"Kiss With a Fist" - Florence and the Machine

Before 2009 comes to an end, I figured I should at least try and squeeze in one last post. First, my apologies for the relative paucity of new material appearing on here over the past month. A combination of travel plans, the holidays, and a general lack of captivating material forced the site to take a back-seat to actual real life activities. However, now that 2010 is just around the corner I'm hoping to get back in the swing of regular updates. If you are still along for the ride I will present to you today an artist by the name of Florence and the Machine. Born Florence Welch, she appears to channel a British Zooey Deschanel with unresolved anger issues and a love for Jack White-esque guitar riffs. Well, at least that's the case in this song, the first single off of her debut album "Lungs", released stateside back in October. Based on this song alone, I'm guessing that Tiger Woods' wife is a fan.

"Pusuit of Happiness" - Kid Cudi f/MGMT & Ratatat

When you collaborate with such luminaries as MGMT and Ratatat, it's practically a given that you are going to get some pretty catchy rhythms. Add to that Cleveland based rapper Kid Cudi's thoughtful and sometimes poignant lyrics, and you get one hell of a track. After guest appearances on songs for Kanye and the Black Eyed Peas over the past year, Kud Cudi, (born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) released his debut album 'Man on the Moon' this past September. Not content to just sing, Cudi is also slated to be acting in an upcoming comedy series produced by Mark Wahlberg. Let's hope he finds the same amount of success on the screen as he does behind the mic.

"Best of Me" - Morningwood

How can you not love a band with a name like Morningwood? Those were my exact sentiments when I first heard the band back in 2006. After listening to their debut album, I realized the band was more than just a cheeky name, and could definitely put together a catchy rock tune. Fronted by the fiery vocals of Chantal Claret, the band is just as likely to make you dance as they are to sell you a brand new Mercury. Alright, maybe that second part was a stretch. Above is the first single off of their new album 'Diamonds & Studs', to be released October 27. In support of the release, they'll be playing a show at Baltimore's Ram's Head Live on November 9, and I anticipate more dates to follow.

"A Thousand Bees" - Sara Lov

In case you are looking for something to do tonight, I'll present to you yet another reason to attend tonight's Sea Wolf show at DC9--opening act Sara Lov. I had the good fortune to recently listen to her debut album--Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming--and I would have to agree with NPR's description of her voice and style being "irresistibly seductive." If you dig this track, be sure to check out her cover of Beck's "Timebomb", which presents a truly unique take on of my favorite songs of the past couple years.

"Vanity Kills" - Codeine Velvet Club

Of all the trends in the music industry in recent years, there's no denying that the side project has certainly become one of the most prevalent. Whether it be Jack White's Raconteurs/Dead Weather, Billy Joe Armstrong's Foxboro Hot tubs, or Dave Grohl's Them Crooked Vultures, it seems that many of today's artists have actively sought out various side projects to explore their creative interests. Though not as well known as the aforementioned artists, The Fratellis' lead singer Jon Fratelli recently launched his own side project act in the form of a band called The Codeine Velvet Club. Combining brass and the sultry female vocals of Lou Hickey, the band achieves a sound reminiscent of 60s era American soul with a distinctively UK influence. Above is the first single off of their forthcoming album, to be released sometime in November.

"You're a Wolf" - Sea Wolf

I daresay that no artist better captures the mood and ambiance of a crisp fall day than Sea Wolf. As October is just around the corner, it's perfect timing that he just so happened to release a new album last week. Sea Wolf (Alex Church) plays the sort of dark, moody tunes that would serve as the perfect backdrop to a night spent sipping brandy in front of the fireplace while perched in a worn in leather arm chair. Not like I've ever experienced an evening like that, but I can only imagine. Since no videos have yet been posted from the new album, above is the first single off their debut album which was released back in 2007. If you're a fan then check out their new album, 'White Water, White Bloom', which doesn't depart at all from the formula of their first release. You can catch them playing a show at DC9 on Monday October 19.

