Neon Indian is blowing me away. I really didn’t like the first things I heard of his last summer, but this fall has hit me with consistently great music. Psychic Chasms is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. He’s also offered two perfect takes of Grizzly Bear’s Cheerleader that beg for real collaboration.

Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms

Neon Indian – Terminally Chill

Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader (Neon Indian ‘Studio 6669′ Remix)

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I’m really getting into Gold Panda. He reminds me of the best parts of Bibio, Bullion and Washed Out. His last two albums are selling fast, but you can still find them on his website.

Gold Panda – Quitters Raga

Gold Panda – Back Home

Gold Panda – 5th Ave

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The rumors were true, Lupe Fiasco dropped a new 22 minute mixtape on Thanksgiving Day, a teaser in anticipation of his upcoming 2010 release. He’s also set to drop another one entitled “Friend of the People” on Christmas Day (how cute). I think the mixtape is such a beautiful form, a way to get rough ideas out there, to show people how you would have done their songs better, and (in most cases) to give the fans something for free, to “do this for the blogosphere”, to quote the man himself. The adventure begins with Lupe rapping over Radiohead, “I don’t feel I’m best, I just feel I’m better than”, and I’m starting to think he might be right. Don’t get me wrong the tracks are rough, but some of his rhymes are out of control, and he spits them effortlessly, as if to say, “even my leftovers are better than anything you could make”. “Rest in peace to rap, no rest in peace to wackness”. I for one, am excited for bigger and better things to come.

Lupe Fiasco – Yoga Flame
Lupe Fiasco – Popular Demand

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I first heard about Harlem Shakes a few months ago, when I came across their cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Y Control”. I wasn’t that into the cover, but I fell in love with their original songs, slowly but surely. I found myself singing “Niagara Falls” uncontrollably after only listening to it once, which is naturally the first sign of a musical love affair. Their songs are well crafted and undeniably catchy in the best way. They have since disbanded, which is absolutely terrible news, but at least we can still listen and think back on the good times. Though their love affair is over, mine, and hopefully yours, is just beginning.

Harlem Shakes – Niagara Falls
Harlem Shakes – Sickos

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Flotilla was the loveliest thing to arrive in my inbox last week, and they couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I spent Thanksgiving day listening to this album (didn’t think Mom would be as into the Lupe mixtape), and was rewarded with a sense of calm, nostalgia and overall love. They remind me a little bit of a subdued Land of Talk (also from Montréal!), and the beginning of “Court and Sparks” sounds just like this Death Cab song I can’t place. In reality they are doing their own thing, with an incredibly dreamy lead singer, and wonderful lyrics like, “the motor runs loud/let’s me space out/ we don’t talk” (my favorite part of any roadtrip) and “I’ll stay in my kitchen, keep an eye on the stove/ and if you lure me out my house might burn/ and I might forget I ever had a child/ and will let all of the foxes in the house run wild” (just awesome). Often their songs shift and it’s almost like transitioning to a new song, which sometimes works better than others, “Charlie, I’m Through” features a banging little disco interlude towards the end. My favorite songs (though in reality I’d probably post like five if I could) all occur back-to-back, and would be perfect for a snowy night-time drive, the ultimate bliss.

Flotilla – Court and Spark
Flotilla – Charlie, I’m Through
Flotilla – Two Boys

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Boy am I thankful for Animal Collective. I was a little weary that Merriweather Post Pavillion would be their last foray into pleasantry, but everything I’ve heard from the Fall Be Kind EP is serious. Bonus for being the first band legally to sample the Grateful Dead. Anyone who is into anything by Animal Collective has to buy this album. I’m really excited to see where their sound will go next. Throw these on before your Thanksgiving is bombarded by heaps of Dominican tennis players who judge you for not drowning all of your parties in Bachata.

Animal Collective – Graze

Animal Collective – What Would I Want Sky?

Check out Twigz if you’re a big fan of these jams.

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Ever since my initial introduction to CFCF, I have just been falling more and more in love. His latest album was one of my most highly anticipated this fall. It was really difficult to choose which songs I liked the best, because the whole album really reads more as a set than a collection of individual tracks. I found myself listening to it straight through repeatedly, and I think that’s really the way it works best, as a whole. The entire ride is a series of ups and downs, moments of dancing followed by ones of introspection. For me, this album couldn’t have come at a more perfect time, it reads “autumn” through and through. Listening to it is a remarkably calming experience, one that I think everyone needs to have.

CFCF – Big Love
CFCF – Letters Home

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So I’ve been listening to CFCF nonstop for the past week or so, trying to write a review of his latest album (sometimes even harder to write a rave than a neg review, oh no, is that a spoiler?). Anyhow, Chairlift immediately follows CFCF in my library, and in the buzz that was “Bruises”, I nearly ignored all other songs by them. Well now, I’ve been listening to “Planet Health” involuntarily on repeat, and now it has become a choice to listen to it again and again. What a phenomenal song, that I overlooked for nearly a year. It’s pure catchy, blissful pop. Plus the lyrics contain some fire safety tips, beauty all around!

Chairlift – Planet Health

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Although I spent the majority of my summer recording/djing around the foothills of Southwestern Vermont, Major Lazer’s debut album kept me in a steamy Jamaican dancehall all summer. The brainchild of Diplo and Switch (who are best known for producing most of M.I.A.’s impressive catalog), Guns Don’t Kill People……Lazers Do is an awe inspiring example of what two producers can do without having to answer to label execs. Every single song on this album is excellent. I’m hoping this will be a stepping stone in terms of producers releasing more mainstream albums. Grab the Mishka mixtape after you realize how often you’ve been putting it on repeat.

Major Lazer – Hold The Line Feat. Mr. Lex & Santigold

Major Lazer – Pon De Floor

Major Lazer – Keep It Goin’ Louder

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So I have been counting down the days until this moment, and it is finally here. Faux Pas (whose genius I am more and more convinced of with each day that passes) has released the first single from his forthcoming album. Are you excited kids? Well, you should be. “Silver Line” is a spacey dream-filled rollercoaster that will sweep you along and maybe even give you that funny feeling in your stomach. He’s giving the single away for free on his blog (320kbps, what a dreamboat) but you can also buy a delicious bundle of remixes for $5, whoa what a steal! I am very excited about what is yet to come, but this will certainly tide me over for now.

Faux Pas – Silver Line

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