SoCal SoRock

Local Natives are a great refreshing listen to what well crafted straight up rock should sound like. These Southern Californians' debut album has been released in the UK and will be available in the US on February 16th. The song Camera Talk has everything including strings, killer drumbeats, harmonies, and of course some good ol' rock.

Local Natives - Camera Talk mp3

This track, Sun Hands, may start out slow, but it picks up and gets awesome so listen up. 

Local Natives - Sun Hands mp3

Still not a fan? How about an acoustic barn Talking Heads cover of Warning Sign.

This is the mp3 for the full band electric version .

Local Natives - Warning Sign (Talking Heads cover) 

And here is the original by the Talking Heads performed live in the mid-70s at the legendary CBGBs.

Can't replace these kind covers

The band Kindness are from the UK and boy do they got some funky goodness going on. From what I can tell these guys have only released one 7" so far which means I don't have much info on them. But the B side on their single is called Gee Up and you should take a chill groove break to check it out.

Kindness - Gee Up mp3 

The A side is a cover of one of my favorite bands The Replacements. Here is their electro pulsing version of the already great song Swingin Party.

Kindness - Swinging Party mp3

And this is an endearing acoustic couch performance of Swinging Party by

the amazing Paul Westerberg. 

Summer doesn't have to seem so foreign

Too much Californian weather sometimes can lead to some happy tropical sounding beach rock. That fun sound is often made by California's very own Foreign Born. Here is the new video for their peppy pop song Early Warnings.

Foreign Born - Early Warnings mp3

This cool summer jam is called Blood Oranges.
Foreign Born - Blood Oranges mp3
And here is a great mellow dog enhanced, but still happy acoustic performance of Blood oranges

Finally your fantasy has come true.

Final Fantasy, AKA Owen Pallett, will release his third album Heartland January first. There are no surprises on his first single, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, just some great creative violin and vocal melodies.

Final Fantasy - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt mp3 

And this is an even cooler live Pitchfork Tunnelvision performance of the song.

Boy this music is just so darn happy

Sigur Rós's frontman Jónsi Birgisson has his first real solo album, titled Go, coming out March of 2010. Its way different from his last side project Riceboy Sleeps. The first single Boy Lilikoi is just nonstop upbeat happiness. Its also a little cheesy, a little bit beautiful, and definitely worth a listen.

Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi mp3

Just in case you forgot how good Sigur Rós are, check out my older post here.

Eiffel Tower Power

Phoenix needs no introduction. We all know and love them, so just watch these great stripped down Take Away Shows performances. They play on double decker busses, under a bridge, and of course under the Eiffel Tower. Lets start it off with 1901.

Now a little Long Distance Call.

And Lizstomania and One Time Too Many.

This is just too funny and cool to not post. It's a Brat Pack dance mash up video to Lisztomania.

Phoenix - Lisztomania mp3

Gee I dig this

Gigi is the collaborative project between Nick Krgovich (of No Kids/ P:ANO) and producer Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Cave Singers, Destroyer). Their anticipated upcoming album Maintenanta, was written with the intention to bring back the pop that Phil Spector created back in the day. This song, The Old Graveyard featuring Karl Blau, is a one of those good throw back pop tracks.

Gigi - The Old Graveyard (Feat. Karl Blau) mp3