The 17 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks.

Nina Persson ‘Sometimes’
Bonus track on the Cardigans / A Camp singer’s debut solo album, Animal Heart (title track featured earlier this month on ITP #48). 
[Nina Perrson] 

The Hold Steady ‘I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You’
First of two tracks from the New York via Minneapolis bar band, this one is an original from the forthcoming Teeth Dreams, their follow up to Heaven Is Whenever (2010).
[The Hold Steady]

The Notwist ‘Kong’
Bright, melodic indie pop from the Munich band’s forthcoming Close to the Glass , their first studio album since 2008’s The Devil, You + Me. Very different to the electronic post-rock of the title track (ITP #47).
[The Notwist]

Dum Dum Girls ‘Girl’s Intuition’
This is the b-side to the limited edition 7″ that came free with initial orders of the new album Too True and is easily as good as anything on the album. Dreamy indiepop from Dee Dee and co.
[Dum Dum Girls]

Damien Jurado ‘Return to Maraqopa’
Another track from Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (one of the early contenders for my end of year list) following on from ‘Silver Timothy’ (ITP #48). The whole album is recommended if you like Harvest-era Neil Young and CSNY, but this one in particular might appeal to fans of Neutral Milk Hotel.
[Damien Jurado]

Palehound ‘Holiest’
Ellen Kempner and co.’s third appearance here with their 90s indebted yet singular indie rock. Can’t wait for the album. Previously featured tracks can be heard along with others on the Bent Nail EP (streaming on Bandcamp). You’ll also find this track there and available to order as one side of a 7″ single due the end of February.
[Palehound]

Quilt ‘A Mirror’
One of many highlights from the indie psych folkies’ second album Held In Splendor.
[Quilt]

Eels ‘Agatha Chang’
Lovely stripped down number from Eels forthcoming The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett, due out in April.
[Eels]

Frankie Cosmos ‘Birthday Song’
Quirky charm from Zentropy, the first studio album of prolific Brooklynite musician.
[Frankie Cosmos]

The Coathangers ‘Follow Me’
Super catchy track from Atlanta all-female punk / post-punk band.
[The Coathangers]

James Vincent McMorrow ‘Red Dust’
Another song from the Irish singer-songwriter’s Post Tropical album. For fans of Bon Iver.
[James Vincent McMorrow]

The Hold Steady ‘The Last Thing I Wanted To Was Show Up and Blow Your Mind’
Second track from The Hold Steady, this one a cover of the These Bastard Souls song, taken from the Pledge Music-funded covers EP Rage.
[The Hold Steady]

Tycho ‘Montana’
Ambient / instrumental / post-rock but very catchy. This tune bares the influence of Krautrock and Joshua Tree era-U2 (I’m guessing he’s a big fan of The Edge and John McGeoch-era Banshees).
[Tycho]

Hospitality ‘Last Words’
A band known more for their concise, characterful indie pop, drop a six and a half minute, 80s electronic pop atmospheric number with elongated instrumental passage and tasteful Knopfler-esque guitar solo. This is the third track from new album Trouble featured on ITP after the more familiar sounding ‘I Miss Your Bones’ and the Magazine-inflected ‘Rockets and Jets’. It’s a great album.
[Hospitality] 

Wye Oak ‘’The Tower’
First track from forthcoming fourth album Shriek, the follow up to 2011’s brilliant Civilian. Those who have not heard Jen Wassner’s Dungeonesse and Flock of Dimes side projects may be surprised by this bass driven number – I certainly missed her wonderful guitar playing on first listen – but it reveals itself as
[Wye Oak]

Blank Realm ‘Bulldozer Love’
Another track from the Brisbane garage band’s new album Grassed In. This one develops nicely from simple, repetitive riffing indebted to The Clean into a near-nine minute epic that should appeal to fans of Luna and Yo La Tengo’s more Velvet Underground moments.
[Blank Realm]

Morgan Delt ‘Main Title Sequence’
Dreamy, psychedelic, wordless closing track (though hardly an instrumental) from the LA dude’s new self titled album.
[Morgan Delt]