I’d avoided listening to Kasabian’s latest album, as it feels like every time I become fond of a new British rock band their music gets progressively less interesting and generally more shit the more records they release. Well, I got around to listening to West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum today, and despite not being able to remember the album title even after having seen it around 20-30 times, the music is pretty fuckin’ rockin’. It immediately sounds far more consistent a record than Empire, which had scattershot moments of greatness crowded and drowned by mediocre, faux-psychedelic bullshit. W.R.P.L.A. (that’s right, I’m resorting to acronym’s – it’s that hard to fucking remember!) retains very strong elements of psychedelia, but they feel so much less forced. It’s natural to listen to this record, where last time around it just felt like a band trying to recreate something; it sounded bitterly false and overproduced.

Anyway, have some music. I loved this song within 6 seconds of hearing it. It’s utterly badass…

So there’s this band from Canada. They’re called Japandroids. Their music will bust a musical nut in your ear’s mouth. It’s borderline criminal that a band like this doesn’t have more exposure as they’re a revelation, plain and simple. I’m gonna inform your audio glands something glorious with the track below. Enjoy.

http://www.myspace.com/japandroids

These guys are well on their way to being the next big thing. Which is both good and bad, I guess. Good in the sense that it gives their simple yet deceptively-rich sound some exposure, and it’s bad in the sense that it puts an expiry date on their popularity. Like every other band of the moment they’ll see a nice stint in the spotlight before it’s jerked across to the next jangly, upbeat, hipster-friendly ensemble. Make the most of these foggy, melodic tunes while you can.

I’m posting the video to this, rather than the song, because it’s a beautiful thing to watch. It’s a visually arresting look at the Indian city of Varanasi and its people. The video was directed by Daniel Wirtberg & Jonas Rudström. The song itself is by Miike Snow who, when not busily remixing everyone elses songs, are getting their heads down and making sweet little tunes like this… And I mean sweet in the actual way, not the surfer-douche way!

So rather than barrage you all with a billion tracks a day, I figured I’d just compile everything I’ve enjoyed from the day into one post, then I can give your RSS or twitter feeds a rest and you wont hate me with a passion.

Yo La Tengo – Sudden Organ

Source: The Opening Acts, [Direct Download]

Lykke Li – Knocked Up (Kings of Leon cover)

Source: Et Musique Pourtous, [Direct Download]