Of all Fleet Foxes‘ collective works to date, none have impressed me as much and as thoroughly as “The Shrine / An Argument”. Off their latest LP, Helplessness Blues, the song is a medley of sorts, an elongated story with various movements. It’s downright exciting to see the song played out in an eight-minute video, created by front-man Robin Pecknold’s brother Sean. The song is epic in the truest of senses.

Long and elaborate, the story put to video follows a harrowing, haunting tale both other-worldly and vivid. It is one that is an absolute must-see, just as the song is a must-hear: From the jaunting, playful opening notes to the hefty midsection, to the erratic near free-jazz styling of the latter moments.

Check out the video below and let me know what you think.

The Shrine / An Argument from Sean Pecknold on Vimeo.

First hearing “Endless Summer” a few months back, it may have been slightly difficult to understand what Sub Pop saw in their new signee, Still Corners. Granted, the song is very good, but it alone fails to demonstrate the sheer power this band holds. That power is conveyed throughout Still Corners’ debut Sub Pop LP, Creatures of an Hour.

“Dreamy psychedelic bedroom pop” is a fairly good description of what you’ll hear on this album, but it pales in comparison to what will blow your mind when the headphones envelop your very being. First singles “Cuckoo” and “Endless Summer” are wispy tracks, uncanny and mesmerizing. Stack them next to the hazy organ and synth notes in “Circulars” and (personal favorites) “Velveteen” and “I Wrote In Blood”, and they’ll tailspin you into a Linklater-like dream world.

In a way, you can liken lone singles like “Endless Summer” and “Cuckoo” to the first time you heard “Norway” off Beach House’s Teen Dream. Pretty damn good, but not as good as it is when you stack it up against the album in its entirety. Creatures of an Hour follows the exact same path; it takes only a single listen to the full album to have that “ah-ha!” moment.

And from there, it’s all love.

Download: “Into The Trees” by Still Corners

Sub Pop [CD, 2011]

1. Cuckoo
2. Circulars
3. Endless Summer
4. Into The Trees
5. The White Season
6. I Wrote In Blood
7. The Twilight Hour
8. Velveteen
9. Demons
10. Submarine

There are very few certainties in life. With the economy in a downfall, natural disasters coming from all angles, and the earth slowly warming, it is very easy to become weary about any sort of regularity in this world. But, there is are two certainties you can always count on: 1) you are going to get older and 2) Blitzen Trapper is going to release an album that just gets better and better. Both of these have inevitably happened this year. And however you feel about Number 1, you should be very excited about Number 2. Eric Earley and Company have brought us their 4th album, American Goldwing, just in time for us to remember what is actually cool about living in America.

Blitzen Trapper has always been a group known for impeccably perfected songs about things of olden-times. They’ve created folk medleys that are still cool in the eyes of the young. While last year’s exceptional Destroyer Of The Void was a welcomed advancement, and a brilliant album in general, it actually wasn’t that far off from their earlier releases. But, American Goldwing is an album that literally takes everything this amazing group has learned in and from the past, and puts it to use in a way that is so damn perfect it’s almost hard to imagine.

It is too hard to avoid the folk pop pleasure that “Love The Way You Walk Away” creates. Or the total Dylan-esque cut “Taking It Easy Too Long” and it’s stoned out enthusiasm. And curse thee who can’t appreciate the rock and roll’ed sex frenzy that is “Might Find It Cheap”, which is a like a PG-13 version of Whitesnake’s “Do The Dirty With Me”. All grounds are covered in this fantastic tribute to the version of America we might actually feel fondly about. Oh, and “Your Crying Eyes” is simply The Rolling Stones replacing Mick Jagger with Hank III. Wonderful stuff!

Sub Pop Records is not a small nuance in the record label world by any means. They’ve always found themselves in the right place at the right time for the last twenty something years. But, to know that a group like Blitzen Trapper can somehow be aligned with Nirvana and Mudhoney is simple proof that their might be a higher being, and he has blessed the A&R folks of Sub Pop with the ability to spot perfect talent when it is time to be found. And it is an amazing feeling to know that Blitzen Trapper is a band that can be appreciated in these times.

