Warm Visions’ Top 50 Albums of the Year!

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Very Warm

lcd-soundsystem-this-is-happening

~TOP 50 Albums of the Year~

The moment you have all been waiting for(coughcoughcough) has finally arrived: my TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2010! The year has been chock-full of one-man bedroom forever alone projects, waves that are chill, distortion contests, houses full of witches, fi that glos, drug dealer rap, and much, much more! Let’s get started, shall we?

  1. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
  2. Beach House – Teen Dream
  3. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
  4. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
  5. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
  6. Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz / All Delighted People EP
  7. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
  8. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
  9. Arcade Fire – The  Suburbs
  10. Sleigh Bells – Treats
  11. Big Boi – Sir Lucious  Left Foot… Son of Chico Dusty
  12. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)
  13. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
  14. Fang Island – Fang Island
  15. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
  16. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
  17. The Morning Benders – Echoes
  18. Best Coast – Crazy For You
  19. Wavves – King of the Beach
  20. Owen Pallett – Heartland
  21. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma / Pattern+Grid World EP
  22. Cee-Lo Green – The Lady Killer
  23. Vampire Weekend – Contra
  24. Delorean – Subiza
  25. Wild Nothing – Gemini
  26. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
  27. No Age – Everything In Between
  28. Glasser – Ring
  29. Twin Shadow – Forget
  30. The Black Keys – Brothers
  31. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
  32. Women – Public Strain
  33. Portugal the Man – American Ghetto
  34. Avey Tare – Down There
  35. Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
  36. Die Antwoord – $0$
  37. The Thermals – Personal  Life
  38. Robyn – Body Talk
  39. MGMT – Congratulations
  40. How To Dress Well – Love Remains
  41. The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
  42. Suckers – Wild Smile
  43. of Montreal – False Priest
  44. Menomena – Mines
  45. Department of Eagles – Archives 2003-2006
  46. Freelance Whales – Weathervanes
  47. Beach Fossils – Beach Fossils
  48. Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
  49. Jonsi – Go
  50. M.I.A. – MAYA

Honorable Mentions:

  • All of James Blake’s EPs
  • All of Panda Bear’s  EPs
  • El Guincho – Pop Negro
  • Broken Bells – Broken Bells
  • Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
  • Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
  • Stars – The Five Ghosts
  • The National – High Violet
  • The New Pornographers – Together
  • Wolf Parade – Expo 86
  • Spoon – Transference
  • The Ruby Suns – Fight Softly
  • Girl Talk – All Day
  • Club 8 – The People’s Record
  • The Walkmen – Lisbon
  • Brian Eno – Small Craft on a Milk Sea
  • Maximum Balloon –  Maximum Balloon
  • Salem – King Night
  • Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
  • Hooray For Earth – Momo
  • Das Racist – Shut Up, Dude

Glorious glorious! This year has been my biggest year of music yet and I’m glad I have somewhere to post all of this craziness! Anyone who reads this I want them to comment or do something about it: agree/disagree/troll(please don’t)/suggestions. It would  be very appreciated. Great year, y’all! Buy all of these!

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Setting Things Straight – My Favorite Radiohead Albums

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Very Warm

So I have thought of a new feature called “Setting Things Straight” where I come up with a list or an article giving my opinion on an artist or genre. The ones that I have in mind are just artists and naming off my favorite albums by them, but we’ll see.

I’ll start this off with Radiohead, one of my all time favorite bands. The inspiration that these dudes  gave to other people to make music was enormous. Their creativity is incredible along with the supreme musical talent. Let’s see how things stack up!

Another note, all of the Radiohead albums are incredible and all of them should be in your possession sometime in your life. This list just ranks my favorites.

7. Pablo Honey – 1993

Songs: Creep, Anyone Can Play Guitar

6. Hail to the Thief – 2003

Songs: 2 + 2 = 5, Myxomatosis, Go To Sleep

5. The Bends – 1995

Songs: High and Dry, Just, Fake Plastic Trees, My Iron Lung, Planet Telex

4. In Rainbows – 2007

Songs: 15 Step, Reckoner, Bodysnatchers, Videotape, House of Cards

3. Kid A – 2000

Songs: Idioteque, Everything In It’s Right Place, Morning Bell, How To Disappear Completely

2. Amnesiac – 2001

Songs: Packt Like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Box,  I Might Be Wrong, Like Spinning Plates, Pyramid Song, Dollars & Cents, Life in a Glasshouse.

1. OK Computer – 1997

Songs: Paranoid Android, Electioneering, Climbing Up the Walls, The Tourist, Lucky, Airbag, Subterranean Homesick Alien, Karma Police, Exit Music (For a Film), No Surprises, Let Down, Fitter Happier.

