frankel - the great unknown

california based singer/songwriter frankel released his debut ep "chatterbox" earlier this month on three ring records. 6 songs of hushed folk-pop recommended for fans of elliott smith and rogue wave.

mp3 | frankel - the great unknown
bonus:
mp3 | frankel - don't leave

monoland - levitate

monoland return this month with thier third full length entitled "ben chantice" (supermodern). this german band is making some of the best shoegaze music being released today. dreamy waves of guitars with the occasional electronic sample in the background. hands down, one of the best albums you'll hear all year.

mp3 | monoland - levitate

ryan adams - just like a whore (demo)

if i really wanted to, i'm pretty sure i could post an unreleased ryan adams track every day for the rest of the year. i doubt i'll do that but i think i'm going to start posting some of the highlights i've collected over the years. this little gem comes from his "q division" sessions. oh and be sure to head on over to aquarium drunkard for video of ryan's recently aired performance on austin city limits.

mp3 | ryan adams - just like a whore (demo)

oppressed by the line - a brief moment of clarity

oppressed by the line is the solo project of jon thompson who also fronts the bands sleepless and of normandy. he recently released his first ep "the cause of the colour" on the club ac30 imprint. you could consider his electro-dreampop sound to be the musical equivalent of vicodin.

mp3 | oppressed by the line - a brief moment of clarity
bonus:
mp3 | oppressed by the line - bedtime in munich (unreleased)
mp3 | oppressed by the line - don't bestow the lesser things (unreleased)

the duke spirit - dark is light enough

i totally fucking blew it when i made my year end list. i thought "cuts across the land" by the duke spirit came out in the uk late 2004 but it actually came out last may. this album is amazing and it would've easily been in my top 10. anyways, the record is finally seeing a domestic release on march 7th via startime international. here's a track that won't be available on the american version.

mp3 | the duke spirit - dark is light enough
bonus:
mp3 | the duke spirit - cuts across the land

the universe - the bigness of small things

the universe are a group of australians that started with the idea of a band that only wrote songs with the common theme of 'space'. on february 7th their debut album "the outer void intrepid sailor" will be released via mircoindie records. their space-rock sound should appeal to fans of the flaming lips and super furry animals.

mp3 | the universe - the bigness of small things
bonus:
mp3 | the universe - goodbye

finian mckean - every day that passes

finian mckean was kind enough to send me his new album "shades are drawn" with a note that read 'play it loud'. so i did just that and i must say i'm impressed. the album contains everything from rock to pop to blues to folk but it manages to remain cohesive and keep my attention throughout.

mp3 | finian mckean - every day that passes
bonus:
mp3 | finian mckean - shades are drawn
mp3 | finian mckean - black hole

gris gris - cuerpos haran amor extrano

one of the most overlooked albums of last year in my opinion was "for the season" (birdman records), the sophomore album from gris gris. these guys play psychedelic rock that is sure to send you back to the late 60's and have you tasting the colors.

mp3 | gris gris - cuerpos haran amor extrano
bonus:
mp3 | gris gris - skin mass cat
mp3 | gris gris - year zero

the voices - when you're around

the voices are a 3 piece shoegaze band from across the pond and their self titled debut was released last year on my kung fu records. luckily, you can purchase their cd in the states over at tonevendor. you know the deal...fuzzy guitars, warm synths and hushed vocals. enjoy.

mp3 | the voices - when you're around

patty hurst shifter - she's like a song

patty hurst shifter has a new album entitled "too crowded on the losing end" coming out tuesday via evo recordings. if you like your rock and roll with a little country twang to it then i suggest you check these guys out. for fans of son volt and the replacements.

mp3 | patty hurst shifter - she's like a song

destroyer - european oils

destroyer is dan bejar of the new pornographers. he writes unconventional indie-pop songs and has a unique voice that you'll either love or hate. on february 21st he will be releasing his seventh full length "destroyer's rubies" (merge records). here's a song from the upcoming album.

mp3 | destroyer - european oils

kelley stoltz - ever thought of coming back

on february 7th, sub pop will be releasing kelley stoltz's new album "below the branches" and i highly recommend it. last year he put out a teaser ep entitled "the sun comes through" which is also worth checking out. this guy definitely listens to the beatles and the beach boys a lot.

mp3 | kelley stoltz - ever thought of coming back
bonus:
mp3 | kelley stoltz - memory collector
mp3 | kelley stoltz - the sun comes through

castanets - a song is not the song of the world

i'm really kicking myself for not giving castanets' latest album "first light's freeze" (asthmatic kitty) a second chance sooner. i wasn't too impressed when i first heard the album so i sat down and listened to it again yesterday and i've already listened to it 3 times since then. put simply, it's an amazing backwoods freak-folk extravaganza that deserves your attention.

