Local Natives are an L.A. five piece that have drawn comparisons to Fleet Foxes due to their harmonizing melodies; however, I would think of this band as their rocking cousins, blending their harmonies with some rapid beats and twisting guitar parts. The end result may be made from familiar pieces–a little Grizzly Bear here, a little Animal Collective or Yeasayer there–, but put it all together you get something that sounds fresh and, at least at first listen, memorable.The first single, “Sun Hands,” is below, and offers up a nice representative slice of what to expect on their debut album, Gorilla Manor, which will be out in the U.S. via Frenchkiss on February 16 (adding to an already stacked first two months of the year), while those living in the UK can already pick it up. Take a listen, and enjoy…

MP3:Local Natives :: “Sun Hands”

And if you want a little more, here is a nice live acoustic rendition of another album track, “Cards & Quarters” (via winniecooper.net).

Yeasayer’s debut album was one of my favorite surprises a couple years back, and it left me not only wanting more, but very curious as to where they would take their sound. In February, their sophomore disc Odd Blood will hit stores, but we’re already getting the first taste in “Ambling Alp.” It’s a slice of bizarro pop that has had me hitting the repeat button, with a chorus both ridiculously simple and completely infectious. At the very least, it will help tide us over until next year, when we can hear the rest of the disc.

MP3: Yeasayer :: “Ambling Alp” (via Stereogum)

Dappled Cities, one of Australia’s top indie exports, is back with a new album, titled Zounds. “The Price,” their current single, gives you a taste of how their songs can grab you right away, and provide a taste of frontman Tim Derricourt’s unique vocal style. However, these guys don’t just stick to the straightforward pop songs- they often decide to take their songs for sharp turns into some unexpected places. The end effect is an album that takes a few listens to sink in, with some singles that remind you to make the effort. For those who like their pop with a dose of weird, without going overboard, will find a lot to love in Zounds.

Also, if you didn’t catch Dappled Cities’ last album, Granddance, it’s available for free download this month on Dangerbird Record’s site. You can read PJ’s review from a couple years back, or just head on over to their download page and pick it up to decide for yourself.

MP3: Dappled Cities: “The Price”

After an eternity of not posting, I’m back, and a lot of it has to do with groups like this that have gotten me excited again to share some sweet tunes with the blogging world. Choir of Young Believers are a Danish group fronted by Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, and while his voice bears a resemblance to Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold, the music takes a much more orchestral approach. Their debut album, This is for the White in Your Eyes, ranges from haunting and spare to sweeping orchestral flourishes, and does it all with a great pop sensibility. It’s easily my favorite musical discovery of the last few months, and I can see myself listening to it often for a long time. Check out the first two singles to get a taste, but I can say the whole album is well worth your time.

MP3: Choir of Young Believers: “Next Summer”
MP3: Choir of Young Believers: “Action/Reaction”

Well, there was the mysterious track leak, and now there appear to be rumors floating that Monday Radiohead will release a digital EP called Wall of Ice… check out the rumor mill here and here. I think these guys deserve honorary PhDs in making the internet geek out. And, if you didn’t hear “These are my Twisted Words,” I’m posting it below…

MP3: Radiohead: “These Are My Twisted Words” (click to go to W.A.S.T.E. and download it free)

UPDATE: Nope. You got me, internet. Although Radiohead did officially release “These Are My Twisted Words” as a free download, which you can get here.

Consequence of Sound posted a little something that mysteriously popped up on the ateaseweb message boards. I was skeptical- until I listened to it. It’s a slow-burning Radiohead track through and through, and once Thom’s vocals kick in, you know it’s them. No official word on the track, and the guys say there isn’t an album coming any time soon, but I believe this is the real deal. Maybe it’s a sign that they’re just planning to roll out some digital singles for a while…

Head on over to Consequence of Sound to check it out.

The video doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the song has me excited for their next album, the ridiculously long-titled No More Stories/Are Told Today/I’m Sorry/They Washed Away/No More Stories/The World Is Grey/I’m Tired/Let’s Wash Away, due August 25 here in the States. I can’t get it to embed, so you’ll just have to check it out here.

Or pick up the mp3 here:

MP3: Mew: “Introducing Palace Players”

There’s something about a Scottish accent that allows a singer to be as emotionally ragged as he wants without crossing over into dreaded ‘emo’ territory. Broken Records will probably remind some of the Twilight Sad in this respect, as both vocalists tend to sing with an emotional intensity that goes straight for the heart. However, Broken Records would be the piano-and-strings cousins to the Twilight Sad’s post-rock leanings. Each song on their debut, Until the Earth Begins to Part, has that same emotional intesity, but the music is more varied, with piano pieces and gorgeous bursts of strings to accompany the guitars. In my book, it’s the perfect balance of urgency and beauty all the way through. I’ll let the songs below speak for themselves, but if you enjoy these I can guarantee you’ll enjoy the whole album.

The album is out in the U.S. this Tuesday, July 7, via 4 AD.

MP3: Broken Records :: “If  the News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It”
MP3: Broken Records :: “If Eilert Loevborg Wrote A Song, It Would Sound Like This”

And you can check out the stop-motion video for the title track on Youtube.

Today I received an email from the Sigur Rós mailing list letting everyone know that their friends Fanfarlo are making their album, Reservoir, available with bonus tracks for just $1… From now through July 4, you can just head over to their website and download the album in 320Kbps for super-cheap. Apparently the album’s cover is a photo by Jónsi’s sister (Lilja) and is of his cousin and little sister Rós, whose name inspired the name of the band.

PJ posted here and here about Fanfarlo earlier, but I just want to add that it really is a gorgeous album- well worth more than a buck. You can head on over to their site to hear some of the album and pick it up.

When it comes to indie pop, I hear so much about Sweden that often I forget about some of the other frozen lands to the North. Anderson’s latest album, It Runs in the Family, just put the Netherlands on my map. The album has a very loose concept where each song is about a different member of the Benson family spread all around the world, but it never feels high-concept or weighted down by the concept. It’s more like an album where each song is about a different character. And the music? Well, it makes me think of what a collaboration with Loney, Dear being produced by the Postal Service and the Notwist. This just might be the answer for those who can’t quite bring themselves to listen to Passion Pit’s vocals but need a dose of catchy electronic goodness. Enjoy the lead single, below, or check out the whole album stream on Spinner.

MP3: Anderson: “Trevor * On the Dancefloor”

Full album stream on Spinner