This is about the closest you’ll get to Jeff Mangum, kid.

All right. Perfect response for seeing a new Circulatory System albums sitting in my inbox. Beautiful stuff.

The first release from the Will Cullen Hart’s new project since a space odyssey, and the first record involving Jeff Mangum / ex-Neutral Milk Hotel members in the studio, Signal Morning marks the return of a group of musicians who sparked an entire genre of music. The release has been highly anticipated and does not disappoint in any way. On first listen, the beginning of the album definitely seems spastic and rough, but anyone listening should be able to easily realize that it is not about the individual tracks as much as it is about the album. Including songs with melodies that are unmatched, but keeping them to only 24 seconds is something Signal Morning does, but it blends in nice with the rest of the tracks and the diversity of style that is found throughout all 17 tracks. Upon initial listening, it seems as if the bulk of the second half of the album is more for the easier crowd. It seems as if the group rushes into everything within the first couple of tracks but is able to control and calm themselves as the album plays on and establishes itself. Holding on to that Elephant 6 sound, this is a definite have for any fans of the “originators” of indie music. Also filled with a heavier dose of experimentation, which is a lovely experience when dealing with musicians and artists such as these guys. The three tracks I’m gonna spot out there are relatively short, but quite filling at the same time.

Circulatory System – News from the Heavenly Loom MP3
Circulatory System – I You We MP3
Circulatory System – Solid Forms Dissolving MP3 

B Keough

A Lot Going On

Ducktails: “Beach Point Pleasant” + “Backyard”

It was quite the pleasant surprise to stumble upon the psychedelic instrumental album from newcomer, Ducktails, titled, Ducktails, a cool name in my humble opinion. Only providing vocals for one song on the entire disc ["Mall"], Matthew Mondanile, the sole presenter of Ducktails and its music and a native New Jersey’n (clocking in at only 23 years of age), is able to create a short album of lo-fi psychedelic bliss. Taking the similar route that Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox found success with as Panda Bear, Mondanile is able to build up these nostalgic blips of fuzzy crackling repetition to form something so substantial and dream-like.

In “Beach Point Pleasant,”, the resemblance to something that would have fit as a b-side to Person Pitch is glowing. Numerous reviews cited much of Lennox’s album to sound as if it were under-water Beach Boys, and from the second “Beach Point Pleasant” begins on its repeat riff, the one that continues as if it is the soundtrack to a ferris wheel at the bottom of the sea, it becomes quite clear to see that the feelings evoked are not too different. Beach begins turning into a psychedelic jam, taking on chimes from every direction until it eventually but abruptly turns off as if zapped by a remote controller.

The opening track, “Backyard” is much like the entire album: not too long. The track only lasts for a minute and a half of distorted guitar pulls coexisting in a celebratory-esque chaos jam that shows striking similarities to Daniel Johnston’s style of unstable pop (mostly in the lo-fi drum beats that exists on several other tracks as well). It ends just as one is getting used to the new type of spaced out / electro warp rock, but the listener is in for another surprise as he is given the completely different “Beach Point Pleasant” to deal with afterwards. Enjoy the two songs, cover art at the top of post.

Ducktails – Backyard MP3
Ducktails – Beach Point Pleasant MP3 

B Keough

Ughck

 

Player

The Fall Fell, the Winter Won, the Spring Sprang, and the Summer Sung

There’s a certain sound that defines a moment – something that culminates all the energy of being without uncontrollable stress that finds its way into the air of the Summer. Handing in the final Final at the conclusion of last week’s five days of questioning my studying habits brought this energy to a boil, and all it needed was a song to hold its hand in the rapture of delight. This Summer Sung Award goes to a track from the wonderful The Walkmen 2008 release, You & Me which is like an ocean breeze blast from the past (not so recent past, but nearly a year). Anywho, this song goes to the Summer, and the Surp’s wishes for a very pleasant Summer goes out to all of you. More posts to come to make up for my excursion and descent into complete debauchery and pollution.

The Walkmen – Four Provinces MP3

BK

We Want to Dance

I hear that… I found the full version of that Housemeister club banger and I’d like to say that the track I posted below can go fuck itself. Downlowd this suckr instead. In other news I’m finally getting to hear the new Passion Pit release in full – oh oops- Manners and although it’s not as jump around as the track the Surp posted a couple a days ago, it’s still pretty intoxicating. Again, this is first listen, so things will change. Time to study sohsh and philm so that should be barrels of fun. Stay thirsty.

