[hot off the press] The Postelles//The Postelles

The debut full-length from NYC rockers, The Postelles, is out today (6/7) and it’s definitely worth your attention.

If you’re not familiar with The Postelles, they’re a bunch of NY youngsters with a knack for 1950’s doo-wop and indie garage rock…think Buddy Holly singing lead vocals for The Strokes (neat little fact, album was produced by The Strokes’ rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr).  Last.fm describes the band as “a more modern take on the soundtrack to a 1950s prom with a New York edge thrown in for good measure.”, but Paste Magazine sums it up best — ‘They’re the group that would have been had Marty McFly stuck with his band at the Under the Sea dance and helped develop their sound into a mix of their Motown roots and the rock that would follow, touring the boozy backwaters outside Hill Valley to the delight of any crowd.”

I haven’t heard a single disappointing song from these guys, but White Night is definitely my favorite track.  Check out the video and track below, then do yourself a favor and grab yourself a copy of the album here.

The Postelles – White Night

[on the rise] GIVERS

If you happened to be listening to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic today (6/2), you were treated to a live studio performance by GIVERS.

Hailing from Lafayette, LA, GIVERS are an indie pop quintet that specialize in youthful songs filled with optimism and positivity.  They have a peppiness to them that reminds me of Vampire Weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Pepper Rabbit.

I really didn’t know much about GIVERS until today.  A number of my favorite blogs have featured them, but I never really gave them a chance…but I really wish I had.  In 2009, GIVERS released their self-titled and self-produced GIVERS EP. Since then, GIVERS have toured with Dirty ProjectorsRa Ra Riot, and more.  In 2010, GIVERS was named the ‘Best of What’s Next’ by PASTE Magazine and a ‘Band to Watch’ by Stereogum, who describes their music as “packed with that sort of psychedelic buoyancy, homegrown exoticism… and rattling optimism/joy.”

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be a big year for GIVERS.  They’re set to release their debut full-length, In Light, on June 7th, and they’ll be touring throughout June in support of the release (LA peeps, they play the Bootleg Theater tonight, 6/2).  Until then, check out a couple of my favorite tracks below and become a fan of GIVERS on facebook.

GIVERS – Ceiling of Plankton
GIVERS – Up Up Up

Mid-Week Mixtape: Summer Driving


The wifey and I are driving up the coast this weekend and it got me thinking about Summer driving mixes.

I absolutely hate driving and I wouldn’t be able to handle it without some good tunes.  If you’re anything like me, you make mixes for all of your driving adventures and even though our wallets are getting raped at the pump, i’m sure this Summer includes a couple of road trips worthy of their own soundtrack.

I usually don’t think too hard when it comes to putting together a driving mix — it’s usually a bunch of new songs I enjoy, with some old reliables sprinkled in.  Other than that, I follow two simple rules.  (1) The songs can’t put me to sleep and (2) the mix should be long enough that you don’t get tired of the songs too quickly, but short enough that you hear every song at least once on the trip.

I’m still putting together my mix for this weekend’s trip, but here are some tracks that will definitely make an appearance.

Au Revoir Simone – Tell Me (Clock Opera Remix)
[More: Au Revoir Simone//More: Clock Opera]

Austra – Lose It
[More: Austra]

Bikini – American Mourning (Win Win Remix)
[More: Bikini//More: Win Win]

Chiddy Bang – Too Much Soul
[More: Chiddy Bang]

Cults – Abducted
[More: Cults]

El Obo – Vrgn Evl
[More: El Obo]

Gang Gang Dance – Mindkilla
[More: Gang Gang Dance]

Germany Germany – Take Me Home
[More: Germany Germany]

Handsome Furs – What About Us
[More: Handsome Furs]

Holy Ghost! – Wait & See
[More: Holy Ghost!]

Maximum Balloon – Groove Me (feat. Theophilus London)
[More: Maximum Balloon//More: Theophilus London]

The Naked And Famous – Young Blood
[More: The Naked And Famous]

Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks
[More: Of Monsters And Men]

Parenthetical Girls – Evelyn McHale
[More: Parenthetical Girls]

unouomedude – Frequency
[More: unouomedude]

Listen to the entire mix on 8tracks.

Coachella 2012

Coachella 2012 will be held over TWO WEEKENDS:

Coachella Weekend 1 – April 13-15, 2012 | Coachella Weekend 2 – April 20-22, 2012

Passes go on sale beginning this Friday, June 3rd, 2011, at 10am PST until the following Friday June 10th, 2011, at 10pm PST. The advance sale will be the only opportunity to take advantage of the Coachella Payment Plan. Passes will be available through a payment plan of 10% down and 8 equal monthly payments OR by payment in full. The price of three-day passes remains at $269 plus fees for the sixth consecutive year.

What are your thoughts on this change?  Is this a good idea or bad idea?

[hot off the press] Chiddy Bang//Peanut Butter And Swelly

I’m a bit late on this, but just in case you weren’t aware that the Philly hip hop duo, Chiddy Bang, dropped their latest mixtape, Peanut Butter And Swelly, last week, they did…and it’s quite good.  Even better, it’s available for free courtesy of ILLROOTS!

Download the mixtape here.

Chiddy Bang – Cameras

Expert Music Lover//Amateur Music Blogger