"The Golden Age" - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

I've been waiting almost a year for the release of the Asteroids Galaxy Tour's debut album, Fruit. Though it's still a few weeks away (the U.S. release is Oct 13), I figured this new video should help tide me over until then. You may recall this band first gathered attention by being featured on an Apple ad last Summer. Since then this Danish ensemble has been busy touring all over Europe, so busy in fact it's caused them to take a while to finally get their album out there. Once it drops, I'll be crossing my fingers that a U.S. tour will soon follow.

"Crying Lightning" - Arctic Monkeys

When the movie Casino Royale was released a few years back, basically reviving the James Bond franchise, many critics lauded the film describing it as 'not your father's James Bond.' By that they meant that this new Bond was a little darker, a little troubled, a little rough around the edges. The same analogy comes to mind in describing this track, the first single off of the Arctic Monkeys soon to be released third album 'Humbug'. Whether this more brooding sound is a sign of the band heading in a new direction, or rather simply the influence of producer Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), I believe it's always refreshing when a band brings something unique to each release. Plus, not since T-Pain has anyone rocked this hard on a boat.

"Rats" - U.S. Royalty

Last week a friend of mine was watching this band perform at the Black Cat, and was so impressed by their performance texted during their set just to alert me of their awesomeness. As this endorsement came from a very reliable source I felt I owed it to her to check them out as soon as it was humanly possible. The band at the center of all this acclaim? None other than Washington D.C.'s very own 'U.S. Royalty.' I'll confess that despite considering myself a pretty big music fan, I can't say I'm all that in touch with the local music scene. However, U.S. Royalty certainly rocks in the vein of Cold War Kids, and if this track is any indication, could be poised for bigger things. Not sure when their album is dropping, so in the meantime keep your eyes peeled for their next performance at one of our local venues.

"Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap

If you've already seen the film '500 Days of Summer', then there's a good chance you are already acquainted with this song as it is featured prominently on the soundtrack. Much like the turbulent relationship between the two leads in the film, the song alternates between slow steady build ups followed by spurts of intensity. The band is The Temper Trap, and comes to us all the way from Melbourne, Australia. Their debut album 'Conditions' will be released stateside on August 13, but if you can't wait til then you can download the single now to tide you over.

"All The Same to Me" - Anya Marina

After a couple weeks off we are back with some new material. First on the agenda: a talented singer by the name of Anya Marina. If I could describe this song in only one word, I think the most appropriate adjective would be 'frisky.' It's the second single off her album 'Slow & Steady Seduction' released back in January. If you dig it, be sure to check out her awesome cover of TI's 'Whatever You Like' -- which can be found on her myspace page.

"I Want You Back" - Discovery

When members from 2 separate bands previously profiled on this site collaborate to put out some new material, the law of transitivity basically deems that this new venture be profiled as well. Meet Discovery, a new band comprising Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij. Their debut album under the Discovery moniker--LP-- is full of light and poppy synth-filled tunes that could effortlessly float through your next summer cocktail party. As is the trend in music these days, a handful of the songs rely on auto-tune to assist with the vocals. Despite increasing backlash to its growing use, I personally don't mind it in this case and think that it actually complements rather than detracts from the musical arrangements found on this album. Of its 10 tracks, I felt it was only appropriate given recent events to feature their take on the Jackson 5 classic.

"Wild One" - Those Darlins

At some point during my years at UVA, every single girl I knew (and a handful of dudes) -- mostly from suburbs near or above the Mason Dixon line -- seemed to instantly become a loyal country music fan. Out of nowhere artists such as Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley became household names. Despite the increased exposure, I never really jumped on the bandwagon, save for a few of the cross-over hits which became my guilty pleasures (e.g. Tim McGraw's 'I Like It, I Love It'). A few years after graduation, I found myself stationed in Nashville, TN on a long term project for work, basically the epicenter of the country music scene. One weekend I decided to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, and being able to sample many recordings there, realized how good a lot of the early country music artists were (think Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, et al). The sound of these artists contrasted so sharply with what passed off as modern day country music. Listening to Those Darlins, a female trio from Murfreesboro TN, one can't help but think they are listening to a band from another era, but that has just enough attitude to sound thoroughly modern at the same time. This band has been getting a lot of buzz throughout the musical blogosphere, and fortunately for us, will be playing a show at Arlington's very own Iota next Tuesday. Catch them now before they move on to bigger venues.