Housemeister – What You Want (Sirius Mo Remix) MP3 (Dat Real Shit)

Brian

New Passion Pit || Little Secrets + Remixing Contest

So the bouncy boys of Passion Pit are giving away free snippets of the song “Little Secrets” in a search for the most bouncy of all bouncy remixes. I’m telling you, judging by how bouncy this song is (and it’s bouncy), the remixes will be basketballs (get it?). Anyway I’m stupid so I’ll try and not sound like such ass face for a second. This song is really good – probably the reason I’m going ahead and posting the tune in its wonderful full state – which most likely makes me a huge jerk, but I really want people to hear this tune, because for a guy with two more ten page papers and three more three hour tests in the coming week, it really brightened up my day. The catchiness this group has been showing in their work is bordering the likes of MGMT and is very much solidifying the energetic electro-pop as a prominent genre in todays day and age. The addition of the group of children shouting out “higher, higher and higher. higher, higher and higher” is absolutely splendid. Anyway, here’s the link to the snippets and remix contest instructions, and here’s the tune.

Passion Pit – Little Secrets MP3 (Highly Recommended)

Brian K.

In the mist..

(via || Daily What)
Ohh yes, finals have began and it was the first wavve that was like a mist of shi*. Just the short drizzle before the storm really comes – should be a terrible next week, but once that is done, it’s the beach for a full week of pollution. I’m gonna throw a duo of tracks as I sit in this stupidly biased Knocked Up – Juno argument in some class I have or something. But the first is a great comeback? track from Basement Jaxx, I don’t know what it’s coming back from I was never involved with them much but it’s a pretty kicking tune so go to mediafire, then all you have to do is hit “Click Here to Download,” and it should be fine.

Basement Jaxx – Raindrops MP3

The next is a new single from the can-do-no-wrong group, The National, and I was really surprised, like it can’t really do any wrong. It’s pretty soft and slow and your all like, oh what the fuck The National, what the FUCK is this. Then you realize it’s pretty awesome and your premature examination of the song within the first 7 seconds was off. The inclusion of the female voice (not sure who it is) really knocks it up a few notches. Check out the tune and read above for instructions on Mediaflame.

The National – Sleep All Summer MP3

B T Keough.

Haidouken

C O O L

Kinda Like a Big Deal

Woah. Kinda got blown away by Kanye’s verse in this new Clipse track from the upcoming Till the Casket Drops, I’ve always wondered why the Clipse hasn’t collab’d with many big names and now that I’ve heard this I’m still left wondering why it hasn’t happened earlier. The track shows the duo in as tip-top condition as they’ve ever been, which makes me real hyped for this new disc, because their past two have been quite good. It’s also real nice to continually hear amazing craftsmanship from rappers around the area (VA), good luck to these guys on this release and check out the MP3, not bad… not bad at all.

Clipse feat. Kanye West – Kinda Like a Big Deal MP3

Oh, and a small P.S. (haha) – producers already linked to the project include Kanye himself, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rick Ruben, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, and Just Blaze, among others. I kinda have a boner.

Brian Keough

Dat New Cudi

Get the new collection of recent Cudi releases for free here. Plus an exclusive new track, entitled Daps and Pounds [MP3]

M P 3 || Chiddy Bang || Kids

The entire bunch of us survived the weekend at VA beach with very minimal damages, and one of my favorite parts of going away for a few days is being able to leave my laptop behind so that when I return there are brand new music possibilities waiting, hidden, on the intronet. This jams been out for a whiz-ile but I was turned onto it from hearing this little diddy from the Chiddy Banger [Chiddy Bang - Day and Night MP3]. Enjoy the day and the rays. Final week descends upon us all. All of us.

Chiddy Bang – KIDS MP3

finals

[ via || fabulations]

Old South Weekend

Won’t be here for the weekend. So I’m gonna leave a badass song right now. And a badass vimeo video.

Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Tiesto Remix) MP3

Not so much of a Moby fan, just liking the David Lynch aspect of it all. Guess the track’s pretty bait. Lemme know in the comments if you want the MP3.

