The Best Song Ever: Darlin'

MP3: The Beach Boys - Darlin'

It's hard to fight the urge to end up posting basically their entire discography in this category. They've really been the only band I've actually listen to the past weeks because other than a passing fancy, I've just found the sustained quality to be lacking so far this summer—might as well go back to the source. Enjoy.

New Zola Jesus: Vessel

MP3: Zola Jesus - Vessel

Looks like we can expect more awesome bonkers high end pop tunes from Zola Jesus: she releases her newest full length Conatus on October 4th. Sacred Bones continues to have the record label honors, and if "Vessel" is any sign, this one is gonna be great.

FUCK YEAH: Deathbound

MP3: Mastodon - Deathbound

Just watch and download, you don't need to be a dick about it.

FUCK YEAH: Praxis

MP3: Ex Reverie - Black Butterfly

It's been some time since 2008's "The Door Into Summer", but at last Ex Reverie returns with "Praxis": 4 songs you can rough house with. Get it as a name-your-price download or a radical black light poster at her Bandcamp page: http://exreverie.bandcamp.com/

New Class Actress: Keep You

MP3: Class Actress - Keep You

The always underrated Elizabeth Harper returns with her Class Actress project, this time following up on last year's leave-you-wanting-much-more ep " Journal of Ardency". Well here is more: "Rapprocher", which is apparently French for "come closer", drops out of an airplane on October 18th from Carpark. Hear opener and all around great pop song "Keep You" now, it's real cool.

HOT TRAXXX: I Wanna Take You Out & In This Filthy City

MP3: Part Time - I Wanna Take You Out

MP3: Part Time - In This Filthy City

Holy shit, my whole world opened up after hearing Part Time yesterday. So good! Here's 2 songs from the upcoming full length "What Would You Say?" with "In This Filthy City" being the highlight of the pair. Seriously, you just heard the soundtrack to your weekend.

This comes out July 5th on Mexican Summer. Don't miss it.

(PS. if anyone has a copy or download the Part Time's self titled tape hook me up: unicorntastic@gmail.com you'd rule and maybe I can throw something your way)

Distressor

MP3: Whirr - Leave

MP3: Whirr - Blue

Tracks 2 and 3 from Whirr's effect drenched shoegaze debut "Distressor", pressed under their former name of Whirl. It's out of print now, but ebay or google around and you can find a copy at it's intended price.

Also the band just signed to Tee Pee with a new record to be released early next year - that's gonna be great.

HOT TRAXXX: Party in the C.I.A.

MP3: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Party in the C.I.A.

Fuck cred, "Weird Al" hit it hard on this one and it's funny in the same way the Onion is—because it's all based on fact. With lyrics like "You need a quickie confession?/We'll start a waterboarding session" and "Better put your hands up and get in the van/Or else you'll get blown away/Stagin' a coup like, yeah/Brainwashin' moles like, yeah/We only torture the folks we don't like/You're probably gonna be okay" the man is on point with the entirety of the track. With the genius within I sure hope Miley Cyrus begins performing this version at shows, she'd gain some respect if so. Enjoy this summertime party anthem.

New Washed Out: Amor Fati

MP3: Washed Out - Amor Fati

It's been so long since these sounds (whatever genre you want to label it as, though for the sake of this piece let's just call it "music") have sounded fresh - or as good, but then again, Washed Out was out of the game for a little while. It really shows the lasting power of "Life of Leisure" and the "High Times" tape because everyone who was touched by them sure got a lot of milage from it all.

But it's Summer 2011, a perfect (and current) time for a comeback: by now "Within and Without" opener "Eyes Be Closed" is old news, but today track 3 has been splashed upon us from above: there's no doubt who you're hearing when listening to the song, called "Amor Fati": you instantly feel a sense of soothing familiarity, allowing you to unabashedly feel blissed, coated in the sunshine's gaze: hopeful for the future, but feeling better than ever about the past because 'fuck it'.

"Within and Without" is out July 12th on Sub Pop. Pre-order now

GO TEAM: On the fuzz.

