Oso Closo - Anywhere You Want To [progressive rock]

Oso Closo is an American progressive rock group out of Texas. This is "Anywhere You Want To" from their 2009 album Today Is Beauty's Birthday. Adrian Hulet's soulful vocals alone make this well worth a listen. Many of Oso Closo's members are actually alumni from the University of North Texas' jazz program and so it wouldn't be surprising to hear that influence blended into their music.

Tokyo Shoegazer - Bright [shoegaze]

Tokyo Shoegazer is a Japanese shoegaze band (surprise surprise). Apparently they had originally only intended to perform for a single event. For whatever reason, they decided to stick together for a little to play a few more shows and release a demo. Eventually, after a few episodes of disbanding and reconvening as well as having their initial demo sell out, the members decided to release a full-length album.

This is "Bright" from their first full-length album crystallize (2011).

Moonlit Sailor - Hope [post-rock]

Moonlit Sailor is a Swedish post-rock band. This is "Hope" from their 2008 album So Close To Life.

I don't listen to too much post-rock nowadays so this song really brings me back to a few years ago when I was particularly enamoured with the genre and bands like This Will Destroy You, Red Sparowes, and Sigur Ros would be staples on my playlists. Who knows.. if I run into more songs like this, I might just get back into it.

Delta Spirit - Bushwick Blues [rock, Americana]

Delta Spirit is a rock band hailing from San Diego. According to Wiki, two characteristics of this band are multi-instrumentalism and spiritually-themed lyrics. This is "Bushwick Blues" from their 2010 album History From Below. Although this song sounds more like "refined garage rock" than Americana, the genre they seem to go by, you can really pick up on the Americana vibe if you listen to the rest of the album. Great song and great album! (There's also a well-performed live version of this song here in case you're interested.)

Miaou - Own Your Colours [instrumental, electronica, post-rock]

Miaou is a Japanese instrumental group that ascribes its sound to both electronic and post-rock influences. Having listened to much of their latest album, I must say that their music just stellar. This is "Own Your Colours" from their 2011 album The Day Will Come Before Long.

This song definitely took me by surprise. Starting off with a slightly discordant yet gentle electronic sample, the gentle sounds of the xylophone and acoustic guitar introduce us to the main melody. Soon enough, the pace begins to pick up when we are introduced to the synth, drums, and electric guitar. Finally, without you suspecting a thing, this song then seamlessly transitions into a very steady and egalitarian jam with a definite post-rock influence.

Tarkio - Keeping Me Awake [alternative country]

None of the stuff I've been listening to has really caught my attention recently (well I guess there have been a couple of songs I've been meaning to post). But here's something nice: "Keeping Me Awake" by Tarkio. This is from their 1998 album I Guess I Was Hoping For Something More. Tarkio was an alternative country band from Missouri that broke up in 1999. One of the members, Colin Meloy, went on to become the lead singer/guitarist for The Decemberists.

Rosie Thomas - Over The Moon [pop, indie]

My friend introduced me to Rosie Thomas a couple years ago after hearing it at a wedding. I really took a liking to her voice and had her If Songs Could Be Held album in heavy rotation for a bit. But since then I hadn't been paying attention to her music.

Fast forward to last week, someone posts a link to a duet she did with Sufjan Stevens. To be honest, I didn't really like the song at all (mostly because they were autotuning Rosie's voice). Anyway, it turns out that Rosie recently released a new album less than a month ago (her last release was in 2008).

This is "Over The Moon", a nice light and poppy piece, from her latest album With Love (2012).

Magnolia Summer - Words For War [rock, country, melancholic]

Magnolia Summer is an indie country band from St. Louis. This is "Words For War" from their 2005 album From Driveways' Lost View. I heard this song a couple of weeks ago on Youtube and have been meaning to put this here. Strangely, the channel that put this up on Youtube is almost exclusively post-rock.

At first the sound really reminded me of a calm summer day (well that album cover definitely played a role in that too) but after listening to the lyrics, I'm not sure if that was really their intent. Well, at any rate, it's still a pleasant song to kick back to.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Two Lovers [indie rock]

The Rural Alberta Advantage is a Canadian indie rock group hailing from, despite its name, Toronto. This group has tended to focus their lyrics upon issues surrounding rural life, an emphasis which also carries over into their instrumentals. This is "Two Lovers", the first track off their second album, Departing, released sometime last year.

I first looked up their music after finding out they were playing a concert together with Sloan and Ohbijou. I think my initial impression was pretty favourable and so it seemed like it would've been a good concert in combination with the other two bands, particularly with Sloan. But, of course, in glorious fashion, I completely forgot about the concert and just.. didn't go. Oops.

