Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light (2009)

Dreampop to the extreme. "Still Night, Still Light" by Au Revoir Simone consists of addicting tunes with dreamy sounds and a female voice that sucks you into an entirely different world, singing well-thought lyrics so you can listen to the album passively or actively and be impressed in both ways. Lots of variation throughout the album but doesn't change its pace in a way that it'll bother you. Relaxing as hell.

Sample: "Another Likely Story"

- Alessandro

Björk - Vespertine (2001)

Vespertine is arguably the best album she's released. It's filled with quiet, magical instruments and eargasmic vocals that is mostly whisper-like. It's an electronic downtempo pop-ish album with an experimental tint and a winter-like atmosphere that goes really personal at times. Really unique stuff and I've never heard anything quite like it. The only way to really describe this album is "Björk-ish", so really, just go get it. Your life might or might not change forever and ever and ever and ever.

Sample: "Aurora"

- Alessandro

The Act of Estimating as Worthless - Amongst These Splintered Minds​/​/​Leaden Thoughts Sing Softly (2012)

I'm not a fan of their bandname or the albumname at all, as I personally find it way too pretentious. And it's not even post-rock! Decided to give it a try anyhow and I did not regret it at all. This album has a folksy, harmonic, relaxed and quiet sound to it with meaningful, heart-breaking lyrics that are sung by two soft voices that blend in with the music just fine. One male vocalist. One female vocalist. Amazing stuff, and free on their bandcamp with an option to donate!

Sample: "Bones"
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- Alessandro

Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe (2012)

Finally! While Santigold's 2008 debut had its fair share of new wave influences, her sophomore effort matures it up a bit, with more meditative beats and lyrics. The contemplative and vulnerable tribal-pop of "The Riot's Gone" is somewhat reminiscent of the styles explored on Lykke Li's Wounded Rhymes, and it's hard not to maintain the M.I.A. comparisons on the brilliant, Baruka Som Sistema-produced "Big Mouth," a song where she isn't hesitant to fire shots are her mainstream-radio contemporaries. And yet, the album is all Santigold. It may not be as readily inviting as Santogold (there aren't any "L.E.S. Artistes" or "Lights Out" tracks here), but it's a total grower and an admirable display of an artist with a vision, Miss Santi White is very well in control of her make-believe and there's no telling of where she's headed next.

Sample: "Disparate Youth"

- Jake

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (2011)

St. Vincent is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her singing varies from being soft and adorable to screams for help. Her songs are melodies that vary from sweet, to bitter, to heavy atmosphere but are all done in a way that only St. Vincent can do it, making love to your ears. Strange Mercy is her third studio album, and is one hell of an album too. With enough attention paid to this album, you'll have a bond with every single track on this album, too. Her best work, in my personal opinion, and probably even album of the year 2011. Go get it!

Sample: "Dilettante"

- Alessandro

Julieta Venegas - Otra Cosa (2010)

On her fifth LP, Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas maintains the steady momentum of quality that has already spanned across several albums, cementing her as one of most consistent Latin pop artists around. So even when she's not breaking new personal ground, Julieta still finds plenty of room for her creativity and talent to thrive. Featuring her trademark accordion and relaxed vocals, Venegas crafts yet another album of her mature--but always whimsical--musings on love.

Sample: "Bien o Mal"

- Jake

BOY - Mutual Friends (2011)

Hailing from Switzerland and Germany, BOY is actually a duo of females with a talent at solid songwriting and sweet harmonies. Their debut Mutual Friends showcases a great balance between catchy, bouncy indie pop ("Waitress") and relaxed folk workings ("Boris"). Already making waves, the girls of BOY are definitely ones to keep an eye out for.

Sample: "Little Numbers"

- Jake

Grace Potter And The Nocturals - Nothing But The Water (2005)

Grace Potter And The Nocturals is a rockband from Vermont, America, lead by Grace Potter, just in case you didn't figure that one out on your own. Grace Potter has a multi-instrumentalist with an extremely relaxing voice. "Nothing But The Water" is filled with catchy riffs, mostly cynical lyrics and Grace Potter's lovely voice range with a bluesy atmosphere. It'll keep you excited throughout the entire thing and make you want more when it's over, which'll result in replaying this album tons of times.

Sample: "Left Behind"

- Alessandro

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar (2012)

First Aid Kit are two sisters from Sweden. Their new album, "The Lion's Roar",  is a dynamic acoustic album with a harmonic and peaceful atmosphere with the wonderful voices of the girls that blend together insanely well. It has this warming, relaxing feel to it and is very accessible. It's a mixture of more upbeat, energic songs and songs that make you relax, and the mixture is done perfectly without being annoying to the listener. Amazing folk/country/pop album. Give it a listen!

Sample: "Emmylou"

- Alessandro

SoKo - I Thought I Was An Alien (2012)

SoKo, real name Stéphanie Sokolinski, is a French singer with a cute-ass voice. Really catchy, harmonic folksy/popsy guitarriffs with SoKo either singing, or just talking in her adorable voice and French accent about touching stuff. Props to Jake for introducing me to this!

Sample: "First Love Never Die"

- Alessandro

Clare & the Reasons - The Movie (2007)

So already, this album cover should be a fairly clear indicator of what to expect: at least something along the lines of "cinematic," right? Quite so. In this case, of the baroque pop variety. Featuring contributions from Van Dyke Parks and Sufjan Stevens, The Movie is chock-full of lush string arrangements, day-dreamy compositions, sharp songwriting, breezy guitar work, and delightful feminine coos with an old-fashioned sound to it. If you like Lana Del Rey, you can appreciate their same sort of retro-Golden Age Hollywood aesthetic. If you hate Lana Del Rey, you can appreciate they're a better version of her.

Sample: "Science Fiction Man"

- Jake

(major props to Alessandro for making me aware of them, in the first place)

Now, Now - Threads (2012)

Combining an abundance of youthful angst with the search for adult clarity, Now, Now crafts a fine indie pop-rock album straddling between Tegan and Sara and Metric, with their sophomore effort Threads. Vulnerable, girlish vocals engulfed in moody melodies make for an appropriate soundtrack for nocturnal or cloudy day sulking. Ch-ch-ch-check it!!

Sample: "Thread"

- Jake

Laura Mura & The Seven Dwarfs - My Bootleg (2012)

I guess I'll be the one doing the first post on this blog, then. Our gay playlist will start off with some relaxing and melodic music from Laura Mura & The Seven Dwarfs from Italy. "My Bootleg" is a big recommendation for the acoustic indie pop fans. Stay gay!

Sample: "I'll Never Trap Your Memory"

 - Alessandro