Releasing These United States

DC's These United States are finally releasing their debut album. A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden will be released on March 4 and they will be supporting it with ridiculous amounts of touring. For your enjoyment, we have the first official mp3.

First Sight (via IA)

Kimya Dawson @ Crooked Beat Records Wednesday

Singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson, who's got several songs on the Juno soundtrack, is going to be playing a set at Crooked Beat Records in DC this Wednesday, January 23rd at 7:00.

MP3: Loose Lips - Kimya Dawson

The Roosevelt

Indie-popsters The Roosevelt (not after a prez, but a building) will be playing out in DC this weekend. Which has given me a perfect excuse to chance to catch up on their tracks. And I’m definitely digging the singalong chorus of the catchy “Codeine Cure.” You can check out The Roosevelt live this Saturday in DC at the Rock & Roll Hotel with Gary B & The Notions, Kitty Hawk and The Beanstalk Library.

MP3: Codeine Cure – The Roosevelt
MP3: Elliott – The Roosevelt

Twofer

SOLD: DC's Velvet Lounge has been sold, but the music should stay…

COACHELLA: The 2008 Coachella line-up has been revealed

Bellman Barker @ Black Cat Saturday

Lately I’ve been digging the 60s Brit-pop sound of DC’s Bellman Barker. You can check out a couple of their tracks below (I’m especially liking “Pockets”), and if you like what you hear, go catch ‘em live at the Black Cat this Saturday, January 26th with Jukebox the Ghost and Pash. Additionally, Instrumental Analysis has got an interview with the guys from BB (plus an additional track) right here.

MP3: Molly Maroon – Bellman Barker
MP3: Pockets – Bellman Barker

Photo: Shervin Lainez

Exit Clov Makes A Video

I’m digging Exit Clov’s cool new video for “MK Ultra” – you can check it out here. Gotta love those gas masks and handclaps. And you can check 'em out live here in DC in a couple of weeks at the Rock and Roll Hotel February 1st.

Afterparty With Hot Hot Heat & Louis XIV

There will be an official afterparty tonight (Tuesday the 15th) at DC9 with Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV – both bands will be in the house after they finish their sets opening up for Editors at the 9:30 Club. They’ll also be previewing the new Louis XIV album which comes out 1/29.

The Sweet Sixteen: My Favorite Tracks of 2007 (#1-5)

Alright, and now for my favorite five tracks of the year, more or less...

5. For Science Fiction – Maritime
It’s nice and punchy pop (love those drums and vox), with just a touch of spiritualality...or a questioning thereof.

4. Umbrella – Scott Simons
I’ll take Simons’ mellower, electronic rendition of the precipitation shelter over Rhianna’s version. It’s easier to appreciate the beauty of the song’s lyrics and melody, and I also like how he reduces that certain vocal tic into more of an echo-echo-echo…

3. Joni – Julian Velard
I’ve been digging Julian Velard’s smoky baritone and keyboard stylings a bunch this year, and “Joni” is no exception - it’s a wonderful piece of pop, complete with quirky arrangements and lyrics that keep you listening.

2. Love Song – Sara Bareilles
It’s piano pop perfection with Sara Bareilles' amazing vocals. One listen, and you’ll be singing it in your head all day.

1. Stronger – Kanye West
Kanye brings us hip-hop from the future by way of a Daft Punk sample from the past. And a pretty tacky pair of white shades. It’s slammin’. My top single of the year.

The Sweet Sixteen: My Favorite Tracks of 2007 (#6-10)

The countdown resumes with numbers 6-10, in descending order to prolong the suspense. 1-5 tomorrow...

10. Girlfriend (remix) – Avril Lavigne f/ Lil Mama
Avril’s overly bratty pop + Lil Mama’s wicked flow = better than the original ever was.

9. Built To Last - Melee
Unabashedly melodic pop, with hooks flying all over the place.

8. Wait For You – Elliott Yamin
And lo and behold, my favorite R&B song this year comes from Elliott Yamin? Yep. “Wait For You” is Brian McKnight-ish, catchy, and it’s smooth as butter

7. Brighten Up – No Second Troy
This modern rock gem is my favorite local single from this year. It takes its moody beginnings and then bursts into a very cool pre-chorus/chorus progression. Yeah, it’s probably a little overproduced, but gloriously so. ***See 'em live - No Second Troy will be rocking the Black Cat in DC this Friday, January 11th, with fellow DC bands Lejeune and The Vita Ruins.

6. Car Crash – Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson cranks up the electric guitar here with a lurching, urgent rocker - and I want more...

The Sweet Sixteen: My Favorite Tracks of 2007 (#11-16)

You didn't think I could go without some sort of year-end music countdown did you? I'll be doing a three-part countdown of my favorite tracks of 2007. Here's numbers 11-16, in descending order, of course:

16. Everybody Always Leaves – Matthew Ryan
He creates a mood of cold darkness with his lyrics and vocals, and somhow integrates it well with the electronic beats. And then those female vocals in the chorus provide a wonderful lift to the song, as well as a superb counterpoint to Ryan’s sandpapery voice.

15. Chase This Light – Jimmy Eat World
I’m just a sucker for the grandeur of a Jimmy Eat World anthemic track, what can I say, and this one fits the bill quite nicely.

14. Cold Cold Ground – Lea
There’s a Tracy Chapman-esque quality to Lea’s vocals, and the gentle, folky arrangement of “Cold Cold Ground” gives her voice room to shine.

13. Up and Down – The Chesterfield Kings
If you’re going to to do retro, this is how retro should be done - Raucous and rowdy garage rock complete with a niiice fuzzy guitar solo.

12. Bubbles – Dizzee Rascal
Those are some some mad, overdriven, syncopated beats – and what’s he saying? Something about Nike Airs? I’m not sure, but I bloody well like it!

11. Back To Black – Amy Winehouse
Yeah, I know, she likes to party and how she won’t go to rehab. But I love the darkness of this title track’s subject matter, as well as its smoky, neo-soul vocals and groove.