New Augustana - "Steal Your Heart"

Augustana is band I found a couple years ago and I really enjoyed their first album Can't Love, Can't Hurt. They are returning with a self titled album that drops on April 26. Here is the first single from the new album called "Steal Your Heart" and from their debut "Sweet and Low"



Augustana - Steal Your Heart

Augustana - Sweet & Low

- Spence

More New Fleet Foxes - "Grown Oceans"

Simply put I cannot wait till the new Fleet Foxes album Helplessness Blues. Check out the video for the new track "Grown Ocean", which sounds fantastic.

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo.

And if you have 15 minutes to kill I suggest you also watch this!

How Old Are You? from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo.

- Spence

Brett Dennen - Loverboy

Below are some songs coming up on Brett Dennens new album Loverboy. The album hits shelves April 12th.

Can't Stop Thinking About You by Brett Dennen

Surprise Surprise by Brett Dennen

-Bryce

J Rit x Jay-Z

I came across a couple interesting mash ups tonight that I think you may want to give a listen, Ben Franklin Cult from Dallas via Soundcloud mashed up Jay-Z and Josh Ritter. Have a listen.

Ben Franklin Cult - Dirt Off Your Locks (Josh Ritter x Jay-Z)

Ben Franklin Cult - Lark-Core (Josh Ritter x Jay-Z)

- Spence

New Death Cab for Cutie - "You Are a Tourist"

Ben Gibbard and his counterparts are back with a new single off the upcoming Death Cab for Cutie Album Codes and Keys, dropping May 31. I'm liking it a lot, and they will be in Calgary at the Coral supporting the new album on May 25. Should be good show and Gibbard may bring his wife, the most beautiful women in the world, Zooey Deschanel. I can only wish, anyway check out "You Are a Tourist" from Codes and Keys HERE.

- Spence

Submarine OST - Alex Turner

In light of Bryce's post a little while ago about the upcoming Arctic Monkeys album, I came across a interesting side project by the Arctic Monkeys' frontman Alex Turner. He recently developed original music (with one cover) for the upcoming British indie entitled Submarine. I'm really enjoying Alex Turner's more complex song writing style that continues with his side projects. Check out the trailer for Submarine below and "Stuck On A Puzzle" and "Piledriver Waltz" from the soundtrack, which is available from iTunes. Enjoy!



Alex Turner - Stuck on a Puzzle

Alex Turner - Piledriver Waltz

- Spence

Matthew Good - Non Populus and In A Place Of Lesser Men

Here are the two released tracks together now. Check em out.

Lights Of Endangered Species by Matthew Good

Here is the track listing for the new album as well.

Extraordinary Fades
How It Goes
Shallow's Low
What If I Can't See The Stars Mildred?
Zero Orchestra
Non Populus
In A Place Of Lesser Men
Set Me On Fire
Lights Of Endangered Species

iTUNES EXCLUSIVE

Darling

-Bryce

Matthew Good - In a Place Of Lesser Men

The first Single off of Matthew Goods upcoming album has been released. The track is called In a Place of Lesser Men. Lights of Endangered Species is the name of the upcoming album and is expected to go on sale May 31, 2011. Enough talking, check out the new track.

In a Place Of Lesser Men by Matthew Good

-Bryce

Pitchfork to Stream LCD Soundsystem's Final Show Live From Madison Square Garden

As you can see from the poster and title above Pitchfork will be streaming LCD Sounsystems last show ever from MSG. Any of you LCD fans should definitely check it out as the concert is supposed to last nearly 3 hours and will feature lots of guests and treats. The link to pitchfork is right HERE.

Jon and Roy - Homes

Although this album was released late last year I still want to make a post on it. Jon and Roy are a four piece folk-rock band from Victoria, BC. Spencer and I saw them play a while ago while they were supporting their last album Another Noon and now they have released Homes. They have a great laid back sound and it is perfect for the spring and summer that are coming up. Hope you and enjoy.

This a mix of their songs over the years, however they are all or mostly live versions. If you want to hear a new one I suggest you listen to Boon Helm. Some other good songs are Little Bit of Love, Another Noon and Get Myself a Gun which you can stream over at CBC Radio 3 or Jon and Roys Website if you want to hear their studio stuff.

