LYED Giveaway: Gerard Way Bundle

 

In honor of the release of Gerard Way's debut album Hesitant Alien being released tomorrow, Let Your Ears Decide is hosting a giveaway! Thanks to Warner Music Group, LYED is giving away a bundle consisting of a limited edition test pressing of Hesitant Alien, a signed album booklet, and also a Gerard Way t-shirt! Enter to win by reposting the contest photo (featured below) on Instagram & include the hashtag #LYED & tag @_emiLYED! Or you can (also) enter on Tumblr by reposting the contest photo found on LYED's TUMBLR. You have until Friday at 12pm to enter, good luck! :) Questions/Comments? Shoot an e-mail to letyourearsdecide@gmail.com   

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #46

(Shoutout to Butterfly Beach in Montecito for always being beautiful, especially on a Sunday.)

Hey you, welcome back for another week of freshvibesmonday, and as always - FVM is easily packed with some surprises and new releases. A few (of the many) highlights include the newest tune from NYC duo Yellerkin titled "Tools" which definitely takes you through a couple loops (and i'm not mad about it.) YACHT's forthcoming EP Where Does This Disco? is shaping to be a real treat with the latest release of "Works Like Magic." (Grab the EP on November 11th & for more information, visit Listen Hear.) 
Late last night (or should I say earlier this morning) SPLASHH released a second taste of their forthcoming album "Color It In." (If you've never had the chance to listen to their debut album Comfort, here you go.) Also, last week's Friday Fascination LANKS' "Brave Man" is an automatic staple for your Monday listening, and an even earlier Friday Fascination Olivver, has a new one "Keep It Sacred" that's on the mix as well. 

You're probably wondering why "Take It Slow" is on the mix because it was released earlier this year, but sadly I am just now hearing about LA four-piece Tapioca and the Flea (and i'm obsessed.) Earlier this week I made a visit to Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, and of the free stuff they gave me - I received a 7" of the Red Bull Record Store Day release which features 4 emerging artists. I ended up with some pretty sweet records to say the least including the limited edition release of Interpol's El Pintor that was only available in select independent record stores, take a peek at the rest below. 

Have you purchased any records lately that you've been super excited about? Let me know in the comments below! Hope you enjoy this week's FVM, see you soon. ;)

Friday Fascination: LANKS

You didn't hear me wrong, this week's fascination goes by the name of LANKS aka Will Cuming from Melbourne, Australia. If James Blake, Alt-J, and Glass Animals created a super-group - it would sound quite similar to LANKS' debut Thousand Piece Puzzle EP (released back in June.) What's amazing about LANKS? His music is equally mesmerizing as it is easy on the ears, literally. Plus, according to LANKS' Facebook page, this project hasn't even been around for an entire year - yet has released a grip of music thus far. 

Highlight of the EP? Hard to pick, but if I had to choose one track - it would definitely be "Green Light." It's as charming as the opener "Boniki" but flows to a different tune with the help of a guest female vocalist. 

Most recently, Cuming released "Brave Man" as a single in spite of a brief single launch tour taking place next month in Australia. If you happen to be in the area, grab tickets here. "Brave Man" easily reminds me of a Radiohead groove (which happens to be a big influence on LANKS.)

So what are you waiting for? Hit up LANKS on BandCamp and grab his music while you can, because I have a great feeling about the future of this musician. 

http://www.lanksmusic.com

LANKS on Twitter

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #45

Mondays aren't always a pain when there's new music to be heard, am iiiiii right? Pretty stoked to include two new songs from local Santa Barbara bands FMLYBND & Mexico City Blondes (who was a recent Friday Fascination.) With every SBTRKT release, I feel that I'm becoming more impatient waiting for the new album (but I have a feeling that it's going to be one of the greatest of 2014.) Thanks to The Wild Honey Pie, I recently fell in love with a duo that go by the name of Leisure Cruise (who released their debut album this year, listen to it here.) All in all, this week's selection is shaping up to be a good one, but if you missed out on FVM#44 - I highly suggest that you check it out!

Don't forget, this playlist gets updated throughout the week so as always, watch this space. 

