The 20 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks, garage rock, power pop, blues rock, synthpop, dreampop, soul, indie folk, shoegaze, psych pop, indie rock etc. New music from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand.

The Rich Hands ‘Other Boys’
Killer track from the San Antonio trio’s garage-power-pop second album Out Of My Head, the follow up last year’s Dreamers.
[The Rich Hands]

Brian Eno & Karl Hyde ‘Who Rings The Bell’ 

Catchy, experimental pop, Another highlight from the electronic music veterans’ collaborative album, Someday World.
[Brian Eno & Karl Hyde]

Saskwatch ‘Call Your Name’
Always a great live act, the nine piece Melbourne soul band have hit a high with their second album, Nose Dive (out now on Norhside). This track surfaced as a single here in Australia a few weeks back but deserves wider exposure.
[Saskwatch]

King Dude ‘Bottomless Pit’
Rollicking, primal blues rock from King Dude aka T.J. Cowgill, last heard here in February collaborating with Chelsea Wolfe on Be Free (ITP #51). This is taken from his latest album Fear, produced by Ministry’s Bill Rieflin.
[King Dude]

Nun ‘Evoke The Sleep’
Melbourne dark electronic pop band with an early-Mute Records / early Cabaret Voltaire aesthetic. You can hear Sue Tompkins (Life Without Buildings) and Lesley Woods (The Au Pairs) in Jenny Branagan’s vocals. This single came out a couple of months back but worth flagging up noiw as their debut album has just been released on Aarght and Avant.
[Nun]

Emma Ruth Rundle ‘Shadows of My Name’
For someone know for playing instrumental post-rock in Red Sparrowes, Los Angelino Emma Ruth Rundle is in possession of a remarkable voice from the Liz Fraser school of warble-belters. More straightforwardly indie folk than the shoegaze influenced stuff she does with Marriages, this is taken from her beautfiul debut solo album Some Heavy Ocean.
[Emma Ruth Rundle]

Phonograph ‘Fading Into You’
Not to be confused with the similarly named Brooklyn band, this is from the London band’s powerpop album Volume 1, which takes The Beatles as a starting point in much the same way Crowded House did. This was recorded back in 2001, but has only just seen the light of day via bandcamp.
[Phonograph]

Haunted Hearts ‘Up Is Up (But So Is Down)’
Indie rock power couple Dee Dee Penny (Dum Dum Girs) and Brandon Welchez (Crocodiles) have been teasing their collaborative psych pop project as Hanuted Hearts since at least the end of 2012 (‘Something That Feels Bad Is Something That Feels Good’ featured way back in ITP#23). As the release of their debut album Initiation is now imminent (out May 27th on Zoo music) here’s another taste of what to expect.
[Haunted Hearts]

Hamilton Leithauser ‘Silent Orchestra’
The former Walkmen frontman releases his solo debut ‘Black Hours’ next month. After the thumping Alexandra, this number featuring gentle percussion, xylophone, strings and *that* voice – offers more of an insight into what is a varied and nuanced album.
[Hamilton Leithauser]

The Antlers ‘Intruders’
A band that have followed a similar trajectory to fellow Brooklynites Grizzly Bear, this is taken from their new album Familiars the full lengrth follow up to 2011’s Burst Apart.
[The Antlers] 

Cheatahs ‘The Swan’

One of the highlights of the London shoegaze band’s long awaited eponymous debut album, out now on Wichita.
[Cheatahs]

Popstrangers ‘Violet’
Lovely bit of psych pop from the Kiwi band’s second album Fortuna, following on from the previously featured Country Kills (ITP #53).
[Popstrangers]

High Ends ‘The Weight’

Lush pop from Canadian Jeremy Innes, best known as a member of radio friendly indie rockers Yukon Blonde. Stylistically different to that project, but just as catchy.
[High Ends]

Ought ‘Today More Than Any Other Day’
Quasi-title track from the Montreal band’s debut album on Constellation. Like the previously featured Habit (ITP #55) the track generates its own identity while seemingly having a myriad of touch points from the way the Blue Aeroplanes channeled Television, the Velvet Underground, Jonathan Richman, Talking Heads, Thom Yorke etc.
[Ought]

Ed Schrader’s Music Beat ‘Televan’
Eighty-Five seconds of energetic, spasming quirk-punk from ESMB’s new album Party Jail.
[Ed Schrader’s Music Beat]

