Japandroids - Younger Us

Last year Japandroid released ‘Post Nothing’ a thrilling lo-fi pop punk album that perfectly described what it was like moving into your early 20’s. The youthful angst, the continued obsession with the opposite sex and the highs/lows that ensue when you think your ‘in love’. Their new track ‘Younger Us’ picks up life a few years later. Recounting memories of ”that time you were in bed, said ‘fuck it’ got up and drank with me instead” when saying “I’ll sleep when i’m dead” was a mantra. Before hangovers actually hurt and the emotional toll of (not so) meaningless sexual encounters started to tell. Wishing you could feel that way again even if only for a day, but knowing deep down those carefree days are gone forever. Its a great track and not to be missed.

Younger Us.mp3

If you don't already own it, make sure you buy Post Nothing from iTunes

Los Campesinos! - Letters from Me to Charlotte (RSVP)

I’m not sure how Los Campesinos! releasing a mini EP got by me, but it did. Well until now that is. It’s really caught my ears as sees the band stepping out of their usual wall of fuzz and guitar riffs.

Instead these new versions of songs from their 3rd album Romance Is Boring contain violins, pianos and a stripped away to nothing production that cynics might say is them jumping on the folk bandwagon. Even if there is any truth in such cynicism I don’t care one bit as the results are startlingly good.

Los Campesinos! songs have always crafted with very idiosyncratic lyrics, that unless you listen often don’t reveal themselves as intimate confessions of character flaws and past wrong doings. But slowed to crawl and removed from the wall of noise their intimacy is at once immediate.

It’s something that caught me by surprise and hints that the bands future direction could be something very different but equally great. That my friends is something to be excited about.

Letters From Me To Charlotte (RSVP).mp3

Darwin Deez - Radar Detector

So it's been a while since I wrote one these things., Its an unfortunate by-product of just having way too much on at work and in my social life. Excuses aside I'm back and intend to be far more committed to this music blog than i have been in the last month.

So where to start? well there's only once place really and thats with this most amazing of Tracks from Darwin Deez. I first got wind of this via Ben Marwoods podcast for me on [edit] radio last month, he described it as possibly 'the best pop song of the year?'

I have to say that even after the 10th listen the track loses none of its luster. It has a boundless energy and sounds wee bit like Max Tundra but poppier (if thats even a word).

As I said in the podcast I released this week if you listen to this song without bopping along you don't deserve the power of hearing!

Darwin Deez - Radar Detector by LuckyNumberMusic

You can buy his amazing album from the link below