Born Ruffians / Red Yellow & Blue (2008)

Pure indie-rock and a purely lovable and fun album. Toronto-based Born Ruffians' debut packs woozy singing and yelps and chants on a platter of guitarpeggio and foot-stompin', rolling toms.



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Efterklang / Parades (2007)

Danish collaborative sew intricate ambiance and unique marching band instrumentation together somehow with hushed vocals and background chants.



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Sam Amidon / All Is Well (2008)

An outstanding melancholy and relaxed acoustic album that deserves more attention. Sam Amidon (sometimes going by Samamidon) takes traditional American folk songs in the public domain and makes them quietly beautiful. Highly recommended.

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Yeasayer / All Hour Cymbals (2007)

I thought I would continue posting some of my favorites. This was one of my favorite albums of last year. From sitars to droning bass riffs, these guys craft songs that will be sung for awhile.



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Department of Eagles / The Cold Nose

Great project from Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen.


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Man Man / Rabbit Habits (2008)

The Tom Waits-like circus-act band's third attempt. Nice guys too.



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Sufjan Stevens / Greeting From Michigan: The Great Lake State (2003) & Seven Swans (2004)

Two albums not to be forgotten. Posted for a friend


Download Michigan


Download Seven Swans

Bjork / Wanderlust video

If you haven't seen it yet...


or Higher Quality
and making of

Yeasayer / Tight Rope

An awesome unreleased track from Yeasayer on a Take Away Show that is worth posting. I've heard their normal live version of this song and this one might actually be better.



and Mascots

Fleet Foxes (2008)

This is my favorite band of this year so far. They sound like a primitive and subdued yet more harmonious version of At Dawn-era My Morning Jacket (making up for Evil Urges.)

Download Self-Titled (Ragged Wood)

Download Sun Giant EP

My Morning Jacket / Evil Urges (2008)

I had heard a while back that MMJ had been playing songs off of Evil Urges at recent shows and according to a few critics the new songs reached an almost dancey-groove feel and even leaned over the edge of R&B. Oddly enough it's kind of true, at least for the first part of the album. Everyone has been mentioning how the second half of the album redeems itself, but it may just take a little bit for everyone to settle down and accept the fact that My Morning Jacket are no longer the barefootin' alt-country cats they appeared to be.

Download Re-up