Parquet Courts ‘Instant Disassembly’
The hangover follow up to the party of the Brooklyn punks breakthrough album Light Up Gold. Taken from the forthcoming Sunbathing Animal album.
[Parquet Courts]

Muscle & Bone ‘Song for the Broken Road’
Asheville, North Carolina band with a late 80s / early 90s college rock / Teenage Fanclub / powerpop-jangle vibe
[Muscle & Bone]

Landlady ‘Dying Day’
Following on from The Globe (ITP #54) here’s another track from the Brooklyn indie-rockers forthcoming debut album Upright Behaviour (due out in July on Hometapes)
[Landlady]

Mirel Wagner ‘Oak Tree’
Finland-via-Ethopia singer/songwriter / gloom-chanteuse first featured here way back in Feb 2012 on ITP #2 with the haunting ‘No Death’. Now signed to Sub Pop
[Mirel Wagner]

Lykke Li ‘Heart of Steel’
Gospel and 60s girl pop flavoured highlight of the Swedish singer songwriter’s latest album I Never Learn.
[Lykke Li]

The 19 best songs I’ve heard in the last two weeks. New music from the US, Canada, Sweden, Norway and the UK. Indie rock, electronic pop, garage rock, noise pop, experimental pop, dreampop etc.

tUnE-yArDs ‘Left Behind’

Quasi-title track from Merril Garbus’ new album Nikki Nack.
[tUnE-yArDs]

Montreal Sex Machine ‘Blackout’
New York label Godmode’s in-house supergroup with a catchy slice of dance punk, like a funkier Franz Ferdinand.
[Montreal Sex Machine]

Zig Zags ‘Brainded Warrior’
Heavy grunge garage rock threepiece from LA.
[Zig Zags]

Little Big League ‘Year of the Sunhouse’
Female fronted Indie rock from Philly band featuring ex-members of Titus Andronicus and Strand of Oaks. First featured here back in April last year (ITP #30).
[Little Big League]

Röyksopp & Robyn ‘Do It Again’

After 2009’s collaboration ‘The Girl and The Robot’, the Norwegian duo and Swedish synthpop star team up again for a mini album and tour.
[Röyksopp]

The Black Keys ‘Gotta Get Away’

Faces-like blues rockerclosing track from the new album Turn Blue.
[The Black Keys]

Say Lou Lou ‘Everything We Touch’

Third single proper from the Swedish twins is their least moody and most dancefloor friendly.
[Say Lou Lou]

Big Eyes ‘Asking You to Stay’
Seattle based garage punks fronted by former Brooklynite Kate Eldridge, first featured here in April last year with ‘Back From The Moon’ (ITP #30).
[Big Eyes]

Brian Eno & Karl Hyde ‘Daddy’s Car’
Electronic music veterans team up for surprisingly accessible album Someday World.
[Brian Eno & Karl Hyde]

Lykke Li ‘Gunshot’

From the Swedish singer songwriter’s post-break up bummer of an album I Never Learn.
[Lykke Li]

Rose Windows ‘There Is A Light’

Low key 7” release from the Seattle folk-infused psych rock band, their first new material since last year’s excellent debut album The Sun Dogs.
[Rose Windows]

Gold-Bears ‘Memo’
Another track from the Slumberland-signed Atlanta ban’d second album Dalliance.
[Gold-Bears ]

Pink Mountaintops ‘Shakedown’
Another track from their Get Back album, this one finds Stephen McBean channelling the Psychedelic Furs’ Richard Butler.
[Pink Mountaintops]

Thee Tee Pees ‘Indian Bingo’
Short burst of garage rock with organ stabs from Los Angeles.
[The Tee Pees]

Three Man Cannon ‘Patiently’

Laid back indie rock from Pennsylvania.
[Three Man Cannon]

Trespassers William ‘Fairest of the Seasons’

The now sadly defunct dreampop band recorded this Nico cover for the just released Wes Anderson tribute album I Saved Latin!
[Trespassers William]

Hannah Diamond ‘Attachment’
Quirky London synth pop.
[Hannah Diamond]

Tiger Dare ‘Morning After Morning’
Dreamy indie from the Brooklyn band’s Wires Over, Wires In album
[Tiger Dare]

Sharon Van Etten ‘Everytime the Sun Comes Up’

Closing track from the singer songwriter’s Are We There album, the follow up to 2012’s Aaron Dessner-produced Tramp.
[Sharon Van Etten]

The best 20 tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks. New music from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. New tunes from Jack White, Pink Mountaintops, Torres, The Dodos, Honeyblood, Ought, Tweens, The Faint, Joan As Policewoman and more.

