To Caitlyn and Paul. . . wishing you all the best in your new journey as Mr. and Mrs.!!!

Boy oh boy, what a great week! She & Him released their second single off their forthcoming sophomore project She & Him Volume Two. The latest track entitled “Thieves” premiered over at Stereogum, and hooray for that! Go check it out HERE. I did, and it changed my life. Okay, maybe not. . . I’ll stop sounding like an infomercial. . . but you get my drift. She & Him are the ba-omb diggity. That’s right. I went there. So you should too!

Web: The Radio Dept.

Track: Heaven’s On Fire

Right click to download

Like it?

Then support the Radio Dept. here.

The gents of Spoon make writing things in reverse sound positively cool. Their latest single “Written in Reverse” off their album Transference is gritty and outlined in a stomping back beat that gets the atmosphere moving.

And the AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH is my favorite part, because some days you need a little guidance in letting it all out. Let’s all do it together. . . you’ll feel so much better, I swear! (Not that you were feeling crappy to begin with, but you know what I mean). Check out Spoon’s latest performance on the Tonight Show and get your AAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHs ready to rock and roll!

Finally, Free Energy has released a few more scrumptious hints about their upcoming full-length debut album Stuck on Nothing due out this March. First fun item, they’ve released the cover art which is pretty cool. And for whatever reason, the font and hazy sorta sketch reminds me of the lovely 80’s Garbage Pail Kid cards. Perhaps that’s what they were going for?!

And the second tasty tidbit, is they’ve been generous enough to share a second track off the forthcoming album. Line up the hand claps and cow bell rings! Yee haw. Check out the latest track “Hope Child” below.

Right click to download: “Hope Child” mp3

And a couple more sprinkles on top. . . check out the track list below to see what you’ll be jamming to this spring. Can’t wait!

Stuck On Nothing
1. Free Energy
2. Dream City
3. Bang Pop
4. All I Know
5. Bad Stuff
6. Dark Trance
7. Young Hearts
8. Light Love
9. Hope Child
10. Wild Winds

Oh, and in case you missed out on Free Energy’s free “Free Energy” single (how many times can we say free in this post?! At least it’s one of the best words ever!), check it out here! It’s still free, free, free (that makes 10 times)!

London’s own One eskimO not only created a one-of-a-kind, intricate pop album with All Balloons, they went as far as creating a whole set of sweet, sweet characters to accompany the songs. From beginning to end, between each track’s unique melodies and style, One eskimO takes you on a genuinely enchanting ride. And how can you not fall for the wee eskimo in their animated film?

With all this cold weather and deep freezes, I’m taking a quick minute off to go somewhere relaxing and warm. Like so many people, I’m in need of some major vitamin D and a little dose of beach (sunscreen included of course!), with an extra side of margarita. I can only hope that you can get away soon too. And in honor of upcoming sunny getaways, I’ll leave with a couple classic Beach Boys’ tunes to at least get you in the summertime spirit, if a vacay isn’t in the cards for you. See you next week!

After listening to the British quartet Mumford & Sons, the bold and lively folk-rock that jumps out of their souls cannot be ignored. The spirit and style is gutsy and nimble as they dance their way through each song.  Their debut full-length album Sigh No More  is stocked full of heartfelt tunes that will make you want to get up and move, or just stay seated and stomp your foot like you never have before.

  Buy Sigh No More here

Their single “Little Lion Man” caught my attention recently, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. . . thank goodness for that! I can’t imagine a better soundtrack for my day. An uplifting apology, the guys of Mumford & Sons really know how to perform. Check out an acoustic performance of “Little Lion Man” below and a few other songs of theirs too. It’ll make your day!

(A quick tip though. . . if there are lil’ ones around, be sure to get the ear muffs out. There are few f*bombs that detonate here and there in the song below!)

Check out London’s own brooding indie rockers the Scanners’ latest video below. Their newest single “Salvation“, off their forthcoming album Submarine, is by no means over the top angsty, but a nice balance of moody and electrifying from the dark wave melodies to the stirring lyrics.

