LISTEN: Lushlife Shares "Big Sur" From New LP

One of my favorite releases of last year was Philly MC Lushlife's fantastic mixtape No More Golden Days. As an introduction to his music, it made a pretty long-lasting impression and got me excited for what was next. Well, what's next is the release of his new LP, Plateau Vision, featuring guest spots from Styles P, Heems, Andrew Cedermark, Shad, and others. From that comes "Big Sur," which you can spin below.

REVIEW: Cheyenne Marie Mize - We Don't Need

Cheyenne Marie Mize - We Don't Need
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Unassuming things are always those that strike the deepest chord within us. Catching us off guard, they are the things that we receive with no pretense, or preconceived notions; they are pure and free, taken in as they come. The unassumingly charming Cheyenne Marie Mize comes across as a relatively quiet person, one who you only get to know through her music. Honesty and profundity abound on her latest release, the six-song We Don’t Need.

"2 Sides of Love": A 14-Track Valentine's Day Mix for You and Yours

I mentioned it on Twitter last night, and here it is. A little mix I made for Valentine's Day to share with you all. It's got new and old stuff. 14 tracks for the 14th. Enjoy.

LISTEN: "2 Sides of Love" Valentine's Day Mixtape

Note: You must have Spotify to listen.

Bard & Mustache Live Performance & Interview: A Real Valentine's Day Treat

Greg Bortnichak and Erin Murphy are two of the finest human beings I've had the pleasure of meeting, part of the reason why their existence as Bard and Mustache is all the more special. Aside from being incredibly talented musicians and proponents, and torchbearers, of Sarasota's burgeoning music scene, Greg and Erin are a couple. There've been plenty of relationships in music throughout the ages that have resulted in some great duets/duos, but there's something particularly lovely about the bond between these two musicians -- something that thrives and reveals itself through their music. It seems only fitting that I've the distinct pleasure and honor of sharing and debuting a live performance and interview with Bard and Mustache -- a perfect post to share on this Valentine's Day holiday.

LISTEN: Young Magic - "Sparkly" + "You With Air"

As trite as it is to say, the best word to describe Young Magic's sound would have to be "magical." It really only scratches the surface of what they're doing, but it casts you off in the right direction. At once ethereal and assertive, this Brooklyn trio creates music that skirts the line between pop and alternative classifications: you'll find elements of ambient, hip hop, psych, and electro pop all seamlessly intertwining. The hooks here are just as magnetic as the neon painted skies at sunset, but there is also a haze of mystery to it all that keeps it from feeling safe, or predictable. It could simply be haunting, but it's not. It could simply be spacey, but it's not. It could simply be quirky pop, but it's not. It's a mix of all of these things, and that's why it wraps up your attention so well.

LISTEN: David Loris & Co.

On the self-titled David Loris & Co., Rome's David Loris shares simple yet evocative songs that recall the rhythmic foundation of traditional folk, the lush, acoustic orchestration of The Beatles, and the gentle touch of Elliott Smith. Between acoustic guitars and distinctive mandolin, Loris (and co.) produce light, rhythmic, and sugar sweet songs that fall somewhere between indie pop and folk. The sprightly, accentuated instrumentation makes the music all the more appealing and effective. It's soothing, energetic, playful, and charming acoustic folk-based pop that makes even the darkest of days open for a bit of sunshine.

Hear David Loris & Co. and download it for free below.

Listen To the Life of A Tree, Just Like a Vinyl Record

For those of you that missed it, German artist Bartholomäus Traubeck is a genius. Why? Well, Traubeck has created a way to translate tree rings into music in a project appropriately titled "Years." These circular patterns inside tree trunks have long since been a way to learn about the life of a tree, which seems like a rather dry way of discovering the details on these significant organisms. On the other hand, music has always presented itself as an exciting and terrific way of documenting history, as well as the best, most genuine way of expressing one's story, and journey. Trees may be stationary objects and seem like very simple elements of our world's landscape, but hearing their lives will certainly change your view of them in the future.

Traubeck modified and developed a special record player that uses a camera to read tree rings. Spinning sliced discs of wood, these lines are read and translated into incredibly beautiful piano music. This is really something you have to see and hear.

SEE & HEAR: Little Racer - "Split For the Coast" + "The Town"

Little Racer was, like many things, something I missed last year. The Brooklyn trio released a few singles at the tail end of 2011, the most recent being the "Split For the Coast"/"The Town" single. If you're anything like me, you'll be shaking your head for a while after you hear these songs, frustrated that you're just hearing them now in the second month of 2012. While it seems like every band under the sun is sprouting out of Brooklyn, Little Racer, after just a few songs, seem to be onto something worth repeated listens. Mixing the carefree cool and verve of surf rock, the charm of '60s pop, the energetic roll of garage rock, and vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys (if they were more of a garage rock band), their songs are effortlessly infectious while still sounding somewhat adventurous ("The Town" is built around the sound of bossa nova). And while there are plenty of bands working that whole '50s/'60s-style harmonies over sharp garage rock thing, Little Racer are dynamic with their approach, seeming just as interested in melody and harmony as they are with instrumental and stylistic shifts.

REVIEW: The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know

The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know
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The Twilight Sad are one of the few bands capable of genuinely turning darkness into underappreciated beauty; sorrow sounds seductive and rather enrapturing in their hands. Over the course of two albums and a handful of EPs, the Scottish band have made a name for themselves with their brooding yet rousing songs rooted deeply in shoegaze’s vast, enveloping character. On their third full-length album, No One Can Ever Know, they turn towards a darker direction, walking into the shadowy world of industrial-leaning new wave.