Check out the studio version of Boon Helm.

Jon and Roy - Boon 'Elm by Jonandroy

This is the mix i was talking about earlier.

Jon And Roy by Hooge Studios

-Bryce

Bon Iver Releases Details About New Album

Looks like Bon Iver will be releasing a new album which is still untitled in June that will feature 10 tracks. This is one of the most anticipated albums for me this year! Read the whole story over at Rolling Stone.

In the meantime, enjoy the video for The Wolves (Act I & II).





-Bryce

Animal Collective made a MixTape

There's a lot of music in here... some good, some questionable. But I like it. Check out the soundcloud and tracklisting below. It is available for download too. Happy listening.

ATP Animal Collective Mix by All Tomorrows Parties

00:00 OV (extract) – Orthrelm
01:38 “Fireworks” – Animal Collective
08:21 “Norway” – Beach House
12:23 “Credit” – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
15:45 “House Jam (XXXChange Remix)” – Gang Gang Dance
20:12 “Heavy Water/I’d Rather Be Sleeping” – Grouper
23:00 “Cheaters” – Teengirl Fantasy
29:07 “Shina Blockas” – Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane
32:43 “Freeway” – Kurt Vile
35:15 “Up On The Sun” – Meat Puppets
39:14 “Vacuum Boogie” – Floating Points
45:17 “High Road” – Deradoorian
50:52 “Goumou” – Khaira Arby
56:06 “Oh Paris!” – Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
58:46 “Gentleman’s Lament” – Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
61:31 “Night Cream” – Black Dice
67:01 “Discover Your Colors” – Ear Pwr
70:13 “I’ve Got Drugs (Out Of The Mist)” – The Frogs
72:31 “Trashy Boys” – Tickley Feather
77:17 “Good Time” – Yi Yi Thant & Aung Heina
81:40 “Rookoobay” – The Brothers Unconnected
85:13 “Grim Reaper Blues (Live In Big Sur)” – The Entrance Band
92:26″ Mawak Lakhaal” – Group Doueh
95:55 “Raghupati” – Prince Rama
101:07 “How You Satisfy Me” – Spectrum
105:16 “Catch Attack” – Drawlings
109:14 “Al Anon” – Eric Copeland
113:10 “Melankolia (Edit)” – Vladislav Delay
122:01 “Four Violins (Extract)” – Tony Conrad
127:34 “Wended V – Mick Barr
135:45 “Fuck Mixing, Let’s Dance” – Zomby

Credit to Stereogum for this post.

-Bryce

Fleet Foxes - Battery Kinzie

Another track from the upcoming album Helplessness Blues dropped this evening. This is easily one of the most anticipated albums of 2011 and I like the sound of "Battery Kinzie". Have a Listen Below!



Fleet Foxes - Battery Kinzie

- Spence

Aidan Knight, Dan Mangan, Wildnerness of Manitoba

Just have a couple videos with some good music for everyone to check out. If you haven't already checked out these three artists you really should.

Firstly, check out Dan Mangan and Aidan Knight performing Aidan's song Jasper.


More Aidan Knight



And lastly, The Wilderness of Manitoba.



-Bryce

Justice - Civilization

New track from the french dance duo Justice... the track has been ripped from a recent Adidas commercial... but you should check it out anyways. Sounds like the Justice we're all used to. Both the commercial and the soundcloud track are below.



Justice - Civilization (Video RIP) by stopthenoise

The singles drop date is gonna be 4/4.

-Bryce

The National - "Think You Can Wait"

We don't normally talk a lot about movies on Blue Sloth, but when they involve new The National Song's we do. The upcoming film Win Win starting Paul Giamatti looks to be a good one and will be featuring a new song from The National called "Think You Can Wait". I'm really enjoying it, so check out the trailer for Win Win and the track "Think You Can Wait" below.