I especially enjoy the ooh-uh-oohs and the simple effect of outlining the band in the video with a little white line every now and then. I don’t know why, but I really dig it, that white outline and of course the haunting song — a fitting addition to the dark and cold climate as of late. Look for Submarine to drop February 16, 2010 through Dim Mak Records. And check out more of the Scanners here!

My two cent laugh of the evening. . . FIST PUMP!!!

This morning during my frigid commute, White Denim’s summer single “I Start to Run” helped me forget about the 20 below zero temps outside my car window. The gritty vocals backed by a charged bass and coarse rhythms could heat up any place as cold as Minneapolis was today. Check the video for the track below. . . and I must say, those brick pants and glittery accessories are super snazzy. “I start to run. . . I start to RUN!” Ooh yeah. Run far far away from any place where boiling water can freeze in mid air. Ouch!

So here we are. . . the last category of faves for 2009 and I have to tell you, it’s a tough one. Tough because I am suprised and inspired almost every day by the talent of new and veteran artists alike. And I’m sure there are lots of us out there that could only wish for that kind of musical creativity and flair. And perhaps if you’re like me, find awesome satisfaction out of jamming on a tambourine (or Guitar Hero/Rock Band!), just to feel an eensie weensie bit of what that must feel like. Eensie and weensie are the operative words here. But anyway, I digress!

My point is, music had such an impact on 2009 around here, I want to put some of my faves on a brönette vol. 2 mixtape for you all.  So just e-mail shelby {at} bronette.net with your lovely address and I’ll hook you up. Come on now, don’t be shy. . . it’s my way of spreading the music love and saying THANK YOU for stopping by this year. It’ll be fun, I promise!

Just to give you an idea, here are some artists that might be included (I’m still reserving the right to change my mind!). . .

Regina Spektor

Couer de Pirate

La Roux

AA Bondy

Mayer Hawthorne

. . . and more! So get that e-mail draft started and send me a note. You’ll be so happy you did! Three cheers for fantastic music in 2009!

“This Christmas” sung by Gladys Knight & the Pips on That Special Time of Year from 1980 is by far my favorite holiday tune. Originally recorded by Donny Hathaway in 1970, “This Christmas” has been sung by many. . . Christina Aguilera, Elliott Yamin, Macy Gray, Peabo Bryson, Chicago, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Patti LaBelle, Chris Brown, N*SYNC, Harry Connick Jr, Destiny’s Child, Ashanti, Menudo, Usher, Boyz II Men and Aretha Franklin - just to name a few. Ha ha. I wonder if Donny Hathaway had any idea how popular this song would become. I still prefer Gladys’ version, what about you?

Listen here:  This Christmas by Gladys Knight & the Pips

Iron and Wine’s version of New Order’s “Love Vigilantes” is amazing, end of story. I love his earthy, simplistic approach to a song chalk full of deep feelings and heartfelt emotion. Get your copy here. . .

Be still my heart. She & Him are releasing their sophomore album on March 23, 2010. Entitled Volume Two, I am dead serious when I say I hope there are a hundred, a thousand more volumes after this. Their vintage, country vibe is stunning and timeless, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the new volume of Zooey Deschanel’s songs (the She), produced by the talented Mr. M Ward (the Him).

Here’s a peek at the track list, which includes eleven originals by Zooey and two covers, ”Ridin’ In My Car” by NRBQ and Skeeter Davis’ ”Gonna Get Along Without You Now”. . .

She & Him: Volume Two Track list:

01 Thieves
02 In The Sun
03 Don’t Look Back
04 Ridin’ In My Car
05 Lingering Still
06 Me And You
07 Gonna Get Along With You Now
08 Home
09 I’m Gonna Make It Better
10 Sing
11 Over It Over Again
12 Brand New Shoes
13 If You Can’t Sleep

Let yet another countdown begin!! Meanwhile, I can’t resist re-posting a couple favorite She & Him songs of mine. . . here’s hoping March 23rd’s arrival is a speedy one!