Music for the Last Day of Spring!

Since June 1st denotes the official first day of summer, I thought I would leave you guys with 3 distinct spring releases to enjoy on the last day of the season. This year has far surpassed almost every other in my lifetime in terms of great new music, spring in particular. So I think it's important that we take a step back and celebrate the artists that have contributed thus far to a fantastic 2011! Here goes:

1) Noah and the Whale- Last Night on Earth

Now, obviously the British folk-rock duo has made quite an impression on the majority of indie music lovers in the past few years. But since seeing them perform at Coachella in 2009, I have seen an immense progression in their ability to produce interesting and diverse music that appeals to almost everyone, something that was solidified for me when I saw them at The El Rey in LA this past Tuesday. "Wild Thing", "Tonight's The Kind of Night", and "Give it All Back" show off their ability to experiment with different genres and sounds and really show off their musical ability. Plus I have to see they have moved beyond the incredibly depressing era of First Days of Spring, not that this album doesn't retain some of that quintessential NATW self-loathing and misanthropy but at least I can listen to this album in full without crying. Listen to the aforementioned tracks below:

NATW: "Wild Thing"
NATW: "Give it All Back"
NATW: "Tonight's The Kind of Night"


2) Beth Ditto- Beth Ditto EP

Honestly, not much to say except DAMN can this woman sing. The Gossip lead singer has released some solo work in the past, but I absolutely love how well she has pulled off experimenting with a heavy electronic/ synthpop sound... kind of has early Madonna/ Janet Jackson vibes or something. But honestly, the girl can do anything. My respect for her has really grown and hope she continues producing solo stuff as well as music with Gossip. Listen to the EP preview below, and for the love of god just buy it if you like it. It's 4 fucking dollars and worth every penny.

Beth Ditto EP Preview


3) Friendly Fires- Pala

Not much has changed with this group since their first self-titled LP, released in 2008, and in my eyes that is definitely not a bad thing. The album is inimitably theirs, and they are just as amazing and catchy as they were when I fell in love with "Paris" at 16. The two things that really stand out to me on this album are the production quality and variation of tempo and beats; though their music is quite distinct, they are also brilliant at taking their style and creating such a sophisticated array of tracks, it's impossible as an electronic music lover not to love them (well, I guess that's arguable, but someone would really have to make a solid case to convince me otherwise). Hopefully I will get to see them next week in LA, but if not I look forward to seeing and hearing more from them in the future. Check out "Helpless" and "Blue Cassette" below:

Friendly Fires: "Blue Cassette"
Friendly Fires: "Helpless"