White Hassle - Life is Still Sweet

I once read this quote from a musician in which they said that their favorite songs had upbeat music but dismal lyrics. While that pretty much defines a large part of indie rock these days, sometimes it's good to just listen to a song that's positive all around. New Yorkers White Hassle crafted one such song a few years back (which later inspired Isaac Brock to write "Float On," incidentally), "Life is Still Sweet." Although the band is now on hiatus, this track should live on in peoples' iPhones or whatever the kids have these days.


Mp3: White Hassle - Life is Still Sweet

BOAT - Topps

Well, I said I'd post about them at some point, and with the arrival of a new EP, the day has arrived. BOAT's new song, "Topps," combines the worlds of baseball and indie pop as a select few have done before. If you've never heard BOAT before, their sound is both catchy and jumpy, and features a vocal style that evolves depending on what is called for by the backing music (Good examples of other songs to check out include "Elephant Ears" and "I'm a Donkey for Your Love," both on the band's myspace). Anyway, new track for your loving:

Mp3: BOAT - Topps
Buy: BOAT - Topps EP

Take Away Shows in Tallahassee

My new apartment has stairs. Therefore, this is how my mornings will be as I walk down them on my way to work. Happy Saturday,
Adam

She & Him - Why do you Let Me Stay Here?

I hope to not make a habit of posting videos linking to MTV, since they barely even play music themselves anymore, but so be it for today. This one's for a favorite song of mine on She & Him's debut album, Volume One. After watching it, I felt like it came close to being half creepy and half endearing. However, I think the Zooey Deschanel presence tips it over into the endearing side. As they used to say at the end of "Making the Video" episodes, "AND NOW, THE WORLD PREMIERE (pause for effect) OF SHE & HIM'S "WHY DO YOU LET ME STAY HERE" ("whoosh" noise):

New Beck - Modern Guilt

Beck Hanson, the Scientology-raised-part-time-semi-sensical-rapping-part-time-heartfelt-singing artist is back for 2008 with a brand new Danger Mouse-produced album, Modern Guilt.Though Guero may be looked at as a slight lull in Beck's career, his last album, The Information, was clearly underrated in my book. It tipped Beck's sound back into the likeable, lighter sounding side of his frenetic music that became almost directionless on Guero. From the sounds of the released tracks of Modern Guilt, it seems as though this go round will feature a sound that is genre-bending but clearly wears the imprint of both Beck and Danger Mouse. You can pick up a copy for yourself on 7/8/08.


Stream: Beck - Orphans/Gamma Ray/Chemtrails