In my mind, nothing will ever top Black Sheep Boy, but with “The Stand-Ins” coming out in a couple of weeks, Okkervil River is doing a good job on challenging that.  Of the songs that I have heard, the production has really come through.  Strings and other instruments make it much more ochestral than normal.  Will Scheff’s vocals as always are very melodic and packed with cunning lyrics.  Whether it can top Black Sheep Boy or not?  You be the judge.

Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines

Preorder Okkervil River’s Upcoming Full-Length “The Stand-Ins” out September 9th

Mogwai is finally coming out with a new album for the first time in a few years.  They also haven’t toured in a very long time and are currently about to embark on a US-wide tour.  The Hawk Is Howling seems to be another step forward for them as we have heard a few tracks from the recent Batcat EP.  The song itself “Batcat” had a lot more of a grungy feel to it, but the song from the forthcoming album that has been released shows a lot less darkness and more of a song that you can actually bob your head to.  See for yourself.

Mogwai – The Sun Smells Too Loud

Preorder Mogwai’s Upcoming Full-length “The Hawk Is Howling” on Amazon.com

I never really was a huge fan of Days Away while they were a band, but then I noticed that Good Old War came around, which features Tim and Keith of the former Days Away.  Good Old War gives off a great folk feeling from the acoustic guitars and light drumming.  But the vocals are what differentiate from other acoustic folk acts.  Anyone who listened to Days Away may know that Keither was a pretty oustanding voice and to match it with these acoustics really makes it stand out that much more.  The vocals are so dynamic in a lot of the songs, especially in “Window”.  Some of them are even Beach Boys-esque.  Anthony Green is also very close with this band, as they have recorded his most recent solo album “Avalon”.  Any fans of all the latter, I highly suggest checking out Good Old War.

Good Old War – Window

Buy Good Old War’s debut full-length “Only Way To Be Alone” on Amazon.com

From Iceland now to Sweden, we’re using our first new posting day in over a month to promote some beautiful & talented foreign-based female artists.  Here is “Social Skills” from Swedish musician Sparrow who goes by the name Doctors & Dealers.  Most of the music on her new album Confessions of a Drunken Mind is piano-based, occasionally implementing a few bits of electronic accompaniament- more than most of the time, it’s interesting enough to warrant repeated listens.  Her higher pitched, slightly mis-pronounced singing gives away her foreign roots but then again she sounds more American/intelligible than Joni Mitchell so the whole Swedish thing may not actually be noticeable just from listening.

Doctors & Dealers – Social Skills

Buy Doctors & Dealers’ new album “Confessions of a Drunken Mind” on Amazon.com

Emiliana Torrini’s “Me and Armini” has all the swagger of Lily Allen’s “Smile” without the annoying superfluousness and tabloid attachment.  Also unlike the previously aforementioned track, the steady backing rhythym and Torrini’s confident, calm singing let the rest of “Armini”‘s layers reveal themself over multiple satisfying listens rather than blowing its musical wad on the first go round.  Employing a cool, soothing vocal style, the Icelandic singer uses her new album to flip between ambient, acoustic folk songs and more upbeat, almost-radio ready pop songs, similar to Feist’s last record.   The album, also titled Me and Armini, ships out September 9th on Rough Trade Records.

Emiliana Torrini – Me and Armini

Pre-order Emiliana Torrini’s new full length “Me And Armini” on Amazon.com

If you are a young person from Brazil and you want to make it in the American music scene, you basically have 2 options.  1) Play really ironic American disco music or 2) play neat lounge music for coffee shops.  OR you can do what former-pop-punker & guitarist Fabio Andrade has done, and that is create some old fashioned rock and roll songs.  After the break up of his long running band the Invisibles, the talented Brazilian musician focused his sights on the rock singer/songwriter format and came up with Driving Music.

‘I Am Trying Not to Break Your Heart’ is the most instantly accessible of the tracks and obviously deserves the Invisible Limb treatment.  Grab it and listen to it then check out the rest of the demo for free on Driving Music’s official website.  If you like it, please post a comment or donate a dollar to charity.  Just do something!

