Blockhead - Crashing Down

With this song its all about the scratched organ sample. I like the way he blends in that 70s rock guitar while still keeping the jazz vibe. This guys is genius at blending different genres.

Ape School - Wail To God

The intro for this song is super badass... reminds me of something 'The Flaming Lips' would do. The song itself though is a floaty smooth little 4/4 number that seems to fly right by. I imagine a wall of leds with like 2 robots dancing closely under a discoball. This track always gets multiple repeat listens.

Daedelus - Just Briefly

The flute on the song gives it a sort of bollywoodish vibe which is awesome. The driving acoustic riff is pretty entrancing coupled with Daedelus's perfect organic drums. I dig that tambourine on the snare. This song is superb driving music.

Bonobo - Ketto

I love the atmosphere on this track, though it doesnt really start to kick in for me until after about 2 minutes when the vocal sample drops. Im pretty sure its from fellini satyricon where the naked girl on the ground is singing.

The Long Lost - Amiss

This is a fantastic lullaby song. Those stacatto vocals are brilliant. The subtle scratches in the background keep it interesting. Its pretty straight forward through out most of the song but the melody is so perfect its never boring. You gotta love that little piano intro.

Spokes - Young People! All Together

I was super excited to get this album after hearing a song on the ninja site. This is my favorite track from the album. It starts out with some twinkly explosions in the skyish guitar and builds into a full on banger. The violin accents add a cool element to off set the loud crashyness of it all. I love their arrangements.

Fog - What a Day Day

Scratch drums and acoustic guitar with the cheery vocals are always good for a laugh, but i dont by any means consider it a novelty. The song smoothly transitions into a mini instrumental journey before turning to a cool little pop song.

Grasscut - High Down

This is a cool new group on ninja. Im feeling this song a lot. I like their use of glitchy accent sounds. This song is like if Radiohead and Black Moth Super Rainbow had a little music baby.

Diplo - Big Lost

Too bad he doesnt make songs like this anymore. I love the way he chops the drum break throughout the song. That organ sample is super rad as well. It pretty simple and straight forward. Not much else is needed though. This song just straight up jams.

Skalpel - Test Drive

This track reminds me of 70s movie soundtrack music. The horn run at the end of the measures on the chorus is badass. The song as a whole has an eerie mysterious vibe and is funky as hell.

Graveyard - Evil Ways

Graveyard's self titled debut resurrects the sounds of 70's psychedelic rock. The clash of folk, psychedelic, and blues makes for a mind-bending trip back to the days of Cream, Sabbath, and Blue Cheer.

Black Math Horseman - Deerslayer

For those who prefer terra firma, though? Call it ambient post-doom. Call it alchemic psych-rock, only without all those annoying freeform guitar freakouts. Their debut album, Wyllt, was recorded and produced by desert guru Scott Reeder (Kyuss, Unida). The rest is a discovery about to be made.

Witch - Gone

Paralyzed finds Witch evolving beyond the standard Sabbathian riff structure that defined much of their first record. With Paralyzed, Witch step into new realms melding punk rock tempos with acid guitar freak-outs while maintaining sludgy head nodding grooves. Rather than revisiting the sounds of the 60's/70's, Witch reinvent them.

Quest For Fire - Strange Waves

Upon the inevitable demise of Canada's most beloved garage rock underdogs, The Deadly Snakes, Quest For Fire began to prepare for their great unveiling before Toronto's unwary rock scene, the sonic assault that these guys unleash onto unsuspecting listeners in a live setting through their sometimes 10 minute journeys can either send the faint of heart running, holding onto their hats, or lift their minds.

Hopewell - Island

After more than a decade of continuous releases, Hopewell has managed to birth its own little world in the galaxy that is modern indie rock somehow melding Can and Roxy Music with a touch of early tribal Jane's Addiction. The group is zeroing in on its musical holy grail - the transmutation of their live show to tape.

Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - The Slumbering Ones

San Francisco's Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound is a soundtrack for strange days and futures bright and bleak. There is also a crooked thread that runs backward through every Assemble Head record--the celestial trajectories of The Notorious Byrd Brothers and circa '70 Floyd; the dusty canyon stomps of Crazy Horse and the scuzz-bomb shrapnel of latter-day garage mongers like Mudhoney and Monoshock.

Night Horse - Shine On Me

NIGHT HORSE bring a saddle bag full of heavy, raw and riffed-out blues-tinged rock steeped in the likes of John Lee Hooker, Taste, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and The Allman Brothers Band without a retro stitch.

Spindrift - The Legend Of God's Gun

Mixing the dusty, cinematic soundscapes of old spaghetti-western films with the mind-expanding Psych Rock of modern practitioners like The Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre (not to mention drone forefathers The Velvet Underground), L.A.'s Spindrift makes music that sounds like what one would hear while tripping in the desert on a vision quest.

Nebula - The Dagger

L.A. power trio Nebula, whose cosmic cocktail of heavy riffs, electric blues and psychedelic space rock has earned the band international (and, dare we say, universal) acclaim have returned to Tee Pee Records and will release Heavy Psych on July 7th.