The National - Think You Can Wait

- Spence

February: Is's and Ought to be's

So here is the second installment of Is and Ought to Be, February Edition. Last months entry seemed to be a success and so were gonna bring it back for another round and see where it goes. For those of you out there who missed it here is a quick refresher:
This segment will talk about the most anticipated albums of the month and what were (is albums) the albums that lived up to the hype and what was ought (the ought albums) to be a great album. This is not a ranking of albums or telling you what you should or shouldn't listen to you, but take it simply as what we have enjoyed in the past month and what let us down. Enjoy and please feel free to provide feedback if you feel we missed something big or small (cause we love to get new music in our hands) or if you had another opinion on the music.

Lets get to this months releases.

The Is's:

Adele - 21



Even though this album was released every else in the world in January the official release for North America didn't drop until the 22nd of this month via Columbia. Coming hot off of her last album 19 Adele had a big release ahead of her with 21 and the dreaded sophomore flop. I was a big fan of 19 so in turn had low expectations for the new album but Adele was able to impress me yet again. The album starts off with Rolling in the Deep which we featured earlier on the blog and then rolls into another high-paced drum infused song called Rumour Has It. The album then drops into a slower pace with more focus on Adele's awesome voice and work on the piano with songs like Turning Tables and Set Fire to the Rain which are two of my favorites. The middle of the album then rolls into a more of a soul-pop genre with songs such as He Won't Go and I'll Be Waiting which are sure to have you tapping your toes. However, at this point in the album I find that it starts running into and all over itself. Don't get me wrong I think the rest of the songs are very listenable, but Adele sings every song about love and lost love which I find becomes tiresome after a while. Her voice and melodies carry it through but I would have been satisfied if the album only had the first 9 tracks. Once I get into the latter part I find that I quickly start looking for a new album to play. Overall, I think Adele has put together another fantastic album and I highly suggest you listen to some songs off of the album and look into buying it.
Here's a track to give you an idea of what you'll find on 21.

Adele – Set Fire To The Rain


PJ Harvey - Let England Shake



Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician and singer-songwriter. She began her professional career in the early 1990s by forming a band she named PJ Harvey which she has continued as a solo artist. Her high and fragile voice can be drawn to the likes of Cat Power and Feist. Her newest release Let England Shake which was released on February 15th is her 8th studio release and it is probably one of her best... however, she is not one to have two albums that sound the same. Throughout this album you can really feel her resentment against what is happening in her homeland England and also the World. The album is both weird and wonderful, but the way the album is structured it really keeps me engaged. When title track starts off the album with its haunting sound most listeners might wonder what they have gotten themselves into and it could be very easy to back out without hearing what the rest of the album has to offer... This would be a big mistake because it definitely grows on you. The second track The Last Living Rose completely changes the pace and has a nicer melody and easy to listen to plodding drum line compared to the previous track. The album then rolls easily into The Glorious Land and The Words that Maketh Murder which offer another unique sound to this every changing album. The middle of the album slows into a couple ballads featuring PJs bitter-sweet love ballad to her country England where the lyrics go "To you, England, I cling Undaunted, never failing love for you England."

Then another one of my favorites off the album called Bitter Branches chimes in with a fast strumming guitar line and lyrics that pierce through the speakers. One of my favorite parts of this album is how it is constantly changing and keeping the listener on their toes with lots of unique sounds and melodies. The final three tracks of the album change that trend though by not throwing too much new at the listener. This offers a nice close to the album with the synthesizers used in Written on the Forehead and the guitar in The Colour of the Earth. This album is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the year! Check out some tracks below:
PJ Harvey - The Last Living Rose


PJ Harvey - The Words That Maketh Murder


The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing



So if you have been tuning regularly to Blue Sloth, you'd notice that we, well especially me have been hyping up the new RAA album pretty hard. However, I struggled with the decision to make this album an "Is". Departing does not feature the heartfelt anthems of summers in Alberta that their debut album Hometowns did, but I still very much enjoyed this album. Departing features the RAA raw vocals, and penetrating melodies that you can't help but listen to again with songs such a "Tornado 87" and "Stamp". The biggest difference between the two albums and perhaps where the different success of the albums comes from is the seasons in which the albums are developed from. Hometowns featured emotional first hand account of summer in Alberta of love and heart break with songs like "Drain the Blood" and "Don't Haunt This Place". Where as Departing is for all intents and purpose a winter album with songs like "Coldest Days" and "Two Lovers". Both albums features very well written songs, but I feel the success of Hometowns exists in the optimism and hopefulness of summer, yet Departing fall amongst the cold, dark winters of Alberta, which trust me get old quickly. Highlights: "Stamp", "Tornado 87", "Two Lovers", "Good Night".