Jack White ‘Lazaretto’
Title track from his imminently due second solo album
[Jack White]

Pink Mountaintops ‘Through All The Worry’
Stephen McBean’s Black Mountain side project return with their excellent Get Back album
[Pink Mountaintops]

Honeyblood ‘Choker’

One of many stand out tracks from the Scottish duo’s eponymous debut album.
[Honeyblood]

Torres ‘New Skin’
“Lay off me would ya / I’m just tryin’ to take this new skin for a spin”. My favourite discovery of last year, the Georgia born, Nashville-trained, now Brooklyn based singer-songwriter-guitarist teams up with Sharon Van Etten, Adam Granduciel and Dave Hartley of The War on Drugs, and Chris Wilson of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists for this for a one off.
[Torres]

Ought ‘Habit’
Montreal band with a track that seems to have a myriad of influences which the band melds into something unique, though you may hear hints of the way the Blue Aeroplanes channeled Television, plus the Velvet Underground – Jonathan Richman- David Byrne- Thom Yorke among others. Special stuff.
[Ought] 

White Reaper ‘Half Bad’
Louisville, KY (post)punky types signed to Polyvinyl.
[White Reaper]

Mirah ‘Gold Rush’
Olympia-based Pennsylvania born singer songwriter returns with her fifth solo album and her first since her 2011 collaboration with Thao Nguyen. This track is particularly lovely and builds to an epic Americana-flavoured climax via the sort of arrangement that wouldn’t have been out of place on Joanna Newsome’s Have One On Me.
[Mirah]

Band of Skulls ‘I Guess I Know You Fairly Well’
Southampton blues rock trio with another blues rock highlight from their Himalayan album.
[Band of Skulls]

Joan As Police Woman ‘Get Direct’
Taken from Joan Wasser’s remarkable fourth album The Classic, this number plays to the strengths of her voice and has lovely-trip-hop-meets-reggae undertone and shades of her former beaux Jeff Buckley’s Everybody Here Wants You.
[Joan As Police Woman]

The Faint ‘Evil Voices’
Nineteen(!) years since their first album and six years since their last, the Omaha dance pubnks return with one of their strongest records to date Doom Abuse.
[The Faint]

The Dodos + Magik*Magik Orchestra ‘Substance’ (Yours Truly Session Verison)

This is off The DodosRecord Store Day release. A highlight of last year’s Carriers (one of 2013’s best albums, imho). This version features strings from Magik*Magik Orchestra.
[The Dodos]
[Magik*Magik Orchestra]

Craft Spells ‘Breaking the Angle Against the Tide’
San Franciso / Seattle band with ambitious, breezy indie with hints of dreampop, a touch of The Cure at their melancholy peak in the guitars and percussion, and some judiciously used strings. Taken from their forthcoming Nausea album (due out in June on Captured Tracks).
[Craft Spells]

Eels ‘A Swallow In The Sun’
The always-interesting E returns with this beautiful, though maudlin track from his rather lovely Performs The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett.
[Eels]

Gold-Bears ‘For You’
Slumberland-signed Atlanta self-described twee-punk band “Raised on a steady diet of the Smiths, the Wedding Present, and My Bloody Valentine” with lo-fi jangle pop thrills. Taking from their forthcoming second album Dalliance.
[Gold-Bears]

Tweens ‘I’m Gonna Steal Your Boyfriend’

Couldn’t resist the chance to share another highlight of Tweens excellent debut album. This one is bubblegum, girl group-influenced punk worthy of the Ramones or Love Is All.
[Tweens]

The April Maze ‘Strawberry Swing’
Anglo-Australian independent alternative folk duo. This came out on their eponymous album last year, they are currently crowd sourcing funding for their next album
[The April Maze]

Jessica Lea Mayfield ‘Unknown Big Secret’

After a couple of albums produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, the still only 24 year old Jessica Lea Mayfield returns with new album Make My Head Sing… which she has co-produced with bass player (and husband) Jesse Newport. This is one of the stand outs, indebted to grunge and 90s alt-rock, but at a mogadon pace.
[Jessica Lea Mayfield]

