Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

Perfect for a sunny summer's afternoon in the park, this track is light and airy but also cheeky and deriding (#..I laughed so hard I fell down...#)

Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

Recommended to me by the same person who opened my eyes to the Temper Trap, Band of Horses and Bon Iver. I'm going to stop listing his credits now because they'll get too long and list-y. He shall henceforth be known as TOBI (so you can search him if you like his style) until he permits me to use his real name.

So that was my attempt at an April fool for the keenos who click the links before reading the entire post :)

Here's the real link. There's no audio for this track on their Last.fm (there is for others) but it's up on their MySpace right now.

Had a listen to the album, 'Ear in the Park' (through spotify) and 'Phantom Other' really stood out for me but also like 'Herringbone', 'Waves of Rye' and 'Therapy Car Noise'.

Cheers TOBI.

Hipslinky - Natural

Caught these guys at 93 feet east last night with some other great bands:

• the Vibrants - seen them live a couple of times now but keep going back for more...check out 'First Move' and 'I Won't Sleep (Terrify)' from the 'Retaliate EP'
• Scarlet Harlots - came 3rd on Orange Unsigned Act 2009, the tags on Last.fm say dub, soul, indie, hip hop, dance but they came across as odd but interesting drum n bass-style indie rock for me. Awesome and unexpected cover of Montel Jordan's 'This is How We Do It'!
• Anison - new single out this week, this was the launch gig. Really atmospheric, moody, indie rock.
  

But the reason for this post is to bring you:

Hipslinky - Natural

This track really stood out for me in their otherwise also fantastic set; think the OC. Here's their MySpace.

Scott Matthews - Eyes Wider Than Before

Best known for 'Elusive', which was the first track released from the album 'Passing Stranger', but this is my favourite track:

Scott Matthews - Eyes Wider Than Before

Ethereal-sounding guitar running through and a beautiful texture to his voice. Here's his MySpace.

He's playing the Bloomsbury Theatre on 3 June.

Dishwalla

Some good, solid American rock this morning....If you only buy one album of theirs, 'Opaline' would be my pick, being the more mellow album but the others also have some gems on them which I will point you to below:

• So Blind - my personal favourite, it's on 'And You Think You Know What Life's About'
• Healing Star - from the same album, it's an 'I'll make everything ok' tune
• Collide - I think this was the first Dishwalla track I heard, on Smallville. It's on 'Dishwalla'

and from 'Opaline':

Opaline - the title track
Angels or Devils
Every Little Thing

Here's their MySpace - looks like J R Richards is releasing a debut solo album this year...

Silversun Pickups

I think this band are a bit like marmite - I was crazily enthusiastic when I heard them for the first time but my brother's reaction was more like 'hmm. bit weird'.

Brain Aubert's vocals are strangely robotic and perhaps a little Billy Corgan at times (that's meant as a compliment).

There are mainly samples on their MySpace and the only full track on their last.fm page is a weird dance-style remix of Lazy Eye. But www.silversunpickups.com has a full-length of 'Well Thought Out Twinkles' on the mp3 player right now.

Favourite tracks on Carnavas (if you can find them):

Well Thought Out Twinkles
Lazy Eye
Future Foe Scenarios
Common Reactor

And it would seem they're releasing a new album, 'Swoon' on 14 April on Dangerbird Records....looks like 'Panic Switch' (on the MySpace) is a taster...?

Howling Bells - Nightingale

The poster for their new album, 'Radio Wars' caught my eye as I rushed past it this morning so I thought I'd check it out...

Howling Bells - Nightingale

Bit electro, possibly indie ambient - I really like this track in particular, especially Juanita Stein's vocals and the synth behind the verses. 'Cities Burning Down' has also just been released as a single on Independiente Records.

There's no media on the Last.fm page at the moment but hoping it'll come. For now, it's up on their MySpace player.

MGMT - Electric Feel

'Time to Pretend' just won the award for Best Track at the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards (full winners list here). Great track- but also check out:

MGMT - Electric Feel

from the same album, 'Oracular Spectacular'. Spaced out and mellow...