Far From Noise

No real theme this week so I’ll just say, here is a mix from me to you. Hope you like it.
 

1. Dog Days Are Over by Florence And The Machine
   From: United Kingdom
   Album: Lungs 
   This record came out last year but I just now got around to listening to it. I posted her other single, “Kiss With A Fist”, over a year ago but didn’t know what else to expect from her. Her bluesy neo-soul sound is great without sounding too retro.
   
   
2. Crazy by The Pack A.D.
   From: Vancouver, Canada
   Album: We Kill Computers 
   Heavy White Stripes influences, this female duo knows how to mix blues and rock. This will be their 3rd studio release and it’s coming out at the end of April. Until then, bang your head to this track and watch for them touring some where near you.
   
   
3. Able To by Eternal Summers
   From: Roanoke, VA
   Album: Eternal Summers [EP] 
   Another duo, this time a co-ed version. This EP is coming out March 13th. This song simply has all the elements I love in music lately. Gritty guitars, pop sensibilities, and beautiful vocals.
   
   
4. Ain’t No Grave by Johnny Cash
   From: Badass, America
   Album: American VI: Ain’t No Grave 
   Do I really need to say anything about Johnny Cash? The man is an icon. I can tell you that he worked on several recordings with Rick Rubin during his last days. Rick Rubin has been putting the final touches on these songs and slowly releasing them as a series. This is the sixth and last one. This particular song sends a chill up my spine and I just can’t get enough of it. As soon as those chains kick in…oh man. Just really well done.
   
   
5. The Dark Lord (of love) by Patrick Bower & The World Without Magic
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: The Dark Lord (of love) EP 
   It’s pretty tough to follow Johnny but I think these guys do a good job of moving us slowly back into the pop world. The voice and lyrics evoke this rather somber image but the music and clapping hands will get you bopping in your seat. I’d love to see how this translates on stage and hopefully will get the opportunity when they tour the states later this year. This EP will be released at the end of the month.
   
   
6. Western hospitality by Club 8
   From: Sweden
   Album: The People’s Record 
   This seventh release from Club 8 is coming out in May and is a slight change from their previous slightly morose sound. “Western Hospitality” is a melting pot of different global sounds with a bossa nova beat and surf guitars and many other elements that I can’t even explain. Good stuff.
   
   
7. Fresh by Devo
   From: Akron, OH
   You all know who Devo is! They haven’t release a studio album in 20 years and you can find this song on the as yet titled album coming out in May. “Fresh” gives me the impression that Devo has just picked up where it left off which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I look forward to hearing more.
   
   
8. Colors by April Smith and the Great Picture Show
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: Songs for a Sinking Ship 
   I feel bad putting this track and that Florence and the Machine one on the same mix since there are some serious similarities between these bands. But where Florence is dark and bluesy, April has a upbeat, bright, and bit more of a country or rock-a-billy sound. This also happens to be a success story for Kickstarter where people can ask for funds to do whatever project they want. April Smith was able to get $13,000 and as of last month, Songs for a Sink Ship is a reality.
   
   
9. My Baby Left Me by Rox
   From: South London, UK
   Album: Memoirs 
   Rox is short for Roxanne Tataei, a half Jamaican and half Iranian neo-soul and R&B singer from London. This is the debut single coming out March 15th which is off the debut album coming out later this Spring. Beautiful song and this girl is going to be big.
   
   
10. Sleepyhead (Starsmith Remix feat. Ellie Goulding) by Starsmith
    From: London, UK
    Album: Sleepyhead 
    So this should probably be called a cover instead of a remix since Starsmith is pretty much recreating all the music and Ellie Goulding is singing all the lyrics. Starsmith is a well known DJ and producer and Ellie Goulding is an up and coming pop singer. This indie song from Passion Pit has been turned into a disco, contemporary, pretty song but still has the original edge. I really like it.
    
    

And I have to bring attention to OK Go‘s latest video. It’s a GIANT Rube Goldberg machine and it truly is a work of art.

