Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings are one of my favorite bands. They had a kick ass first album that made #5 on our albums of 2010 list, and have a self titled album coming out at the end of January that you can pre order here. These guys know how to rock. I saw them last year in New Haven, I was deaf for 3 days. 'Should Have' follows the same successful formula that you will find on their first record. I can't wait to get the new one, and hopefully see these guys again this year.

Cloud Nothings - Should Have (Live) from Nick Dierl on Vimeo.

Urban Outfitters Streaming Best Coast - 'Crazy For You'

The lame-ass store Urban Outfitters got a hold of the Best Coast album 'Crazy For You' early (who hasn't?) They will be streaming it at their store until the album comes out. You can read a cool little interview with Beth over at their website. 'Crazy For You' has album of the year potential. An instant classic, a must have for everyone. It's filled with 1950's pop songs about weed, love, and chillin. It pairs really well with another album, 'King of The Beach' by her partner in crime, Wavves...they put you in a summer mood and you never want to come back from it. 'Crazy For You' will be out on pretty blue vinyl July 26...of course I pre-ordered it the second it came out! You should buy it.

Local Music Alert!!!!! - Titles 'Dirt Bell'

Alright yall, hope you are ready to hear for some quality music made by some local people. New Haven's Titles are here to show you that great music is being made in The Cut. I have yet to hear the entire album (planning on buying it at the show Sat) but what is posted over on their Myspace is very pleasing. They have their own sound. A sort of lo-fi folksy feel to it...some very dark, and some popish, very pleasing on the ears. 'Beaching' out your music is the thing to do right now. But Titles don't force it, they actually sound like something that Brian Wilson would have put his hands on, not someone trying to sound like Brian Wilson. These guys are doing their own thing, and it's working great for them. I can't wait to meet them and buy their CD (hope to grab a limited vinyl) on Saturday. What's going on Saturday you ask?

Why, Titles are playing their record release party on Saturday, that's what! Their record, 'Dirt Bell' is now out on CT's own Safety Meeting Records. They are playing their record release party Saturday night at Cafe 9 in New Haven. Doors are at 9pm and it only costs $4. If you have $4, get your ass to this show. If you don't have $4, stop reading this review and get a fucking job. But seriously, even if you don't have $4, find a way to be a part of this show. It's going to be a memorable time.


Titles- "F#ck It" from Matt C on Vimeo.

Freelance Whales - 'Weathervanes'

I forgot to post this on the day the album came out!

We briefly spoke about Freelance Whales in a earlier post. Their debut album 'Weathervanes' is in now in stores. It leaked months ago (i think it was relesed in europe a while ago, or its just getting a proper release today) and it has gotten good reviews around the internet. This band knows how to use space as an insturment. They don't rush the music. The first song 'Generation 1st floor' takes almost 2 full minutes before any words are spoken. They let the music start slow with plucking banjos and soft walls of sound, then let it expand and build up. They have a Sufjan Stevens like production value, everything sounds so clean and real on this album...I can only hope that they live up to it when playing live. They are been seen playing subways in NYC, now touring the country. Check out their dates at their Myspace. Buy the album HERE.

Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor

Freelance Whales | MySpace Music Videos

Cloud Nothings & Speaker Tree Records

Speakertree Records is an independent record store in downtown Lynchburg, VA selling new and used CDs, vinyl LPs and 7”s. They specialize in smaller label releases, vinyl LPs, handmade goods, and magazines. They can special order almost any CD or in print LP that you are looking for and get it in quickly...I got my order of vinyl in four days. I would not call Speakertree a label, but they have released one album, Cloud Nothings 'Turning On' on January 19th.

These boys know how to jam. Messy lofi fuzz, catchy hooks and riffs followed by exploding guitar jams..total head boppin music. I feel like Cloud Nothings did exactly what they needed to with this album. A new band making a short record filled with fun fuzzy pop songs that you can listen to on a car ride with your friends. I only wish it was longer. Clocking in at < 30 min, it left me wanting more. I flipped it back over and started again.

Cloud Nothing's - Can't Stay Awake by berman1125
 

Buy the album HERE and receive a free mp3 download of the album.