The Word Bait

So I was just informed by my buddy at the Ratatat show at The National in Richmond, VA, that he heard a term I have been frequenting in the bathroom. I’m pretty stoked other people are using it, but at the same time it kind of puzzles me. I was quite confident I made this term (which makes absolutely no sense – it just sounds fucking ill) up out of no where, and now I’m beginning to question if I had just heard it at some point and days later it surfaced from the depths of my subconscious. Hopefully I can be labeled as one of the renegades who fought to make this word sound cool, even though the term has no reference to anything, anyway, I’m kind of blabbering about nothing. But…

Bait – adjective – Bait – Something is bait when something is beyond cool, something just so fresh and different and fly that the only word that can be used to describe it is bait. Times you can use bait – “shit man, that song is so bait,” “man, that time your girlfriend fuc*ed that other guy was not bait in any way,” “Hey man, wanna go see the Informers?” – response – “bait.”

So I hope this post can be put into records and I won’t get jipped on this excellent word. Anyway, pissed I’m missing Ratatat but that’s why I shouldn’t drink on Sundays. Enjoy this remix, everybody loves a Ratatat lady…

RATATAT – Mirando (Animal Collective Remix) MP3

Alternate Video: Animal Collective || My Girls

Oh yeah!

Okay, so because of recent interest from some buddies of mine on what the Surp is all bout, mixed with a long desire of mine to take a big step forward, I’ve decided to try and take this shit to the next level. I guess what that entails is looking for someone who can design a crazy sexy cool website for me so I don’t have to use some default template and adding some contributors (if you haven’t caught on, it’s really been me writing all of the posts and unfortunately not Martin Gary or Jack Bauer – the “post by thatguyfromla” kind of gives it away) that will hopefully add a whole new level to the Surp and diversify the type of material along while helping make numerous posts and features feasible and frequent. There shouldn’t be any change in how the site is being run while this little project is in production, but there may be a little bit of lack coming up because it’s coming to the end of the school year and everything is just being squished in last second. Anyway, I’ll leave y’all with some cool songs that I like.

Eminem – We Made You MP3 (New Single) [Not very great-but hey, that's just me]
Dananananaykroyd – Black Wax MP3
The Shins – Plenty Is Never Enough (Tenement Halls Cover) MP3
Tenement Halls – Plenty Is Never Enough MP3
Wale – Penthouse Fantasy MP3

brian keough

Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West, Common – Poke Her Face [Song of the Week]

Just heard this jam today and it’s one of those tracks that gets you right away. I know I’ve turned the Surp into a Kid Cudi fan site, but these songs just keep surfacing and they’re pretty hard to ignore. This one features Kanye and Common and goes down the impromptu song about head road. Featuring a ragtime remix of Lady Gaga’s poker face to back the thumping beat, the track really showcases Kid Cudi’s flow.. And having Kanye on a track never really hurts.

SONG OF THE WEEK

 

Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Common – Poke Her Face MP3

Martin Gary

THE ODE TO SLIPPI

Since one of my favorite bands has been jamming a killer new version of “Slippi” live in their past few shows, I found myself with a need to go back and check this song out again because I had never really felt truly connected to the slip and its Here Comes the Indian neighbors.

I think everyone can agree that this song is very rough and rigid on first listen, but to be fair, it requires some getting used to. For Gods sake, Avey jumps in the ring within a second of the song beginning and it’s not one of his eased in “Banshee Beat” vocals, it’s him in the brief instance before his signature playful freak out. Yet, Slippi is most definitely different. It finds the entire band on the same level of this freak out, almost like it’s an explosion of electronics and drums while a melody floats along in the slipstream.

The track is like a party, or a workout. It is as if so much tension has built up and the song begins right as it is being emptied and shot around like shook up pop. This is one of the easiest interpretations of what a “jam” for Animal Collective would be. It’s playful, filled with conflicting noises, battling for the loudest role, a mesmerizing melody is always around, to comfort the listening so they don’t get too weirded out. To discover the idea of the song through the lyrics adds to the effect of the musical parade happening around them. The melody now reminds you of a romantic tropical theme to a mad love. To say the words are ambiguous is an understatement, and there may be many interpretations of what they mean, but they are without a doubt passionate. The song rolls to an end that mirrors a group of island dancers and musicians collapsing off their feet into a seat, cooling off from the tribal dance, and the drums are all that’s left. As islanders chant and sing and clap the melody out until the sound fades to black.

This song is a song from paradise, and the childish screams and lyrics shows how this band is able to bottle up their primal and youthful energy and dispense it whenever they please.

SONG OF THE WEEK

 

Animal Collective – Slippi MP3

Brian K.

Kanye West Shot Dead in Gang Fight

Mine was so good.

Kanye West – Punch Drunk Love (feat. Common) MP3
Kanye West – Sky High feat. Kid Cudi MP3

bk