Los Campesinos, Ra Ra Riot

here are a few groups i've been listening to lately that are sort of in the same vein, sort of an indie pop/rock/punk thing with not all the usual instruments, los campesinos being a little more raucous of the two.  i would include vampire weekend since everything i've read about ra ra riot compares the two, but i've only heard a few of their songs and can't say i was as intrigued.  here are two videos i found on youtube:

"death to los campesinos" los campesinos

"can you tell" ra ra riot (on letterman)

Rachel Yamagata

a friend sent me Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart a while ago, and i really like it.  when i first got it, it was only in one folder of sound files on my computer, so i didn't realize that this was a two-disc set.  but after finding this out, it made a lot of sense, with the title and all and the variation in style.  the first disc is much softer and gentler with really nice string arrangements, and the second is much more rocking.  i definitely prefer the first.  the rock sounds slightly outdated to me.  but i do think it's an interesting concept.  i think the softer arrangements really showcase the full range of her voice, which sounds to me like a cross between fiona apple and damien rice.  here's "duet," which features her with ray lamontagne, who also has a great voice that is quite similar to hers when you put them up to one another.  

Mountain Goats: Satanic Messiah

i know i just blogged about mountain goats two posts ago, but someone just told me there's a new ep for free download (optional donation) called satanic messiah.  it's only four songs and i've only listened to it once, but it's not bad.  his voice reminds me of a mix between sufjan stevens and the weakerthans' john k samson.  you can download the songs at satanicmessiah.com

David Bazan DVD

david bazan has a new dvd out called bazan: alone at the microphone, and it looks like there's almost half of it on youtube.  i particularly enjoyed the more acoustic version of "i never wanted you" (3rd song).  he seems to have a penchant for themes of failed relationships and infidelity, but is himself happily married.  it seems the device is used to bring light to how flawed and wrong these sometimes socially accepted sentiments are, and how sacred love is.  or maybe it's just a strange fascination, i don't know.  enjoy.

The Mountain Goats

the mountain goats is actually the name for one guy, john danielle.  this is the first and only album i've listened to by the mountain goats, and i'd say it's not bad.  judging by what allmusic has to say about him, there are high literary expectations from his work and it seems as if the focus of his fans is directed towards this end and not necessarily to the musical aspects of his songs.  as far as the music goes, it's fairly simple and DIY indie/folk, though this album is apparently more produced than his earlier work.  here's the title track, "get lonely." 

Paul Tiernan

i went to see nick and norah's infinite playlist the other night, which perhaps needless to say had a pretty good soundtrack, regardless of how good or bad the movie was.  i think my friend and i both agreed the song that struck us most was this one--"how to say goodbye" by paul tiernan.  i was not familiar with him before the movie nor am i really now, so i can't make any promises about his other songs, but this one is nice.  it's very simple--just his raw voice and a keyboard (with a little bit of string action near the very end).  

Farewell Flight

like paste magazine (from my last post), it looks like relevant magazine features streaming full length albums on what they call the drop.  right now there's a band on there called farewell flight, who i am really enjoying.  i can't place exactly who they sound like to me, but i hear some slight death cab for cutie and coldplay influences in a few of their songs, and the vocals sometimes remind me of the magic numbers.  check it out soon while it's still up there.  if not, here's their myspace.  they have a song up there from an earlier, less produced ep that i'm definitely interested in checking out in the future.