Features

Tired of the same iPod rotation you've had since you loaded your new nano back on Christmas morning? Need some new tracks to try and curb your adult ADD? Glide's Garin Pirnia has compiled his list of 25 new tracks to download right now to help get you through the last few weeks of winter.

1. “In My Arms” - Mylo

Scottish DJ Mylo finally hits the States with his electronic/sampled debut, Destroy Rock n’ Roll. On this song, Mylo mashes up two classic 80s songs: Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” and Boy Meets Girl’s “Waiting for a Star to Fall.” Mylo uses the former for ambient purposes and loops vocals from latter adding jumpy keyboards and self-made scratches that germinate into a effusive dance anthem. Mylo’s penchant for nostalgia and originality propels him into supernova status.

2. “3000 Flowers” - Destroyer

Canadian Dan Bejar and sometimes New Pornographers member records under the one man band Destroyer moniker. Bejar’s albums have always been profound yet difficult to take because of his sinister, yelpy vocals and enigmatic lyrics, but on his new album, Rubies, he becomes likeable. On “3000 Flowers,” Bejar exchanges his acoustic guitar for manic electric guitars and drums that eddy into something spectacular.

3. “Goin’ Against Your Mind” - Built to Spill

Doug Martsch and crew haven’t released a new album since 2001, and if this track is any indication, fans will be satiated on April’s release of You in Reverse. The song is eight minutes of furious guitar instrumentals ebbing and flowing like a rollercoaster ride culminating with talk of aliens landing. Built to Spill regain their status as indie Gods.

4. “You Broke My Heart” - Lavender Diamond

In the beginning, Becky Stark’s voice sounds meek as she sings about her broken heart to an uptempo piano/guitar/tambourine instrumental. As the song progresses, so does Stark’s cherubic voice. Her defiant vocals parallel the strengthening instruments indicating she will surmount her shattered heart. It’s an empowering track for anyone who has ever been wronged in love.

5. “Busy Doing Nothing” - Love is All

Josephine Olausson yells in fractured vocals: “Five movie marathons!” transitioning into blaring ska rhythms composed of loud horns and sax arrangements. This track is off Love is All’s debut disc, Nine Times the Same Song. “Busy Doing Nothing” develops into a chaotic and dizzying array of shouty pop music. It’s music for a night out where anything can and does happen.

6. “Lived in Bars” - Cat Power

Mercurial singer/songwriter Chan Marshall returns with her Memphis blues album, The Greatest. The song launches with a methodical piano, horns and Marshall’s beguiling vocals narrating on people and places. Suddenly the track picks up with heightened blues, bass, horns, and charismatic “shoo bops.” Marshall demonstrates why she’s one of the most genuine artists around today.

7. “Insomnia” - Electric President

Comprised of Florida natives Ben Cooper and Alex Kane, Electric President create lo-fi electro pop akin to Grandaddy. With his lulling vocals, Cooper sings about the stasis of life and finding yourself meshed with a drum machine and sweet harmonies. It’s an emotional and warm track that has already been featured on The O.C. Everyone should expect great things from this pair.

8. “Hold On, Hold On” - Neko Case

On her first solo album since 2002’s Blacklisted, New Pornographers guest singer Neko Case releases this narrative from the fable-centric Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Fusing together an arsenal of lachrymose alt country/gospel melodies and her searing voice, Case rambles: “In the end I was the mean girl with somebody’s in between girl/Now it's the death that I love, and it's as funny as real love,” on one of her most personal and astonishing tracks to date.

9. “Gold Lion” - Yeah Yeahs Yeahs

After three years, New York punksters Karen O, Nick Zinner and Brian Chase are back with a vengeance on their new album, Show Your Bones. The debut single is fierce as Karen O snarls and yelps her way through hammering “I Love Rock and Roll” riffs and churning, loud guitars. “Gold Lion” explodes with contention making the listener want to scream “fuck yeah!”

10. “Handle With Care” - Jenny Lewis

On her solo debut, Rilo Kiley front woman shows off her alt-country sensibilities and shines with this Traveling Wilburys cover. Implementing songsters M. Ward, Ben Gibbard and Conor Oberst in place of Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Bob Dylan, Lewis and friends turn an already good track into an even more expressive and infectious one.

11. “Heart in a Cage” - the Strokes

First Impressions of Earth has received mixed reactions, but “Heart in a Cage” is one of the better tracks off the album. Penetrating guitar rhythms crash and burn within the first seconds of the song as Julian Casablanca purges his heart out: “I don’t want what you want/I don’t feel what you feel.” The Strokes show why they still are relevant on this unadulterated rock n roll track.

12. “Dream Sequence” - Arab Strap

Off the Scottish duo’s sixth album, The Last Romance, “Dream Sequence” has an exemplary cascading piano melody that merges into illustrative lyrics about a burgeoning relationship. The group finally come to term with love eschewing their typical volatile verses to approach the topic with more optimism.