Find out more about Speaker Tree Records & Cloud Nothings and support physical media!

http://speakertreerecords.com/Site/Home.html
http://speakertreerecords.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/speakertree
Cloud Nothings Myspace
Cloud Nothing Twitter

Happy Birthday - Self Titled

The debut self titled Happy Birthday album is fantastic. Garage pop perfection in my book, the songs are super catchy and guitar heavy...every song is fun. 'Girls Fm' and 'Subliminal Messages' are my favorite tracks...I have seriously been singing 'Subliminal Messages' in my head for an entire week. You can pre order the cd/lp that comes out tomorrow via Subpop HERE...and download the two tracks below

Happy Birthday - Subliminal Message by berman1125

Happy Birthday - Girls FM by berman1125

2010 - The Year So Far

The decade is off to a great start in the music department. A few friends and I were talking today about our favorite albums of the year so far, I decided to put together a little list. Here is OA's Top 20ish Albums of 2010. I can't get enough of the efforts put out by Toro y Moi, Beach House, Local Natives, and Morning Benders. They are all really amazing albums from start to finish. Shoot me an email or leave a comment if you want to check out any of these artists.


Toro y Moi ~ Causers of This
Beach House ~ Teen Dream
Local Natives ~ Gorilla Manor
Morning Benders ~ Big Echo
Harlem ~ Hippies
Tallest Man On Earth ~ The Wild Hunt
Yeasayer ~ Odd Blood
Emancipator ~ Safe in the Steep Hills
Magic Man ~ Real Life Color
Vampire Weekend ~ Contra

Frightened Rabbit ~ The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Gorillaz ~ Plastic Beach
jj ~ no. 3
Jonna Newsom ~ Have One on Me
Spoon ~ Transference
Four Tet ~ There is Love in You
Owen Pallett ~ Heartland
Happy Birthday ~ Happy Birthday
Los Campesinos! ~ Romance is Boring
Hot Chip ~ One Life Stand
Javelin ~ No Mas
Broken Bells ~ Broken Bells
Asura ~ Asura
Hot Chip ~ One Life Stand

The Morning Benders - Big Echo

The Morning Benders are an indie band from Berkeley, California. The band consists of Julian Harmon, Tim Or, and Chris Chu. They already have one very successful album released in 2008, 'Talking Through Tin Cans'. They have toured with Grizzly Bear, The Kooks, MGMT, Death Cab, Yeasayer and more. The new album, 'Big Echo' has leaked (due out March 9). I'm blown away by it really.

Produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, this album is full of amazing retro indie pop/rock. Apparently, it took less then two weeks to record and edit this album. It has immediate credibility, I connected with it as soon as I heard the opening song 'Excuses'. 'Promises' has a very catchy melody and sing along lyrics..its full of energy. 'Morning Sighs' starts off very slow, like the morning. Soft drums, and softer guitar. Then it builds up, and the guitars add layers on top of each other. I can't recommended this album enough. Check out the video for 'Excuses' below, and buy this album!



Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

MGMT Announce New Album - 'Congratulations'

MGMT's second album, 'Congratulations' will be released in the U.S. on April 13. This Grammy nominated band, out of good 'ol CT (Wesleyan University) is made up of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. Their first album 'Oracular Spectacular' was named best album of 2008 by NME.

When asked about the new album VanWyngarden said, "We dropped any sort of irony that was on the first record, and Congratulations feels true to who we really are." The album is "sequenced to flow with sonic and thematic coherence." Sounds pretty perfect to me! "There's a surfing thread throughout the record. For example, "It's Working." When you're surfing, there's a specific break you're paddling to. And when the waves are really good you say, 'It's working.' The song kind of has a surf-y vibe. It's like surfing on ecstasy! 'Siberian Breaks' is a 12-minute-long tune that's like eight different songs strung together into one, and the general theme is about surfing in the Arctic Circle by Russia,"

Really looking forward to the new album. 'Oracular Spectacular' was one of my favorite albums of the decade, and it looks like things are on track to make this album a smashing success. But not from a money stand point, MGMT has already stated that they may not want to release any singles from this record. Just straight up good music that people will want to listen to on their own, not something forced like da radio.

Congratulations tracklist:
"It's Working"
"Song for Dan Treacy"
"Someone's Missing"
"Flash Delirium"
"I Found a Whistle"
"Siberian Breaks"
"Brian Eno"
"Lady Dada's Nightmare"
"Congratulations"

Key Tracks From OS