Wild One - Those Darlins

"Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit

Generally I'm not a huge fan of most straight up electronica acts because I insist my music has lyricis. However, I've never had any problems with bands that can combine great electronic-driven instrumentals with even a semblance of a verse-chorus-verse structure. Passion Pit comes to us from Cambridge, MA, and released their first full length album, Manners, this past May. This is without a doubt the standout track off of the album, and I found myself listening to it over and over again this weekend while traveling through the Deep South. Combining what sounds like Chinese opera, hand claps, and a pulsating back beat -- the song is all over the radar, but great nevertheless.

"Hey Shorty" - E603

Not content to let Girl Talk hog the mash-up artist spotlight, meet the newest northeast based/skinny/Caucasian/male/hipster/who can work wonders with a MacBook and some sound editing software. Coming from Nashua, NH (a city put on the map by being the home of a Dunder Mifflin branch), E-603 (born Ethan Ward), displays a similar knack for putting a bunch of artists in a blender and creating something that exceeds the sum of its parts. Like other mash-up collaborations, all of his recordings are available to download for free under the creative commons license. E-603 currently has one album under his belt, 2008's 'Something for Everyone', while his newest album entitled 'Torn Up', is slated to be released this Friday. Both albums can be legally downloaded by visiting his site. The above track comes from the new album, and starts off strong with a great sample of Modest Mouse's timeless track, Float On. I'll take full responsibility for the sub-par audio quality.

"You're a Cad" - The Bird and the Bee

First off, let me quickly apologize for my hiatus from updating the site the past couple weeks. A west coast vacation combined with an emergency work-related trip to the magic kingdom prevented me from getting a post in last week. Fear not, for the time off gave me a chance to discover a little band by the name of The Bird and The Bee. This Los Angeles based duo plays the sort of breezy, jazzy pop that wouldn't be out of place in a Miami lounge circa 1971. Back in January they released their second full length album with the retro future title of "Ray Guns are not Just the Future." I listened to the album quite a bit while logging some serious hours in an uninspiring conference room over the weekend, and I kept coming back to this song. It might be the up tempo dixieland inspired melody, or I just like the notion of calling someone a 'cad'.

You're A Cad - the bird and th...

"Daylight" - Matt & Kim

If you've caught the great ad that Bacardi is currently airing (you know where the guy is walking back in time) then you have already heard this song. If you haven't yet seen the ad, then I figured it's my duty to call it to your attention. Matt and Kim are a Brooklyn-based duo that plays stripped down tap your feet music that is about as refreshing as a cold mojito. This track is off of their second full length album, 'Grand', which was released in January of this year. Special thanks to Alan M aka The Daddy Mac for the recommendation.

"Yours Truly, The Commuter" - Jason Lytle

Once upon a time Jason Lytle was the lead singer for a band called Grandaddy. I was a big fan of them, and was disappointed when I heard the news that the band was dissolving back in 2006. At the time of their dissolution, many were unsure whether Lytle would continue to record music, as he decided to pack up and leave his hometown of Modesto, CA for the open plains of Montana. This week Lytle has emerged from the wilderness with the release of his first solo effort. This is the title track and first single off of the album. Though I don't think it holds a candle to his earlier stuff, I suppose it'll have to do.

Yours Truly, The Commuter - Ja...

