Swell EP: ARMS - EP2 [indie rock / indie pop]

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ARMS is the solo project of Todd Goldstein, a Brooklyn musician and songwriter known for his guitar work with the now-defunct indie poppers Harlem Shakes, but more recently, for his excellent 2011 ARMS album Summer Skills, which was recorded with a full band and happens to be one of my favorite albums released in recent years. Since hearing my first ARMS song a few years ago, I can't help but liken Goldstein's voice to a melodramatic, singy version of the matter-of-fact vocal delivery of WHY?'s Yoni Wolf, which is definitely a good thing.

On EP2, along with his alluring voice, artful guitar strumming and wistful keyboarding, Goldstein crafts powerfully captivating (lyrically and musically) indie rock songs with the help of his drummer friend Tiacael Esparza. By scattering catchy guitar hooks and flourishes over the EP's five-song-span of melancholic melodies and Esparza's solid drum framework, Goldstein sets the stirring backdrop over which to lay his lavish labyrinth of lyrics, creating a complex web of sounds worth getting tangled up in, time and time again.

Stream the entire EP (out now on Paper Garden Records) below and follow the player's links to purchase digital and physical copies.

Just Rolled In: Son Lux - "Lost It To Trying" [orchestral pop / electronic / experimental]

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After getting his hands dirty arranging music for three feature films (including 2012's Looper), releasing two highly acclaimed albums and a collaborative EP with Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti (known jointly as s / s / s), producing numerous hip hop beats, and working with revered composers and ensembles, NYC-based Ryan Lott, aka Son Lux, is gearing to release his 3rd full-length record Lanterns out October 29 via Joyful Noise Recordings. The classically trained composer and electronic producer has left us with high expectations for the rest of the record after releasing the brilliantly epic debut single "Lost It To Trying".

Riddled with a frenetic array of live saxophones, flutes, and percussion and sister duo Lily and Madeleine's Sufjan-esque choral singing, Lott seamlessly throws in his production expertise in the form of hyperactive synths and thunderous drum programming to deliver the incredibly complicated, energetic, and triumphant masterpiece known as "Lost It To Trying".

Check out the single below and listen to and purchase Son Lux's previously released music on his Bandcamp.

Just Rolled In: Zachary Cale - "Wayward Son" and "Hold Fast" [folk / acoustic blues]

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Brooklyn-via-Louisiana bluesy folk musician Zachary Cale has just released two new singles from his upcoming fourth record Blue Rider entitled "Wayward Son" and "Hold Fast". Ditching the backing band present on his previous record Noise of Welcome, Cale sharpens the focus on his visual lyricism and intricate finger-style acoustic guitar playing, making it clear as to why his songwriting has been compared to that of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Elliott Smith. Cale's serene acoustic ballads coupled with his reverbed, mellow vocal delivery also bears a striking resemblance to Kurt Vile's more laid back songs.

Listen to Zachary Cale's two new songs below plus a great song from last year's Love Everlasting 7". Visit his Bandcamp page to download these two songs for free and to explore more of his extensive back catalogue until Blue Rider's release on September 24.

holaTUBE: Sailor & I - "Tough Love" [electronic / orchestral pop]

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As I try to enjoy the last few days of my summer here in Murcia, Spain before returning to work, I'm suddenly forced indoors to seek shelter from the only thunderstorm I've ever seen pass through these parts. Luckily enough, being locked inside under a roof is the perfect excuse to trade in the sun and bathing suit for the internet and headphones, so I'm writing my first blog post of August.

Considering my bleak summer finale, I have discovered the ideal theme song to help me through it all. Stockholm, Sweden's singer/instrumentalist/producer Alexander Sjodin premieres his moody orchestral pop production with the solemn-yet-enlightening video for his first single "Tough Love" under the moniker Sailor & I. Through his smoothly layered vocals, Sjodin sheds light on the dark realities of his failing relationship with his wife. The helplessness and disparity of it all is summed up in the lyrics, "Sometimes I start a fight just to see if you care", and brought to life with the addition of cinematic strings and building percussion.

The video features former Olympic swimmer Peter Prijdekker, who battles, in slow-motion, across a desolate lake and cold forest to reach the inevitable finish line, which holds for him hope and a new beginning—the eventual outcome of any dying relationship.

Download the Tough Love EP here and check out the video below.

Just Rolled In: SALES - "renee" [indie pop / minimal folktronica]

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It's always refreshing to hear a simple song that manages to pull you in by the heartstrings just as much as a complex, professionally produced song would. That's exactly what freshly formed Orlando, Florida duo SALES pulls off with their heartfelt debut track "renee", which was inspired by and named after a breathtakingly beautiful and interesting woman the two got the chance to spend a special evening with at a bar. Unfortunately, as the night went on, and after falling hopelessly in love with her, they lost track of her. So, in hopes of reconnecting with Renee, they wrote this song.

