Well my friends, summer is upon us and what goes better with beautiful summer weather than music. If you are anything like me, your musical tastes greatly correlate with the circumstances of your life. On dark depressing days you will usually find me listening to music that is mellower or even dreary at times. But when the weather is nice, and the biggest issue of the day is whether to have a red or yellow Popsicle, the music I listen to tends to also be bright and sunny. So here are just a few of the albums that I have been enjoying with the weather. Hopefully there’s a little something for everyone.

The Ditty Bops - Summer Rains

What says summer to you more than these two songbirds, harmonizing the days away, while strumming their acoustic guitars, mandolins, ukuleles and dulcimers. I have been in love with Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald, who are collectively known as the Ditty Bops, ever since I heard “Walk or Ride”, the first song on their debut self titled album in 2004. This, their third studio album, and their first release on their own “Ditty Bops Music” label, is the perfect album for those long hot days of summer. The girls sound as relaxed and carefree as ever and the songs are catchy and sweet. In short, the Ditties we know and love.

Recommended Songs:

Because We Do

-Skinny Bones

The Ditty Bops were also recently featured on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”, click here to check out that performance.

Tilly & The Wall - O

What is there to say? It’s new Tilly and the Wall! The tap dancing wonderfulness is back again! The new album, which is apparently entitled O, is very similar to the first two albums, although I find there’s a little more of an edge to this one. Songs like “Pot Kettle Black” and “Too Excited” sound almost even angry, an emotion I’m not used to associating with Tilly and the Wall. Nevertheless, the album is a very enjoyable listen, and perfect for a summer full of tap dance sing alongs.

Recommended Songs:

Cacophony

-Chandelier Lake

Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth

I literally just discovered this band a few days ago. I had no idea who or what they were, I just went out on a limb and it paid off big time! I am loving this album right now. They are a band from Los Angeles, California, and they play a mixture of Cambodian pop music and 60s psychedelic rock. I know, its not like everything else I listen to, but something about it just grabs me. They sound like something that you would hear in a Wes Anderson movie. It may not be for everyone, but give it a chance, hopefully you won’t be disappointed.

Recommended songs:

-Seeing Hands

-Ocean of Venus

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

I have never considered myself a big Wolf Parade fan. Every now and then I would listen to a few songs off of their first album and like them, but I never found myself really wanting to listen to them. Their new album, entitled At Mount Zoomer, has changed my mind about them. I can now say that I am officially a Wolf Parade fan. I find myself really wanting to listen to this album. Songs like “California Dreamer” and the epic “Kissing the Beehive” really get me hyped. More hyped than I have ever been about Wolf Parade. So kudos to you Wolf Parade, you have converted me.

Recommended Songs:

Solider’s Grin

-California Dreamer

-Kissing the Beehive

Pomegranates - Everything is Alive

This is another new discovery of mine. I found out about them when I stumbled upon their recent performance on Daytrotter. I immediately fell in love with the songs “In The Kitchen” and “The Bellhop”. Not surprisingly, the rest of the album is good too. The lead singer kind of sounds like a munchkin from Munchkinland, but I like it. It gives the band a kind of Elephant Sixey feel. This is definitely one of my top albums of the summer.

Recommended Songs:

The Bellhop

-Thunder Meadow

This obviously isn’t all I’m listening to, and the list will probably be very different in a week or two, but for now, this is it! I hope you take a listen and enjoy my songs of summer. I’m very curious to see what other people like to listen to at this time of year, so if you don’t mind taking a few seconds, let’s see what you’re listening to. Even if it’s Beach Boys! Besides, what is summer without the Beach Boys?

