3rd LCD Soundsystem Record Is Done

James Murphy, aka LCD Soundsystem, has announced that the 3rd LCD record is done and sent off to be mastered.  I'd love some details - title, tracklisting, artwork, release date.  Hopefully they are forthcoming.

Atlas Sound - Linger (Cranberries Cover)

As if releasing one of 2009's best albums wasn't enough (If you haven't listened to Logos yet, do yourself a favor and go give it a spin), Atlas Sound have done a number of cool and surprising covers.  Check out Bradford playing "Linger" by The Cranberries in the video above.

Thanks go to The Decibel Tolls for the clip.

Dare I dream for a new Deerhunter album in 2010?  It would be ridiculous to expect one so soon, but Bradford has been just that prolific.  Maybe.

Passion Pit - Little Secrets (Video)

Easily one of my favorite songs of 2009.  I love Passion Pit.

If you're feeling down, like so down that you've got a frowny face paper bag over your head, watch Passion Pit perform.  Your frowny face paper bag will soon turn into a happy face paper bag.  Then you'll be feeling so good that you'll no longer feel the need to cover your face with a paper bag.  You'll start dancing, confetti will rain from the sky, and all will be well.

Vampire Weekend - Giving Up the Gun (Video)

"Giving Up the Gun" and "Run" are my two favorite songs off of Vampire Weekend's Contra.  Well they just released a video for the former, and it's jam packed with guest stars, including RZA, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil' Jon, and one of the Jonas Bros.  Alright then.  Oh, and the theme is tennis.

Congratulations Cover Art

Cool.  Fits the surfing theme the band has been talking 'bout.

MGMT - Congratulations

MGMT have announced the details for their sophomore album Congratulations.  It's gonna come out April 13, a short two months away.  The album was produced by Peter Kember and mixed by Dave Fridmann.  Apparently there's a surfing thread throughout the record.

Here's hoping we get to hear a cut off of the album real soon.  The tracklisting is below.

01) It's Working
02) Song for Dan Treacy
03) Someone's Missing
04) Flash Delirium
05) I Found a Whistle
06) Siberian Breaks
07) Brian Eno
08) Lady Dada's Nightmare
09) Congratulations

Best Music of 2010 So Far

It's the start of February, and already I can list 6 solid-to-stellar albums for 2010...

1) Yeasayer - Odd Blood
I've already raved enough about this album elsewhere in the blog.  Pure awesomeness.  Can't wait to get my vinyl copy.

2) Owen Pallett - Heartland
Never listened to the dude before as Final Fantasy, but wow, this is great.  Violin-based orchestral electric pop.

3) Spoon - Transference
Probably not my favorite Spoon album, but shit, who else grooves like this?  No one.  Who makes your money?

4) Vampire Weekend - Contra
This is fun music.  I'm still not sold on "California English", but the second half of the record is very solid.  I love "Run" and "Giving Up the Gun".

5) Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Basically like The Shins' James Mercer fronting Gorillaz.  Which is pretty f'n cool.

6) Beach House - Teen Dream
Gorgeous female vocals.  The band's simple sound is tweaked a bit, making it more accessible, and I'd say without a doubt it's the group's best effort yet. 

What's next?  Massively looking forward to new records from LCD Soundsystem and MGMT in the next few months.

Track-By-Track: Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Yeasayer's sophomore album Odd Blood will be officially released on February 9.  I've been listening to it nonstop for over a month now.  It's definitely my personal frontrunner for 2010, the album to beat.

You can download ONE on their website here.

Or you can stream the whole album on their MySpace.

01) The Children - Yeasayer opened with this track when I saw them play at The Guggenheim last year, and at first I wasn't sure if the right band was on stage.  Incredibly distorted robotic vocals.  It sets the tone for the record, and it's a perfect intro for Ambling Alp.

02) Ambling Alp - The first song to be released off of Odd Blood, this is an anthem.  "You must stick up for yourself son, never mind what anybody else done".  I love the part towards the end when it explodes TV on the Radio style, with horns and funky vocals, saying something about one's "ass on the line".

03) Madder Red - An early favorite of mine when finally hearing the album in its entirety (I had already played Ambling Alp a million times at this point).  The lyrics seem to be about realization/acceptance that a relationship isn't working.  I love the line "It's getting harder to keep pretending I'm worth your time".

04) I Remember - In between two songs that are about relationships that have failed and are over is a pretty straight up love song.  "You're stuck in my mind all the time".

05) ONE - This song is amazing.  The band is now offering this tune for free on their website, as a preview for the record.  There's a Caribbean electronic beat, and it's incredibly danceable.  "No, you don't move me anymore.  And I'm glad that you don't, 'cause I can't take it anymore."

06) Love Me Girl - And we're back to love...sort of.  Definitely some paranoia, wondering what the girl's up to.  Beats lead into a power piano intro, and some more robotic vocals.  Then a horse whinny before the real singing starts.  "Don't give up on me, and I won't give up on you". 

07) Rome - This is a fun stomper.  Seems to be a power trip, basically about conquering the world...eventually.  "Rome is gonna be mine.  It's just a matter of, it's just a matter of, it's just a matter of time".

08) Strange Reunions - This is a song about how weird it is to continue to have interactions with your ex.  The singer has apparently had enough of these "strange reunions", and wants to end the connection once and for all.  "Don't ask me for any favors, and I won't ask how you're doing.  Leave me alone now, 'cause after all now, dealing with you is a nuisance".  Musically, the song is hazy, with a clap-clap-clap keeping the beat.

09) Mondegreen - Any argument that this album is top-heavy falls apart when listening to this song, which may be the album's best.  Majorly funky.  Some horns are playing and keeping the song driving along.  Then there's an awesome guitar riff.  "Everybody's talkin' about me and my baby, makin' love 'til the morning light".  The song ends with one of those robot voices slowly dying...at least, that's what it sounds like to me.  Anyway, it's cool, really.

10) Grizelda -The perfect resolution after the climax of Mondegreen.  Some soothing chanting vocals, and what sounds like a flute, wrapping the album up nicely.

Lost - Final Season

The final season of Lost premieres tonight on ABC.  As per usual, they'll do a recap show first, at 8pm, followed by the premiere at 9pm.  I'm thrilled.