Listen to This: Robin Pecknold - "Olivia, in a Seperate Bed"

In the aftermath of Helplessness Blues, a great album that far exceeded my high expectations, here's a new self-released track from frontman Robin Pecknold. It's a beautiful song and I'd love to see if there is any further development from this song with the rest of this band.

Listen to This: Bruce Springsteen

It's been 10 years since The Rising, my most favorite of Bruce Springsteen's discography in about the same amount of time (seeing as how Bruce's 00s have been much more action packed than his 90s). I remain slightly apprehensive towards new Bruce albums, seeing as how both Magic and Working on a Dream fell below par for me. Still, after the goodwill brought by the exceptional release of The Promise (despite it being older material), I'm more than willing to give Bruce's new album Wrecking Ball a chance.

First single, "We Take Care of Our Own" sounds exactly like what you'd expect a Bruce Springsteen song to sound like: big, inspiring and...big. It's unfortunate, then, that this song doesn't offer much that we haven't heard before. Still, in his defense, at this stage in the game, Bruce certainly doesn't need to reinvent the wheel. Even a familiar sounding Bruce single goes a long way.

Wrecking Ball will be released March 6, 2012.

Listen to This: Islands - "Hallways"

For his forth album under the Islands moniker, Nicholas Thorburn seems to progress further down the path started in the last album, Vapours.  While I'm still digesting his latest, A Sleep & A Forgetting, "Hallways" is a definite highlight of the album.  Where most of the album is Thorburn channeling lost love and charming self-conscious MOR rock, "Hallways" has a bit of pep in its step thanks to the hammering piano. 

A Sleep & A Forgetting is out in stores now.

Listen to This: Summer Twins - "I Will Love You"

On Valentine's Day, especially, some syrupy-sweet lovey dove pop doesn't seem as guilty of a pleasure as it may seem on most other days. For your listening Valentine's Day pleasure (or, perhaps, your terrible Valentine's Day Mix CD), I present to you this gem by the Summer Twins. It's bright, cheerful and saturated in so much sweetness that you're going to need to brush your teeth afterwards.

Honestly, you probably needed to brush your teeth anyways. You're welcome.


Summer Twins - "I Will Love You"