Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane B-Sides

A relatively old free EP, but a really good one. Chad VanGaalen makes loping, unexpectedly catchy pop songs that congeal from lo-fi strums and noisy keyboards. This EP of nine songs are what was left over after 2009’s Soft Airplane, but there songs aren’t just worthless scraps. These songs are a little wilder than what made it onto the album, and they’re definitely a lot of fun to listen to. 

[[direct download]]

Yeasayer - Henrietta

This leaked a week or so ago, but last night Yeasayer released it (in lossless!) for their fans. The song is unmistakably Yeasayer: Chris Keating’s solid-gold vocals, up-front bassline, solid beat, and plenty of interesting sounds. It sounds like they’re going a little less abstract than their last album; the noises in the songs are at least slightly more grounded and recognizable. Don’t take that as a diss, though, Yeasayer is still clearly driving towards the pop-future via experimentation and stellar songwriting.

[[direct download]]

Welcome Wagon - Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing EP

This is what was originally an iTunes-only release from the Sufjan Stevens-produced band consisting mainly of Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto (he for whom “Vito’s Ordination Song” was written) and his wife Monique. The music not only sounds like a mid-2000’s Sufjan doing prettied-up covers of hymns, Danielson and Smiths songs, but it is, in fact, precisely that. There’s plenty of strummed guitar, picked banjo, and slightly ostentatious brass arrangements spread throughout. This is a free release, though if you purchase it (either from noisetrade as linked above or from iTunes), the proceeds go towards Freeset, a “fair-trade business in India working to liberate and empower women escaping the sex trade in the largest red-light district in Kolkata (Calcutta), India” [via ak]. 

James and Evander - Let’s Go 7”

Melding a sleek disco vibe with some early-90s samples and Hot Chip-style whisper-sung vocals, James and Evander have created a stellar pair of dance tunes. Yalls, Teen Daze and Ember turn in some solid remixes as well, taking these songs into the twenty-first century and beyond. J&E have a new LP, Bummer Pop, out this week as well!

Cloud Nothings - Live @ the Grog Shop

 Starting as a gauzy lo-fi band, Cloud Nothings have really stepped up their game in 2012. They released a raw, Steve Albini-recorded album, and have turned out a relatively blistering live recording, available here for free. Not unlike their recent album, this recording is full of noisy rock that leans towards pop but doesn’t sacrifice its edge on saccharine hooks or cute choruses. 

Chromatics - Kill For Love DRUMLESS

 Johnny Jewel, lead dude for emerging space-disco champions Chromatics (perhaps you heard the Drive soundtrack?) is something of a musical tinkerer. He’s got his hands in half a dozen different projects, and is the kind of guy who releases an album immediately after he finishes it. So it’s natural for him to take 51 of the 90 minutes from his most recent album and give it the Hearts in Space treatment by ridding the songs of their beats. Rhythm is still carried over in this music, but the lack of a grounding drumline blows these songs into the sky, full of atmosphere and space. This is truly space disco—vast and minimal, just the way I like it.

Below is a stream of the complete album, WITH DRUMS. Just in case you’re interested.

(Source: pitchfork.com)

TV Girl - The Wild, The Innocent, The TV Shuffle 

 Though this album is being called a “mixtape” by the band, TV Girl’s new release is more of a complete album, not unlike Pop Etc. and Small Black’s recent “mixtapes”. Like Pop Etc. and Small Black, TV Girl trades in slightly skewed but unbelievably catchy pop, with a good dose of beats, samples, and haze. TV Girl member Kynan’s voice shows up here, as does his tendency towards casually confessional lyrics and his laid-back sparkle. TV Girl have timed this release perfectly: summer is nigh and chill jams are in demand. Throw these on and bask in the sun.

[[direct download]]

The Avalanches - Sleepy Bedtime Mix For Young Ones by Henry Chinaski

Legendary one-album champions The Avalanches have been teasing the release of a sophomore album for nearly twelve years. They’ve been passing the time by releasing little gems of mixes like this one. It’s very 1960s-centric, focusing on a lot of sparking AM gold like The Free Design, and trading off with strange folk like Vashti Bunyan and even some Joanna Newsom. This mix does exactly what it says—I listened to it at home this morning and both of my children were mellow and relaxed.

Monster Rally - Coral II: The Remixes

 This LP of remixes from last year’s debut full-length, Coral, really catches Monster Rally in a good spot. They’ve let all kinds of crazed internet producers loose on an album of their hazy tiki-room styles, and so much good stuff has come forth. The genres vary: actual rapping, dance beats, even chillwave are doled out by remixers like Roman Ruins, Teen Daze, Yalls, even Monster Rally themselves.

Infinity Shred (formerly Starscream) - Wayfinder

It is somewhat unfortunate that Infinity Shred has had to change their name from Starscream due to legal threats from this band. I’m honestly surprised that Hasbro didn’t make them change their name before, but I think Infinity Shred is still a pretty awesome name. And this song, announcing their new name and a forthcoming album, puts any anxiety about the band to rest. The first third is their typical rising beeps and anticipation, but the payoff in the middle of the song is among my favorite musical moments this year. The song just suddenly DESTROYS YOU at about 3:30 into the song, and, once you’ve recovered, it lets you breathe and relax. As much as I loved the idea of a band named after a Transformer with a ghost, I think there is nothing to worry about with Infinity Shred.