celebrated the release of her EP Single Girls on Friday, and I gotta say from a fan's perspective it's been a long time coming. The first time I heard the demo of the title track months ago I was mesmerized and taken in - from her sassy gritty jazz-swung song "Trauma" to her simple weaving of indie pop melodies on enchanting tunes like "Bells", her voice is simple and perfect. Fun facts include her singing on the Hotel Cafe tour and alongside Joshua Radin at Ellen DeGeneres' wedding. I thought about listing her as a Prediction, because this one is probably going to end up on Grey's or similar major network television, but thought she warranted much more than that. Her music completely and honestly human. As evidence, check out the heartbreaker of a song below.

Single Girls [mp3] (iTunes)

Metric @ First Ave tonight!

Those of you who live in the Twin Cities better get your arses over to First Ave tonight for a stellar concert by Metric, hosted by my favorite radio station in existence, the Current. Front woman Emily Haines is truly a musical genius and an energetic performer that I've raved about before, and GFP has been praising the entertainment value and solid talent of Metric for a long while now. It pains me that I personally won't be able to make it, but I urge you all to go and check it out if you can, cause no doubt the concert will be AMAZING and well worth the cheap ticket fare of just 15 bucks. 

Sebastien Grainger (rock) and Smile Smile (indie folk pop) will open.

Find out more about the venue and acquiring concert tickets here.

Flashback Friday: We Didn't Start the Fire

In my family, there is a very fine balance between unconditional love and calculated increases in musical street cred.  One of the most effective ways of ratcheting it up a few notches is learning the lyrics to incredibly fast, complicated songs.  And so, as a 12 year old, I learned the lyrics to Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire.  I may have learned the lyrics, but let's make one thing clear:  I had no idea what 98% of the lyrics meant.  I'm inclined to think that my public school education failed me, because I'm still lost on about 62% of the allusions.  The song, much akin to American Pie, is still a family favorite...and really, it's the veritable precursor to white rap artists (eat your heart out, Eminem!).

Also, I think that I should be given bonus points:  We Didn't Start the Fire is a flashback in two ways--1) to my own childhood (and YOURS, too!), and 2) the whole concept of the song is flashing back.  Way to go, Lauren, way to go.

Enjoy, my 90's song minions, enjoy.

We Didn't Start the Fire [mp3] (iTunes)

Art Brut to begin 4-night stand in Los Angeles

Eddie Argos, frontman for those crazy English rockers Art Brut, once sang about all the fun stuff he'd do if he ever moved to LA. Well, next week might be his chance to drink Hennessy with Morrissey, get a tattoo (why can't you do that in England?) or strip naked to the waist and ride up and down Sunset Strip (his words, not mine).

Art Brut will be in LA for 4 days next week, from June 16-19 -- Tues/Wed/Thurs at Spaceland (21+), and Friday night just around the corner at The Echo (18+, for you youngins who just discovered rock 'n' roll). Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 day of show, for all 4 dates.

They're a real get-your-rocks-off, clanging guitars and banging drums-type band, the kind that will make you want to start your own if you haven't already. Argos' brand of talk-singing is also kinda charming. I'm only really familiar with their 2005 debut Bang Bang Rock N Roll, but their latest effort Art Brut vs. Satan just came out this spring, so I'm sure they'll have lots of new songs on the setlist. If I wasn't spending all of next week in New York I'd definitely be there myself, if only to stand in front of the man as he yells, "I'VE SEEN HER NAKED, TWICE!"

"Moving To LA" - [mp3]
"My Little Brother" - [mp3]

LA Love: The Rhone Occupation

Locals The Rhone Occupation are giving away their latest EP, Would It Kill You To Talk This Out, for free! It's a 5-song EP, and it tows the line between moody tunes, 60s folk-pop and modern indie rock.

Upon first hearing "I Know I Did You Wrong," I thought lead singer Jacob Summers had pulled an Ursula on Thom Yorke's voicebox, and the title track also reminds me of "Exit Music (For A Film)." I can't quite figure out if the band's listening to a ton of The Bends or Hail to the Thief, but it doesn't take away from enjoying the songs, especially when the guitar effects go all haywire at the end of "I Know I Did You Wrong."

