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A little bit of trance for late saturday night: West Indian Girl, Tape Deck Mountain, Bexar Bexar, Dengue Fever, Field Music

10.25.2009

If you’re still up, check ‘em out. Otherwise, fear not. These songs are gentle enough for morning after Saturday night and probably go along just fine with your cuppa joe, greasy fare and twin advils. Beach [mp3] – West Indian Girl Super groovy churning vibe. Great late night. From their We Believe (7/09, Origami). kt [...]

Wait. Think. Fast. : Video Demo of ‘Trouble’ from their upcoming so-Super-New-It’s-Not-Even-Recorded-Yet album

10.24.2009

Cien Fuegos [mp3] – Wait. Think. Fast. From Echo Park, LA, Wait. Think. Fast. is Matthew Beighley, Jacqueline Santillan Beighley, Apolinar Quintero and Thomas King. Led vocally by saucy Argentinian, Jacqueline, the group concocts a surly, woozy and enchanting world of languid yearning dotted by occasional epiphany. The name’s so catchy, WTF, they’ve always reminded [...]

Luxury Wafers Exclusive Interview with Ryan Lenssen of The Most Serene Republic

10.23.2009
Thumbnail image for Luxury Wafers Exclusive Interview with Ryan Lenssen of The Most Serene Republic

Heady and ensconsed in a thickly artistic and principally operated, philosophical world, Ryan Lenssen comes to the table relaxed and ‘as is’. We’re off the record, and dialogue is a comfortable free-flow between us. We agree we both like interviews this way. Of a special crop, Lennsman is outspoken – a veritable nonstop train of [...]

Old Canes: Feral Harmonic – Little Bird Courage (mp3), Trust (mp3)

10.21.2009

Little Bird Courage [mp3] An energetic, percussive anthem loaded with horns reminiscent of Old Mexico. Uplifting, happy and fearless. Trust [mp3] A poignant song of warning to a young one that emerges from love and protection tinged sad by hints at experiences of ugly betrayals in the world. Rather than heavy, the vibe remains almost [...]

New Songs I Can’t Shake: Tiesto’s Tegan and Sara feature, Headlights – I Don’t Mind At All, Brilliant Colors’ debut album

10.20.2009

Photo by Chris StrongI Don’t Mind At All [mp3] – Headlights A smooth and lovely blur, gently bright, ends in ring around the rosies embellished with a chainsaw. We’re excited for Headlights’ upcoming visit us to Luxury Wafers! Previous Headlights. Feel It In My Bones (Featuring Tegan & Sara) [mp3] – Tiësto I feel ashamed [...]

Kill The Dandies! I Saw White Fields; She Walks Downtown (mp3)

10.19.2009

She Walks Downtown [mp3] – Kill The Dandies! Frankenstein surf-spaghetti-punk from Prague fronted by LP Sonja, sexy and borderline suicideal, plus 4 dapper gents. Kill The Dandies! will chew you up for fun. They’re not concerned with how their hair may appear. Generally savage, their new album, I Saw White Fields (10/25/09, Pale Music) spews tastily [...]

Mika Miko disbands – last tour date Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. Revisit their Radness with exclusive video and live mp3s

10.18.2009

Bummer to hear the news that our favorite pony funk band,  Mika Miko, is breaking up. Sounds like it’s for real, too. Mika Miko’s always had the magic to make boys and girls, men and women, go gaga. It’s in their inimitable personal distinctiveness and the unassuming clobber-whip of punk rock that comes along with [...]

Around the Bend at Kingsize Soundlabs, recording The Devil Makes Three, thinking ’bout Gypsy Punk…

10.14.2009

We just recorded our first Luxury Wafers session at Kingsize Soundlabs in Eagle Rock (Los Angeles) today! In case you haven’t heard, Chessvolt Studios, the former home of Luxury Wafers Sessions, is rapidly becoming but a historic reflection as the countdown continues….9 days ’till the wrecking ball hits to make way for a new elementary [...]

New Capgun Coup: “Maudlin” out November 3rd on Team Love; Bad Bands (mp3)

10.14.2009

Bad Bands [mp3] the first track out from Capgun Coup‘s upcoming album, Maudlin (Team Love, 11/3/09). Bobby Chops and the Do-Gooders [mp3] from Capgun Coup’s previous record, Brought to You by Nebraskafish (Team Love, 9/25/07). Omaha buddies Capgun Coup dole out fun camraderie and smart, sometimes biting, imperfectly awesome, easy-to-go-along-with, garage-pop tunes. Sophisticated yet far [...]

