How to describe the weather in Southern California, hmmm… Some would say gloomy or dreary. But after dealing with the crazy heat, this weather is perfect, calm and cool. It’s also perfect rainy day music (in our case, drizzle day music) and one of the bands I enjoy listening to on days like this is Fleet Foxes.

Fleet Foxes is what American Folk Music is, at its best. They welcome their fans with a combination of , “hits your soul” harmonies and sophisticated, yet can relate to, lyrics– making you feel comfortable and warm inside, without realizing it. If anything, their sounds are anything but fleeting.

Check out “Sim Sala Bim”, “Helplessness Blues” and The Cascades.

Feeling them? They’re on tour right now!

Jenn

Miss the sounds of Gnarls Barkley, OutKast, Lauryn Hill, John Legend and Black Eyed Peas (early years)? Fear not, Tha Boogie is here to give you a good dose of some funk, soul and fun that you have been missing.

Tha Boogie is one of the greatest bands popping out of the nuvo scene. With an eclectic mix of synth, guitars, doo wop and funky beats, they infectiously will out you in a good mood for the rest of the day.

Their EP, ” Love, Tha Boogie: Vol.1 (Steal This Sh*t)” has been circulating since 2009, but this year, they re-released an extended version of the EP.  Their Album, “Long Time Know See-LTKS” will be out later this year.

Check out, “Best Around”, ” I’m Peter Parker” and “I See You”

Reggie

I love dance music, I really do! But you know when you hear so much of something, that you need to take a break from it, to appreciate it again? That’s how I’m feeling right now. So I’ve been veering away from synth-pop, thumping basses and four-to-the-floor beats and moseying to  strong harmonies, grungy/raw rock. And Best Coast fits right in.

This trio’s carefree attitude matches the music. And I don’t mind that at all! Like everyone else, listening to “When I’m With You“  captivated me. With lyrics that make me become a hopeless romantic, and give me an airy nostalgic feeling where I imagine myself at the beach with a Gidget outfit, accompanied with Doc Martin boots.

Finally, after teasing us with EPs and 7″s, they released, “Crazy For You” and they did not disappoint. Check out, “Summer Mood”, “I Want You” and their latest single (video directed by Drew Barrymore), “Our Deal”

Jenn

Are you the type of person who likes to have their music on their iTunes organized with everything filled and correct? I sure am. If I know I don’t have an album in its right order or have it in the correct genre, it becomes this quirk of mine that stays in my mind all day, telling myself to fix as soon as I get home. This always happens to me after I listen to White Denim.

What is it about White Denim that always does this to me? Their genre.

I listen to one song, and I’m certain they are experimental rock. A song later, I change my mind and am adamant that they are Bluesy rock, but the next song changes my mind and makes me think they HAVE to be punk rock. So what are they? Even on their Wikipedia, it says, “Their music draws influence from dub, psychedelic rock, blues, punk rock, progressive rock, soul, jazz, experimental rock with home-based recording, jamming approach, intense looping work and unusual song structures.”

Their new album, D has tracks like, “Is And Is And Is”  and their Single, Drug, where it has this lingering and airy melody that transitions to gritty blues where you can feel the bass recoil and drums that crank up your bones. Even the singer, James Petralli transitions his cooing sounds to this dirty growl. White Denim is my very own music roller coaster.

So yes, I hear a Doors bluesy psychedelic feel in one song and a Red Hot Chili Peppers’ funk in the next. Maybe their style is: white denim. Where they allow themselves to use all their influences and make it as one sound that becomes consistent in itself. I’m going to let them work their magic and enjoy their music.

Jenn

I first heard Marina and the Diamonds a few years back, on BBC Radio, with “Mowgli’s Road” but it never went any further than that- BIG mistake. I saw her at Coachella this year and that’s when I realized I have been missing out on some really good music. Marina is eccentric and infectious with her electro-pop sound, who appears to be having fun. Basically, she’s Björk, PJ Harvey and Blondie, put together.

Marina and the Diamond’s album will be released later this year. Check her single, Shampain and get the latest updates of your new album.

Jenn

While everyone is listening to dance music or blues-rock, experimental and acid rock has been on heavy rotation on my iPod. Faust, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and so many other bands have influenced what is called, the “New Weird America” movement. One band that does justice to this genre is, Wavves. They have the perfect mixture of psychedelic-indie rock with a twist of the beach – perfect summer music.

Take a listen to their latest album, King of the Beach. My top 4 are, “Take on the World”, “King of the Beach”, “Post Acid” and “Linus Spacehead”

Jenn

A buddy of mine knows that I’m a synthpop junkie. So he introduced me to The Hundred In The Hands. And well… I’m hooked. As I’m playing this boy-girl duo, I can’t help but crank up the volume just to feel the drum loops pulsing in my ears, shaking into my bones and impulsively dance! Their music is so catchy along with haunting vocals, I feel like I’m in an 80’s club.

Check out their self titled album. My personal favorites are “Pigeons”, “Commotion” and Dressed in Dresden\"

With Keane and Coldplay out of the spotlight, my ears have been yearning for some British soft rock. But that’s ok, now that I found THE LEFT, my ears and happy again. I’m loving this Canadian band so much! With their spot-on melodies and a touch of romance in their lyrics, I can totally hear their music in a Kate Hudson movie or any other rom com.

I’ve been lurking their site every day now, they are doing some shows in the states this summer. Hope they come to the west side soon. I’ve also been spending my hours watching all their videos. Personality and they make great music? Now do you see why they are my new obsession??!?

My personal favorite song is, hands down, “I’ll Carry You“. Check them out, realize how AMAZING they are and get their Cellophane EP!

Jen

Let’s face the cold, harsh reality: the days of sixties rock and roll is over. The notion of rock and roll died long ago amidst hairspray and synth pop in the eighties. The current indie rock fad, grasping to sell music beneath a dead ideal, has sunken it’s feet deep into a nostalgic rock puddle. LA native band, Best Coast, has taken the tired idea and tried to make it their own. Their musical effort, reaching at times, is a lot better than the rest of what is out there right now. Already on the verge of a break, their song “Boyfriend” is definitely their stand out song. Check it here.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team

Everyone remembers the pivotal Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars, scene. How the mood and moving chorus felt as if it was synonymous with what we were feeling while watching. Well Snow Patrol has some stiff competition, in newcomers, Civil Twilight, with their Massive Attack cover, Teardrops. The Cape Town trio first blasted on to the music scene in 2008 with their album, Letters To The Sky. Since then the inevitable world domination with their music has commenced. You can catch some of their greatness on their Myspace.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team

UK duo, BIM, are the highest rated artist currently on my indie pop playlist. Their song, “Head Over Heels”, is incredibly infectious with circa 1980’s DEVO like synths and it doesn’t hurt that they are as good looking as their music. For a midweek pickup check out their song here.

Avery
Movie Song Vault Team

Sherlock’s Daughter, chosen from the lead singer’s love affair with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, offers many, many reasons for you to fall in love with them. The quintet’s song, “In The End,” reminds me of the very best from Metric and Broken Social Scene. A sort of collective music genius with cascading choruses and soft feminine vocals. Make sure to check out the rest of their songs on their Myspace you won’t regret it.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team

Remember the first time you heard a great song? Think hard. Beat pulsing in your head. Shoes tapping along with the chorus. Lyrics screaming feelings at you. Everyone remembers the first great song they heard. Mine was a Paula Abduhl song from the eighties, “Cold Hearted”. Extremely pop but so much fun to dance to. When I first heard “I Think I Like U 2″ by the French band, Jamaica, I wanted to just get up and dance. The arrangement is simple yet effective, much like a great pop song. Obviously because of the band’s French origins comparisons to Phoenix will probably be made but if you dig a little deeper the two are vastly different. Phoenix is a bit more polished and sophisticated, while Jamaica reserves the sophistication for the awesomely arranged chorus and intro. Jamaica is also a little more gritty. You could picture the two bearded, long haired French duo smoking Parliaments while working through the song. Check out their song here.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team

White guys wearing oxfords and top siders playing African drumbeat music is not a nightmare, it’s a common phenomenon known as Vampire Weekend. Since this quartet burst on to the music scene with their quick witted songs and pulsing drum beats, they have taken music by storm. Their latest single, “Jonathan Low”, which is going to be featured on the new Twilight movie takes their music a step further with a twelve string guitar providing much of the instrumentation in the song. Is it their best effort? Why yes it is. It shows a large growth from their self titled debut effort and is beautifully arranged. Check out their new song here.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team

Ever since hearing “Ooh La La” as a wayward youth, I have been immersed in Goldfrapp’s music. Everything about the music from Alison’s new look with each new album to the piercingly great synth beats is kitschy and fantastic. Their new album, Rocket, released in March 2010, takes the old Goldfrapp and adds a dash of Xanadu catastrophe. The duo’s second single, “Alive”, is pure electro pop, in essence a throwback to early eighties New Wave with a some interwoven disco beats in the dominant chorus. Check out the video for the song here.

Corey
Movie Song Vault Team