Asobi Seksu - Suzanne [dreamy acoustic]

Second post on a song by Asobi Seksu. From their 2009 album Rewolf, this is "Suzanne", a cover of a song done by Hope Sandoval from 2002. For this song, and the rest Rewolf album, Asobi Seksu seems to have scaled down their shoegazey/dream poppy bells and whistles and have produced songs with a very mellow and introspective atmosphere.

The album version can be found below but there's also a pleasant live version here.

Her Vanished Grace - Desire [alternative, shoegaze]

Her Vanished Grace is an American dream pop band from New York. They describe their music as a "modern mix of '80s post punk and '90s shoegaze with killer hooks and vivid colors" and it definitely sums up this song, "Desire" from their 2011 album See The Moon. Although there are definite hints of the shoegaze style in their instrumentals, that label cannot encapsulate their style, which incorporates strong vocals and upbeat melodies. The entire album was a real pleasure to listen to and can be found (for free!) on their Bandcamp.

Picnic - Woke Me Up Yesterday [dream pop]

Estonian band Picnic describes their music as "flowing guitars mingling with electronic beats" and trace their influences to nineties' shoegaze/dream pop acts like Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, and MBV (you can definitely hear the Cocteau Twins influence in this song). This is "Woke Me Up Yesterday" from their first LP Winter Honey (2012).

Can't wait til summer gets here..

Motorpsycho - Blindfolded [progressive rock]

Motorpsycho is a psychedelic/progressive rock band from Norway. Having formed in the late 80s, their music from then and through the 90s was characterized by a combination of harder rock elements. Beginning in their 2000 album, Let Them Eat Cake, Motorpsycho began producing music with a lighter and jazzier tone. This trend would continue through their next two albums, from one of which the featured song comes. Nevertheless, their much-anticipated double album from 2006, Black Hole/Blank Canvas, signified a return to their psychedelic rock roots.

This song is "Blindfolded" from their 2001 album Phanerothyme.

Plume Giant - Fool Hall [folk]

Plume Giant is a folk trio from New Haven, Connecticut. With their complement of able voices, guitars, and stringed instruments, these guys seem to effortlessly produce a full and round sound on all their tracks. This is "Fool Hall" from their 2010 self-titled EP (which is available for free on their bandcamp). They're currently working on an album, set to be released near the fall.

Harriet Jones - In The Basement [folk, blues]

This is "In The Basement" by English musician Harriet Jones. Although currently unsigned, given her performances at numerous festivals and alongside other more well-known artists, as well as having done some performances for the BBC, I'd hazard a guess to say that it's only a matter of time. This is one of her demos released back in 2010.

Jesse Ruins - Dream Analysis [dream pop]

This is "Dream Analysis" by Jesse Ruins, an ambient/dream-pop act from Tokyo, Japan, I think. I can't find any other information on the band but they've released several singles over the past year. No info on a full-length album yet but hopefully they decide to do it (I really like their sound). This song can be found on their Dream Analysis EP released back in February.

All The Luck In The World - Never [indie rock]

All The Luck In The World is an unsigned band hailing from Ireland. There are a few songs on their Myspace uploaded last year but they don't seem to have released anything official. This is "Never", a relaxing tune with a lo-fi feel.

Memoryhouse - Sleep Patterns [dream pop]

Memoryhouse is a Canadian dream pop group from Guleph. The group itself was not initially meant to be primarily a musical act but one that would combine music with visual mediums such as photography and short films. Their music clearly had potential and after a few tours over both North America and Europe, Memoryhouse signed with Seattle-based Sub Pop in 2010.

After releasing an EP in 2010 and re-releasing an updated version in 2011, they've recently released their first full length album The Slideshow Effect (2012). This is "Sleep Patterns" from their first release of The Years in 2010.

Sea Oleena - Cold White Sheets/Empty Bed [dream pop, electronic]

Sea Oleena is the moniker of Canadian artist Charlotte Oleena. This is "Cold White Sheets/Empty Bed" from her eponymous 2010 album Sea Oleena. I'd describe this song and the rest of this album as acoustic dream pop with a slight electronic twist. It's simply a gorgeous work.

(And here's a link to this album's page on her Bandcamp profile if you want to check out more of her work.)

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.