The Beach Boys and Animal Collective

I have had the comparison I made of Animal Collective to The Beach Boys on my mind for a few days.  And when the song "College" came on my iPod, I had to check to make sure it was Animal Collective - I really thought it was The Beach Boys.  The resemblance is uncanny on this short track.  I also included a true mash-up of the 2 bands that is pretty good.  Enjoy folks.

Animal Collective - College

Animal Collective vs. The Beach Boys - All I Wanna Do (I Just What My Body Needs To)

The xx

The xx's debut album xx came out in August of last year and made many best of lists.  I just came upon them in the past 2 weeks at the insistence of a friend and I am glad that I did.  The band from London has 3 members playing guitar, bass and synthesizer/drum machine.  I recently discovered that they are all around 20 years of age and was blown away.  The album is very focused and the band seems comfortable in their own skin not having to force anything.  The tracks are smooth and well thought out.  When I was 20, nothing I did was well thought out.  I am excited to see what comes from them in the future.  xx is definitely worth the money.  Sample 2 of the tracks below including one of the standouts "Basic Space".

Crystalised

Basic Space

While I'm at it, I'll throw this one up there too

If I keep this pace up, I am going to spoil you guys.  Bowerbirds "Northern Lights" video.  I really love this song.

Beach House "Zebra" Video

Pitchfork TV has some great videos up right now.  Above is one from Beach House.  Scott featured them not too long ago.  Good stuff here.  Get more HERE.

The brilliance of Animal Collective

I don't know what took me so long, but this week I have finally realized the brilliance of Animal Collective.  The quartet out of Baltimore, Maryland are loved by bloggers across the board, but my affection has been a gradual one...until now.  Listening to their newest LP, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and their latest EP, Fall Be Kind, over the past week has brought this realization to life.  The band has mastered the art of layering sound and creating strange pop masterpieces.  Think Radiohead's experimental nature mixed with the Beach Boys' sense of harmony and transition.  Animal Collective layers organic sounds and vocal harmonies with many loops and a few electronic sounds thrown in there (more synthesizer than beeps and blips like Radiohead).  Hate or love Animal Collective, you have to agree that they continue to be inventive with each song/album that they release.  Enjoy the samples below.

Brother Sport

What Would I Want? Sky

A little of this and a little of that featuring an angry grizzly...

So, Dr. Dog has released the first single from their upcoming album, Shame, Shame, and it is great.  I know this might be old news to a number of you out there, but it still makes my panties wet.  Also, The Walkmen have signed with Oxford, Mississippi based label Fat Possum.  Fat Possum lays claim to great artists including The Black Keys, A.A. Bondy, Andrew Bird, Heartless Bastards, Wavves and a number of Mississippi Hill Country Bluesmen.  There is no news on a release date for their new album, but they are in the studio now recording the follow-up to You & Me (one of my favorite albums).  Just for good measure, I threw in a newish Grizzly Bear cover of  a Hot Chip song.  Enjoy everyone...

Dr. Dog - Shadow People

The Walkmen - Donde Esta La Playa

Grizzly Bear - Boy From School (Hot Chip Cover)

Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

Fruit Bats were formed in 1999 in the great city of Chicago, and have been churning out catchy, Beatlesque pop since their debut album Echoloction, released in 2001. Since signing on to Subpop in 2002, the band has released a trio of standout albums. Most recently, Eric Johnson & Co. released The Ruminant Band, their first effort in 4 years. It didn't take me long to become absolutely obsessed with this album. Like label-mates, The Shins, Fruit Bats create complex pop music that is easily digestible at first listen, but over time surprises you with its complexity, both lyrically and melodically. There really isn't a bad song on the album, but below, I have linked the opener, Primitive Man. Other standouts include, Being on Your Own (which would fit right in on Abbey Road), and Singing Joy to the World (which is the only song in history to reference both Three Dog Night and a Prince song). Fruit Bats play both Birmingham and Atlanta in March, for those of you lucky enough to still reside in that part of the South! Check their website below:

The Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats - Primitive Man

Dr. Dog New Album and Tour

Picture courtesy of parkthevan.com

I really love this band.  The more I revisit their back catalog, the more I see the potential and growth that they have shown throughout their career.  On April 6th, the boys from Philadelphia abandon the friendly confines of their home studio, where they have recorded their previous 5 albums including 2008's incredible Fate, for Anti-Records' professional studios and producer.  There are not any tracks from the new album, entitled Shame Shame, out yet, but Dr. Dog has stated that when they get to 20,000 fans on Facebook they will release a single from the album.  Go fan them now!  The band also just kicked off a tour with supporting acts including Deer Tick and will be making a stop at WorkPlay in Birmingham, AL on el Cinco de Mayo.  Tickets are $15, so get 'em fast.

Here is a little taste of the band, please seek out their stuff and buy it!  It is perfect for vinyl for you audiophiles out there.

Hang On (Fate)

California (Takers and Leavers - EP)

Wake Up (Easy Beat)

Heart It Races (Architecture In Helsinki cover)