WATCH: Real Estate featuring Bradford Cox - Mind Games (John Lennon Cover)

LISTEN: Family Portrait

Glide Part One (Demo) 

Glide Part Two (Demo) 

 As you might already have noticed, I'm a huge fan of Underwater Peoples Records. I first heard Real Estate last winter, which was my first winter here in Sweden and their debut album will always remind me of the orange tinted snow from the streetlights and the part-time job I had opening up a tent that housed Father Christmas. For most people, Underwater Peoples symbolizes summer and the beach, but for me it's always going to be cosy music for autumn/winter and with winter fast approaching and the upcoming release of Family Portrait's debut, it looks like they may be 2010s cosiness.

 Listen to more here.

VIDEO: Julian Lynch - Just Enough

Julian Lynch "Just Enough" from OLDE ENGLISH SPELLING BEE on Vimeo.

Check out this great video for 'Just Enough' off Julian's excellent album, 'Mare.'

Ducktails - Hamilton Road 7"

These guys really can't do anything wrong in my eyes! Alex Bleeker, Ducktails, Real Estate, Julian Lynch...such a talented group of guys! Plus now we have a Seinfeld reference thrown in! It doesn't get any better! An alternate version of 'Art Vandelay' will appear on his upcoming release, 'Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics', this autumn. Click the album link to listen to the title track off this 7".

Ducktails - Art Vandelay

Buy it here.

COMING SOON: Real Estate - Out of Tune/Reservoir 7"

Out Of Tune by truepanther

My favourite band of last year are back with a new 7", 'Out of Tune'/''Reservoir', which will be released on the 12th October on True Panther Records. :-D

COMING SOON: Ducktails - Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics

Ducktails - Hamilton Road

http://www.myspace.com/ducktailss

http://www.woodsist.com/

Ducktails - Mirror Image 7"

 Ducktails aka Matt Mondanile of Real Estate released his 7" 'Mirror Image' a couple of months ago and I completely forgot to mention it. Anyway, I am now and you can check out the video to the A-side, 'Applewalk', over on Choc Bobka and take a listen to the B-side, 'Mirror Image Index', below. Perfect tropicala lo-fi goodness to kick back to! You can pick the 7" up over on Shdwply Records.

Mirror Image Index (mp3 from Impose)

COMING SOON: Julian Lynch - Mare (2010)

Julian Lynch will release 'Mare', his follow-up to 'Orange You Glad' sometime this year on Olde English Spelling Bee. Lynch and friends really are turning into favourites of mine and so far I have been a fan of everything they've touched. If you're not sure who these guys are, be sure to check out Ducktails, Alex Bleeker & The Freaks, Alex Bleeker's solo work, Real Estate and anyone on Underwater Peoples.

You can listen to two of the new songs below. I've also posted a couple of videos of songs off his previous effort ('Seed') and one off the Ducktails/Julian Lynch split 7" ('Garden 2').

Listen to the title track here.
Julian Lynch - Just Enough

* mp3 courtesy of Stereogum

VIDEO: Alex Bleeker - Getting By (live at SXSW)

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- "Getting By"- Live- Micro-Pixel-Rites BBQ- SXSW- Austin, TX- March 18, 2010 from Samantha Cornwell on Vimeo.

One of my songs of the year so far! AMAZING! A perfect song. The song is off Alex Bleeker's 'These Days' 7" and the Freaks join him here in this performance.

A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: Forty-Two Songs to Fika to

"Fika, a social institution in Sweden, is both verb and noun in Swedish and has a broad definition. Essentially, it refers to a break from one's activities in order to drink coffee or other drinks with friends, family or acquaintances. This tradition of a coffee break with a snack is central to Swedish culture, and Swedes are one of the world's top coffee consumers."

The mix includes tracks from David Crosby, Neil Young, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Real Estate, Devendra Banhart, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Fred Neil, Traffic, John Phillips, Kurt Vile, Old 97's, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Grateful Dead, The Felice Brothers, The Strange Boys and many more.

