Tuesday, June 21st 2011 was a magical day.

And it was a magical day for two reasons: YACHT's album, Shangri La, and BON IVER's album, Bon Iver, were both released yesterday. And they are both absolutely amazing from start to finish. It's kind of a bummer for YACHT that their album came out on the same day, because anyone who has been on the interwebs at all in the past 24 hours knows how much hype Justin Vernon and crew are getting for their record. I, on the other hand, am so overjoyed with the quality of both albums my head is going to explode. We all know Bon Iver is incredible, and I think enough people are talking about it that my input would be redundant. Thus, I am going to talk solely about YACHT's work, and hopefully enough of you will read this post that they can step on into some of BI's limelight. Let the praising commence:

YACHT- Shangri La

If you were to tell me back in 2007 when I first saw YACHT perform that they were going to be one of my favorite bands, I would have laughed in your face. To put it lightly, I was not that impressed. But holy shit has this band transformed themselves into a talented, brilliantly creative electronic duo. Everything they do now, from writing lyrics to constructing and producing songs to their group aesthetic and live performances, is a work of art. They have taken their slightly offbeat nature and completely made it work, so much so that I think Shangri-La will hold a pretty high standard for future albums of the same genre. Two of their new songs, "One Step" and "Tripped and Fell in Love," have got me helplessly hooked. I think it's their minimalist approach to production and the relatability of their words that make them so appealing, something they have always gone for but have really nailed in songs like these. "Shangri-La," too, completely resonates with me, as does the slightly-more-bizarre-yet-totally-loveable track, "Paradise Engineering." And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't reiterate how much I've loved "Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire)" since its original release earlier this year. You would think I'd be a bit sick of it by now, considering how much I have played that track on repeat, but the fact that I still want to listen to it at least a couple of times a week tells me that they have really got something going; mark my words it will be listed as one of the best tracks of the year. In sum, I would like to say that it is a rare thing for me to feel I can listen to an entire album without the urge to skip a track or two, but I can honestly say that I'm a fan of every single one of the tracks on this fantastic new album. If you are at all into synthy electronic music or have enjoyed any of YACHT's earlier work, you must must MUST get Shangri-La. Listen to "Tripped and Fell in Love" and "Paradise Engineering," AND watch their brand new hybrid music video for both "Utopia" and "Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire)" below:

YACHT- "Tripped and Fell in Love"

YACHT- "Paradise Engineering"

YACHT- "Utopia/Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire) Official Music Video