Little Stars

A good follow up to Explosions in The Sky.  Stars released an EP, Sad Robots, a few years ago.  It's a good little album of 6 tracks. I enjoy it for its mellow mood, and more than usual electronic sound.  Only recently did this EP get my attention, when I heard "Going Going Gone (Live)." This is an older track of theirs, but a live recording.  "Going Going Gone" is one of my favorite stars songs, and surprisingly, the live version sounds better than the original.  Sad Robots isn't amazing stuff, but for Stars fans it is very enjoyable. For your listening pleasure, her is "Going Going Gone (Live)."

Stars - Going, Going, Gone (Live) (Sad Robots EP) by TILLS

Album of the Week

Ever since Friday Night Lights (the movie, not the terrible TV show) featured these guys, I have been a super fan. All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone is still one the best things I have ever listened to.  Explosions in the Sky is back with a new album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.  It is as amazing as all of their other work.  The songs on the album are like chapters in a wordless novel.  It is truly amazing how they instill such emotion in their songs without lyrics.  They are epic stories that leave you anywhere from exhilarated to melancholy.  You may need a good 45 minutes to digest Take Care, Take Care, Take Care in its entirety, but it will be worth it.  Here are two tracks, but the album itself is one long track, so enjoy the excerpts.

Take Care, Take Care, Take Care by TILLS

Album of the Week

Frank Ocean surprised me.  I've been on a small hip-hop kick, and his album nostalgia,ULTRA, has been on serious rotation.  I dig his Craig Davidian slash Drake-ish sound.  A smooth soul singer with a rap like edge.  This premiere album features everything good about hip-hop from good beats, good lyrics, good vocals and good flow.  He may not blow you away, but his abilities are definitely satisfying.  The highlight is clearly "Novocaine," (apparently the new drug of choice). He has great topics from girls not understanding Radiohead, to not singing tracks for chicks, to conspiracy theories, to sampling MGMT, The Eagles, and even a movie (Eyes Wide Shut).  There is a lot to like here. Hope you enjoy nostalgia,ULTRA.

Frank Ocean Nostalgia ultra by dre2phresh

Get On The E-Train

Hip-Hop Friday is always one of my favorite posts. Finding some new rap artist that is trying to make it. I love their creativity and fresh take on rap music; unfortunately, we're all used to being given overly produced and emotionless, radio hip-hop songs.  E-Train gives us what we want.  His slow flow is unique and his beats are definitely hand made.  E-Train is definitely trying to make it though. He has released his own album (Wrath of Roxanne) on iTunes, shot his own video for Lonely at the top (or at least looks like he did), and made a theme song for the movie Inception.  Take a listen. "Glow So Hard" and "What Tomorrow Brings" are the tracks that will amaze you. If you want more, check out his album.  Enjoy your Friday!
INCEPTION - E-TRAIN ft. Notorious B.I.G. by eTRAINmusic
GLOW SO HARD FROM SPACE - DRAFT by eTRAINmusic
11- What Tomorrow Brings.mp3 by eTRAINmusic

Here To Take Care

Foster The People are coming out strong.  You may have heard their song, "Pumped Up Kicks,"out somewhere. This LA band is dropping thier new album, Torches, on May 24th; just in time for the summer. I say this because, they make music that makes you happy and makes. It's chill yet upbeat. Until then, I've been listening to their Foster The People EP. You should too.

!!Click Here If The Songs Don't Work!!

Song Of The Moment

It has been a while since I added a song to Song Of The Moment (top).  When I heard Jai Paul's "BTSTU," I could not stop playing it.  It has a crazy good beat, and his vocals fit so well.  I am excited to see what this young artist has in store.  For now, enjoy "BTSTU."
Jai Paul - BTSTU by TILLS

Tell Me Something Good

This was a close second for album of the week.  Jessica Lea Mayfield's sophomore album, Tell Me, is one that I had been waiting for for a long time as well.  Her first album is one of my favorites.  It's thick with melancholy love loss and beautifully sad yet singable lyrics.  I knew repeating something that personal and dark may be impossible, and it was.  Tell Me is a large departure from With Blasphemy So Heartfelt.  Some of it a good departure and some if not.  The album is a good album, but in comparison, falls a bit short from her previous work.  She dabbles in some harder rock and some funk, but her best stuff comes in the back half of the album, when she comes back to her melancholy goodness.  She just does it so well. Enjoy Jessica's Tell Me.
Jessica Lea Mayfield by Erica Martin

Album Of The Week

Deer Tick, Dawes, and Delta Spirit fans rejoice!  Middle Brother has arrived.  The super group no one knows about.  These guys (John, Taylor, and Matt) have each their own talented bands, but are the clear brains of their individual operations. They have left their respective bands to form Middle Brother. A folk rock band with some serious power. I have been excited for this album for some time.  When I finally got to hear it, it was exactly what I was hoping for.  Each of their bands have their flaws, but Middle Brother shows each at their best. I am not saying the album is flawless, but it is the best Deer Tick, Dawes, or Delta Spirit album yet.  Enjoy Middle Brother Middle Brother. If you want the hit, jump to "Million Dollar Bill."
Middle Brother by TILLS

Dostoyevsky Would Be Proud

Well, maybe not.  But he may have enjoyed Fathers Be Kind, the new EP from Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha. These guys have one album to their name from 2009 and have gotten a lot of cred from playing at SXSW.  Their new EP shows their great potential, and now's the time to get on board. Their style is some good, easy going, alternative, folk, acoustic rock.  Take a few, sit, and listen to Fathers Be Kind.  If nothing else, it will provide the perfect backdrop for a relaxing 20 minutes.