13. “Worms” - Beth Orton

UK chanteuse returns from hiatus on her latest release The Comfort of Strangers. “Worms” opens the album with its deft piano balladry and Orton singing: “I’m your apple eating heathen/the original sin/I have waited forever to love someone.” In a two minute span, Orton gets her point across leading into an album replete of folk gems.

14. “We are the Sleepyheads” - Belle and Sebastian

Progressing from their twee roots, septet Belle and Sebastian head into psychedelic, neo-soul territory on this upbeat track from their much hailed new album, The Life Pursuit. Echoing vocals, power guitar chords and bongos percolate to generate a fun and lively song reminiscent of 70s A.M radio.

15. “Alone, Jealous &Stoned” - The Secret Machines

Two years ago, this NYC trio released their stunning psychedelic/rock debut, Now Here is Nowhere. The Secret Machines finally return with this track from their upcoming Ten Silver Drops. It begins with an ethereal guitar/piano and solemn lyrics: “A boy waiting by the phone, alone jealous and stoned” and soon alchemizes into a jamming classic rock track full of guitar reverbs.

16. “Stray Talk” - Maximo Park

Brits Maximo Park had an affable debut with last year’s A Certain Trigger and this year they release an album of B-sides and demos called Missing Songs. “Stray Talk” didn’t appear on the former album, but should’ve. A minimal and tight acoustic guitar strums as singer Paul Smith mentions drifting off to sea and making mistakes. He goes on to dispense truthfulness: “The only one you really trust is the one who always lets you down.”

17. “Meteor Shower” - Rhett Miller

Old 97’s front man Miller just released his second solo album, The Believer. Coming off as a more pathetic version of Ryan Adams, Miller pontificates the sentiment: “Love, gets you in the gut/takes the top off of your head/and makes you wish you were dead.” Ouch. Sounding defeated as he belts out his hurt, Miller dazzles on this pop single with heartrending and soulful effects.

18. “S.O.S (Rescue Me)” - Rihanna

R&B Beyonce like diva had a hit last summer with the reggae “Pon de Replay.” This year, she releases another dance track from her sophomore album A Girl Like Me. A “Tainted Love” sample plays in background as Rihanna can’t contain her desire for a certain someone. She seduces the listener with her universal theme of not being able to get someone out of your mind guaranteeing her a second hit.

19. “Hide Away” - Rock Kills Kid

Los Angeles neo-phytes Rock Kills Kid release their first album in April containing this startling track. Jeff Tucker and group rock out in Jimmy Eat World style singing: “You’ll never know what could’ve been/and you’ll never see what might happen” as soaring guitars pierce the chorus. An angst-ridden yet hopeful song on trying to find yourself and waiting to see what the future holds.

20. “According to Plan” - I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness

Whew, that was a long title to write, and any band who’s willing to name themselves something so wordy deserves a listen. This is the best track from the Austin based goth group’s debut album, Fear is On Our Side. The song contains moody and atmospheric tones and a perpetual Oingo Boingo inspired basslines. But before the song becomes too dark, it picks up with a ray of hope.

21. “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby”- Islands

The title really doesn’t have anything to do with tumultuous couple Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, but it’s catchy like the song itself. Born from two thirds of defunct band the Unicorns, Islands release a Caribbean and Graceland inspired song imbibing infectious “doo doohs,” rumba beats and nonsensical lyrics: “Bones, bones brittle little bones/it’s not the milk you see, just the sun you need” shaping into pop perfection.

22. “Auto Rock” - Mogwai

Glasgow IDM group have been recording brooding atmospheric music for over a decade. “Mr. Beast” is their first album since 2003’s Happy Songs for Happy People and continues in the spirit of their previous endeavors. “Auto Rock” begins with a slow piano that builds into thumping keyboards and discordant drums climaxing with a final pound. Intense and cinematic, “Auto Rock” is everything we’ve come to expect from Mogwai

23. “You Have Killed Me” - Morrissey

The Godfather of gloom and doom returns with his follow up to 2004’s droll You Are the Quarry. In the past couple of years, Morrissey hasn’t lightened up as his new track features his signature pop melodies eclipsing morose lyrics. He continually repeats the song title and exonerates whomever the song is directed towards. May’s Ringleader of the Tormentors will surely be an anticipated disc.

24. “Love is a Number” - White Rose Movement

Influenced by electro 80s groups New Order, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, A-Ha and others, UK based White Rose Movement interlock damaging synths and pummeling drums forming an ecstatic dance tune. The track takes off with frenzied skittering beats and Finn Vine’s desperate vocals. Incendiary and non-stop, it’s retro at its best.

25. “White Daisy Passing” - Rocky Votolato

Pacific Northwestern denizen Rocky Votolato plays acoustic guitar on this wistful and folky track from his latest album Makers. He sings about sleeping on the bottom of the ocean and not being able to let go in a Elliot Smith fashion. The song crystallizes into a lovely lullaby.

And the Rest:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Dudley,” TV on the Radio “I Was a Lover,” Elefant “The Clown,” Ambulance LTD “New English,” the Liars “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack” and ” the Flaming Lips “The W.A.N.D