The Green and Yellow TV

Thanks to 3hive regular Kieran for dropping this suggestion in the box. His email sent me rummaging through some old MP3s on my backup drive, because I was sure I'd heard of these guys before. Lo, there they were: three tracks which I'd apparently downloaded off the pre-Vivendi MP3.com back in March 2001. Those three tracks aren't available on the band's site, but these four are — which sufficiently illustrate The Green and Yellow TV's euphoric, timeless pop with a keen ear for hooks, lines, and melodies. I dare you to not air drum/strum/sing along.

That Says It All [MP3, 3.0MB, 160kbps]
Here Comes Jack Young [MP3, 4.7MB, 192kbps]
The Big Red Machine [MP3, 2.7MB, 160kbps]
Empire [MP3, 7.7MB, 192kbps]

www.falsettorecords.com
www.thegreenandyellowtv.com

Hinkley

I love this time of year, and not just because I can lounge around all day in my jammies eating leftovers and candy. I love it because this is when I start cherry picking the best-of-the-year lists for artists I somehow missed or slept on. Today's find comes from Mystery & Misery's Best of 2004. They caught my eye because my grandmother's maiden name is Hinckley, which turns out to be a happy coincidence. Their ragged, folksy pop would make them at home in the Elephant 6 stable but for now they're unsigned and living in Rochester, NY. Thanks, Jason!

Frail and Poker Faced [MP3, 3.0MB, 128kbps]
Lonesome Whistle [MP3, 2.2MB, 128kbps]
Superman [MP3, 1.9MB, 128kbps]
Queen of May [MP3, 3.2MB, 128kbps]

www.hinkleysounds.com

Worm Is Green

We're officially five days into winter so I thought it apropos to turn our attention to Iceland. I know it's not winter there year round, but it should be! Worm Is Green's debut album is almost a year old here in the States, but proper respect has yet to be paid. The band does a brilliant cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," and the rest of the album will put you in a cool chill with its warm synth tones and atmospheric vocals. These tracks are all demo versions and outtakes from Automagic. You'll have to put down some cash for the final product.

Automagic (original version) [MP3, 4.5MB, 128kbps]
Shine (original mix) [MP3, 1.3MB, 128kbps]
Small Reverb (original version) [MP3, 2.8MB, kbps]
Undercover (original version) [MP3, 3.6MB, 128kbps]
Sunday Session 3.00 [MP3, 3.6MB, 128kbps]

www.arenarockrecordingco.com
www.wormisgreen.com

Fonda

What's the only song better than Wham's "Last Christmas" on Christmas Day? Fonda's cover of Wham's "Last Christmas" on Christmas Day. Like their name suggests, Fonda are a hybrid. (As in Ford + Honda = Fonda; Hord just doesn't work.) Part British, part American, residing in L.A., Fonda create their own pop: a dash of West Coast dreamy pop, a pinch of British shoegaze, a touch of American indie pop, a morsel of late '80s British alternapop. And yes, they did the Spy Kids theme.

Last Christmas [MP3, 5.0MB, 192kbps]
Exit Five [MP3, 3.8MB, 192kbps]
One of a Kind [MP3, 3.5MB, 192kbps]
Spy Kids (Save the World) [MP3, 2.7MB, 160kbps]

www.parasol.com/labels/hiddenagenda
www.fondamusic.com

Dean and Britta

I really should have kept track of how many hours of my life were devoted to listening to Galaxie 500. Dean Wareham went on to start Luna, who, by the way, are still going strong. Here he joins with Luna-mate Britta Phillips for a song on the soundtrack of the movie Piggie, which he also stars in. Also thrown in is a little number that the two of them recently recorded with Sonic Boom, a founder of Spacemen 3. I really should have kept track of how many hours of my life were devoted to listening to Spacemen 3. Although perhaps it's better that I don't know.

Uterus [MP3, 4.5MB, 160kbps]
Old Toy Trains [MP3, 2.9MB, 128kbps]

www.jetsetrecords.com
www.fuzzywuzzy.com
www.sonic-boom.info
www.deanandbritta.com

Stephen Duffy & the Lilac Time

In my teenage years I listened to everything from T.S.O.L. to the likes of Mr. Duffy here, recording at the time as Tin Tin. Stephen Duffy was the instructions, the map, and the soundtrack to getting the girl, while T.S.O.L. et al provided the musical score after I'd been dumped, refused, or otherwise unable to, um, score. Alright, let's be honest. I never came close. Fast forward a number of years and Duffy has matured from British dance pop to stripped-down, acoustic folk songs, without much change in theme. He's still trying to figure out exactly how love works. Join the club.

Don't Feed The Rats [MP3, 5.1MB, 128kbps]
So Far Away [MP3, 2.9MB, 128kbps]
Oh God [MP3, 3.6MB, 128kbps]
Already Gone [MP3, 5.4MB, 128kbps]

www.thelilactime.com

At Dusk

As six cousins, ages five and under, make their 100th lap around the living room furniture at my parents' home this Christmas , At Dusk's "We Could Do Anything" will be the soundtrack playing in my head.

We Could Do Anything [MP3, 4.0MB, 128kbps]
Come Too Far [MP3, 4.2MB, 128kbps]

www.speakeasy.org/~gborenstein

Giant Robot

Not to be confused with the Japanese pop culture 'zine of the same name, Giant Robot are members of Nuspirit Helsinki and they run the gamut like Jesse freakin' Owens. From cozy EBTG-ish ballads ("Best Match") to lanky, dub-hop ("Konevitsa"). And then you've got the remixes, if you're ready for even more curveballs. Best of all, Giant Robot's site has a mile-long MP3 page with all of their commercially unavailable tracks, which includes their entire debut album and tons of said remixes. Set aside some download time.

Best Match [MP3, 4.1MB, 128kbps]
Public=Shopping [MP3, 4.8MB, 128kbps]
Konevitsa [MP3, 4.2MB, VBR]
Taste of Love (Suckerpunch Remix) [MP3, 5.5MB, 192kbps]
Leave Your Man (Rrim–yk & Diidr Killyerman Remix) [MP3, 6.2MB, VBR]

www.stupido.fi
www.giantrobot.fi

Earlimart

My friend Tim Ortopan, who offered the tip for Earlimart, describes their music as "intelligent pop that's true to an indie-rock spirit." I'll add four more words — brooding, ethereal, fuzzy, complex — and suggest a peek at The Ship, the multi-purpose LA music collective of which Earlimart is a part.

Susan's Husband's Gunshop [MP3, 1.1MB, 56kbps]
Hospital [MP3, 1.7MB, 128kbps]
Broke the Furniture [MP3, 2.4MB, 128kbps]
The Ending of Me (demo) [MP3, 3.9MB, 160kbps]
Across the City [MP3, 2.4MB, 160kbps]

08/24/06 Update: Early Taste of New Earlimart

www.palmpictures.com
www.the-ship.com
www.earlimartmusic.com