Video: This Song is Called Ragged by Jonathan Boulet

What better way to feature the second best song of the year so far than with a brand-new film clip to go with it? Better yet, a clip in which you get to see the artist blow up? Jonathan Boulet’s This Song Is Called Ragged has everything I could want in a song – an excellent overall sound. This neat, succinct trait encompasses all other possible characteristics, and therefore gives the appearance that I have simple tastes when, in reality, I’m fussier than a cat on the ads for expensive cat food. Boulet deserves to blow up in a slightly more fame-related way soon, so make sure you head to the JB-hifi website to pre-order his new album to ensure you don’t miss out on the free tote bag. We can totes be friends then. You can also download the song via the Soundcloud machine below. Also listen out for the moment when it sounds like he says “I’ll swap you muffins,” it’s up there with Bon Iver’s “Kinder Surprise” moment in Wash (James Holmes you sneaky Vernon listener).

Video: GIVERS Covering Paul Simon’s That Was Your Mother

There’s probably a way to embed this video onto this site, but I decided 15 minutes effort was enough. I’d like to take this moment to tell all the computer nerds I’ve ever teased: you’re still nerds.

The Video is HERE.

Hear This Band Today: Olympic Ayres

About a year and a half ago Olympic Ayres put out an online EP, the existence of which was highlighted to me on Facebook by the brother of one of the members. Usually, I’d expect little good to come from such an obligatory familial recommendation, but I was getting good vibes from this brother, who’s probably the coolest guy I’ve ever met twice. The EP was great, but I never got around to featuring it due to my occasional resembling of a disinterested sloth. Now they have another new track out, The View, which has inched that Quality Bar™ even higher.

Warning: The video is less suitable for epileptics than a live Bon Iver performance. Stick to audio only.

Edit: I just realised this says nothing about the music, but I need to go write about structuralism so you it’s up to you to figure out what they sound like.

fb / bc/ jjj (mp3 available here)

First Listen: Henrietta by Yeasayer

Finally, some great bands from the latter years of last decade are starting to put out some new material. Yeasayer are back with this swirling reggaed-up tune that grows on oneself when one lends one’s ears to ths one song.

First Listen: New Animal Collective Tracks, Honeycomb and Gotham

Animal Collective have dropped two huge tracks on us unsuspecting Human Individuals. As usual, it sounds like beautiful sounds blended into a delicious fruit smoothie, this time with a hint of pre-BSSM Chili Peppers, which is great news considering I’d always sigh when I looked at smoothie lists and noticed brash funk-rock wasn’t among the ingredients.

Hit up their official page for the other song and links to purchase!

First Listen: Take A Walk by Passion Pit

It’s been a while, but Passion Pit have finally released a new track. Titled ‘Take A Walk,’ it has the worst pre-chorus you’ll ever hear, but still manages to pack a proper punch and exude their classic catchier-than-lice sound.

Their new album ‘Gossamer’ will be released on July 24th.

For a discussion on the new album: http://pitchfork.com/news/45634-passion-pit-talk-expansive-new-album/

Hear This Band Today: Light Giant

Here’s a new band about whom very little is known. I think the vocalist might be from Parades (update: since confirmed, see the wise man’s comment below), an excellent group who dropped an excellent record in 2010 and sent Sputnik Music into a frenzy. Light Giant might be something a few members are throwing together while Parades drummer Jonathan Boulet continues to dominate the world and create brilliantly percussive songs with overly-specific titles. This song is called Waste of Wine.

fb / jjj (download mp3 here)