Arcade Fire --- Freakin' New Songs!!

Hey!  Guess what everybody?!  Arcade Fire spent some time in the studio and now there are at least 4 tracks out and they are all available for download below for the time being!  The tracks are getting a good bit of criticism, but we here at YAGN are big fans!  Download it and freaking enjoy them because they are new Aracade Fire tracks and they have only happened 2 times thus far, so consider it a treat!

Month of May

The Suburbs

Ready to Start

We Used To Wait

Lately Mix - 06.15.10

There have been so many great new releases this year by some of "Indie Rock's" biggest bands. Outstanding efforts by The National, Dr. Dog, Beach House, and The Black Keys have made 2010 one of the best years for new music in a while. We've featured each of these artists here on YAGN in the past, and today I'd like to introduce you to some songs from lesser known bands that I have discovered in the last few weeks.

1 - Us Vs. Them - Common Prayer

2 - Black Hand - Cotton Mouth

3 - o0O0o0O0o - Oberhofer

4 - Glorylight & Christie - Cotton Jones

5 - Marathon - Tennis

Lately Mix - 06.15.10 - Yousendit Link

The National, High Violet

The National's new album, High Violet, has been out for well over a month now, but I just wanted to give it a little love here on the blog.  It is a freaking awesome album.  You all should pick this up and listen to it many, many times.

Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine

An A-list of indie and alt-country artists have come together to lend their versions of some of John Prine's favorite songs for the tribute album Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, due out on June 22nd.  Artists featured are Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket, Josh Ritter, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Drive-By Truckers Deer Tick and Those Darlins.  Pretty strong line-up, don't you think?  It is a worthy tribute album for the legendary singer/songwriter.  Check out two of my favorite tracks below and go ahead and pick this one up on the 22nd.

The Avett Brothers - Spanish Pipedream

My Morning Jacket - All The Best

Pre-order the album here

Delta Spirit, History from Below

Delta Spirit's sophomore LP History from Below is a slow burner without many catchy songs like their debut's "Trashcan".  It took a few listens to really appreciate, but once it caught I have found more to love with every listen.  Another one of those albums that will serve you well for enjoying a few ice cold beverages outside as the sun sets on these long summer days.  Make sure to pay attention to the background sounds on one of my favorite tracks "Scarecrow" because they really take the song to another level.  You can picture the band out on their porch recording as cars pass and birds chirp.  Good stuff.

911

Scarecrow

Purchase the album here Delta Spirit, History from Below

The Black Keys, Brothers

I read somewhere My girlfriend told me that she read the following in reference to The Black Keys' latest effort, "The Black Keys are like pizza -- even when it's bad, it's good."  Now, while I think that is a pretty funny, I totally disagree.  I think that Brothers is one of their stronger albums as of late.  It is fun and different at times and has been on heavy rotation around here.  My only complaint is that it does run a little long at 55+ minutes.  Below is a link to my favorite track off of the album, "Everlasting Light," which displays Dan Auerbach's falsetto.  A great track followed by links to two recently released videos for the first two singles on the album.  

Everlasting Light

Tighten Up video link


Next Girl video link

Blitzen Trapper, Destroyer of the Void

Blitzen Trapper's latest Destroyer of the Void is a great album.  Their sophomore album, Wild Mountain Nation, displayed their taste for eclectic alt-country/spacey rock and had some great tracks.  Their third album, Furr, saw them lay some of their eccentricities to bed for a more focused effort.  Destroyer of the Void continues in the vein that Furr began, but it is not a continuation of it by any means.  The latest is a rootsier (I just made that word up) album.  The songs are stripped down and the album is not covered in the fuzz of their previous efforts.  They seem to be growing up.  This is a great album and the more I listen to it the better it gets.  Check out the 2 songs below and decide for yourself.

Also, check out another song on Scott's previous post here.

