There is such an insane amount of top drawer new music reaching the Music Mule inbox at the moment that it’s been a real struggle to select three tracks for this weekend’s just for kicks but alas we have done it! New FLAMING LIPS is just one reason to get excited and then there’s two new bands we hope you’ll be hearing a lot more from in the shape of Frankie & The Heartstrings and Kurt Vile.

Friday

mp3: The Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands

‘Silver Trembling Hands’ is taken from The Flaming Lips imaginatively titled EP ‘Songs From The Forthcoming Album Embryonic’ which, you guessed it, is a taster of the forthcoming double album Embryonic. If it’s anything to go by then Wayne Coyne and co have rediscovered the fine form of old. Their last album ‘At War With The Mystics’ failed to move us the way a Lips album should but on this new offering it sounds like the band have re-discovered the golden touch employed on one of the best records ever according to us, 1999′s The Soft Bulletin.

For Fans Of: Flaming Lips.

Saturday

mp3: Frankie & The Heartstrings – Fragile

Frankie and The Heartstrings are our new favourite Sunderland five-piece. Alright we don’t have another favourite Sunderland five-piece at the moment but that’s not to detract from how much we’re hooked on this band and more specifically their track, ‘fragile’. It’s got an awesome retro-pop sound and there’s a real air of confident songwriting about it. The band make their London live debut supporting Your Twenties and Clock Opera at Madame Jojo’s in Soho next Tuesday, Aug 4th. We shall not be missing it.

For Fans Of: Talking Heads, Wolf Gang, Orange Juice.

Sunday

mp3: Kurt Vile – Overnite Religion

Kurt Vile is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia who’s just signed to the mighty Matador who will release his second album, the excellently titled, ‘Childish Prodigy’ in October. ‘Overnite Religion’ is taken from that record and is a wonderfully lo-fi hypnotic garage rock number. Oh and yes that’s his real name!

For Fans Of: Real Estate, Animal Collecitve, Here We Go Magic.

All the tracks in Just For Kicks have a bit of a dreamy quality to them, be it the hypnotic rhythms of Zaza, the sunny day alt.folk guitar of Real Estate or the county and western style narrative of Joe Gideon & The Shark, there’s something about all these tracks that transports you to another plain.

Friday

mp3: Zaza – Sooner or Later

Zaza is Jennifer Fraser and Danny Taylor, both originally west coasters who eventually hooked up in New York, apparently by fate. They’re no strangers to great music. Jennifer used to play in The Warlocks and Danny has close ties to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. As Zaza they create intensely rhythmic, dark dream-pop. The duo is set to give their mesmerizing debut EP “Cameo” a physical release in the States this August, as of yet there doesn’t seem to be an official UK release scheduled but with tunes like ‘Sooner Or Later’ it won’t stay that way for long. For now though they’re giving away the whole thing as a download here. Woo hoo!

For Fans Of: Cocteau Twins, Yeasayer, Ride.

Saturday

mp3: Real Estate – Suburban Beverage

Real Estate is a New Jersey four-piece featuring former Titus Andronicus member Martin Courtney and guitarist Matt Mondanile who also records as Ducktails. The band make gorgeous old-time sounding summertime guitar pop. ‘Suburban Beverage’ unfolds slowly and never really gets to too high a pace but carries you along on a warm wave of guitars, light percussion and soft vocals. The band have just released ‘Fake Blues EP’ in the UK through Half Machine Records so be sure to check that out if you like this.

For Fans Of: Forest Fire, Band Of Horses, The Clean.

Sunday

mp3: Joe Gideon & The Shark – Harum Scarum

Joe Gideon & The Shark is London brother/sister duo Joe Gideon (guitar/vox) and Viva (drums and backing vox) who’ve been playing their blues rock/alt.country/art pop across the UK since 2006, supporting the likes of Archie Bronson Outfit, Sons and Daughters, Great Lake Swimmers, Alela Diane and most recently Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Before that they used to play in a band called Bikini Atoll and before that Viva was an Olympic gymnast for Great Britain. Joe lived in Bolivia for a bit. They’ve just released their debut long player ‘Harum Scarum’ on Bronzerat records. ‘Kathy Ray’ is one of the more laid back tunes but features Joe’s trademark narrative vocals which are ever present on the album. He’s a storyteller at heart.

For Fans Of: White Stripes, Archie Bronson Outfit, Joeyfat.

buy: iTunes / mp3 / cd / lp

What have we in store for you today? Three tracks to brighten up your weekend is what. Nuggets of joy, pearls of wisdom, swords of righteousness, flakes of foresight, drops of brilliance. You get the picture!