Pasteboard - Flipper [mellow Japanese rock]

Pasteboard is a side-project by Mihoko Tanoue and Makoto Igarashi of Roly Poly Rag Bear. Since releasing their debut album Glitter in 2005, the two have decided to refocused their attentions to their original group. This is "Squall" from their 2005 album.

The Dø - Dust It Off [indie pop, dreamy]

Here's a live rendition of "Dust It off" by The Dø, a French/Finnish indie pop band. This version is slightly different from that on the album, which has a few instrumentals and electronic effects that are missing here. But this one really showcases Olivia Merilahti's voice, which is very well controlled and pleasant to listen to, though I guess it does get a little raw at the end. The song originally appears on their 2011 album Both Ways Open Jaws.

The Majority Says - 114 [pop rock]

The best description I have for this song is pleasantly uplifting. This is "114" by The Majority Says, a Swedish pop rock band. The song can be found on their latest EP Best Night Ever, which is currently only available in Scandinavia (too bad :\).

Oh well, guess I'll settle with streamin' on da Utubez.

Porcelain Raft - "Put Me To Sleep" and "Shapless & Gone" [indie pop, dreamy]

I don't usually link two songs in one post but, then again, I don't usually like albums as much as this one. These songs are from the latest album of Italian-born English artist Mauro Remiddi, currently going by Porcelain Raft. The album itself, Strange Weekend (2012), features a very well appreciated mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentals layered with a sort of dreamy ambience. Well, I don't really know how enticing that description makes it sound but it's seriously great.

Ok, here's "Put Me To Sleep" and "Shapeless & Gone".

Put Me To Sleep from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

Nujabes - Luv (sic) Pt. 2 (featuring Shing02) [japanese, hip hop]

Jun Seba, or better known as Nujabes, was a Japanese hip hop producer. Anime watchers may know his work best from the soundtrack of Samurai Champloo. Beyond that, he has collaborated with a number of artists inside and outside of Japan. A distinguishing characteristic of his work has been the incorporation of jazz into his sampling. Unfortunately, Jun Seba passed away in early 2010 after having been involved in a traffic accident. Rest easy, Nujabes.

This is "Luv (sic) Pt. 2", featuring Shing02, a single released back in 2002. 

Madeon - Pop Culture [live mash-up, electropop]

Check out the talent from 17-year old Madeon from France. There's a longer entry here giving you some background (I'll opt not to butcher it with my summarizing ability, more like lack thereof amirite).

Squarepusher - Plug Me In [experimental, electronica]

Squarepusher has been around the music scene for a while (since the mid 90's) though I've never actually listened to his stuff. Glad I was able to catch a listen of this: "Plug Me In" from his 2010 album Shobaleader One: d'Demonstrator. The rest of the album is pretty worth checking out too if this style suits you.

The Balconies - 300 Pages [indie rock]

Every so often I hear good things about CBC Radio 3 (CBC's online radio station that features Canadian indie stuff) though I had never really gone there. Well, I finally got around to going to the site (it was quite arduous really) and the first thing I heard was this fantastic song. This is "300 Pages" by The Balconies, an indie rock band from Ottawa. This song is from their self-titled album from 2009.

To my disappointment, their album doesn't seem to be available anywhere and their only show in the area until July was last week. Shucks.

And don't forget to check out CBC Radio 3 if the Canadian indie scene is something you want to hear more of.

Digitalism - Blitz [electro house]

So I've been listening to a lot /r/electrohouse lately, which would explain the recent influx of electronica. Here's a track that's been playing a lot in my background lately. Digitalism is a German electronica duo. This is "Blitz" from their 2011 album I Love You, Dude.

Shugo Tokumaru - Parachute [experimental folk]

One of the very first songs I saved on my Redditunes favourites was this song. Fast-forward half a year later after I've been acquainted with Asobi Seksu. Imagine my surprise when, as I'm browsing the other acts under Asobi's label (PolyVinyl Records), I find hear the familiar voice of Shugo Tokumaru!

Shugo Tokumaru is a Japanese multi-instrumentalist. He, who has been releasing music mostly in Japan since 2003, made his debut in the North American scene with his 2007 album Exit. He has since released another album, Port Entropy (2010). His music has been met with favourable reviews noting his use of more non-traditional instruments.

This is "Parachute" from his 2007 album Exit, a cheerful song with a very fun accompanying video.

Band Of Horses - The General Specific [rock]

Band Of Horses is an American rock band originating from Seattle. From their 2007 album Cease to Begin, "The General Specific" is an energetic song with a distinct Southern twist (though I may not be familiar with that type of music enough to really say). But, whatever it is, it's very nice. I've always been a sucker for strong rhythms and vocal harmonies.