I’ve meant to post this several weeks ago, but things have been just a touch chaotic lately.   Here goes….  I hope you find a couple or few songs worth checking out!  If you use iTunes, you can access the whole list through an iMix.

1. Lights and Music; Cut Copy; In Ghost Colours

I’m kicking it off with an upbeat electronic track from Cut Copy, a trio from Australia.  Definitely reminiscent of the 80’s.

2. Kim & Jessie; M83; Saturdays = Youth

I really got into M83’s last album Before the Dawn Heals Us back in 2005 and have been waiting for their new LP.  Saturdays = Youth definitely has more of a “80’s pop” sound than the earlier work from this French band.

3. Mykonos; Fleet Foxes; Sun Giant (EP)

Let’s switch it up a bit with a low-key song from Seattle-based Fleet Foxes.  These guys are definitely in the indie-folk genre.

4. Happy When I’m Gone; Sera Cahoone; Only As the Day Is Long

I’ll stick with another Seattle-based indie-folk artist.  Sera Cahoone, who apparently played as a drummer for Band of Horse for a time, adds some twangy alt-country to this song.

5. Olympic Airways; Foals; Antidotes

This debut album from Oxford, England-based Foals definitely reminds me of Bloc Party.  I heard this track on KEXP.org and immediately added it to my rotation.

6. Sometime Around Midnight;  The Airbone Toxic Event; (single)

The moody opening full of violins caught my attention, and it slowly transitions to guitar-driven modern rock.   I don’t know much about these guys except that they hail from Southern California.

7. When Water Comes to Life; Cloud Cult; Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)

This piece from Minnesota-based Cloud Cult begins with an impressive and elaborate orchestral arrangement.   The lead singer’s vulnerable lyrics eventually come in about half-way into the song, and the juxtaposition over the overlapping instrumentation works.

8. Gimme Some Motivation; Delta Spirit; I Think I’ve Found It!

This song has a great soulful vibe and a driving rock sound.  Delta Spirit hails out of San Diego (even though it claims its location as “rainforest” on MySpace).

9. The Modern Leper; Frightened Rabbit; The Midnight Organ Fight

Here’s another band I heard on KEXP, and this one is based in Glasgow, Scottland. This driving rock number is the opening track from their sophomore album. 

10.  Salute Your Solution; Racounteurs;  Consolers of the Lonely

I’m glad to see that The Raconteurs are back with their second album.  This is my favorite track from Consolers of the Lonely and features Jack White’s shouting vocals.

11. Solo Impala (Take the Money and Run); The Fashion; The Fashion

Here’s a cool upbeat dance-able pop track.   These guys have some similarities to the fellow Denmark-based Junior Senior.

12. Grounds for Divorce; Elbow; The Seldom Seen Kid

Manchester, England-based Elbow is back with a new album, two years after their modestly successful Leaders of the Free World.   “There’s a hole in my neighborhood down which of late I cannot help but fall….”

13. Between Sky and Sea; Dive Index; Mid/Air

Here’s a shimmering track from New York-based Dive Index featuring the beautiful voice of Natalie Walker. 

14. Abandon; French Kicks; Swimming

This New York-based band has released its 4th album, and this is the opening track.  It’s highly melodic and catchy but under a aural haze…. it’s a song I’d like to wake up to in the morning.

15. I Will Possess Your Heart; Death Cab for Cutie; (single)

This single is from Seattle-based Death Cab’s upcoming new album “Narrow Stairs”, and how could I turn down an 8 minute 35 second song for 99 cents on iTunes?  I think it’s another beautiful effort.

16. Lately; The Helio Sequence;  Keep Your Eyes Ahead

I heard these guys play in Seattle a little while back, and “Lately” was definitely a highlight of the evening from this Portland-based duo.  We’ll close with this lovely stargazing electronic track.