Moby - New York, New York

Heading back to the greatest city on earth.

Phoenix - 1901

Last full day in Paris.

John and Jehn - Oh My Love

Still in Paris.

Stuck in the Sound - Ouais

Still kicking it in Paris.

The Do - At Last

In Paris!

St. Vincent - Paris is Burning

I'm bumming around Paris at the moment. Happy Birthday Sis!

The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost

Last day in London. Enjoy the Magic Numbers!

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

While in London, you HAVE to give a nod to Pink Floyd. Shine on!

Monkey Swallows the Universe - Science

Still in jolly London... Monkey Swallows the Universe attracted me because of the name. Soothing sound.

Detroit Social Club - Rivers and Rainbows

Still in England... note, these guys kinda sound like an edgy Fleet Foxes. Imagine if the Fleet Foxes got angry...

Pull Tiger Tail - Lets Lightning

Still touring England...

Engineers - Clean Coloured Wire

English based Engineers!

The Clash - London Calling

The Clash summarized it nicely. I'm in sunny London!

Frank Sinatra - New York, New York

Back in the city!

TV on the Radio - Halfway Home

I tend to either really enjoy a TV on the Radio song or am really irked by the vocals. Very few bands can actually due that to me. However, "Halfway Home" off of their 2009 album Dear Science is on normal rotation of my own personal music listening. The progression of the melody, intensity of the vocals, and motion of the story provide a complex and yet accessible song. Enjoy!

Bear in Heaven - For Beauty

Psychedelic rock challenges the notion of what is music and what is sound. John Philpot's Brooklyn based Bear in Heaven captures this notion exquisitely. Even a cursory listen to the 2009 album Beast Rest Forth Mouth will quickly show you that even in dead space and drone, music and ideas are communicated. The song "Beauty" captures the essence of the work, essentially ending with a three minute drift. The music video itself calls into question what is beauty and what is reality. Enjoy!

Menomena - Wet and Rusting

Following up on yesterdays post of Romona Falls, here is Menomena's "Wet and Rusting" from their 2007 album Friend and Foe. Look for their 2010 album shortly.

Ramona Falls - I Say Fever

The Portland, Oregon based Ramona Falls is the side project of Brent Knopf of Menomena. The 2009 album Intuit is a strong Indie Rock album, incorporating elements of classic rock styles and a folk feel. I personally also the creative storytelling incorporated into the video of "I Say Fever". Enjoy!

Lady Gaga - Telephone

Well. This is definitely a Lady Gaga video. Yeah. You would think Beyonce would help to normalize things a bit. Nope. Enjoy 10 minutes of crazy.

Yeasayer - ONE

Yet another Yeasayer video, this time it is "ONE" from the 2010 album Odd Blood. As usual for Yeasayer, I am slightly confused in a good way about this video. Enjoy!

These New Puritans - We Want War

The British group, These New Puritans, consists of the twin brothers Jack and George Barnett, Thomas Hein, and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson. The quartet produce a unique form of art rock, incorporating influences from the Apex Twins and original music for the bassoon. "We Want War" from their 2010 album Hidden is a prime example of the type of music they are delivering. Enjoy!

The Antlers - Two

The Antlers are slowly becoming an influential force in the Indie music scene, combining elements of folk into a rock setting. The track "Two" from the 2009 album Hospice has traces of Bon Iver and Arcade Fire distributed amongst a cheerfully haunting sound. The project initially began with Peter Silberman in New York and eventually captured Michael Lerner, Darby Cicci, and Justin Stivers (on Hospice). Additionally, they are coming to Ithaca. Enjoy!

Marion Cotillard and Franz Ferdinand - Eyes of Mars

"Eyes of Mars" is a very unique combination of the vocal talents of Marion Cotillard (singer actress from La Vie en Rose, Nine) and the rock styling of Indie mega-group Franz Ferdinand. The result is simply stunning. The video also matches the style, mixing vintage with modern with ease. Enjoy!

Matt and Kim - Lessons Learned

Stripping nude in the center of Times Square, NYC. You have to hand it to Matt and Kim on their 2009 "Lessons Learned" music video from their album Grand. From getting into their birthday suits, the Brooklyn transplants started to gain some buzz earning a MTV Music Video award and a slot in the Sims 3 Indie playlist. Overall, a fun and joyful band.

Side note, I am in NYC right now, hence the NYC flair in the next few videos...

School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep

School of Seven Bells is the name for the collaboration of Secret Machines alum Ben Curtis and the identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza formerly of On! Air! Library!. They met on a tour with Interpol and frankly hit it off, quit their bands, moved in together, and started forming lyrical music. Their 2008 release Alpinism is smooth, flowing, and relaxing. Songs such as "Half Asleep" and "Iamundernodisguise" seem to be effortless. Look for their 2010 album Disconnect from Desire shortly.

Side note: Yay, NYC!

The Autumn Film - Joy

This is why I love Vimeo. Tifah sits at her piano and produces a very memorable performance. Simple, lovely, independent, original. If you have time to kill and like independent projects, venture through vimeo.

GORILLAZ ARE BACK! Gorillaz and Mos Def - Stylos

The much awaited return from the Gorillaz since their 2005 Demon Days is starting to leak out. Their 2010 album is Plastic Beach and the previous songs I heard off of the album were slightly concerning. However, their collaboration with Mos Def on "Stylo" appears to be flawless. Recruiting a resurgent Bruce Willis in the music video is also genius. Over all, the song, the style, and the video are awesome. Welcome back Gorillaz.

Note: the video will probably be flagged on youtube, so comment if it disappears and I will try and find another available link.

Man Man - Rabbit Habits

Another Indie Group pairing with Fred Armisen. This time, Armisen, Charlyne Yi, and Martin Starr support the 2008 Man Man song "Rabbit Hands" from their album Rabbit Hands. The Philadelphia based group combines many different instruments (including the marimba and flute) to achieve a very unique and experimental sound. What's more, Yeasayer picked them up on their recent tour across the country. Even cooler, if you happen to live in or near Ithaca, Ithaca College decided to challenge Cornell University's traditional slope day by putting on their own free show. They decided to go with Yeasayer, Man Man, and Antlers. Cornell went with Drake. I think IC wins. I know where I will be May 7th.

Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist

As a follow up to yesterday's posting, here is the Avalanches' "Frontier Psychiatrist" from their 2000 album Since I Left You. Their style is pretty unique, in that they sample upwards of 3,000 obscure albums to stitch their songs together. Enjoy!

New Buffalo (remixed by Broken Social Scene) - I've Got You and You've Got Me

New Buffalo was the stage name for Melbourne native Sally Seltmann. Her style is reminiscent of St. Vincent and Regina Spektor. Overall, very lovely. The song "I've Got You and You've Got Me" is off of her 2004 release The Last Beautiful Day. The Canadian based indie rockers the Broken Social Scene recently remixed this track with an interesting, almost surreal outcome.

Look for Seltmann's 2010 release Heart That's Pounding. The first single "Harmony to My Heart" was released last November. Find the video below!

One last note, Sally Seltmann is married to Darren Saltmann, the crazy guy behind the Avalanches. I think I should post on them tomorrow...