I wrote about Minnesota-based band Bad Bad Hats a couple years ago. At the time, the trio had just released their second EP, the poppy and catchy "It Hurts." That EP is still available for free on Bandcamp. Since then, I've been anxiously anticipating the band's debut full length, and I can finally stop waiting and start listening since the album was released today. Their debut full-length is titled "Psychic Reader," and the band has picked up right where they left off. I imagine I'll play this album quite a few times before the summer is over. And if you don't want to take my word for it, Paste Magazine recently gave the album a 9.0 / 10 in their review. Even better than an awesome new album though is an awesome *free* new album (which you can get by entering your email address here)!
Since the band seems keen on giving their music away, I highly recommend paying to go see them if they stop in your town. I have to assume they put on a really fun show. You can find their tour dates here. They've got a show in Minnesota in September playing with The Mynabirds.
So click here, get free music, and let it soundtrack some gorgeous summer days.
I spent the last few months finishing writing a dissertation, teaching a bunch of students about statistics, finally graduating from grad school, moving 1000 miles across the country, finding a job for the fall, adopting a sweet 4 year old American Staffordshire Terrier from a shelter, and woefully neglecting my music blogging. I've still been listening to a whole bunch of music during all of those things though, so I'm hoping to start posting some stuff here much more regularly now that life is starting to settle down a bit.
Today I wanted to share a song (or two) by the Brooklyn indie rock / indie folk quintet Great Elk. I first discovered the band on the Wild Honey Pie blog, and I've found myself wanting to keep replaying their album since then. The album closer, "A Clouded Head," is perhaps my favorite track from the band's new album "Star Stuff." A beautiful solo acoustic version of the song can be listened to / watched below.
Another album standout is "Music Is Better Than Life," which you can stream (and download) below.
The album is only $7.99 on Amazon and seems like a great soundtrack for summer evening drives.
Leon Bridges name has been popping up a lot for someone who has only released two songs thus far, but it's for good reason. Bridges, a Texas native, performs some of the sweetest sounding soul and r&b since Sam Cooke. Leon Bridges' debut album will be coming out for Columbia Records later this year, and it is quickly becoming one of my most eagerly anticipated albums. In the meantime, I recommend putting the two songs below on repeat.
If like me, you're craving more from him, it looks like he's releasing a third song, called "Lisa Sawyer," on Tuesday. You can watch a live performance of it here. You can find some other live performances of his songs such as My Love Stays, River, and Let You Down. They are all absolutely gorgeous. You can also listen to him cover a couple Sam Cooke songs here and here. Alright, I could do this all night, but I better stop.
Leon Bridges is currently on tour. I'd recommend seeing if you can catch him now because I'm guessing tickets will be a lot more expensive the next time you get a chance.
I love this song. I love this video. I love this artwork.
I didn't know anything about this band until I heard "Gagarin" this morning while listening to the All Songs Considered podcast. The British duo Public Service Broadcasting attempts to "teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future" by mixing sounds from old propaganda films with electronic sounds. It works surprisingly well for them I must say. Below is a video for "Gagarin" off the band's forthcoming album. If you've ever wanted to watch two astronauts (or cosmonauts?) dancing while you listen to some real funky horns mixed with old sound clips about Yuri Gagarin, you have weirdly specific wishes, but also you can satisfy those desires with the video below:
The band's full-length album "The Race For Space" is due out February 24. I love the artwork for the album too. I think I may have to go from never hearing of them to pre-ordering the vinyl from the band's website in about a 12 hour span.
If you want to hear more from Public Service Broadcasting (as I did), they have a 2013 album titled "Inform - Educate - Entertain" that you can listen to on Spotify.
