For Ex-Lovers Only debut single!

I originally mentioned my favorite Florida band named after a Black Tambourine song almost three years ago on this very blog and they have just finally released their debut single! It comes to us from Magic Marker (who by the way are absolutely killing it with Summer releases right now — World Atlas, Gold-Bears, AND For Ex-Lovers Only???) and features three songs.

A-side "Coffin" is a driving, fuzzed-out pop song if I've ever heard one; a Summer jam, for sure. The B-sides follow in somewhat different veins, with "Scaps" even sounding a bit Guided By Voices-y. All in all, certainly one of my favorite singles of the year and I must urge you to pick it up immediately. Or, listen to "Coffin" immediately and then go order it!

[MP3]: For Ex-Lovers Only :: Coffin (Way Totally Recommended!)

For Ex-Lovers Only on MySpace!

Stumble It!

OH BOY!

World Atlas

Good morning! While doing my daily MySpace check-in this morning before class I decided to see what World Atlas, whom I've mentioned a couple times in the past, were up to these days. To my extreme delight, it turns out they're up to a lot! They have apparently got a record to be released by Magic Marker at some point — hopefully soon! The more immediate and exciting news however, is that they will be playing the NYC Popfest this year!!! with a string section!!! I couldn't say yay enough to times to truly justify how great I think this will be.

Go Listen to some of their sweet pop tunes on MySpace!

In other almost-equally-exciting news, the new Sad Day For Puppets 7" on Cloudberry is almost out!!! It'll be available February 10th and you're definitely going to want to be grabbing one. I've been listening to "Again" since Roque first put it up and it still sounds like gold!

[MP3]: Sad Day For Puppets :: Again (Hiiighly Recommended!!!)

Stumble It!

The Last Dance!

Imagine my surprise when I stopped by the Magic Marker Records website and was greeted with the completely amazing news of a new Free Loan Investments record!!! Their new Last Dance 7" EP is out now and sports FIVE unreleased, sparkling indiepop gems from Roger, Amanda, and company! I can wait for this one to show up on my doorstep – would have been a tad bit more appropriate a few months ago, but I'll take some new Free Loan songs any day of the year! Head over to Magic Marker straight away and buy the crap out of this record, because you WILL regret missing it if you do. To get you in the mood, here's a fantastic live video of "Bomb The Bourgeoisie"!

Stumble It!

I Won't Say Anything, If You Don't Say Anything!

Holy moly! Mexico's Hello Seahorse! have just made my week a very happy one. After watching their video for their new song, "Won't Say Anything", I am excited out of my mind to hear the rest of the new EP that Magic Marker will be bringing to us on November 11th!!! Seriously, this song has got to be one of the most infectious things I've heard in a while. The vocal melodies are so genious, and the acoustic guitar in the chorus is so tremendously catchy I just can't handle it! The video is totally fun, too! Check it out!



Hello Seahorse! on MySpace!

Stumble It!

Win Manhattan Love Suicides Things!

The MLS in Brooklyn

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST WILL CLOSE ON 9/1!

The only thing better than The Manhattan Love Suicides these days is FREE THINGS. So, working from that kind of logic, FREE Manhattan Love Suicides records would be a pretty tremendous thing, right?? RIGHT! Answer the question below – along with your name and email address in the comments and you could maybe possibly win yourself their new Burnt Out Landscapes compilation AND all three of their previously released 7"s!!!

What band did The MLS cover on their debut LP?

For those of you not interested in the prospect of free things, you can order Burnt Out Landscapes from Magic Marker Records in the US or from Squirrel Records in the UK right now! the Squirrel records version is actually now SOLD OUT until further notice. Also, in true Manhatan Love Suicides fashion, there's already another release on the way! Look for a new 7" on Squirrel Records in Septemeber!

Stumble It!

Video: The Owls: "The Way On"

I posted the first single, "Peppermint Patty" from The Owls' new record Daughters and Suns a few weeks – or more than a few weeks – ago, and since then the whole record's been really growing on me. The band's just finished up a video for one of my favorite songs on Daughters and Suns, "The Way On." You can grab the record from Magic Marker Records RIGHT NOW!



Again, if you missed it before, here's the excellent "Peppermint Patty":
[MP3]: The Owls :: Peppermint Patty (Highly Recommended!)

P.S. Buy the new Tullycraft while you're at it!

Stumble It!

New Video Tullycraft Video! "Georgette Plays A Goth"

Yessssssssssssssssssss!!! New video for one of my favorite songs on the new record!

Stumble It!