Driving Music – I Am Trying Not to Break Your Heart

If you’re looking for a weather update for the Los Angeles area, let me give it to you:  It’s midnight, I’ve got both windows open, and I’m still sweating like Ruben Studdard in a tuxedo.  Yeah, it’s that hot.

On the other hand, if weather isn’t your thing, and you’re simply looking for some top quality summer music, look no further than the Donkey’s newest mp3 ‘Walk Through a Cloud’.  The drummer’s easy, steady snare-drummy thingies, the playfully plucked guitar strings, and the laid back vocal harmonies all remind me of the Eagles or some really good 1970′s folk rock band with 4 accoustic guitarists and a dude in the background playing on one snare drum.  A qualified blogger can fill in some names here for me.  All I know is that ‘Walk Through a Cloud’ is immediately memorable and opens a pretty good door for the band’s September release Living on the Other Side.

The Donkeys – Walk Through a Cloud

Listen to more songs off the Donkey’s up coming album Living on the Other Side @ their Myspace page

Those upbeat, jangly guitars!  That odd, addictive voice!  It can only be Houseguest!

A surprising gem in a sea of twee pop, messy garage rock, and electronic promo albums laying on my desk, Houseguest’s High Strangeness was one of my favorite albums that I received in 2007.  Quick, short, and to the point, High Strangeness is a high-energy pop record whose most interesting feature, its skewed, subversive tone, is carried strongly by singer Ted Mallison’s unique voice.  Upon first listen, I remember thinking, “Wow, these guys…actually know how to write a good song.  Awesome!”

Here are two tracks from High Strangeness, blazing album opener ‘Fashionable Living Room’ and the equally delightful ‘On Waldon Software’.  To listen to some new cuts from their up coming 2008 release, visit the band’s Myspace page.

Houseguest – Fashionable Living Room

Houseguest – On Walden Software

Purchase Houseguest’s High Strangeness on Amazon.com

Yet another friend of mine has a band that is quickly gaining popularity, at least around Chicago.  Empires is a soulful “indie-rock” band that is getting a lot of attention lately.  They just released a full-length, for free mind you, and had their record release show which went excellent.  They vocals are easily my favorite part of this band because there is a lot of emotion behind them.  Some songs may sound like The Spill Canvas and I’m not going to say whether that’s a good or bad thing.  Take it as it is.  If you don’t like the rest of the album, I know you’ll like the intro track because it’s hard not to.

Empires – Spit The Dark

Download Empires Entire Full-Length “Howl” Free at Weareempires.com

Wow. This is embarrassing. You know how I’m a really important music blogger and I always find out about cool bands before anyone else does? You know? Well, turns out I’ve totally been sleeping on this Fleet Foxes cd that SubPop sent me. Check out all this good stuff people have been saying about it weeks before I even took it out of it’s effin’ digipack sleeve:

“A stunning debut then, and one that will make Fleet Foxes one of the most sought after bands of the year.” – musicOMH

“It all adds up to a landmark in American music, an instant classic.” – The Guardian

“At its best, Fleet Foxes is warm and cathartic, with all the hopefulness of a balmy summer night.” – SPIN Magazine

SON OF A BITCH! Spin stole my ‘balmy summer night’ line. I was saving that for the next Beirut full length. Oh well, I guess that’s what I get for falling asleep at the wheel on this one. But no seriously, this new Fleet Foxes record is a landmark in American music, an instant- wait. SON OF A BITCH! Those assholes at the Guardian used my other line too. DAMMIT. This is what happens when you celebrate getting 200 hits in one day by drinking a lot of Red Stripe (I saw a pic of the guy from Rilo Kiley drinking Red Stripe) and fall asleep on the rooftop garden you always wished you had because you’re biggest wish in life is to live in a New York apartment that has a rooftop garden where you invite all your friends to party and watch your singer songwriter friend play his original accoustic songs to a starry eyed, cocaine-fueled crowd.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

Purchase Fleet Foxes’ self titled full length on Amazon.com