A Sunny Day in Glasgow ‘Crushin”
Dreamy indiepop from the Philly band’s forthcoming fifth album Sea When Absent. Does mainman Ben Daniels still live in Sydney, I wonder?
[A Sunny Day In Glasgow]

Tearjerker ‘You Can’
Shoegaze meets post-rock from Toronto DIY three-piece who recently signed to SQE Music have previously self-released a couple of albums. This track is taken from their forthcoming Hiding EP (due out in May).
[Tearjerker]

Elephant ‘Shapeshifter’
Previously featured here with the wonderful ‘Skyscraper’, this is another highlight from their long-awaited debut album Sky Swimming, due out on Memphis Industries next month.
[Elephant]

The 19 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks, new music from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.

Honeyblood ‘Killer Bangs’
Self-professed “noisy Scottish Girls” with killer tune of garage rock crunch pop. The follow up to their debut single ‘Bud’.
[Honeyblood]

Bad // Dreems ‘Dumb Ideas’
Adelaide rock band with a penchant for the output of Flying Nun, SST and Greasy Pop.[Bad // Dreems]

Shannon and the Clams ‘Mama’
Oakland-based indie garage punk trio. “Known for a vintage sound that incorporates elements of doo-wop, classic R&B, garage psych, and surf,” says Wikipedia and my ears.
[Shannon and the Clams]

Woods ‘Full Moon’
Another track from the amazing forthcoming Woods album With Light and With Love. This one has some lovely George Harrison-like guitar on it.
[Woods]

Total Control ‘Flesh War’
Melbourne ‘super-group’ continue the move from debut album Henge Beat to a more nuanced, new wave influenced sound.
[Total Control]

Band of Skulls ‘Himalayan’
Southampton blues rock trio return with the title track of their Nick Launay-produced third album. Hints of Nile Rodgers in the funky ‘Notorious’ / ‘Original Sin’-style riffing.
[Band of Skulls]

Chromeo ‘Jealous ‘(I Ain’t With It)’
The Canadian duo’s brand of electronic disco funk has never been more in vogue. Their flair for songwriting is what raises them above others swimming in the post Post-Random Access Memories waters.
[Chromeo]

Tweens ‘Girlfriend’
Another highlight from the Cincinnati, OH  female-fronted trash poppers eponymous debut album.
[Tweens]

Landlady ‘The Globe’
Brooklyn indie rockers, with mini epic that crams a lot into its 5:54 run time. You can hear Radar Brothers and Built To Spill if you listen closely.
[Landlady]

The Beverleys ‘Bad Company’
Grungy, female fronted garage rock from Toronto (not to be confused with Beverly – ITP #50).
[The Beverleys]

Wagons ‘Why Do You Always Cry’
Like Nick Cave with his tongue in his cheek rather than the black humour, the wonderful Henry Wagons and his band return with more Americana noir / spaghetti western pop. Taken from the forthcoming Mick Harvey produced album Acid Rain and Sugar Cane.
[Wagons]

Tiny Ruins ‘Chainmail Maker’
Kiwi trio fronted by Hollie Fullbrook. This track, with its feel of a female Nick Drake, isn just one of many stand out tracks from the brilliant forthcoming second album Brightly Painted One due out next month.
[Tiny Ruins]

Daughter ‘Still’ (Live at Air Studios)
One of the highlights of last year’s debut album If You Leave, re-recorded live in the studio with a 10-piece classical ensemble.
[Daughter]

+/- The Bitterest Pill
Like ‘The Space Between Us’ featured back in January (ITP#48) this is one of the highlights of the first album in five years from the Brooklyn band..
[+/-]

Fear of Men ‘Vitrine’
UK indiepop four piece with another highlight of their debut album Loom.
[Fear of Men]

Herzog ‘Mad Men’
Energized, indie rock from Cleveland band.
[Herzog]

Cut Copy ‘In These Arms of Love’
Dance anthem banging electronica. Best thing they’ve done in ages. With Joshua Tree-era the Edge guitar solo.
[Cut Copy]

White Hex ‘Parardise’
M83 style stadium electronica with a goth-tinge (think Gina X and Clan of Xymox) from Melbourne duo who cite influence of Arthur Russell, Velvet Underground, DAF, Gianni Rossi and The Mamas and Papas.
[White Hex]

Courtney Barnett ‘Bein’ Around’
In the absence of any new material, here’s a nice low key cover of the nice low key Lemonheads track.
[Courtney Barnett]

The 16 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks, new music from the US, New Zealand and Norway. Nine minute psych-pop epics, three minute indie rockers, and space disco covers of Robert Palmer songs featuring Bryan Ferry are all represented.