Now, I leave you with some nice videos! Enjoy!

1. Perhaps my favorite Radiohead song made better live. The fourth chord on the keyboard gets me every time.

2. Another classic, incredible.

3. Radiohead can do some rock a lot better than others. A lot.

So YES! There is the infamous list! The first of many to come! Remember, all of these albums are FANTASTIC, so you should pick up all, or at least the top 3, before they all become mega classics.

Another note, #2 and #3 Kid A and Amnesiac flip-flop every so often, depending on what state I’m in at the time. Same goes for #4 and #5. Everything, again, is fantastic.

Have a nice day! Comment! I love hearing opinions! Especially on my own! (It can’t just be “Radiohead is bad,” though.)

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My Favorite New Bands of 2010!

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Very Warm

There have been many new releases by some pretty well known artists this year: Gorillaz, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, and more. But what about the new crop of artists that came out and blew us away this year? Well, here are some of my favorites that came onto the scene this year.

1. Active Child

With a heavenly voice, Active Child frontman Pat Grossi creates airy, electronic tracks that seem to lift above most of the other electronic solo projects that have come about this year and last year.

Active Child

2. Beach Fossils

Congratulations, Beach Fossils! You are the only band on this list to fall into my “lo-fi rock” category! You beat out all the other lo-fi acts that clogged the internet tubes (bonus for anyone who picked up on that reference) with your lively approach and great output, it’s great! All hail, the winning lo-fi band!

3. Braids

Braids sounds like a comination of pretty much all of my favorite bands of last year: part Animal Collective, part Dirty Projectors, part creative and fun music in general! Their music is pretty warm sounding, like a bubbling hottub, in a way. Very nice indeed.

4. Candy Claws

I heard about Candy Claws when I heard that one of their cars caught fire with most of their merchandise and equipment in it. I decided to check them out more and was pleasantly surprised at the chill, ambient melodies being created by the Fort Collins band. Colorado is a pretty sweet state. Haha.

Candy Claws

5. Computer Magic

A very recent addition to my own library, Computer Magic is a solo project creating very whimsical yet incredibly creative sounding throwback electronic music. Computer Magic, AKA “Danielle” has an great voice to be paired with the assault of fun blips of the keyboard. I think that she will be huge soon, so look out!

6. Cults

If you have been following Combo Breaker Kid since it’s existence you know that one of the first bands I featured was the two-person act Cults. What won me over was probably the Jim Jones sample, then the rest was just icing on the cake. Their music is just like a dream would sound for a pop priestess.

Cults

7. Fang Island

One of my favorite releases of this year, Fang Island creates music that can make the most down in the dumps schmuck you know jump out of his corporate socks and jump around. Fang Island describes their sound as “everyone hi-fiving everyone,” which is probably the best description out there. It’s just pure, unfiltered awesome.

8. Givers

Not gonna lie, when I first heard Givers’ song “Up Up Up,” I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had not heard something that creative that has come out recently in such a long time! Their extremely electric sound really attracted me from the get-go and I am really looking forward to some more material from them. Feels good, man.

Givers

9. Glasser

 

True Panther Records is the winner of the year for booking so many fantastic acts to their label. Glasser, being one of them, fits the statement 100%. Her song “Home” mixes earthy sounds with the marimba and then icy electronic sounds with synths later which creates a whirlwind of clashing sounds but they all work together in the end. It also helps that her voice is amazing, but you know.

10. Gobble Gobble

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if you put what you thought pop music sounded like and put it into a blender? Well, that’s what Gobble Gobble sounds like. The electronic beats are sharp and choppy that help the band dig a niche into the music world for a signature sound. With a mix of nintendo bleeps, electronic waves and crashes, plus the singers voice, the sound comes out to be glorious insanity diluted into your ears.

Gobble Gobble

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Music To Your Ears

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Very Warm

A nice helping of new-to-me-hopefully-new-to-you music! Hooray!

Glasser – Home

Givers – Up Up Up

Gobble Gobble – Lawn Knives

Braids – Lemonade

Sufjan Stevens – I Walked

How To Dress Well – Ready For The World

Tamaryn – Love Fade

Wise Blood – STRT SRNS

Alright, that’s all I got for this time, I hope you all have a good day!

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It’s A List – 11 Acts I Want to See Before I Die (Or Before They Die)

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Very Warm

The Flaming Lips

After seeing all the hullabaloo from all the festivals this year, saying that this was the best year ever in terms of the musical attendance to the festivals, I thought about all the acts that played those fests and made up lists of acts I want to see before I die (or before the bands die). This is in no order, mind you.

