The 18 best songs I’ve heard in the last two weeks. This edition is US-centric thanks to the many quality albums coming from over there this month and next, with only Movement waving the flag for Australia, Mac DeMarco for Canada, and Nina from Berlin – though I’m still convinced Brooklyn’s Frankie Cosmos is secretly Scottish and, of course, New Zealand can stake some claim to Dean Wareham.

togetherPANGEA ‘River’
First featured here back in August last year with the excellent ‘Snakedog’, ITP #40), this is a rattling Strokes-like number from their excellent debut album Badillac.
[togetherPANGEA]

The Coathangers ‘Derek’s Song’
Another great scratchy punk track from the Atlanta garage / punk / surf all female (now a) three pieces’s fourth album Suck My Shirt.
[The Coathangers]

Nina ‘My Mistake’
Electronic pop in a Little Boots-meets-Ladytron vein.
[Nina]

The War On Drugs ‘Red Eyes’
Who’dve thunk one of the best albums of 2014 so far would be so indebted to Dire Straits? Great track from the Philly band’s excellent Lost In A Dream.
[The War On Drugs]

Frankie Cosmos ‘Fireman’
Following on from January’s ‘Birthday Song’, this is another charming song from 19 year-old Brooklyn musician Greta Kline’s ‘Zentropy’ – her first to be physically released after a slew of Bandcamp-only albums.
[Frankie Cosmos]

Cloud Nothings ‘No Thought’
From the band’s forthcoming brilliant fourth album Here and Nowhere Else. Like many of frontman Dylan Baldi’s best, it sounds like it could be one of Ben Deilly’s Hate Your Friends-era Lemonheads songs.
[Cloud Nothings] 

Hamilton Leithauser ‘Alexandra’
First taste of forthcoming debut album from the former Walkmen frontman. Like some kind of manic fairground drinking song nightmare – but in a god way.
[Hamilton Leithauser]

The People’s Temple ‘Crimson Rose’
Opening track from Musical Garden, the third album by the Lansing, Michigan garage psych rockers.
[The People’s Temple]

Real Estate ‘Primitive’
One of many highlights from the New Jersey indie rockers mellow, downbeat third album Atlas.
[Real Estate]

La Sera ‘Losing To The Dark’
These guys took a real step in the songwriting on their second album Sees The Light (2012), having just played her farewell shows with Vivian Girls, La Sera frontwoman Katy Goodman is wasting no time returning with with this fast paced indiepop track from forthcoming third album Hour of the Dawn. I hope she finds time to do some more stuff with Books of Love (ITP #13), too.
[La Sera]

Mac Demarco ‘Brother’
A laid back taste of forthcoming third album Salad Days from the Canadian slacker rocker.
[Mac Demarco]

Movement ‘Like Lust’
Sydney’s soulful electronic trio continue to grow and improve with this follow up to last year’s ‘Us’ (ITP #42).
[Movement]

Dean Wareham ‘My Eyes are Blue’
Taken from the first solo album proper from the Galaxie 500 / Luna / Dean & Britta man after last year’s well received Emancipated Hearts 10″. Produced my My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, whose fingerprints can be heard in the understated twiddling guitar line.
[Dean Wareham]

Eternal Summers ‘100’
Virgina indie / noise pop band with another track from their forthcoming Drop Beneath album.
[Eternal Summers]

Perfect Pussy ‘Interference Fits’
Fated noise rockers with the most accessible track from their debut album. Elsewhwere, they can just be a bit too shouty, but like here, they are at their best when they recall some kind of hyrbrid of 80s Sonic Youth, early …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Life Without Buildings.
[Perfect Pussy]

Future Death ‘Riot Trains’
Another sleepy, sweet number from the San Francisco band’s lovely Life Among The Savages. Warm, melodious, sixties indebted.
[Future Death]

Papercuts ‘Staring Into The Bright Lights’
Austin types with another short burst of guitar fueled noise pop from their second album due in May on Bloodmoss records.
[Papercuts]

Pure X ‘Angel’
Slacker indie rock with shoegazing undertones from Austin band Pure X, previously featured here with ‘Thousand Year Old Child’ (ITP #32).
[Pure X]