Steel Train - s/t (2010)

Featuring Jack Antonof (otherwise known as 1/3 of indie pop band fun.), Steel Train creates some pretty high energy youthful anthems bursting with both freedom and anxiety, such as "Touch Me Bad," a manic ode to obsessive compulsive disorder. Overall a fantastic addition to any summertime roadtrip playlists of the gayest variety.

Sample: "Bullet"

- Jake

Reptar - Body Faucet (2012)

Hectic, fun indie pop-rock with some wild synths and a permeating beachy feel to it all. Perfect for the summer! Or even the winter, for you southern hemispherers...

Sample: "Natural Bridges"

- Jake

Sleepmakeswaves - In Today Already Walks Tomorrow (2008)

This, dear readers, is one of my personal favourite albums of all-time. It's a musical journey through your own thoughts and feelings. Your own emotions. You'll be confronted with them all throughout this album and you'll make peace with them for as long as you'll allow it. It's got an amazing atmosphere, one that'll make you dream your problems away. The entire world doesn't exist and doesn't matter anymore from beginning to end. Please, allow yourself to let time stand still for about 40 minutes and download this to find your own self.
You're welcome.

Sample: "I Will Write Peace On Your Wings And You Will Fly Over The World"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Tortoise - It's All Around You (2004)

I don't know anything about this band and don't even know how this ended up in my music library, but I decided to listen to it and was blown away. The album begins with a jazz-ish tune and some hints of post-rock, and then just blasts into this incredible landscape-like post-rock/jazz journey. It's really, really well done and a huge pleasure to the ears. One of those albums that completely lives up to their cover. Great stuff!

Sample: "Salt The Skies"

- Alessandro

Shakira - MTV Unplugged (2000)

Marking her crossover to American audiences, pre-Laundry Service, Shakira's MTV Unplugged performance is full of delightful twists, like a full-blown mariachi rendition of her single "Ciega, Sordomuda" or a kicked-up version of "Estoy Aquí" complete with note-sustaining caterwaul. Definitely a must have for fans of the singer, and a standing testimony to late 90s pop-rock

Sample: "Si Te Vas"

- 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

Behind Sapphire - Diamonds (2011)

Bursting with talent, energy, and Canadian-ness, Behind Sapphire is a band making waves. The vocals and arrangements are dynamic and multifaceted (the growled scatting of "Coconut Highways" is an absolute pleasure), the lyrics are clever and full of whimsy, and each song on the EP leaves you guessing what's next. It's clear the band has got great promise and unlimited potential for growth and an exploration of their sound. Highly recommended for fans of fun. and Foxy Shazam, they're definitely ones to look out for. Take a trip to their Bandcamp page where the EP is available at "pay what you want."

Sample: "Vancouver, Baby!"

Bandcamp

- Jake

Palette Town - Palette Town EP (2011)

Palette Town is an indie rock/pop band from Florida, and this EP is extremely well described by its cover. The songs are dynamic and colorful with both male and female vocals. Fun stuff, really upbeat and sort-of fast-paced music made by friendly people with catchy riffs and an old-school feel to it. And it's free! Palette Town tells us that you can't beat free, and they're right! Check it out.

Sample: "Along The Edge"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

The Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One (1999)

The Olivia Tremor Control is one of the three first bands on the Elephant 6 label, alongside Neutral Milk Hotel and The Apples In Stereo. This album contains 27 tracks and has a very warm feel to it, with some experimental elements here and there. I'd almost say that it's the 90's version of The Beach Boys! Calming vocals with waves of fulfilling sounds that will make love to your ears. Also, one of the songs has guest vocals of Jeff Mangum. Great stuff!

Sample: "A Sleepy Company"

- Alessandro

Alcest - Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde (2007)

Alcest is a musical project of French musician Neige. As a child, Neige had experiences with being in contact with a "far-off country" that he mostly refers to as "Fairy Land". Alcest is intended to be a journey for the listener to this "Fairy Land", through Neige's memories. And this album accomplishes that really well. Dreamy, peaceful music with walls of sounds and Neige's angel-like voice make Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde a phenomenal album that gives you an extraordinary experience.

Sample: "Les Iris"


- Alessandro

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

Estradasphere - Buck Fever (2001)

Hey, you! Did you ever want to have an album that is a big experimental rock epidemic played with at least 10 different instruments that sounds heavy as fuck but yet melodic, mixed with some instrumental versions of video game soundtracks including Mario through it? Well, you've just found the thing!

"Buck Fever" is an incredible album by Estradasphere, which is a band with 6 multi-instrumentalists that all are specialized in a completely different genre, including classical music; jazz and heavy metal. And somehow, they find a way to blend it in together perfectly! Best way to describe this would be frantic and loungy jazzpsychobungle metal. And I mean, look at the cover! LOOK AT IT.

There's really no way to describe it. Just check the sample out and find out.

Sample: "Feed Yo Mama's Meter (Remix 2001)"

- Alessandro

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN - YT//ST (2011)

"YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN are a psychedelic noh-wave opera group fusing noise, metal, pop and folk music into a multidisciplinary hyper-orientalist cesspool of 'east' meets 'west' culture clash in giant monochrome paper sets."

Sample: "Queens"

- Alessandro

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