Invite some friends over, stick this on and fika Swedish style. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Open 'Forty-Two Songs to Fika to' in Spotify 

FESTIVAL: Way Out West, Gothenburg, Sweden 12th-14th August 2010

I'm still in my first year living in Sweden and have always wanted to go to 'Way Out West' and this year is no exception after seeing the current confirmed artists include Beach House, GIRLS, Local Natives, Real Estate, M.I.A., Pavement, Q-Tip, The Tallest Man On Earth, the National and more! What's more, I just read that they're trying to (I think I did anyway!) get The Felice Brothers booked too! NOW THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - S/T (2009)

I know I already posted about this album a couple of months back, but I hadn't heard the album then. I've been listening to the album the last few days and I just had to tell you all how GOOD it is! A few reviews I've read refer to this album as classic rock for our generation and it's pretty much bang on! This is a talented bunch of guys! I don't think I've heard an album involving any of these New Jerseyers that I haven't liked. Be it Real Estate, Julian Lynch, Ducktails or Alex Bleeker's recent solo 7", 'These Days'. All the albums have a similar sort of vibe, but sound quite different at the same time. Alex Bleeker and the Freaks have a really loose, jam style quality to them, complete with wailing guitar licks and Neil Youngesque melodies that are perfect this time of the year. The album plays works best as just that, an album. The whole thing blends into 26 minutes of carefree good times that always has me hitting play again as soon as it stops. The longer instrumental passages combine perfectly with the more 'song' based material, such as their cover of Mountain Man's 'Animal Tracks' and the transition from 'Summer' into 'Epilogue' is incredible. Although this was released last year, this is definitely going to be one of my most listened to albums of the year and I look forward to more releases from Bleeker & co.

Next on my list of bands to listen to are all the other artists on Under Water Peoples Records, which is home to Real Estate, Bleeker and company!

Listen in Spotify 

Check out this interview with Bleeker over at Low Log.

NEW RELEASE: Beach Fossils - S/T (2010)

Beach Fossils have just released (well I think they have...some places say 6th April and some 13th April) their self-titled debut album on Captured Tracks and from what I've heard it definitely reminds me of Real Estate's amazing debut from last year. With song titles such as 'Daydream', 'Lazy Days', 'Youth' and 'Window View', it's pretty obvious that nostalgia and warm summer nights are the agenda once again and I'm sure this'll get a lot of playtime over the coming months. Check out the videos below for a taster.

EDIT: Actual release date will be the 25th May!

NEW TRACK: Run DMT - Spruce Bringsteen (2010)

I've never heard of these guys before, but just came across this track over on Chocolate Bobka and thought it was pretty damn nice. It's a great summer track and should definitiely be filed next to the likes of Real Estate, Ducktails etc. Their Myspace page says they're on Woodist/Wigflip, but I can't find too much else about them anywhere. They do have some free music for download on there too, so be sure to check it out.

Run DMT - Spruce Bringsteen

VIDEO: Real Estate - Suburban Dogs

Beach Fossils - Daydream 7" (2010)

I just came across these guys randomly on Spotify and insantly took a liking to the laid back beachy vibes of 'Daydream', that made me want summer more than ever! Be sure to check out their myspace page below for some more tracks! They're on Woodist/Captured Tracks and are due to release their first full length in April and have toured with fellow Woodists Real Estate, a favourite of mine from 2009. Definitely one to watch for 2010!

Listen in Spotify

http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils

Real Estate - Reality EP

Following up one of my favourite albums of last year (the band's S/T LP), Real Estate released this EP only a month after their deut album. The reason, according to the band, is that the songs on this EP were tracks they either wrote or recorded too late to be included on their LP. Also of note, is that apparently only one of the EPs tracks features all the band playing together. The rest were all performed by Martin Courtney.

The only real difference in sound between the LP and this EP are maybe that the EP sounds a little more desolate and sadder. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the almost solo recording of this EP or not, but that's what it sounds like. The standout track after my first listen is probably 'Younger Than Yesterday', which whilst keeping the bands trademark beach vibe could almost be unreleased Elliott Smith song. If you liked their debut as much as I did, you're sure to enjoy this 5 track EP.

"New Jersey’s Real Estate has successfully captured the sound of a late Sunday afternoon, in the dreaded hours before work or school claims your life again. The band’s sweet, loose pop ballads recall a modern-day Everly Brothers, drifting and dreamlike, as their tales of suburban indifference and insecurity mask your own fears. Six new songs, and not a moment too soon."

