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Higher than the Stars

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher than the Stars



Everyone's favorite twee pop band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have an EP out called Higher than the Stars featuring a single called "Higher than the Stars". If you like their self titled debut you will not be disappointed and if you did not get a chance to check out then look at this song as a gateway drug. I still am shocked every time I hear them that they are not British. So enjoy some great American indie pop.

Did I mention that I love long clever sounding band names.

Berlin, Without Return

Voxtrot have always crafted great indie pop songs so I was not surprised to see their new single Berlin, Without Return was no different. You can stream it at imeem from the link below and download previous single Trepanation Party below that.

Voxtrot - Berlin, Without Return

Voxtrot - Trepanation Party

Yacht - Physic City (Voodoo City)

Yacht is a two person group who when I saw open for Vampire Weekend was just one dude singing and dancing. I remember there being a glowing anchor on stage. The music was pretty good , but not enough to take my attention away from the blinding anchor. Anyway they are releasing an album on July 28th on DFA Records where the above song is from. Psychic City has a catchy summer feel to it. The mp3 is from Pitchfork and you can check out the story behind the lyrics here.

Discovery

Discovery - Orange Shirt

Here is a song from Discovery, a duo made up of a member of Vampire Weekend and the singer from Ra Ra Riot. That is some indie cred right there. It is very Electronic/R&B/Retro and awesome. I cannot wait to hear a debut album which is due July 7th and has hit summer album written all over it. Head to their myspace to hear another song.

Hear some new Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

I really like blogging about music so I don't know why I do it so rarely now a days. I guess I have to start looking for music harder. Anyway an album that comes out next month is Grizzly Bear's new disc Veckatimest. Above is a wonderful song from that album. I am a huge fan of these guys and believe everything they do is must hear.

Zero

New video from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for the song "Zero" from their new album It's Blitz. I am a fan of this song and the video is growing on me. It is basically Karen O dancing around in a leather jacket. You can read Karen O's thoughts on the video and the album leaking over at pitchfork.

Harlem Shakes

Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game

The Harlem Shakes are a band from Brooklyn who will be releasing their debut full length Technicolor Health on March 24. I would suggest checking it out if you are a fan of bands like Born Ruffians or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Most of their songs have a good amount of energy and a feel good vibe. This song though not as much as they unconvincingly repeat "This will be a better year". Anyway give it a shot.

Fitz and Dizzyspells

Here is the video for the song "Fitz and Dizzy Spells" from Andrew Bird's newest disc Noble Beast. You can also see him perform the song live on the Late Show here. The video is hard to describe. It has a flaming arrow, a guy in a banana suit, and a marching band. Soldier on below.


Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza - "Fitz & The Dizzyspells”

Scrambles

Bomb the Music Industry! - Can I Pay My Rent in Fun


What you may ask brings me back from my blogging slumber? Well that would be a new album from Bomb The Music Industry. It is name Scrambles and like previous albums they are giving away FOR FREE. If you liked previous Bomb albums then getting it should be a no brainer. If you are unfamiliar with them I would say they are punk/ska/folk/indie and like a hundred more things. They are all over the place and it is awesome. Listen to individual songs and get lyrics here. Enjoy. Posts will be more frequent. Promise.

The 59 Sound

Bruce Springsteen played halftime of the Superbowl last night and while I am sure most people saw that what some probably missed (including me) is The Gaslight Anthem playing Letterman. The Gaslight Anthem is like Bruce from NJ and he is definitely an influence on their sound. They really are impressive so check out their performance of title track "The 59' Sound" below.

Beirut - La Llorona

So Zach Condon is releasing a double EP under two different monikers. March of the Zapotec will be credited to his usual band name Beirut. The other half will be credited to realpeople a name he apparently used pre-beirut. So anything this guy does is must hear and the double ep is released 2/17. For now check out the video for La Llorona from the March of Zapotec.

Never Had Nobody Like You

You may have recently heard M. Ward with Zooey Deschanel in the group She & Him, but he released a bunch of great albums before that. His voice is unmistakable as always on this new song off of his album called Hold Time. It is out Feburary 17 and the mp3 is via Pitchfork. Check it out below.



M. Ward - Never Had Nobody Like You

Whale Week's Favorite Album of 08 is

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight


We all voted and it was a unanimous number one. Frightened Rabbit if you are unaware are an indie rock band from Scotland and one of the best things going in music if you ask me. Midnight Organ Fight is very much a breakup album. You have been warned. It is an extremely moving album in which every song is strong. The lyrics and melodies will get stuck in your head. It definitely connected with me and if you have not, I encourage you to give it a listen. It is highly recommended by the entire Whale Week staff. Happy new year and hopefully it is a big 09 here.

Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper

Son Ambulance

Son Ambulance's new album is called Someone Else's Deja Vu. I am not really sure if the band puts the comma in between the two words anymore. Their official site seems comma less but wikipedia has it. I could of sworn the band use to always have the comma. Anyway that is a mystery that no one really cares about. Here are two songs from their new album that are very good and everyone shoud check out. Mp3s after the jump.

Son Ambulance - Horizons
Son Ambulance - Juliet's Son

Christmas Stuff

The Layaways - O Christmas Tree
My First Earthquake - Fa La Freezing
Hello Saferide - Ipod Xmas

Little Joy, Wavves, and more

So I have not posted in a very long time. I open many posts with sentences with the same general meaning as that last one and they usually follow with a promise of it not happening again. Well.....I totally mean it this time. Anyway Christmas time so that is pretty cool. I will put together a post with Christmas songs when it gets closer. It is surprisingly close already though. Here are some songs. AC Newman is the man behind the New Pornographers so that is enough reason to check out his new single. The song by Wavves is wonderful distorted goodness. Antony and the Johnsons are very very haunting like usual and Little Joy's entire self titled album is highly recommended. The project includes The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Mp3s after the pic of Little Joy's album cover.


Little Joy - No One's Better Sake
AC Newman - Submarines of Stockholm
Wavves - So Bored
Antony and the Johnsons - Another World

Now, Now

Afternoon Records is a Minneapolis based label and they are putting out new albums for bands Now, Now Every Children and The Poison Control Center. I suggest checking both bands out and the rest of the label's roster. MP3s from both after the pic of Now, Now Every Children.


Now, Now Every Children - Not One, But Two
The Poison Control Center - Give It A Try

Smoosh

Smoosh is an indie pop band from Seattle, WA made up of young sisters. They have been around for awhile and I am alittle surprised I have not heard of them earlier. The song I am posting here is some really good female fronted indie pop if that is your thing. Again it is from a couple years ago, but if you haven't heard it check it out.


Smoosh - Find A Way