I keep forgetting to get up these HH’s on time, mainly because I just have so much on my mind lately. But anywho, Toro y Moi was another artist to cling to the “chillwave” genre that exploded onto the scene recently. This label isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering both “Blessa” and “Talamak” were among my favorite songs of last year. On his debut full length LP, Chaz Bundick creates a soft, lush world of funky synth and ethereal vocals that simply flow together seamlessly. The sound gets a little played out by the end, but most of the ride is rather enjoyable. My only wish was that this album was released in the summer, simply because these tunes feel like they should be dripping with sunlight or blasted during balmy late night cruises.

Toro y Moi- Low Shoulder
iTunes/amazon/carpark

-Chandler

-Donovan

Cass McCombs – Don’t Vote

Amazon / iTunes

-Chris

It’s been a few weeks since I posted anything here, mostly because I’ve studying older music for a few weeks, which while awesome didn’t really seem post worthy. In the time since I last posted, Conan got removed from the Tonight Show (albeit with a lovely exit package) and there is now an hour long void in my soul. As one of the few people my age group who actually watched his show on a regular basis (sad but true), I feel kind of shafted but maybe he’ll latch on somewhere else and be even funnier. At this point my late night life has become all Craig Ferguson all the time, which is still great because Craig is hilarious.

In unexpected news, my New York Jets actually did something good and upset two teams en route to the AFC Championship where they played a very respectable first half and ended up getting dismantled in the second. Still, it was an inspiring even if surprising.

In very expected news, Mass Effect 2 sucked my soul in and returned it to me only two days ago upon completion of the game. I am now wholly better and looking forward to the conclusion of the fantastic trilogy in about two years (mega sigh). At least the word “bosh’tet” has now entered my lexicon!

In musical news, lots has happened, but something that interests me a great deal is Joanna Newsom’s upcoming third full length, Have One on Me, which was recently announced to be a triple album. Can that be right? Triple?? Furthermore, a track from the album set to drop in three weeks is up on the Drag City website. It’s gorgeous, and very vocaly, something that certainly could’ve been on The Milk-Eyed Mender and something that certainly couldn’t have been on Ys. I loved both though so I’m scarcely complaining.

Here’s the track, and pre-order the album off Drag City here.

Joanna Newsom – ‘81

This is where her MySpace would be if she had one. Is there any other artist out there who doesn’t have a MySpace? Awesome.

-Donovan

Because blogmate Chris already touched upon Beach House’s new Teen Dream, my favorite release of the month, I had to scramble and come up with something else that came out this week. I might add that Teen Dream is a grower, so if you don’t initially like it, give it some time and it could rather easily become all you listen to. In any event, the other release this week that has grabbed my attention is Bioware’s new sci-fi RPG/shooter Mass Effect 2. If you played the first one, or any of Bioware’s past games for that matter, you know you’re in for a treat. Packed on two discs, ME2 plays like an epic galactic movie, and like the first one, is a really an achievement of what games can be in terms of game play, story, and graphics. I strongly recommend it, but be warned: flying around the galaxy may chew up a lot of your time.

eb/amazon

-Chandler

Beach House has a new album, called Teen Dream. If you like their previous albums, you’ll love this. If you’re not already a fan, “Real Love” might have the best chance of winning you over. Either that or this picture of Victoria Legrand.

Beach House – Real Love

Amazon / iTunes

-Chris

This would be the new Spoon album, but Donovan and I agree that the sound of Spoon has just become boring and redundant, so their latest album is less than meh. Astro Coast is the debut album by hyped band Surfer Blood, who turn in a fun, loud surfer-ish record. Filled with catchy guitar riffs and poppy lyrics, it won’t exactly change the landscape of music forever. But it’s certainly an enjoyable, constantly changing ride, as well as a solid debut from a young band (they recorded this in their dorm room). They seem like they know what they’re doing, so hopefully we can expect more in the future.

Surfer Blood- Fast Jabroni
iTunes/amazon/kanine

-Chandler

So what. It’s college basketball season. Maybe I’ll leave the couch when the UConn women win by less than 25. In the meantime, here’s a song from Department of Eagles. “Phantom Other” is a killer song, written and sung by Grizzly Bear’s guitarist Daniel Rossen. If you can, listen to it with some big ole headphones – this song sounds amazing.

Department of Eagles – Phantom Other

Amazon / iTunes

-Chris

Laura Veirs has spent seemingly a lifetime as two things. Number one is very obscure and unloved by a large portion of the indie community, and number two is one of my favorite artists. Her most recent album, her seventh full length, was released by Raven Marching Band Records here in the States. If you’re wondering why you may never have heard of that label before, it’s because it’s her own label that she created in order to be able to release this album at all. The album itself is fantastic, my favorite of 2010 so far (granted that’s not saying much considering it’s been two weeks). Take a listen fo’ yo’self.

Laura Veirs – I Can See Your Tracks

iTunes / amazon

Raven Marching Band Records

-Donovan

10. Laura Gibson- Beasts of Seasons MySpace

9. The XX-XX MySpace

8. The Field- Yesterday and Today MySpace

7. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest MySpace

6. The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love MySpace

5. tUnE-yArDs- BiRd BrAiNs MySpace

4. St. Vincent- Actor MySpace

3. Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca MySpace

2. The Antlers- Hospice MySpace

1. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion MySpace

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Animal Collective has made some of the most unique, inspiring music for the past decade, and this year they released what many people consider to be their best effort yet. Without a weak song on the record, “My Girls” stood out as the crown jewel and captured the ears of the masses, gathering a whole new group of fans. Along with the recently released Fall Be Kind EP and its fantastic “What Would I Want? Sky”, this was officially the year of AniCol. And they deserved it.

The List of Bishop
The Antlers- Hospice
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
St. Vincent- Actor
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
Bibio- Ambivalence Avenue
Volcano Choir- Unmap
The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love
Freelance Whales- Weathervanes
Girls- Album
tUnE-yArDs- BiRd BrAiNs

The List of Chandler
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Sunset Rubdown- Dragonslayer
Night Control- Death Control
Atlas Sound- Logos
The Field- Yesterday and Today
Dan Deacon- Bromst
Girls- Album
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
Smith Westerns- Smith Westerns
St. Vincent- Actor

The List of Chris
Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Mount Eerie- Wind’s poem
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Generationals- Con Law
Laura Gibson- Beast of Seasons
David Bazan- Curse Your Branches
St. Vincent- Actor
Thao With The Get Down Stay Down- Know Better Learn Faster

The List of Donovan
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
tUnE-yArDs- BiRd BrAiNs
The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love
The Antlers- Hospice
The XX- XX
St. Vincent- Actor
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
The Field- Yesterday and Today
Fever Ray- Fever Ray
Laura Gibson- Beasts of Seasons

Thanks 2009!
-f/k