Neko Case has a gorgeously haunting voice that matches her looks, and her new unreleased album “The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight” shows that voice off so well. It’s streaming today over at NPR, prepare yourself for beauty: Neko Case First Listen
Want to have a great day? Listen to the new self-titled Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes album today on NPR! I had the pleasure of hearing them play one of the new songs at their Red Rocks show, “Remember to Remember”, an all Jade torch song and it was an instant classic. I’ve been crazy waiting to hear the rest ever since, and my high expectations are completely met. They make such sweet, sweet music, and this album of salvation continues in that vein. It has a fuzzier tone, almost like it’s an old vinyl playing (although that might be the NPR music player). “Let’s Get High” is as celebratory as it gets, while “This Life” (currently listed on NPR as “Life Is Hard”, I imagine that will get fixed) starts sounding like a Jeff Buckley song, then brings a Motown mixed with tent revival sound that these guys do so well. “They Were Wrong” could sit right next to The Beatles “Octopus’s Garden” on an album, no problem. Listen here today: new Edward Sharpe link
Listen to Eleanor Friedberger‘s new album streaming free today at NPR. The sister half of artsy weird band Fiery Furnaces brings her distinct vocals and quirks to this new album. This is a smart album with great songs, interested to see her live solo, when I saw a Fiery Furnaces show, her and her brother bickered onstage. She’s pretty darn cool.
Stream the new album here: Eleanor Friedberger on NPR First Listen
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is joined by old friends Brian Moen and Phil Cook on this new release, creating The Shouting Matches. This is the first release from Middle West, Vernon’s management company for all of his output. Now streaming over at NPR, this album makes me want to road trip through the Midwest. This project has a happier feel than Bon Iver, good for rolling the windows down. They are playing Coachella, and have dates so far in August in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
photo by leslieloudspeaker
NPR is streaming one of the few things I like from Oklahoma (kidding, UT grad) the new Flaming Lips album The Terror today, take a listen.
photo by leslieloudspeaker
Phosphorescent (boy do I question my spelling every time) from Dead Oceans mesmerized the audience when I saw them at sxsw, slow layering of beautiful sounds, they are very good at creating soundscapes and making you forget the world around you. They released their video for “Song for Zula” today, and it’s even more mesmerizing now. I feel like reading Clan of the Cave Bear.
leslieloudspeaker 