New Harrys Gym Video: "Top of the Hill"

This video isn't new at all as it came out at the very beginning of this year, but Harrys Gym has made quite a resurgence in my life lately. "Attic" has been popping up a lot, and so has the amazing "The Escape."

When I was in Norway in February, the band mentioned to me that they were working on a second disc - if anyone has news on this, please keep me posted. This is a group that is poised to do big things, as the NME and Drowned in Sound have been all over these guys.

[mp3]: "The Escape"

Top 10 Songs of 2009 ... So Far

So, last week I know I teased with the fact that I had a put together a list of the 10 Best Songs of '09 so far and I just now realized because of all the BBQ and beers and such, I forgot to share it with the world. How terrible of me. So, anyway, here we are again in the fairest of orders which is alphabetical, here's the Top 10 Songs of 2009 .. so far?

"Brothersport" - Animal Collective
"And The Hazy Sea" - Cymbals Eat Guitars

"Stillness Is The Move" - Dirty Projectors


"Vacationing People" - Foreign Born
"Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear

"Tunnelvision" - Here We Go Magic


"Lalita" - The Love Language
"Little Secrets" - Passion Pit
"Actor Out Of Work" - St. Vincent

"Awkward Kisser" - Telekinesis

New Ice Palace Video: "Thoughts/Facts"

One album I have yet to mention from this year by accident is the new one from Minnesota's Ice Palace. Tying together the best parts of Archers of Loaf and Wolf Parade, Wonder Subtly Crushing Us features 10 rockers in quick succession. The songs are pop gems and art rockers. They've toured with labelmates Cloud Cult and Margot & The Nuclear So and So's. A few months ago I read about and saw stills for the video for the catchy number "Thoughts/Facts" and finally last week the video was spotted on YouTube. Speaking of spotting, can you tell which band in the video is Ice Palace? It's not that hard.

New Elvis Perkins Video: "Chains, Chains, Chains"

We're halfway through 2009. I'm compiling the Top 10 So Far (Albums and songs this year, for the last time[!?!]) and I thought this would be a fitting little video to post. One of the albums that may/may not be on the Top 10, most certainly in the year-end Top 30, will be the newest one from Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Their eponymous album is near perfect, though upon my first listen I was more attracted to the first half of the record. Eventually the whole thing came together for me and it's easily one of the year's finest. Definitely a band one should catch live if you can; seriously, I've seen the man and his band five times now and they've never let me down once. Do enjoy the video for the song "Chains, Chains, Chains" which was directed by Sean Pecknold. Wonder if he's related to that Robin Pecknold guy from Fleet Foxes? Either way, the album is out now on XL.