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 …

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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, …

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 …

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, …