Morcheeba - 'The Sea'

This one is an oldie, but a goodie.  'The Sea' was featured on Morcheeba's 1998 release, Big Calm.  It's trip-hop all chilled out, and is--once again--another song well suited for a lazy Sunday.

Watch the video for 'The Sea' below:

In the Valley Below - 'Peaches'

'Peaches' contains catchy electro loops and a dainty chorus.  It's the perfect song for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Watch 'Peaches' by In the Valley Below in the video player below (wow, that's a mouthful):

Jagwar Ma - 'Uncertainty'

Industrial rock sprinkled among nineties shoegaze, Jagwar Ma presents a clamorous single with 'Uncertainty.'  Slightly detached, yet surprisingly focused, the recording is quite compelling.

Watch the video to 'Uncertainty' in the player below:

Future Islands - 'Seasons (Waiting on You)'

If Fine Young Cannibals had recorded a single in 2014, 'Seasons (Waiting on You)' would have been it.  The track is defined by synth, driving drum and bass, and a soothing vocal.

Watch the video for 'Seasons' by Future Islands in the player below:

Bear Hands - 'Giant'

"I am loving you more."

Bear Hands sets forth a catchy electronica-infused drum and bass single with 'Giant.' The track has gained greater airplay on regional indie stations as of late.  Of course, that's mostly due to its infectious chorus.

Watch the video for 'Giant' by Bear Hands in the player below:

Rixton - 'Me and My Broken Heart'

Here's some more British blue eyed soul for ya:

'Me and My Broken Heart' is infectious, to say the least.  Part Bruno Mars, part Maroon 5, Rixton sets forth a stylish summer crossover hit with the single that seems to be blowing up everywhere.

Watch the video for 'Me and My Broken Heart' below:

Ed Sheeran - 'Sing'

'Sing' is a pleasing blend of folk and hip-hop by UK redhead Ed Sheeran.  Pharrell Williams lends his Midas-Touch to the bridge, joining Sheeran's soulful chops in near perfect unison.  Sheeran does a great job rapping some of his lyrics as well.

Watch the video to the exciting 'Sing' below:

Jesse McCartney - 'Superbad'

Jesse McCartney reinvents his boyish image in the new video epic, 'Superbad.'  Smokin' stogies and sippin' down scotch, the Leo-lookalike's babyface doesn't entirely sell the new Don Draper playboy image.  But it's nevertheless an okay start to a potentially new dynamic career.

On the other hand, the vocals and underlying audio are great.  Jesse's voice has matured, and the end product is one worthy of JT or Michael Jackson.

Watch the official video for 'Superbad' below:

Ariana Grande - 'Problem'

If you liked it when Amerie belted "It's the One Thing That Got Me Trippin!," then you'll really like 'Problem' by Ariana Grande.

The tune has been climbing the charts lately, but despite its popularity, it's thankfully not pure saccharine like the rest of the Top 40.  Instead, 'Problem' is an amalgam of thumpin' bass, Jay-Z-inspired lyrics in the bridge, careless whispers, and some catchy hot sax (see Late Night with Jimmy Fallon).

Stream 'Problem' in the video player below:

Big Data - 'Dangerous (Featuring Joywave)'

'Dangerous' requires some patience, but the wait is well worth it.  Steady bass and drum slowly lead the song toward a metaphorical head butt at around the 2:10 mark (see video below).  From there, the track seduces its listener into a raucous crossover dance party that they don't ever want to end.

If you like the neo disco of LCD Soundsystem and the indie vocals of Of Montreal, then 'Dangerous,' by Big Data, is right up your alley.  Watch the official video in the player below:

Beck - 'Waking Light'

'Waking Light' is a soothing ode that caps Morning Phase, Beck's first studio album in six years.  It features beautiful orchestrals and luscious space-inspired vibes. 

All in all it's a very well put together song.  In fact, I've been playing the tune several times a day since Morning Phase was released last week.

Stream 'Waking Light' in the video player below:

Bruno Mars - 'Gorilla'

Ooh I got a body full of liquor / With a cocaine kicker

Bruno Mars absolutely slayed his Halftime Show at the SuperBowl tonight--with help from The Red Hot Chili Peppers nonetheless.

Despite his amazing showing, he neglected to perform one of my favorite B-Mars tunes: 'Gorilla.'  This is not to take away from his near-perfect performance tonight, but is merely a lament.

