The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

Belong is the latest album from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and it's a really good listen. I loved earlier releases and this seems to have taken the sound to a new level.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

I've just read that We Were Promised Jetpacks are releasing a new album this Autumn entitled In The Pit Of The Stomach... Can't wait!

The Antlers

Beautiful dark music from the Antlers. 'Hospice' was one if my favourite albums of 2010 and the new album 'Burst Apart' is keeping up the standard in to 2011. Check out the video for 'Shiva' live on KEXP... amazing!

The Antlers - Shiva (Live on KEXP)

Admiral Fallow

Another quality Scottish band from a similar musical place a Frightened Rabbit and My Latest Novel. Check out the arrangement on Old Balloons!

Official site

Crocodiles

I love this album from the San Diego duo Crocodiles! It's like Mary Chain mixed with the VU and a bit of Spiritualized added in for good measure... Cool!

Crocodiles - Hearts of Love

Crocodiles - Mirrors (Studio Session With Insound)

The Joy Formidable

There's not a lot I can say about how good these guys are... Just watch the youtube video of the live version of 'Whirring' below. It blew me away!

More about the band here: http://www.thejoyformidable.com/

The Joy Formidable - Whirring (Live on KEXP)

Yuck

I saw them recently at the Friends of Mine festival and they blew me away so I thought I had better feature them. Their music takes me back to the early 90's in a really good way but still manages to stay right up to date.

More about the band here: http://yuckband.blogspot.com/

Yuck - Get Away

Silence Rises - Blues for a dead lover

Here is an EP from a new band called 'Silence Rises'. It includes three well crafted indie guitar songs. The first song 'Shallow Water' has undertones of Pavement Slanted and Enchanted mixed with early 90's Brit indie rock. All in all it's a good first release.

You can buy it here: http://silencerises.bandcamp.com/

Silence Rises - Shallow Water