It'sThe Return

Well that wasn't so bad.  About a year or two ago, TV on the Radio stated they were going their separate ways.  I was discouraged, as they make some great music and I was definitely going to miss it.  But, they are back already.  About the same wait time for normal album.  There were some highlights from their hiatus as Rain Machine and Maximum Balloon both came out (albums from Kyp Malone and Dave Sitek, respectively). I am psyched for the new album, Nine Types of Light.  While we wait, enjoy the album's first release "Will Do."
TV On The Radio - Will Do by Interscope Records

Home Sweet Home

"Hometown Hero" was one of my favorite songs of last year.  I loved it when it was Adele's "Hometown Glory."  Big K.R.I.T. just did his thing to it, and it worked out to be just as good.  Came across this video on yourtru.ly the other day.  Love live video, so it deserved a post.  Here is Big K.R.I.T.'s "Hometown Hero," and Adele's "Hometown Glory," for the heck of it.

Yourstru.ly Presents: BIG K.R.I.T. & Grillade "Hometown Hero" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

ADELE - Hometown Glory by user7023811

Family Affair

Akron/Family is an inconsistent band in my book.  Their previous album, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, was one of my favorite albums when it came out.  I dig their loud to soft, hard hitting, sometimes electronic, rock. If you have ever heard an Akron/Family album they tend to go back and forth between styles and sounds.  Their new album does not differ too much from that recipe.  The difference here is that some of it jsut doesn't amount to their previous work.  That being said, some tracks do stand out.  Here is what I gathered from S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT (yes, that is the album title). My go to song at this point is "So It Goes." Also enjoy "Another Sky."

Akron/Family - So It Goes

Akron/Family - Another Sky by FBi Radio

Album of the Week

Radiohead returns, with a usual success.  This year's album is The King of Limbs. This time around, they delved into the electronic side of the band.  Well, more than usual I would say.  Most of the album is almost Beck-ian.  A lot of chaos turned into a enjoyable beats.  Sometimes it may be overwhelming, but Thom's voice, as usual, carries you through.  Also, The King of Limbs is being called the first ever Newspaper Album... whatever that means.  Typical Radiohead, breaking new ground.  Here is their album streaming from soundcloud.  If you want to purchase the album, visit the albums home: TheKingOfLimbs.com


Radiohead - The King of Limbs by ThePEAK

Advantage, Blake

This English musician is getting some mixed reviews. Not sure if it's because of his style of music or some other personal reasons.  He rocks the dubstep, which is a silent type electronic rock sound.  It's different, but becoming more and more popular.  People like Burial have made it sound really good; others have made it sound really bad.  James Blake is right in the middle. He is adding great vocals to an other wise vocal-less style of music. His new self-titled album is out and has some great tracks.  My personal favorite is his cover of "Limit To Your Love," a Feist original. Although, "Wilhelm Scream" may be a better song.  I was going to post the tracks, but the videos add a little something to the music.  So enjoy the videos.  If you dig it, check out his album.

Bizness Rocks

tUnE-yArDs comes back with a new album this year. This side project of Merril Garbus is a unique sound.  Does take an open mind, but "Bizness" allows for easy access to her band.  The new album entitled WHOKILL  won't be out until April, so enjoy "Bizness" until then.

Tune-Yards - Bizness by top10

Mine is Yeasayers

Love when bands I love collaborate.  This may not be an actual collaboration, but I still dig it.  Yeasayer has made a side business out of remixing new indie songs.  Their latest is "Mine is Yours," by Cold War Kids.  I may enjoy the original more than the remix, but anything Yeasayer does, I'm a fan.
Cold War Kids - Mine is Yours (Yeasayer Remix) by paulboom

Look at the Stars

Blogotheque is really pushing it now.  Two great take-away-shows in a month. Their newest video is of the Canadian band Stars.  You probably know them.  If you don't, you should.   I consider them one of the best indie bands out there.  Their best albums may be from a few years ago, but they are still worth listening to. In the video you get to hear "Your Ex-Lover is Dead," their best song in my opinion, as well as an amazing version of "How Much More." Keep it coming Blogotheque.

Album of the Week

One of my favorite bands that I think everyone needs to know about is Cold War Kids.  They hooked from their first album, Robbers & Cowards, and have had me ever since.  Now, if I told you to go back and listen to their two previous albums, you would not be wasting your time.  If your just not that into finding out about these guys, then just listen to their new album Mine Is Yours.  This new release is their best yet.  It strays away from some of their artistic side, but hones in on their pop rock.  I don't want to call this guys pop, but this newest album is the closest thing to a radio ready album.  You actually may have already heard some of these tracks already, like "Louder Than Ever."  If you haven't you are in for something good.  Here is an album sampler from YouTube.  Make sure you get a chance to listen to all of Mine Is Yours!

Enter Sandman

Hip-Hop Friday returns with some news from the more underground hip-hop scene.  Homeboy Sandman is a newer MC from NY.  He is getting a lot of press in regards to his fast pace, yet smooth flow. My boy Ant Feds sent me some of his tracks. Check out Sandman's website for some sampling.    I posted his video for "The Carpenter."  This should get you going.  Enjoy!

Australian Architecture

Architecture in Helsinki usually creates music I can't grasp.  I appreciate that, it's fun, but I feel like there is something about it that's just not me.  Well their new album, Moment Bends,  may be the album that gets me."That Beep" is the first single from the album.  It definitely has the A.I.H. fun vibe, but is also easily accessible. I hope you enjoy "That Beep," as much as I do.
That Beep by Architecture In Helsinki