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

We came across a fun little article in the NME online today about ‘bands as literary figures’. To celebrate Burns Night a few months ago, they published this list that merges together bands with famous writers. Here is a list of some that they came up with:

Stephen Kings Of Leon
Martin A-Missy Elliott
Charles Baudel-Air
James Ellroyksopp
TS Elliott Smith
Charles Bukowskid Row
JK Rowling Stones
Lewis Carroll King
Brett Easton Elvis

And some other clever ones that appear in their comments section:

Virginia Wolf Parade
Nick Drake Hornby
Ray Charles Dickens
James Joyce Division
Sufjan Wallace Stevens
Lilly Allen Ginsberg
Peter Bjorn and John Milton

Can anyone think of any good YBP/Non-YBP related bands as literary figures?

Feel free to comment below!

I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I look forward to more than when the artists I love put out new albums. Often though, the intense excitement and high expectations that I have lead to disappointment when I actually do get to hear the new releases and they aren’t exactly what I was hoping for. Once I get over that initial disappointment however, I usually come to love the albums. The fact remains, new albums are exciting! Some great new releases that I have been listening to lately are Man Man’s Rabbits Habbits, Aimee Mann’s @#%&*! Smilers, Fleet Foxes’ self titled LP and Wolf Parade’s At Mount Zoomer. Now let’s take a look at what is on the horizon…try not to drool.

Ratatat: LP3 - July 8, 2008

I absolutely cannot wait to hear this new album by New York City duo Ratatat. Since first hearing about them two summers ago, I have been incessantly listening to their first two LPs, Ratatat and Classics. I only hope that their third LP, which is aptly entitled LP3, will have the same magic that made the first two as good as they are. I’m expecting something a little different this time around. While the first two albums were great, they were pretty similar sounding, so I think we can expect a little bit of variation.

Here’s a little taste of the new album: Shiller

CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy): Donkey - July 21, 2008

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you have definitely heard of CSS. I remember a time when nobody knew who they were. Until a certain Apple ad changed everything. Now, CSS is everywhere… and good for them! But the pressure is on for them to follow up their debut self titled album with something worth listening to. Here’s a sample from the new album called Rat is Dead (Rage). Sounds pretty good to me!

The Stills: Oceans Will Rise - August 19, 2008

Here’s a band that i haven’t thought of for awhile. Recently signed to Arts & Crafts Records, The Stills, who hail from my Montreal hometown, will release their third studio album on August 19th. I am very eager to hear how they have changed in the last 2 years. Their second album, Without Feathers, was much different from their first, Logic WIll Break Your Heart. Is this a sign that their new album will be much different from their second? We will have to wait and see. But for now, here are some samples from the new record:

Rooiboos/Palm Wine Drinkard

Being Here

Imogen Heap: Untitled Third Album - September, 2008

I have been waiting for a new album from Imogen for a long time now. It’s been three years since her last solo album Speak For Yourself and I think it’s about time we hear some new stuff from her. Being the awesome person that she is, she has been recording video blogs for some time now documenting the creation of her new album. You can check out her latest vblog (the 24th) below. Look for her new album to drop this September!

Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping - October 7, 2008

I have been following them for many years and I consider them one of my all time favourite bands. While their last release Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? was probably one of my least favourite Of Montreal albums, I am still reaaaally excited to hear what they have in store for us this time around. The new album, which is to be entitled Skeletal Lamping, and will hit stores on October 7th, might just be the strangest thing we have heard from Kevin Barnes and his crew yet.

Here’s what Barnes had to say about it on Of Montreal’s Myspace Blog: “I wanted to make an album that was unpredictable and, at times,startling, yet always hummable and catchy. some of the transitions are intentionally awkward. I did this to keep the listener off guard and to dismantle people’s perception of how an album is supposed to be constructed. I am so bored with art that makes sense and ‘works’. I wanted to do somethings that didn’t ‘work’.”

