Strawberryluna

New music released today: Toro y Moi, “Underneath The Pine”

Click!

Yay! It’s Toro y Moi new release day!

I fell in love with “Still Sound”, one of the songs off of this new record from the South Carolina based Chazwick Bundick, aka Toro y Moi earlier this month and have been waiting with just about still breath for the release of this full length record. Today’s the day. Hooray!

Check out Carpark Records to purchase and support independent music & musicians. Or, hop over to Chaz’s Etsy shop and buy a tote bag with his drawing hand screen printed onto a bag that comes with a digital download card of  “Underneath The Pine” here.

And fall in love with “Still Sound” above.

The making of “Let It Sway” by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Gol’dang we love these guys and we love this band. 2 separate but equal loves.

The super rad Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have a new record coming out next month on August 17th called “Let It Sway” and like many of their fans, I could not be more excited and full of anticipation. Nicely, as these dudes always are, they’ve put up a lovely short film about the making of this record. “Let It Sway” was produced by Chris Walla, of Death Cab For Cutie, and is the first record that SSLYBY hasn’t self-produced. From the sounds of the first single and a couple of other sneak peak listens at live shows of new songs, it hasn’t changed their sound, it’s just freed the band up to be even better than before.

Anyhoo, yay! Watch the documentary about “Let It Sway” by clicking the image above, and click the below for more information on the new record in all it’s forms (CD, vinyl, you know the drill) and from their label Polyvinyl or click here for pre-ordering.

And click to pre-order info for sslyby's "Let It Sway" from Polyvinyl.

Phoenix – Super new releases of May, part three.

Part three, the final installment. Finally!! Parce que c’est trés bon!

Oui, the new Phoenix record is out.

Oui, the new Phoenix record is out.

Ahh, really, I feel like I shouldn’t even write and prattle on about this record. Instead, I just really urge you to listen. I mean, if mostly all that you dig is Black Metal, well, you might want to move along to something like Big Business’ new record. (And yes, I know that Big Business isn’t Black Metal, don’t be rude.)

But, if you’ve been on board with the previous two new releases of May here, get on the bag son. Wolfgang Amdeus Phoenix might be my favorite Phoenix record. Scratch that, it is my favorite.

Again, like the previous two records discussed (The Wooden Birds, Magnolia and Jason Lytle’s Yours Truly, The Commuter), Phoenix not only have continued the reincarnation theme that seems so prevalent this May, but more, they have done something super special, complete and lovely with their new record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Sprite, multi-layered, poppy and webby like a giant tight rubber band, I think that you just need to listen. And, you can do so here on Myspace for free, of course. Or, you can purchase the record here on iTunes and support the band, or (gasp!) leave the house and find this record at your local indie music store.

I don’t know why this superbe French band sings in English, but I’m glad that they do. Though even if they sung en Français comme Stereolab, I’d still be singing along to every word phonetically. Phoenix is on tour in the US now (dates here), so give it a go if you’re lucky enough to live someplace where this quartet of awesome is landing for a night.

Some fun things always crop up on the Phoenix blog here, such as a few process photos from a screenprinted run of vinyl LP covers here (!) Don’t know who printed them, but I’d love to. Anyone out there know?

Close-up of screenprinted LP covers (yay!)

Close-up of screenprinted LP covers (yay!)

The Wooden Birds – Super new music releases of May, part one.

So, around these parts? We love music. Stunning revelation, I know.

Also, around these parts, we love melodic, perhaps occasionally quiet, intentional, well constructed and pretty stuff too. Kinda like design, we appreciate restraint and the product of many choices, edits and vision. With that leaning, let me tell you, it’s a lovely month for music with two fantastic new and newly-incarnated, say reincarnated even, releases.

The Wooden Birds first record, Magnolia

The Wooden Birds first record, Magnolia

The first is The Wooden Birds‘ first record, Magnolia, put out by Barsuk records. Give a listen, fall in love, feel the eerie sweet. Sound slightly familiar? Ahh yes, then you also were a fan of The American Analog Set. A band dear to my heart. Andrew Kenny, of AmAnSet has moved home to Austin, TX, regrouped and formed a new band in The Wooden Birds. And! They are out on tour right now, dates listed here, so if you’re approving and inclined, go see them. They’re pretty great, and we can’t wait until we get a chance to see them ourselves. Magnolia is available on through Barsuk Records in the US, Morr Music in Europe, and on iTunes as well as your local independent record store. You can always listen for free at Myspace, if you think I’m joshing. (Which, come on…)

And, here’s a great little video of The Wooden Birds performing “Never Know” Cafe De La Danse in Paris, France, on 5/4/09.

Tomorrow: Super new releases of May, part two.