Autolux, "Sugarless"

When I was a poor college student, my mom bought me this car. I couldn't believe she did that! I mean, it was kind of a shitty car, but a thousand times better than my old one. Anyway, about a year later, I graduated and guess what? I got to take over the payments! What a gift to me! A monthly payment of $211 to the bank for the next 3 years!?! Oh, mother, you've pulled me right into your trap.

There is absolutely no point in that story, but thanks for listening.

Today, I present to you Autolux's "Sugarless" from the album Future Perfect.

What a spaced out tune. The female vocals in the middle of the song give me chills. This band in general is kind of amazing. It always blows my mind to hear something so authentic and creative out of Los Angeles. I know, it's cliché, but that town is a sinkhole for suck.

But this time, LA got lucky, because Greg Andrews—formerly of the amazingly trippy and drugged out Failure—drives this band along with an amazing bass sound. The rest of the band kicks ass too, as you can easily hear. I mean, you have ears don't you? Just listen to the damn song then.

Download: Autolux "Sugarless"

Monroe Mustang, "Universe"

Monroe fucking Mustang.

Those Texan sons of bitches are back. Thank Jesus.

A long time ago I use to buy every album that looked remotely interesting. The funny thing is, I was a poor college student. How did I afford it? I ate a lot of beans.

Anyway, one of those interesting albums was an EP by Monroe Mustang, I am the Only Running Footman. Apparently 5 guys wrote one song each. They're all winners. And not "winners" like in the special olympics, where everyone gets a medal.

It's hard for me to imagine why bands like Okkervil River and the Apples in Stereo became so incredibly popular when there was already one band that combined the best of both.

It's a no brainer.

Anyway, "Universe" is from their newest, Monroe Mustang, The Imaginary Band, Regretfully Declines, a kickass return to mopey and bedroom-produced pop. Check it.

Download: Monroe Mustang, "Universe"

The National, "Abel"

Yeah, so everyone loves the National.

Whoop-a-dee-ding-dong.

Seriously, though, this song rocks pretty hard. It took me a while to get used to how this guy sings on most of the songs from 2007's Boxer. This track, "Abel" though, from 2005's Alligator, was an instant hit in my big fat head.

Download: The National, "Abel"

Sunset Valley, "Blackberry Bushes"

I came across Sunset Valley's Icepond album a few years ago and decided to buy it based on the cover art and because it is on Barsuk—a label I only know of because John Vanderslice's amazing Time Travel is Lonely is on it.

Anyway, I don't think I ever really gave the album a fair listen, but then this morning "Blackberry Bushes" played on my Sansa and it was great. This Portland band was probably written off in the early 2000's as a Dandy Warhols or Brian Jonestown Massacre ripoff. That's almost fair, but these guys deserve more than that.

With headphones on, there's a sweet trippiness that kind of vibrates through you. It does remind me of Dandy Warhol's "Godless" a little, but I still think it's a fun tune.

download: Sunset Valley, "Blackberry Bushes"

Tinariwen, "Cler Achel"

Tinariwen are sort of like a band of roaming gypsies, except they roamed through the Sahara after the Malinese government put the smack-down on them. Serious shit went down in 1963. Check wikipedia, I didn't make this up...

Anyway, they're members of the Touareg tribe (you may be familiar with a certain SUV named after them—have we reached the point of "just fucking kill me" from consumerism yet? sorry, I digress.)

Double anyway, here's the track, "Cler Achel" from their 2007 album Water is Life.

Tinariwen sing a sort of protest song dealing with what they and their people went through. Even though these songs are in another language, the feelings of struggling and overcoming come through in the music.

Alright, that's enough with the cheesy shit. Just listen to the damn song, already.

download: Tinariwen, "Cler Achel"

The Gris Gris, "Year Zero"

Today, the blog is updated and changed, all at once.

From now on, I'll post one song and tell you why it is rad. Then, you can download it and figure out for yourself what the hub-bub is all about.

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So, to kick things off, here is a song that was my favorite track during the mild winter of twenty ought eight: The Gris Gris, "Year Zero"

I walk like half a mile from the bus to work, and this song came on multiple times during that arduous journey. It especially helped when the winds hit heavy on the borderline, if you know what I mean.

This song starts off thinkin' it's all cool—with its 60s vibe and syd barret-y vocals—but then at 4:17 things start movin around. And the rock comes, so sayeth the lord—and so it does.

ok, dummy, you can, like, listen to it now.

download: The Gris Gris, "Year Zero"

fyi, this incredible song has nothing to do with nine inch nails or that collection of dicks better known as 30 seconds to mars.