Have you ever tried to write a top 10 list? Don’t, it’s a nightmare! Our first problem is that 10 isn’t that many! Secondly there are technicalities. Do we include albums featured in last year’s list (Darwin Deez, Local Natives, etc) that have only been “officially” released this year? Then there’s the danger of getting carried away with what you’re loving NOW and forgetting how much you adored albums earlier in the year. Right, enough moaning, as it’s a World Cup year we’re having a starting eleven anyway!

11 Malachai – Ugly Side Of Love

Shamefully overlooked by us and a lot of people, Bristol one man sensation Malachai (formerly Malakai) released this album last year through Geoff Barrow’s (Portishead) Invada label. Thankfuly Domino have picked it up and given it a re-release through their Double Six imprint. Sound wise it’s a gloriously eccentric mix of Merseybeat, garage rock, reggae, surf ditties, psychedelia and hip hop. It shouldn’t work but is utterly intoxicating.

Standouts: Snowflake, Blackbird, Another Sun.

For Fans Of: Captain Beefheart, Ween, RZA.

10 The National – High Violet

If following 2005′s Alligator album was going to be hard for The National then following 2007′s Boxer should have been impossible. Against the odds they continue their rich vein of form with High Violet looking like it’ll give either predecessor a run for its money once it’s taken time to bed in a little. Like fellow New Yorkers Interpol, they never change their sound too much and never seem to falter. Your move next Interpol.

Standouts: Bloodbuzz Ohio, Anyone’s Ghost, Conversation 16.

For Fans Of: Grizzly Bear, Forest Fire, U2.

9 Bear In Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth

With heavy synths, effortlessly powerful percussion, precisely laid guitar chords and Jon Philpot’s soaring vocals, Brooklyn’s Bear In Heaven have created a record that ingrains itself in your subconscious and will melt your face when you hear it live.

Standouts: Beast In Peace, Ultimate Satisfaction, Deafening Love.

For Fans Of: Modest Mouse, MGMT, Flaming Lips.

8 The Black Keys – Brothers

Dan Auberach and Patrick Carney’s (no not actual brothers) latest album as The Black Keys got them their highest U.S. chart position yet (number 3) and may just bring around the unconverted few to their intricately crafted blues-rock. Some hip-hop esque production presumably pied up during last year’s Blakroc collaboration project added a new slickness to their sound.

Standouts: Tighten Up, Ten Cent Pistol, Never Gonna Leave You.

For Fans Of: The White Stripes, Beach House, Mark Lanegan.

7 Beach Fossils – Beach Fossils

Beach Fossils employ a simple, catchy and surprisingly emotive formula of surf-tinged guitar licks, laid back hazy vocals and basic drumming . The overall vibe of this record prevails more than the individual songs but the sunny day nostalgia of tracks like ‘Daydream’, ‘Youth’ and ‘Sometimes’ are worthy of any summer mix.

Standouts: Sometimes, Daydream, Twelve Roses.

For Fans Of: Felt, Wild Nothing, Kurt Vile.

6 Yeasayer – Odd Blood

Certainly poppier than their debut album but that’s not always a bad thing is it? Yeasayer gave away two of the album’s best songs for free (‘Ambling Alp’ and ‘O.N.E’) but the likes of ‘Madder Red’, ‘Love Me Girl’ and ‘I Remember’ kept us more than interested. As a whole better than their first record but ’2080′ was always going to be hard to eclipse as a song.

Standouts: Ambling Alp, O.N.E., Madder Red.

For Fans Of: MGMT, Bronze, Here We Go Magic.

5 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

Ariel Pink’s first album for his new label 4AD sees the DIY cult hero record his first proper studio album which will hopefully prove his breakthrough. The songs are more formed, accessible and polished but retain a gloriously retrospective and of course weird feel to them. Expect this to don its best brothel creepers to tip toe its way up this list come December.

Standouts: Bright Lit Blue Skies, Round and Round, Fright Night (Nevermore).

For Fans Of: Ween, Girls, MGMT.

4 Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This

South Carolinan Chazwick Bundick’s Toro Y Moi project married styles from r’n'b to hip hop to electro to indie to psych and wrapped it all in a blanket of blissful production. Debut UK dates coming up and promise of another album before the end of the year spell exciting times for this fresh new talent.

Standouts: Blessa, Minors, Low Shoulder.

For Fans Of: Washed Out, Neon Indian, Flying Lotus.

3 Wild Nothing – Gemini

In the run up to this album Jack Tatum aka Wild Nothing released an impressive cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Cloudbusting’. A bold move that promised much and his beautiful 80s tinged debut delivered on that promise. His DIY approach managed to produce a rich, textured sound that left a lot of his lo-fi rivals for dead. But above all it was the quality of the songs and their Smiths-y melancholy that shone through. Read our Wild Nothing Interview.

Standouts: Summer Holiday, Chinatown, My Angel Lonely.

For Fans Of: Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Beach Fossils.

2 Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo

Avi Buffalo is the pint sized 19 year old Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg and his Californian bandmates.  Their debut album introduced us to Avi’s gorgeous guitar tones, Neil Young Esque vocals and intricately penned Shins-y wonky pop gems with cute boy-girl vocals. Innocent, enjoyably naive and always shimmering with wide eyed beauty. ‘What’s In It For’ might be the best song ever if it was about two minutes shorter!

Standouts: What’s In It For, Summer Cum, Jessica.

For Fans Of: The Shins, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket.

1 Perfume Genius – Learning

Rarely does a record of such simple, fragile beauty as this one come along. Perfume Genius is Mike Hadreas from Seattle, he’s in his early twenties and his debut album ‘Learning’ sounds a bit like if Elliot Smith and Daniel Johnston had soundtracked Donnie Darko. Cracked, moving vocals and haunting minor key, piano led, lo-fi lullabies. Dark, atmospheric and in all, stunning.

Standouts: Learning, Lookout Lookout, Mr Peterson.

For Fans Of: Elliot Smith, Sufjan Stevens, Daniel Johnston.

Half Time: Music Mule’s First XI – Albums of 2010 (so far) by musicmule

DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE MIX

Stag & Dagger Festival is back for another year of musical mayhem in East London on Friday May 21st. We took out our magnifying glasses to examine a mouth watering lineup and this is what we had to say including another delectable festival mix for you.

Baby Monster are a band from Portland Oregon and some people that side of the pond are calling them the new MGMT. Think MGMT’s electronic tinged epic first album rather than their current psych-influenced ramblings.

For Fans Of: MGMT, Klaxons, Soulwax.

Venue: The Stag’s Head, 10.15pm.

Mount Kimbie are Brighton duo Kai and Dom who are spearheading the world of dubstep these days. Not that we’re experts but we have it on good faith. Remixes for the likes of The xx and more recently Foals (Spanish Sahara) would seem to agree.

For Fans Of: Burial, Flying Lotus, Caribou.

Venue: Scrutton Street Studios, 11.30pm.

Javelin are Brooklyn via Providence duo George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk. They’ve remixed the likes of Health but more importantly their debut album ‘No Mas’ contains some of the most vibrant electronic jams you’ll hear all year. Someone say par-tay!!!

For Fans Of: Passion Pit, Dan Deacon, Neon Indian.

Venue: Camp (Upstairs), 10.00pm

Active Child we saw recently, interviewed at The Great Escape (post coming soon) and just all round endorse, even if it is early live days for the LA whizz. Go see him and say you were there at the beginning.

For Fans Of: New Order, The Human League, Fleet Foxes.

Venue: Camp (downstairs), 10.10pm

Is Tropical are an identity obscuring three piece from London who sound like they will be an absolute riot live. This is high on our agenda.

For Fans Of: Foals, Late Of The Pier, Klaxons.

Venue: Queen Of Hoxton, 10.00pm

O. Children are a London based four-piece with a leggy front-man who in our minds possesses Christopher Lee‘s singing voice. We saw them once before with awful sound so this is a chance to set the record straight or write them off. The Jokers Of The Scene Remix of their ‘Ruins’ single is COLOSSAL.