  • Fever Ray/The Knife
    • I just found out about Fever Ray and later The Knife through looking at many peoples “Best of 2009” lists. When I went to go check the music out, I was in awe of how different this sounded from all the other music I had been listening to prior to that. I looked up some of Fever Ray’s live shows and they are ridiculous. Karin Dreijer Andersson, the woman behind the music, usually has strange masks on, usually matching her equally strange outfit. Not only the costumes, I’ve heard, are stupendous, but also the light shows and the sound quality put out are as well. It’s a dark, etheral thrill ride that will make you move.

  • The Flaming Lips
    • The Flaming Lips are pretty much indie rock legends. Starting in 1983, they have released 13 albums since then, all with pretty distinct sounds on each one so each album is different from the next. Their most notable releases would have to be 1999’s “The Soft Bulletin” which is regarded not only as one of the best albums of the 90’s, but of all time. Same goes for it’s follow-up, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” which features the song “Do You Realize??” which is not only used in many commercials but is also the Official Rock Song of Oklahoma, as of 2009. With 13 albums worth of music backing them and crazy antics going onstage like Lip’s frontman Wayne Coyne rolling out into the audience in a giant bubble, many costumed people running around on the stage and massive amounts of confetti, a Flaming Lips show would be pretty much mind-blowing.

  • Lady Gaga
    • Yes, Lady Gaga. Now it would seem that I would despise Lady Gaga, correct? I mean, I’m such an indie kid, I hate music that’s being played on the radio, right? Well, you are wrong! I found that Lady Gaga is actually one of my favorite guilty pleasures! With her two albums never really leaving the Billboard Top 40, she has plenty of money to put on a crazy, spectacular show.

  • Beck
    • Beck is probably my favorite musician/band out there right now and you might be wondering why. I just love his multitude of different sounding albums and endless creativity when making them. Take his album “Midnite Vultures:” one of the most silly things I have ever heard, but he makes it work. The next album he puts out, “Sea Change,” is one of the best things to listen to after a break-up, or after something melancholy. Two completely different sounds, but  it is all Beck. I love live  music, so I would just love to see him and his band live.

  • Animal Collective/Panda Bear/Avey Tare/Deakin
    • Another one of  my favorite acts, Animal Collective, has a pretty large fanbase. Their sound  has definitely evolved since their first album in 2000, “Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished,” and they’re most recent full-length,  “Merriweather Post Pavilion” was not only my favorite album of 2009, but favorites of plenty of other well-known media sources like Pitchfork Media, SPIN, and Stereogum. I’ve heard their shows are just big drug-trips without the drugs(well, I’m without drugs, anyways) with dazzling light shows and images showing up on a big screen to help narrate the concert, in a way.
    • Panda Bear, Avey Tare, and Deakin are all members of Animal Collective and they all are doing solo projects this year! Panda Bear played at the Pitchfork Music Festival the day before I came and has a new album out on September 13th, if I’m not mistaken. His first solo album was 2007’s magnificent “Person Pitch,” so we’ll see how the new album stands up to that. Avey Tare is coming out with his first solo album “Down There” on October 26th, and I am looking forward to that more than Panda Bear’s, just because I want to hear what solo Avey sounds like. Then Deakin, the  most enigmatic member of  AnCo, is touring around the US, and I wouldn’t mind seeing one of  his shows.

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The Pitchfork Experience

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Very Warm

This past weekend a few of my friends and I traveled down to Chicago for the annual Pitchfork Music Festival. We had no idea what to expect, due to never being to a music festival before, so I’m pretty sure we were all excited to see a bunch of our favorite bands play it up.

We arrived just as some dark clouds were forming and sure enough, it rained. Scratch that. It poured. Thankfully, the torrential downpour only lasted about 10-15 minutes and ended about 5 minutes before the first acts broke out their instruments and jammed away. The first two acts that played were Alla, an alternative Spanish trio, and Cave, a throwback psychedelic rock band. Both of the bands, I later found out, were local Chicago bands which is nice of Pitchfork to get some bands out into the open more. But we were unfamiliar with either, so we decided to stake out a good spot before the hoards came.

Early Pitchfork Music Festival

The earliest act we wanted to see was the lo-fi pop awesomefest Best Coast, who played after Cave. We wormed our way through the crowds until we got a pretty decent distance away from the stage. After a bit, Best Coast came on and slathered the audience with their dreamy pop hits. It wasn’t the same as the recordings because Bethany’s voice wasn’t delayed with the live mic, but the songs sounded just as good and energetic. They played a great set and finished with my personal favorite of theirs, “When I’m With You.”

