Sleepy Sun – “New Age”
Sleepy Sun’s 2009 debut, Embrace, is finally picking up the traction it deserves. The San Francisco natives play hazey, psych-rock tunes that fans of Deerhunter should check out.
If you like the sound, then be sure to check out their performance for the Bay Bridged series “New, Improved, Live” over here.

Gorillaz [...]

As the decade comes to close, the album as a medium seems to be disintegrating rapidly. To that end, 2009 will likely be remembered as a year with few classic albums.
But cheer up, there’s a shining light at the end of this dark tunnel. No, we haven’t figured out a way to end the economic [...]

His Clancyness – “Misinterpret My Words”
Until a couple of days ago I had never heard of His Clancyness. But I bet I’m not alone, am I? Shocking because “Misinterpret My Words” is easily one of the best tunes I’ve heard in a while.
With hints of The Shins and Band of Horses, His Clancyness specializes in [...]

Beach House – “Norway”
“Norway” is the first taste we get of Beach House’s upcoming LP, Teen Dream. Due out January 26th, anticipation is high for the Baltimore-based band who joined the Sub Pop roster after 2008’s Devotion was met with high praise from critics. In fact, we gave it the #12 spot on our list [...]

Atlas Sound – “Doctor” [Five Discs cover]
Atlas Sound – “The Screens”
Bradford Cox (of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound) is one of the hardest working musicians in the biz. Just when you think he might take a rest, he hits us with a virtual 7″ that features a cover of Five Discs‘ “Doctor” plus an original tune [...]

The “In the Know” series features the latest and greatest MP3s circling the web. If you think you’ve got a tip we should know about email us at vaguepanther(at)strangerdance.com.

Field Music – “Measure”
After surviving rumors of a split-up, Field Music has confirmed plans to release a 20-track album in the earlier part of 2010. Our [...]

Listen to Devendra Banhart’s new album, What Will We Be, right here, right now. Thanks goes out yet again to the good people at imeem.

The world of Phish has, and always will be, centered around the live experience. Simply a means to an end, the band’s studio efforts provide little more in the eyes of their fans than an expanded live arsenal. In a recent interview Phish keyboardist Page McConnell was presented with this observation, to which he replied, [...]

Whenever the moon is just right, the Vague Panther picks his favorite MP3s from the web to bring you the “In the Know” series. If you’ve got a tip that might pique his interest email him at vaguepanther(at)strangerdance.com.

Y La Bamba – “Fasting in San Francisco”
Portland’s Y La Bamba pairs an experimental folk sound with [...]

The trailer for John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, The Road, looks absolutely terrifying — and when you’re making a film about a post-apocalyptic world, that’s a good thing. Of course, Hillcoat had some aural assistance from fellow Australian Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Check out a BBC feature on film adaptation as well [...]