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Stamp

The Ought to Be's:

Bright Eyes - The People's Key



What can I say, I had high hopes for this album as we are fans of Conor Oberst (the master mind behind Bright Eyes). But unlike previous albums from them, The People's Key is simply disappointing. I found it boring and lazy yet trying to accomplish so much with songs like "A Machine Spiritual (In the People's Key)". Maybe this is just me but I think Oberst and the gang could have done a much better job and this may be my biggest disappointment of the new year. Highlight: "Shell Games".

Cut Copy - Zonoscope



Zonoscope was not a major disappointment but then again expectation for this album were not very high either. The album does have one definite highlight with "Need You Know", half way into March and I still listen to song quite often. However, the rest of the album isn't bad it just feels like a knock off Yeasayer album, so in that case I felt Zonoscope ought to have been better. Highlight: "Need You Know" (Check out the wacky, illogical sports themed video below).

Cut Copy - "Need You Now" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Well that's all for now, as always we hope this gave you some insight as to what is going on in the world of music. Stay tuned in early April for the March Is's and Ought to Be's, we promise!

- Spence and Bryce

Listen to The Strokes' Angles in it's Entirety Right Now!

The Strokes new album is available for listen on their website. Click HERE to listen to Angles. I'm currently listening as we speak and really like "Two Kinds of Happiness".



Enjoy!

- Spence

Video: I Know Places - Lykke Li

Sticking with the black and white theme of Wounded Rhythms is the new video for "I Know Places", one of my personal favorites off Lykke Li's great new album. Enjoy!



- Spence

Explosions In The Sky - Trembling Hands

Check out the new track from Explosions In The Sky from their forthcoming LP which has been long waited for since their last release in 2007. Grab a download too from the widget. The new album is entitled Take Care, Take Care, Take Care and will hit the shelves on April 26th of this year.

Here's the track listing:
01 Last Known Surroundings
02 Human Qualities
03 Trembling Hands
04 Be Comfortable, Creature
05 Postcard From 1952
06 Let Me Back In

Trembling Hands by Explosions in the Sky

-Bryce

New Alexi Murdoch

It was five years ago now when Alexi Murdoch released his first LP Time Without Consequence, and has been a long wait to hear some new music from this extremely talented song writer. But the wait is over, as Towards the Sun released today via Zero Summer Records. The 7 song LP features six new songs and "Towards the Sun", that some may recognize from soundtrack to fantastic film Away We Go, which if you have not seen I suggest you do immediately. The album is going for only $5.99 on iTunes. Check out "Towards the Sun", the title track from the new album below and "Orange Sky" from Time Without Consequence.



Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun

Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

- Spence

Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes Releases Three New Songs

The front of man of Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold has released three new songs available for download HERE. He released this statement,"One is a duet with my friend Ed Droste from the amazing band Grizzly Bear, one is just a new solo jam, and one is a cover." He also went on to say that these songs are not Fleet Foxes songs, but he wanted to get them out there. Check em out.

-Bryce

Arctic Monkeys - Brick By Brick

The Arctic Monkeys have just released a new song and video that will possibly be on their 4th upcoming LP. Check it out below.



-Bryce

The Stokes - Under Cover of Darkness Video

nuff' said



-Bryce

The Strokes - You're So Right

When Under Cover Of Darkness was released to the public ears I think many people were excited to hear that Strokes sound that we all know and love. However, with the 30 seconds snippets that are available for streaming right now over at 1077theend.com I think we all may be in for a big surprise. In addition, the sounds that are coming from this new track You're So Right it appears that maybe they haven't returned to their basics and instead are running away from them. Check out the track below... Enjoy.



-Bryce