dnak
It’s tough to put together a playlist in December! It’s not that there aren’t a lot of releases… it’s just that many of these releases are holiday music! And I just wasn’t feeling “White Christmas” by Iggy Pop making it onto a KNAK list. But fortunately, there is some real music being released, especially EPs and singles as a sneak peak for full albums coming in the new year. So this list is mostly a mix of new stuff and some tracks from releases made in the last few months.
And with the news that just broke about Lala, I’m kinda guessing I soon won’t need to duplicate the lists on both services. But until then, the playlist is available on Lala below (after the jump) as well as in an iTunes iMix.
I’m always looking for recommendations and comments.
-Dave
The list is below….
| Artist | Song Title | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | General Elektrics | Raid the Radio | Good City For Dreamers |
| This duo from Paris is preaching to the choir: “Raid the radio. Because we’re tired of hearing the same old song. We gotta change the dial to something new. Bring some truth to this town.” You can also see their HD video on YouTube. | |||
| 2. | The Good Listeners | Insect Losing Balance | Don’t Quit Your Daydream |
| Here’s an LA-based duo that traveled around the country, composed music w/ locals to create their 3rd album and filmed it. (note: song not available on Lala yet) | |||
| 3. | Frightened Rabbit | Swim Until You Can’t See Land | Swim Until You Can’t See Land – EP |
| After a successful sophomore album in 2008, this Scottish band (two brothers from Glasgow) just released this great single, which is hopefully a sign of things to come in a new release next year. | |||
| 4. | Arctic Monkeys | Catapult | Cornerstore – EP |
| The UK band released an EP just 3 months after their latest full length. Catapult is more like their earlier releases: danceable indie rock. | |||
| 5. | Vampire Weekend | Cousins | Contra |
| NYC nerd rock “it” band is giving us a sneak peak of their new album Contra due on Jan 12, 2010. More fun and inventive combination of styles and sound that just works. | |||
| 6. | Yeasayer | Ambling Alp | Odd Blood |
| Let’s move boroughs to Brooklyn’s Yeasayer. Their new album is due out in early February, and they’re good enough to give us a teaser with this wonderfully eclectic single. | |||
| 7. | Small Black | Despicable Dogs | Small Black EP |
| Debut EP from another band out of Brooklyn. Small Black is for you low-fi fans out there… all electronic fuzz! | |||
| 8. | Elysian Fields | Climbing My Dark Hair | The Afterlife |
| Let’s make it a solid NYC playlist block with Elysian Fields, a long-time downtown group featuring lead singer Jennifer Charles’ deep breathy vocals. Song not yet available on lala. | |||
| 9. | The Moondoggies | Changing | Don’t Be A Stranger |
| This song is actually a year old, but I’ve never featured the Moondoggies on KNAK yet, which is something I need to remedy. I just saw these guys put on a great live show in Seattle. It was a little disconcerting to see some kids in their early 20′s from Seattle have a southern rock vibe, but they pull it off. Look to hear more about them in 2010. | |||
| 10. | Port O’Brien | Love Me Through | Threadbare |
| Yet another track off the latest album from bay area’s Port O’Brien. I love these guys. | |||
| 11. | Wild Beasts | All The King’s Men | Two Dancers |
| This is the 3rd song I’ve featured from this UK group’s sophomore album, and I think it’s my favorite. Look out for the falsetto! | |||
| 12. | Real Estate | Beach Comber | Real Estate |
| Here’s a brand new band out of New Jersey, bringing their brand of guitar dream pop to the music scene. And like their myspace URL says, let’s rock the beach. | |||
| 13. | Bear In Heaven | You Do You | Beast Rest Forth Mouth |
| Brooklyn group brings some deep synth beats with this track. Put on your headphones and let it wash over you. | |||
| 14. | Animal Collective | What Would I Want? Sky | Fall Be Kind EP |
| Not content to have put out a critically acclaimed LP out earlier this year, Animal Collective dropped a bonus EP on us, with this 7 minute gem. And with that, KNAK 37 comes to a close.. | |||
