The Mary Onettes : Islands : 2009 on Labrador

I think one of my other favorite bands on Labrador is The Radio Department. It’s too bad their 2009 EP David didn’t live up to everything I loved about “Pulling Our Weight”. There’s something too good about that song. The Mary Onettes sort of strike the same chord as The Radio Department, but mix in a little more of The Cure and a string section and a little less new wave. It’s a fair trade I guess, right? They’re from Sweden where a lot of the good music seems to come from. Anyway, check out their recent release Islands. Standout tracks for me include “God Knows I had Plans” and the opener “Puzzles” that echoes with an erie string rhythm that reminds me a little bit of the way I think Sufjan Stevens wishes his string section sounded. Maybe not. Anyway check it out.

Listen to “God Only Knows I had Plans” by The Mary Onettes.
Opening track “Puzzles” by The Mary Onettes.

Beach House : Teen Dream : 2010 on Subpop

Teen Dream leaked online a few weeks back, and after downloading a copy *strictly for evaluation purposes*, I’d have to say it’s pretty impressive. I had to go back and listen to their first two albums in order to judge this third release, but I’m really liking Teen Dream from the Baltimore duo. Does anyone know if these two musical muses are dating/married? I hope they’re in love at least. The music inspires me. How could it not? I’m not sure what it makes me want to do. Something along the lines of sitting on a quiet Maryland beach in the fall with a girlfriend, watching the small waves, and a lot of retro/vintage stuff laying around. You know, something really indie.

Listen to “Norway” by Beach House.

In the coming weeks watch for my Big in 2010 post. It’s been sort of a 2 year tradition. Check out previous 2007 and 2008 Best Of posts. The yearly post includes a list of artists worth keeping an eye on into 2010. The ’00s are about to wrap up. Who’s the best artist of the decade? Lady Gaga probably.

A Mountain of One - Institute of Joy (sept. 2009)

Listen to their single “Bones”

This release came and went under my radar. Just the other day there was a remix of their song “Bones” inside this Ghostly International mix I was listening to, and it gave me those kind of ’shit what could this be?’ chills. The album is a worthy psychedelic escape from all the noise that’s been clogging our ears lately. The expansive single Bones is a brilliant recipe including all the great changes going on in rock music right now. Moving from the eerie chords of the single to the next track ‘Lie Awake’, things start to make sense. Although there’s a disconnect in the momentum, it’s a comfortable transition. This release is more about the feeling, you know? Check out A Mountain of One on Myspace.

dOP - Blanche Neige, Genius of the Crowd (2008, 2009)

Listen to their single “Blanche Neige”
Listen to “Genius of the Crowd”

Nothing fits what I can get down with right now more than organic house music- live house music. dOP from France is a trio of guys programming beats and recording with only real instruments. Their myspace is littered with photos of them in their studio, full of strange instruments. Their sound could be described as ambient, house, acoustic, techno, disco- they’re located on some middle ground in there. That’s a good place to be right? Blanche Neige is a dark, hypnotic percussive track pushed by a conga groove and overlaid with beautiful French vocals. I’ve been told the vocals describe a guy talking about this Queen- the beauty of the Queen- and how people revel at her majesty. The beat is intoxicating and the ambient playground sounds churn this into something to keep your attention for the full 8 minutes. “Genius of the Crowd” leans more toward a club track, but makes fun of itself. dOP needs to be on your list of bands to check out.