New Single: The Walkmen

The Walkmen have been one of my favorite bands since I first heard "The Rat" on MTV2's Subterranean in 2004.  It's not just because they are the HUNKIEST guys in indie rock today (which they are).  I love their music.  It makes me happy.  And, sometimes it makes me sad.

ENTER "Heaven."

"Heaven" is the first single from their upcoming album by the same name and three seconds in became my new favorite song.  Hamilton Leithauser's sultry and sexy howl singing this song is like a drug to me.

"Our children will always hear
 romantic tale of distant years
our guilded age
may come and go
out crooked dreams will always grow

Stick with me
oh, you're my best friend
all of my life you've always been
remember, remember
all we fight for
remember, remember
all we fight for


Don't leave me
you're my best friend
all of my life
you've always been

Don't leave me now
you're my best friend
all of my life
you've always been
remember, remember
all we fight for
remember, remember
all we fight for"

COME ON!!!  This shit is like kryptonite to me.  SO FRICKING GOOD.  As if that wasn't enough, they also released "Heartbreaker" this week, another new favorite song from Heaven.  The record is out May 29th on Fat Possum/Bella Union.  I'm not sure if I can wait that long!

New Music: Alabama Shakes

So far this year, I have loved a lot of bands.  Yes, I know...I'm kind of a music slut.  But, that's just what I do.  I'm a lover.  Of good music.  Not to diminish my feelings for all the others, but I think I'm ready to settle down.  And, the lucky band is Alabama Shakes.  I am so excited about their debut record Boys & Girls (out on ATO Records this week) that I can't stop preaching the Alabama Shakes gospel.   This is definitely my favorite record of the year thus far.  Boys & Girls has something for everyone. It's soulful, it's blues-y, it's rock, it's romantic, it's big, it's Southern.  It's the one record that I feel like I could tell most anyone I know that they will undoubtedly love it and mean it.  Some of the songs were previously released on the band's self-titled debut EP.  That’s only worth mentioning because it just means four less new songs we have to enjoy from the band. 

“Hold On” is the first single from the record and is definitely the one to suck you in and entice you to hear more.  Immediately, you’ll be mesmerized by Brittany Howard’s voice and the sheer soulfulness and maturity it encompasses.  It’s like Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin and anyone with a “Howlin” in front of his name had a baby.  You would think that this 23 year old woman had lived through a thousand years and was here to tell you about it.  “Hold On” has been in my head non-stop for the last week, which has been keeping me in a good mood, but only makes me wish that everyone around me could hear the song as well.  If I had one-tenth of the singing voice of Brittany Howard, I might be able to share it with others.  But, that's not gonna happen.  If it did, they'd also hear me singing “I Found You.”

“This isn't sometimes
Yeah, it’s for always
If I'm gonna love you with all of my heart
And if there is no more time
This always remains
Even as the world spins itself apart

Cuz I remember the day

I waited so patiently 

For God to bring someone

Who's gonna be good to me

And He blessed my soul

Cuz I've traveled a long way

And it took a long time

To find you,

But I finally found you.” 

Makes me want to go out and fall in love, just so I can have someone to share this song with.  Hmmm...I think I just wrote the headline to my Match.com profile.

If that doesn't work out, I can continue obsessing over the rest of the record.  While I love the whole thing, I would be remiss without highlighting "Hang Loose,” “You Ain’t Alone,” “Boys & Girls,” “Be Mine” and “On Your Way.”  I honestly could sit here and name check the entire tracklist of Boys & Girls as my absolute favorite and not be exaggerating at all.  It’s that effing good.  

I have two recommendations for you this Spring: one is to go out and immediately buy Alabama Shakes’ Boys & Girls and the second is to see them live.  Best show I’ve seen in a really long time.  Chills.  Not only will you experience something special, but you’ll be able to tell your friends many years from now that you saw the amazing Alabama Shakes at (insert small venue here) way before they blew up huge.  And, then you can tell them that your friend Jeannie told ya so.

New Band Crush: Tanlines

Don't mind me, I'm just a little obsessed with Tanlines.  I don't mean the things that don't exist on my body since it finally sunk in that the sun tanning my bronzed skin might kill me (whyyy god, whyyy?!).  No, I'm talking about the Brooklyn band Tanlines.  Not only am I in love with their first single "Brothers" from their debut record Mixed Emotions, but they just released the second video from the record, "All of Me," directed by Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh.  "Brothers" made me happy, "All of Me" makes me GIDDY.  Mixed Emotions is an awesome record full of synthy poppy jams that makes me want to dance the night away.  I just can't get enough!

See them live here:

Wed, Apr 11       Washington, DC           DC9

Thu, Apr 12        New York, NY             Bowery Ballroom

Fri, Apr 13          Philadelphia, PA          Making Time @ Voyeur

Sat, Apr 14          Middleton, CT            Wesleyan University

Mon, Apr 16       Montreal, QC              Il Motore

Tue, Apr 17         Toronto, ON               Wrong Bar

Wed, Apr 18       Cleveland, OH            Grog Shop

Thu, Apr 19        Chicago, IL                 Empty Bottle  

Fri, Apr 20          Minneapolis, MN       7th Street Entry

Mon, Apr 23       Vancouver, BC           Fortune Sound Club

Tue, Apr 24         Seattle, WA                Barboza

Wed, Apr 25       Portland, OR               Doug Fir Lounge

Fri, Apr 27          San Francisco, CA      Rickshaw Stop

Sun, Apr 29        San Diego, CA            Casbah

Mon, Apr 30       Los Angeles, CA        Echo

New Band Crush: Oberhofer

I saw Oberhofer performing their new single "Away Frm You" on Letterman the other night and was absolutely intrigued.  One would think it was the singer's flashy zebra/leopard print shirt (I love it, not gonna lie).  Or, maybe it was the whistling (always catchy).  But, what really made them stand out was that they were playing a sweet ass XYLOPHONE.  When was the last time you heard a band use a Xylophone in a way that mattered?  Been a long time for me.

To recap:

Xylophone. 
Whistling. 
Sweet Prints. 
Catchy pop tune. 
Indie rock dance jam.
Done.
And, done.

Check out Oberhofer's new record Time Capsules II out March 26th on Glassnote Records.

New Band Crush: Walk The Moon

Walk The Moon's "Anna Sun" pretty much had me at hello.  We're talking quick-witted 80's synth beats with lyrics to make you swoon, it's emo, it's indie and the video has some sweet ass dance moves (take note of the dude in the Lakers tank).  Love.  Walk The Moon are a not-so-ragtag group of guys from Cincinnati, OH who performed in competing a capella groups and later formed a band.  Not the most punk rock bio I've read...but they are just way too cute to pass by.  Nerds are in, right?   They're on the road with Kaiser Chiefs now with some headlining shows sprinkled in between (YO, come to LA!).  The Anna Sun EP is available now on iTunes and through their website.  Can't wait to hear more!