Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean

Sean Pecknold (brother of Robin from the Fleet Foxes) shoots beautiful film and is quite the talented director. He's created music videos for many a band: Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others; Beach House - Used To Be; and of course he's kept it in the family with a couple Fleet Foxes jams - White Winter Hymnal and Mykonos.

Furthermore - it looks like Brother Sean hung out with Fleet Foxes during their road weary recording schedule over the last year. And for our enjoyment, he put together a little glimpse into the recording of the new album which accompanies the beautiful new track, Grown Ocean.

Give it a look/listen below and remember the new album Helplessness Blues comes out May 3rd. Also, Fleet Foxes are playing the Palladium May 7th and tickets are still available.

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo.

Sunday Morning Soundtrack

Radiohead - Give Up the Ghost
The National - Think You Can Wait
Kurt Vile - Baby's Arm
Alexander - Truth
John Legend - Rolling In the Deep (Adele Cover)

The Morning Benders - Japan Echo Charity EP

Japan is in our thoughts and prayers right now. But in addition to the well wishes the collective world is sending them, donations and monetary resources are also needed in order to help.

To that end - The Morning Benders have released an EP with new originals and remixes (Star Slinger, Wild Nothing, Twin Sister and more) for download and 100% of the proceeds are going to Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund. They were scheduled to play their first ever show there last week and I didn't know this, but lead singer/songwriter Chris Chu was born there. His love for the country is paramount and I applaud them for trying to do something to support the efforts to bring relief to that country. The note that accompanies the EP is above.

The tracklist is below and you can download the EP at their website.

Japan Echo EP (日本・エコー):

1. Cold War (Star Slinger Remix)
2. Better In Blue
3. Hand Me Downs (Wild Nothing Remix)
4. Excuses (RAC Remix)
5. Mason Jar (Twin Sister Remix)
6. Wet Cement (Aislyn Remix)
7. Little Riot
8. Promises (Star Slinger Remix)

Spring Equimix 2011

Happy Spring, Folks!

Despite the longer, sunny days - there's a lot of gloominess out there right now; be nice to people.

Lord Huron - The Stranger
Kurt Vile - Jesus Fever
Tennis - Take Me Somewhere
Toro y Moi - Still Sound
Radiohead - Separator
Chapel Club - All the Eastern Girls
Smith Westerns - Weekend
The Head and the Heart - Lost In My Mind
Cass McCombs - County Line
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Nothing But Our Love
Robin Pecknold - I'm Losing Myself (ft Ed Droste)
Destroyer - Kaputt

Sunday Morning Soundtrack

Final installment of the SXSW preview. The madness begins Wednesday!

The Kills - Satellite
Smith Westerns - Imagine, Pt 3
Royal Bangs - My Car is Haunted
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak
James Blake - Lindesfarne II
Lord Huron - The Stranger
Toro y Moi - Still Sound

7 Days til SXSW!

We are officially one week out from the music lovers springbreak known as, SXSW. YKTAM has been highlighting some of the up and comers that will be there this year via Sunday Morning Soundtracks the past couple weeks (you can listen here, here and here). But, other publications have done a bit more thorough combing of the lineup to get you ready for what's sure to be blazin' hot outta Austin. (NOTE: Final SX edition of the Sunday Morning Soundtrack coming 3/12)

The always impressive NPR Music has their All Songs Considered SXSW preview; which is great. And, if you can't make it out to ATX - they will be live streaming their shows. Sweet deal!

Artist site Bandcamp has also put together a nearly endless playlist with hundreds and hundreds of artists to dive into. Check it.

What would a YKTAM post be without a little KCRW love?? Jason Bentley and Rachel Reynolds put together a little SXSW podcast. It's great stuff - can't wait to see all the fun things our hometown station has going on in ATX. You can get the lowdown on the same site.

Get on it - you've got your work cut out for you.

This time of year rules - giddy up!

Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) Posts New Songs

Today Robin Pecknold via his Fleet Foxes Twitter account, updated followers with a link to download three new songs he recorded whilst in LA a couple weeks ago. Now, if you already happen to follow him on the interwebs, you probably knew that he had been recording (he is pretty good about keeping the world up to date with his happenings). However, he didn't lead on as to what the sessions were or when these jamz would be released. And, thanks to the moderns of technology, we are able to lend an ear a mere number of days after he announced his sessions. Very Radiohead of him, huh?

One thing he did not mention was that Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear fame would be dropping by for one of the cuts. The second track he takes on solo and the third is a cover by this guy from New Zealand (whom you most likely haven't heard of).

The three mellow (and very Fleet Foxy) tracks should certainly keep your appetite whet for the May 3rd release of Helpnessless Blues. Get your folk on.

Stream the songs below or download via the link he provided here.

Robin Pecknold - I'm Losing Myself (w/ Ed Droste)
Robin Pecknold - Derwentwater Stones
Robin Pecknold - Where Is My Wild Rose

Sunday Morning Soundtrack

SXSW = less than two weeks away!

Twin Shadow - At My Heels
Maps & Atlases - Living Decorations
Papercuts - Do What You Will
Times New Viking - No Room to Live
Kurt Vile - Freeway