The Dig | Buy MIDNIGHT FLOWERS

New York quartet The Dig are pretty much anything you’d want out of an indie band: strong instrumentals, occasionally ethereal ambient effects, slightly idiosyncratic vocals, catchy tunes. They are quite simply, a recipe for success, without taking any major risks. Granted, they play it pretty safe but it works. Their 2012 followup album to their 2010 debut is difficult to argue with. Each song is strong in its own unique way and there’s something for everyone. Midnight Flowers has its moments of undeniable hookiness, with 1980s influence (All Tied Up) as well its moments of gentle beauty (Glass Horse). At times they remind me of Vampire Weekend, at times they remind me of Radio Dept. These guys aren’t pushing the envelope; they’re just giving us some more of that stuff that we pretty much always want. Good music. Check it out, folks.

Audio Candy

I Already Forgot Everything You Said
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/THE%20DIG/03%20I%20Already%20Forgot%20Everything%20You%20Said.mp3]

Break the Silence
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/THE%20DIG/07%20Break%20The%20Silence.mp3]

Red Rose In the Cold Winter Ground
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/THE%20DIG/01%20Red%20Rose%20In%20The%20Cold%20Winter%20Ground.mp3]

Glass Horse
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/THE%20DIG/10%20Glass%20Horse.mp3]

Born Ruffians | Buy BIRTHMARKS

If you are a fan of Born Ruffians, and want to listen to something that reminds you a lot of Born Ruffians, might I recommend “Birthmarks.” It’s the closest you can get to Born Ruffians without listening to a band that isn’t Born Ruffians. That might have been the dumbest two sentences I’ve written in my life but hey, love makes you crazy. That’s how I feel about Canadian indie outfit/essential/wunderkinds Born Ruffians in general. Each album they have released to this point has been straight genius and Birthmarks is no exception. It’s got that classic Born Ruffians twang but with a little bit of that something extra that frontman Luke Lalonde has been sporting lately.

“Permanent Hesitation,” while exceedingly catchy, is also reminiscent of Lalonde’s recent solo album. There’s a newfound heaviness in their lyrics that wasn’t quite there in their earlier efforts. Whether or not you like the album in its entirety, two or three or four songs are bound to get stuck in your head all day. They’ve certainly progressed even from their last album, “Say It.” (I’m still begging for them to do an LP with fellow Canadians Tokyo Police Club but maybe the world isn’t ready for that yet.)

Tracklist

1. Needle
2. 6-5000
3. Ocean’s Deep
4. Permanent Hesitation
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/BORN%20RUFFIANS/04%20Permanent%20Hesitation.mp3]
5. Cold Pop
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/BORN%20RUFFIANS/05%20Cold%20Pop.mp3]
6. Golden Promises
7. Rage Flows *Delightful Choice*
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/BORN%20RUFFIANS/07%20Rage%20Flows.mp3]
8. So Slow
9. With Her Shadow
10. Too Soaked to Break
11. Dancing On the Edge of Our Graves
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/BORN%20RUFFIANS/11%20Dancing%20On%20The%20Edge%20Of%20Our%20Graves.mp3]
12. Never Age

If Ramesh Srivastava’s name was easier to remember/spell I probably would have Googled him a long, long time ago to find out whatever the hell happened to him. Back in the day, Ramesh was the frontman/genius of Austin’s Voxtrot. Though still relatively lesser known or underrated, Voxtrot remain an important staple in my music library. They sounded like the beautiful offspring of Belle and Sebastian and the Smiths. After the band broke up, I assumed that was it for Ramesh. In interviews, he had talked about phases of disinterest with indie music. He studied literature in school, which is probably why his lyrics are a wonder in themselves. That is to say, I thought Ramesh and music were 1-800-donzo but thankfully I was wrong. Ramesh has still got it, making music now under his given name. You can stream it here. DO IT. Please. Treat yourself.

Free Candy

Voxtrot – Whiskey
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/Whiskey.mp3]

Four years after the release of their debut album, New Orleans natives Generationals have released their third album “Heza.” Like their first two albums, it is sunny and nostalgic, poppy and vaguely reminiscent of an age long gone. It plays it safe for the most part, not straying far from their sonic 1960s crooning jams. That might be a good thing, and indeed the album is quite strong. The biggest qualm I might have with this album is it might be too safe. Some of the songs sleepily blur into the next without anything horribly memorable about it. The pinnacle of the album “Put a Light On” is most reminiscent of their first album. There really aren’t any noteworthy “weaknesses,” though. “Heza” is yet another great effort from a consistently great band.

Track List

1. Spinoza
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/GENERATIONALS/1-01%20Spinoza.mp3]
2. Extra Free Year
3. Say When
4. You Got Me
5. Put A Light On
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/GENERATIONALS/1-05%20Put%20A%20Light%20On.mp3]
6. I Never Know
7. Awake
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/GENERATIONALS/1-07%20Awake.mp3]
8. Kemal
9. I Used to Let You Get to Me
10. Durga II

Chicago bros Smith Westerns have finally announced the release of their forthcoming album, followup to their 2011 sophomore album “Dye It Blonde.” Their capacity for songwriting and vocals really only seems to improve. I can’t wait to see what they do with this album. They released “Varsity” a few days ago and it’s probably some of their best work to date. More mature and polished than their former stuff, it has a vintage quality but not in an over-worn sort of way. It kinda reminds me of Peter Bjorn and John.

Free Candy

Weekend
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/SMITH%20WESTERNS/01%20Weekend.mp3]
All Die Young
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/SMITH%20WESTERNS/04%20All%20Die%20Young.mp3]

I just love Surfer Blood. That’s all that really needs to be said. Check out their new choons, off their next album which is set to drop in June. I can’t wait. I’ve had “Weird Shapes” on repeat since they released it. They have yet to disappoint.

Weird Shapes
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/SURFER%20BLOOD/03%20Weird%20Shapes.mp3]

Free Candy

Voyager Reprise
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/2013/SURFER%20BLOOD/03%20Voyager%20Reprise.mp3]

Generationals’ third studio album is due to release next month. They released this single off the album recently and it’s a promising taste from a band that never disappoints. Light hearted and slightly old fashion, they’ve really crafted an unmistakeable and irresistible sound. They’re sophomore album of 2011 was a step forward from their debut. This song, however, sounds a lot like their older stuff. I can’t argue with it though.