Loney Dear, mesmerizing and sublime. Citadel Band reissue, mp3s.

10.13.2009

Ignorant Boy, Beautiful Girl [mp3] – Loney Dear Ahhhh. Sublime. From Loney Dear’s second album, Citadel Band (LP + MP3) , to be reissued as CD and mixed color LP by Polyvinyl 11/24/09. Emil Svanängen recorded Citadel Band in his parent’s basement and originally self-released the record in 2004. Previously only available on CD-R through Loney [...]

Land of Talk: Fun and Laughter available digitally today, May You Never (mp3)

10.13.2009

May You Never [mp3] from Fun and Laughter EP, available digitally today (Saddle Creek, 10/13/09). Some Are Lakes [mp3] from Some Are Lakes (Saddle Creek, 10/7/2008). After a much needed rest, Montreal’s Land of Talk (Lizzie Powell, also of Broken Social Scene) is up and at ‘em again, rocking along wooingly with that resoundingly beautiful [...]

Coming and Going, mp3s and videos Galore…The Soft Pack, The Wooden Birds, As Tall As Lions, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Tape Deck Mountain…

10.13.2009

The Soft Pack. Photo by Shay Peretz Fences [mp3] – Phoenix, The Soft Pack Remix this is exactly why The Soft Pack should have a small country named after them. I hope you get to see them live on Saturday (17th) at the Echoplex (with WAVVES) before they head overseas. Dig their languid, repetitive bass [...]

+++ Love on Dead Oceans: On Fillmore, Califone, Akron/Family, Nurses, John Vanderslice +++

10.11.2009

On Fillmore: Darin Gray and Glenn KotcheIt’s turned into an official day of love on Dead Oceans, the nifty Bloomington-based indie label with great taste in a variety of music, from pop to, well, not always pop. Check out some of the newest from Dead Oceans below. Ape-like [mp3] and Funeral Singers [mp3] -  Califone, [...]

Jason Diaz: Stomp Out the Sun; Pleasure in Pain (mp3) plus Aftermath on CBS’ Ghost Whisperer

10.09.2009

Photo by Kim Garcia Pleasure In Pain [mp3] Emerging artist Jason Diaz strikes big with his upcoming sophomore album, Stomp Out the Sun, due out early 2010. Loaded with grumbling guitars plus an intense blues-style raging guitar solo, Pleasure in Pain, chock full with organic bells and whistles (the good kind), features Diaz’s pristine, soul-infused [...]

Modest Mouse’s “Whale Song” Video from Bent Image Lab

10.09.2009

“Whale Song” for Modest Mouse from Bent Image Lab on Vimeo. Fantastic. Modest Mouse’s Whale Song video is a royal treatment from Portland’s Bent Image Lab and its new director/partner Nando Costa. All shot and created within their studio with close input from Modest Mouse‘s Isaac Brock.

New Castanets Remix of My Heart (mp3) by Odawas

10.09.2009

Photo by Mia Ferm My Heart – Odawas Remix [mp3]  I was just thinking about Castanets, about Ray Raposa’s latest release, Texas Rose Thaw & the Beasts, its potency and how much I like it swimming around in it, especially the captivating, My Heart. Lo and behold I got a note with this haunting remix [...]

Deer Tick, Smith Hill (mp3) from “Born On Flag Day”

10.08.2009

Smith Hill [mp3] Deer Tick‘s still out on the road, playing songs from their latest, Born On Flag Day, with some great shows ahead, including opening dates for Neko Case. A couple of Southern California shows cancelled. Check all tour dates HERE.   Previous Deer Tick (with mp3s).  

Luxury Wafers Exclusive Interview with Passion Pit’s Jeff Apruzzese plus Videos (including new “Kingdom Come” and Juan’s Basement)

10.08.2009

I just had the pleasure of talking with super-chill and very amenable Jeff Apruzzese from Passion Pit. When he answered the phone, he had only recently awakened on the road somewhere in the southeastern corner of Oregon. Passion Pit, touring heavily since January, continues to play their joy-infused, electronica-enhanced pop music to sold-out shows around [...]

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Summer of Fear, The Sound (mp3) plus Tour

10.07.2009

The Sound [mp3] Reflective yet immediate, Brooklyn’s Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson has a cumbersome name. Oh, that’s not what I meant to say, but I was thinking it. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson makes an engaging sound as big as his name in The Sound from his upcoming sophomore album, Summer of Fear (10/20/09, Saddle Creek). [...]