Metric: Unknown Title - Summer 2008

According to this article a new Metric album should be hitting stores at some point this summer. I wouldn’t expect it before the fall but this is still exciting news! I don’t think Emily Haines has ever put out anything that wasn’t great. Whether it be with her band Metric or on her own with the Soft Skeleton, her music has always been amazing and I expect no less from their new LP, whenever it does come out. Here are two new songs that we can expect to hear on the album:

Give Me Sympathy (Acoustic):

Twilight:

Here are some more albums to look out for:

Holly Throsby: A Loud Call - July 12, 2008

Midlake: The Courage of Others (Tentative Title) - 2008

Final Fantasy: Heartland - Unknown Date

Well that’s all for now. It looks like it is going to be a pretty exciting summer and fall. Lots of new music for us to live our lives to. If you have any more information about future albums from these or other artists, please let me know!

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

It’s a new miracle! YBP now brings you a brand new t-shirt, collaboratively created by the likes of The New Pornographers & Immaculate Machine. Two great bands, one awesome t-shirt design. This t-shirt was designed by Kathryn Calder, who plays keyboard and sings in both bands. It was originally created cutouts collage, using coloured paper. We then adapted the design by silk screening it onto pomogranite coloured American Apparel tees. They are available in all sizes for men and women. What’s more is that this is our very first t-shirt to be printed on 100% organic cotton. It’s a new adventure for all of us, and we’ve never been so excited.

As always, 100% of the profits we make from the sale of this t-shirt will benefit the charity of the artist’s choice. In this case, the New Pornographers & Immaculate Machine have chosen to support the ALS Society of British Columbia, which provide support for sufferers of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

So pull yourself together, and click here to buy this fashionable summer tee. You know that you’ll feel better, and you’ve got everything to gain!

Who doesn’t love a soft female vocalist singing along with the sweet sounds of an acoustic guitar, piano, or in some cases, a harp. If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing sweeter than the sound of a talented female artist doing her thing. Artists that we know and love, like Joanna Newsom, My Brightest Diamond, Feist and Regina Spektor (to name a few) and artists that aren’t so well known like the one’s I’m about to name. This is a tribute to some up and coming female artists that I think we will be hearing a lot more from in the coming years.

Laura Marling

At the mere age of 18, Marling has created quite a stir not only in her Eversley, England hometown, but across the pond, here in North America. I was lucky enough to see her open for Adam Green last month in New York City, and even though many people didn’t know who she was, the performance was great, and I’m sure it got whoever was at the show talking about her. She has a whole bunch of shows coming up this summer, mostly in the UK with 2 more stops in New York City next week.

Check out all of her dates here.

And here is her video for the song “Ghosts” which is off of her debut album Alas I Cannot Swim:

Birdie Busch

This is a new discovery of mine, recommended to me by my friend Jeremy of good musical taste. There isn’t a lot about her out there on the internet (just yet) but I think she has a nice sound, and could be big one day. She has already released 2 full length albums, and I think she may have a third in the works.

Here is a sample track and the best quality video I could find for you, the song is called “Mystical” and the video is called “Go Go Gadget Heart”, both songs off of her latest release, Penny Arcade :

Birdie Busch - Mystical

Basia Bulat

The first I heard of Basia Bulat was at the inaugural Osheaga Festival in 2006 in Montreal. Unfortunately, I just stopped for a few minutes on my way to see Final Fantasy play so i didn’t really get to enjoy her set. If I knew that I would like her as much as I do today I would have definitely made a point of watching her entire set. Along with acoustic guitar Basia also plays the autoharp regularly at all of her shows. And best of all, she is Canadian!

This is a video of her performing “Snakes and Ladders” from her latest release Oh, My Darling, live in Brussels

Holly Throsby

My last up and coming solo female artist is the amazingly talented Holly Throsby, who has gained significant popularity in her hometown of Sydney, Australia and is continuing to gain popularity around the world. She has toured with the likes of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Joanna Newsom and YBP’s first official artist, Devendra Banhart. She has already given us two amazing albums and the third will hit shelves on July 12 entitled “A Loud Call”

Here is Holly performing the song “Spare-Ohs” along with violin/whistler extraordinaire Andrew Bird:

And finally, here is a little taste of Holly’s new album A Loud Call. The song is called “A Heart Divided”:

So, readers, you have some homework to do…check out these artists and then go to their shows!

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner