Crushing Hard: National Zooey Deschanel Day

So the new She & Him came out today and I have absolutely no problem admitting to listening and loving their stuff.  Seriously, what's not to like?  It's extremely happy, upbeat, oldie's inspired, fun! With brilliant songwriting from M. Ward paired with the oh so gorgeous and multi-talented singer/actress Zooey Deschanel, the cleverly titled She & Him are an indie-folk duo guaranteed to appeal to audiences of all extremes.  "Volume Two" (Merge Records. March 2010) literally picks up right where "Volume One" left off.  On Two, we find 13 tracks of consistently lovely folk-pop assured to get you smiling while hanging in your apartment, going for a drive, or going for a walk in the sun.

Volume Two - She & Him

And while the music is great, my personal favorite part is the imagery that accompanies "She & Him" Is there a more attractive woman out there?...not possible.

New Music Tuesdays - Noteable Releases

Rogue Wave - "Permalight"

 

(artist support: image links to iTunes store)

Permalight - Rogue Wave

Athlete - "Black Swan"

(artist support: image links to iTunes store)

Black Swan - Athlete

Portugal. The Man - "American Ghetto"

 

(artist support: image links to iTunes store)

American Ghetto - Portugal. Th...

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - "Ninetime Rainbows"

 

(artist support: image links to iTunes store)

Nitetime Rainbows - A Sunny Da...

Freelance Whales...Cue the Banjos!

Loving Freelance Whales' debut "Weathervanes". Just gave it a listen on LaLa and I haven't heard such an upbeat happy album in a while.  A fairly new group, founded in 2008 in Queens; the Whales create flawless indie folk/pop utilizing everything from banjos, glockenspiel, synthesizers, guitars, bass, drums, and waterphones (what is a waterphone?). I'm checking them out when they come to Boston in April along with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Bear in Heaven, it should be a most excellent show.  A few reviews out there are noting the comparison between the singer of Freelance to Owl City (not cool) and I admit, there's something about this guy's voice that's very Owl City-esque...but the music backing him pardons this easily dismissible and forgivable comparison.  Give this album a listen and I guarantee you'll be smiling every time you hear the twang of a banjo, tap of the glockenspiel, or the overpoweringly catchy and calming harmonic hooks.

Sounds Like: "Somebody wired their heart to a synthesizer"

Check out "Starring", "Kilojoules", "Hannah", and "Generator ^ Second Floor".

Freelance Whales - Weathervane...