Friday Fascination: Superhumanoids

To describe Superhumanoids as "music to help kiss the doldrums away" is exactly what I retrieve when sifting through the material that they've been releasing since their self-released EP Urgency (2010.) I consider this rising Los Angeles band to be a classic staple in my library, and I wouldn't be surprised if you decide to do the same once you're finished with this post. Cameron, Sarah, and Max formed Superhumanoids in 2009. After finally getting the chance to see them open for Local Natives at Southside Music Hall (Dallas, Texas) back in March of last year - I knew this wouldn't be the last time I would see them again. In fact, I was fortunate to catch the trio in Ventura earlier this year when they opened for Lord Huron at The Magestic Ventura Theater. 

Last year they released their debut full-length Exhibitionists via LA label Innovative Leisure. I must admit - it's a spectacular album, and sounds even better on wax. (Pick it up on Innovative Leisure's website here, or if iTunes is your things - here it is.) Last year they filmed a session for Yours Truly in LA at their own home, watch below or check it out on YT's website. "So Strange" is one of the prettiest tracks off the full-length, and to hear it in a different way such as this makes the material even more experimental. 

P.S. Next month they're going on tour with Erasure - the dates are below & if they're coming your way, don't miss out! (Grab tickets here.) 

10.15.14 / EL PASO, TX / LOWBROW PALACE | TICKETS (solo)

10.16.14 / DALLAS, TX / CLUB DADA | TICKETS (solo)

10.17.14 / NEW ORLEANS, LA / HOUSE OF BLUES * 

10.18.14 / AUSTIN, TX / ACL LIVE * 

10.19.14 / AUSTIN, TX / ACL LIVE * 

10.21.14 / PHOENIX, AZ / COMERICA THEATRE * 

10.22.14 / SAN DIEGO, CA / HUMPHREY'S * 

10.24.14 / LOS ANGELES, CA / THE PALLADIUM * 

10.25.14 / LOS ANGELES, CA / THE PALLADIUM * 

10.26.14 / VENTURA, CA / MAJESTIC THEATER * 

10.28.14 / DENVER, CO / OGDEN THEATRE * 

10.29.14 / SALT LAKE CITY, UT / CAPITOL THEATRE * 

11.01.14 / OAKLAND, CA / FOX THEATER * 

* W/ ERASURE

Follow Superhumanoids on Twitter

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #44

LYED has been a wee bit silent lately, but that's because I've been hopping all over the Golden State to catch the infamous Worlds Tour  (Porter Robinson, Giraffage, and Lemaitre.) Hands down this is one of the best live productions I've ever experienced and would see it again in a heartbeat. I can't stress enough how satisfying it is to witness an event such as this tour. (Get the 411 on the tour & tickets here.) I'll be uploading photos soon, or you can get a sneak peek over on LYED's Instagram! 

Super (duper) excited to let you guys know that LYED will be returning to Sacramento this year for TBD Fest October 3-5! With a lineup like this years, what's not to like about it? Hope to see you there! <3 If you haven't purchased your pass yet, head over here to snag them! 

Which day are you most excited about?

Friday Fascination: Olivver

Let me tell you about a friend of mine that likes to go by the name of Olivver. There's nothing I truly love more than getting the word out about someone who works harder than anyone I know. If this name is new to you, then here's your one-way ticket to getting hooked on the fella. It hasn't even been an entire year since he made his debut with "Purge" but already he's dominating the LA radio & blogs from all over the country. "Watch the physical and emotional purge below."

Not only is Olivver succeeding with releasing track after track, but is continuously keeping us on our toes in sight of what's next by establishing an empire of his many talents. Did I mention he has one of the best twitter accounts, ever?  
His most recent release "Not Going Home" is over on Hypem, and there's nothing better than showing love by "hearting it" by clicking here. It's off his upcoming debut EP Freak and I couldn't be more excited about this release. 