The Dutchess and The Duke: Sunset/Sunrise album review, Living This Life (mp3) and Hands (mp3)

10.06.2009

Living This Life [mp3] Hands [mp3] Today’s the day. Sunset/Sunrise is out in the open. I already loved what I’d heard in the first song from the record, Hands – the simplicity, the feeling of being down in Laredo in the 1970′s, the rusty organ whirl, the strong, bare electric guitar. So when I got [...]

Orenda Fink: Ask the Night, High Ground (mp3)

10.05.2009

High Ground [mp3] Orenda Fink‘s new solo album, Ask the Night, finally arrives Tuesday, 10/6 on Saddle Creek, the same label home as beautiful Azure Ray, of which she’s half.   Ask the Night, Fink’s sophomore album, goes completely analog, featuring an all-star cast of contributors on acoustic instruments including mandolin, resonant stand-up bass, backwoods [...]

Luxury Wafers Exclusive Interview with J. Tillman, an Unshakably Sad man who Only Does Fun Things

10.01.2009

Earthly Bodies [mp3] Benham Jones from the Luxury Wafers crew had the opportunity to ask J Tillman a few questions. Here’s how it went: BJ: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few of my questions. I really dig your new record; it has put me in sweet moods after sour days. First and [...]

Curiosities: a mixed bag of mp3s and videos for venturesome listeners

09.30.2009

Hot Song [mp3]  – Talk Normal Screetching, pounding, grinding … you’ll be scared to death or whishing like hell that you’d run into these girls in a Brooklyn alley. Hot indeed. Coming to LA mid-November. Catch them at the Smell. Tour Dates. Meet Me In the Garden [mp3] – Dent May and his Magnificent Ukelele [...]

Hold out your hand and Say Please … Monsters of Folk are on their way.

09.30.2009

 The Monstors: Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, M. Ward, Jim James In case you haven’t listened yet: Say Please [mp3]   The supergroup:  Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and singer/songwriter M.Ward.   Monsters of Folk will be hitting the road together for the first time in four years this October.  For these dates, the [...]

Princeton’s Cocoon of Love unfolds with tour and a new song out: Sadie and Andy (mp3)

09.30.2009

Sadie and Andy [mp3] Track one from Princeton‘s freshly released Cocoon of Love (Kanine Records, 9/29/09) features Meredith Metcalf and sports exactly the erudite, fall collegiate feel you’d expect from a band named for an Ivy Leaguer. Cocoon of Love interestingly compiles images and feelings in eleven songs inspired by love’s fallout. Best enjoyed in [...]

Luxury Wafers Exclusive Interview with Matthew Clark of White Rabbits

09.29.2009

Percussion Gun [mp3] We spoke with Matt Clark of White Rabbits about the influences of NYC and The Clash, their new album, It’s Frightening, touring the “fucking beautiful country” of America, the “tired of being tireds,” listening recommendations and plenty more. Read on: LW: You’re a big group. How would you describe your live show [...]

Real Estate debuts LP on Woodsist; lush fall East Coast tour with Neon Indian, Vivian Girls and Girls

09.25.2009
Thumbnail image for Real Estate debuts LP on Woodsist; lush fall East Coast tour with Neon Indian, Vivian Girls and Girls

Beachcomber [mp3] Pack some sweet, long summer rays into your travel bag for the journey to cooler months with this track from Jersey’s Real Estate. We liked these guys in the peak of the heat – and we’re stoked for their upcoming self-titled debut on Woodsist (11/17/09). Ten tracks to sustain a beachy blur – [...]

Superchunk Neopolitan Aural Delights.

09.23.2009

A Grave With No Name Forgive Me [mp3] – Le Loup. Now you can buy Le Loup’s album, Family , (Hardly Art, 9/22/09). Not only is the cover art kaleidoscopically vibrant and Magic Eye-like, but also included in the package is a darling little pin for your jean jacket or tote. You can always count [...]

Odds, Ends and Recommendations for listening luxury

09.19.2009

Max Tundra No More Pirates [mp3] from Chris Garneau‘s recent El Radio, haunting and elegant. Garneau’s voice, similarly quirky to Ryan Guldemond’s (Mother Mother), betrays his gender and age, at times forming stylized pop bubbles ala Ingrid Michaelson – only playfully dark and weighty, sometimes dramatically broadway, often sounding like a doe-eyed child. Garneau plays [...]

“His Onstage Gyrations Made Elvis Look Like a PE Teacher”…RIP Jimi Hendrix

09.18.2009

Good morning (or whatever). It’s Big Pink Monday…

09.14.2009

Velvet [mp3] Dominos [mp3] UK’s The Big Pink releases their album, A Brief History of Love, in the US next week. (9/22/09, 4AD Records). Listening will make you feel like you’ve been injected with whatever it is the guys in the picture at left were hit with. Minus injuries. Trust me, The Big Pink’s good [...]

