MEMORYHOUSE “Walk With Me”
Based on the early tracks being released, Memoryhouse’s upcoming album The Slideshow Effect is showing a lot of promise.
The album will come out late in February and I can’t wait to hear it. An early favorite for a Top 10 slot? Maybe.
DELTA SPIRIT “California”
Delta Spirit will release their third album, which is self-titled, in March. I’ve been a big fan of the band for years, but I’m a little disappointed by the sound of this early track.
I’m hoping that the rest of the album sounds a little more authentic, like their older material.
THE SECRET MACHINES “Sad and Lonely”
This isn’t a new song. In fact, it’s several years old.
I just felt like listening to some blues-y, Zeppelin-esque rawk today…and the Secret Machines provide plenty of that.
DIVE “Sometime”
Dive is a side project by Beach Fossils’ guitarist Zachary Cole Smith…and it’s pretty much what you’d expect: swirling guitar lines, relaxed beats and hazy vocals.
Beach Fossils and Dive will be playing shows at SXSW this year and I hope to catch both bands.
WHITE RABBITS “Heavy Metal”
I’ve been a big fan of Brooklyn-via-Missouri band White Rabbits since their debut release Fort Nightly in 2007. In fact, both of their previous albums easily made it into my Top 10 lists in the years of their releases.
Obviously, I’m looking forward to their upcoming third album Milk Famous (due out in March), especially after hearing this post-punk sounding early single.
LOST IN THE TREES “Red”
Lost in the Trees is an orchestral folk band from North Carolina led by Ari Picker. In the past, most of their lush and gorgeous songs surround Picker’s tortured and tragic family history.
He’s trying to move past that trauma with the band’s upcoming third album A Church That Fits Our Needs, starting with this early single.
LOWER DENS “Brains”
Lower Dens released their debut album Twin-Hand Movement in 2010, perfecting the post-punk formula of atmospheric guitars and plodding, entrancing rhythms.
Their 2011 was filled with lineup changes, but now they’re seemingly back with the sudden release of this single and promises of a second album later this year.
SHARON VAN ETTEN “We Are Fine (ft. Zach Condon)”
Drip, drip, drip.
Sharon Van Etten’s new album Tramp has leaked…and it’s simply gorgeous. Sharon’s expanded her sound with some lusher arrangements and occasional atmospheric soundscapes that build upon the ever-present backbone of her voice and guitar.
It’s definitely more highly-produced than anything she’s released to date.
The critics ended with the same top album of 2011 as I did.
Here’s how the rest of my personal list fared in their poll…
01. TUNE-YARDS whokill (#1)
02. CHARLES BRADLEY No Time for Dreaming (#50)
03. RADIOHEAD The King of Limbs (#33)
04. GIRLS Father, Son, Holy Ghost (#25)
05. YELLOWBIRDS The Color (NR)
06. BEIRUT The Rip Tide (#103)
07. THE ANTLERS Burst Apart (#68)
08. FUTURE ISLANDS On the Water (#213)
09. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART Belong (#83)
10. ST. VINCENT Strange Mercy (#12)
11. WYE OAK Civilian (#40)
12. DUM DUM GIRLS Only in Dreams (#55)
13. BON IVER Bon Iver (#9)
14. YUCK Yuck (#24)
15. THE ROOTS undun (#17)
16. REAL ESTATE Days (#32)
17. TV ON THE RADIO Nine Types of Light (#43)
18. THE WEEKND House of Balloons (#13)
19. A.A. BONDY Believers (#207)
20. WIDOWSPEAK Widowspeak (#372)
21. THE BLACK KEYS El Camino (#21)
22. WILCO The Whole Love (#22)
23. THE WAR ON DRUGS Slave Ambient (#49)
24. SHOULD Like a Fire Without Sound (NR)
25. CULTS Cults (#91)
26. THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE Departing (#419)
27. THE ROSEBUDS Loud Planes Fly Low (#398)
28. ACTION BRONSON Dr. Lecter (#199)
29. STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Mirror Traffic (#46)
30. THE DECEMBERISTS The King Is Dead (#29)
31. LYKKE LI Wounded Rhymes (#38)
32. WITCHES Forever (NR)
33. FLEET FOXES Helplessness Blues (#18)
34. OTHER LIVES Tamer Animals (#1571)
35. SAIGON The Greatest Story Never Told (#141)
36. FEIST Metals (#59)
37. WASHED OUT Within and Without (#82)
38. M83 Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (#19)
39. SALLIE FORD & THE SOUND OUTSIDE Dirty Radio (NR)
40. THE TREE RING Generous Shadows (NR)
