Aircraft - Jeff Bridges over Troubled Water

If the concept of a local super group is even possible, Aircraft fit the bill. Some of Tallahassee's finest musicians, including Jake Tobin (Fruit Flesh), Malee Brigardner (Moonlasso), James Folker (Water Brother) and Ben Varian all take part in the collective. Last March I got a chance to check them out at Total Bummer, and their sound was more than ambitious enough to match the skills of their members. Taking cues from the most anthemic of indie bands (think Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene) the band tore through one of the best surprise sets of the festival. Nearly a full year later the band is finally unveiling its first release. The demos which were recorded several months ago are already a testament to Aircraft's evolving sound. "Jeff Bridges Over Troubled Water" finds the band basked in warmth, playing a brand of tropical folk that's manages to sound comfortingly familiar without cliche. "Jeff Bridges" is only the first stop Aircraft's continuing evolution, and a fine introduction to one of the most promising bands in town.

2011 recap: top 10 EPs

Its that time of year again. EPs today, LPs next Monday and tracks by the ends of the week. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

10. Tree Hopping - MJ MJ Split w/ Messy Sparkles

9. Holy Other - With U

Touch - Holy Other

8. BeachesBeaches - BeachesBeaches

7. Carrousel - Darling

6. High Highs - High Highs

5. Elvis Depressedly - Goner

4. Reptar - Oblange Fizz Y'all

  Oblangle Fizz, Y'all! (Preview) by reptarmusic

3. Seven Saturdays - Secret Things (remix album)

2. Fruit Flesh - Guilt Exchange

1.Tv Girl - Benny and the Jetts

Fruit Flesh - Cater Gator/ Cocaine

I want to call Jake Tobin's psychedelic pop tortured, but I can't help feeling hesitant about it. After all, up to this point Fruit Flesh has always been summer music and nothing attached to the name can really be described "heavy." The newest couple of tracks (a digital single on bad panda) epitomize this tightrope act with wafts of saxophone and twinkling synths on top of choruses like "I can't handle anymore." Listen to the mp3s and don't beat yourself up for feeling confused.

Cater Gator - Fruit Flesh (via bad panda)

Cocaine - Fruit Flesh (via bad panda)

Music Video: Fruit Flesh - Habit(at)

Download the mp3 on Jake's soundcloud.

Fruit Flesh - Viral Infection

Tallahassee Up-and-comer Fruit Flesh released another song over the weekend. "Viral Infection" is based around saxophone and vocals just like "Sin, Sin Away" but it results in a much more disorienting experience. Recalling Modest Mouse and Dirty Projectors and feeling a lot more woozy than it does breezy, Viral Infection is equally as interesting, but an entirely different beast from Sin, Sin Away. Fruit Flesh are on bandcamp now, so go download Viral Infection and a newly mixed version of Sin, Sin below.

Sin, Sin Away - Fruit Flesh

Tallahassee Wunderkind and Longstreth disciple Jake Tobin has just released the first single of his new project Fruit Flesh. Featuring lounging tribal drums, saxophone and absolutely soaring vocals, Sin, Sin away is a potent combination of tUnE-YarD's breezy ethnic influences and the new romantic revival currently brewing. Its been on repeat for me all night, the perfect soundtrack after a busy summer day.

Sin, Sin Away by Fruit Flesh

If you're digging it, check out Jake's current main squeeze, Wingsuit.