She & Him

She & Him is an American indie folk band consisting of Zooey Deschanel of actress fame and M. Ward from Bright Eyes and Monsters of Folk. Matt and Zooey met on the set of the film The Go-Getter where they were asked to sing a duet to be played at the end credits of the film. Matt had heard Zooey sing before in the film Elf but did not realise that she also wrote her own songs, she had actually done years of home demos but was shy about becoming a big name celebrity.

"I always have loved music, ever since I was really little. I just loved to sing."

                           - Zooey Deschanel

The duo's debut album 'Volume One' was released in March 2008 featuring 10 originals and three covers (including an unlisted version of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'), the album is a showcase for Zooey’s pipes and Matt’s clever musical arrangements.

 

Their second album 'Volume Two' was released on March 23rd 2010. The album features backing vocals from Tilly and the Wall on 'In The Sun' and many other guest appearances on other songs. Rob Dixon comments in inthenews.co.uk, "For a partnership which many may not see as the most obvious, it works brilliantly well. Over the course of the 13 tracks there are a number of gems, while all of the songs are expertly crafted by Deschanel and effortlessly captured by Ward...The covers are also dealt with expertly and fit the overall mood of the album, which has a glistening summery – and occasionally jaunty – feel to it."

She & Him - Volume One

She & Him - Volume Two

Holiday Records

Jacob Graham from The Drums and some of his friends have started a new online indie pop record label called Holiday Records. It is very different from other record labels as every friday they give away a free mp3 or EP. The people at Holiday Records scour the internet to find the greatest new music so we don't have to.

"Holiday Records is a bunch of old friends keeping in touch by recording songs about the times we had together, and new friends writing songs about other things. Each release is like a snow globe and when you shake them something completely different --but all equally as nice-- will happen. Please join in the fun. The more the merrier!"

 

There are some real gems up for grabs on the website, I recommend you check out the website and give some of the songs a listen.

Married Life - Michael Giacchino

Married Life - Michael Giacchino

This song is from the soundtrack of Up, if you haven't seen the film then you should go out and buy the DVD. It is one of my favourite films, and this is arguably the best scene of the film, if you don't shead a tear then you are most certainly not human. The music is absolutely beatutiful and there is no need for dialogue as the music and the pictures tell the story exquisitely. The rest of the film isn't at all like this scene, it is a very light-hearted comdey which works perfectly against the tragic contrast of this scene.

Harlem - Hippies

1.   Someday Soon

2.   Friendly Ghost

3.   Spray Paint

4.   Number One

5.   Be Your Baby

6.   Gay Human Bones

7.   Torture Me

8.   Cloud Pleaser
9.   Faces
10.  Tila and I
11.  Three Legged Dog
12.  Prairie My Heart
13.  Scare You
14.  Stripper Sunset
15.  Pissed
16.  Poolside


Release Date: April 6th 2010
Label: Matador

Austin based garage rock trio Harlem follow up their 2009 debut Free Drugs with Hippies which is their first release on Matador Records. Building on the lo-fi 50s garage revival established on the previous album, Hippies is a tighter, more calculated affair with catchier riffs and singsong choruses.

According to Strangeglue the 16-track album “is a blend of cocky indie-rock and unabashedly catchy garage-melodies.” Don't just take their word for it, download it at MediaFire 

We Have Band - Divisive

This video is absolute genius, a great song to thrash your hair about to. If you don't have hair, I'm sorry

Foals - Spanish Sahara

Here is the first single from Foals' forthcoming album 'Total Life Forever'. The album is set to be released on May 10th. Apparently this album was inspired by lead singer Yanis' memory of seeing a dead dog floating in the sea.


The creepy vocals and almost nonexistent guitar build up to a huge chorus, the sound is far more mature and something very promising. In my opinion, this change has been made for the better, and I don't think it would be too far fetched to pencil Foals in as a candidate for best 2010 album. If it is...well you heard it here first.


Foals - Spanish Sahara


This whole scenario reminds me very much of The Horrors, whose comeback after their first album 'Strange House' was a surprise which ended up as one of the albums of 2010. Hopefully Foals have found themselves with this new sound and it will be here to stay. And in the wise words of Ezra Koening I leave you...'Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?'