Dana Falconberry ‘Palmless’
Produced by Jim Eno from Spoon , this finds the sometime-folkie Falconberry singing crystal clear and playing some reverb-heavy guitar over Radiohead-like rhythms. All kinds of nice.
[Dana Falconberry]

The Black Keys ‘Fever’
While I can no longer imagine going to see the arena-filling duo live, I’m definitely more of a fan of their Dangermouse produced stuff since Attack & Release onwards than the early garage-blues-rock. This catchy number doesn’t seem like much of a step forward from El Camino, but then that album didn’t seem like much of a step forward from Brothers and was non-the-worse for that.
[The Black Keys]

tUnE-yArDs ‘Water Fountain’
Three years on from last album w h o k i l l Merril Garbus returns with an insistent piece of percussion heavy art pop. Afropop influences are still front and centre but this is alos reminiscent of the NYC-meets-island pop of Tom Tom Club.
[tUnE-yArDs]

The Afghan Whigs ‘Royal Cream’
One of the highlights from the new Afghan Whigs album Due to the Beast, their first album in sixteen years and their first without original guitarist Rick McCollum.
[The Afghan Whigs]

Mikal Cronin ‘Soul in Motion’
Powerpop in the Brendan Benson / Jason Faulkner mode from the singer songwriter (and sometime Ty Segall band member)’s split 7” with WAND.
[Mikal Cronin]

Future Islands ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’
Baltimore synthpop soulsters with the lead track from their third album Singles, their first for 4AD.
[Future Islands]

The Hold Steady ‘On With The Business’
One of the highlights from the band’s sixth album Teeth Dreams.
[The Hold Steady]

Popstrangers ‘Country Kills’
When I first featured this NZ band back in October 2012, I likened the psychedelic-tinged dreampop of ‘Heaven’ to a less stoned Autolux (ITP#20). Since then they’ve moved on to something straightforward and melodic, but still wistful, as first evinced on last year’s ‘Rats In The Palm Trees’ and again here ‘Country Kills’.
[Popstrangers]

Tigers Jaw ‘Nervous Kids’
Scranton, Pennsylvania indie rockers.
[Tigers Jaw]

Wye Oak ‘Before’
It’s not just the lack of guitars on Shriek that make’s the follow up to the brilliant Civilian (2011) a bit of a let down, the songwriting has also changed, mostly to the album’s detriment. Though it often sounds like the work of a different band, there are still some excellent track, including this opener.
[Wye Oak]

Haunted Hearts ‘Johnny Jupiter’
Husband and wife side psych-pop side project of Dum Dum Girls’ Dee Dee Penny and Crocodiles‘ Brandon Welchez, previously featured here back in December 2012 with ‘Something That Feels Bad Is Something That Feels Good’ (ITP #23).
[Haunted Hearts]

Woods ‘With Light and With Love’
Nine minutes of epic psych pop from the Brooklyn band. The title track of their forthcoming album.
[Woods]

Sharon Van Etten ‘Taking Chances’
Like Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten is in possession of a distinctive voice and a way with an electric guitar, both of which she puts to great effect on this first track from her forthcoming album Are We There? the follow up to the Aaron Dessner produced Tramp (2012).
[Sharon Van Etten]

Mac DeMarco ‘Go Easy’
Taken from the slacker rocker’s excellent new album Salad Days.
[Mac DeMarco]

Todd Terje ft BryanFerry ‘Johnny and Mary’
Following up hundreds of remixes and his excellent It’s The Arps EP (2012), the Norwegian space disco producer prepares to release his first full length It’s Album Time which includes this cover of Robert Palmer’s Johnny and Mary featuring Bryan Ferry on vocals.
[Todd Terje]

EMA ‘When She Comes’
Many rated Erika M. Anderson’s Past Life Martyred Saints as one of the best albums of 2012. I didn’t fully appreciate it until I caught her live, but the follow up The Future’s Void (due out April 8) is a lot more instant, at least to these ears. This is probably the most understated track on the album.
[EMA]

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]

The 17 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks. Jangling indie rock, sunshine pop, electronica, dreampop etc from the US, UK, Sweden and Canada.