Serengeti and Polyphonic: Terradactyl; My Patriotism (mp3)

09.12.2009

Jayme Joyce © Anticon RecordsMy Patriotism [mp3] The eagle’s scream grabs perfectly in this unconventional rap/hip-hop from Chicago collaborators, Serengeti and Polyphonic. Their bio describes Serengeti’s fascinating backstory: “Rapper Serengeti and producer Polyphonic are Illinois natives with three very distinct upbringings. While Polyphonic, born Will Freyman, was raised amongst corn fields and college kids in [...]

Lake: Let’s Build a Roof; Tour, Don’t Give Up (mp3)

09.11.2009

Don’t Give Up [mp3] The six in Lake employ a palette of horns, crisp drums and serenely dreamy vocals to paint a luscious, slightly jazzy, musical popscape that feels like walking through the door of a warm, dry apartment and shedding your cloak from the drizzly outdoor cold on Don’t Give Up from Lake’s upcoming [...]

Deer Tick extends tour and rocks out in general + mp3s and groovy video

09.10.2009

Easy [mp3] Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin) [mp3] (from War Elephant) Deer Tick’s tearing it up out on the road. Their newest album, Born On Flag Day , came out in July on Partisan Records. They’ve toured with and made friends with just about every up-and-coming indie great out there. Recently, Deer Tick hung [...]

Vivian Girls Everything Goes Wrong out now; When I’m Gone (mp3); Tour

09.10.2009

When I’m Gone [mp3] New York’s Vivan Girls let their second album loose, Everything Goes Wrong, a couple days ago (9/8/09, In The Red). An assembly of thirteen speedy, blurry, grinding punk songs pulled lyrically with vocal syrup by a folk-ringing, early-rock-innocence-sounding, sentimental undertow, the girls sing teenage beauts about boys and ennui. Particular favorites: [...]

DD/MM/YYYY: Black Square Album Review, Cassette Release Tour, Digital Haircut (mp3)

09.08.2009
Thumbnail image for DD/MM/YYYY: Black Square Album Review, Cassette Release Tour, Digital Haircut (mp3)

Digital Haircut [mp3] Punk-pop-metal, laden with hues of Metallica and even Jane’s Addiction, this song is a hard, alternately cacophonic and harmonic, adrenalin spiking, heart-stopping, jagged jumping, spraying, thumping aural assault. We like it. We’re stoked to have the Toronto bunch, DD/MM/YYYY, in the studio to slay and play in early October when they visit [...]

Glass Ghost: Idol Omen; Like a Diamond (mp3) and The Same (mp3)

09.08.2009

Like A Diamond [mp3] The Same [mp3] Super clear, Glass Ghost’s Like A Diamond is striking, chilling, profound, empty, beautiful. I’m equally blown away and solidly hooked. Eliot Krimsky’s natural-fit falsetto juxtaposed with Mike Johnson’s deep, tribal rhythm/percussion emphasizes the haunting feeling of beautiful spaciousness. Glass Ghost is Brooklyn’s Eliot Krimsky singing and playing keys [...]

Headlights: Wildlife out soon, Get Going (mp3)

09.07.2009

Get Going [mp3] Cherry Tulips [mp3] Get Going is the first track from Headlights’ upcoming 3rd album,  Wildlife (Polyvinyl Records, October 6th, 2009). Cherry Tulips comes from Some Racing, Some Stopping (Polyvinyl Records, 2008). Folk-pop with an itch, Headlights could be grouped near The Pains of Being Pure at Heart with a bent toward My [...]

Tom Brosseau, You Don’t Know My Friends (mp3) + Video

09.03.2009

You Don’t Know My Friends [mp3] We’re excited to have killer songwriter/singer, Tom Brosseau, in for a live Luxury Wafers Session in a couple of weeks. Satisfyingly wry, Brosseau keeps listeners on edge, rousing mild discomfort with strong and captivating lyrics, musical flow tinged with distortion and just enough dissonance – slightly twisted, stimulating and [...]

Roman Candle – They Say (mp3) from Oh Tall Tree In The Ear

09.03.2009

They Say [mp3] Earthy and Wilco-esque, Roman Candle rocks poetically inspired, Southern-soaked Americana as a family affair. Lead singer/guitar player, Skip Matheny and keys player, Timshel Matheny, are married (with 2 adorable boys). Skip and drummer, Logan Matheny, are brothers. Discovering Roman Candle is like uncovering treasure while digging in the ground. Immediately pleasing and [...]