Iron Age - Dispossessed

With The Sleeping Eye, Iron Age remains a modern torchbearer for the long tradition established by the crossover classics (Corrosion of Conformity's Animosity, Crumbsuckers' Life of Dreams, Cro-Mags' Best Wishes, etc), but twists the NYHC-inspired thrash of their debut to create something bigger and darker.

Naam - Skyling Slip

One of the newest signings to Tee Pee, Naam is a three piece band from Brooklyn, NY whose blessed out, jam heavy psychedelia is spotlighted on the standout track Skyling Slip. Look for their debut in October 2009.

The Warlocks - Red Camera

With the Warlocks you learn to expect the unexpected. Always shrouded in mystery and dressed in black, this once octet known for their signature sound and live shows compared a million times to the velvet underground's exploding plastic inevitable have done always done the unexpected. Red Camera is the lead track of their brand new studio album due out in Spring 2009 on Tee Pee Records.

"Gidget"

Futuristic funk from the newest album of the Mackrosoft's recent trilogy (distributed by Wax Poetics Records), "Gidget" may not call to mind a sunny day in Malibu, with waves for days, but it is reminiscent of the surfergirl's total freedom. Hyperspace conductor Aja West does whatever the hell he wants, whenever the hell he wants.

"Saturday Night Special (Alternate Take)"

Rapid hi-hats drive this stripped-down version of Lyman Woodard's 1975 funk-jazz cult classic. It's a raw and gritty masterpiece just waiting for a cop show. RIP, Lyman.

"Creative Musicians"

It's the go-to track for DJs who revere the album, but it's also the theme of this playlist, that people with vision keep on rolling right along.

"Popcorn/Oye Como Va (Medley)"

The 1971 U.S. Army band took a funk riff and extended it with a cover of Santana's version of the Tito Puente classic. It's as urgent as their desire to get the hell back home.

"Righteous Works (12-inch disco-mix)"

Like many of his cohorts in Jamaica, Earl Zero one day decided he was going to be a singer and just did it. This version of the keep-on-pushin' roots classic is the coveted disco-mix with the dub blended to the end.

"Disco Tease"

Lyman's live record contributed this funky and fast jam, providing motivation for both work and play.

"I Love You for All Seasons"

It's the love of the game that keeps us going summer, fall, winter, and spring. East of Underground does mighty justice to this 1971 track by the D.C. female soul trio the Fuzz, later covered by Bloodstone.

"Voodoo Love Dance"

ichigan-born Melvyn Price moved to Sweden in the late '60s to follow his dream. His bold vision wasn't swayed by other people's ideas of what music was supposed to be.

"Vicoden Reality"

A massive little synth-funk masterpiece from Aja West & Co. The vibe of the tight, bouncing drums and explosive guitar recall the genius combo of Al Foster and Mike Stern/John Scofield on Miles Davis's Star People.

"Black Coffee"

9dw is part electro funk, part math rock, part Japanese jazz fusion, yet still on its own level, doing its own thing. Watch for this funky album to be distributed in America by Wax Poetics Records.

"Don't Stay Away"

The '80s are back in a big way and this modern soul track has much to offer, proving that Lyman Woodard was always a step ahead of everyone else.

"A Little While Longer" - Blip Blip Bleep - Wireless - Undercover Culture Music

Blip Blip Bleep (BBB) is the work of Brooklyn based producer Sean Han, with the help of Alexa Danner and Brett Thompson. In 2007, the first BBB EP "Wireless" earned them a feature on Billboard's Underground series, a #2 spot in Sprint's Buzzband Challenge, and rave reviews from several indie publications and college newspapers. The trio's dynamic stage presence has quickly attracted a loyal fanbase who followed them to top NYC venues including Mercury Lounge, The Annex, Crash Mansion and Luna Lounge.

In general I think this is a great addition to the cannon of electronic rock songs by Brooklyn hipsters who like to dance, but specifically I really like the transition from pre-chorus to chorus/hook in this track. It's a key change, but it's more like a sneak attack of a key change. You don't see it coming but by the time it's on top of you it's like a great Christmas present. This song is just screaming for an iPod ad.

"I Won't Fall" - Mackintosh Braun - The Sound - Self Released

Mackintosh Braun is an Oregon based electronic duo. Their debut album "The Sound" is already a cult classic, reaching listeners all over the world. "The idea was to create an album that you didn't have to skip through, hopefully this is one of those albums for people." Combining a creative blend of organic instrumentation with electronic clicks and pops, Mackintosh Braun accomplishes a feat that few achieve.

I feel like this band and this song in particular is the embodiment of the often discussed but rarely realized missing link between rock and techno/electronica. It blends these genres in such an unapologetic and uncompromising way that candy ravers and indie rockers alike just have to dig it...C'mon, they just have to!

"Perfect" - The Kindness Kind - A Novel - Self released

The Kindness Kind plays spacious electronic-infused indie-rock...a vibrant mix of indie-pop-rock songs that move from the delicate to the brash, with thunderous walls of sound juxtaposed by beautiful floating textures and rich melodies interwoven throughout.

Great dynamic between synth textures and jagged rocking guitars. I love Alessandra's voice on this song, she has such an emotive yet clear delivery, she is able to slyly slip between croon and howl remaining pitch perfect. There aren't enough skilled, ballsy female vocals like this in contemporary music but there really should be.

"Coaster" - Spouse - Relocation Tactics - Pigeon Records

Whether it's a momentary blur of sonic influences, or a distinct yet subtle nod to classic Indie records from yesteryear, or even an obvious play on themes and lyrics explored by their contemporaries, Spouse has established it's relevance in today's music world. Deservedly so, the band enjoys a fair amount of admiration, primarily from fellow musicians who make up a large percentage of the group's audience. Critical acclaim greets their live performances just as serious artistic consideration defines their recorded body of work.

Jose's voice just sounds cool. What a great smoldering but smooth husky growl he has. It's not a snarl but a forceful whisper backed up by great hooks great delivery and topnotch production. Dig!

"She, Robot" - The Cells - Mayday - Old Reliable Records

For a band with such exhilarating songs, the Cells are a tough band to label. They cobble together a 21st century sensibility with the sounds of pop, punk, glam, new wave, and straight-ahead rock and roll to create a pure blast of music for people who can't find anything they like on the radio.

This is a catchy garage pop nugget to be sure, but there is something extra compelling about the piercing, somewhat nasal vocalizing of Cory Hance and for me it is best realized in this song. She Robot is the Cells at their most brash, most snotty and most fun.

"Brand New Name" - The Soft Drugs - In Moderation - Self Released

The Soft Drugs is TW Walsh's main project. Before this band he released 2 solo albums, a solo EP, and was a member of Pedro the Lion.

I like this tune because it reminds me of only the good parts of 70's soft rock. It's got a groove and it's smooth and it has all of the soft sexy qualities that almost make you purchase those Time Life retrospective albums on infomercials-until you remember your rule about buying things from TV when you've been drinking. Don't worry about this one; it's still cool in the morning.

"Funeral Music" - Tim Seely - Funeral Music - Slow Love Records

Tim is a very talented songwriter and musician from Seattle. Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello) produced Tim's debut CD "Funeral Music." But be careful about listening to Tim's music, you may become like Tom Kershaw at the Boise Weekly who said when reviewing "Funeral Music": "I just got a hold of Tim Seely's Funeral Music. And I'm keeping it forever."

This is just a straight up unique song. I don't know that I've ever heard anything quite like it. To be honest it had to grow on me a little but now I'm addicted to the wacky instrumentation, oblique lyrics and squeaky-clean production.

"Wear & Tear" - Tom Brosseau - What I Mean To Say Is Goodbye - Loveless Records

"If David Lynch was an alt-country singer" may not be the most original comparison in the post-Wilco world, where many a scarf-wrapped, ragamuffin undergrad strums the sepia-toned magic-realism blues in the hopes of attracting the attentions of the fair maidens of academia. But when Tom Brosseau opens his mouth to sing, it becomes immediately clear the stakes are much higher than bird-doggin' at Starbucks, and that this man is playing for keeps. -Philly Inquirer

Tom is great at channeling Woody Guthrie, and I loves me some Guthrie mind you, but sometimes you just need a little more. I think this song displays Tom's muscle as a modern country/folk pop songwriter who can really crank it up a notch with an ensemble when he wants to deliver a catchy and flowing "alt country" jam with great melodic depth.

"This Is Something I Might Miss" - I Love Math - Getting To The Point Is Beside It - Glurp/Summer Break Records

If you dig late 90's alt-indie rock you're gonna dig I Love Math; even if you hate math. This is an alterna-super group comprised of former members from of the Deathray Davies, the Old 97's, Apples in Stereo, and The Paper Chase.

I like the lyrics to this song, they just work -I think that is a strength for I Love Math in general and it's something I pay a lot of attention to. They strike a nice balance in this song between forlorn singer/songwriter and energetic pop gem. That also seems to be a strength of theirs...that's called talent. I'm also a sucker for well-placed hand-claps and Rhodes.

"We Could Have Met" - Nicole Reynolds - Unordinary Mind - Self Released

Nicole Reynolds is a charming and playful singer/songwriter from Philadelphia. She has earned herself a deserved reputation for simple, smart songs with lyrics that subtly tackle big topics. Her latest release, Unordinary Mine, is a collection of songs from 2007 to 2008. In it are loggers, prostitutes, a congressman, taxmen, Indians, a girl who smokes, a girl who doesn't, a canary, a fireman, and some other mysterious figures.

She is adorable! What's not to like? This song could rot the teeth out of a saber tooth tiger! It's like one glockenspiel chime away from giving me an aneurism. In my stupidest fantasies I am married to a woman who sounds like Nicole Reynolds and she says words like the ones in this song to me constantly. I seriously want to eat this song.