For Fans Of: Bauhaus, The Horrors, Joy Division.

Venue: The Stag’s Head, 11.00pm

Django Django are Scots living in London and another band we haven’t given the chance to shine again since awful sound killed their set for us at Camden Crawl 2009. They’ve certainly got potential on record though so worth another shot.

For Fans Of: Here We Go Magic, Animal Collective, The Beta Band.

Venue: Queen Of Hoxton, 12.00am

White Hinterland is another Portland (the new Brooklyn?!) local, Casey Dienel, who is one of the current jewels in the Dead Oceans crown. On her second album Kairos she’s switched jazzy flourishes for electronic blips and bleeps and it’s oh so much better. ‘Icarus’ is one of the tracks of the year.

For Fans Of: Dirty Projectors, St Vincent.

Venue: The Macbeth, 9.00pm

Timber Timbre are a Montreal Canada duo that carve out dark, atmospheric, bluesy tunes using an array of guitar, piano and sparse percussion. Front man Taylor Kirk’s rich, soulful voice acts as your guide throughout.

For Fans Of: Dead Man’s Bones, Tom Waits, Tom Brosseau.

Venue: Rough Trade East, 6.30pm

Archie Bronson Outfit the beardy West-Country 3-piece are finally back with their second album ‘Cocounut’ and they’ve added electronic heart to their dark desert-chord fuelled mayhem. They’ll no doubt be a formidable live proposition as ever. The band did have to cancel Sunday’s Leeds gig due to a bereavement so it’s best checking with the venue before heading out.

For Fans Of: Queens Of The Stone Age, The Kills, Joe Gideon & The Shark.

Venue: The Macbeth, 11.00pm

The Radio Dept is Johan Duncanson. He’s played with various members since as far back as 1995. As it stands they’re a 3-piece and their latest album ‘Clinging To A Scheme’ came out this year on Labrador Records and includes ‘Heaven’s On Fire’ which is verging on the perfect left field pop song.

For Fans Of: Friendly Fires, Air France, Jens Lekman.

Venue: The Legion, 11.45pm

Dominique Young Unique was one of our undisputed highlights of The Great Escape 2010. She is only 18 years old but possesses the confidence and presence of a long time pro which she will undoubtedly become. Great tunes to back up Dominque’s Florida ghetto rap come courtesy of Yo Majesty’s UK producers Hardfeelings. Shake it!

For Fans Of: M.I.A, Yo Majesty, !!!

Venue: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (Room 2), 10.30pm

Wild Palms are a much touted young London group who put out their second single through One Little Indian yesterday, May 17th. Everyone from us to the BBC has picked them out as a band to watch. So why not er.. watch them.

For Fans Of: The Fall, PiL, Bauhaus.

Venue: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (Room 1), 8.45pm

Spectrals is a one man music making machine from Leeds called Louis. He employs a band when playing live mind you. Glorious sun-drenched Spectorish Spectral noise and a penchant for doo-wop.

For Fans Of: Girls, Brian Wilson, Phil Spector.

Venue: Jaguar Shoes, 10.45pm

Some more bands to check out:

Trailer Trash Tracys: 93 Feet East, 9.00pm

North Atlantic Oscillation: The Legion, 9.30pm

Still Flyin’: Jaguar Shoes, 9.45pm

Exlovers: Catch, 11.20pm

Banjo Or Freakout: Cafe 1001, 11.30pm

The Phenomenal Handclap Band: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (Room 1), 10.45pm

Primary 1: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (Room 1), 9.45pm

Class Actress: Camp (Upstairs), 9.00pm

Othello Woolf: Catch, 8.50pm

GET TICKETS HERE and for everything else you want to know including full venue details and lineups head to the Stag & Dagger website or download the Stag & Dagger Event Programme.

Stag & Dagger 2010 Music Mule Mix by musicmule

As promised here is our South By South West (SXSW) 2010 Preview Mixtape featuring a selection of artists we’ll be attempting to hound down during the five days of music from the World’s premier artist showcase.  As official festival bloggers we’ll be aiming to bring you a delectable combination of old and new. Look out for posts from Austin starting next Tues March 16th. Wish us and our monster schedule luck!

SXSW 2010 Music Mule Preview by musicmule

Ok so for part 2 of our Bands of 2010 You Massive Radar feature (part 1 here) we’re continuing to steer relatively clear of the more established bands with no doubt impressive releases due this year (Yeasayer, Midlake, Field Music, These New Puritans, The National, Foals, etc). In doing so we’ll hopefully introduce you to a few more unknown quantities who deserve just as much of your attention. We are excited about that Yeasayer album though! Shhh. Here goes. Beep…Beep…Beep…

Dinosaur Feathers

Dinosaur Feathers are Brooklyn 3-piece, Greg, Duck & Ryan, who play 50′s/60′s inspired pop tunes with West African influences (singer Greg Sullo studied in Mali) and some beautiful harmonies. There’s a slightly crooked, you even get a bit of drum machine and sampler thrown into the mix, but ultimately accessible side to Dinosaur Feathers that we can’t get enough of. Their self-released debut album ‘Fantasy Memorial’ is due out in the States on March 2nd. Pre-order it on import here.

For Fans Of: Panda Bear, Ruby Suns, El Guincho.

Beach House

(Baltimore, Maryland, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgdPXp5phNY

Beach House are Baltimore duo Alex Scally and sometimes Grizzly Bear collaborator Victoria Legrand. They’ve been building a bit of a cult following in the U.S. over the space of two good but not mind blowing albums for Car Park records. Their third effort Teen Dream was out on Monday Jan 25th through Bella Union here and Sub Pop over there (USA). It looks set to bring Beach House to a wider audience with more polished songs and more apparent hooks while holding on to that hazy, dreamy sound that they’ve become loved for.

For Fans Of: Grizzly Bear, Air, Girls.

Gold Future Joy Machine

(Hackney, London)

A Hackney five-piece are lead by frontman Johnny Kenton who have apparently been holed up in a makeshift studio in Hackney recording an album’s worth of demos that everybody is now desperate to hear, including us. Aside from recording Gold Future Joy Machine have been throwing some of the meanest warehouse parties in the East End to hone their live skills which we understand are now considerable.

For Fans Of: LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, The Longcut.

The Soft Pack

(San Diego, California, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6xr0UjXp7c

One of the best live bands we saw last year who also released arguably our most played 7″, the wonderful ‘Nightlife’ backed with ‘Bright Side’. Anyway enough reminiscing as there’s a self-titled debut album to look forward to this year. Delectable!

For Fans Of: The Stooges, The Strokes, The Stones.

Hook & The Twin

(London, UK)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omrg1PgEFGk

A wonderfully askew electro duo making the creating the most excitingly hypnotic combination of synth, guitar, bass, drums (tsss tsss) and big choruses that we’ve heard in London for a long time. Oh and they know how to make a nice video or two. Be warned the one we’ve chosen is a little creepy. We’re not sure which one is Hook and which one is the Twin.

For Fans Of: Radio 4, The Invisible, Post War Years.

Happy Birthday

(Battelboro, Vermont, USA)

Kyle Thomas, formerly of King Tuff, wrote one of our tracks of 2006 ‘Sun Medallion’. Since then Kyle’s been keeping busy recording the likes of Vivian Girls’ new single and even playing guitar on its b-side, a cover of The Chantels’ ‘He’s Gone’. He’s also been getting together an album for his new band Happy Birthday whose debut long-player is set for release through Sub Pop in the U.S. in March. His label had this to say: “Kyle needed a band to play his new pop songs because he was too scared to play by himself.” Lovely.

For Fans Of: King Tuff, Girls, Magic Kids.

Yuck

(London, Hiroshima, New Jersey)

This London based band are still wet behind the ears kind of new. We’ve only heard two songs by them but what a two songs they are! Yuck is a five piece with two Londoners that we think may be something to do with Cajun Dance Party (RIP), a bass player from Hiroshima and a drummer from New Jersey. ‘Automatic’ is a simply stunning Sonic Youth esque heart wrencher and has one of the best lines of the year so far. Quite simply, “I kept my semen to myself”.

