Happy New Year

Andy Stewart on The White Heather Club, circa 1960.

Grouplove Redux

I've mentioned this band before, here, but this is such a cool acoustic perfromance that I couldn't resist posting it.

Frightened Rabbit: Swim Until You Can't See Land

This is a great Scottish indie-rock band, hailing from Selkirk. The single below is off their 2010 album The Winter of Mixed Drinks, which was moderately successful in the UK and US.

Local Natives: Gorilla Manor

Here's a song off one of the better rock albums of 2010.

Marnie Stern

Whether you like her or not, one can't deny that she's an incredible guitarist.

Pavarotti: Adeste Fideles

Except for this classic 1978 performance.

Pueri Concinite

Merry Christmas! No more posts until next week.

Christ Was Born In Bethlehem

Sans Day Carol

Club Des Belugas

You're going to love this smooth sounding German band.

Holly Miranda: Sweet Dreams

Cheers to Walter J. for this song, off her 2010 album The Magician's
Private Library.

Bombay Bicycle Club

Isn't this an absolutely addictive song?

Concha Buika

Spanish flamenco-infused-jazz. Her album, El Ultimo Trago was one of the best albums of the year.

Blue Boy: Remember Me

Remember this song from way back in 1997?

Broadcast 2000: Run

I wish I had more time to talk about his band today but for now, please just enjoy the following song:

Zee Avi

Overall, she's too cutesy for me, but this song has endured the commercials and oversaturation as one of the best of last year.

Duffy: Endlessly

While it can be said (and has been said, over and over again) that the Welsh artist Duffy is riding the coattails of other artists, i.e. Amy Winehouse, it is difficult not to enjoy some of her music. I admit that she lacks the depth and credibility of other soulful artists because one gets the impression that she not living what she's singing about, but her voice is just right for the song below, even if she's faking it.

Home Video: Automatic Process

Doesn't this electronic rock band from Brooklyn remind you of Radiohead? Their website is here.

Otto: Crua

Here's a captivating song off this Brazillian artist's 2009 album Certa Manhã Acordei De Sonhos Intranqüilos.

Tristen: Matchstick Murder

Here's a catchy song off this Nashville artist's 2009 album Charlatans at the Garden Gate. She also has a 7" vinyl available called Eager for Your Love.

Onda Vaga

This Buenos Aires-based group is loads of fun. If you enjoying sitting around a campfire on the beach (or anywhere else, for that matter)and singing with friends you're going to enjoy the gregarious quality of the performance below. Check out their website here.

Deerhunter

Off this Atlanta-based band's 2010 album, Halcyon Digest:

Radio Citizen: Berlin Serengeti

I recently rediscovered this German group and think this album, released in 2006, sounds as fresh today as it did four years ago. Let me know if you agree.

The Greenhornes: I've Been Down

The Greenhornes are from Cincinnati, Ohio. This song is off a compilation album they released in 2005 called Sewed Soles.

Cotton Jones: Nicotine Canary

This is is a chilled-out and catchy song off this Maryland-based artist's 2009 Rio Ranger EP.

Julian Plenti: Skyscraper

Paul Banks is the lead singer / guitarist of the band Interpol. Julian Plenti is the pseudonym he uses for his solo work. Check out his website here.

Jane Birken: L'Aquoiboniste

A lovely, albeit off-beat song off the 1978 album Ex Fan Des Sixties, one of the many Jane Birken-Serge Gainsbourg collaborations.

Joe Gordon Folk Four

Now here's a priceless performance circa 1960. The Joe Gordon Folk Four often played on the great Andy Stewart's Scottish TV program The White Heather Club, and in the video below they perform one of my favorite songs, The Bonnie Lass O`Fyvie.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: Gardenia

This is Steven Malkmus' other band, as he is better known as a member of the band Pavement. The song below is off the 2008 album Real Emotional Trash.

Eric Whitacre: I Thank You God For This Most Amazing Day

Brilliant! Putting E. E. Cummings'(1894 -1962) poetry to music. Off Whitacre's 2010 album Light and Gold, performed by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Chamber Choir.

Bossasaurus

This Oakland, California-based DJ/Production crew is consistently coming up with some tremendous remixes. To me, a good remix is musical innovation that stays true to the spirit of the original work (or works). Here, Bossasaurus takes what many would call a classic hip hop song and does exactly that. It's off their 2009 album, STFUYMCA.

Learn more about them here. They have a new EP on the way called Lacerta, due to be released in a week or so.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Maybe it's because where I live we're expecting ten inches of snow this weekend, but The Sound of Sunshine, title track of Franti's 2010 album, seemed like the perfect song to post today. I hope you agree.

LCD Sound System: This is Happening

This time of the year is fun for the music enthusiast because the media starts to produce their "best of" lists. Paste Magazine just came out with their 50 best albums of 2010 with LCD Sound System's album This is Happening at number one.

Now, I'm too indecisive to come up with this kind of list, but this is a pretty good choice, don't you think?

James Vincent McMorrow: This Old Dark Machine

Off his 2010 album Early in the Morning, the song below really didn't grab me until I heard the chorus a few times. It's such a great pop chorus, isn't it?! Overall, McMorrow's music is probably too moody for me, but it's hard not to enjoy this tune.

McMorrow had nothing to do with the video.