Sadie

Evening Star

Band of Horses, Infinite Arms

Hey there everyone.  It's been a long couple of weeks around here, but luckily during this time there have been many albums released.  Over the next few days, I am going to post about them.  These are ones that most of you have heard already, but maybe someone hasn't.  Just humor me and enjoy.


The new Band of Horses album, Infinite Arms, is not a masterpiece by any means, but Ben Bridwell and the new line-up's third effort is definitely a fun one for summer.  The album leaves a lot to be desired lyrically and the band's sound continues to grow from their early sonic anthems to jangly 70s rock/pop easy-listening.  It is a perfect soundtrack for your next summer cookout -- a true crowd pleaser.  It slows down a little bit in the middle, but ends strong.  One of my favorite tracks, "Older", is linked below.  


Well, there it is guys and gals -- I just busted my posting slump.  I am easing back into things seeing that I haven't really been on the cutting edge as of late, but at least we are both back in action!


Older

Thursday Mix - The Giving Tree

In honor of the upcoming Blitzen Trapper release Destroyer of the Void, I decided to make this slightly tardy Thursday Mix around one of my favorite songs on the album, "The Tree." I know I'm a bit late for arbor day, but enjoy anyway!

1 - Blitzen Trapper - The Tree (featuring Alela Diane)

2 - Up a Tree (Went This Heart I Have) - Cotton Jones

3 - Family Tree - TV On the Radio

4 - Among the Pines - AA Bondy

5 - Apple Suckling Tree - Bob Dylan

Thursday Mix - The Giving Tree

New Kanye West - Power

Love him or hate him, Kanye West has done as much as any artist in the last 10 years to help shape the hip hop scene. Aside from the auto-tuned misstep of 808's and Heartbreak, Kanye has always put out quality albums and his guest verses on recent releases (see "Hate" and "Run This Town" on Jay Z's The Blueprint 3) always threaten to overshadow the title artist. "Power," from the upcoming release Good Ass Job is Kanye at his egotistical best. With a King Crimson sample, and a beat that sounds like it was swiped from Sleigh Bells, Kanye returns to form on this great track.

Kanye West - Power

Thursday Mix - Every Night of the Summer

It is with the humblest of apologies that I make this post - as a friend of mine recently stated in a not so subtle jab when suggesting new music blogs: "I know this good music blog, but it never gets updated..." With that thought in mind, I thought I would post what I hope will become a regular feature on YAGN, the Thursday Mix. 5 songs, following a loose theme that will hopefully redeem our recent negligence. This week, I picked a song by The National to base this playlist around. "Gospel" reminds me of summer nights in the back yard, with a bottle of beer and good people. Download a zip file of the Mix below via You Send It.

YAGN Thursday Mix I - Every Night of the Summer

Tracklist:
1 - Futurebirds - Johnny Utah
2 - Levek - Loon and the Lion
3 - Band of Horses - Trudy
4 - Peter & The Wolf - Where Summer Goes
4 - The National - Gospel

The Love Language - Heart to Tell

Just listen to it.

The Love Language - Heart to Tell

Sunday Video

I came across this awesome video from Jill Andrews (former member of The Everybodyfields) and Matt Butcher (former member of The Outsiders, apparently). Great version of Mr. Butcher's track "Giving My Sadness A Name." Check our Jill's latest self titled EP, and Matt's solo debut Me and My Friends. Stay Gold, Ponyboy.

November Update from Jill Andrews on Vimeo.

Free Energy, Stuck on Nothing

This Philadelphia band's debut album Stuck on Nothing is garnering a lot of great press following their strong showing at SXSW.  The album, produced by LCD Soundsystem mastermind James Murphy, is full of infectious rock/pop full of the fun from influences such as glam, southern and current indie rock/pop.  I have been spinning this album for a week now and cannot get enough of it.  It is a lot of fun and serves as a great intro into warmer weather and rolled down windows.  Check out two tracks from the album below.  The album is slated for a physical release on May 4, but is available digitally now.

Free Energy 

Dream City