ambulette - fall

ambulette is the latest musical endeavor from former denali frontwoman, maura davis. they recently signed a deal with astralwerks and have an ep entitled "the lottery" coming out on march 21st. if you're a fan of her previous work then i'm sure you'll dig this. it's a little darker but maura's ethereal vocals shine through like a beacon. it doesn't hurt that she's hot either.

mp3 | ambulette - fall

citay - seasons don't fear the year

citay is a collaboration between ezra feinberg (formerly of piano magic) and tim green (of the fucking champs). tomorrow, important records will be releasing the band's self titled debut. they play prog-folk with california-pop vocal harmonies...like an acoustic led zeppelin meets the beach boys.

mp3 | citay - seasons don't fear the year
bonus:
mp3 | citay - nice cuffs
mp3 | citay - vinter

bright channel - disillusionist

next tuesday marks the release of bright channel's sophomore album "self-propelled" (flight approved records). this is probably going to the be one of the most overlooked albums of 2006. it's one of the best things i've heard in the past couple months. atmospheric space-rock with elements of shoegaze and post-rock. heavy and dreamy. check it out.

mp3 | bright channel - disillusionist
bonus:
mp3 | bright channel - in the red
mp3 | bright channel - airborne

pissed jeans - i'm sick

i was planning on posting about pissed jeans about a month ago and i had forgotten to do so until today when i read that they had signed to sub pop. last june they released their debut "shallow" on parts unknown records. these dudes play what i can only describe as drone-punk but with a sense of humor. for fans of henry rollins-era black flag.

mp3 | pissed jeans - i'm sick
bonus:
mp3 | pissed jeans - closet marine

(the sounds of) kaleidoscope - secret service

(the sounds of) kaleidoscope released their debut full length this past tuesday entitled "from where you were to how you got there" on hackshop records. these dc natives play a unique blend of psych-pop and shoegaze that is sure to keep your ears ringing and head spinning. highly recommended.

mp3 | (the sounds of) kaleidoscope - secret service
bonus:
mp3 | (the sounds of) kaleidoscope - because i am haunted
mp3 | (the sounds of) kaleidoscope - certain colour sky

below the sea - anonymity

below the sea are a 3 piece instrumental band from canada. last year they released their third album "blame it on the past" on where are my records. their sound is very atmospheric and has touches of jazz similar to that of tortoise or the sea and cake.

mp3 | below the sea - anonymity
bonus:
mp3 | below the sea - ceremonies
mp3 | below the sea - polaroids

beth orton - comfort of strangers #9

earlier this month beth orton released her new album "comfort of strangers" on astralwerks and i think it's her most accomplished work yet. originally beth had m. ward producing the album but later decided to work with jim o'rourke on the final product. the limited edition version of the album includes a bonus cd with 5 tracks taken from the m. ward sessions and the one i'm posting even has him contributing some vocals.

mp3 | beth orton - comfort of strangers #9

oasis - won't let you down

last year oasis released their return-to-form album "don't believe the truth" on epic records. one thing i've always liked about them is that they're not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. another thing i've always liked about them is the number of b-sides they record with each album. here's one from their "lyla" single.

mp3 | oasis - won't let you down

sera cahoone - last time

sera cahoone is probably best known for playing drums for carissa's wierd and on the upcoming album by band of horses "everything all the time" (sub pop). however, this past week she released her own self titled solo album. she plays dusty bar room ballads that should appeal to fans of mary gauthier or lucinda williams. presently, her cd is only available for purchase via subpop's web store but she plans to have it on cdbaby.com sometime soon.

mp3 | sera cahoone - last time

centro-matic - in such crooked time

on march 7th, centro-matic will be releasing their new album "fort recovery" on misra records. i'm a big fan of their frontman will johnson's solo work along with his other project south san gabriel so needless to say i'm excited about this release. the band also recently put out a teaser ep "triggers and trash heaps" with 3 tracks that you won't find on the full length. highly recommended.

mp3 | centro-matic - in such crooked time
bonus:
mp3 | centro-matic - triggers and trash heaps
mp3 | centro-matic - calling thermatico

belong - red velvet or nothing

i received my copy of belong's "october language" (carpark records) in the mail this week and i'm completely blown away. if you don't know, belong is the collaborative effort of two new orleans natives, turk dietrich and michael jones. their songs feature dense layers of ambient distortion that will easily put you into a trance. reminds me of a more accessible version of flying saucer attack.

mp3 | belong - red velvet or nothing
bonus:
mp3 | belong - i never lose. never really

his name is alive - are we still married?

his name is alive released their new album "detrola" on january 24th via their own silver mountain media group. the album is an amazing hybrid of indie, electronic and folk music. in november of last year they also released an itunes exclusive acoustic ep "raindrops rainbow" as sort of a teaser for the full length. here's a track from the ep.

