Birdy

1901 (Phoenix Cover)

Birdy (2011)

Yup, this jailbait just released her self-titled debut album. After her hauntingly beautiful covers of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love and The XX’s Shelter, I was not really expecting her album to be full of it. Full of covers. I was just simply surprised to hear her cover: Phoenix, The National, Fleet Foxes, and even James Taylor.  The album itself is gorgeous; maybe it was just her stunning vocals that made me appreciate the whole effort. 

Keep Shelly in Athens

DIY

Our Own Dream EP (2011)

It has been 2 months since my last audio posting; not that there were no interesting songs/tracks that I could have posted.  Yes, the cold season had just began, and it is always that time of the year when DCFC, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac are the only ones playing… 

But, this particular track has been helping us Keeping Shelly and I warm. Our Own Dream will be out on 11/5

Feist

How Come You Never Go There

Metals

Yes I agree, it’s just about time. Metals, Feist’s forthcoming 4th LP, now has an official teaser single in the form of today’s premiere of “How Come You Never Go There.”

(via twentyfourbit)

Givers

Atlantic

In Light (2011)

I found it really interesting of how much buzz and hype are being given to this young band, Givers.  A band of two years; they already have been featured in Rolling Stone, Nylon, Vogue, and Stereogum.

The album was generally okay; it wasn’t amazing, though I would say every track was catchy and uplifting. It kind off gives you that summer feeling again, a bouncy kind off groove. Check their latest single here - you’d probably enjoy them

Letting Up Despite Great Faults

Aurora

Paper Crush (2011)

Oh, Hype Machine’s really building some buzz around this California-bred band, Letting Up… Paper Crush, band’s latest EP, as I was expecting; was just a combination of buzzy-shoegazed and dreamy synths sounds again, though this time I felt it was more airy - unconstrained. I liked it. 

The album will be out on August 2 via Old Flame Records.

Broken Social Scene

Sentimental X’s

Forgiveness Rock Record (2010)

I particularly liked this song; not the fact that it features the pipes of Emily Haines, Amy Millan, and Feist, but it is a very mature version of Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old  I would say. 

An excellent song reflecting on friendships that we may took for granted; which in a way I think relates to the band, the super-group, itself.

Cuushe

Do You Know the Way to Sleep

Single (2011)

This is just beyond beautiful.  Who knew Japan could produce such tracks.  It’s magically put together; blurry, weightless vocals, and woozy synths certainly gave this track a dreamy-kind-of-vibe. 

Lera Lynn

Wolf Like Me (TV on the Radio Cover)

Cover

Seriously, this one gorgeous folkie brings a whole new side of this song. I was actually never expecting myself to be digging this genre of music, or cover for that matter. Cool, I liked it a lot.

Watch the full cover here.

Mr. Little Jeans

The Suburbs (Arcade Fire Cover)

Covers

Talking about good covers of good songs; Monica Birkenes (Mr. Little Jeans), gives the song a whole new electro synthy vibe and I liked it!

(Source: covermesongs.com)

Foster the People

Warrant

Torches (2010)

One of the most hyped bands of 2011, and group being referred to as the “Indie-Maroon5;” Foster the People are one of the bands I’ve had my eyes on for awhile since I heard “Pumped Up Kicks” way back in April 2010. 

Torches was just recently released; and yeah, it’s kind of catchy, but every song sounds EXACTLY the same (unpopular opinion).  The album is generally uplifting, a fresh evolution of modern music.