Friday

mp3: The Smith Westerns – The Glam Goddess

Smith Westerns were featured in On Repeat recently but we need to share more with you so here they are again. This time the glam/garage punkers from Chicago go a bit more Marc Bolan with the gorgeous, fuzzed up slice of pop that is ‘The Glam Goddess’.

For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, T-Rex, Harlem.

pre-order: The Smith Westerns CD/LP

buy: The Smith Westerns iTunes / eMusic

Saturday

mp3: Tom Brosseau – Favourite Colour Blue

A chilled cut for the Saturday sun. Wishful thinking. Tom Brosseau is from North Dakota and now resides in L.A. He’s got a wonderful, charismatic voice that’s at times pretty effeminate in the same way that say Elliot Smith’s was. A great storyteller, Tom’s been releasing albums since 2002. ‘Favourite Colour Blue’ is taken from his 2009 album ‘Posthumous Success’, his eighth full length out through Fat Cat. ‘I keep having the same dream of Dave Grohl, the one where he’s playing the drums in Hole, got him wrapped in rusty chains, I think I’m supposed to free him but I don’t have the brains’. Hell yeah!

For Fans Of: Frank Black, Devendra Banhart, Elliot Smith.

buy: Posthumous Success

Sunday

mp3: Forest Fire – Slow Motion

‘Slow Motion’ is taken from Brooklyn/Portland band Forest Fire‘s debut album ‘Survival’ which was recorded over an eight month period across two locations as not all members live in the same place. Apparently a lot of it was done in less than five takes and sometimes there was only one mic for the whole band. A lot of overdubbing later and you have the likes of ‘Slow Motion’ which is a gorgeous if slightly ramshackle take on Americana with loose percussion, screeching guitar lines and Mark Thresher’s, Wayne Coyne meets Jim James, vocals.

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket (early), Flaming Lips.

live: The Luminaire, Aug 14th.

buy: Survival

A particularly sunny, summery Just For Kicks this week. Sun worshipping even. There’s a shed load of good music around at the moment but these three gems have made the cut. Your Twenties are a really exciting London band who are currently out on the road so pay particular attention to them if it’s a gig you’re after.

Friday

mp3: Your Twenties – Caught Wheel

Your Twenties are a London/Devon five-piece fronted by ex Metronomy keyboardist and bassist Gabriel Stebbing. Gabriel originally started the band as a side project but last year left to pursue his hobby full time and we’re pretty glad he did. ‘Caught Wheel’ their debut single actually came out last Autumn but we’re dusting it off to share with you as it’s a perfect summer tack that needs to be heard. The band has a few London dates coming up, the current pick of the bunch being a support slot for the much talked about Local Natives.

For Fans Of: Mystery Jets, Telekinesis, Weezer.

Saturday

mp3: The Paper Cranes – Telephone

The Paper Cranes are a husband and wife band from British Columbia, Canada. Core members are vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ryan McCullagh and his wife, Miranda Roach on the keyboards. They’re joined by Braeden Paterson, Jeff Mitchelmore and Alex Bodman; guitarist, drummer and bassist respectively. They play unashamedly fun pop-rock tracks with big vocal hooks, sunny keys and a sweet, danceable guitar sound. Their second album ‘Chivalry Is Dead’ is out on August 18th.

For Fans Of: The Cure, The Shins, Cut Off Your Hands.

Sunday

mp3: The Skygreen Leopards – Dixie Cups in the Dead Grass

Sky Green Leopards are San Franciscan songwriting duo Glenn Donaldson & Donovan Quinn and they’ve been releasing records for around 8 years now. Through the years the band has featured a number of people but currently Jasmyn Wong, Nick Marcantonio and Jason Quever (Papercuts) are playing along. ‘Dixie Cups In The Dead Grass’ is a breezy bit of melodious, lo-fi folk-pop that could slip nicely into a Wes Anderson movie don’t you think? It’s taken from their forthcoming Jagjaguar album ‘Gorgoeus Johnny’ due out Stateside July 21st. Available on import below.

For Fans Of: The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, Dylan.

pre-order: Gorgeous Johnny

Before you tuck into a largely American Just For Kicks this week a couple of things. First a little mention as to how excited we are that we bagged a couple of tickets for Pixies’ Doolittle London dates in October before all four dates sold out in minutes this morning. We hope you did too. Secondly please come see the Music Mule backed Stornoway show next week. The youtube vid above is their debut single ‘Zorbing’. It’d be great to see you there.