Top image borrowed from Whale and Bee

I know I’m super late but I have good excuses. I’ve been distracted by the Olympics and by my newly purchased motorcycle (super excited!!!)

Apparently I’m in a dancing mood this week with quite a few electronic/house/club/rap sounds. Don’t worry, there is plenty of indie in there too.

You can purchase this mix (or individual songs) from here:

1. Passion Pit – I’ve Got Your Number
   Album: Chunk of Change   
   This Boston based electro-pop band is my favorite find this week. I think they exemplify that indie edge that I love. Just dancing over into the experimental enough to make it interesting but not so much as to lose those of us that love powerpop. Look for the re-release of their EP, Chunk of Change, next month. I don’t know if anyone has noticed but I have a problem with lengthy songs and this is the first song over six minutes I have ever posted. I like it THAT much.
   
2. Walter Meego – Keyhole
   Album: Voyager   
   Not a solo artist as you might guess from the name, but an electronic duo out of Chicago. I feel like they have hints of Daft Punk and Ratatat but with a voice. I picked the slightly darker song with a driving beat but I would highly recommend checking out their entire new LP, Voyager.
   
3. Panther DLX – Tell Tale Signs
   Album: Into The Night EP   
   Trio from Australia with an electronic dance sound. Their new EP, Into The night, will release sometime next month. They definitely have that 80′s feel but in a good way.
   
4. RQM – Miss Pacman (Oliver $ Rmx)
   Album: Miss Pacman   
   This song makes me wish I had a real hifi with a serious subwoofer. MC living in Barcelona, this is his first solo single, Miss Pacman. I’m loving the electro-pop and this particular remix of the song by Oliver $.
   
5. The Cool Kids – What Up Man
   Album: The Bake Sale   
   I’ve been sitting on this song for quite some time waiting for the appropriate time to mix it in. This seems like the right week. This hip-hop, alternative rap duo first met up in Chicago. I like the simplicity of their sound reminiscent of Run DMC. Their debut release, The Bake Sale, came out last June and deserves a listen by other rap fans. Or bicycle fans can at least check out “Black Mags” on their myspace page.
   
6. Plushgun – Just Impolite
   Album: Plushgun   
   Originally a solo project by New Yorker, Dan Ingala, Plushgun became a full band after the internet success of this song. They just release their self-titled EP and the other three songs are all just as a infectious.
   
7. Hilotrons – Lovesuit
   Album: Happymatic   
   This Ottawa band reminds me of Talking Heads. A lot. If you like the sound, you should definitely check out their new LP, Happymatic.
   
8. Human Highway – Moody Motorcycles
   Album: Moody Motorcycle   
   Another band from Canada (those talented Canucks). I would call this sound indie-pop with a folk influence. This is the title track from their new LP, Moody Motorcycle.
   
9. Pierre de Reeder – I’ll Be Around
   Album: The Way That It Was   
   Rilo Kiley’s bass player just came out with a solo LP, The Way That It Was. Sounds to me like a really good singer/songwriter and I look forward to hearing more.
   
10. Harlem – South of France
    Album: free drugs ;-)   
    This post-punk band from Austin, TX, is obviously heavily influenced by The Pixies. Who can fault them for that. This track is off their debut LP, free drugs;-). I think we are going to hear a lot from these guys in the near future.
    
11. Altspeak – 7 Shots
    Album: It’s Up To You
    A Seattle band that sounds like they came out of Britain. There is a simple punk sound with a pop sensiblitiy that I am a sucker for. If you like them, you can download the ENTIRE new LP, It’s Up To You, from their website for FREE. What are you waiting for!?!?!
    
12. Kings Of Leon – Crawl
    Album: Only by the Night   
    These guys are considered to have a Dixie/Southern bent to their indie sound. Guess it makes sense with them being from Nashville. This is their latest single to get us ready for the full length LP, Only By The Night, due out soon.