James Vincent McMorrow-"Red Dust"

With 2013 coming to a close soon, it's that time of year where we start to look ahead to the New Year and all it has to offer. One of the things I am most looking forward to is this new album from James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical. It's his sophomore effort and he just offered up the second sneak peak off the disc with the new song, "Red Dust."
Post Tropical comes out this Jan. 14th on Vagrant Records..

http://jamesvmcmorrow.com

Augustines- "Nothing to Lose But Your Head"

Yesterday Augustines released the second piece of music off their forthcoming sophomore LP. We heard "Cruel City"(listen here) a month or so ago, now comes the new track "Nothing to Lose But Your Head."
The as of yet untitled album is scheduled for release this February 4th.

http://www.weareaugustines.com

New Music: The War on Drugs- "Red Eyes"

Philly's Adam Granduciel, better known as The War On Drugs just announced plans for his 3rd LP, Lost in The Dream. It comes out this March 18th on Secretly Canadian and it features this sweeping first single called "Red Eyes."

http://www.thewarondrugs.net

Jose Gonzalez- "Step Out" (from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack)

I'm such a sucker for big climactic soaring songs like this one. But I love it even more knowing that it comes from the usually hush and mellow Jose Gonzalez. "Step Out" appears on the soundtrack for the upcoming Ben Stiller film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Watch the trailer for the movie HERE.

No Ceremony- "Awayfromhere" (ft. James Vincent McMorrow)

Although I've heard a few No Ceremony tracks this year, this one the Manchester band did featuring the brilliant James Vincent McMorrow on lead vocals seemed to escape me. Luckily it just got the video treatment and came to my attention via the good folks over at Stereofox.
Watch out for JVM's new LP Post Tropical which comes out this January 14th.
http://jamesvmcmorrow.com
http://www.noceremony.com

There Will Be Fireworks- "Youngblood"

I was a big fan of this Scottish bands 2009 debut, and now after a four year break the band is back with their second LP titled The Dark, Dark Bright. Falling somewhere between fellow countrymen Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad, the bands music has the ability to be both sad and melancholy and explosive and raw.
The new LP comes out this Nov. 25th and it features the single, "Younblood" which you can watch a new video for below.

There Will be Fireworks Facebook page

New Music: Damien Jurado- "Silver Timothy"

Damien Jurado will be releasing his 11th studio album sometime next month titled, Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Sun. He just released the first single today, and if you think the title has a psychedelic feel to it, you can listen to the spacey jam of a first single, "Silver Timothy" which Jurado unveiled a new video for.

http://damienjurado.com

Get to Know: Ezra Vine- "Celeste"

One of my favorite discoveries of late is this track from New Zealand musician, Ezra Vine called "Celeste." Vine apparently released a few tracks earlier this year under the name 'Les Enfants' that caught some buzz on bandcamp and landed him in the top sellers of their folk category.
I wish I had some more info on this one, but there's not much out there besides the news that the track comes off a forthcoming EP due later this month.

http://www.ezravine.com

Float Fall- "Someday" live version

This has been one of my favorite tracks to come out this year. Watch Belgian duo, Float Fall playing "Someday" live at Studio Brussel in Belgium.

 http://www.floatfall.com

Modern Kin- "Pony"

You might know Drew Grow from his previous work with Drew Grow and the Pastors Wives. The band now has a slimmed down roster and a new name, Modern Kin. They just released their self titled debut in late Oct. and it's filled with brilliant rousing tracks like this one called, "Pony."
Check out the rest of the album on the groups bandcamp page HERE.

Update: "Pony" is now down on the bands bandcamp page, listen to it here on Soundcloud.

The National-"Lean" (from Hunger Games Catching Fire soundtrack)

The new Hunger Games Catching Fire Soundtrack is coming out later this month and it features some big names like Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers, Lorde, and Coldplay. But the track I was most interested in hearing was from The National who lent the song,"Lean" to the collection.  Typically great stuff, give it a try below. The soundtrack hits stores on Nov. 19th.

http://americanmary.com

Gambles- "265" & "So I Cry" Out (Live Acoustic Session)

Gambles debut album Trust came out earlier this month, and it's all sorts of wonderful. Check out these powereful acoustic performances of album tracks"265" and "So I Cry" that he performed for the folks at Shufsounds.


http://www.gmbls.com

The National- "I Need My Girl" (Acoustic Version)

While in Austin for the ACL Festival, The National stopped by the Gibson guitars showroom and played this lovely acoustic version of "I Need My Girl."

New Music: James Vincent McMorrow- “Cavalier”

Yesterday saw the release of a new James Vincent McMorrow track “Cavalier.” It comes from his forthcoming 2014 sophomore LP, Post Tropical. It's a beauty of a slow builder and a noticeably new direction for JVM, featuring synths and thick layers of beats. Post Tropical drops this Jan. 14th via Vagrant Records.


http://jamesvmcmorrow.com/

Typhoon- "Young Fathers" (Live Acoustic Session for Austin 360)

I haven't seen many videos capture the mesmerizing quality of the massive Portland ensemble, Typhoon. This acoustic session the band played for Austin360 while in town for the ACL Festival comes pretty darn close though. Watch the bands performance of "Young Fathers" below.

http://www.wearetyphoon.com/
http://www.Austin360.com

The National (live at Stubbs, Austin 10-5-13)

Here's a few pics from The National's show in Austin this past Saturday night at Stubbs. It was my fourth time seeing the band overall and first time on this tour. I'd have to say it was probably the best set I've seen them play, with the new material sounding especially strong. Catch the whole setlist at the bottom after the photo's. 

THE NATIONAL (10-5-13) Stubbs, Austin Tx. Setlist 
I Should Live in Salt
Don't Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Demons
Sea of Love
Afraid of Everyone
Conversation 16
Squalor Victoria
Abel
All the Wine
I Need My Girl
This is the Last Time
Apartment Story

Pink Rabbits

Graceless
About Today
Fake Empire

Encore
Humiliation
Mr. November
Terrible Love w/ Justin Vernon
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks w/ Justin Vernon

New Video: Augustines-"Cruel City"

Last month Augustines debuted the first track "Cruel City" off their upcoming new album, which is slated for an early 2014 release. Today the band brought us the track in video form. Watch the new clip directed by Bryan Schlam below.

http://www.weareaugustines.com/

Kalle Mattson- "Darkness"

Kalle Mattson just released another new track off his forthcoming third LP. The new tune titled "Darkness" is the split to his previously released "American Dream" single which we previewed back in August. No release date yet slated for the new LP, so stay tuned.

http://www.kallemattson.com/

The Head and the Heart -"Another Story"

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 4 years since The Head and the Heart released their debut LP. The Seattle band is now readying their sophomore effort, Let's Be Still which hits stores Oct. 15 via Sub Pop. They just debuted a fresh track off the upcoming disc called "Another Story." Listen and read along below.

Typhoon "Morton's Fork" (Lawrence High School Classroom Sessions)

In case you've been living under a rock lately, Typhoon released one of the better albums to come out in the past several months called, White Lighter. Earlier this month the band stopped by Room 125 at Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas and played a gorgeous version of the album track, "Morton's Fork." The song was filmed and edited by Lawrence High School's film/media students.

http://www.wearetyphoon.com/

David Ramirez- “Ball and Chain”

A new tune from David Ramirez to grace your ears this morning. This one called “Ball and Chain” was recorded at the Hotel Cafe with backing vocals provided by Amy Stroup.

http://davidramirezmusic.com/