Friday

mp3: Findo Gask – Va Va Va

Findo Gask hail from Glasgow where they have an awesome live reputation. They play the BE night at Proud tomorrow (Saturday, July 4th), it’s tickets on the door so head on down. Check out the preview first though for guest list info and all that.

For Fans Of: The Rapture, Friendly Fires, Wave Machines.

Saturday

mp3: Gliss – Beauty

Gliss are an LA 3-piece who play gorgeous distorted pop gems bordering on shoegaze at times. ‘Beauty’ is taken from their second album ‘Devotion Implosion’ out through Cordless records in October. They play Barfly next week.

For Fans Of: The Big Pink, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Jesus and Mary Chain.

pre-order: Gliss – Devotion Implosion CD / LP

Sunday

mp3: The Antlers – Kettering

‘Kettering’ is taken from The Antlers‘ ‘Hospice’ album which was out at the end of 2008 in the States. It finally got its UK release on June 23rd through French Kiss/Orchard and about time to. Achingly beautiful guitar music from this Brooklyn 3-piece. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for some UK dates.

For Fans Of: The Walkmen, Local Natives, Bon Iver.

buy: Hospice iTunes / mp3

I love getting into new bands, it can really turn a shit day around! My love affair has started with Brazos and another new band The Wooden Birds are in line to become affair number two.  Also praise worthy is Miike Snow‘s track which is the soundtrack to that hilarious video I’ve posted.

Friday

‘Animal’ by Miike Snow is a gloriously upbeat bit of electro pop with some Police esque reggae tinged tones in there. Big lyrics, big synths and excellent production. A bit over the top but it works.

The band is three guys Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson, and Pontus Winnberg. As you may guess from two of those last two names, there is Swedish pop genius at work here. The other is American by the way. Karlsson and Winnberg also work as production duo Bloodshy & Avant who have written and produced for Britney Spears, Kylie and Madonna and earned a Grammy for Spears’ ‘Toxic’ no less.

Wyatt has just shared production duties with Mark Ronson on Daniel Merriwaether’s album.
Also check out the ridiculous and slightly gross cut of the track to the 80s show Manimal which looks so funny!

For Fans Of: The Police, Starfucker, Little Boots.

Saturday

Brazos is a 3-piece from Austin, Texas home to SXSW festival and one of the most vibrant music scenes on the planet. A place that seems to spawn more than its fair share of the best bands around including Trail Of Dead, Explosions In The Sky, Vega, Harlem, etc. Brazos it would seem are more than worthy of joining that list.

Band leader and songwriter Martin Crane has a beautiful high voice, like an understated Jim James perhaps. Apparently NOT named after the River Brazos which flows through Texas all the way to the Gulf Of Mexico and NOT named after the street in Austin which IS named after the river and NOT the band!

‘Day Glow’ is an irresistible track with strings; maracas and a gorgeous piano line passing through it like a pulse. Crane’s lyrics are great too, lines like “I’ve got many people to thank but I can’t write letters’ and  ‘We sit on the wall of the old graveyard…watch foxes play and drink wine, the kind of wine that you don’t mind spilling’ fit the music perfectly and take the listener into his world wherever it may be and wherever its name comes from.

For Fans Of: Jim James, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective.

Sunday

It’s by pure coincidence that The Wooden Birds are also from Austin Texas. Previous point made I guess! The track I’ve chosen, ‘Sugar’, is quite simply excellent. If it doesn’t get inside your head then well it isn’t much of a head. You may recognise the voice as that of Andrew Kenny of American Analog Set. According to their MySpace the lineup also includes: ‘Ola Podrida songwriter and David Gordon Green film score composer, David Wingo, along with co-producer, Chris Michaels, and vocalist, guitarist, and AmAnSet guest artist, Leslie Sisson. Sean Haskins (drums) and Jody Suarez (percussion) round out the live line-up.’

I can’t stop playing ‘Sugar’. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on their debut album Magnolia before I kill this track.

For Fans Of: American Analog Set, Neil Young, Vetiver, Great Lake Swimmers.

buy: Magnolia   CD / iTunes

mp3: Miike Snow – Animal

mp3: Brazos – Day Glow

mp3: The Wooden Birds – Sugar

This week in Just For Kicks: The Temper Trap leak another song from their upcoming album ‘Conditions’, to celebrate their presence in the capital there’s a Wildbirds & Peacedrums upbeat percussive gem and last but in no way imaginable least there’s a gorgeous track from Annie Clark a.k.a. St. Vincent.