mp3 | castanets - a song is not the song of the world
bonus:
mp3 | castanets - all that i know to have changed in you

loose fur - hey chicken

loose fur is jeff tweedy (of wilco), glenn kotche (also of wilco) and jim o'rourke (formerly of sonic youth). on march 21st, they will be releasing their sophomore album "born again in the usa" via drag city records. if you're familiar with any of the work these guys are known for then i'm sure you won't be disappointed.

mp3 | loose fur - hey chicken

rocky votolato - uppers aren't necessary

on january 24th, rocky votolato (formerly of waxwing) will be releasing "makers", his first album for barsuk and fourth solo album total. i've heard the record already and i think it's his best work yet. have a listen to one of my favorite songs off the album.

mp3 | rocky votolato - uppers aren't necessary
bonus:
mp3 | rocky votolato - white daisy passing
mp3 | rocky votolato - portland is leaving

my morning jacket - how could i know

another one of my favorite albums of last year was my morning jacket's "z" (ato). with this effort they received comparisons such as "the next wilco" and even "america's radiohead". this track is a b-side taken from their "off the record" single and it's more in the vein of their previous work.

mp3 | my morning jacket - how could i know

the jimi hendrix experience - crosstown traffic

just in case you live under a rock and have never heard jimi hendrix, here's one of my favorite tracks off the jimi hendrix experience's third album, "electric ladyland". it doesn't necessarily showcase his guitar talents that much, but it does let you know how good of a songwriter he was.

mp3 | the jimi hendrix experience - crosstown traffic

cat power - up and gone

chan marshall aka cat power will be releasing her new album "the greatest" on january 24th via matador records. here's a bonus track that will only be available on the lp version of the album and the initial digipak pressing of the cd.

mp3 | cat power - up and gone
bonus:
mp3 | cat power - the greatest

super furry animals - colonise the moon

if you've read my top 50 albums of 2005 list then you already know how much i like the latest offering from super furry animals, "love kraft" (xl recordings). here's a b-side from their "lazer beam" single in case you're like me and just can't get enough from them.

mp3 | super furry animals - colonise the moon

the black - you made me realize

i like when bands send me their cd for free in the mail. especially if the band is as good as the black. last week i received the austin based band's debut album "tanglewood" (k woo records) and it's filled with an eclectic mix of southern indie rock. have a listen for yourself.

mp3 | the black - you made me realize
bonus:
mp3 | the black - cell block

pink mountaintops - plastic man, you're the devil

here's a track from the upcoming pink mountaintops album "axis of evol" due out march 7th on jagjaguwar. they also recently put out a 7" with two tracks that won't be on the full length. if you didn't already know, pink mountaintops features sam mcbean of black mountain.

mp3 | pink mountaintops - plastic man, you're the devil
bonus:
mp3 | pink mountaintops - new drug queens

greg weeks - dusted

greg weeks (of espers) put out a solo album early last year entitled "blood is trouble" (ba da bing). sadly, this psych-folk gem was overlooked and never got the attention i feel it deserved. here's a track to see what you've been missing out on.

mp3 | greg weeks - dusted

fleeting joys - the breakup

i'll be honest, fleeting joys sound exactly like my bloody valentine. of course, i have absolutely no problem with this at all. the band recently signed to clairecords and have an album coming out sometime in the near future. their website is pretty vague so if you want more info then check out their myspace page.

mp3 | fleeting joys - the breakup

pearls and brass - the tower

do you listen to black sabbath? do you smoke pot? do you have a beard? if you answered 'yes' to any of those questions then you need to check out the upcoming album by pearls and brass, "the indian tower", which drag city will be releasing on january 17th. here's the opening track from the album.

mp3 | pearls and brass - the tower
bonus:
mp3 | pearls and brass - the face of god

peter and the wolf - couches by the sea

peter and the wolf consists of red hunter and his wife dana. they've been known to play shows in graveyards and abandoned buses. their brand of folk is both haunting and beautiful. listen to one of my favorite tracks from their self titled album released late last year on whiskey and apples.

mp3 | peter and the wolf - couches by the sea
bonus:
mp3 | peter and the wolf - anna maria (live on kvrx)

richard ashcroft - break the night with colour

richard ashcroft (former lead singer of the verve) has a new solo album coming out later this month called "keys to the world" (parlophone). here's the first single off of it. hopefully the rest of the album will be just as good.

mp3 | richard ashcroft - break the night with colour