 Mexican Summer - BUY THE ALBUM

Real Estate - Basement

Real Estate - Younger Than Yesterday



Real Estate - Basement, 10.18.09 from Duke Chronicle on Vimeo.

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks

 Real Estate's album was one of my favourites of last year and I've recently got into Ducktails' album, 'Landscapes'. All of these guys went to high school together in new Jersey and have played together for years. Now we have Alex Bleeker and the Freaks. Alex plays bass in Real Estate and is joined by Martin Courtney on bass and Matt Mondanile (Ducktails) on drums both also of Real Estate and Julian Lynch. Julian Lynch also released his full-length debut last year ('Orange You Glad'), though I haven't heard it yet.

I haven't heard this album yet, but have listened to several tracks on You Tube/Vimeo and really like what I'm hearing. All these guys seem to have a similar sound, but each has their own take on it. Maybe it's just a perfect way for them all to express themselves. Although these are still early days, they kinda remind of Crosby, Still, Nash & Young in the way all the members had solo projects alongside various group offerings. So here are a couple of nice tracks I found on Vimeo...the first being a cover of Mountain Man's 'Animal Tracks' (also included below) which is kinda like a more Crazy Horse style take on the song. The second song, 'Summer>Epilogue' sounds a little Neil Youngesque, mixed with some almost country-style singing and a little Grateful Dead style haziness.



Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - "Animal Tracks" from Elise Oh on Vimeo.


Alex Bleeker & The Freaks - Summer > Epilogue from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Ducktails - Landscapes

Matthew Mondanile is guitarist for 'Real Estate' and last year he also released 'Landscapes' under the name Ducktails (his solo project). As with Real Estate's brilliant self-titled album last year, this album is also very much about atmosphere and mood. This one recalls warm, hazy evenings and faint, Ariel Pink style memories of childhood or as with Dam-Funk, you can quite easily imagine yourself driving through L.A. late at night, with a warm breeze and lthe flickering of neon lights. It also kinda reminds me of the Lost In Translation soundtrack. This isn't Ducktails' first release and I'm not entirely sure how many albums he has released, but there are definitely a few floating around. I could only find one You Tube video off this album, but check out the album...you won't be disappointed.

Albums I Enjoyed In 2009

I think it would be impossible to even attempt to compile a Top 50 of 2009, simply because one, I probably haven't listened to 50 new albums this year and two, if I had there's no way I could've given them all the attention they deserve for them to become a favourite. Therefore, I thought I'd list some albums I enjoyed from 2009.
Obviously, you'll probably read it and say "I can't believe he missed this or that", but if you think I should give something a listen please leave a comment. Sure, there are a few albums that featured heavily in major lists that I didn't care for too much, but there are just as many that I just never got around to listening to.

There are quite a few albums I'm just getting round to listening to and would probably make the list, but I haven't given them enough attention yet for the to join the list. For example, I recently got into Kurt Vile, but haven't got round to listening to his latest album 'Childish Prodigy' and I love Espers, Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens but haven't listened to their latest albums as of yet. Also, I've recently been listening to Dam-Funk's 'Toeachizown', Dinosaur Jr's new album, The Mantles and Flaming Lips' 'Embryonic' and I like the sound of them, but just haven't heard them enough to warrant a place in my favourite's list.



Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Grandes Exitos (tour release only)
Atlas Sound - Logos
Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
BLAKROC - BLACKROC
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer EP
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Beware
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Smoking Acid EP
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - One EP
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Cass McCombs - Catacombs
Conor Oberst - Outer South
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Devendra Banhart - What Will Be Will Be
DOOM - Born Like This
The Duke & The King - Nothing Gold Can Stay
El Michel's Affair - Enter The 37th Chamber
The Felice Brothers - Yonder Is The Clock
Ganglians - Monster Head Room
GIRLS - Album
Grizzly Bear - Veckamist
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Lee Fields & The Expressions - My World
Leonard Cohen - Live in London
Leonard Cohen - Live at The Isle of Wight
The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Monsters of Folk - S/T
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Q-Tip - Kamaal The Abstract 
Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx II
Real Estate - Real Estate
Smith Westerns - Smith Westerns
The Strange Boys - The Strange Boys and Girls Club
Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live
Ty Segall - Lemons
U-God - Dopium
Wavves - Wavvves
White Denim - Fits
Woods - Songs of Shame