For Fans Of: Sonic Youth, Beck (thanks Chris!), The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

Harlem

(Austin, Texas, USA)

Texas bbq sauce covered rock’n'roll/punk 3-piece Harlem come complete with catchy 3 chord guitar lines, surf tinged bass lines, melodies and a much appreciated sense of humour. We loved their self released 2008 album Free Drugs but their first for Matador due out in early April, titled ‘Hippies’, promises to be even more of a riot. But a good kind of riot. Like that Tomato throwing one.

For Fans Of: The Clash, The Strange Boys, The Ramones.

Trailer Trash Tracy’s

(London, UK)

Trailer Trash Tracys released their debut single, the gorgeous dream pop Candy Girl through No Pain In Pop last year and are another band that promises to do big things if their album can live up to initial output. A support date with last year’s London sensations The xx at the 3000plus Shepherds Bush Empire couldn’t hurt either. Could it?

For Fans Of: The xx, Small Black, Beach House.

WU LYF

(Manchester, UK)

WU LYF is an acronym for World Unite; Lucifer Youth Foundation. A name that’s probably not going to get them into a Wall Mart store anytime soon but who cares? WU LYF are another one of these mystery bands that have been popping up over the past few months or so (see Summer Camp and Neon Indian). All we really know is that they’re from Manchester and they play ‘Heavy Pop’ which is also the name of a pretty awesome song of theirs below.

For Fans Of: Pixies, Modest Mouse, Ariel Pink.

Tap Tap

(Reading, UK)

Tap Tap are lead by Pete and The Pirates frontman Thomas Sanders and not Thomas Trustfund as the mightily bitter Wiki might have you believe! Thomas’ vocals are instantly grabbing and the acoustic driven music soars and dips at all the right moments. Fanfarlo could have a scrap on their hands for best mini Arcade Fire. Tap Tap released their debut album Lanzafame through bloggers label Catbird in 2006 in the U.S. and then in 2007 through Stolen Recordings in the UK. The follow up ‘On My Way’ came out in September of last year, also through Stolen, and that’s what we’re basing our new found love on.

For Fans Of: Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, Strange Death Of Liberal England.

Real Estate

(New Jersey, USA)

Real Estate don’t have the Sunny Day in their name but ironically that’s exactly the sort of time you’d want to listen to this beautiful, blissed out guitar music. Jangly guitar chords build slowly and creep up on you until you’re completely immersed in the warm sound of this New Jersey four piece. For some this won’t be immediate enough but for us it’s well worth the wait. Their self-titled debut LP came out toward the tail end of last year but with their first UK tour imminent and an extensive U.S. one after that we hope they’ll have a great 2010.

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket, The Feelies, Yo La Tengo.

Washed Out

(Perry, Georgia, USA)

Washed Out’s Life Of Leisure 12″ was one of our favourite releases of last year and his remix of Small Black’s Despicable Dogs made an already impossibly good song better. That’s big praise as we love that original! Anyway the boy from Georgia just needs an album of tip top quality to hopefully pull a Neon Indian and start grabbing headlines. His music is certainly comparable to that of Mr Palomo’s and it too fits into what some people have been calling glo-fi. Hazy, AM fuzzed, acid drenched, electronic pop is what we call it. That rolls off the tongue much better now doesn’t it!

For Fans Of: Neon Indian, Toro Y Moi, Memory Tapes.

Pearl Harbor

(LA, California, USA)

Last but not least. Maybe most in fact. No we’re not saying that! But this blonde bombshell duo from California are set to stir things up this year. Pearl Harbor might be what The xx would have sounded like if they got some LA vitamin D. We love the guitar riffs and the stoned vocals of Piper and Skylar, the core Pearl Harbor duo. The girls are two peace loving LA natives and are bloggers themselves. Their debut EP Something About The Chaparrals was out at the end of 2009 on Mexican Summer and promptly sold out.

But there is hope in the form of a new 4-track cdr which you can buy direct from the ladies themselves. Listen to California Shakedown below and all the rest of the tracks over on their MySpace - Silvers Of You demo is a current favourite round here.

For Fans Of: Washed Out, The xx, Real Estate.

Want the Whole Mix? Click Below…

Here’s who’s got us excited about 2010. We’ve tried to leave off most of the BBC esque acts as you already know about them right? There may be a couple of crossovers though. And no we’re not going to use the term ‘ones to watch’ anywhere. Except there obviously. Let us know anyone we’ve missed as inevitably there will be a lot. Part 2 to follow soon. Download the whole mixtape at the bottom.

Small Black (Brooklyn, New York, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq_KgUT8gLc

Long Island duo Josh Kolenik and Ryan Heyner’s Small Black self titled EP was one of our favourite of 2009. Let’s hope the album lives up to it.

For Fans Of: Washed Out, MGMT, Here We Go Magic.

download: Small Black - Weird Machines (YSI)

Surfer Blood (West Palm Beach, Florida, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF4oML94Rwo

A young four-piece who combine west coast riffs, power pop and afro-beat that’s arguably more exciting than Vampire Weekend’s new material.

For Fans Of: Vampire Weekend, Weezer, The Cribs.

download: Surfer Blood - Swim (YSI)

Wild Palms (London, UK)

An new London four piece taking the classic post punk sound of bands like The Fall and re-jigging it for 2010.

For Fans Of: The Fall, PiL, Bauhaus.

download: Wild Palms - Over Time (YSI)

Princeton (LA, California, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgK0WTj6ZsU

Their debut album Cocoon Of Love out late last year was in our top 10 of 2009 but not many other people’s it would seem. We’re think a little more recognition is due this year.

For Fans Of: The Kinks, Vampire Weekend, The Shins.

download: Princeton - Sadie & Andy (YSI)

Brazos (Austin, Texas, USA)

Another band that featured in our best albums of 2009 with their debut record ‘Phospohrescent Blues’. Soon the world will wake up to the understated beauty of this Texas 3-piece.

For Fans Of: Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Yo La Tengo.

download: Brazos - Kid (YSI)

Dum Dum Girls (LA, California, USA)

Take songwriter and front lady Dee Dee’s sexy voice, mix it up with walls of guitar, melodies galore, spiky drums, head nodding bass and you’re close to our idea of heaven. Their debut album ‘I Will Be’ is out through Sub Pop on March 29th. It’s a gem.

For Fans Of: Ramones, Ronettes, Vivian Girls.

download: Dum Dum Girls - Lines Her Eyes (YSI)

Darwin Deez (Brooklyn, New York, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxPrDvTVCo8

Set to be the undisputed indie pop king of 2010? We really hope so. Voice, energy, songs, dancing and silly hair to be reckoned with!

For Fans Of: Pavement, The Cure, Throw Me The Statue.

download: Darwin Deez - Up in the Clouds (YSI)

Penguin Prison (New York, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJxTVJZguC0

Penguin Prison a.k.a. Chris Glover from New York has been dropping singles for one of our favourite electro loving labels Neon Gold and is one of their big hopes for 2010 along with ours. A multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer whose remixes for the likes of Golden Silvers and Marina & The Diamonds are pure dance pop joy. PP has been recording his debut album in London, due out later this year. That’s him laying down some guitar for it above. Boo ya!

For Fans Of: DFA/LCD Soundsystem, Talking Heads, Miike Snow.

download: Penguin Prison - Animal Animal (YSI)

Summer Camp (Dalarnas län, Sweden, Maybe)

Summer Camp we featured in On Repeat recently. Apparently a Swedish 7-piece but then apparently that may not be true! All we really know is that this mystery outfit have been leaking some of the most gorgeous, blissed out pop that we’ve heard in a long time. We’re guessing that’s not them above either!

For Fans Of: Washed Out, The Avalanches, Lykke Li.

download: Summer Camp – Ghost Train (YSI)

Avi Buffalo (Long Beach, California, USA)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQTMPF9a7JA

Now we’re partial to a bit of a high voice around these ways and Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg has one of the best we’ve heard in a while. Him and his four-piece band Avi Buffalo are one of legendary label Sub Pop’s latest signings, with a debut album due out this spring. Avi is fresh out of high school and writes all the words and music. Mind bendingly good.

For Fans Of: Neil Young, Wilco, Flaming Lips.

download: Avi Buffalo - Five Lil’ Sluts (YSI)

]]> http://musicmule.co.uk/2010/01/18/you-massive-radar-bands-of-2010-part-1/feed/ 0 http://musicmule.co.uk/2009/12/19/music-mule-albums-of-2009/ http://musicmule.co.uk/2009/12/19/music-mule-albums-of-2009/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:21:13 +0000 nick http://musicmule.co.uk/?p=6988

2009 has seen some great album releases all round but for us it was the year of the debut, with no fewer than 35 debuts in our top 60 (ahem, 61) records and a healthy proportion of those in our top 10. Fitting too as it was also Music Mule’s first year in proper world wide web form. Sure we’re suckers for new music round these ways but 2009 has been a bright year for it and we reckon a good few of these newbies have some real potential for staying power.

61    The Mantles - The Mantles (San Francisco, USA)
60    Lovvers - Ocd Go Go Go Girls (London, UK)
59    Ganglians – Monster Head Room (Sacramento, USA)
58    Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport (Brighton, UK)
57    The Invisible - The Invisible (London, UK)
56    The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning (North Wales/London, UK)
55    Telekinesis! - Telekinesis! (Seattle, USA)
54    Fever Ray - Fever Ray (Stockholm, Sweden)
53    The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys (San Francisco, USA)
52    The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant (Wakefield, UK)
51    Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy (Philadelpiha, USA)
50    The Temper Trap – Conditions (Melbourne, Australia)
49    Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (London, UK)
48    The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Malawi, Africa/London, UK)
47    The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (Oklahoma City, USA)
46    Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (Austin, USA)
45    Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us (Pittsburgh, USA)
44    Arctic Monkeys - Humbug (Sheffield, UK)
43    Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young (Brooklyn, USA)
42    St. Vincent - Actor (Brooklyn, USA)
41    The Leisure Society - The Sleeper (London/Brighton, UK)
40    Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream (Melbourne, Australia)
39    Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains (Staten Island NYC, USA)
38    Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (Brooklyn, USA)
37    Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion (Brooklyn, USA)
36    Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer (Montreal, Canada)
35    Tiny Vipers - Life On Earth (Seattle, USA)
34    Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic (Brooklyn, USA)
33    Crocodiles - Summer Of Hate (L.A., USA)
32    The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (Providence, USA)
31    Wilco - Wilco (The Album) (Chicago, USA)
30    Arms - Kids Aflame (Brooklyn, USA)
29    Kurt Vile - God Is Saying This to You… (Philadelphia, USA)
28    Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones (L.A., USA)
27    Passion Pit - Manners (Cambridge MA, USA)
26    The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love (London, UK)
25    Thee Oh Sees - Help (San Francisco, USA)
24    Atlas Sound - Logos (Athens, USA)
23    Real Estate - Real Estate (New Jersey, USA)
22    Nite Jewel - Good Evening (L.A., USA)
21    Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (L.A., USA)
20    Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (Brooklyn, USA)
19    Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz (Brooklyn, USA)
18    JJ - JJ No 2 (Gothenburg, Sweden)
17    Harlem - Free Drugs (Austin, USA)
16    Cass McCombs - Catacombs (L.A., USA)

15 The Strange Boys - …And Girls Club (Austin, USA)

The Strange Boys are a young four-piece from Austin Texas who rhythm ‘n’ bluesed us away (sorry!) this year with their In The Red/Rough Trade released debut album proper ‘…And Girls Club’. Ryan Sambol’s voice will instantly divide opinion on these guys but we love his Dylan left out in the sun drawl. Ryan on guitar and vocals and brother Phil on bass are joined by guitarist GregEnlow and drummer Seth Densham. From blues to rock’n'roll, The Strange Boys love to jam and we love to listen. Read our interview here.

Standouts: Woe Is You and Me, This Girl Taught Me A Dance, Probation Blues.

For Fans Of: The White Stripes, Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh and Onlys.

mp3: The Strange Boys - This Girl Taught Me A Dance

buy: The Strange Boys - …And Girls Club cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

14 White Denim – Fits (Austin, USA)

White Denim’s second album was again recorded in drummer Joshua Block’s trailer turned studio outside of Austin, Texas. But this time the album saw them try their hand at a variety of new styles and saw their psychedelic side come out to play. Older fans had no reason to fear though as Hendrix tinged rockouts like ‘Everybody Somebody’ and ‘I Start To Run’ showed that they still had the goods in that department too.

Standouts: Everybody Somebody, I’d Have It Just The Way We Were, Paint Yourself.

For Fans Of: Jimi Hendrix, Captain Beefheart, Love.

mp3: White Denim - Paint Yourself

buy: White Denim - Fits cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

13 The xx – XX (London, UK)

The xx members and best friends Romy and Oliver, who went to the same South London school as Hot Chip and Burial, produced a dark, sexy and instantly recognisable indie masterpiece. XX has a warm electronic undercurrent running through it but it’s Romy and Oliver’s understated lyrical interplay and 80s pop-noir guitar lines that are the real deal breakers.

Standouts: VCR, Crystalized, Basic Space, Stars.

For Fans Of: The Cure, Young Marble Giants, Aaliyah.

mp3: The xx - Crystalised

buy: The xx – XX  cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

12 Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms (Austin, USA)

Under his previous guise Vega and Ghosthustler before that, Texan electronic prodigy Alan Palomo served up the odd gem but for some reason it felt like he only occasionally got into full flow. His latest project Neon Indian changed all that, offering a psychedelic experience that teamed his blissed out electro with visualisations from high school buddy and Brooklyn based artist Alicia Scardetta. Most importantly of all we got a whole album of great songs to cling to and their acid drenched computer game esque production was to prove one of the most distinguishable sounds of 2009.

Standouts: Ephemeral Artery, Deadbeat Summer, 6669 ( I don’t know if you know).

For Fans Of: Small Black, Washed Out, Air France.

mp3: Neon Indian - Ephemeral Artery

buy: Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

11 Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (Brooklyn, USA)

Grizzly Bear’s third album Veckatimest projected them into the limelight to stand aside Animal Collective as new torchbearers for the burgeoning U.S. indie scene. Another album of gorgeous Brian Wilson soaked harmonies, intricate arrangements and just the right amount of psychedelia. A great album this is although we can’t help but feel that their recorded output is still a far cry from their breathtaking live presence.

Standouts: While We Wait For The Others, Two Weeks, Cheerleader, Foreground.

For Fans Of: St Vincent, Here We Go Magic, Animal Collective.

mp3: Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

buy: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest cd / mp3 (£4 offer) / iTunes

10 Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (Kendall, UK)

The talent was there for all to hear on Wild Beasts‘ eclectic 2008 debut ‘Limbo Panto’ last year but ‘Two Dancers’ saw the Kendal four-piece really grow into their sound. There was more Smiths style guitar work and they learned how to balance to perfection Hayden’s remarkable falsetto and Fleming’s earthy baritone. The real surprise was the phenomenal rhythms running through a lot of Two Dancer’s songs, meaning that the lion’s share of the album sounded just as good blasted out across dancefloors as it did in your room.

Standouts: The Fun Powder Plot, This Is Our Lot, We Still Got The Taste Of Dancing On Our Tongues.

For Fans Of: The Smiths, The Week That Was, Memory Tapes.

mp3: Wild Beasts – The Fun Powder Plot

buy: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

9 Forest Fire – Survival (Brooklyn/Portland, USA)

Gloriously ramshackle, three take recordings from a band whose members are split between Brooklyn and Portland. Mark Thresher is the brains and Jim James meets Wayne Coyne voice behind the Forest Fire wheel. Moments of blissful Americana are intertwined with off kilter horns, feedback, electronic blips and Thresher’s simple but hard hitting lyrics which, pin it all together beautifully.