Great clip that puts you in the exact mindset you wanna be in for Midnight Television's self titled tape, out now from my pals at Beer on the Rug. I need to snag a copy of this, like you should, and together we'll take flight through memory lane - hazed through age. Like a fine cheese, on VHS.

Stream n' buy:

Farewell Gustaf

MP3: The Fine Arts Showcase - Laughter

Farewell Gustaf.

New Bleached: Think of You

MP3: Bleached - Think of You

"Carter" is the title of the new 7 inch from Bleached, and it's a-side "Think of You" is expectedly radical. Download it above and then buy the single from Art Fag - it ships in mid-July with it's first pressing limited to 500 copies on black wax. You should totally get one, Bleached are one of my favorite new bands of the year so naturally I ordered one.

The Best Song Ever: Grey Riders

MP3: Neil Young - Grey Riders

Seeing as the live documentation of Neil Young's ill-fated "International Harvesters" phase got shelved by Geffen, he's finally released the live documentation that shows who fucked that one up big time. "Grey Riders", the closing track on the set rips, and there's really no other way of describing it. The sound mix is phenomenal, allowing the distorted guitars to kick, the pedal steel to bridge and the synth-strings to be used most tastefully. If I had a car I would blast this one all day long. Enjoy.

Thanks for the wreck: Buddyhead

MP3: Lilac - So Young
MP3: Lilac - Moon

Those OG's over at Buddyhead may be a bit slower in the posting realm, but when they do, they post quality. Whether it be about the brace of upcoming Icarus Line records (which we're totally stoked on) or their reviews, they're always on point. This falls into the latter, where they've recently posted a review of Lilac's debut EP, and I cannot wait to hear the rest. Feel good summertime jams are always welcome around these parts, and thanks to Travis et al for this one. Enjoy.

HOT TRAXXX: Nights and Days

MP3: Blouse - Nights and Days

Yo Friday: Here is the b-side from Blouse's recent "Shadow" single on Sub Pop. Well worth your investment!

Have a good weekend everyone! Sorry about being so absent recently, lots of crazy craziness is to blame. All caught up mostly, and will totally see you Monday!

Video: The Hoodoo

MP3: Purling Hiss - The Hoodoo

Hey dudes, check out this new video for "The Hoodoo", off the much anticipated "Lounge Lizards" 12 inch by Purling Hiss. Hope my copy ships soon - the ball is in your court, Mexican Summer!

The Best Song Ever: Stuck With BBQs

MP3: Huey Lewis and the News - Stuck With You

Goddamn, it's summer about to be summertime and the heat's come at us like a tonne of bricks. Summertime as an adult can be tough at times—kept inside by your job when all you want to do is enjoy every day and barbecue with a couple of brewskis as the sun goes down, fireflies fluttering about the smoke for the fire, the condensation from your vessel evaporating into the humid air seamlessly, all the while blasting the best hits of yore. Enjoy.

FUCK YEAH: Confusion

MP3: Justice - Civilization (The Fucking Champs Remix)

It truly was one of those "what the fuck" moments when I saw that our beloved Fucking Champs "remixed" the Justice song "Civilization" on the latter's new EP. It's not that Justice are necessarily bad of over-hyped, however they're overshadowed by the shear awesomeness that The Fucking Champs provide for us every time they turn up. It's like, why have Kraft Singles when you can have Caciocavallo Podolico? Enjoy.

Down at the Hut

MP3: Personal and the Pizzas - Joanie

Here is another b-side for you, this one from Personal and the Pizzas' new single for "Dead Meat". It's a bit of a ballad, for those of you who like soft crust.

Video: Dazed

MP3: Bleached - Dazed

Triumphant new video from Bleached for "Dazed", the b-side to their very excellent "Francis" 7 inch out now on Ooga Booga - it sounds real great in the sunshine. Check out that clip below and be on the lookout for the "Carter" 7 inch coming next month from Art Fag.

FUCK YEAH: Woods

MP3: Woods - Wouldn't Waste

Our favorites Woods just keep getting better, which must be why they've waited nary a year since dropping their last full-length to give us another set of gems. With two jams already have been publicly available, perhaps it's time to drop a ballad on your ears. The longer this band is around, the better the music industry is—thanks boys, for your output to date. Please keep it coming.