You know those songs you listen to so often you get sick of them?

These four songs are songs that I’ve listened to on repeat for the past few weeks (along with some others, mind you), and I have yet to get sick of them! Three of them are by artists that I was introduced to just this summer, but all four songs are relatively new to me (am I making sense?). They’re all songs that you can kind of listen to in any situation, whether you’re walking to class, studying for class, hanging with friends, or just spending some quality time by yourself! Just to quickly introduce myself, I’m Emily and I’m new to the BU Central team! I’m a freshman in CAS and I’m studying biology/pre-med.

• Coconut Records/Nighttiming: Coconut Records was created by Jason Schwartzman (you may have seen him in The Darjeeling Limited, Marie Antoinette, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, etc.) and it’s an indie pop musical solo project, although his albums have had contributions from other artists. The opening of Nighttiming reminds me, somewhat, of the music that plays every time Kramer enters Jerry’s apartment in Seinfeld. If any of you listen to and like Best Coast, Coconut Records may be right for you.

• Real Estate/Out of Tune: Real Estate is an indie rock band, and I would liken it to other bands like Vampire Weekend and Best Coast (again). I really love listening to Real Estate when I’m relaxing or studying because even though it’s not like listening to soothing, classical music, there’s something about Real Estate and the composition of their music that’s incredibly tranquil and it makes me feel like I’m lying on a beach in California.

• Robyn/Hang With Me: So, I guess I’m really late with Robyn, but she’s a Swedish pop artist who’s been singing since the ’90s. I definitely recommend listening to her whole album, Body Talk, because, for me personally, it’s been quite a while since I found a new album that I fully enjoyed–of course, there are a few individual tracks in Body Talk that I’m not the biggest fan of, but as a whole, the album is really fantastic. Other tracks I recommend are Call Your Girlfriend, Fembot, Dancing On My Own, Dancehall Queen, the list goes on. Really, just listen to the whole album.

• Sufjan Stevens/The Henney Buggy Band: Sufjan Stevens is an American singer and songwriter, and I’ll be honest, I don’t know much more about him. I haven’t listened to any of his other songs, but they’re mostly indie folk and indie pop, and I have heard good things about his music from other people. I don’t really know what it is I like about this song, but when I listen to it, it kind of makes me feel like I’m watching a Wes Anderson movie.

Anyways, I guess it all depends on the type of music that you enjoy, but I urge you all to give these artists/songs a listen. I haven’t gotten sick of them yet, and I’m not sure if I ever will, but I’m quite content with keeping them on my Spotify playlist for at least another month.

Enjoy!

Emily

In Search of a Summer Anthem…

The summer sun is still burning and all y’all are clearly still hurting for some more tunes, so here’s three more to make your lives all the better.

I randomly stumbled upon this video on a music blog last week and quickly found myself entranced by the faux-hood dancing skills of Berlin-based D E N A. “Cash, Diamond Rings, Swimming Pools” may initially sound shallower than Kreayshawn’s infamous “Gucci Gucci,” but D E N A’s presence in the video exudes an awkward charm that Kreayshawn could never pull off. Her outrageous fashion choices, questionable talk-rapping, and attempts at swagger even evoke a young M.I.A. The song may or may not become my summer anthem, but I do throughly expect it to soundtrack many a mindless night in Allston this month.

It’s been over three years since Passion Pit’s last full-length album, so naturally it’s a pretty big deal that their second, Gossamer, is set to be released in just about two weeks. The band just leaked the R&B-styled “Constant Conversations,” and it’s certainly done its job in getting me mega-hype for the album. Throw this slow jam on if you’re looking to get some major play at a party this summer. Chances are it’ll get anyone in the mood for some late night lovin’.

Perhaps you’re in the mood to feel things this summer and have emotional debates inside your head to the sound of tear-inducing dream pop? In that case, Youth Lagoon is the band for you! Functioning as the stage name for musician Trevor Powers, Youth Lagoon put out its debut last fall and I’m only now discovering it. “Montana” is hardly a new track, but it’s quickly becoming a regular staple in my “I Have Feelingz” playlist. I suggest playing this on repeat through your car’s sound system while laying on the hood with a friend, talking about life and watching the stars glisten. Do this so I can live vicariously through you. The Boston night sky is occasionally a sight to behold, but it is largely starless and for that I am sad.

Keep on keeping on, y’all.

-Josh

Introducing… Town Hall, the Next Big Thing in Indie-Folk

Over the past couple weeks, NYC-based indie-folk trio Town Hall has quickly become one of my favorite bands of the moment and it’s about time I expose all y’all to their brilliance. Town Hall puts their own twist on the male-female vocalist formula and consistently produces some of the best music I’ve heard in months. No lie.

The band first captured my attention when their folksy take on the Ja Rule/Ashanti classic, “Always on Time,” hit the web a couple months back. Aside from me being a sucker for a good cover, I was instantly hooked on their immaculate harmonies and immediately sought out every track they’d ever released online.

After obsessing over every track on their EP, Sticky Notes & Paper Scraps, for several weeks, I watched the band’s newly-released music video for “Good Boy” and fell deeper in love. While lacking in the harmonies that initially drew me to the band, the track still tells a great narrative about a neighborhood hellion.

Just yesterday the band celebrated the official release of debut album Roots & Bells with a show at NYC’s Webster Hall. As tempted as I was to make the trek down, I resisted and now I’m patiently waiting for the band to make their return to Boston some time this summer. Apparently I missed out on them playing Great Scott in Allston just a couple weeks back, an error on my part that I’ve since grieved.

Be sure to like the band on their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter, or purchase their album on Bandcamp. They deserve all your love. They really do.

Recommended Tracks: The soaring “Mary A. Longden” and decidedly more somber “Charlie”

Have a great week everybody! The semester is actually almost over. Like, forrealz.

-Josh

Study breaks are best spent discovering new music

We’re only a week into the spring semester and already the classwork is piling up. Am I right or am I right? Times like these require frequent study breaks, and a perfectly acceptable use of that time is to scope out the Internet in search of new music…or you could just continue to read this blog. Today I introduce to you indie pop’s next big act, Yellow Ostrich.

Composed of Wisconsin-born Alex Schaaf and recently added drummer Michael Tapper, Yellow Ostrich has exactly what it takes to break through in 2011. This is fun, energetic, youthful music that begs for a listen and can most easily be compared to Vampire Weekend. Up first, the song receiving the most attention in the blogosphere, “Whale.”

Yellow Ostrich has also covered an impressive collection of indie gems by artists varying from Joanna Newsom to Yeasayer to The Tallest Man on Earth. My favorite of the bunch that have been floating around notable music blogs is “Androgynous,” a mellow version of a powerful song from 80s rock band, The Replacements.

If you like what you hear, the band offers all their music for download at
http://yellowostrich.bandcamp.com/
. There you can Name Your Price for the music, including free!

A few days ago they announced they would be touring as an opening act to Say Hi, so there’s always the option of seeing them play locally on March 6^th at Middle East (Downstairs) in Cambridge. I certainly intend to. Tickets run for $12 here.

Good luck with everyone’s second week of classes!

- Josh Crampsey, one of several new additions to the BU Central team this semester. Feel free to read more about me by clicking here