The Music Minute

Despite clear popularity, Derek Vincent Smith (aka Pretty Lights) is still releasing his music for free. The Colorado based producer release his latest album, Filling Up The City Skies, through his website and in four months it had been downloaded over 70,000 times. Now he prepares to bring the beat again this month on Passing By Behind Your Eyes. It's going to be a hot Summer!

Listen to: Hot Like Sauce (from Filling Up The City Skies) (mp3)

Dark Mean is an exciting young band from Hamilton, Ontario. Last month they released, Frankencottage, the first of three eps for free here. The eps will be compiled onto their first full length recording, "The Constant K Determines the Ultimate Fate of the Universe", which the namesake they have taken from the play that is responsible for their existences. Dark Mean’s initial purpose was to write and perform the soundtrack to said play. Their just is have Bright Eyes and have dance-pop. It's charming and at times brilliant.

One of the more exciting bands releasing music on a Chicago label is not actually a Chicago band at all. Sister Suvi recently released the eclectic album, Now I Am Champion, on Chicago's Common Cloud Records. The album is at times tropical, at times indie-pop, and at all times original. Sister Suvi is part-time Islands member Patrick Gregoire, as well as vocalist/ukuleleist/violinist Merrill Garbus (aka tUnE-yArDs) and drummer Nico Dann. "Now I Am Champion" is available as a digital download for whatever price you would like to pay for it ($10 Suggested Price.) Pay a little more and they will send you a copy of the album on vinyl to go along with your digital download. For just a little more you can get a Sister Suvi T-shirt and a copy of The Color e.p. with your vinyl and digital download. Do it however you like, but you have to check this album.

Listen to: Desolation (mp3)

This past week Jens Lekman released the latest installment of his Summer mixtape series, The Summer Never Ends. Here is the tracklist: (excerpt from) The Summer Never Ends /// I Really Think That We Can Make It Girl /// Nicolette Larsson - Lotta Love /// The Embassy - State 08 /// (excerpt from) New Directions /// Coke Escovedo - I Wouldn't Change A Thing /// Filippo Trecca - La Morte Dell'erminia /// His name is Mikael Carlsson, her name is Alicia Keys /// Lamont Dozier - Blue Sky and Silver Bird /// Cat Stevens - If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out /// Jeff Perry - Love Don't Come No Stronger /// Good News - Australia /// Baby's Gang - America /// American Breed - Always You

Indiana's Joyful Noise Recordings is on a role, and their latest signing is of the near legendary Indianapolis band Marmoset. This trio has spent the last 14 years crafting a sound that is tightly wound, but clearly indie pop. The new album "Tea Tornado" will be released August 4, 2009 on Joyful Noise. Following the release, the band is going on a rare tour of the Midwest and East Coast.

Listen to: Peach Cobbler (mp3)

Andy Baio wondered one day, "What would the pioneers of jazz sound like on a Nintendo Entertainment System?". So his first project was to compile an 8-bit tribute to Miles Davis, but in order to do it properly he needed to raise a little cash. On the eve of the birth date of Miles Davis you may ask why him, and it was commemorate the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue". In order to raise the funds Baio established a Kickstarter page in hopes of raising $2,000. With 69 days left he has raised $5,400. What a remarkable backing for such an interesting project. Baio enlisted 5 bands to complete the project, Ast0r (Chris J. Hampton), Disasterpeace (Rich Vreeland), Sergeeo (Sergio de Prado), Shnabubula (Samuel Ascher-Weiss), and Virt (Jake Kaufman). Kind of Blue officially turns 50 on August 17th and that is Baio's goal for the release date.