Download: “Love The Way You Walk Away” by Blitzen Trapper

Sub Pop Records [CD, 2011]

1. Might Find It Cheap
2. Fletcher
3. Love The Way You Walk Away
4. Your Crying Eyes
5. My Home Town
6. Girl In A Coat
7. American Goldwing
8. Astronaut
9. Taking It Easy Too Long
10. Street Fighting Sun
11. Stranger In A Strange Land
12. Mission Moon

Blitzen Trapper are arguably one of the hardest working (and most estranged in character) bands out today. With a relentless tour schedule that makes you wonder if Eric Earley and crew actually have homes to go back to, and what seems to be an “album a year” strategy going for them, they have definitely earned this title. But, the best is yet to come. Everyone’s favorite indie-folk group is due to release their fourth album, third from Sub Pop Records, very soon! And if “Love The Way You Walk Away” and it’s corresponding video are as impeccably brilliant and personable as the rest of the album, we are shaping up to hear what will be the definitive Blitzen Trapper album. These suave folk-smith warriors always seem to outshine themselves year in and year out.

The video for “Love The Way You Walk Away” is very simple in nature. Classic tour footage of good times had, singing done, and classic 4-second blips of smiles and nips from flasks dominate the aura of a perfect visual demonstration of the world Blitzen Trapper has immersed themselves in over the last few years. But it is the down right spectacular song itself that steals the YouTube show here.

Once again, Eric Earley proves that he is the prodigal son that Bob Dylan wishes he would have had (sorry Jakob, maybe try tennis?) as he spills out lyrics that are equal to if not greater than (at least reminiscent of) Mr. Zimmerman’s “One More Cup Of Coffee”. Blitzen Trapper has created a track that should definitely appeal to any person who has had the pleasure of seeing them perform live in their own city, or have felt as though Eric and crew have been speaking directly to them over for the better part of a decade.

Whether they meant to or not, these guys have created an homage to the friends, family, and fans who have tried their best to show their support for all the hard work they have put into creating such wonderful and inspiring tunes. And if I may speak for my crew of beloved followers, I would like to say….thank you so damn much!

Blitzen Trapper will release their fourth album, American Goldwing, on September 13th.

Download: “Love The Way You Walk Away” by Blitzen Trapper

An airy whisper cuts the chilly late summer night. A synth plays an eerie but soothing organ-like melody. A set of beats backs it all, borderline drum box. “Cuckoo” by Still Corners, one of Sub Pop’s latest artists, is a song that screams the uncanny. Rightfully so, the video follows suit, layering colors atop the band for a ghastly, oddly hologram-like appeal.

I was pretty damn excited about Memoryhouse’s The Years EP, which I reviewed a few days back, but I think I’m even more excited for Still Corners’ forthcoming release. That album is called Creatures Of The Hour and it comes out October 11 on Sub Pop.

Download: “Cuckoo” by Still Corners

Clarity is an odd thing. Subjective and open to interpretation. There is clarity behind the vocals of Denise Nouvion, contrasting the dream-like nature of Evan Abeele’s compositions. Together they make up Memoryhouse, and next month they will release The Years EP courtesy Sub Pop Records.

The Years EP is a collection of five beautifully produced song, lucid yet evasive of reality. From opening track “Sleep Patterns”, the listener is treated to a hypnotic set of songs that filter life through a translucent haze.

The EP builds from these early moments into “Lately”, a song that samples the mystical melody so beloved in Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and on into a early, subtle beats of “Modern, Normal”. “To The Lighthouse” continues with a chill, laid-back beat courtesy Abeele, while Nouvion adds a melody to match the power in that of “Lately”. Here it climaxes, leaving “Quiet America” for the cool down.

The music of Memoryhouse is soothing; it’s that fresh, perfectly-brewed cup of coffee Agent Cooper enjoys at The Great Northern each morning in Twin Peaks. It’s the moment you awake after a long night’s sleep, perfectly rested on a lazy Sunday morning. It simply makes you feel good.

Download: “Modern, Normal” by Memoryhouse

Sub Pop [CDEP, 2011]

1. Sleep Patterns
2. Lately
3. Modern, Normal
4. To The Lighthouse
5. Quiet America

Look back over the past few Fruit Bats releases and you’ll find a solid handful of greats. “Born In The 70s” and “Earthquake of ’73″ off Spelled In Bones. “Seaweed” off Mouthfuls. These were truly great tracks. “Tangie And Ray” off Fruit Bats’ latest LP, Tripper, fits right in. It’s catchy, filled with a folk-pop bounce, and wonderfully crafted. Yet there’s something else…

Tripper, in my opinion, tops all previous Fruit Bats releases. This album seems to hold together better than the others. The songs mesh together and the vast majority yield four to five stars out of five. In a way, it reminds me of last year’s To Dreamers by Kelley Stoltz. The earlier work was good, but not great. This, yes, is great.