8 Albums Your Ears Need To Hear

If you thought to yourself at some point that there were a large handful of album releases taking place yesterday, you're absolutely right. Not sure how or why this was the week to explode with new music for the world to hear, but it happened & it happened in a way that is far from a bad thing. There were so many that I had to cap this post at 8. Spend the rest of your day (or week) by checking out the selection below because you're bound to find something & besides - this post isn't going anywhere. ;)

Delta Spirit - Into The Wide 

It's nice to hear from these guys again, actually it's really, really nice. This band blends alternative rock and country so well I can't decide what it sounds like more, so rather than spend time thinking about it I just choose to dive head first into the music.

(Grab the album on vinyl or cd here via their website.)

Interpol - El Pintor 

We can sit here and discuss that Interpol will never make another album that's as great as Turn On The Bright Lights or we can acknowledge the fact that Interpol has made an album post Carlos D & still carries the same drive that we've always loved about the NYC band. I don't care what anyone says, the candle that Interpol holds has never burned brighter.

(Get the album on iTunes here.)

   

BANKS - Goddess

Goddess is a great debut album from Jillian Banks with most of the material lingering our ears for the past year. I must admit the rest of the album filled in quite nicely with tracks such as "Fuck Em Only We Know" & "Someone New." 

(Take my word & go for the deluxe version on iTunes by clicking here.)

TENNIS - Ritual In Repeat 

Since the release of their debut album Cape Dory, the Denver duo have developed into one of the most promising indie-pop duos. Releasing Ritual In Repeat just in time before their US tour has me extra excited for their date at The Troubadour (10/25.) Plus, "I'm Callin'" is easily one of my favorite songs of the year.

(Grab Ritual In Repeat on iTunes here.)

ODESZA - In Return

Ain't nothing wrong with an album full of solid vibes. In fact, a good friend of mine declared In Return "dream music" over on The Kollection & I couldn't agree with her more.

(Grab In Return on iTunes here.)

Karen O - Crush Songs 

In short, this is the album I've always dreamt of someone like Karen O creating. "Do I really need another habit like you?" Centered around her life at 27, one (at any age) can relate to what Karen O conveys in Crush Songs, simply that having a crush can open the floodgate of tumbling emotions. Keep in mind, these are all demos.

(Grab Crush Songs on iTunes here.)

Like Swimming - Structures

This is the proper debut from the Swedish indie-pop trio. LYED featured LS a couple weeks ago as a Friday Fascination & ever since it's been nothing but good vibes coming from these guys. They recently announced that they're coming to NYC this fall, one can only hope that a stop on the West coast is apart of that plan as well.

(Grab Structures on iTunes here.)

Jhene Aiko - Souled Out

I'll keep it short & sweet. Souled Out is easy on the ears from beginning to end and drenched in sultry talent. Plus Buzzfeed featured an article titled "11 Ways Smoking Weed Can Improve a Woman's Life According to Jhene Aiko" so you can only imagine that certain things go well with listening to her album.

(Grab Souled Out on iTunes here.)

Other albums you should definitely check out while you're in the mood for new music:

Slow Magic - How To Run Away

Avi Buffalo - At Best Cuckold

Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World

Cathedrals - Cathedrals EP

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #43

This might just be the best Monday EVER! Why, you ask? As of last night, Let Your Ears Decide hit 1,000 LIKES on Facebook! YAY YAHOO YIPPEE SKIPPEE. It might not seem like a lot to most of you, but it is more than I’d ever dream of (honestly I figured it would just be myself, my mom, and my cat maybe?) This is so exciting & inspiring for the blog, as it comes right back to you guys on why I created LYED in the first place! (The more ears to please, the better!) Hope y'all enjoy this weeks playlist & don't forget to check it throughout the week as new stuff is added constantly.  Also, don't forget to let me know what songs you were a fan of!

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #42

Hope everyone had a lovely labor day weekend, and took it extra easy today. Wish I could say the same (whomp whooommmppp.) Keep an eye on this playlist as I have a good feeling there will be some delicious treats popping up in the next couple of days. Hope you dig the selection so far! 

In general every FVM playlist features a random picture I've taken of the ocean, but lately I've been borrowing images from a good friend, @_sasha.h - definitely check her Instagram out.