Modern Rivals ‘ Pins & Stitches’
Sunshine pop with psych and afropop inflections from Brooklyn band’s forthcoming debut album Cemetery Dares.
[Modern Rivals]

King Dude & Chelsea Wolfe ‘Be Free’
Like a gothic Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra, from their forthcoming collaborative 7″ on the Not Just Religious Music label.
[King Dude & Chelsea Wolfe]

Night Flowers ‘ Embers’
Night Flowers dabble at the intersection between The Cure, indiepop and shoegaze. Free downloads of a couple of other tracks over on their bandcamp page
[Night Flowers]

Tove Lo ‘Not On Drugs’
After last year’s brilliantly neurotic ‘Habits’ (ITP #31), this is a more upbeat dance pop number from the Swedish artist..
[Tove Lo]

Line & Circle ‘Mine is Mine’
Jangling indie rock indebted to 80s college rock.
[Line & Circle]

The Casket Girls ‘Chemical Dizzy’
Fuzzy, electronic dreampop which may appeal to fans of School of Seven Bells from Ryan Graveface and Elsa and Phaedra Greene. Taken from their excellent True Love Kills The Fairy Tale album.
[The Casket Girls]

Black Lips ‘Funny’
Superior, retro garage rock from their new album Underneath The Rainbow, the follow up to 2011’s excellent Arabia Mountain.
[Black Lips]

The Pains of Bing Pure at Heart ‘Simple and Sure’
Bright pop from the band’s forthcoming third album Days of Abandon, the follow up to the excellent Belong. Frontman Kip Berman is now the only fulltime member though everyone from the 2011 line up has contributed to the album (apart from Peggy Wang who was presumably too busy with her duties as Editor at Buzzfeed) along with Jen Goma of A Sunny Day In Glasgow and Kelly Pratt.
[The Pains of Bing Pure at Heart]

Fear of Men ‘Luna’
UK indiepop four piece who first featured here back in 2012 (ITP #18) with ‘Mosaic’. Jessica Weiss from the band will also form part of the touring incarnation of Pains Of Being Pure At Heart sometime this year.
[Fear of Men] 

Real Estate ‘Crimes’
More hyper melodic jangling indie rock from the band’s new album Atlas.
[Real Estate]

Eternal Summers ‘A Burial’
First featured here back in May and June 2012 with ‘Wonder’ (ITP #10) and ‘Millions’ (ITP #8, May 2012, these Virginia indiepoppers follow up January’s ‘Gouge’ (ITP #48) with another track from their new third-album-proper, The Drop Beneath on Kanine records (also home to the new Fear of Men release).
[Eternal Summers]

Protomartyr ‘Come See’
Dark, tense and propulsive indie rock from Detroit band.
[Protomartyr]

Let’s Wrestle ‘Always A Friend’
More Jangling, melodic indie, this time from reliable UK combo.
[Let’s Wrestle]

Paws ‘Tongues’
Return of Jock indie rockers who previously featured here with the excellent Alice-Costelloe-out-of-Big-Deal featuring ‘Sore Tummy’ (ITP #19, October 2012 ).
[Paws]

The Mary Onettes ‘Naive Dream’
More jangling with a dash of shoegaze from the Swedish band.
[The Mary Onettes]

Dauwd ‘Lydia’
Lovely slice of instrumental electronica from the UK producer, due for release on Kompakt.
[Dauwd]

Sean Nicholas Savage ‘Naturally’

Candian singer songwriter with lo-fi indie lounge soul.
[Sean Nicholas Savage]

The 16 best tracks I’ve heard in the last two weeks. Indie rock, psych pop, space disco, indiepop, noise pop, dreampop, synth punk, disco punk, alt-folk etc. Music from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Woods ‘Moving to the Left’
According to the band’s Woodsist label site, the forthcoming Woods album With Light and With Love eschews the stoned folk and Krautrock dallances of their previous records to reveal a broader sonic palette that includes “singing saw, heavier emphasis on percussion, and a saloon piano that sounds like it was rescued from a flooded basement”.
[Woods]

Tweens ‘Forever’
Cincinnati’s female-fronted, self-proclaimed “trash-pop” band have a way with a tune. Previous track ‘Be Mean’ had a punkier attitude, but ‘Forever’ is the killer, taken from their forthcoming eponymous debut album due on Frenchkiss on April 8th.
[Tweens]

