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

Dead Man's Bones - s/t (2009)

So actor Ryan Gosling has a band. And while it's no Bruno, its kitsch-creepiness and retro-horror, gospel-tinged inspired stylings--all the more emphasized with the help of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir--make for an interesting listen. The spooooky themes aren't just limited to the compositions either: they're a constant motif throughout the lyrics, as Gosling and bandmate Zach Shields (for whom I'm sorry that this act will always be known as "Ryan Gosling's band") craft "love stories about ghosts and monsters." If that sounds ridiculous, it is. But tracks like "My Body's a Zombie for You" and lines like "When I think of you, flowers grow out of my grave," are so indulgently loyal to the concept, it's nearly irresistible to join in on the fun and have Halloween any time of the year.

Sample: "Pa Pa Power"

- Jake

Abnormal - Speaking In MIDI (2012)

Abnormal is a 19-year-old hip-hop producer from St. Louis and is heavily influenced by J Dilla, Flying Lotus and others. His albums contain some great upbeat hip-hop instrumental tunes that have some seriously good sampling too. One of those albums that you're always in the mood for. "Speaking In MIDI" can be downloaded for free on his Bandcamp, with a possibility to donate 3 dollars or more for 5 bonus tracks.

Sample: "The View From My Soul's Window" (20-second-version of it)
Download

- Alessandro

Suckers - Wild Smile (2010)

Hailing from Brooklyn, Suckers takes the usual "urban jungle" motif...emphasis on jungle as the heart of each of these songs feels like it grew up in the Congo, then thrust into a new neon-lit wilderness. A rather exciting listen through and through, many of the tracks hit peaks where the only acceptable way to dance to them is with arms and legs akimbo. Nearly every song has a great sing/shout-along quality to it (and a fantastic opportunity to stretch your shrieks or falsettos), definitely one of my favorites from the turn of the decade.

Sample: "A Mind I Knew"

-Jake

Stumbleine - Drifting Youth (2012)

Stumbleine is an electronic act from Bristol, England. Lovely drums, echos, dreamy atmospheres and sounds that make you think of waterfalls, forests and other wonderful natural stuff in a slow-paced, yet not boring tempo. All these things make sure that you will chill out and dream about to the very max. Of course we'll let you try before you buy with a handy sharing link, and the album's available at their bandcamp for a mere 3 pounds. An eargasm indeed.

Bandcamp
Sample: "Heart Shaped Locket"

- Alessandro

MC Shan - Down By Law (1987)

MC Shan, from Queensbridge, is one of hip-hop's pioneers and part of the infamous Bridge Wars from the late 80s. I love his debutalbum "Down By Law" to death. It's filled with entertaining stories about MC Shan's adventures in Queensbridge, as well with some disses towards KRS-One and co, over some funky 80s hip-hop beats with crazy DJ cuts and samples produced by iconic producer Marley Marl. A must-have classic for every hip-hop lover, or music-lover for that matter!

Sample: "Down By Law"

- Alessandro

Penguin Prison - s/t (2011)

Gaining notoriety with a string of remixes for other artists, Penguin Prison's (aka, Chris Glover) self-titled solo effort proves to be just as legit as his reworkings. Showing a knack for sharp pop songwriting and crafting luxurious, 80s-tinged beats, Penguin Prison presents one of the best--and unfortunately overlooked--pop albums of 2011.

Sample: "Fair Warning"

- Jake