Air Waves, EP. Knockout (mp3) plus Shine On (mp3)

09.02.2009

Nicole, Scott and Dan with some local basketball stars Knockout [mp3] Shine On [mp3] Busting out modestly in authentic expression, Nicole Schneit – who sounds like a teenage boy with her Harvest-influenced, hoarse vocals – does it, good. Kinda sad, her songs dig in and don’t let go. Knockout is exactly that. Especially warm, the [...]

Girls’ new album, Album, out Sept 22nd. Get it in your ears ASAP.

09.01.2009

Hellhole Ratrace [mp3] Simplicity works for Girls. Straight-forward, undisguised lyrics emerge raw and unfettered from Christopher Owens through his vocal character akin to Buddy Holly or an Everly Brother. Really. It feels entirely natural and sincere. Owens is actively alive and, upon close listen, disarmingly intense. JR White’s elegant production swings on a trapeze in [...]

The Very Best: Warm Heart of Africa feat. Ezra Koenig, Rain Dance feat. M.I.A.

08.29.2009

Rain Dance featuring M.I.A. [mp3] Warm Heart of Africa featuring Ezra Koenig [mp3] The Very Best is a project of European production duo Radioclit and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya. This stuff is so fantastically refreshing. The super saucy Rain Dance – a kitchen sink of natural sounds, African rhythms, whistles and bells, party beat plus [...]

San Francisco’s Outside Lands 2009… Haps, mp3s plus a Tenacious D treat

08.29.2009

Outside Lands 2009… so far good weather, more than 100,000 people and around 100 bands lined up for the 3 day music fest in San Francisco’s stunningly large, green Golden Gate Park. Day one (Friday) brought Pearl Jam, Incubus, Thievery Corporation, Tom Jones, Silversun Pickups, The National, Q-Tip, Built To Spill, Midnite, Kinky, Tea Leaf [...]

Ola Podrida’s Belly of the Lion, Your Father’s Basement (mp3)

08.29.2009

Your Father’s Basement [mp3] David Wingo’s 2nd album as Ola Podrida, Belly of the Lion, is coming to us soon, not soon enough, via Western Vinyl (11/10/09). This is Love with a capital L. I can hardly wait for the whole affair. Your Father’s Basement enthralls sonically and vibes with warmth from a fair distance. [...]

Yo La Tengo: Popular Songs (9/8/09, Matador); Here to Fall, Periodically Double or Triple (mp3s)

08.29.2009

Here To Fall [mp3] Periodically Double or Triple [mp3] Review by Benham Jones Excepting the three epic closers that account for more than half of the record’s length, Yo La Tengo’s forthcoming Popular Songs (Matador, 9/8/09) is a sweet little listen that moves quicker than a jukebox full of your best friend’s quarters.  And “jukebox” [...]

Emily Neveu – double, triple the pleasure, plus Lefse

08.27.2009

Oh, no, no, no. I don’t believe she’s a twin. I don’t mean she’s a stripper or hermaphrodite or anything weird like that. Heavens no. I mean here are Two, two! amazing tracks from Emily Neveu. Swallowing A Swallow [mp3] – a beautifully simple, old-style round of piano, accordian and Neveu’s velvety soporific voice. I [...]

New from The Dutchess & The Duke – Hands (mp3)

08.27.2009

Hands [mp3] Here’s the first song from The Dutchess & The Duke‘s upcoming sophomore album, Sunset/Sunrise (Hardly Art, 10/6/09). Off the cuff, I’d say Hands has the feel of The Doors in a Spanish Western. Their voices are totally yummy – his cognac, hers suede. The Seattle duo, Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison, recorded Sunset [...]

Wye Oak: The Knot, Take it In (mp3)

08.26.2009
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Take It In [mp3] I know Wye Oak’s record, The Knot (Merge, 7/21/09), has been out since late July, but it’s so engrossingly good (I’m talking genius) I must take the time to tell you about it (or at least remind you to pull out your headphones, turn on the music and jump in again). [...]

múm from Iceland, Illuminated [mp3] and Moon Pulls video

08.26.2009

Illuminated [mp3] With a gentle touch, Icelandic band, múm paints an epic soundscape fit for a fantasy movie scene with Illuminated from their new album, Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know(2009/on groovy German label, Morr Music). Their name sounds like this – “miooyyuujm” – maybe not what you’d think, but the sound of their [...]