YOLO Mentions bring attention to special
songs featured in that week’s YOLO List. Get the latest list here!

I don’t often come across songs that I get as attached to as I have with T.E.E.D.’s (Orlando Higginbottom) remix of “It’s My Part.” It’s a song to get lost in. Orlando has this keen ability with how he handles his bass lines that always hooks me. I can just see him grooving on his drum kit through the whole track, keeping every part of it unique. Listen closely!
Joquil – It’s My Part (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs)

In preparation for his upcoming album, he released the first single…for free! At first I freaked out, because it was only available to his fans in the UK, but then one of our readers from UK sent me the song. :’) Makes me happy. He’s been touring around the UK too much! I mean, it is his native land…but the world needs more dinosaurs. Not as big on this track, but all of his stuff tends to grow on me.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – You Need Me On My Own (192 kbps)

In case you missed his last free release, follow this link or just listen below. Great song. The Twelves even put it in one of their recent mixes! So many good things.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Dream On

Skinny Genes’ recent post about the Strokes’ demos prompted me to write about another one of my favorite bands, Hockey, and the songs that didn’t make it to their album. The Portland-based indie-pop outfit has been around since the early-2000s but only ascended to popularity in 2009 with the official (albeit delayed) release of their debut and thus far only album Mind Chaos. Mind Chaos has since been one of my favorite albums; it’s one of those albums that I continually go back to. They’ve got this Bob-Dylan-meets-The-Strokes vibe mixed with their own funk. They’re overall talented musicians. Supposedly they’ve been in the studio recording what will be one of my most anticipated albums ever. Meanwhile the album and the following songs will have to tide me over. “Bullfight” and “Reading to an Elephant” were both released on a mixed tape in 2005, separately from Mind Chaos so they were pretty easy to miss. These songs are pretty different from anything you’d find on the album but they’re super catchy in their own ways. “Mercenary Days” was released in an early version of Mind Chaos but not with the official album, though I don’t know why. It’s great and the lyrics are awesome.

Bullfight
Reading to an Elephant
Mercenary Days

This version of “Work” was recorded live at Wendyhouse and I much prefer it to the album recording (which is still great); this has a little added umph.

Work-live at Wendyhouse

For a while I refused to listen to any sort of remix of a Hockey song. It was blasphemous to me. I don’t think you should mess with something that’s nearly perfect on its own. However this RAC remix (sort of) changed my mind. It’s the only remix that I think can even touch the original track, probably because RAC doesn’t try to remaster a song, he just embellishes it a bit in such a way to compliment the song instead of destroying it. It’s still probably the only remix of a Hockey song I can appreciate though….

Too Fake (RAC Remix)

It’s definitely a good thing when you can look back at where you came from (or look out your window in my case) and be happy or prideful about it. When seemingly every day people you grew up with are following their dreams and making it happen, it makes it that much more real. Young the Giant is a good example of this. They never gave up and everything eventually paid off in time. The following artists are on the same path. Oh fun fact: Irvine is the 7th safest city in America? I don’t know if that’s great or just really pussy. I’ll take it, though. Check em out after the jump…

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Holy shit! New Strokes songs! Well two of them…to me at least. These demo surfaced after being buried for years in the interwebs. “Rhythm Song” seems to be a demo pre Is This It? Which explains it’s fucking AWESOME rawness, which the Strokes built their reputation around. Julian’s powerful vocals, Nik’s ridiculous riffs, getting lost in Nikolai’s basslines, Fabio’s perfect drumming, and Albert keeping it all together. Old rockin’ Strokes. Not that I’m hating on the new Strokes. It’s all just different.
The Strokes – Rhythm Song

“Hawaii Aloha” sounds like something that would be life changing live. When I first saw them at Outside Lands ’10, the crowd was pushing and shoving each other all over the place. No rules. No one cared. Singing at the top of their longs. It was the Strokes first time back in California in almost 5 years. This song reminds me of that.
The Strokes – Hawaii Aloha

“I’ll Try Anything Once” is a slower, serious, more intimate version of “You Only Live Once,” the track that got me into the lifestyle and procured the creation of YOLO. Very beautiful track that defies the Strokes we’re used to getting. I love these guys…
The Strokes – I’ll Try Anything Once

We always make it a point to go to as many shows as possible, documenting for ourselves and everyone interested. The pictures started piling in in full force upon the addition of Philip Mendoza to the team, and I couldn’t be more happy about it! I love looking at event pictures and to have someone with us who shoots at the level he does is a dream. As the library of pictures and videos has been building the past year, it’s time to look back at the most epic of them all! Definitely going to make a point to shoot more rock shows in 2012. Check ’em out after the jump…

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The Tarot Classics EP is the first formal compilation Florida-based indie rokkers Surfer Blood have released since their debut album Astro Coast. Four tracks long, each sun drenched song sounds like it could fit right in with their debut with its hollowed guitar riffs and crisp melodies. It’s the same sunburnt melancholy indie that I kept on repeat two summers ago. The lyrics are a tad jaded, probably wrought from the past year on the road. Yet they strike a tactful balance between achingly morose and stoically confident. It’s a promising indication of where they’re headed. I’m looking forward to their followup LP.

Tracklist

1. I’m Not Ready
2. Miranda
3. Voyager Reprise
4. Drinking Problem

Free Candy

Catholic Pagans

Jeg snakker ikke norsk, og heller ikke du. Hvis du kan lese dette har du sannsynligvis brukt en oversetter. That’s Norwegian for “if you didn’t chuckle a little at this band’s name you are more mature than I am.” Just kidding. But really, I love when a band has a good sense of humor and humor just so happens to be at the core of Kakkmaddafakka’s music. They’re the kind of band you want to be friends with. They released their debut “Hest” last February and have gained a bit of attention for their funky music and energized live performances. Their sound is derived from a number of influences but its general appeal is carefree indie pop/indie rock. This is feel-good music. They’re not taking things too seriously (clearly, I can’t say their name out loud without laughing). Pick up the album and put on your dancing shoes cause this is the kind of stuff you’ll wanna wiggle to.

Tracklist

1. Restless
2. Your Girl
3. Self-Esteem
4. Make the First Move
5. Is She
6. Touching
7. Heidelberg
8. Gangsta
9. Dro So