Umbrellas Are For Tourists: It's a Good Day for New Things

Thursday, February 7, 2008

It's a Good Day for New Things

Everything old is new again. But new things are just new, and usually yummy. Heres some music I'm loving this week and why. Theres some selections from newly released albums, remixes, covers, and spanking new singles.

OMG new Gnarles Barkley is here. The CIA might shoot me in the face for posting this. As long as its a Jason Bourne type or even Clive Owen's character that dies in the first movie, I'm okay with it. PS: This song is SO good.

Gnarles Barkely - Run [mp3]

Matt Albert Costa is such a chill guy. The pro skateboarder-turned musician (after a horrific leg-shattering accident) has been making music on his 4-track recorder for a while, but really started turning heads in 2005 with Songs We Sing. Jack Johnson and the rest of the Brushfire recording co took an avid interest in the indie hitmaker, allowing Matt to open for Jack's 2005 summer tour, and re-releasing his previously independent album under their label. Now Matt is back with a new cd entitled Unfamiliar Faces, which I might love more than his last. But don't quote me on that one yet. The jury is still out...

Matt Costa - Mr. Pitiful [mp3]

Matt Costa - These Arms (From Songs We Sing) [mp3]

Nada, Nada, Nada Surf is turning 17 this year - only one year shy of being able to smoke, porn, and vote it up! Unfortunately for as long as these guys have been around, they don't get nearly enough credit for their eclectic sound. Since their conception in '92, all focus has been on their hit single "Popular." An excellent ode to the angst of teenagerdom, but defintely not their best single. Their latest release, Lucky is more proof why NS has been able to maintain a cult-like fan base. Not many bands have emerged from the 90s alt rock phase successfully; finding a way to evolve past the post-grunge-i-live-in-my-parents-basement-but-still-rock-out era, and resurface better than ever.

Nada Surf - See These Bones [mp3]

I'm sure you all know I love Britney Spears - even crazy trains can make good dance records. This cover of "Toxic" puts me in an entirely different mood though. Yael Naim's vocals are near perfection for this seductive, sensual take on the smash pop hit. Move over Marvin Gaye, theres a new song to get it on to. Sidenote: F'in Apple has already made me hate her a little bit by putting her song "New Soul" all over the f'ing place. Gosh darn those iPod commercials!