Walter Martin [ft. Karen O] ‘Sing to Me’
Multi-instrumentalist Walter Martin looks like he’ll be the first to release a post–Walkmen record (We’re All Young Together, due May 1st on Family Jukebox). Here he teams up with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O for a lovely ballad, inspired by what was (at the time of writing) impending parenthood for Martin.
[Walter Martin]

Hidden Fees ‘So What’
Stones-y disco punk from NYC duo, featuring guest vocals from Christopher Exits of Ghost Exits.
[Hidden Fees]

Ex Hex ‘Hot and Cold’
Mary Timony’s post-Wild Flag outfit make their debut with a strident glam / powerpop number. Timony has this to say about the band, newly signed to Merge “Ex Hex is what your older brother’s friends listened to. “Roxy Roller” and “Virginia Plain” rumbling from the Kenwood in the basement.It’s what your babysitters listened to, and it’s what stuck with me.”
[Ex Hex]

Dean Wareham ‘Holding Pattern’
After last year’s low key solo debut 10” album Emancipated Hearts, the former Galaxie 500 / Luna and erstwhile Dean & Britta frontman returns with a full length, self-titled album produced by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James.
[Dean Wareham]

Papercuts ‘Still Knocking at the Door’
Unintentional segue: Dean Wareham’s Emancipated Hearts mini-album was produced by Papercuts mainman Jason Quever. This track, taken from the San Francisco outift’s forthcoming Life Among The Savages album (Memphis Industries / Easy Sound), is a warm, melodious, sixties indebted number.
[Papercuts]

Tashaki Miyaki ‘Cool Runnings’
Los Angeles girl/girl/boy dreampop outfit.
[Tashaki Miyaki]

Angel Olsen ‘White Fire’
The quasit-title track of Olsen’s new album Burn Your Fire For No Reason is a stripped down folk ballad, a very different beast to the two previously released tracks (see ITP #46 and ITP #48) but something that will be familiar to long time fans.
[Angel Olsen]

Beverly ‘Honey Do’
Excellent debut single from new indiepop side project of indiepop Zelig Frankie Rose.

[Beverly]

Ausmuteants ‘Tinnitus’
Geelong punks with synths who released their debut album Amusements here in Australia at the end of last year prepare an international release.
[Ausmuteants]

September Girls ‘Someone New’
Dublin all-female, fuzzy noisepop band  finally released their debut album back in January (‘Ships’ was featured last year back in September on #ITP 41), I meant to include this track at the end of last month but it somehow fell through the cracks. If like me you’re a fan of the genre, this album is essential.
[September Girls]

Yumi Zouma ‘The Brae’
Ex-pat NZ band with members split between Paris and New York, deliver delicious dreamy pop.
[[Yumi Zouma]

Prawn ‘Why You Always Leave A Note’
New Jersey band that (top these ears at least) seem to have an infatuation with defunct UK bands such as Seafood, Urusei Yatsura and Dananananaykroyd.
[Prawn]

Todd Terje ‘Delorean Dynamite’
Norwegian space-disco godhead.
[Todd Terje]

Beck ‘Waking Light’
Being pitched as an album stylistically similar to his heartbreak epic Sea Change, on initial listening Morning Phase seems to live up to the praise. This is the beautiful closing track, some lush Beatles influences and should appeal to fans of his Korgis cover from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, George Harrison and Elliott Smith.
[Beck]

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]

The best songs I’ve heard so far this year (with a handful that fell through the cracks in the run up to Christmas). Indie rock, dreampop, indiepop, psych-pop, alt-folk, chill-out. You might hear influences spreading from the 50s to the 90s, from Roy Orbison to Boz Scaggs to Magazine, from Ghanian highlife to chilled out house to new wave and post-punk and psych-pop. And a Bob Marley cover too.