mp3 | his name is alive - are we still married?
bonus:
mp3 | his name is alive - get your curse

the sword - freya

the sword is a stoner-metal band hailing from austin, texas. today marks the release of their debut full length "age of winters" on kemado records. the perfect soundtrack to bong hits and late night garage hang out sessions. happy valentine's day.

mp3 | the sword - freya
bonus:
mp3 | the sword - iron swan

clearlake - here to learn

i'm really digging the latest offering from clearlake. the album is called "amber" and was released last month on domino. they play brit-rock and do a damn fine job at it. recommended for fans of blur or doves.

mp3 | clearlake - here to learn
bonus:
mp3 | clearlake - no kind of life

singapore sling - curse curse curse

in 2004, iceland's singapore sling released their sophomore album "life is killing my rock 'n' roll" on stinky records. if you're upset about there being no more records from the jesus and mary chain, then you really need to hear these guys. dark psychedelic garage-rock with fuzzy guitars and cough syrup vocals.

mp3 | singapore sling - curse curse curse
bonus:
mp3 | singapore sling - life is killing my rock 'n' roll
mp3 | singapore sling - guiding light

daturah - shoal

daturah is a german band that released their self titled album last year on graveface records. even though there are only 3 songs on the album, it's over 40 minutes of post-rock bliss. check them out if you like mono or explosions in the sky.

mp3 | daturah - shoal

j. tillman - casualties

j. tillman released his second album "long may you run, j. tillman" last month via keep recordings. it's a limited run of 150 copies and i just heard it's sold out so i'm sorry if you didn't get your hands on one. he plays lo-fi folk that i can easily see myself listening to late night when drunk and a little bummed. it's depressing but in that good sort of way, know what i mean?

mp3 | j. tillman - casualties
bonus:
mp3 | j. tillman - my waking days
mp3 | j. tillman - seven states across

neko case - hold on hold on

it's really hard for me to describe just how amazing neko case's upcoming album "fox confessor brings the flood" is. it comes out march 7th on anti- and i expect it to receive nothing but good reviews. the songwriting and production are top notch but it's really her voice that steals the show. with this release, she's joined the company of timeless greats like patsy cline and loretta lynn. highly recommended.

mp3 | neko case - hold on hold on
bonus:
mp3 | neko case - star witness

lilys - black carpet magic

here's the opening track from the upcoming lilys album entitled "everything wrong is imaginary" due out this month on the 21st via manifesto records. quirky indie-pop that is often described as my bloody valentine meets the kinks.

mp3 | lilys - black carpet magic

low - monkey (stephin merritt remix)

low recently released a remix ep entitled "tonight the monkeys die" on their own chairkickers label. the ep features the album version of the song 'monkey' taken from last year's "the great destroyer" (sub pop) along with 5 remixes of the song. here's my favorite of the bunch.

mp3 | low - monkey (stephin merritt remix)
bonus:
mp3 | low - monkey
mp3 | low - california

galaxie 500 - flowers (peel session)

during their career, galaxie 500 recorded sessions with the legendary john peel in 1989 and 1990. last year they were both compiled and released as...you guessed it "peel sessions" (20/20/20). the often bootlegged tracks are now officially available and feature the band doing their renditions of songs by the sex pistols, young marble giants, and jonathan richman. an absolute must for any diehard fan.

mp3 | galaxie 500 - flowers (peel session)

65daysofstatic - drove through ghosts to get here

last year 65daysofstatic released their second full length "one time for all time" on monotreme records. they play post-rock with elements of glitch-hop and jungle. sounds like a loud and epic fight between aphex twin and mogwai.

mp3 | 65daysofstatic - drove through ghosts to get here
bonus:
mp3 | 65daysofstatic - await rescue
mp3 | 65daysofstatic - massive star at the end of its burning cycle (unreleased)

witch - rip van winkle

witch is a stoner rock/metal band consisting of j. mascis (of dinosaur jr.) and his close friend along with two members of the freak-folk outfit feathers. their self titled debut is scheduled for release on tee pee records in march. just look at the cover art and tell me you aren't stoked.

mp3 | witch - rip van winkle

bob dylan - don't think twice, it's all right (live)

so if you're a bob dylan fan like me then you already know just how rad last year was. first of all, martin scorsese's 'no direction home' documentary came out along with the accompanying "no direction home: the soundtrack (bootleg series vol. 7)". also released were remastered versions of two of his albums and the starbucks exclusive "live at the gaslight 1962". the track i'm posting is from that cd and it's the earliest surviving recording of the song.

mp3 | bob dylan - don't think twice, it's all right (live)

the watson twins - friend and foe

i got my copy of the debut ep from the watson twins, "southern manners", in the mail last week. i guess from their work with jenny lewis on her solo album "rabbit fur coat" (team love), i expected the 8 songs on the ep to have a traditional country/folk sound. instead it's more of a slowcore vibe in the vein of low or ida with a little bit of twang. either way, these girls can sing.

mp3 | the watson twins - friend and foe