And “Tangie And Ray” is easily one of the top two or three tracks on the album. This, folks, is one you won’t want to miss!

The album comes out August 2 on Sub Pop. Pre-order it now, before the world comes crashing down due to debt default.

Download: “Tangie And Ray” by Fruit Bats

Avi Buffalo‘s self-titled debut earned the title of being my favorite album of 2010. So it’s with great delight that I announce to you the release of new material from the band, that being a single called “How Come”, due out on Sub Pop on June 28.

The song differs a bit from Avi Buffalo. It features soft, airy vocals from the lead singer and an emphasis on dreamy organ riffs. As always, the signatures remain: highly complex songwriting backed by equally skilled musicianship. This young band is stunning, not because of their age but because of their sheer ability to stun musically.

Listen to “How Come” below and grab it while it’s available for a limited time here and head over to Sub Pop for the preorder.

Listen: “How Come” by Avi Buffalo

Woah. Did Male Bonding tame a bit since Nothing Hurts? That was only a year ago, yet this sound doesn’t seem nearly as ferocious and feral as the noise-based rock from their 2010 Sub Pop debut. Listen to “Bones”, off the band’s new LP Endless Now out this coming August, next to last year’s Year’s Not Long and you’d think five years of maturity separated the two.

For one not accustomed to the likes of noise-based bands, 2010′s Nothing Lasts is a hard one to digest and appreciate. For those well versed in the sub-genre, it was totally awesome. Unlike that album, “Bones” finds a middle ground both groups can fully enjoy. It’s subtle in comparison, but filled with a similar catchy pop efficacy that demands to be heard.

Chalk it up the vocals, which are much more present and centered in “Bones”. One thing’s for sure: This song will get in your head and stay there.

Head over to Sub Pop’s Male Bonding page to download “Bones” for the price of an email address.

Listen: “Bones” by Male Bonding

Diaper Island, Chad VanGaalen‘s awesomely titled new LP, dropped yesterday, and to celebrate the milestone he created a video. Mind you, videos from Chad are typically far from the norm, featuring original cartoonish art that’s a bit demented in a way. This is, like the oddities in his music, a very, very good thing.

The video is for “Peace On The Rise”, the album’s second track.

In “Peace On The Rise”, things often morph into other things, and while visually excellent, it doesn’t necessarily seem to follow a path in the song as found in his work on “Molten Light”. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not there. It could be; I could have merely just had too much wine tonight.

Check out the video below and pick up Diaper Island from Sub Pop.

Download: “Peace On The Rise” by Chad VanGaalen

I really fell in love with the weirdness behind Chad VanGaalen‘s last album, Soft Airplane. Many songs had strange electronic bleeps and bloops that just stuck with you, and if they didn’t they featured VanGaalen’s vocals with his rapid vibrato. “Sara” is not like that. Not entirely, at least. Sure, it may have VanGaalen’s signature layered vocals, which certainly are unique, but the instrumentation is fairly minimal with pretty much just a guitar. “Sara” is an exceptional song, enticing both lyrically and musically. You’ll find yourself singing Sara, wake me up when you’re home as Chad does. It makes the anticipation for his new record near unbearable.

Diaper Island comes out May 17 on Sub Pop Records. Tide yourself over with a download of “Sara” below.

Fleet Foxes new one is a bit different from their debut. The production is vastly different. Robin Pecknold’s vocals sound extremely different (not to mention the lyrics, which a friend equated to being similar to those found in his high school journal), having been honed and crafted whereas before they sounded a bit raw at times. But what remains the same is Fleet Foxes ability to create a great sounding song.

“Grown Ocean” is a prime example, with a catchy melody and the wonderful folk instrumentation we all loved so much from their debut. The incorporation of flute is, oddly enough, quite welcoming. The video for “Grown Ocean” is an array of footage from retro video cameras blending beautiful landscapes with footage of the band doing various thing (although not really performing for the most part, which is refreshing). It’s a good watch.

Outside some simple and seemingly obvious rhymes, I don’t mind the lyrics. As another friend put it (paraphrased): I like the lyrics when put to the music. I agree – for me, it’s always been the full picture. The music, the vocals, the lyrics, all joined together as one. That’s what Fleet Foxes did best on their self-titled debut, and they once again master it here on “Grown Ocean”.