Set in motion by the repetitive, yet catchy guitar melody and angelically sincere vocals of SALES-woman Lauren Morgan, the song soon gains texture when it joins forces with the underlying bass line and bare-bones drumbeat of SALES-man Jordan Shih (aka JSHIH). Once "renee" gains momentum with that beat it never ceases to unfold itself and grow on you. The initial raw sound (yes, those are crickets chirping in the background) is slowly embellished upon by the minimal electronic production of JSHIH, who adds layers of reverberated vocals, a sleek electric guitar hook, a heavier pulsing bass line, and finally the chopped and layered vocals and bouncy drumbeat of the fully realized coda. This gradual buildup, the duo's less-is-more approach, and Lauren's alluring voice is what makes "renee" truly infectious.

If you're reading this, Renee, you can find Lauren and JSHIH performing as SALES at Total Bummer Fest alongside Javelin, Levek, Alligator Indian, and Saskatchewan at the end of August in Orlando, FL. And to everyone else: There are more tracks on the way and you're invited to Total Bummer Fest too.

p.s. Please forgive my salesman/saleswoman puns

Just Rolled In: Big Scary - "Luck Now" [experimental pop / indie folk / soul]

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Here's another Melbourne, Australia band sure to turn some heads in 2013: Big Scary. Seemingly boundless with their genre exploration, the experimental indie pop duo is set to release their sophomore album Not Art June 28 via Pieater (Aus) and September 17 through their new US home, Barsuk Records.

After listening to Big Scary's previous releases (their debut LP Vacation and previous EP collection The Big Scary Four Seasons), I find it difficult to stick a label on the music, which is a good thing in my mind. On one track they're floating through a delicate piano-based folk tune, then they explode into an energetic rock'n'roll jam that drops off into a more glossy indie pop song, just to do it all over again.

The Australian duo's second single from Not Art, "Luck Now", finds them in one of their more stripped down, subdued moments, but the track is given extra life with lead singer/guitarist/pianist Tom Iansek's soulfully stirring vocal performance akin to that of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. "Luck Now", one of my favorite songs released this year, marks a shift in musical style for Big Scary as they have incorporated a hip hop-influenced, syncopated drum loop embellished by percussion samples they recorded in a garage while hitting various objects. It all comes together quite nicely, if you ask me.

Listen to "Luck Now" below followed by Big Scary's first single "Phil Collins" and grab a copy of Not Art on iTunes at the end of June!

Artist Making Waves: Vance Joy [indie folk / folk pop]

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In a year you probably won't see me posting about Vance Joy, the 25-year-old skyrocketing indie folk artist from Melbourne, Australia, mostly because he will be more popular than The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men and this blog tries to focus more on the lesser known acts. Either way, here he is now, and for a good reason: he's damn good! When I mentioned those bands above I didn't mean to liken Vance Joy to them, but rather hint at the mainstream success and radio play that his golden voice and expertly crafted folk pop songs will surely gain.

Born James Keogh, he only has one EP under his belt, God Loves You When You're Dancing, which contains the hit single "Riptide", but he has already gotten snagged up by music industry giant Atlantic Records. They signed him on for a five-record deal after a bidding war that broke out following his performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas this March. As long as Atlantic doesn't completely change his sound or make him do duets at the Superbowl with Skrillex or Sean Paul then you can still color me interested in Vance Joy's future as an artist.

Take a listen to two tracks from his EP ("Riptide" and "From Afar") and watch a video of him performing the opening track "Emmylou" live with his band. You can purchase the the God Loves You When You're Dancing EP here.

Swell EP: Painted Palms - Nothing Lasts Long EP [psych-pop / synth-pop]

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Painted Palms were "discovered" by Kevin Barnes (of Montreal ringleader) shortly after releasing their psychedelic surf pop debut Canopy EP back in 2011, which gave them much more exposure and the attention of Secretly Canadian Records, who re-released said EP later in the year. Much like that first EP, the San Francisco psych-pop duo's free EP Nothing Lasts Long is instantly likable and leaves you thirsty for more. Well, the two cousins Reese Donohue and Christopher Prudhomme have actually been working on their debut Polyvinyl full length to help us quench our thirst for over a year now, but threw us a curveball with this mixtape-style free download while we wait.

Filled with danceable beats, psychedelic melodies, tropical synths, and energetic Panda Bear-stained vocals, Painted Palms' Nothing Lasts Long EP gives a us a taste of what's to come while giving them a break from the stress of releasing an official debut:

Making this EP was a bit of a release. It felt refreshing to make 6 songs with the intention of putting them out immediately. A whole album can seem monolithic and you can easily get lost in your head, so it was nice to write under different circumstances. —Impose Magazine interview

Download the EP for free at their Bandcamp page and enjoy the 6 new tracks below.