MiMOSA

I could use one of these at the moment....

More from the Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire have released two new tracks from their upcoming album The Suburbs. UK single "We Used To Wait" and North American single ‘Ready to Start’ made their surprise debuts yesterday. Upon repeated listens, these two tracks are a little bit more what we might expect from the Arcade Fire. "Ready to Start" is a murkier bass driven track whereas "We Used to Wait" has a bit more of a forward driven pop feel to it. Listening to these tracks puts previously released tracks, "Month or May" and "The Suburbs" into a bit more context and makes them immediately more enjoyable.

Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait


Arcade Fire - Ready to Start

On Melancholy Hill

Stuck on Repeat

Not sure how I have come to like Japandroids so much, especially since I have never been into the loud fuzzy angsty guitar rock. Perhaps its because they are two local guys who came together on the campus of UVic or perhaps it because their fuzzy guitar rock comes packaged with infectious riffs and nostalgic lyrics. "Younger Us" is the Japandroids second offering from their 7" series.

For the first time since 2007's Wincing the Night Away, The Shins are out with new music, albeit a one off cover track. "Goodbye Girl" sounds Shinsy enough and would fit seemlessly alongside the rest of their catalogue. With its pop-choppy guitar riff and its nostalgic lyrics, its a perfect sounding song for summer.

Japandroids - Younger Us


The Shins - Goodbye Girl

Smooth Sounding Summer Mix

Felix Cartal - Summer Mixtape 2010

The Ghost Inside

New Arcade Fire

The Arcade Fire made available two new tracks this week that have been all over the blogosphere and will be regurgitated here. The new tracks are from the forthcoming album The Suburbs to be released on August 3, 2010. The first track, title track "The Suburbs" has a bit of a poppy guitar and piano riff while track "Month of May" has a bit more of a punk rock feel to it. Neither are what one might expect from the Arcade Fire. Should be interesting to hear what direction the new album will take.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs


Arcade Fire - Month of May

The National

I haven't been blogging a lot recently since the man keeps unpublishing my posts due to copyright infringement or whatever. Not cool. Anyways, I have been listening to the new The National album on repeat since it came out. This is their fifth full-length album, but my first time experiencing them. Not sure where they have been this whole time. High Violet is easily the best album of 2010 thus far.

Sun Run

I mixed this for last year's Sun Run and had a personal best. I stashed it away for a while forgetting how good it had turned out. I've rediscovered it and am going to run to it again this year and see if I can duplicate last year's success.

Sun Run Mix 2009

Deepsky - Talk Like a Stranger (Markus Schulz Remix)
Kamaya Painters - Summerbreeze
Rui Da Silva - Touch Me
Jes - Imagination (Tiesto Remix)
Fonzerelli - Moonlight Party
Randy Katana - In Silence (Reset)
Max Linen - Flashback
Duncan Sheik - On A High (Gabriel & Dresden's Love From Humboldt Remix)
Gabriel & Dresden - Tracking Treasure Down (Club Mix)

Mix Time 50:16
Run Time 41:47

Omni-bear

Minus the Bear recently released their fourth full-length album OMNI. Full disclosure, I'd been waiting patiently for this one. The transition between OMNI and their last album 'Planet of Ice' induces all forms of fire and ice analogies that I'll spare you, but it's true that MTB have picked up the pace considerably. OMNI, produced by Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins - Wincing the Night Away), displays the bands infinite ability to remain unbored with their instrumental choices....cue Omnichord.

Jake Snider continues the lyrical imagery, which is probably my favorite component to MTB. What girl wouldn't want 'Secret Country' written about her?

The album has flickers and hints of inspiration from across the musical board....70's funk guitar riffs (ala Shaft), why not? Animal Backwards comes outta nowhere like an impromptu mid-album dance party. It packs an especially booty shaking punch as it comes from Minus the Bear, a band you wouldn't typically associate with that kinda bass.

You can stream the new album here but it's certainly worth the purchase.

I'm an especial sucker for the guitar line on Hold Me Down