I, for one, am really looking forward to listening to the rest of Helplessness Blues. Check out the video for “Grown Ocean” below, and snag the album’s title track for your listening enjoyment while you’re at it.

Download: “Helplessness Blues” by Fleet Foxes

“Try To Sleep” has instant appeal. It sits nicely with Low‘s previous work, especially the more recent, though it also seems a bit more connected and full. That may be a stretch, though, as Low has always been a bit on the minimal side, from quiet volumes to stripped-down instrumentation. But maybe it’s not; this song does have more sound all around. And where Low’s catalog of material has done well with light, quiet songs, it’s good to hear something a bit more rounded.

That’s not to say “Try To Sleep” doesn’t maintain Low’s core sensibilities they’ve built over the years — it most certainly does. It’s just that it feels solid. Listening to “Try To Sleep” reminds me of listening to Beach House’s “Norway” or “Zebra” — it stands above the band’s previous work in strength, power and awe. And after several listens to the song and a peek into the following tracks, you can expect more of this from Low’s new LP, C’mon.

And that album title makes me wonder if, like St. Vincent, Low’s album name was inspired by Arrested Development as well.

C’mon drops via “Try To Sleep” by Low

I’m not much one for putting together a news item. I prefer writing features and reviews than pushing out the latest bit of news, but with a few new signings from Sub Pop, I figured I’d do a one-part introductory list, one-part news bit. Yes, in the last week or so, Sub Pop has signed a few new bands. They are as follows: Niki And The Dove, Still Corners, and Memoryhouse. All three write hauntingly beautiful songs, some of which you can hear/see below.

* * * * *

Niki and the Dove – Mother Protect from The Line Of Best Fit on Vimeo.

Niki And The Dove

Sub Pop announced this one last Thursday. Niki And The Dove is a duo (despite three in the video above), Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf, from Stockholm, Sweden. And if you know me, you know I’m a sucker for Swedish music. The press release states that “their songs are full of magic and light but with an unsettling darkness hidden beneath the surface.” This initially makes me think of The Knife and Wildbirds Peacedrums, but listening to “DJ Ease My Mind” (off the band’s first single) we hear more pop and less eerie beats. But like these artists, Niki And The Dove can be described as dark electronic pop. It’s not necessarily what you’d expect from Sub Pop, but it certainly does follow the label’s signature for signing great acts.

While there is no news yet as to when we can expect this band’s Sub Pop debut, the band will be hitting Seattle’s Crocodile venue on April 6.

Check out “Mother Protector” above, done for The Line Of Best Fit Sessions; the song has an experimental tinge to it that reminds me a bit of experimental psych-pop outfit Celebration. Then listen to “Winterheart” below and visit Niki And The Dove’s website to download “Winterheart” in exchange for an email address.

Listen: “Winterheart” by Niki And The Dove

* * * * *

Memoryhouse

Of the three new bands on Sub Pop’s roster, Toronto’s Memoryhouse is the one I was familiar with before receiving the news. My introduction to the band came from their cover of My Bloody Valentine’s haunting track “When You Sleep”, and the plan was to post this video of them playing the song. That song caused one YouTube user to comment:

“Once in awhile, there’s a song that makes me lonely because I feel that no one else seems to hear it like I do, but it’s not a bad thing. Part of me wants to talk about it with someone else, but at the same time I want to grasp onto it as if the song was written for me.”

But then I discovered “Lately”, which loops that beautiful melody from Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one of my all-time favorite movies. I get that same reaction with this song. And I am extremely excited to hear what this band has in store for Sub Pop; they say it may be ready as early as end-of-year 2011.

Download: “Lately (Troisieme)” by Memoryhouse

* * * * *

Still Corners

Like the previous two bands, Still Corners creates colorful, haunting pop music that is soft and eerily pleasant. Where Niki And The Dove drops in electronic elements and Memoryhouse employs the use of loops, Still Corners’ music is more along the lines of bedroom pop. At least, that’s the impression we get with their song “Wish”, the video for which you can see above. The London-based band includes five members, fronted by the whispery vocals of Tessa Murray. Sub Pop says they’re hoping to have the band’s sophomore release ready by summer. Let’s hope so!

Watch “Wish” above and check out “Endless Summer”, one of Still Corners’ two 2010 singles, below.

The above image is of Still Corners.

Download: “Endless Summer” by Still Corners

To me, Mogwai‘s music, were I to pare it down to a single description, portrays a journey in progress. This video conveys that thought; there’s always that sense that something big will happen, whether or not it ultimately comes to pass. “How To Be A Werewolf” never reaches that anthemic moment, that climactic explosion, but it moves forward through life as would a calming daydream. Transcendence comes to pass and we are more aware of our existence through the experience.

