Snazzy Vol.9 with White Rabbits, Tokyo Police Club, Vampire Weekend, Jack Penate and more

Tim

18 years ago

And you thought the last break was a long one – and no I don’t have a good excuse like being out of the country this time, just more of a very hectic last month with coming back to Edinburgh. That doesn’t mean I have kept up with the new stuff over that time though. By now everyone should know about Radiohead’s return with the possibility of fans paying whatever they think an album is worth. Amazon has also launched an mp3 store to compete with iTunes and it is all DRM free, so if you want to buy a download Emusic and Amazon both have pretty impressive catalogues.

Onto this music though –

It starts with the happiest song I’ve heard for a long time from Noah and the Whale, the guitar sounds a little like Cornershop’s Brimful of Asha from the late 90s, but this track is folk in a folk style and guarantees a smile and it being stuck in your head for days.

Next up is one of the most talented bands to come out of the states for a while under the name of Harlem Shakes (and one of two Brooklyn bands on this compilation). The vocal style and the relatively soft beat has some twee tinges, but these guys offer so so much more and have created a soothingly catchy masterpiece.

Locksley follows with something that reminds me of some 60s beach boys, a sound repopularised by The Thrills a couple of years ago before they got dull. These guys might not offer a new sound, but they do make a catchy harmonised tune.

Vampire Weekend have been on my most played on my iPod for a while now and I have been meaning to spread the love for some months with a fast paced, simple piano riff and some beautiful strings thrown in for good measure.

Jack Penate has just released his debut album on XL, and I’m really loving it. Second Minute, Second Hour was a fantastic first single and this follows it up with excitement and proves he is more than the hype surrounding him at the moment.

The Ramsays have an an almost ska influence that has been a feature of the so called “thamesbeat” tat got hyped over the summer, but these guys go a bit further with a chorus that is closer to pop/punk than the cowbells of some other sections.

White Rabbits from Brooklyn in the US offer up energetic, stampeding pop and well crafted lyrics that can only impress.

Tokyo Police Club have been featured on here before and have created another catchy, rhythmically driving tune that keeps them up in my favourite bands of the year.

You can also download the whole mix as a zip file:
Snazzy Vol.9