New Shout Out Louds album released February 23rd! It’s called Work, and the singles “Walls” and “Fall Hard” were released earlier this year. While they kept their signature cute background melodies, this new album has gone a step further. Although their previous album, Our Ill Wills, has distinct tempo changes and a profound message about traveling away from home, Work has allowed the band to come back home with a more simple and upbeat outcome. When I listened through the album, there was hardly a song that I didn’t put on my ipod playlist.

Get “Walls” and “Fall Hard” (Passion Pit Remix) here. (Song above is regular version of “Fall Hard”)

Also, an actual The Morning Benders album will be released on March 9th. I first heard of them when they opened for The Kooks a couple of years ago, but they only had EPs being released then. The Morning Benders’ new album is called Big Echo, and they have certainly grown as a band since I heard them last. The lead singer’s voice is something I have never quite heard before. The only way I can describe this band is if The Shins had a distant cousin…. Anyway, the only single that is available is “Excuses,” and by golly is it great. There are also other songs from their previous album/EP. Download it all here.

enjoy, millbillies

in spring 2008, i must have had the lyric “and it feels so unnatural/peter gabriel too” in my head for months. now, peter gabriel himself finally comes out with a cover of vampire weekend’s “cape cod kwassa kwassa” in collaboration with hot chip. though the song sounds uncannily like the theme song from disney’s “tarzan,” i dig the idea.

and check out these other recent covers:

the kooks- “kids” by mgmt (another blast from spring 2008)

florence and the machine- “halo” by beyoncé

imogen heap- “thriller” by michael jackson