The Manhattan Love Suicides: "Head Over Heels"

The Manhattan Love Suicides have a had a big couple of months. The released the Kick It Back EP on Magic Marker back near the end of August, and then on October 5 we saw the release their other new EP, Keep It Coming. The new EP also marks the debut release for the excellent new London label, Lost Music Records, a project of Lost Music Presents, who've been organizing fantastic gigs all across London since April. Back to the new record; Keep It Coming is a limited edition four-track 7" EP featuring three (!) new songs, and a great reworking of "Thinking Is Killing Me," which appeared on their self-titled debut last year. I've mentioned how much I loved title track "Keep It Coming" when I first heard it over a month ago, but now I've finally got the whole thing in my hands and I gotta say, "Head Over Heels" is my new favorite MLS song. Sounding like The Shop Assistants covering some long lost girl-group gem, The Manhattan Love Suicides have really outdone themselves on this one. I suggest listening to it immediately!

[MP3]: The Manhattan Love Suicides :: Head Over Heels (HIGHLY REC'D!)

If you like it, head over to Lost Music Records and grab yourself a copy!
The Manhattan Love Suicides on MySpace!

Stumble It!

Tullycraft: "The Neutron"

Tullycraft!!!

I'm still waiting on a few more records that are supposed to see the light of day this year, but good luck to them, because it's gonna pretty hard to top Tullycraft's new harmony-soaked, behemoth of an indiepop record. From beginning to end, Every Scene Needs A Center is ridiculously infectious. It only takes only one listen to get any given song stuck in your head, and that's always been Tullycraft's true gift. The gift of the incredible pop hook, typically (though not always) backed with an undeniable two to five part vocal harmony, no doubt stuck in the most perfect spot imaginable. Oddly enough, it's for that very reason that Tullycraft seems to push away possible fans. For reasons I myself will never understand, some people just refuse to feel that much joy rush through their body at one time; and no song on the new record bring me more of that joy than the utterly brilliant "The Neutron." I mean, I don't even know what to say about that chorus, other than "THANK YOU!" Pop song of the year? Who knows yet. It's definitely among the best.

[MP3]: Tullycraft :: The Neutron (More recommended than most everything!)

Every Scene Needs A Center is out October 23 on Magic Marker Records and hearing it will make your life at least 79% better, guaranteed. The record release show is on October 18 at the Crocodile in Seattle, WA with the Math and Physics Club and Patience Please. If you're anywhere kind of near there, you better show up!
Tullycraft on MySpace!

Stumble It!

The Owls: "Peppermint Patty"

The Owls were a brand new surprise for me this past weekend – I'd never listened to them before, and now I'm totally hooked. Their new single, "Peppermint Patty," from the forthcoming album Daughters And Suns is an absolutely beautiful slice of pop music pie. The soft acoustic guitar sooths and the harmonies between Maria May and Allison Labonne that open each chorus of the song could even bring the Brawny man to tears. Daughters And Suns will be out October 23rd on Magic Marker Records, and it's sure to be stunning and lovely.

[MP3]: The Owls :: Peppermint Patty (Tremendously Recommended!)

Here's another wonderful song, from their 2004 EP, Our Hopes And Dreams.

[MP3]: The Owls :: Air

Pick up Our Hopes And Dreams from Magic Marker.
The Owls on MySpace!

Stumble It!

New Tullycraft! "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs"

THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME! The day we've all been waiting for is here; the new Tullycraft single has arived. Not only is it here, but it's nothing short of amazing! "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs" is a picture perfect Tullycaft song; you've got the fast jangly guitar and the always creative harmonies, but then we hear what may just be the catchiest pop hook of the year, topped off with enough HEYs to make your head spin. So hurry up – download it, put in the car, and drive the road with your fist in the air. The upcoming LP, Every Scene Needs A Center, will be out October 23rd (two days before my birthday!) on the always wonderful Magic Marker Records!

[MP3]: Tullycraft :: The Punks Are Writing Love Songs (Highly Rec'd!)

Here's a clip of another excellent new song, "Georgette Plays A Goth":



Tullycraft on MySpace!

Stumble It!

Manhattan Love Suicides: "Keep It Coming"

Brand new video for the Manhattan Love Suicides' "Keep It Coming", taken from their forthcoming limited edition Keep it Coming 7" EP. As expected, "Keep It Coming" oozes with that fuzzed out, feedback-laden, JAMC and Shop Assistants inspired sound that the MLS do so so well, and the video's pretty cool, too. The 7" is out in October on Lost Music Records in the UK. You should DEFINITELY pick it up.



In other MLS 7" news, their recently released, also limited edition, Kick It Back 7" EP is out now on Magic Marker records in the US and Squirrel Records in the UK. Grab that one, too. I Hiiiiiiighly Recommend everything they do.

Manhattan Love Suicides on MySpace!

Stumble It!