Mogwai has always created great music, and “How To Be A Werewolf” is no different. It, along with “San Pedro” and “Rano Pano” (included as mp3s below), can be found on Mogwai’s new release, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, out February 15 on Sub Pop.

Download: “Rano Pano” by Mogwai

Download: “San Pedro” by Mogwai

This is what we’ve been waiting for! After Papercuts announced last year that they would be joining the Sub Pop roster, we could barely contain our excitement. Jason Quever’s dreamy psychedelic pop sound borders on shoegaze at times, and their new song, “Do What You Will”, off the forthcoming LP Fading Parade builds upon Papercuts’ existing library of great tunes.

Fading Parade doesn’t hit until March 1, which is downright agonizing. Luckily relief is on its way in the form of a 7″ single for “Do What You Will”, out the first of February. Even better, the b-side is “Thoughts On Hell” — a track not on Fading Parade! And for the die-hard Papercuts fan, pre-orders of Fading Parade from the Sub Pop website will come with a 3-song CDR containing bonus tracks.

Think about the first time you heard “Future Primitive” off You Can Have What You Want and there’s a good chance your first listen to “Do What You Will” will have a similar result: elation and excitement. That’s how it was for me.

Download: “Do What You Will” by Papercuts

Daniel Martin Moore’s new single “Dark Road” is a cooling breath of those rare-gem style of songs which remind us grandeur can exist within simplicity; less does not always mean boring. Adhering to his Appalachian-daydreamer style Moore tosses us a billowy, empty-jug rhythm that when swirled with lyrics of uncluttered beauty makes the notion of better days ahead less focused on the despairing and more of an idea we can not only hope for but actually believe in. This tune is a perfect post-holiday pick me up with a sweetly accessible theme and an unabashedly charming spirit. One soothing taste increases our anticipation for the album entire, In the Cool of the Day, set to be released in January 2011.

Download: “Dark Road” by Daniel Martin Moore

It’s interesting to hear the progression No Age has made since Nouns. “Glitter” is an entirely different beast. Sure there are elements of noise that the band so favored on that brilliant debut from 2009, but here it’s contained and restrained. They’ve tamed the beast. No longer do they shout to be heard amidst overwhelming, clever guitar riffs. No, here they focus on a consistent drum beat and actually… wait for it… sing! Still, the song builds and grows into a noisy little creature, vicious yet slumbering. I doubt this band has tamed to the point of being domestic — after all, “You’re A Target” was pretty f*ing mad, and that came out pretty recently. Frankly, I’m torn as to which side of No Age I like better, the insane noise or the restrained madness. Either way, you’ve got a winner.

“Glitter” is available both as 7-inch and 12-inch singles from Sub Pop come August 24.

Download: “Glitter” by No Age

Kelley Stoltz’s new single, “I Don’t Get That”, is something of another time. One listen and we find ourselves reeling in an era when music was intended to set us off; when the sun could be felt through the speakers. A simple, rugged guitar progression and centric sultry sixties throwback rhythm feed our appetite as the kind of warm and vagrant pop music we want to hear. It’s the type of song we would’ve stayed up late to listen to, hiding our radios under our pillows so mom wouldn’t know we were listening to that dirty rock music. Though his sound is not a huge divergence from the glory days of the Brit-rock invasion, Stoltz makes pop music the way it’s remembered and hoped to be.

Stoltz’s new album, No Dreamers, comes out in October.

Download: “I Don’t Get That” by Kelley Stoltz

Little of that angular nature abundant on Foals‘ debut Antidote remains in their first single off the forthcoming sophomore release, Total Life Forever. In fact, “Spanish Sahara” begin so softly, virtually all traces of the elements that kept Antidote consistent and connected have vanished. You’ll find this common throughout Total Life Forever, which for the most part distances itself from that electric debut. There’s more melody here, more emotion, and a hell of a lot less hype. “Spanish Sahara” conjures memories of Radiohead post Kid A, but with a hint less experimentation. As the song nears two minutes, one finally gets a taste of the old Foals. Above all, “Spanish Sahara” displays the band’s growth over the past two years, and the video is a similar testament to the change.

Download: “Spanish Sahara (Deadboy Remix)” by Foals

FOALS // SPANISH SAHARA from dave ma on Vimeo.