Friday

‘Rest’ is the latest track to emerge from the highly anticipated debut album from Melbourne band (now re-located to Hackney) The Temper Trap. It’s another infectious slice of guitar led art-rock featuring Dougy’s flawless falsetto. The song starts with an electronic pulse but the ‘Oh Baby’ intro starts you feel like you could be listening to some sort of soul classic, right until the roaring guitars kick in at least. It’s magical live too. See below for their London date.  I implore you to check them out.

mp3: The Temper Trap – Rest

For Fans Of: TV On The Radio, U2, Sonic Youth.

live: The Temper Trap @ ICA, The Mall. July 15th

Saturday

‘Places’ by Wildbirds & Peacedrums is one of their most straightforward, upbeat tracks. Mesmerising drumming as always from Andreas and Mariam’s vocals are supremely soulful, part Nina Simone part Feist but all herself.

mp3: Wildbirds & Peacedrums – Places

For Fans Of: Nina Simone, Lykke Li, Feist.

live: TONIGHT, June 5th @ The Coronet, Elephant & Castle.

buy: The Snake

Sunday

‘Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood’ is perhaps not a title you’d associate with angel faced Oklahoma gal St. Vincent but there’s more than meets the eye to this ex Polyphonic Spree member. Taken from her second album ‘Actor’ which is a lot more varied than her debut ‘Marry Me’ which, with the exception of the excellent ‘Now Now’, failed to completely grab me.

This is not the case with ‘Actor’ which is engaging from track one through to its end. She seems to have taken heed from fellow American indie heroes like Dirty Projectors and Grizzly Bear and added real depth and passion for experimentation to her sound. Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood is drum heavy as are a lot of the well produced tracks on the album. It’s also got beautiful, sparse strings and a great vocal hooks like the lines ‘all of my old friends aren’t so friendly, all of my old haunts are now haunting me’.

One of the albums of the year so far, she thoroughly deserves the attention she is getting. See her at the ICA or headlining the Bella Union stage at the Wireless festival in Hyde Park in July.

mp3: St Vincent – Lauging With A Mouth Of Blood

For Fans Of: Feist, School Of Seven Bells (vocals), Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear.

buy: Actor  CD/LP DL

Tracks for the weekend made up of songs from three of my favourite new albums including one from the Grizzly Bear record out this week. Also check out their Black Cab Session above, an alternate version of album track ‘All We Ask’.

Friday

Passion Pit’s ‘Little Secrets’ is the most sublime piece of synth pop I’ve heard since well.. their ‘Sleepyhead’ song or maybe their single ‘The Reeling’. They know how to write a catchy tune. It’s taken from debut album ‘Manners’ which was out earlier this month. Michael Angelakos and his almost chipmunk esque falsetto is the star of the show as usual but as with the rest of the record it’s a band effort these days. I love it. For Fans Of: MGMT, The Avalanches, Starfucker.

mp3: Passion Pit – Little Secrets

buy: Manners  CD/LP DL

live: Koko, Camden, Oct 27th.

Saturday

Miles Benjamin Antony Robinson’s self titled album has been playing non stop since I saw him at The Lexington on Tuesday night. ‘The Debtor’ is the track I’ve chosen but to be honest it could have been any of at least five stand outs. A little bit dark but delivered I imagine with the same wry smile he exhibits when playing live. A brooding song featuring the line ‘I’m not sure I want to stay alive, it’s so expensive that you could die’. I love Miles’ guitar sound and the piano too. For Fans Of: Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Micah P Hinson.

mp3: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Debtor

buy: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson   CD

Sunday

Grizzly Bear’s long awaited third album ‘Veckatimest’ was out this week and and as predicted after hearing tracks like ‘While You Wait For The Others’ and ‘Two Weeks’ which have been floating around for a while now. ‘Ready, Able’ is one I hadn’t heard and it’s a gorgeous typically baroque pop affair with beautiful psychedelic keys kicking in almost half way through to join gorgeous guitar and beautiful lilting vocals that are trademark Grizzly Bear. Stunningly beautiful. The whole album is currently streaming on their MySpace.

For Fans Of: Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Beach House.

mp3: Grizzly Bear – Ready, Able

buy: Veckatimest CD/LP DL

live: Koko, Camden, Aug 18th.

You have to love May – another bank holiday, which means four tracks in Just For Kicks this week. It’s an American heavy line up but don’t worry there’s a Geordie named Beth Jeans Houghton in there too. Representing the yanks are Acrylics, Local Natives and Baby Venom.

