Thanksgiving Day 2011: Ramblings & Considerations

In this edition: A Thanksgiving edition of Rain from the Cloud, samplers from Friends and Merge Records, news of interest, and videos!

Rain from the Cloud: Thanksgiving Edition

Alpine - Hands (single)
out now on Ivy League Records
Notes: This slinky, sultry dance number comes to us from Melbourne. This single from the Aussie sextet is the follow up to the Zurich LP. Watch the video here.

French Films – Convict from Imaginary Future
out now on GAEA Records
Notes: Jangle pop reminiscent of the C86 era of alternative music. You can pogo around the room and not feel guilty about it. Go ahead.

Goodluck Jonathan – The Future Got No Love For Us (single)
out 11/28 on Something Nothing Records
Notes: This Brighton (UK) based band creates emotionally fueled alternative rock. Their first three EPs were released as the LP, This Is Our Way Out in July. The Future Got No Love For Us is a stand alone single meant to bridge the gap between releases. Their second LP is slated for release sometime in 2012. And yes, they took the Nigerian President’s name.

Lulu James - The End from upcoming EP
out sometime in 2012
Notes: Ms. James classifies her music as “21st Century Soul.” Her measured vocals are cast over odd time signatures featuring beats of beeps and drums. It’s hypnotic until the break where she unleashes a flurry of passion.

Wowser Bowser – Water and October from upcoming LP
0ut 1/24/12 on Adair Park Recordings
Notes: This Atlanta-based creates dreamy, rhythmic indie pop. The two tracks area a contrast of styles as Water Story is beautiful and bubbly, while October is full of spacey chill.

Water [free download]

October [free download]

Friends Records Thanksgiving Compilation

The good folks over at Friends Records have put together a little sampler for your holiday, and it is free! Suck it, Black Friday!

Sorry, my pent up rage for the day after Thanksgiving took over.

This is a nice compilation of artists based in and outside of Baltimore. As our readers are aware, we’re especially fond of Future Islands and Lonnie Walker, but there’s are also tracks from Dan Deacon, Wye Oak (as Flock of Dimes), and Weekend. There are also a mess of tracks from people we don’t know, but soon will.

Check out:
Download/Stream: Friends Records 2011 Sampler

Consider these:

Aquarium Drunkard has their annual Alice’s Restaurant/Thanksgiving post up. In the post, you get a history of the song, the food, and some weirdo recipes to try. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Alice’s Restaurant.

Freebie alert!: Merge released their Winter Sampler! Go get it here.

School of Seven Bells announce their latest release, Ghostory, will be out February 28 on Vagrant Records.

Hey! Did you know that you can still get this recording free from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart’s record label?

NME released a bunch of cassette mixes in the 1980s. Most of these had indie/alternative artists at the time. If you’re a fan of this era and these mixes, check this out this site.

Do you find yourself humming the theme from Super Mario Bros. (I favor the underwater music from World 2-2], check out Mario Bros. Piano Medley.