Blonds - Kite (Acoustic)

Last Semester, as finals rapidly approached things got a bit hazy around here. I found myself constantly writing up quick drafts of blogs posts and never finding the time to actually publish them. This seems to be the case with Miami's indie pop duo Blonds. Their blown out retro pop, (specifically the ear worm Kites) was more than deserving of a write-up the first time through. Fortunately, this acoustic session refreshed my memory and I can finally rest easy. Watching the duo at their most playful, laid back on the beach is the happy antithesis to our not so pleasant January weather. Perfect timing, or at least better late than never!

Blonds' debut EP is available for free on their bandcamp.

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

Cultus Vibes: Together compilation

I have a Biology final tomorrow that I'm supposed to be studying for. Finals will render this blog mostly desolate this week, but for now I'm procrastinating to tell you about Cultus Vibes! The digital label run by Canada's chillwave kingpin Teen Daze released its first compilation last week, and I still have it on constant rotation. Besides Teen Daze, the (totally free!) comp features ATHID favorites like Ghibli and Des A Boda. I can see almost any of the acts on the consistently great compilation becoming favorites in the future, particularly Slow Magic. Keep an eye on Cultus Vibes, I have a feeling they may be one of few shining lights left in the stagnating chillwave scene. Don't let me fool you into thinking "Together" is a one trick pony however, the last third features ambient post-rock, folk and even a decidedly soft-rock number from Teen Daze side project Little Chords. If this comp can't keep me sane until Christmas break, I'm not sure anything can.

We Own the 365 - Waka Flocka Flame & M83 (Shisha Mashup)

After you get over the initial shock of Waka Flocka shouting over the delicate synths of M83, you're actually left with a very solid mash-up. Maybe its crazy but I'm starting to think I might actually like this more than the original We Own the Sky. Waka's comically repetitive chorus adds an extra propulsion to the already hypnotic build, and more importantly it adds a bit of variety to a song that might have been just a bit too long.

We Own the 365 is part of an absolutely nuts remix/mashup compilation by Sewer Greats. The comp includes ATHID pals like Teams, Raw Thrills and JSHIH, who's Ghost Town DJ's remix I'd also highly recommend.

Orca Orca - Change of Pace / Get up Get Out

Orca Orca is the solo project of Boston native and pop-punk dreamer Jim Hewitt. His debut single (which you can download below for free!) straddles that fine line between breezy and lazy with surprising ease. The project is self classified as dream pop, and the texture is definitely there. I'm not so sure dream pop captures the whole picture though, as these songs stay snappy; bobbing and jumping where their peers just sway. Fans of Cloud Nothings or Unuomedude's more pensive moments will definitely approve.

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.

Ryan Hemsworth - No Plans

Ryan Hemsworth's prolificness is matched only by his versatility. On his newest release he runs the entire gamut of styles that have been inappropriately pegged chillwave and more. It may not be the most cohesive album, but most every song hits its mark. Personal highlights include the hyperactive Benny Lava, the 8 bit massacre Laboratory Ruins, and the actually chillwave Good Things can Never Last. Download the entire album to get two bonus tracks!

Sun Glitters - Think Twice

Sort of like Dead Gaze last year, for seem reason I seem to constantly underestimate Sun Glitters. His "Everything Could Be Fine" EP is one of the best debuts of the year, but I keep telling myself that he doesn't have enough music out to join the ranks of my favorites. In reality though, Victor has had a constant stream of quality output since debuting Sun Glitters. He keeps up his streak with this two song EP featuring guest vocals by his constant collaborator Steffallo and newbie Bermuda Bonnie.

Unouomedude - Frequency single

Jacksonville's very own Unouomedude dropped a new digital 7" onto the world today. The single features two distinctly different versions of the song. The A side presents a less hyperactive take on the pop-punk displayed so well on Marsh. Distortion and Wavves like cooing aside, its hazy, carefree and perfect for the Summer (in case you don't live in Florida, its common knowledge that we just skip Spring and get right into it around here). Frequency II is a different beast. The production is hip-hop indebted and those Coos sound less defiant and more disorienting. Frequency II, with its pitch shifted harmonies and nothing short of charming percussion is in the same vein as the wobbly, uneven pop of Purity Ring's Ungirthed, a style I'm hoping to hear more frequently as the year progresses.

Happy Trendy - Losing it

A dance worthy beat (complete with hand clap) propels the track, and halfway through the song the bass just send the whole thing skyward. Dylan's trademark deadpan vocals come in, but on this track it enters an unusually emotive territory. The morphine sipping synth line somehow sounds like smiling flare and even the ghosts that let "Losing It" escape can't drag the track back into void.

Check out Happy Trendy's (FKA Kumon Plaza) 7" featuring "Losing It" and the A side "Nerves" below

Guards cover Vampire Weekend, MIA, Metallica

Sure, I guess MIA and Vampire Weekend do have a bit in common, but Metallica?

Motorbreath is transformed into a jazzy doom and gloom number that's pretty jarring compared to the original. Taxi Cab also turns into a slow burner, but with the swing on the chorus it almost sounds like the song was meant to be performed this way. Born Free somehow becomes a bearable song too, so thats cool.