"Sour Milk, Motheaten Silk" - Ed Harcourt

I remember the very first time I heard Ed Harcourt. It was the end of the spring semester of my second year of college. I was in the middle of a marathon study session cramming for finals, when WNRN, a great C'ville radio station, happened to play one of his songs. After that one listen I immediately stopped what I was doing and made a bee-line to Plan 9 to pick up his album. The following year I had the good fortune to see him in concert while studying in Copenhagen. That was all the way back in 2003, and for whatever reason I stopped following him in the years after. Fast forward to last week when I see that he had released a new EP on iTunes, entitled 'Russian Roulette.' I believe this track to be the strongest of the bunch.

Sour Milk, Motheaten Silk - Ed...

"Can You Tell" - Ra Ra Riot

If The Arcade Fire had grown up in the American suburbs, I imagine they'd sound a lot like Ra Ra Riot. Hailing from Syracuse, the band tragically lost its original drummer due to a freak drowning accident in June 2007. Despite this misfortune, the band vowed to remain together, and released it's debut full length album, The Rhumb Line, last August. The band is currently on tour supporting Death Cab For Cutie, and will be performing at the All Points West music festival in New Jersey on July 31.

"Very Busy People" - The Limousines

The first time I heard MGMT's "Time to Pretend" I was not only blown away by the instrumentals, but cynically admired how great the actual lyrics are. I think The Limousines must've taken a page from their book when they recorded this song--their debut single. Its lyrics really up the cynicism ante, as they poke fun at all the vices and shortcomings comprising modern life that we're not proud of, but no less guilty. Though I don't think they achieve the same level of success as MGMT, it's certainly a noble effort. And on the plus side, atleast this song has a happy ending.

"Now We Can See" - The Thermals

Despite this song's chorus sharing a striking similarity to the Tarzan Boys' 80s hit Jungle Life, I'm still a sucker for it. I'm sure this is partly because the lead singer's voice and cadence remind me a little of Placebo front man Brian Molko. Like all things hip, The Thermals hail from Portland, Oregon. You can check them out at the Black Cat on Wed May 13.

"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" - Tracy Jordan

The other day a group of friends and I gathered for our first ever Passover seder. As the group was primarily composed of gentiles, the night was a chance for many to learn that Jewish culture is more than just Ponzi schemes and Tay-Sachs. Despite a few minor hiccups, I'd say the evening was a success and a fun night was had by all. On a similarly Semitic note, I discovered this gem of a song today while browsing for new music on the Hype Machine. Unbeknownst to me, a brief clip of this song was actually featured during a Season 2 Episode of 30 Rock. If you missed this episode as well, have a listen and (hopefully) a laugh.

"Virginia" - Jeremy Messersmith

Since starting this blog, one great site I've stumbled upon for discovering new artists is The Hype Machine. This site pulls content from scores of handpicked music blogs, allowing you to sample them all in one convenient place. As I was looking over the recent posts, this song naturally caught my eye being someone born and raised in the grand old Commonwealth. After one listen I immediately dug it, and as far as Virginia-centric songs go, it easily blows away anything Train ever put out. Thanks to Whale In A Cubicle for the suggestion.

Virginia - Jeremy Messersmith

"Too Fake" - Hockey

I have no idea how this Portland, Oregon 4-some came up with such a random name for their band. Perhaps they chose "Hockey" because they literally wanted to be associated with something cool??? Ha! Anyways, they certainly have the whole indie rock sound perfected by the Strokes down to a tee. Don't be surprised to hear them playing the next time you head into your local Urban Outfitters.

"Turn it Up" - The White Stripes f / Kanye West

Is 2009 the year of the concept mash-up album? First DJ Minty Fresh Beats threw Radiohead and Jay-Z into a blender to give us Jaydiohead. Not wanting to miss out on the party, Adrian Champion has performed a similar feat in doing the same thing for the White Stripes. However unlike Jaydiohead, his Stars and Stripes Project is not merely confined to one rap artist -- but rather includes such luminaries as Outkast, Nas, Biggie, and Kanye. The album can be downloaded for free from his site -- god bless fair use laws.