Upbeat, acoustic guitar-laden middle track "The Worst of Me" is a solid bridge to the final 2 songs, which are a healthy major key respite from all the doom and gloom. Thom Yorke has left the building, and you're in Death Cab country now -- especially in "A Place," with its brightly chiming electric keys, arpeggiated Telecaster melody and steadfast shaker keeping time throughout. Sort of a "Technicolor Girls"-ish song, and it doesn't necessarily end up anywhere different than it started, but the journey is a nice sonic trip.

The EP closes out with "Stop," and I can't put my finger on exactly who it reminds me of, so I'm just gonna go with a general 60s folk sound. The song is played entirely on an acoustic and heavily chorused electric guitar, and could probably switch places with "A Place" for a perfectly flowing tracklist.

In an interview with local blog Radio Free Silverlake, Summers admitted that some folks have criticized the band for wearing their influences on their sleeve this time around, but I just think it's really cool that A) anyone can sound SO much like Thom Yorke and not fail at it, and B) that there's such a 180-degree turnaround halfway through. It's really like listening to 2 bands, or just a band with enough songwriting chops to move freely all across the board.

Take a listen below, and then visit The Rhone Occupation's official site to download your free copy of Would It Kill You To Talk This Out:

"I Know I Did You Wrong" - [mp3]
"A Place" - [mp3]

** Photo credit: Beth Stirnaman

The Decemberists @ The National

Friday night, I took the trek from DC down to Richmond, VA to see The Decemberists at The National. The band has been touring for quite some time now promoting their relatively new album, "The Hazards of Love." It was a night of firsts--first time to travel more than a couple of hours to get to a venue, first time to see The Decemberists live, first time in The National. As such, there's a lot to say.

I should have known that the show would be spectacular when the TicketMaster tickets said "The Decemberists with Special Guests." Special guests, indeed. Rebecca Stark of Lavender Diamond and Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond joined Colin et al. for the tour. It was crazy good. At the close of the evening, Shara and Rebecca sang a killer version of Heart's Crazy On You. If it hadn't been The Decemberists, they easily could have stolen the show.

As for the band themselves, they amazed me. The show was a really intriguing mix of songs--old and new. The Decemberists' previous work was still, just, golden. The new material, which is great on the album, is even better live (a thing, in my opinion, is difficult to achieve). Colin played the songs exactly as they are on their respective albums, right down to the smallest inflection. But then, in between songs, Colin would become this massively charming, suave (yes, suave!) entertainer. We experienced Colin in his greatest glory...and I swear, I fell in love...again.

The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid - "The Hazards of Love" - [mp3] (iTunes)

Help Me Choose The Song For 100,000 Miles!

My wonderful and loyal car, Sir Belvedere, is turning 100,000 miles rather soon, and I'm having troubling figuring out what song I should be blasting through the system when the monumental milestone arrives. Here's the list I'm considering so far, and please notice the lack of 500 miles on this list (although its a good song, I just can't steal that song away from How I Met Your Mother).

Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin [mp3] (iTunes)
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey [mp3] (iTunes)
Take On Me - A-Ha [mp3] (iTunes)
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen [mp3] (iTunes)
William Tell Overture- Rossini [mp3] (iTunes)
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana [mp3] (iTunes)
Wake Up - Arcade Fire and David Bowie [mp3] (iTunes)
This Used To Be My Playground - Madonna [mp3] (iTunes)
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor - Mozart [mp3] (iTunes)
Gobbledigook - Sigur Ros [mp3] (iTunes) ** or Glosoli (youtube), they're both great songs

Let me know what song gets your vote to mark my beautiful car's 100,000 mile, and if you think there's a song missing from the list, shout it out!

International Finds: Robyn

A native of Stockholm, this songstress is quickly climbing my personal Top 100 charts. Robyn is happy, peppy, and undeniably summer.

Now, I don't know how much of a find this is, as it is a re-find. This Robyn is the self same who sang Show Me Love, the peppy, poppy song of the mid-90's. When listening to Because of Boys, you should be able to hear strains of her former mainstream-pop days. I, for one, am ridiculously happy that she's taken the leap to more mature, more complex indie rock--without totally eschewing her happy-music roots.

Because of Boys [mp3] (iTunes)

Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest"

Grizzly Bear has done it again--they have produced an EP that will become part of my regular rotation! Their new album, released on May 26th, has all of the same swimmingly fantastic beats of their previous work, but incorporates a more mature, more engaged feeling to their melodic genius.

While You Wait for Others [mp3] (iTunes)

Lucky Us! Grizzly Bear has a very busy tour schedule this summer:

June 9 - Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley

June 11 - Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle

June 12 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo

June 13 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle

June 15 - Dallas, TX - Granada

June 18 - Tucson, AZ - Centennial Hall

June 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern

June 22 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore

July 19 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival

LA Love: Signal Hill

I have an irrational fear of flying -- I don't know why or how it started, but I'm always looking for new music to soothe me for those 5 or 6-hour cross-country flights.

Back in January, I flew to Austin to visit some old college friends, and on the way there I listened to Signal Hill. Signal Hill are a 4-piece band from LA who write awesome instrumental compositions with just the basics of indie rock music - guitar, bass, keys, drums. It's like those times when you're in the rehearsal space with your band, and you start playing all these cool melodies and riffing on everything, and everyone's getting psyched, and then someone's like, "well that's great, but who wants to write the lyrics?" Except these guys don't get to that last part, and it's still really, really good.

On the aforementioned flight to Austin I listened to their song "Llangollen," and the guitar melody was so hypnotic and trance-inducing that it calmed me down for a good 5 minutes and 56 seconds, and I listened to it again on the way back to LA. I imagine this music would also be great for driving at night (maybe not long distances though, because you might get so sucked into the tunes that you end up running off the road into a ditch somewhere....just FML material waiting to happen).

I also recently ran across their song "California Is Too Long," which is a song in 2 parts -- one slower and one faster -- broken up by a short dialogue interlude that sounds like two guys talking in a busy train station. Think Photo Album or We Have The Facts- era Death Cab, or Christie Front Drive, or The Album Leaf. Signal Hill is having an album release party this Saturday, June 6 at Pehrspace in LA, for their new record More After We're Gone -- you can purchase the digital download here.

"Llangollen" - [mp3]

"California Is Too Long" - [mp3]

"Men Before Them" - [mp3]

Marina & The Diamonds

The more I find out about Marina of Marina & The Diamonds, the more I really, really like her. This chick is not afraid to speak her mind, from calling Lady Gaga "the epitome of the word 'empty'," to discussing baby cheerleaders to bemusing about her Synesthesia (a neurological phenomenon that I would pay in KITTENS for). In addition, this Welsh-born singer believes her birthplace was "Ancient Greece" and one of her favorites, Britney Spears, is decked out as Jesus on her myspace. Her newest release is the Crown Jewels EP, which comes out physically in USA stores on June 22nd and features Marina's sizzling voice and attitude amongst electro-pop tunes that feature the repeating theme of "screw society, just be whoever you want to be." With those words in mind, check out a tune from the EP, and as always, if you like what you hear, go out and actually support the artist.

I Am Not A Robot [mp3]

Flashback Friday: Girls and Boys

Welcome to a new segment we're calling "Flashback Fridays," where we look back on some of the amazing music of past decades. I'm going to start with the amazing music video that inspired me to start this segment, "Girls and Boys" by Blur.

This video has pretty much everything classic '80s: Green Screen, big hair, hip high swimsuit leg lines, track suits, spandex, crazy camera movements and angles... You name it, it's probably in there. I do have to say the song is pretty catchy though. Enjoy!

Lay Low's "Farewell Good Night's Sleep"

Last Thursday, Lovisa Elisabet Sigrinardittir (aka. Lay Low) released her new album, "Farewell Good Night's Sleep."  I have to say this alt-country singer/songwriter has captured my head and heart.  It's not really peppy summer music, so it's a good thing the last few days have been rainy.

Lovisa's voice has at once the breathiness of Norah Jones, the brilliance of Neko Case, a dose of June Carter and (here's the shocker) a hint of the smoothness of Erykah Badu.  Listen and you'll understand.

Why Do I Worry [mp3] (iTunes)

Emilie Simon @ Le Poisson Rouge

Last night I caught Emilie Simon at Le Poisson Rouge. The French singer is currently living in New York and has just finished recording an album here (no word on when exactly it's due out from my understanding though). She arrived looking like she had come straight off a Paris runway in the era of Jetsons - with big feathery plumage, a shiny (leather?) dress, and some crazy contraption on her left arm that I never got a good look at (I was trying to tell if she was using it during her songs for something musically-related but I wasn't at a good angle for that).

Her dark electro-pop is quite infectious and I have to say I was sad that LPR had set up the chairs and tables because I was definitely in the mood to dance. Simon is adorable and she demonstrated her abilities to use both modern technology and old school accoustic instruments to play great music. And it's always fun to hear multi-lingual singers perform. I have to say, it's fitting that she was performing at Le Poisson Rouge. She has a couple more performances this summer on the East and West coasts, so check her out if you have a chance:

6/17 - Public Assembly, Brooklyn
6/29 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
6/30 - The Crocodile, Seattle WA
7/3 - The Levitt Pavillion for the Performing Arts, Pasadena CA 7/23 - Highline Ballroom, NYC

Fleur De Saison [mp3] - (iTunes)

This isn't your 13 year old sister's Mandy Moore...

I have found a new artist, and, yes, her name happens to be Mandy Moore. Okay, so maybe it's just Mandy Moore. But, I swear, Ms. Moore's new album is nothing akin to Candy...er, right, I don't know the names of any of Mandy Moore's old stuff....

Right. This blog is called Guilt Free Pleasures. No need to preface my post about Mandy Moore. (Still, I can't help but feel that my street cred has taken a considerable hit.)

I stumbled upon Mandy Moore's new album while fiddling with my co-worker's iPhone the other day (heelllllloo gadget lust!) and wandered into the iTunes app. I listened to some samples, and found my head bopping along to the soulful, slightly Lilith-Fair-esque quality. Home I went, and happily so, to download Moore's new album, "Amanda Leigh." Mandy shows much versatility on this album, as she can just as easily sound ethereal and breathy (a la Sarah McLaughlin) as she can folksy. 

Fern Dell [mp3] (iTunes)

Pocket Philosopher [mp3] (iTunes)

Ravens & Chimes, Mia Riddle @ Joe's Pub

Saturday night I hit up Joe's Pub to see one of my favorite local bands, Ravens & Chimes. It's been way too long since I've seen them perform and I'd heard they'd been writing a bunch of new stuff. I was also very excited to see Mia Riddle because I caught only the very end of her set at the Deli Magazine Best of New York show and definitely wanted to hear more.

Mia Riddle was up first. She started out a little bit... nervous? Timid? I think she was a tad bit overwhelmed about playing at the infamous Joe's Pub. She kept saying how awesome it was to be there ("like a dream come true!"). As the set went on, she got more and more confident (as did her band), which was great to see. She has a very strong voice and a good stage presence, especially when she smiles and looks like she's having fun. The audience seemed to be really digging her particular brand of folk rock, as was I.

Echo [mp3] - (iTunes)

Ravens and Chimes also seemed a little nervous and warmed up as they went. I guess it's the Joe's Pub reputation for star-making. They played quite a few new songs, which is exciting. I am really looking forward to hearing even more when their next album comes out. Although, I was a little disappointed that they didn't play my very favorites (in their defense, I do love basically all their old stuff though. And they did play "General Lafayette! You Are Not Alone!" which is fitting since we were on Lafayette street). I was also not so impressed with the mixing for their set, but that's not their fault. And at least lead singer Asher's underwear didn't get stolen (apparently he used to perform commando and once his underwear got stolen during a gig at Maxwells, but he no longer goes commando). During the show, he also told a funny story about almost getting arrested but getting out of it by telling the cop he was in a band.

General Lafayette! You Are Not Alone! [mp3] - (iTunes)

Previously on Lost TICKET GIVEAWAY - NYC 6/6

We have a ticket giveaway for our NYC readers to see Previously on Lost play at Public Assembly in Williamsburg on Saturday, June 6th w/ Anamanaguchi, Lionshare and Ninjasonik. The band has finally gotten notice from ABC and has been hired to write a recap for the season 5 finale that will also be turned into a music video using footage from the Untangled show that discusses the mysteries of Lost.

To enter the contest, please email us with "Lost Ticket Giveaway" in the subject by noon EST on Friday, June 5th.

Be My Constant [mp3]