Watch the official video for 'Gorilla' below:

Speedy Ortiz - 'Everything's Bigger'

'Everything's Bigger' is phenomenal female fuzz.  The song's bridge is amazing, containing double-tracked vocals that march up and down the sharp chords.  It's lively, yet refined--loud, but graceful.

Stream 'Everything's Bigger' by Speedy Ortiz in the SoundCloud player below:


Speedy Ortiz - "Everything's Bigger"

Shiloh - 'Simple Little Down Home Rock n' Roll Love Song for Rosie'

Before Don Henley rose to fame in The Eagles and beyond, he was a member of Shiloh.  Kenny Rogers produced their one and only self-titled album for Amos Records.

One of the notable tracks off the record is 'Simple Little Down Home Rock n' Roll Love Song for Rosie.'

Stream this forgotten track in the YouTube player below:

Jake Bugg - 'Lightning Bolt'

Jake Bugg is a 19 year old from Nottingham.  Similar to his fore-bearers of fifty years ago, Bugg reintroduces to American audiences stripped down and back-to-basic versions of their own music.

'Lightning Bolt' is a folk-rock sensation that is sneaking its way up the charts of various American radio stations.  Upon first listen, it's easy to confuse the tune with a Greenwich Beatnik tune from 1960.  The song makes no apologies for its retro stylings and is a testament to the enduring quality of the basic components of rock and roll:  driving beats, simple chords, and a catchy chorus.

Stream 'Lightning Bolt' in the SoundCloud player below:

Fuzz - 'What's in my Head'

Not since I first heard Mad Season's album have I felt affected in quite the same way.  

'What's in my Head' is the new sludgy single from Fuzz, Ty Segall's latest project.  (Side projects seem to be par for the course for Mr. Segall).  The tune presents a potent mix of psychedelia and grunge, delivering a visceral anthem of a chorus just before the one minute mark.

Is it 1968 or 1991 or today?  Who cares!  Stream this brilliant track in the video player below:

Sun Kil Moon - 'Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes'

I've been a fan of Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, since I first heard "Carry Me Ohio" in about 2003.  That feeling was only reinforced for me when his LP of heartachingly understated Modest Mouse covers, called Tiny Cities, was released in 2005.

Kozelek just released a new track off his forthcoming 2014 album, Benji.  It's called "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes" and, boy... it. is. raw.

The lyrics and title refer to Richard Ramirez, the infamous serial killer, who incidentally died from cancer in June of this year, while awaiting execution on death row.

The song starts with Kozelek's haunting guitar and leads into a nearly stream of conscious-like paranoid reflection on the scariest parts of growing up and growing old.  Soon, Kozelek's vocals start to pile on top of one other in staggered, unnerving layers.  By the time the drum finally kicks in during the last third of the song, it feels like a wave of relief crashing against the rocks.

Fleetwood Mac - 'Silver Springs'

"Time cast a spell on you / you won't forget me;  I know I could've loved you; but you would not let me."

The signature line from Fleetwood Mac's 'Silver Springs' encapsulates the legendary divide that developed between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.  The two had dated and performed together in the band for years, before breaking off the relationship.  They nevertheless remained band mates following the split.

Stevie penned 'Silver Springs,' and she intended it for inclusion on the band's seminal album, Rumours.  But, due to the varying tensions between she and Buckingham, the track didn't make the cut.  It was instead released as the B-Side to 'Go Your Own Way,' another song that memorialized the pain and hurt between the two.

'Silver Springs' starts off slow.  But at about the 2:30 mark, the single builds into one of the most memorable choruses performed by Fleetwood Mac.  Further, it showcases the delicate grace of Stevie Nicks' vocals.

Stream 'Silver Springs' by Fleetwood Mac below:

Dent May - 'Born Too Late'

Dent May's 'Born Too Late' features sentimental lyrics set to a campy back beat.  But don't let the Hipster jade fool you; this single is quite rich, despite all its irony.

Stream 'Born Too Late' in the music player below:

Mayer Hawthorne - 'Her Favorite Song'

Blue-eyed soul at its smoothest, Mayer Hawthorne delivers restrained sensuality with his single 'Her Favorite Song.'   If you like Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Daft Punk's latest album, you'll really dig this melody.

The music video is below: