Sorry it’s been so long since I posted anything. Now that I’m in between projects I have tons of free time, but I no longer sit at my desk all day working and listening to new music on the interweb. I’ve spent lots of time getting caught up in life, but have been quite delinquint in posting. My bad.
There’s a lot to talk about, so I’m going to switch up the format a little bit this time.
- The XX
Approachability: Medium/Low
Long ago, in my senior year of high school, my friend Thomas and I became semi-obsessed with the song Teardrops, by Lovestation. We heard it on a streaming radio station, and after weeks of hunting it down, finally found it and downloaded it. Great song. Then, in a hilarious coincidence, I was listening to music on the interweb a few weeks ago, and ran across The XX’s cover of Teardrops. The XX is a new band from London, and hearing Teardrops really brought me back – plus it’s a great song to boot!
Check out more of The XX’s stuff (especially Crystalised and Blood Red Moon) on their space:
http://www.myspace.com/thexx
- The Vanish
Approachability: Medium
As is the sound of the moment, The Vanish is another new stand-out electro-pop-rock duo. They came from Australia (like Cut Copy, Empire of the Sun, Van She, and many other greats) and now live in New York City pumping out some awesome stuff. Here’s a bio they wrote:
The Vanish was born in 2008 when two workmates decided to shun the grind of their New York City jobs, pack up their desks and disappear. Suddenly aware that life isn’t a rehearsal, they took a gamble on the music game.
It’s the creative extension of their days playing together in teenage punk bands growing up in Australia – and this early influence remains. They now deal with the issues of identity and conformity faced in their previous nine-to-five lives over a boiling fusion of post-punk, nu-wave and electro.
Both experienced DJs and seasoned instrumentalists, The Vanish combine these aspects through a tapestry of late-night electro, rocking verses and crunching guitar chords reminiscent of The Clash in the late ‘70s. Back in Brooklyn, their self-titled EP is a teaser for their full-length release that’ll drop later this year.
DJ sets and live shows – bringing in drummer Ben Yabsley – will span across Australia and the United States in 2009.
Check out Heartbeat, Hold On, and more of their awesome music on their space:
http://www.myspace.com/thevanishmusic - The Airborne Toxic Event
Approachability: Medium
I know they aren’t a new band, but I was listening to them in the car the other day, and thought they needed to be re-mentioned. The Airborne Toxic Event is an indie/alt-rock band from LA with a somewhat similar sound to The Strokes. The lead singer’s voice is incredibly distinctive, and they’ve got some great stuff out there:
Wishing Well
Does This Mean You’re Moving OnAnd of course, check more of their stuff out on their space:
http://www.myspace.com/theairbornetoxicevent - You can now listen to the new Dave Matthews Band album Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King in its entirety online through Pandora now. Pretty sweet promotion, and the album sounds fantastic.
http://www.pandora.com/davematthewsband - As RP3 mentioned below, we’re going to see Passion Pit and Harlem Shakes in a little over a week, on June 9th. Both of their albums are go-to’s on my iPod, and I couldn’t be more excited. If you haven’t checked them out yet, definitely do so immediately.
- I heard a couple of sweet songs on KEXP recently, so I’m just going to share those below instead of doing a new Song of the Moment:Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band – Nikorette
Approachability: Very HighFanfarlo – The Walls Are Coming Down
Approachability: High - Further proof that Adam Sandberg is single-handedly keeping SNL afloat…
SNL: Digital Short: Motherlover
- And finally, because I just can’t get enough of it:
The Lonely Island – I’m On a Boat
Have a great weekend everyone!
-Weird Jim
Posted by Weird Jim 