"You're So Damn Hot" - OK Go

Before the treadmills, the choreographed dancing, and all the fame that followed -- OK Go was still putting out great tracks. Look no further than the song above for evidence, which is from their 2002 self-titled debut album. Word on the street is that they'll be releasing a new album later this year so keep your eyes open.

"Tonight I Have to Leave It" - Shout Out Louds

This is another one of those weeks where I haven't found anything that truly jumped at me from the new release bin. Hence, here's another track from the archives and no, despite how similar they may sound, this is not a Cure cover band. Shout Out Louds hail from Stockholm and the song above is from their 2007 album, Our Ill Wills.

"To Lose My Life" - White Lies

White Lies are sure to please fans of synth-pop acts along the lines of She Wants Revenge and The Bravery. The band recently released their first album, and will be playing a show at the Black Cat on Tuesday March 24.

"She Loves Everybody" - Chester French

Several months ago a friend of mine was continually raving about this band on her gchat status messages. I checked out some of their tracks, and liked what I heard -- but seeing as how they hadn't released a full album yet my excitement was tempered. Fast forward some time and I read that these guys are going to be touring with Lady Gaga, thus renewing my interest. Chester French follows in the footsteps of Vampire Weekend as the latest "it" band with Ivy League roots. So impressed with their demo, both Kanye West and Pharrell Williams launched into a bidding war to sign the band --- with Williams' Star Track label eventually being the winner. Expect their debut album to be released later this Spring.

Bishop Allen Megapost!

Today one of our favorites at YHN, Bishop Allen, released their new album "Grrr. . . ". As they'll be performing this Friday at the Black Cat, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite tracks from the new album. Tickets are still available so I encourage you all to grab a friend and go!

"Oklahoma"


"True or False"


"Dimmer" (official video)

"Nighttiming" - Coconut Records

It seems these days it's becoming increasingly common for any actor or actress to record a few tracks and release an album. Sometimes it works (Zooey Deschanel teaming with M. Ward), and sometimes it doesn't (Clint Eastwood singing over the closing tracks of Gran Torino). The actor Jason Schwartzman, best known for his roles in quirky Wes Anderson movies, is no stranger to the music world. Previously the drummer for the band Phantom Planet (OC theme much?), Schwartzman launched his solo project Coconut Records in 2007 with the release of the album "Nighttiming." The song above comes from this album, though the band also released a new album in January entitled "Davy".

"Every Goliath Has Its David" - The Boy Least Likely To

In 2006, Rolling Stone magazine described this group as sounding like what would happen "if all your childhood stuffed animals got together and started a band." After listening to this song off of their new album, Law of the Playground, I would be hard pressed to conjure a more accurate analogy. If the clap your hands melody and charming underdog lyrics don't grab you, then wait for the killer violin solo. To hear more of their stuff, check out the track "When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade" over at Trials + Tribulations.

"Gifted" - N.A.S.A. f/ Kanye West and Santogold

N.A.S.A. (standing for North America South America), is a musical duo comprising DJs Squeak E Clean and DJ Zegon. The name is an allusion to the DJs' American and Brazilian roots and musical influences. They frequently collaborate with many well known artists, with the song above representing two of the bigger names they've teamed up with. It can be found on their debut album, The Spirit of Apollo, released a few weeks ago.

"In the Crossfire" - Starsailor

Since starting this blog a couple months ago I've tried to mainly focus on current releases. However, some weeks I struggle to find worthy content to post. Hence, I am going to begin posting songs from time to time that may not necessarily be the newest material, but still probably flew under your radar.

Starsailor is a band that has been a household name in the UK for years, but never achieved the worldwide success of their peers Coldplay, despite having a relatively similar sound. They will be releasing a new album in the weeks ahead, but this song is from their 2006 release. Despite its age I just discovered it yesterday, and I can't get it out of my head. Sure the lyrics are kinda sappy and the sound is a little ballad-y---but when that chorus kicks in, I challenge you to not pump your fists in the air and scream right on cue.

