...and we're back!

Happy New Year people! Nothing like celebrating with a little bubbly and some of the best songs from 2010.



Matt & Kim-Cameras

Happy Holidays from High Fidelity!

Hello, Brooklyn

 

Search Party - Small Black

Despicable Dogs - Small Black

Photojournalist - Small Black

Rarities:1985

Check out a total flashback to 1985 with The Kinks' frontman Ray Davies' short film Return to Waterloo.Coming from the album of the same name, we gotta say, the man's a genius. This cult classic uses haunting songs and lyrics to tell the story rather than dialogue. Now days the average viewer would say the effects are almost laughable, but it's a unique blend of music, video, and cinema.

Australian Airwaves

Rabbit Song - Boy & Bear

Mexican Mavis - Boy & Bear

Blood to Gold - Boy & Bear

Au Courant

Megan Washington solidified her position in the Australian music scene as her debut album I Believe You Liar became the highest selling Australian album by a novel artist this year. Check out why Melbourne's going mad.

Rich Kids - Washington

Sunday Best - Washington

Song of the Day

So damn catchy.

Dancing with the DJ - The Knocks

Flashback: 2009

Sunlight - Bag Raiders

Shooting Stars - Bag Raiders

Freedom Express Line

He's part poet, part reggae, and part hip-hop. No wait, he's Cymarshall Law.  Partially raised in the UK to Jamaican parents, he was constantly surrounded by music that by the time he found niche, it was just natural to him. He completely embodies the term "indie": he's a self-developed artist, his albums are fully self-funded, and he's been independently managing his whole game.  His latest album Freedom Express Line, is a full collaboration with Sweedish producers, The Beatnikz. It goes from one spectrum to the other: personal to outspoken, romantic to political, and it all just works out beautifully.

The Flyness
Believe This

How the West was Won

Close friends with fellow LA band, the Local Natives, The Union Line has capitalized on their fame. As Local Natives began to tour the United States, they brought along their friends as an opening act, but this isn't the first time The Union Line has been in the spotlight. Just last year, the band opened for Grizzly Bear.

Pearls - The Union Line

Goldmine - The Union Mine

Complete Strangers

For anyone who hasn't heard of the LA based band, Local Natives, their music is intoxicating. In February, the young quintet released their debut album, Gorilla Manor. It is absolutely flawless. As the album progresses, there is an absolute variation in sound and lyrics, but at the same time, the album is totally cohesive. With a new year looming, we are contemplating the best new groups of 2010. Local Natives definitely has my vote.

Wide Eyes - Local Natives

Camera Talk - Local Natives

Airplanes - Local Natives

Sun Hands - Local Natives

Who Knows Who Cares - Local Natives

Sunny Daze

Earlier this fall, Canadian band Mathemagic paired up with Young Prisms to produce a "7 split record . In addition, the trio released a new track, Sequin. Refreshingly, the track commences with an unique xylophone beat. Heightening the tropical vibe, the band then adds a tambourine, Caribbean drum, and additional unconventional instruments. Once the lyrics begin, it is clear that the airy lyrics and blithe rhythm are enlivening.

Sequin - Mathemagic

Backstroke - Mathemagic

Breaststroke - Mathemagic

Of Montreal

Despite their relatively stereotypical image, Land of Talk sets themself apart from other Canadian indie bands. Mesmerizing audiences with her enchanting vocals, lead singer Elizabeth Powell continues to draw fans. After a listen, you'll surely understand why we're in love.

May You Never - Land of Talk

Some Are Lakes - Land of Talk

Quarry Hymns - Land of Talk

Blangee Blee - Land of Talk

Bitter Sweet

Nashville, Tennesse- home to countless country stars, and more recently, songstress Tristen. Early next year, the artist will be releasing her debut album, which we can predict will be a further blend of folk, indie, and country. Keep a look out for her album in February  2011!

Baby Drugs - Tristen

Eager for Your Love - Tristen

Danish Delight

Similar to MGMT, but with a less psychedelic vibe, Treefight for Sunlight produces an interesting indie-pop, different from any other we've ever seen before.

What Became of You and I - Treefight For Sunlight

Facing the Sun - Treefight for Sunlight

Essex Emigrated

English duo, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, unites electronic "Dubstep" beats with rap lyrics, producing an unconventional and hip, urban vibe.
Sick Tonight - Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

A Bohemian Nine Lives

Though only twenty-one, Xavier Bacash and Lionel Towers are no tyros when it comes to music.  At a young age, Lionel studied classical piano while Xavier played the drums, and in the following years, the two continued to orient their lives around music. Both DJs in Melbourne, the duo shared a common love for electronica, deep bass, and French discotheque. After meeting, Xavier and Lionel decided to form a band, Gypsy & The Cat, and began playing in a dingy, unpretentious garage. Soon, the two became notorious with the Melbourne party scene for their quivering beats and lamentable lyrics that oftentimes echoed through clubs and music halls, and within months, they had acquired international attention from the reputable Mark Ronson.  

The Pipers Song - Gypsy & The Cat

Jona Vark - Gypsy & The Cat 

Time to Wander - Gypsy & The Cat 

'Til Tomorrow - Gypsy & The Cat 

Music Picks of the Day: Ska

Ah, savor the smooth Caribbean Ocean air, white sandy beaches, and that crisp Red Stripe beer hitting your taste buds. Drooling yet? We're taking you back to one of the most influential genres of music: Ska (pronounced: skah). A traditional Jamaican musicform, Ska/rocksteady ultimately is the precursor to reggae and rocksteady, created in the early 1960s to keep kids swinging on the dancefloor in basements. Originally, it's a blend of Caribbean calypso and mento sounds, mixed in with American R&B and Soul, and it soon blasted to become a large underground subculture. Notable artists include Prince Buster, the Skatalites, and of course, the Wailers. Eventually, it made its way across to the pond, becoming popular with British mods, listening in on their transistor radios and hitting the town on Lambretta scooters. With its hypnotic beats, horns, and rhythmic guitar playing, Ska will for sure keep you moving. Have a listen:

Prince Buster-Al Capoone (1964)


The Wailers-Simmer Down (1963)

Kiss the Bird

Ghostface Killah is releasing his ninth album The Apollo Kids on December 14th, and from the sounds of his latest single, fans alike can anticipate a solid compilation.
Together Baby - Ghostface Killah

Opening Minds

Reading Rainbow is back? No, the beloved children's television show has unfortunately not returned, but Philadelphia's famously hipster band has. After their former band dissembled, they were left stranded and forced to improvise. Sarah was new to performing, and Robbie was a definite amateur when it came to playing the drums. Oddly enough, however, the two prove increasingly successful. For the last year or so, the married couple has been rapidly producing song after song [31 to be exact], while maintaining their personal modality by producing 7" records for each album. Inspired by the always influential bands of yesteryear, the duo evokes a nostalgic feel with their 50's, 60's, and 70's style music, and with a few exceptions, the compositions are retro and upbeat.

Always On My Mind - Reading Rainbow

Wasting Time - Reading Rainbow