Standouts: Fortune Teller, Echoes Coming, Survival.

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket, The Velvet Underground, The National.

mp3: Forest Fire - Fortune Teller

buy: Forest Fire – Surivial cd / mp3 / iTunes / lp

8 Princeton - Cocoon Of Love (L.A., USA)

It’s amazing Princeton haven’t got more attention already but hopefully that will change next year as this record is set to get a much warranted re-release in 2010. Matt and Jesse Kivel, twin brothers who grew up on Princeton St in Santa Monica, share songwriting and vocal duties and are joined by long time friend Ben Usen on keys and David Kitz on drums. Cocoon Of Love saw the band build on the promise of their Bloomsbury EP (our EP of the year in 2008) with more afro infused pop melodies, strings, horns and some beautiful female guest vocals from Meredith Metcalf (Sadie & Andy) and Zinzi Edmundson (Sylvie/Shout It Out).

Standouts: Calypso Gold, Stunner Shades In Heaven, Shout It Out, Sylvie.

For Fans Of: The Kinks, Vampire Weekend, Brazos.

mp3: Princeton - Shout It Out

buy: Princeton - Cocoon Of Love cd/lp (import)

7 The Horrors - Primary Colours (London, UK)

The Horrors really pulled it out of the bag with their second album ‘Primary Colours’. Under the expert production eye of Geoff Barrow (Portishead) they managed to make an album that did much more than just wear its nu-wave and shoegaze influences on its sleeve, which it did proudly. Faris Badwan’s vocals showed a marked improvement and the band everyone loved to hate became a more serious proposition. Who would have imagined the majestic 8-minute ‘Sea Within A Sea’ would come from the same band that released ‘Sheena Is A Parasite’?!

Standouts: Mirror’s Image, Scarlet Fields, Sea Within A Sea.

For Fans Of: My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division.

mp3: The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea

buy: The Horrors - Primary Colours cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

6 Brazos - Phosphorescent Blues (Austin, USA)

Brazos have been quietly building a reputation for themselves in their hometown Austin over the past couple of years. An opening slot for Grizzly Bear has been their greatest reward thus far but one that deserves to be bettered in the not too distant future. Although only their debut album, Phosphorescent Blues, showcased a band brimming with ideas, confidence and originality. Carefully considered songs delivered through Martin Crane’s velvet smooth vocals, breezy guitar, the occasional euphoric piano line and addictive pulsating rhythms. Crane’s lyrics have an effortless American storyteller feel to them and as a whole this album fits better than almost every other record on this list. We’ve big hopes for these guys.

Standouts: Avignon, Tell, The Observer.

For Fans Of: Princeton, Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear.

mp3: Brazos - Tell

buy: Brazos - Phosphorescent Blues cd / lp(import) / mp3 / iTunes

5 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (Brooklyn, USA)

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart were yet another exciting Brooklyn newcomer in 2009. The four-piece created a seamless album of indie-pop gems layered with awesome melodies, energetic drums, boy-girl vocals and perhaps our favourite feature of all – fuzzy guitar lines that are so warm you could bathe in them. Gorgeous.

Standouts: This Love Is Fucking Right, The Tenure Itch, Young Adult Friction.

For Fans Of: Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Belle & Sebastian.

mp3: The Pains OF Being Pure At Heart - This Love Is Fucking Right!

buy: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

4 Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez (Brooklyn, USA)

Darwin Deez is a proud New York hipster who plays a four-string guitar in his own ‘secret’ tuning and loves to dance. Sound a little too much for you? Listen before you judge. For what lies in wait is a great voice, hugely catchy songs and a simple DIY production that allows every instrument space to breathe. Add some of the sharpest lyrics of the year and you have a star in the making. The album only got a super limited release through Deez’s myspace and later Rough Trade, it comes as a homemade cdr complete with a piece of string as the cover art! We imagine the bulk of these songs will find their way onto an ‘official’ record next year but why wait when it’s this good?

Standouts: Constellations, Deep Sea Divers, My DNA.

For Fans Of: Pavement, The Cure, Throw Me The Statue.

mp3: Darwin Deez - Deep Sea Divers

buy: Darwin Deez  - Darwin Deez limited edition cdr / mp3

3 Memory Tapes - Seek Magic (New Jersey, USA)

One man band Dayve Hawk a.k.a. Memory Tapes (a.k.a. Weird Tapes, a.k.a. Memory Cassette) from New Jersey made our favourite dance album since LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Sound Of Silver’. Impeccable production, sexy guitar lines, vocal hooks and songs – actual structured songs the way we like it! Luckily for us his genius only seems to be outdone by his work ethic.

Standouts: Bicycle, Graphics, Plain Material.

For Fans Of: LCD Soundsystem, Air France, Daft Punk.

mp3: Memory Tapes – Bicycle

buy: Memory Tapes – Seek Magic cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

2 Smith Westerns - Smith Westerns (Chicago, USA)

Smith Western’s self titled debut most certainly is lo-fi. It could have been recorded in a tin can by the sound of it. Embrace or ignore their ramshackle recordings, we don’t care, but be sure to pay attention to what really matters and that is a teenage Chicago four piece making an album full of wonderful glammed up, at times folk-tinged, rock’n’roll. Cymbals crashing, guitars roaring and vocals calling out to whoever wants to listen. There’s a bit of the fuck you vibe of youth to it but these guys are self-professed “sweethearts not punks”. This is the sound of kids with a hell of an ear for a tune making raw guitar music and having a whale of a time doing it. The result is infectious. Let’s hope they don’t get too polished anytime soon.

Standouts: Girl In Love, Tonight, Be My Girl.

For Fans Of: Thee Oh Sees, Bowie, T-Rex.

mp3: Smith Westerns - Girl in Love

buy: Smith Westerns - Smith Westerns cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

1 Girls – Album (San Francisco, USA)

Girls of San Francisco came from seemingly nowhere this year to wow us with their minimally titled debut ‘Album’, a timeless sounding record and our pick of 2009. Despite our best efforts to play it to death, it has so far shaken off our feeble attempts!

To help paint the whole picture we must first touch upon the much talked about past of Girls’ lead singer and songwriter Christopher Owens. Christopher was born into the American Children Of God cult which, turned his mother to prostitution and allowed his older brother to die due to their lack of belief in medicine. Nasty stuff. Christopher managed to escape in 1996 at the age of 16, presumably before he could fall prey to the questionable sexual practices of the cult. Upon leaving he fled to Texas where he became a gutter punk with prescription drugs eventually taking centre stage amongst his addictions. Then in a twist of fortunes Christopher was taken in by a Texan multi-millionaire who went on to encourage a passion in music which had started at an early age, first by playing songs on a mini organ for his mother and then when Fleetwood Mac guitarist and fellow cult member Jeremy Spencer gave him his first guitar. Christopher later returned to San Francisco to start a band. After busking and eventually playing guitar with artists like Ariel Pink, he would eventually step up as a performer in his own right.

The result of all this is ‘Album’, a collection of Christopher’s first efforts at songwriting, which began in 2007. It’s a melting pot of musical ideas and influences (rock’n’roll, shoegaze, west coast surf pop,etc) that stands as evidence of its creator’s ability to absorb everything he sets his ears upon.

Girls sometimes get wrongfully labelled as lo-fi but the intricacy and deft production of their debut, courtesy of Chet JR White (who also plays bass as the band’s only other permanent member), makes a mockery of that. The pair have evidently thought out every wave of feedback just as much as the jangly guitar hooks, of which there are thankfully plenty. Christopher’s vocals meanwhile touch upon all kinds of past icons, Elvis Costello and Roy Orbison spring immediately to mind.