Tokyo Police Club ‘Argentina Parts I,II, III’
Amazing powerpop tripartite epic from Ontario indie rockers (part III is my favourite).
[Tokyo Police Club]

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks ‘Chartjunk’

I’m a massive Stephen Malkmus fan but never found much of a connection with his last album, the Beck produced Mirror Traffic (2011). New album, Wig out at Jagbags is a different story with a similar feel (produced by long term Pavement soundman, Remko Schouten) but stronger songwriting. This one seems to take a cue from the 70s and Boz Scaggs’ ‘Lido Shuffle’ in particular (with maybe a little bit of Steely Dan thrown in for good measure too).
[Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks]

Hospitality ‘Rockets and Jets’
Second track to be released from their soon to be released second album Trouble (on Merge). A more ambitious post-punk feel to it than their (brilliant) debut. It has an almost Magazine-like flavour to it.
[Hospitality]

Hibou ‘Hide Away’
Self proclaimed “ethereal surf poppy love” from Seattle based Peter Michel.
[Hibou]

Tacocat ‘Bridge To Hawaii’
Lo-fi, indie surfpop (sometime self-described as “feminist sci-fi” and “equal parts Kurt and Courtney”) from Longview, WA four piece. Second album NVM out at the end of next month on Hardly Art.
[Tacocat]

Morgan Delt ‘Obstacle Eyes’
Lovely, fuzzy psych-pop from Los Angeles. Debut self-titled album due out at the end of the month on Trouble In Mind Records (home of the similarly inclined ITP favourite Jacco Gardener).
[Morgan Delt]

Sun Kil Moon ‘Ben’s My Friend’
The genius of Mark Kozelek, a song about middle aged malaise, professional jealousy, melltdown’s, inspiration, family, friendship and going to see the Postal Service (that’s Ben Gibbard referenced in the title).
[Sun Kil Moon]

+/-‘The Space Between Us’
The tricky to Google +/- (plus minus) make feather light, super melodic indie rock.
[+/-]

Nina Perrson ‘Animal Heart’
First track from debut solo album of Cardigans and A Camp frontwoman.
[Nina Perrson]

Silversun Pickups ‘Cannibal’
New track from the LA alt-rock and shoegaze informed band’s singles box set.
[Silversun Pickups]

Warpaint ‘Keep It Healthy’
One of the highlights of the post-punk inspired LA art rock band’s new eponymous album.
[Warpaint]

Bleeding Rainbow ‘So You Know’
Female fronted 90s indebted, shoegaze flavoured indie rock from Philly. Hints of Pretty Girls Make Graves. First featured here back in August 2012 with ‘Pink Ruff’ (ITP #15), this one is from their forthcoming album Interrupt.
[Bleeding Rainbow]

The Casket Girls ‘Day to Day’
Ryan Graveface of Graveface Records and Black Moth Super Rainbow teamed up with sisters Elsa and Phaedra Greene to create eerie electronic pop. Recommended for fans of Cults, Sleigh Bells and School of Seven Bells.
[The Casket Girls]

Jim James ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’

Cover of the Bob Marley track (from 1977’s Exodus) by the My Morning Jacket frontman from the forthcoming Starbucks comp Sweetheart 2014 which also features the likes of Vampire Weekend, Beck, Thao, Sharon Jones and Fiona Apple covering classic love songs.
[Jim James]

Angel Olsen ‘Hi-Five’
Fuzzed up guitars, a lyric nodding to Elvis and high, warbling vocals recalling Roy Orbison from the Missouri born singer-songwriter’s forthcoming second album, Burn Your FIre For No Witness, due out next month on Jagjaguwar.
[Angel Olsen]

Dum Dum Girls ‘Too True To Be Good’
Shimmering, jangling indiepop with a frosty edge from the forthcoming Too True album.
[Dum Dum Girls]

Real Estate ‘Talking Backwards’
Jangling indiepop from the New Jersey band’s forthcoming third album, Atlas.
[Real Estate]

Eternal Summers ‘Gouge’
This female fronted Virginia trio take elements from indiepop, dreampop, shoegaze and post punk to make catchy indie rock. First featured back in May 2012 on ITP #8 with ‘Millions’, this new track is from their forthcoming album The Drop Beneath due out in March on Kanine Records.
[Eternal Summers]

Monkey Safari ‘Coming Down’

German club duo with suitably titled come down slice of chilled out house.
[Monkey Safari]

Damien Jurado ‘Silver Timothy’
Beautiful, spacey, psych-tinged classic rock from the prolific, under-appreciated indie rock staple Damien Jurado. Taken from his forthcoming eleventh(!) studio album (and third in collaboration with serial career revitaliser Richard Swift), Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son.
[Damien Jurado]

Marissa Nadler ‘Was It a Dream’
After ‘Dead City Emily’ (featured back in November on ITP #46) this is the second track from the folkster’s forthcoming album July (her seventh), due out next month on Sacred Bones / Bella Union.
[Marissa Nadler]