shawn hewitt

if i had this entire album, i would go back and edit my end of year list and this would be in my top 5. this dude is absolutely incredible. AND I CAN'T FIND HIS FUCKING DEBUT ALBUM ANYWHERE. literally the only place i could find it online is amazon and it's a 22 dollar import. i may suck it up and order it today, cause this is seriously one album i don't want to be without any longer than i have to.

after reading a lot about shawn yesterday, i noticed comparisons ranging from (mostly) radiohead/thom yorke to rufus wainright to stevie wonder to maroon 5 and tv on the radio. none of which are without their merit. he's really managed to find a niche somewhere between indie and soul. and it's an amazing, amazing sound.

shawn hewitt on myspace.

download two tracks from spare hearts:
keep them at bay
one on one

video for try:


video for one on one:


- panda

shad - the old prince (2007)

you might remember shad from my earlier post about his first album, when this is over. well the poetic emcee is back with his 2007 follow up, the old prince.

shad's ability to ride a beat with his impeccable flow shines even more than on his debut, and his word play is definitely on point. all you common, talib, and phonte fans need to be dropping this dudes name in threads on your favorite forums. just be sure to tell em who sent ya.

shad on myspace.

download the old prince:


- panda

we're the red light sting!

i was absolutely sure i had posted about the red light sting before. but after checking our tags/labels, i realized that apparently i haven't. fear not though.. after this post, i'm going outside and kicking my own ass.

the red light sting were the best band you never listened to when the whole dance/indie/punk thing was big in the underground a few years ago (hot hot heat, yeah yeah yeahs, etc). take one part pretty girls make graves, one part blood brothers, and one part dfa 1979.. and you'll definitely get an idea of where the red light sting were coming from. i always thought they did an amazing job of standing out on their own though. while often being compared to the bands they toured with regularly from the seattle/northwest scene, they still had their own sound that was challenging, and made for an amazing live show. i had the privilege of seeing them on their last tour with gerling and daughters and good lord.. asses were definitely danced off that night. star shaped tambourine and all.

all the members have moved on to new musical and creative endevors (ache records, the epidemic, secret mommy, winning, baby control, etc).. these kids just don't stop. here's their full length album, split with hot hot heat, and 2 ep's for you to remember (or discover) them by.

the red light sting on myspace.

download their full length, hands up, tiger:


download our love is soaking in it:


download rub em down, rub em out:


download their split with hot hot heat:



- those pandas will get you in trouble!

(p.s. to anyone that does recall this band.. did anyone else have as big of a crush on zoe as i did? two words: jogging shorts.)

music video: the carps - heaven's gates and hell's flames (2008)

why is this canadian duo not your new favorite band? give me one good reason. you don't have a good one.. i know. if you haven't gotten either ep by these guys, i'd definitely suggest changing that asap. anyway, here's the video for "heaven's gates and hell's flames" off their latest ep, waves and shambles.



and just for fun, let's revisit the amazingness that is the video for "compton to scorboro".



the carps on myspace.

- panda

the carps - young & passionate days of carpedia (2007)

if you look at the carps "sounds like" section on myspace, it really does describe them perfectly..

"marketing companies say: it's punk rock with a gun to R&B's head on the dance floor."

canadian drum and bass duo the carps take the best aspects of dfa 1979 and add in their own soulful, R&B tinged flavor. add in clever lyrical ability, and you've got some fresh work. they've got a new ep coming out march 25th, and their working on a full length, tentatively due out later this year. expect big things from the carps in '08. let's fall in love.

enjoy their amazingly well made video for "compton to scorboro":



the carps on myspace.

download young & passionate days of carpedia:


- all the pandas i know ain't got nothin, nothin, nothin on me.

tokyo police club - smith (2007)

so we've posted about tokyo police club before, so feel free to read up and check out a lesson in crime there.

tpc recently signed to saddle creek records and put out an online/digital ep called "smith." most of these songs were available in some form over the internet, but i guess this is just a formal (somewhat) release.


tokyo police club on myspace.

download smith ep:



-tokyo grizzly club