Twin Shadow - Five Seconds
There isn’t much to say about this because it has left me soul amazed and my heart aflutter.
Twin Shadow’s new album, Confess, is out in July. The first album was (and still is) incredible and it seems like the new record only ups the ante.
Prinzhorn Dance School - I Want You
Definitely the most straightforward song off of PDS’ new record, Clay Class. The video is so simple and effective, mirroring the music in that regard. Lovely.
Buy the record at DFA Direct.
Frightened Rabbit - Floating in the Forth
Desert island song? Easy answer.
What an anthem.
The first Shins’ album since 2007, Port of Morrow, comes out one day in March. This makes that day a reasonably exciting one until proven otherwise.
Destroyer - Leave Me Alone (New Order Cover)
2011 was Dan Bejar’s year as Destroyer. Kaputt was right near the top of a million year-end lists. It hit the top of mine within thirty seconds of my first listen.
Naturally, you’d figure 2012 would be a restful year for the man. While this cover of New Order’s “Leave Me Alone” was obviously recorded last year, it comes with MOJO’s January 2012 issue.
Long live Destroyer. Long live Dan Bejar.
Handsome Furs - Repatriated
This is definitely in the running for my track of the year. Such an awesome sound.
Prinzhorn Dance School - Happy In Bits
Prinzhorn Dance School came out with a pretty simple video for their awesome new track, “Happy In Bits”. In typical PDS style, the track is sparse but it’s still amazing.
They’ve been working on a new album for a bit, titled Clay Class. It will be out on DFA on January 30, 2012.
The Big Pink - Stay Gold
Can’t stop, won’t stop. This video… unh. Visually incredible.
Los Campesinos! - Songs About Your Girlfriend
The new LC! album hit my inbox early this morning. I am beyond ecstatic and this is currently my favorite track.
That guitar line is beautiful butter. Or apricot jam.
“Tell her the times we shared that broke have been repaired
Cinders of our old jokes have once again been stoked
But with a different girl, funnier now they’ve been rehearsed.”
If that isn’t picture-perfect pop-punk, I don’t know what is…
The Rapture - It Takes Time To Be A Man
Continuing from yesterday, here’s another fantastic track off the new album from The Rapture, In The Grace Of Your Love.
“It Takes Time To Be A Man” is the most striking departure for the band and it works wonderfully as the album closer. The sharp guitar lick and the sparse piano line play off each other like the world’s most beautiful relationship working through the world’s most serene argument.
Luke Jenner wails “I betcha’ can’t get what you want/come on baby, come on darlin’/I betcha’ can’t get what ya need/Come on sugar, and try/” The promise that things get better and that we, as men, are working hard and getting better all the time.
It’s why George Clooney and Ryan Gosling are the kinds of guys women really want. Aside from their striking good looks, they’ve put in time to understand the female vision of what a man is and should be. (As an aside, will any other movie this year cause the female stroke incidence rate to rise more than Clooney and Gosling’s Ides of March?)
It’s the sort of track that will spark a want for change for those currently in a relationship, but put a smile on the face of those without. Knowing you fucked up something important isn’t fun (speaking personally), but it becomes that way when you think of the grand possibilities that come with the next life you get to impact.
In The Grace Of Your Love releases September 5 in Europe and the next day in the States.