Opening track ‘Lust For Life’ is thankfully not a massacre of an Iggy Pop song as one might expect, is a Girls original that betrays Christopher’s innocent infatuation with the good things in life and sounds like The Strokes on the sort of form that won them the best album of the decade accolade from NME recently. Meanwhile ‘Morning Light’ is a startlingly good effort at My Bloody Valentine esque shoegaze revival,  ‘Laura’ is heart on the sleeve West Coast pop perfection and ‘Hellhole Ratrace’ may well be the pick of the lot with it’s heart wrenching vocals and drawn out romantic haze.

‘Album’ will be too laid back for many but the key to appreciation is in repeated listens and immersing oneself in the simple, loving sentiments of the record as well as its stoned sound. For those who do fall for ‘Album’ as we have, we urge you not to stop your exploration of Girls there. For even at this early stage in their existence there is plenty more to discover. It’s been a while since we remember an artist bubbling over with such a consistently exciting level of output.

For further listening check out Girls’ impressive catalogue of b-sides and non album tracks. ‘Life In San Francisco’ is a prime example. A song that manages to integrate a chorus of friends’ la, la, la la las without sounding clichéd deserves a medal in our books. How does it achieve such an improbable goal? In the same way as most other Girls songs succeed - by sounding great and oozing sincerity.

Check out a couple of videos from Album below, including the cut of the Lust For Life video that no doubt had many an MTV exec spitting out their coffee! That ain’t no mic Sonny Jim!

Standouts: Lust For Life, Laura, Hellhole Ratrace, Morning Light.

For Fans Of: Brian Wilson, Spiritualised, Elvis Costello.

mp3: Girls - Laura

mp3: Girls – Hellhole Ratrace

buy: Girls - Album cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

Videos:

Girls - Lust For Life (Warning - Nudity!!!)

Girls - Hellhole Ratrace

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcqwfFKagH4

Download The Music Mule Albums of 2009 Playlist:

It’s cold and dark  and it’s only 4pm but we kind of like it. If you don’t then cheer up, it’s mixtape time again. November’s mix features some of the best new music from the site and beyond. As ever if you like what you hear please follow it up and go see the bands live or buy some of their music. People got to eat!

For Fans Of: LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Yeasayer, etc.

1. Real Estate – Beach Comber

Real Estate are a four piece form New Jersey who play gorgeous jangly Americana best enjoyed in the sunshine with a beer in hand. Not that we’ve managed to listen to them like that yet but we reckon it’d be a winner. ‘Beach Comber’ is from their self-titled debut album due out soon. They’re currently touring the U.S. with another of our favourites Girls.

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile.

2. Zaza – Sooner or Later

We’ve had this Zaza track floating around for a while and thought it was due time we shared it. A percussive, arty duo from Brooklyn who are being hailed as the city’s best kept secret.  Dark, brooding rhythms and gorgeous vocals.

For Fans Of: Yeasayer, My Morning Jacket.

3. Mosters Of Folk – Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)

Monsters Of Folk is one of the most ridiculous names of the year but then when you’re a super band you should have a bit of a stupid name in our books. So this is Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Bright Eyes, M.Ward and some other guy from Bright Eyes’ band called Mike Mogis. We’re not 100% convinced on the album yet but this track is a standout which sounds like it could have fallen of MMJ’s ‘Z’ album. Gorgeous haunting high vocals and a hip-hop esque beat.

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes, M.Ward!

buy: Monsters Of Folk – Monsters Of Folk mp3 / cd/lp / iTunes

4. Arms – Kids Aflame

Arms is Todd Goldstein who you may know as part of sadly no more Brooklyn band Harlem Shakes who have appeared on these pages before. Oh well every cloud… Todd’s previous solo project becomes his main body of work and Arms’ debut album ‘Kids Aflame’ is delicate, understated, thinking man’s guitar pop. Like the title track which we feature here, the record is a thing of beauty. The album has just been re-released in the U.S., let’s not let it slip under the radar again.

For Fans Of: Grizzly Bear, Dent May, Scott Walker

buy: Arms – Kids Aflame cd / mp3 / iTunes

5. Yeasyer – Ambling Alp

Yeasayer’s first single from their forthcoming and long awaited second album ‘Odd Blood’ has been distributed freely across the internet to whet our appetites. It’s done a fine job, ‘Ambling Alp’ is a hook laden 80s tinged tune that finds front man Chris Keating’s vocals on dominating, catchy form.

For Fans Of: MGMT, Talking Heads, Here We Go Magic.

buy:Yeasayer – Ambling Alp Digital / 12″ / Tshirt bundles

6. Jonquil – Whistle Low

Jonquil are a young Oxford band with bags of potential. They count Foals front man Yannis Philippakis as a fan who lists them as one of his favourite new bands. The 6-piece certainly have some of the musical muscle of Foals but are less Talking Heads and more Arthur Russel. An impressive live proposition we found them to be also.

For Fans Of: Wild Beasts, Vampire Weekend, Little Comets.

7. Julian Casablancas – Left & Right In The Dark

Julian Casablancas needs no introduction to most people who have listened to music in the past decade but just in case, he’s the Strokes front man you uneducated swine! This is Julian’s first solo album and it  leaves guitarist Nick Valensi as the only Strokes member not to release a solo album. Not everyone will like it’s 80s synths and programmed drums and even a bit of country geetar but we think it’s got some of the best melodies since The Strokes debut.

For Fans Of: The Strokes, Chairlift, Neon Neon.

buy: Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young cd/lp mp3 / iTunes

8. Archie Bronson Outfit – Kink

To celebrate one of out favourite artists of the past decade, Archie Bronson Outfit, and their imminent return to the live music and hopefully therefore music scene we have included this oldie from their as of yet only album, 2006′ wonderful ‘Derdang Derdang’. May there be lots more to come after like what seems an eternity but has only actually been three years of waiting.

For Fans Of: Queens Of The Stone Age, The Kills, Joe Gideon & The Shark.

buy: Archie Bronson Outfit – Derdang Derdang cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

9. Local Natives – Sun Hands

Local Natives debut album Gorilla Manor is finally out and it’s a cracker. It introduced us to some new gems but also reminded us how good the older songs were like the splendiferous ‘Sun Hands’ which was released earlier this year as the Sun Hands EP. The end freak out is the undoubted highlight.

For Fans Of: Fleet Foxes, Talking Heads, Vampire Weekend.

buy: Local Natives – Gorilla Manor cd/dvd / iTunes / mp3

10. Vadoinmessico – Cave

Vadoinmessico are a talented London based five piece who we’re ecstatic to have playing our next Acoustic Consequences night. ‘Cave’ is a perfect example of their cinematic folk driven charm. Highly addictive.

For Fans Of: The Dodos, Lykke Li, Grizzly Bear.

buy: Vadoinmessico EP

11. Death Cab For Cutie – Little Bribes

While checking out the new Death Cab For Cutie tunes like ‘Meet Me On The Equinox’ from that darn Twilight Saga: New Moon film which we see all over the tube walls, we came across this little gem from their Open Door EP released back in March. The EP is songs that didn’t quite fit their album and is written by Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard who you may have heard performing the wonderful ‘Train Song’ with Feist on The National curated ‘Dark Was The Night’ compilation also earlier this year. Death Cab’s Chris Walla produces.

For Fans Of: Telekinesis, Bright Eyes, Tom Petty.

buy: Death Cab For Cutie – Open Door EP iTunes

12. Girls – Substance (Live For Pitchfork)

‘Substance’ is a live favourite of ours from San Francisco alchemists Girls. We’re yet to find an official release of the track so we’ve had to go for this Pitchfork live session version but that’s not to do the performance any disservice which is pretty awesome seeing it was recorded on a rooftop!

For Fans Of: Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones.

buy: Girls – Album cd/lp / mp3/ iTunes

13. The Boy Icarus – Going Home

The Boy Icarus is also playing our next Acoustic Consequences night and we think he’s going to shape up to be a bit of a discovery. ‘Going Home’ is one of a handful of demo songs recorded “on a shoestring” in The Boy Icarus a.k.a. London based Huw’s bedroom. Lo-fi recordings or not the quality of the songs shine through. He’s even better live.