"No You Girls" - Franz Ferdinand

Remember Franz Ferdinand? Remember when you couldn't get enough of the song "Take Me Out"? Remember slap bracelets? Alright I digress. Franz Ferdinand is back after a 4 year hiatus and like a fine wine, they've gotten better with age. This is the first single off their new album appropriately titled "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand."

"The Fear" - Lily Allen

When pop music is done right, it is very hard to resist. Case in point: Lily Allen. Her music is usually full of catchy beats and cheeky lyrics. She recently released her second album, "It's Not Me It's You", and this is the first single off it. If you're a fan, perhaps you can score some tickets to her sold out show Friday April 17 at the 930.

"Nothing to Worry About" - Peter, Bjorn & John

My friend Rick K has been talking these guys up recently. This is the first single off of their forthcoming album, Living Thing, which will be released March 31. Though it sounds pretty different from their 2006 hit "Young Folks", the chorus is very catchy and will be playing in your head long after the song is over. They are going to be playing a show at the 9:30 club May 2.

"Click, Click, Click, Click" - Bishop Allen

It's been a busy week so I haven't had too much time to check out new stuff, but this is another band that I discovered while watching Nick and Norah last week. And no, the title of this song has nothing to do with Under Armour. They'll be playing a show Friday March 13 at the Black Cat. File next to the Decemberists.

"Lover" - Devendra Banhart

I recently watched the film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. As both protagonists are aficionados of the indie music scene, you can imagine that music plays a large part of the story. There were many great tracks played throughout the movie, though I thought this to be the best. Based on this amateur video, it looks like I'm not the only one who feels that way. File next to awkward teenage romance.

"No Karma" - Jaydiohead

Capitalizing on the success of Girltalk's now famous mashups, Jaydiohead is a concept album from DJ MintyFreshBeats mashing up classic Jay-Z and Radiohead tracks. Many of these combinations work quite well, with the above track taking advantage of a great instrumental from Karma Police. If you would like to hear more, the 10 song album can be downloaded for free here.

"Wannabe In LA" - Eagles of Death Metal

Yesterday was the coldest day in the district in quite some time. As if that wasn't enough, the heat in my girlfriend's apartment went out last night. Suffice to say, I think we'd all like to be somewhere warmer right now, as the title of this song suggests. File next to warmer climates.

"Little Toy Gun" - Honey Honey

In honor of Jack Bauer's return to television, I'm featuring a video in which Kiefer Sutherland both stars and directed. File next to a south of the border White Stripes.

"Spaceman" - The Killers

There's only so many times you can listen to Brandon Flowers croon "are we human or are we dancer?" before you actually no longer wish to be human. Thankfully, the Killers second single off of their latest album, Day & Age, holds up to repeated listening a little better. File next to the 1993 film Fire in the Sky.

"Just Impolite" - Plushgun

This song is so damn catchy I'm calling it my first big discovery of 2009. Great use of synths yet the down to earth and accessible lyrics help the song still feel organic. Look for their debut album hitting the stores on February 17. File next to The Postal Service.

"Geraldine" - Glasvegas

I discovered this song a few months back when iTunes featured it as its single of the week. I don't think the rest of the album matched the energy of this track, but it's still the best song dedicated to a social worker I've heard in quite some time. File next to Snow Patrol.

"The Wrestler" - Bruce Springsteen

This song plays over the closing credits of the new film sharing its title. Haunting melody and truly beautiful lyrics that capture the essence of the movie (expect a forthcoming review over at Save The Manatees). File next to looking back at a life of broken bones, lost love, and the strength to move on.

"Something's Got You" - The Nextmen featuring Zarif

Could Zarif be the next big chanteuse to come out of England? File next to Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen.