Two Words: London Grammar

I was almost finished with listening to Settle, the debut album from Disclosure that's been taking the world over by storm (or so it seems) when I stumbled across something amazing.  Out of every track that bounced in and out of my mind in a proper fashion, I found myself mesmerized by the last track. The song was called "Help Me Lose My Mind (feat. London Grammar)" and it immediately put my mind in a relaxing trance. Since then I've kept my eyes on this talented pop trio whose sound brushes the shoulders of artists like Zola Jesus and The XX. As I was on my flight back to Texas from California, I was thrilled to find this brand new from them called "Strong." For only being 23, Hannah Reid has the vocal capability that makes you want to melt into your seat from just how dark & captivating it truly is.  

"Strong" is off their forthcoming debut album that comes out September 1st. In my personal opinion, I am looking foward to hearing their full-length after falling in love with their short but solid EP titled Metal & Dust.
Check it out below, or head over to iTunes to pick it up for less than $5!  

P.S. Congratulations to Alyssa Maberry for being the 500th Like on Let You Ears Decide's Facebook page! You will be contacted shortly for your prize :D 
& of course, a very special thank you to everyone who's ever become a fan of LYED!!
If you happened to be reading this and are a blogger yourself - let's connect! I am 100% open to interacting with those who read Let Your Ears Decide & might have a suggestion or two... or seven! I  would love to hear what YOU think about previous posts or upcoming ideas! :) 

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New From Holy Ghost! + FYF

Holy Ghost! - "Dumb Disco Ideas"

Earlier today we were exposed to "Dumb Disco Ideas" (via DFA Records), the latest single from synth-pop duo Holy Ghost! I'd be lying if I said I didn't press play the second the song ended. Do I smell a summer jam? I think so. If you're a fan of DDD, pick it up over at iTunes. Here's the deluxe version of their 2011 self-titled debut album via Spotify featuring original tracks & remixes. Definitely spend some time listening to this album if you haven't already.

ALSO, the lineup for this year's FYF Fest was announced on Monday & among the amazing artists/bands that will be there - Holy Ghost is one of them! 

Last year's FYF Fest was one for the books, and in short - this year's lineup blows my mind every time I look at it. 

Tickets go on sale this Thursday (05/16) at 12:00 pst! Take my advice and invest in a weekend pass for this event - starting at $99, I have a feeling they will sell out quick. This lineup perfectly combines older legends with fresh up-and-comers, and hey- this will be MBV's first time playing in America since 2009..so what's not to like about this two-day festival situated in the City of Angels?   

'Tis the season for LYED FREEBIES!

What's better than free music that's worth a damn? While everyone is knee-deep in finishing their lists and lists of lists....I decided to do something a bit different (for LYED). This is the first of (hopefully) several posts that focus on music that's made available as a free download by the artists themselves. The gift of giving can be quite amazing if it's real. 
ANYWAYS... If you thought this post was a good idea, feel free to spread the word or head over to Let Your Ears Decide via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. 

YES, LYED finally has a twitter account that's made specifically for sharing all things music related for those who prefer the "twittersphere" rather than Facebook. So c'mon guys, let LYED know what you thought...these ears know how to listen. *insert winking emoji slash cheesy smile* 

To sum up this amazing "Life In Color" mix by a duo called Adventure Club that I've been praising since LYED first started back in March- there's a little bit of Ellie Goulding, a little bit of Disclosure, some TNGHT and a couple of your favorite AC remixes (to say the least). This mix is a little over 27 minutes, but it's definitely worth investing in for a little energetic pre-game ritual or whatever you feel like pairing it with. 

So.. what are you waiting for? Get it while it's in front of you!

Mornin' was one of the first Star Slinger tracks that I fell in love with, and to hear this newly edited version is quite a delight. Feel free to listen to this "2k12 edit", and if you're curious to hear the original - here it is! Definitely check out Star Slinger's SoundCloud for more gems! You won't regret it. 

Let me be the millionth person to say this... Jack Steadman is a genius. He's 1/4 of the UK indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club, and one hell of a talented individual to say the least. If you haven't stumbled across Steadman's solo materials,this is your time to catch up on the magic he's been making from the past couple of years. It was a bit difficult when choosing which song to feature on here... so spend some time on his SoundCloud where you'll find several free downloads as well as some unique twists to tracks you might be familiar with (cough cough for those who are BBC & Lucy Rose fans). 

July State of Mind

It's a brand new day, a brand new month // HELLO AUGUST! I thought i'd feature about an hours worth of my favorite tracks from the month of July before I dig into the newer stuff. You're probably thinking, "wait I heard this song back in May or June". That might be the case, but the majority of these tracks were featured on albums that were officially released sometime in July. I know, I know, there I go again with the music nerdism.

P.S. Shout-out to Chad for making it way too easy for me to figure out how to attach playlists from Spotify onto this blog! 

Oh yeah, "LYED" is 5 Likes away from 300 on Facebook!  Click here if you feel like helping a blogger out! 

 X

SUNDAZE

Welp, it's been real Spring break. Sadly tomorrow starts a new quarter, but what's really on my mind is the fact that WE LEAVE FOR COACHELLA IN 11 DAYS! So much excitement, and so much to do in such little time. I'm hoping to share with you guys as many Coachella acts as possible, but for those who dwell on my Coachella posts, I'll share some other tunes as well. 

Grouplove - Itchin' on a Photograph

I heard about these guys last summer when the track "Colours" was a free track from Itunes, and caught a bit of their set at Outside Lands Music & Art Festival (great festival to check out in San Francisco around August). I love watching bands live that have more then a few people in the band, as it's an experience to watch them feed off each others' energy. What I really like about this track is the way that it builds up to the chorus before exploding with intensity. The way Christian Zucconi's voice weaves in and out with the sound of the instruments makes it super catchy. Other tracks to check out: Colours, Tongue Tied, Slow. (DAY 2)

Feed Me - Trichitillomania

I literally screamed at the top of my lungs as I read that Feed Me was on the Coachella lineup. Thankfully I was in my living room, and home alone. I've yet to see the infamous "Feed Me" (also known as Jon Gooch). I was immediately hooked when I first heard "Pink Lady" around this time last year. As you already know, I am horrible at giving descriptions.. so by providing you with the videos I hope that you'll understand why I chose these songs in the first place. In ways this track seems repetitive but it's the type that you'll get lost in for 6 minutes and 46 seconds & not realize it. Other tracks to check out: One Click Headshot, Whiskers, Relocation, Strange Behaviour (DAY 1)

Miike Snow - The Wave

First & Foremost: MIIKE SNOW IS NOT ONE PERSON. It's actually three guys from Sweden: Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, and Andrew Wyatt. This is your ideal pop indie "band" with an electronic twist. The video for "The Wave" is the sequel to the video for "Paddling Out" which was the first single from their recently released album Happy To You. Words can't describe how excited I am to actually experience this set "live". (DAY 2)

Gardens & Villa - Thorn Castles

This was a great surprise to see a local Santa Barbara band on the 2012 Coachella lineup, and even better that it was Gardens & Villa. Pitchfork describes the bands' sound as "mixing gothic mysticism and hazy dream pop", and I definitely have to agree. I've had the pleasure of attending two of their shows within the past 8 months and with their last show at Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara, it made me even more pumped for their upcoming set at Coachella. I've heard nothing but great things about these guys and I wish them the best of luck! Without a doubt, catching Gardens & Villa's set will be a great way to start the last day of Coachella! (DAY 3)

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NEW BEACH HOUSE!!

Yes it's true....The Baltimore duo of Victoria Legrand & Alex Scally are about to release a new album titled "Bloom", and a few tracks have already been released. As tranquil & elegant as their previous albums sound, expect a continuation. I was very pleased with their performance at last years' Treasure Island Music Festival, as they played on the Bridge stage while the sun went down. The first single from their new album was released around 3 weeks ago and if you haven't stumbled across it already, enjoy!

Another track has also surfaced on the web, "Lazuli" which also sends a dark chill down your spine. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Memoryhouse, where I receive similar vibes.... this isn't something to do a keg-stand to, but more along the lines of when you have a night to yourself and feel like busting out a blank canvas. Or maybe that's just me......

p.s. do you recognize any similarities ?

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THAT'S ALL FOLKS! XX