WHO KNOWS, WHO CARES

Local Natives’ Gorilla Manor is amazing.  Let me know if that requires any further explanation.  The latest from the L.A. indie outfit is a video for my favorite track off the album, “Who Knows, Who Cares.”  The video provides some feel-good visuals for the feel-good track as the band and friends frolic in the sunny countryside.  Would have been nice if this was released a couple months ago though — rest in peace summer.  If you were lucky enough to get tickets, make sure to check out Local Natives at their sold-out 9:30 Club show tonight.

MP3: Local Natives – “Who Knows, Who Cares”
MP3: Local Natives – “Who Knows, Who Cares” (bretonLABS Remix)

Love,
Adrian

THIS IS ALL THAT YOU FEEL

I put Jamaica’s “I Think I Like U 2” on the Cannabliss Mix a few months ago, yet somehow neglected to dedicate an entire to post to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite new bands of 2010. Those around me know that I’ve nearly beaten the song to death, playing it every chance I get, making it my ringtone, and downloading remix after remix. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover why the band is destined for big things; the Parisian duo are produced by Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay and Daft Punk sound engineer Peter Franco. With those men at the helm, success is sort of, well, guaranteed.

Imagine my excitement, then, upon hearing the band’s newest track, “Short and Entertaining,” which is just that: and under-three-minute dance-rock whirlwind. I literally cannot wait to hear more. The potential here is just enormous. If this were the NBA Draft, Jamaica would be the freak athlete who had an absurd freshman year and is projected as all-NBA first team with the right coaching. Basically, they’re this guy (not this guy).

Check “Short and Entertaining” below, as well as the slowed down 80s synth remix of “I Think I Like U 2” by Breakbot.

MP3: Jamaica – “Short and Entertaning”
MP3: Jamaica – “I Think I Like U 2 (Breakbot Remix)”

Love,
Zack

I’M ABOUT TO TELL YOU WHAT I WANNA SAY

Opus Orange makes the kind of music you might forget you’re listening to if it snuck onto your iPod, but their original brand of minimalistic electro-pop is so infectious that you’ll be singing the choruses to their songs in your head without remembering where you heard it. That’s what happened to me this morning, at least, and I had to check my screen to see that “Wait Wait Wait” was the name of the song I had been humming along my entire walk to work. On the aforementioned track, the Santa Monica based outfit sounds like they birthed the love child of David Byrne and Jimmy Tamburello on a beach somewhere and then gave him a few prozac, all in under two minutes. Listen for yourself.

MP3: Opus Orange – “Wait Wait Wait”

Love,
Zack

Just Keep it Cool Baby, I Don’t Wanna Know

I know I’m about, oh, a year and a half late to the U.S. Royalty party, but that’s not going to stop me from posting about a song that I literally cannot get out of my head. I downloaded “Keep it Cool” around the time that it was making it’s rounds on all the taste makers, but for some reason it just sat in my iTunes to rot. I hit up shuffle a few weeks back, and lo and behold, the Bo Flex (Yes Giantess) remix of “Keep it Cool” serenaded my ear drums, at which point I proceeded to listen to it, you know, about twenty times on repeat. The punchy drums, catchy-as-all-hell chorus, and warm synths reminiscent of Passion Pit, come together like Voltron to form my Summer jam of 2010, even if I am a year late.

I am particularly embarrassed because the band is centered in my hometown of D.C., and just played at my favorite venue (U St. Music Hall) and I missed it. For shame.

MP3: US Royalty – “Keep it Cool (Bo Flex Giantess Remix)”

Love,
Zack

We Can’t Fly

You know what doesn’t make sense? When a band called Aeroplane names a song “We Can’t Fly.” You know what makes a lot of sense? The fact that the Belgian duo that brought us the amazing remix of Friendly Fires’ “Paris” made yet another jam, this time an original. “We Can’t Fly” has all the makings of the blissed out summer jam, from the reggae-esque guitar rhythm to the smooth synths. Grab a cold beer and a babe and hit the beach, and let Aeroplane be your guide.

MP3: Aeroplane – “We Can’t Fly”

You and I Both Are Nothing but Thieves

There are few albums I’m looking forward to more this summer than Steel Train’s third, self-titled release.  Not much has been revealed about it so far, but the guys over at MonkeyWhale filmed a stripped-down, intimate performance of one of the record’s songs, “Bullet.”  As I’ve said before, Steel Train’s headed in a whole new direction and they’ll definitely be turning heads once the album drops on June 29th.

If you haven’t yet listened to Steel Train‘s already-released tracks, grab “You And I Undercover” below and check out our previous post on “Turnpike Ghost.”

MP3: Steel Train – “You and I Undercover”

Watch the video for “Bullet” after the jump.

Love,
Adrian

Here Comes a Feeling You Thought You’d Forgotten

It’s starting to get brisk at night, and the days are getting shorter. Let us pretend it’s still summer for a few moments.

MP3: Vampire Weekend – “Horchata”