Friday

Acrylics are from Brooklyn and the same prolific scene that has spawned MGMT and Chairlift. They’re not a million miles away from the blissful pop that those two are capable of. The band apparently has a fondness for all things 70s pop and that comes through in ‘Molly’s Vertigo’ with it’s beautiful acoustic strings hovering above a straight up 70s pop/disco bassline and sweet female vocals. This could be big…

For Fans Of: MGMT, Chairlift, Fleetwood Mac.

mp3: Acrylics – Mollys Vertigo

via: GvsB

Saturday

Local Natives I’m very excited about. From Silver Lake, USA they play an irresistible atmospheric folk/pop mash up with some of the sweetest vocal harmonies I’ve heard in a while. ‘Stranger Things’ is taken from forthcoming debut album, Gorilla Manor. The simple percussion reminds me of early My Morning Jacket albums as do the front man’s vocals at times while the strings remind me of Mellon Collie era Smashing Pumpkins which is a fine thing. Local Natives seem to have elements of a lot of amazing bands from the past ten years or so pieced together to great effect. This year’s Fleet Foxes maybe? Look out for UK dates coming soon to coincide with a single, ‘Sun Hands’ out on July 6th.

For Fans Of: Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekened, Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses, The Arcade Fire.

mp3: Local Natives – Stranger Things

Sunday

Beth Jeans Houghton is only 19 and already an exceptional songwriter. It’s ok to be jealous! ‘Veins’ is a gorgeous psych-folk track with an understated electronic pulse running throughout. Beth’s voice is rich and powerful on its own but with the echo and self backing vocals here what you get is a powerful, haunting effect which is irresistible. Look out for a Music Mule interview with Beth coming soon.

For Fans Of: Vashti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Blue Roses.

mp3: Beth Jeans Houghton – Veins

Monday

Baby Venom are a Baltimore boy,boy,girl outfit playing off kilter, keyboard led electronic pop tunes. Take a listen to the gorgeous piano riff on ‘Take Out Breakfast’ and see if you don’t get hooked. They’re Deerhunter approved too having just supported Brandon Cox and co at their Scala gig. Baby Venom play Friendly Street Gallery, London tonight if anyone’s in the area.

For Fans Of: Micachu, Flaming Lips, Grandaddy.

mp3: Baby Venom – Take Out Breakfast

In Just For Kicks this week we’ve got amazing tracks from Vega, Django Django and Bill Callahan a.k.a. Smog. Download and enjoy.

Friday’s track choice this week comes from Austin based electronic maestro Vega. The man behind Vega is Alan Palomo previously of another top notch Austin outfit Ghosthustler. This guy evidently has a way with a beat and a catchy chorus. ‘No Reasons’ is perhaps his sunniest, poppiest tune yet.It’s taken from the bands forthcoming debut EP ‘Well Known Pleasures’ which will be out Stateside later this month on Vogue College Records. Could be a hit if it gets any publicity. I’ve also thrown in an old Ghosthustler favourite of mine for y’all to get a feel of.

For Fans Of: Empire Of The Sun, The Golden Filter, Ghostland Observatory.

mp3: Vega – No Reasons

mp3: Ghosthustler – Only Me To Trust

via: G v B

So there’s a bit of mystery around the band I’ve selected for Saturday‘s track choice, the currently unsigned Django Django. Their myspace says they’re from Dalstonburgh-Dunderry which I’m willing to bet isn’t a real place but something to do with the fact that the band are from Dunderry, Ireland and have now re-located to the indie music hub that Dalston is becoming. Sherlock Holmes had nothing on me! Anyway I caught them play a good set at Camden Crawl a couple of weeks back despite an average sound system and if the quality of the tunes on their myspace are anything to go by then there will be a record deal not too far around the corner. Fingers crossed anyway. Hypnotic percussion and haunting echoed vocals surround a playful guitar line and a hint of the electronic.

For Fans Of: The Beta Band, Animal Collective, Archie Bronson Outift.

mp3: Django Django – STORM

Sunday’s choice comes from Bill Callahan who is better known as Smog or sometimes (Smog). He’s also Joanna Newsom’s fella these days. Bill has been making great melancholy folk music since Joanna was a twinkle in her daddy’s eye or not far off there (1988). But it sounds to me like maybe some of her orchestrated leanings from last album ‘Ys’ have rubbed off on Bill’s latest album ‘Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle’ and in particular this stunning track ‘The Wind And The Dove’ which features all kinds of eerie instrumentation, so much so that it makes me think of Raders Of The Lost Ark at times! Bill’s custom spoken vocals and understated guitar work fits in with it with surprising ease. It feels right.

mp3: Bill Callahan – The Wind And The Dove

buy: Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle    CD/LP iTunes