Best Coast

Best Coast

We stayed at the same stage for the next performer, Washed Out, the one-man glo-fi band. I hadn’t heard much of Washed Out before, but one of my friends really liked his material, so I thought that would be enough for me to stay. Before this, though, I got hit in the face by a stray full water bottle that people were throwing out into the audience because of the heat. It also hit a guy that I was standing next to by bouncing off my head and hitting his, but we’ll get to him later. Washed Out started his set and I started to really enjoy his chill beats and synths that he was laying down. Like I said, very chill.

Washed Out

Washed Out

Next up was one of my personal favorites, Beach House. I had already seen them before when they opened for Grizzly Bear back in September, but this time they were performing tracks from their new album, Teen Dream. Which is so far my favorite album of the year so far, so you should go pick that up right away!

We got a pretty good view of Beach House and we could hear them perfectly. Victoria Legrand’s voice is one of a kind, and it melts my heart with her crooning melodies and emotional output. Her hair is also amazing. Their set was probably my favorite at the festival, and we didn’t even see the entirity of it, because we had to rush over to Local Natives, who were pretty much playing the same time as Beach House. This angered me, because those two bands were some of my favorites of this year! What are ya doin’, Pitchfork?

Beach House

Beach House’s Victoria Legrand

Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand

As we reached Local Natives, we all realized that it was unbearably hot and humid out. As the crowd packed in around the stage the more hot and uncomfortable it got. It really impeded our Local Natives watching experience, but they put on a wonderful set with spot-on vocal harmonies and a lot of really good energy, keeping the crowd in good spirits despite the heat. We only caught about four songs, but it was worth it.

Local Natives

Local Natives

After Local Natives we had a well needed break for food, water, and shopping. The festival had a diverse array of food choices and I thoroughly appreciated that. Water was also abundant, which was universally appreciated. The vendors selling band merchandise and other assorted apparel was very nice as well. One stand was selling $1 records! I’m still amazed that I didn’t buy at least 10!

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The 25 Best Albums of the Year (So Far)

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Very Warm

So 2010 is halfway over! What the heck? It is going by so quickly! It also is not running low on a supply of good music. There has been so many good releases so far this year! Know what I’m gonna do now? I’m gonna list them off! (Note, these are in alphabetical order, I’ll preference them at the end of the year!)

1. Beach House – Teen Dream

2. LCD Soundsystem  – This Is Happening

3. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid

4. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

5. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

6. The Morning Benders – Big Echo

7. Fang Island – Fang Island

8. Sleigh Bells – Treats

9. Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty – Big Boi

10. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles(II)

11. Wavves – King of the Beach

12. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

13. Vampire Weekend – Contra

14. Delorean – Subiza

15. Owen Pallett – Heartland

16. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast

17. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

18. The Black Keys – Brothers

19. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

20. Portugal the Man – American Ghetto

21. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me

22. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

23.  Suckers – Wild Smile

24. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma

25. Here We Go Magic – Pigeons

So yes, there is the BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR(so far)! Comment? Comment! Have a good day!

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It’s A List – 1/2 of the Year’s Best Songs

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Very Warm

ALRIGHT! So here we are, more than halfway done with 2010! Wow, what a year it has been! What with the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and China, the Oil Spill, Spain winning the World Cup, the Health Care Bill, and much much much more! But, of course, the FANTASTIC music that has been created this year. Shall we take a look?

  1. Silver Soul – Beach House
  2. Excuses – The Morning Benders
  3. Go Outside – Cults
  4. Cold War – Janelle Monae
  5. Empty Room – Arcade Fire
  6. Sun Hands – Local Natives
  7. O.N.E. – Yeasayer
  8. Diplomat’s Son – Vampire Weekend
  9. Baptism – Crystal Castles
  10. I Feel Better – Hot Chip
  11. Born Free – MIA
  12. Life Coach – Fang Island
  13. Empire Ants – Gorillaz
  14. Lewis Takes Off His Shirt – Owen Pallett
  15. Tell ‘Em – Sleigh Bells
  16. Fresh Hex (feat. Beck) – TOBACCO
  17. Dance Yrself Clean – LCD Soundsystem
  18. Stay Close – Delorean
  19. Daddy Fat Sax – Big Boi
  20. USA Boys – HEALTH
  21. Solitude Is Bliss – Tame Impala
  22. Post Acid – Wavves
  23. I Want To – Best Coast
  24. Slow Motion – Panda Bear
  25. Chinatown – Wild Nothing
  26. Take It Easy – Surfer Blood
  27. Thieves – She & Him
  28. Real Life – Tanlines
  29. While We’re Young – Department of Eagles
  30. Tighten Up – The Black Keys
  31. Heaven’s On Fire – The Radio Dept.
  32. King Night – Salem
  33. Black Sheep – Suckers
  34. Mr. Petersen – Perfume Genius
  35. Power – Kanye West
  36. CMYK – James Blake
  37. Tom Cruz – Plants and Animals
  38. All Summer – Kid Cudi, Best Coast, and Rostam Batmanglij(of Vampire Weekend)
  39. Go Do – Jonsi
  40. Collector – Here We Go Magic
  41. Lifted – Lemonade
  42. Fembot – Robyn
  43. Western Hospitality – Club 8
  44. Yellow Wings – Keepaway
  45. Good Intentions Paving Company – Joanna Newsom
  46. Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons
  47. Fixed – Stars
  48. Do The Astral Plane – Flying Lotus
  49. The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent
  50. Brian Eno – MGMT

