The Weekend Chills

Phoenix - Victim of the Crime (buy)

Slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn't listen regularly to Phoenix before It's Never Been Like That. "Victim of the Crime," like most of Alphabetical is a slow-by-Phoenix-standards jam most notable for its staccato keyboard harmony. It's so simple, yet so awesomely timely. This texture isn't prominently used in much of any music--the only other use that comes to mind is on Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E." from 2001. Alphabetical may be my least favorite Phoenix full-length, but if there's a time in the week for it, it's Sunday afternoon.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around (buy)

While we're turning the page back, there's no better Sunday go-to than Washed Out. The two singles that came from the summer 2009 EP stand far above the other four songs, but this dream-fi/chillwave feels like memories...

We Are The People

Empire of the Sun - We Are the People (buy)

You know what's better than drooling in anticipation over a new MGMT album (even if you think it'll suck)? Listening to a band that sounds just like them! Empire of the Sun's debut is more than a year old now, but they've captured the rapture of MGMT singles only like MGMT can. I've written already about the mashup with Wiz Khalifa, which I think is one of the top two "mashups" of 2009. "We Are The People" features the vocal-emoting, often hollow lyrics that make it seem like it could be about anything. Add a big chorus with backup vocals and you've got a recipe for success.

Let Me Take You Out

Class Actress - Let Me Take You Out (buy)

Over the past week I've been working, occasionally watching the olympics, and going to Class Actress shows. I've written about the group's singles that preceded Journal of Ardency, but not the whole EP. I didn't think the early-Madonna comparisons were grounded, or compliments until listening through it. Elizabeth Harper's carefree vocals in "Let Me Take You Out" guide you gently through dreamy riffs and beats that remind you of floating over city streets like you did the last time you got some decent sleep. It won't make you sleepy, but it just feels so damn comfortable once you try it on.

World Sick

Broken Social Scene - World Sick (download)
White Hinterland - No Logic (buy)

Broken Social Scene is back, and in the spirit of internet hype the first single "World Sick" is up for free download on their site. In BSS fashion, it's big and full of lots of guitars and cymbal crashes. It has the epic feeling of big things and great ideas, not unlike the equally epic single from The Knife's opera.

White Hinterland played with Taken by Trees just last week here in NYC. The latest comes from their upcoming Kairos and debuted via GvsB. It's a slow and simple song whose character is completely built around the strange texture of the ukulele. The time for cold-weather songs is quickly leaving...

We're now on Hype Machine; check us out, follow, heart, repeat.

Phantogram Live at Union Hall

Phantogram brought them out last night in the basement of what's effectively known as Bocce Bar. It was small, dark and loud. Sold out of advance tickets, people lined up before doors to get in. It didn't sound like anyone was at this show because there wasn't anything better to be doing on a Thursday (there was La Roux and Savoir Adore/Uninhabitable Mansions); these were no casual Phantogram fans. Eyelid Movies is out on Barsuk Records as of 2/9, buy it here. Photos after the jump.

Listen to "You Are the Ocean."

Class Actress / Yeasayer Live at MHOW

It was the hottest $16 ticket I have ever seen. Everybody is going nuts over the two new Yeasayer singles, and they should be. The takeaway for me wasn't that Yeasayer do a fun show, but that Class Actress lives up to the CMJ hype that I've been hearing about since October.

I Know A Place Where Diamonds Never Fade Away

Tanlines is a Brooklyn (where else?) duo that has paved their way by making a few really great remixes to promote their originals. Since they're playing tonight at Brooklyn Bowl, this serves as warning of what you're going to wake up feeling like you missed Saturday morning (today is Friday for those keeping score). Remixes of Au Revoir Simone and (Minneapolis-based) Solid Gold aren't get-famous-quick choices, but this track record is golden. My favorites are "A New Chance" originally by The Tough Alliance (buy), and Solid Gold's "A Matter of Time." You probably recognize the captivating hook from the former, but these are radical (read: rad) changes to each of these songs that makes them instantly more grown-up. The Doppler-effect vocal harmony of "A New Chance" should have been on top of pulsating synths and a big bass line in the first place, instead of the acoustic guitar/piano combo that The Tough Alliance chose; the original feels like a steel drum beach song. Soundtrack your weekend with this rapturous "I know a place where diamonds never fade away aaahhhhHHHHHAAAAaaaaaahhhHHHHHAAAaaaahhh."

Odessa / Zebra

It took a few listens but I'm jumping on this--the new track "Odessa" from Caribou is awesome. It's a dance song, but it doesn't play like dance music. It's a less dressed up, grittier Hercules and Love Affair with a funk guitar riff. Download it for free from Caribou himself, his album Swim drops on 4/20.

Teen Dream, the latest from Beach House came out last week. I questioned their indie royalty until I heard "Zebra," the album's second single. This is the kind of chilled out, cleaned up glo-fi that could take photos all by itself. I've been saving this photo for the right song. This cut comes from the Daytrotter session, which is free as well. Check the video after the jump.