FREE download: The Boy Icarus Demos via Last Fm

14. exlovers – A Moment That Keeps Repeating

You guessed it – exlovers are also playing Acoustic Consequences! Yes we are shamelessly plugging the show but we book them because we love them and we want you to love them too. Take a listen to this track and delve deeper into the world of exlovers.

For Fans Of: Elliot Smith, The Lemonheads, PJ Harvey.

buy: exlovers – You Foget So Easily EP 10″ / iTunes

15. Julian Casablancas – Glass

We couldn’t resist one more track from Julian’s solo album which has been on heavy rotation on the Music Mule playlist. This track has some pretty euphoric keys hovering through it and Julians custom drawl. Bootiful!

For Fans Of: As above!

buy: Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young cd/lp mp3 / iTunes

16. Washed Out – New Theory

Now this is a superb track from self proclaimed ‘No-Fi’ artist Washed Out from Perry, Georgia. This is blissful, tripped out electronica perfect for a hazy summer evening’s listening or just about any other time you feel like kicking back.  There’s a lot of this type of music around at the moment but this guy is undoubtedly one of the frontrunners. Wahed out’s debut album Life Of Leisure is due out in the UK on the 28th November through Mexican Summer although there’s only an initial pressing of 1000 vinyls being made available to start with.

For Fans Of: Air France, Neon Indian, Memory Tapes.

pre-order: Washed Out – Life Of Leisure LP

17. Small Black – Dispicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)

Small Black are a four-piece from Brooklyn and the original of this track is fantastic and will find it’s way onto many a mix but this remix is also fantastic and gave us another excuse to feature Washed Out so we thought we’d go for it. Oooo simply too good to be true.

For Fans Of: Girls, Washed Out, Neon Indian.

pre-order: Small Black – Despicable Dogs 7″

18. Neon Indian – 6669 (I don’t know if you know)

Let it be said Neon Indian is Alan Palomo is an electronic mastermind from Austin, Texas, the home of SXSW and one of the most vibrant music scenes on his here planet. Still cream always rises to the top! Neon Indian though isn’t just Alan, there’s a visual side to this audio visual duo and that’s made up by high school buddy and Brooklyn based artist Alicia Scardetta. This is from Neon Indians debut Psychic Chasms which has recently won one of Rough Trade Records albums of the week accolades. Get it!

buy: Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms cd / mp3

19. LCD Soundsystem – Bye Bye Bayou

LCD Soundsystem are back with this modest 7 minute offering! It’s business as usual from Mr Murphy but this track isn’t actually his. Nope, Bye Bye Bayou is actually an Alan Vega (Suicide) Cover from the 80s. A great homage it is though. There’s a new LCD record due out in 2010 but who knows whether it’ll sound like this?

For Fans Of: Friendly Fires, Memory Tapes, The Juan Maclean.

buy: LCD Soundsystem – Bye Bye Bayou 12″

20. Penguin Prison – A Funny Thing

Penguin Prison is Chris Glover a New York city one man electro-pop machine. He’s already remixed Marina & The Diamonds for the Neon Gold label who count him as one of their big hopes for 2010. Super smooth vocals, excellent warm production and a lot of fun. Expect big things.

For Fans Of: Miike Snow, LCD Soundsystem, Magistrates.

FREE Downloads: Music Glue

21. Deastro – Toxic Crusaders

This is probably the funnest song on the mixtape and it’s courtesy of another DIY bedroom whizz, this time Detroit’s Randolph Chabot a.k.a. Deastro. Toxic Crusaders is taken from Deastro’s debut UK album ‘Moondaggers’ out through Ghostly International. It’s upfront dance pop perfection but has a certain degree of self styled intergalactic hippy weirdness to keep it interesting.

For Fans Of: MGMT, Yes Giantess, Penguin Prison.

buy: Deastro – Moondagger cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

22. Shock Defeat! – Brute Economics

Last and least. Well in time that is. Clocking in at a swift 2.24 we’ve got a track from Shock Defeat!‘s forthcoming Olympic Village EP which confirms them as one of the best new bands in London. Awesome DFA inspired indie guitar tunes delivered with a bit of punk atittude and a front man with a charismatically British style. We love it.

For Fans Of: The Rapture, Talkung Heads, Foals.

Download the entire mixtape:

The problem with Spotify is that we can’t find half the stuff we want on it at the moment so we’re going old school mixtape on you. Well ok it’s not a tape, it’s a zip file but the love is still there. A mix of tracks we’re currently playing to death, some of the featured bands have upcoming shows so look out for those. All the tracks are available to play and download individually (right click-itty) or download the whole mixtape at the end and add to your media player of choice. Easy…

Please if you like the songs then investigate the artists further and buy an album or go see a show if they’re in your neck of the woods.

Here goes:

1. The Drums – Instruct Me

http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

2. Crocodiles – Young Drugs

http://www.myspace.com/crocodilescrocodilescrocodiles

Crocodiles @ The Victoria, Oct 23rd.

3. Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer

http://www.myspace.com/neonindian

Playing Cargo TOMORROW!

4. Memory Cassette – Last One Awake (Friend Version)

http://www.myspace.com/memorycassette

5. Pearl Harbour – Lost @ Sea

http://www.myspace.com/neonindian

6. Kurt Vile – My Sympathy

http://www.myspace.com/kurtvileofphilly

7. Girls – Laura

http://www.myspace.com/girlssanfran

Girls @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Oct 20th.

8. Atlas Sound – Shelia

http://www.myspace.com/bradfordcox

9. Kurt Vile – Hunchback

http://www.myspace.com/kurtvileofphilly

10. Girls – Morning Light

http://www.myspace.com/girlssanfran

Girls @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Oct 20th.

11. The Smith Westerns – Imagine, Pt. 3

http://www.myspace.com/smithwesterns

12. Crocodiles – Soft Skull (In My Room)

http://www.myspace.com/crocodilescrocodilescrocodiles

Crocodiles @ The Victoria, Oct 23rd.

13. Darwin Deez – Deep Sea Divers

http://www.myspace.com/darwindeez

14. Miike Snow – Song For No One

http://www.myspace.com/miikesnow

15. Princeton – Calypso Gold

http://www.myspace.com/princetonmusic

16. The Drums – Let’s Go Surfing

http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

The Drums @ Camden Barfly, Oct 27th.

17. The Rosebuds – Get Up Get Out

http://www.myspace.com/therosebuds

Telekinesis, The Rosebuds @ The Windmill, Oct 7th.

18. Delorean – Seasun

http://www.myspace.com/deloreandanz

19. JJ – Ecstasy

20. Memory Cassette – Last One Awake (CFCF Version)

http://www.myspace.com/memorycassette

21. Grum – Heartbeats (Weird Tapes Remix)

http://www.myspace.com/memorycassette

22. Nite Jewel – Artificial Intelligence

http://www.myspace.com/nitejewel

Nite Jewel, The Golden Filter, Gold Panda @ Cargo, Oct 3rd.

Download The Entire Mixtape by Clicking/Right Clicking Below:

Lo-fi is so hot right now! What is lo-fi? Good point. The dictionary says: lo-fidelity (lo-fi) 1. (adj.) of or employing sound reproduction of a lower quality than hi-fi. 2. (of popular music) recorded and produced with basic equipment and thus having a raw and unsophisticated sound. So there you have it. Lovers of sophistication turn back here. The rest of you can explore some of our favourite new bands. Download all the tracks as a playlist at the bottom.

The Smith Westerns – Chicago, Illinois.

The Smith Westerns have made one of the most enjoyable albums of 2009 in the form of their self-titled debut LP out on HoZac Records. It’s a gorgeously lo-fi (box ticked!) affair with cassette hiss and muffled bass aplenty but the songs are out of this world. A ramshackle mix of folk, glam and rock ‘n’ roll from a bunch of Chicago teens who we hope will go far. You need this album!

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

buy: The Smith Westerns CD/LP / iTunes / eMusic

mp3: The Smith Westerns – Dreams

mp3: The Smith Westerns – Boys Are Fine

Crystal Stilts – Brooklyn, New York.

Crystal Stilts‘ debut album ‘Alight of Night’ has been floating about since 2008 but only got it’s official UK release this year through Angular Records. It is a phenomenal album. Surf tinged guitars, psychedelic keys and front man Brad Hargett’s cool-fuck vocal style reminiscent of a cross between Ian Curtis and a laid back Jim Morrisson. Oh and it all sounds like it was recorded in a well of course.

For Fans Of: Joy Division, Deerhunter, Jesus and Mary Chain.

buy: Crystal Stilts – Alight Of Night CD / mp3 / iTunes

mp3: Crystal Stilts – The Dazzled

Harlem – Austin, Texas.

Harlem have at long last got a record deal and with the excellent Matador Records no less. The band self-released their debut album ‘Free Drugs’ last year but having only made it into our hands this year we decided to make it one of our albums of the year so far back in June. It’s raw punk fuelled rock’n'roll and we love it. They were great live at SXSW too. Look out for a new album in 2010.

For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, The Clash, The Ramones.

buy: Harlem  – Free Drugs mp3 / iTunes

mp3: Harlem – Witchgreens

mp3: Harlem – Psychedelic Tits

The Strange Boys – Austin, Texas.

The Strange Boys are one of our favourite new bands. Their official debut (they’ve recorded albums previously and sold them at gigs) ‘…And Girls Club’ was out earlier this year on In The Red records and it also made our half-time top 10. Since then we’ve seen them live twice and they blew our socks off on both occassions with their blues fuelled rock’n'roll jams. They’ve recently signed to Rough Trade Records so expect to see a lot more of them over here. Check out our interview with front man Ryan.

For Fans Of: Early Rolling Stones, Black Lips, The White Stripes.

buy: The Strange Boys – And Girls Club CD / LP / mp3 / iTunes

mp3: The Strange Boys – Probation Blues

Thee Oh Sees – San Francisco, California.

Thee Oh Sees are fronted by John Dwyer who is a bit of a veteran of the San Fran’ scene. He’s been in or associated with Lightning Bolt, Pink and Brown, fronted Coachwhips, and played guitar in the Dysfunctional Hospitals. Now Thee Oh Sees are his main band and have been so for a good six albums with various minor name changes along the way. Noisy but melodic rock’n'roll with some sweet boy-girl vocals is the order of the day and it works exquisitely on their latest album ‘Help’, also out on Into The Red.

For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, Harlem, The Smith Westerns.

buy: Thee Oh Sees – Help mp3 / cd/lp / iTunes

mp3: Thee Oh Sees – Ruby Go Home

mp3: Thee Oh Sees – A Flag In The Court

Wavves – San Diego, California.

Although not strictly one of our favourites, a feature on lo-fi wouldn’t be right without including Wavves who have been responsible for throwing this sort of music into the limelight in 2009.

Wavves is bedroom songsmith Nathan Williams who crafts lo-fi surf-punk anthems supposedly for the bored generation. The past year has seen him become one of the most blogged/written about musicians in the indie world. This lead to his signing for indie label of the moment, Bella Union, who released his self-titled debut in the UK.

Since then Williams has had a much publicised breakdown on stage at the Primavera festival in Barcelona where he took a cocktail of ecstasy and valium, was unable to play properly and began abusing the audience and fighting with his drummer! This and then a broken wrist has led to the cancellation of a large number of European dates but we’re assured he’s on the mend and will be back. Read our old review here.

For Fans Of: Vivian Girls, Times New Viking, Pens.

buy: Wavves – Wavves mp3 / cd / iTunes

mp3: Wavves – So Bored

Kurt Vile – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kurt Vile is the self proclaimed ‘Constant Hitmaker’ (the title of his debut) from Philly. He’s also (see Harlem above) recently been snapped up by Matador Records for the release of his second long player ‘Childish Prodigy’ due out October 5th. ‘Freeway’ is taken from his debut and is as sun kissed a piece of lo-fi as you’re likely to hear. Bring on album number two.

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

buy: Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker iTunes

pre-order: Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy cd

mp3: Kurt Vile – Freeway

Lovvers – London, UK.

Lovvers are one of a few UK bands that can really give their US counterparts a real run for their lo-fi buck. Signed to the wonderful Witchita Recordings for the release of their latest album ‘OCD Go Go Go Girls’. Not to be confused with their single and featured track below, ‘OCD Go Go Girls’! They impressed while supporting The Strange Boys in Dalston recently and have been causing a stir the other side of the pond too which is always good to see. Look out for some live dates coming soon.

For Fans Of: Germs, Nodzzz, The Shitty Limits.

buy: Lovvers – OCD Go Go Go Girls cd / Lp/ mp3

mp3: Lovvers – Ocd Go Go Girls

Crocodiles – San Diego, California.

Crocodiles main men Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell lifted their name from Echo & The Bunnymen’s first album and the 80s British influence is there for all to hear in the spiky drumming, delayed guitar and sweet vocal effects. Their album ‘Summer Of Hate’ out through Fat Possom (who also picked up Wavves debut a while back) is a shimmering delight.

For Fans Of: Jesus and Mary Chain, Suicide, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

buy: Crocodiles – Summer Of Hate cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes

live: Crocodiles @ The Victoria, Oct 23rd.

mp3: Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill

mp3: Crocodiles – Soft Skull (In My Room)

Grass Widow – San Francisco, California.

Recommended to Music Mule by Ryan Sambol, The Strange Boys front man. Grass Widow are a female 3-piece with a taste for clattering drums, spiky guitar and sweet female vocal harmonies. It’s not all La La Las though, we sense a bit of a dark side to these girls. They remind us a bit of a lo-fi Electrelane. Anyone else? Their debut LP is out in the States now on Make A Mess records. Better than Vivian Girls?

For Fans Of: Vivian Girls, Urinals, Neo Boys.

buy: Grass Widow – Grass Widow LP

mp3: Grass Widow – To Where

Nodzzz – San Francisco, California.

Nodzzz is a San Francisco 3-piece whose 10 track debut self titled album, released on What’s Your Rupture in 2008, clocked in at a whopping 16 minutes! Needless to say then that short and snappy is the way they play the game. It’s un life changing, endearing pop-punk. ‘True To Life’ is the lead track off their new 7 inch while ‘Is She There’ is one of their album highlights.

For Fans Of: Thee Oh Sees, Dum Dum Girls, The Fresh and Onlys.

buy: Nodzzz – Nodzzz cd / lp / mp3

live: Nodzzz @ Old Blue Last, Aug 29th.

mp3: Nodzzz – Is She There

mp3: Nodzzz – True to Life

Beach Fossils – Brooklyn, New York.

Beach Fossils is Dustin Payseur a Brooklyn resident who plays simple, blissed out guitar pop with some heavy effects on his vocals (think vibrrrrrrrrato). He’s not currently got any official releases out but he’s associated with Woodsist (who also released Fresh and Onlys debut Stateside – see below) and Captured Tracks so should have some records out soon. This is milk and honey sweet guitar pop perfect for kicking back in the sun to or wherever else you may wish to kick back. We’re pretty hooked on ‘Daydream’ at the moment. Get it below.

For Fans Of: Kurt Vile, (early) REM, The Clean.

mp3: Beach Fossils – Daydream

The Fresh & Onlys – San Francisco, California.

Last but in no freaking way least is The Fresh and Onlys who are Tim Cohen, Shayde Sartin, Kyle Gibson, Wymond Miles and Heidi Alexander. Garage rock meets brit pop perhaps? ‘Peacock & Wing’ sounds a bit Pulp like at times. Another recommendation from The Strange Boys’ Ryan Sambol so thanks for that Ryan.

For Fans Of: Thee Oh Sees, Skygreen Leopards, Pulp.

buy: The Fresh and Onlys – The Fresh and Onlys mp3 / iTunes

mp3: The Fresh & Onlys – Peacock and Wing

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