Five New Songs We Love: October 28, 2009
You like music. We like music. And there is a lot of it out there. Periodically, we intend to fill you in some of the music we like. No, not just like ... LOVE.
1. "Hell," Tegan and Sara
A fully-powered rock song from Vancouver/Montreal sister duo Tegan and Sara, whose sixth album, Sainthood, is out this week.
Hell - Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara | MySpace Video
2. "You've Got the Love," Florence and the Machine
"You Got the Love" may be a cover (Candi Stanton tackled the 1991 original, recorded with The Source), but singer Florence Welch's soul-infused voice shines through on this single, taken from Florence and the Machine's 2009 album Lungs.
3. "Mr. Understanding," Pete & The Pirates
The annual CMJ week in New York has lost some of its luster, failing this year (or last) to showcase a buzz band on the level of, say, Arcade Fire, whose ascent to superstardom included sweaty, packed shows at CMJ '04. But that's not to say—especially with over a thousand artists playing throughout the week—that there weren't some gems. Reading, England's Pete & The Pirates may not be stars (yet), but their CMJ performances last week—their first shows in New York—provided clear evidence that they should be. "Mr. Understanding" is taken from their 2008 album Little Death. A follow-up LP is currently in the mixing stage.
4. "Crystalised," The xx
Another band in the States for CMJ was England's The xx, whose moody tunes include spare arrangements, subtle guitar-strummed atmospherics, and male/female vocals/tension courtesy of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. The video for "Crystalised" first appeared in August.
5. "Demon Host," Timber Timbre
Taylor Kirk's Timber Timbre band (of which he is the sole member) produces swampy, spooky roots music that would be at home in a bayou back corner, or a Tom Waits block of Los Angeles, or even rural Ontario, where Kirk grew up. If you like what you hear, grab the album as a free download here. Hurry—the link will be removed after Halloween.
