Good Old War

"Oh it's the last time I'll fall in love, yeah its the last try to break apart"

Keith, Tim and Dan are Good Old War. Like most folk, it took me a few listens to get into their self titled sophomore album. But now that it's gotten into--I'm never getting out. Some have likened them to Simon and Garfunkel and with their subtle harmonies, heartbreaking melodies and a gift for story telling this is no surprise. Stand out tracks are My Sinking Ship, Making My Life and That's Some Dream. Each equally depressing (as the world of folk tends to be), but each showing how damn good these guys are. Grab the album which is out on the pretty awesome Sargent House.

Good Old War-My Own Sinking Ship (mp3)

Tortoiseshell

"Started living in each others world, I took to you like no other girl"

You may have come across a Sydney based band called Tennis. It was full of brothers and cousins and put on some pretty fun filled and whacky shows. I saw them open for Lost Valentinos at the Annandale early last year. Unfortunately, Tennis is no longer (possibly due to hype surrounding Denver based husband/wife due by the same name). So instead we have the same line up going by the name of Tortoiseshell (incidentally my favourite animal print) and putting out a super duper track called My Girl. The release in on Canyons label Hole In The Sky, which means punters get an even sweeter deal of a Canyons dub to play around with. This version is even more disco, chilled and summery. And with the same truly epic vocal.

Tortoiseshell-My Girl (Canyons Dub) (mp3)



N.B. Just realised this band could actually be called Tortoises Hell as opposed to Tortoise Shell

Miami Horror

I wanted so bad for Yacht to be the one. After falling for them big time after they opened for LCD Soundsystem in Berlin, I wanted their remix of Miami Horror's new piece of pop to be the bestest. But unfortunately, for me that honour goes to Sam La More. But I'm pretty sure this preference is just cos it takes me so heavily back to the sweaty clubs of 2006. Whichever version takes your fancy, this track is fun. The Melbourne based quartet is set to release their debut LP Illumination this year, and if it's anything like Moon Theory and last year's key banging Sometimes then its sure to be a cracker.

Miami Horror-Moon Theory (Sam La More Remix) (mp3)

Miami Horror-Sometimes (G.L.O.V.E.S Remix) (mp3)

M.I.A

There was a time when seeing a new M.I.A track pop up on the blogosphere was enough to send my heart racing. But now it just makes me laugh as I anticipate how totally below average it's gonna be. Scrap that. How bad it's going to be.

I even began to believe that maybe these were fake tracks as part of a dramatic ploy to make the eventual REAL release of third album Maya look mindblowingly amazing next to the crap that is Stepping Up and Born Free.

But unfortunately, I just got a sneak pick at the new album (due out on July 17) and I can safely say that unless she has created an entire fake 12 track album-it's time to farewell the M.I.A. we knew and loved. It wasn't til the 11th track Tell Me Why that I fully realised what was wrong with the first 10: you can barely here Maya's vocals over all the weird heavy industrial noise. Where are the massive beats? The catchy lyrics? The fun vocals? Goooone. The last two tracks are the closest we get.

In all fairness I have to add that I don't totally hate the lead single XXXO. It's cheezy and it endlessly reminds me of Gossip Girl, but I can't get it out of my head which must say something. The Jay-Z "remix" manages to just tip this one over into the diminutive "good" pile.

M.I.A.- XXXO (Remix. Feat. Jay-Z) (mp3)

LCD Soundsystem, Again.

Is this the greatest LCD Soundsystem tune of all time? Yes. Is that a big call? Yes. The show in Berlin was nothing short of what you would expect from James Murphy and crew: both wildly entertaining and musically brilliant. Listening all at once to a mash of old and new it becomes so startling clear how diverse their stuff is. It reminds me of way back when and trying to find LCD at the record store, and being genuinely confused about which genre I needed to look in (NB: Dance apparently). But of course there was dancing at this show. All kinds. From the simple head nod and eyes-closed-at-one-with-my-body sway to the circle pits and hair thrashing that are obligitory at any show in Germany. LCD Soundsystem are the type of band that make you NEED to go to their show. Sure, their albums are good, maybe even great. But to see them live is what it's all about.

Arcade Fire

It definitely doesn't have the grandiose and almost orchestral arrangement that usually comes with anything Arcade Fire touches. In fact, I was totally convinced that this was a fresh new band coming up the ranks. But now, I don't know how I could've been so stupid-we all know there is only one Win Butler.

It's a sentimental track about the Butler brothers growing up in plain old suburban California. Which is sorta funny because when I think of Arcade Fire I think of them as being intrinsically Canadian, but I spose they still can be. Like I said before, the music totally takes a back seat to the vocals in this one, but with a falsetto chorus as catchy as this one I guess it's ok.

The album by the same name is due out on August 3. In the meantime they've given us a 12" with the title track and a B side Month of May which sorta sounds like the Foo Fighters...

Arcade Fire-The Suburbs (mp3)

Bearhug

The boys have stepped right off their back foot and into some much more up tempo beats. The laid back/slow burning essence still remains but it seems Bearhug's signing to Spunk has not only upped their recording quality but also sparked a more enthusiastic sound.

Grapefruit starts out heaps indie with that cute tinny 'lil riff...before reallllly breaking down to some melchonic guitar that matches Ryan's vocals kinda perfectly. Then. It crashes to life like Bearhug have never done before.

Bring on June 25 and the release of the bands debut EP To Anything.

Bearhug-Grapefruit (mp3)