Toro y Moi - Anything In Return

Toro y Moi is back with a new album, Anything In Return, and knocked one into the bleachers with it.  In the past three years this Chaz kid has gone from studying graphic design at U of South Carolina to a '12 Lollapalooza showcase.  Preparations now commence for a '13 world-wide album tour.  

Anything in Return overflows with addictive beats and hooks, from the uptempo "Say That" to the overly emotive "Cake", you'll find yourself hard-pressed to ever hit the next button.  In a new twist for Toro y Moi, these tracks are littered with "you, I, me, her, she, we, me" lyrics as Chaz lyrically opens up with a soft relationship side.  The album nonetheless has been spinning nonstop at the troysnoise studio and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Toro y Moi - "Say That"

Toro y Moi - "Never Matter"

For good measure, an official video for "Say That" featuring the great outdoors with camo red, tree hugs, and chillwave moonwalks.

Peep the upcoming tour schedule...

Click to read more ...

Kids of 88 - Tucan (feat. Alisa Xayalith) [Video]

Kids of 88 - "Tucan"

The "blissy little charmer" of a track called "Tucan" is Kids of 88's latest effort and a preview of what's upcoming from their long awaited sophomore album Modern Love.  It's definitely a deviation from their debut, and you'll quickly appreciate the new direction the New Zealanders are headed.  It's almost as if the video was made before the song; it actually enhances "Tucan" and gives it even more life.  Featured vocals comes by the way of neighbor Alisa Xayalith, member of The Naked & Famous.

And how bout a note directly from the source -

We have been crafting new material like a bunch of dirty hermits for the past year and are so ridiculously excited to bring you new music. May you enjoy this next phase of our adventures as we we keep you looped for our albums release.

Much love to all you beautiful humans.

Sam/Jordan/KidsOf88

Destroyer - "Kaputt"

Destroyer's 9th LP, Kaputt, is officially due out in two weeks, but most of the album leaked online late December.

"Chinatown" has garnered most plays, but I have "Kaputt" (video) rated higher, with captivating lyrics and saxophone, front man Dan Mejer seamlessly morphs indie pop and light jazz into a quite fantastic six minute journey.

Destroyer - "Kaputt"

sounds / smash hits / melody maker

full lyrics below ->

Click to read more ...

The New Division - "Starfield"

Formed in 2008, The New Division is releasing their second EP, The Rookie, with a total of six tracks next month.  You'll be anxiously anticipating after you listen to what they've shown us so far in 2010. 

Their following was mainly local to California, but the release of two powerful singles, "Art Kraft" and "Starfield," quickly changed that, as these two gems show that they might as well go global with it.  It's a brilliant combination of guitar, heavy synth-pop, smooth vocals, and live electronic programming, seemingly daring you to hit the dance floor on one hand, and begging you to drift away into endless cloud floating on the other.

Not surprisingly, the band admits Depeche Mode and New Order have been big influences on their sound, and we hear a little speed-induced Wild Nothing as well.  The Rookie is scheduled to release on 1/11/11...set your alarms for 1:11am that day.

The New Division - "Starfield"

The New Division - "Art Kraft"

Guards EP

With no myspace or website, it's hard to figure out exactly who Guards are. 

Here's what their label, 3 Syllables Records has to say - "They formed in New York City when Richie Cullin (The Cults' lead singer's big bro) returned from a European tour to a recording studio with nothing in it but a broken electric 12-string guitar and an omnichord. He wrote and recorded a few songs for his little sister to sing on, but ended up singing on the songs himself."

Released late this summer, notables such as lil' sis from The Cults in "sail it slow" and Chairlift's Caroline Polachek in "trophy queen" guest star and helped intially spread word about the work.  For those of you that enjoy genre tags, we hear it as retro new wave rock meeting psychedelic lo-fi pop, with "resolution of one" really accentuating that labyrinthine label.  Whatever you want to call it, do yourself a favor and download Guards' EP for free at their bandcamp page.

With just under 20 minutes from 7 tracks, Guards flaunts their incredible talent without yet fully pulling back the curtain.  Let's hope we hear from them again soon.

Guards - "crystal truth" (lo-fi soft rock ideal for hipster prom night)

Guards - "don't wake the dead"           Guards - "resolution of one"

The Belligerents - "These Hands"

"We like to dance and have fun at our live shows, which sometimes results in crazy parties and sometimes just looks ridiculous. Every once in a while we also dare to wear outrageous outfits on stage which is a totally indie thing to do." - The Belligerents

Their EP, Less Arty More Party is slated for release in January 2011 and they're distributing this single, "These Hands," to promote as the day approaches. Straight out of Brisbane, at first listen these guys sound like a more controlled and talented Aussie version of Two Door Cinema Club. "Bye Bye Bye" (upcoming EP release) and "Heartbeats" (demo) are the only other two tracks on their myspace page as of now, and they've set the bar high.

California Wives - Affairs

This four piece indie band from Chicago, California Wives, released their first official work two months ago with a 5 track E.P. named Affairs.  It's always exciting to stumble on an upstart like this one and I really dig what they've done within this electronically-infused indie pop sound.  According to their below interview three days ago, there's a video for "Blood Red Youth" in the works and what sound like a full-length album next year as they continue to build their fan base and write new music.

"Purple" is addicting, "Blood Red Youth" inspires with its energetic electric guitar, and  "Twenty Three," (cool video) maintains steady tempo throughout while still building all the way through to the end.  My only complaint is that I want more.

California Wives - "Blood Red Youth"

Three days ago Chicago Tunes caught up with California Wives; thanks to them we have an excerpt for you to learn a little more about this upstart group.

Click to read more ...

Kids of 88 - Sugarpills

SugarpillsThey describe their music as "a cross between a late 80's police drama intro theme and a sophisticated super hussy,"  citing influences as "groove, mood, and slutty arrangements. 16th hi hats and hand claps. Culture and couture, gangster and glamour."  Took the words right out of my mouth. 

They've joined fellow New Zealander's The Naked and Famous (mentioned here at TROYSNOISE last month) on tour and just stopped off in New York for CMJ, which gave me the chance to check them and their first album, Sugarpills, out live.  Still largely undiscovered here in the U.S., they played a half-full Williamsburg dive bar Friday bringing in about 40 people for the show, half of whom just had no where else to be.  Check out my poorly filmed YouTube clip of "My House" and then watch this video of "Just a Little Bit" which was a winner of #1 single and #1 video at the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards.

Kids of 88 - "Ribbons of Light"

"Downtown" (video)

Update on Sunday, October 31, 2010 by troysnoise

I mentioned Kids of 88 to one of my buddies' bands, Heylady, and they liked them so much that within a month they decided to do a great cover of "Downtown."  After seeing them play last Friday in Williamsburg, one of the Heylady band members talked to Ko88 after their show to tell them about it and they were blown away that people here in the states had already picked up on them.  Check it out.

The Pass - Burst

With their first LP, Burst, The Pass is definitely one of the best new relatively underground groups I've heard in 2010.  Playing mostly frat parties and small venues, The Pass are takin to the road to show off their album, stopping in New York October 22nd to make a few CMJ appearances.  They remind me of Passion Pit with less whine and more rhythm.