So yeah, there is my list. I know I didn’t hook up links for the free song downloads, but I’m tired and I have other lists to put up. Is that koshe? I think so. Comment! Have a nice day!

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Upcoming Attractions – ARCADE FIRE SINGLES

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Very Warm

So apparently the legendary band Arcade Fire has been hinting at some new material to be released this summer or fall. These hints became true when they proposed that they would release two singles on June 1st: “The Suburbs” and “Month of May.”

They did give us some VERY short previews of each track, which is kind of bittersweet. One that they gave us some ideas on what they are going to sound like, but also they leave us begging for more. Here is the PREVIEW.

Eh? “The Suburbs” sounds like a more traditional Arcade Fire song, which is always appreciated, but “Month of May” is more punk sounding which I think is new for Arcade Fire, WHICH I LOVE. Really looking forward to the singles, and especially the new album! Have a good day!

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On Repeat #1

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Very Warm

Here are some albums that have been on repeat for a few weeks, days, hours, and minutes!

Sorry I haven’t put anything out recently, I guess I just haven’t gotten to it.

LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver.

–To get ready for the album that came out TODAY, I had to remind myself of the awesomeness that is “Sound of Sliver.” Lots of variety with slow groovy songs to funky headbangers.  Great, funky album that is always nice to listen to.

Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)

The new Crystal Castles album is a lot more gritty and direct than their previous, and I like it. The song Doe Deer is teen angst distilled into one loud, crazy, noisy mess on about 1:40. Excellent period.

Sleigh Bells – Treats

Ah, what can I say about Sleigh Bells? That they skyrocketed in popularity after their release on iTunes, even landing them a spot in Rolling Stone? Sure. MIA loves them? Sure. Can I say that they made one of my favorite albums of the year? YES. I have never heard trashy noise rock sound this good and refined, which sounds sort of strange, but trust me; this stuff will move you. Crown on the Ground is SO groovy, I can’t even stand it. Awesome. Super low price on iTunes as well, go hit it up!

Thee Oh Sees – Warm Slime

I just found this band while doing one of those “related artists” runs through iTunes, and I love their throwback 60’s Psychedelic sound. It really reminds me of what I started listening to in 8th grade. Really good stuff right here, guys.

Crooked Still – Some Strange Country

Crooked Still, a pretty well-known new bluegrass band from California, released their fourth full-length album while on their album tour (NO WAY!) which I obviously went to. The album doesn’t disappoint, Aoife O’Donovans vocals are still as magnificent as ever, and all the instrumental solos are still manic bursts of musical genius. I still have a little bluegrass interest left.

LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

Lemme tell you this. At first listen, I didn’t like LCD. This was probably their song “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” and also 30 second previews are not that good of an indicator about a song. So sad. Well, I acquired Sound of Silver a little while back and started listening to that and I fell in love with it. So fresh and groovy! Awesome! Well, LCD’s latest (and apparently last!) album definitely does not disappoint. “Dance Yrself Clean” seems like the Stride flavor change gum where it changes from mint to berry, because it turns from a slow moving piece to a sweet dance jam. Yeah, all of the songs are sweet mastercrafted pieces of art. Definitely pick this one up on Amazon.

Janelle Monae – Archandroid

I had no idea what this was when I first saw the cover, but it piqued my curiosity so I checked it out. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Monae creates some fantastic R&B music, not YET clogged by the impressions of society. She calls upon Big Boi from Outkast on “Tightrope”, and silly pop band Of Montreal on “Make The Bus.” Definitely pick this one up, it’s a keeper.

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