Years ago, I happened upon a painting in an abandoned office that depicted a carnival hidden amongst a heavily wooded area with stormy skies above.  It immediately reminded me of the final scenes of Child’s Play 3, so I knew I had to hang it and proudly show it off to my peers.  Said peers didn’t know what to make of it, especially considering the other offices in my building were littered mostly with local scenery and animal paintings, nothing that appealed to me as much as the bleak childishness of the carnival painting.

Much like the painting, Heavy Hawaii’s “Teen Angel” is just a peek into a joyous wonderland where the inhabitants are unaware of the danger that perhaps surrounds them.  Dark undertones shrouding an otherwise blissful occasion.

Heavy Hawaii’s 6-song EP, HH, will be released September 28th on Art Fag Recordings.

Download:

Heavy Hawaii – “Teen Angel”

Didn’t know what I was getting into until that bass line and more notably, the hand-held percussion effects, kicked in.  That’s when I knew that everything was gonna be alright.   Houses‘ “Soak It Up” has such a uniquely tropical feel that it was no surprise to learn that their debut LP, All Night, was recorded in a remote area of Hawaii.

Houses – “Soak It Up”

Pre-Order All Night, set to be released 10/19 via Lefse Records

I sold my Facebook soul to Anti- so you guys can have a new Dr. Dog track. You’re welcome. What of it? Ah, well, it’s solid. Good to hear music from these guys. I think ‘new’ means it’s a B-side to help remind everyone about Shame, Shame, which is a great album.

Dr. Dog – “Take Me Into Town”

White Flight “Children of the Light” by rangelife

White Flight’s “Panther,” a race to the edge of the universe, blew our minds and made our mid-year ‘Best Of’ list. “Children of the Light,” the celebratory second single culled from White Ark‘s blissed-out constellation, changes it up and works its way through a few beach-side bonfire grooves.

Kristian Mattson’s brand of imaginative folk has been a staple around these parts over the last few months, and just in time for the turning of the leaves, The Tallest Man on Earth just released a five-song EP titled Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird.  EP fulcrum “Like the Wheel” finds a gentler Mattson toning down the pickin’ and opting for a straight roots ballad.

Download:

The Tallest Man on Earth – “Like The Wheel”

Buy the EP at iTunes now.

The physical release is set for 11/9, via Dead Oceans.

When he’s not putting out brilliant singles and albums from the likes of Weed Diamond, Junior Low, and Ancient Crux, Kevin Greenspon is cranking out his own distorted, garage-punk records.  The founder of Bridgetown Records, Greenspon just released a split album featuring five of his own tracks paired with five new songs from Cleveland whiz-kid, Dylan Baldi, who you may know as Cloud Nothings.  Both Baldi and the California-based Greenspon offer quick-hitting pop melodies, refreshing in their youthfulness and immediacy.

Download:

Cloud Nothings – “I Apologize”

Kevin Greenspon – “Carpool Pepsi”

Buy on CD at Bridgetown Records

Buy on cassette at Cass/Flick (UK)

I got down on Hot Fuss for a minute, but the past few years have caught me sleeping on The Killers.  I’ll give them this: they were on the Springsteen train fairly early, so now when I hear The Gaslight Anthem or the like, I can’t help but imagining Brandon Flowers’ glittery jacket.  Sorry about that, Gaslight Anthem.  The Killers frontman has a solo album called Flamingo hitting stores September 14th.  You may have already heard “Crossfire”, and here’s another new track that features Jenny Lewis on backup vocals.  Remember when Linda Ronstadt sang backup on Neil Young songs?  This is nothing like that, but it’s not too bad.

Stream:

Brandon Flowers ft. Jenny Lewis – “Hard Enough”

(Via twentyfourbit)

Best way to sell your solo debut if you aren’t quite a name brand to the record buying (torrenting) public? Get the front-man from your big time day job on a track. “Absence of Light,” which features Tunde Adebimpe, is the latest track from Sitek’s forthcoming debut Maximum Balloon and invokes TV On The Radio more than a little which is fine because who knows when TV On The Radio will get back in the studio, and of course we’re pulling for Sitek’s solo effort, this can only help.

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If the imagery alone somehow sells you on No Age then we probably won’t ever be friends. Great as it is to learn inflatable gimp suits exist for specialists–the knowledge and sight of one inflating doesn’t excite me for Everything In Between, No Age’s forthcoming and so-far excellent sounding album. On the other hand Everything in Between opener, “Life Prowler,” is what you’re listening to as the suit expands and because we’re here for the music you should pay attention to that.

Speaking of creeping, if you’re cool with Arcade Fire knowing where you live and/or used to live, then check out the fascinating interactive video for my favorite track from The Suburbs, “We Used To Wait.”  You may remember director Chris Milk from his brilliant video for Gnarls Barkley’s “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul.”