Whitest Boy Alive’s new album!

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whitest

you only need to be more certain what it is you’re living for

Whitest Boy Alive – High On The Heels

Whitest Boy Alive would have been featured on my favorite albums of 2008 list except that their debut Dreams came out in 2006 and I only discovered it last fall. And what a discovery it was! I have a hard time finding music to chill out to because I often find that kind of mellowness to be boring or uninspired. Dreams is the perfect album for chilling without funk-killing. The kind of album you can throw on when you have people over and the music wont overtake the conversation. Oh, and if the vocals sound familiar that’s because it’s Erlend Øye from Kings of Convenience. Anyway, WBA just released their second album Rules and I am digging it. It hasn’t grabbed me like Dreams did but I am giving it time. “High On The Heels” is the first track to jump out at me so far. Also check out my favorite from Dreams, “Fireworks.” But seriously folks, I can’t stress the top-notchedness of Dreams enough, it’s like instant ear-therapy. Get on it.

Whitest Boy Alive – Fireworks

Whitest Boy Alive on MySpace

Say Hi to new Say Hi!

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sayhi

it’s the way that she curses

Say Hi – Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

Say Hi is Eric Ellbogen whose lo-fi indie act was based in Brooklyn when I discovered him a few years back. He relocated to Seattle for his last 2 albums and oddly enough the change has amped up his sound. Just compare the propulsive head-bobber of “Oh Oh….” (above) to his sophomore album’s “I think I’ll Be a Good Ghost” which is much more mellow, contemplative and dare I say “haunting?” No, no, I’ll spare you. Anyway, this dude has put out 6 albums in 6 and a half years and while the early ones aren’t fully formed I really think he hit his stride with last year’s The Wishes And The Glitch. “Northwestern Girls” (below) is the album’s fantastic opener and is followed by a stable of very solid tracks. Maybe more of those unlistenable art-rock hipster collectives from Brooklyn should head out to Seattle?

Say Hi – Northwestern Girls

Say Hi (To Your Mom) – I Think I’ll Be A Good Ghost

Yeah, Say Hi To Your Mom was the full band name for the first 4 albums. I guess we all grow up someday…

Say Hi on eMusic (check out the album art) / MySpace

The Gay Blades bring it with O Shot

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gayblades

and the courage to change the things i can

The Gay Blades – O Shot

OK, where do I even start?  The Gay Blades are two dudes from the NYC area that have developed (and perfected) what they call “Trash Pop.” Don’t ask what that means, just listen to “O Shot,” the album opener off their stellar debut LP Ghosts. I withheld The Gay Blades from my What Up ’08? mix for only one reason: they are so good I didn’t want them to get lost in the shuffle. Grab this track, grab their album, and grab a hold of your eyeballs as you ponder this piece of music video wonderment which was made by some dear friends of TBE.

The Gay Blades on MySpace