WILLIAMHAUN

Thieves Like Us – “Your Heart Feels”
From their debut album “Play Music”
http://www.thieves-like-us.com/
This dance-pop album was created by an American and two Swedes last year and is finally getting a US release. Not every track on the album is a winner, but this one gets stuck in my head and causes some serious toe tapping if I’m able to keep the booty shaking under control.

Phoenix – “Rome”
From the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
http://www.wearephoenix.com/
I loved Phoenix’s debut album that came out two years ago and their follow-up is just as good. This French band (that sings in English) creates some great pop-rock that always seems to make me happy. Their recent performance on SNL is definitely worth checking out.

Animal Collective – “Bluish”
From the album Merriweather Post Pavilion
http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband
These guys have been making weird music for years and have slowly gotten more and more accessible. The latest album has so many layers and layers of sound and texture that I hear something new and amazing each time I listen to it. You’ll hear lots of folks reference Brian Wilson and Beach Boys when they discuss this album and they’ve got good reason for it.

Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead”
From the album Chunk of Change
http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
This group is like MGMT meets The Postal Service: catchy, electro-synth pop. The lead singer’s vocals annoy me a bit on several of the tracks, but the music is so darn good that I’m able to overlook it. This debut album is actually a short EP of just 6 tracks. In May, they have a full LP being released.

Bat for Lashes – “Siren Song”
From the album Two Suns
http://www.batforlashes.com/
Natasha Khan had stayed off my radar until I saw her great music video last year for “What’s a Girl to Do?” from her debut album. This sophomore effort blew me away and I had a hard time deciding which track to include on this mixtape. I chose “Siren Song” because the way it builds and builds and builds gives me goosebumps every time. Important note: don’t let the TERRIBLE album cover turn you off from her music.

Grizzly Bear – “Southern Point”
From the album Veckatimest
http://www.grizzly-bear.net/
These soft rockers are awesome. ’nuff said. Actually, no, wait – be sure to check out their first album “Yellow House” too!

Bon Iver – “Babys”
From the album Blood Bank EP
http://www.boniver.org/
This 4 track EP was just what Bon Iver fans needed to hold us over through the winter. The title track was inspired by a Northern Exposure episode (already the best thing ever). I chose this track for the mix because of its amazing piano track and haunting quality. Watch out – folks will give you weird looks as you sing along to your iPod in your falsetto voice.

Yo La Tengo – “Gentle Hour”
From the various artists album Dark Was the Night
http://www.yolatengo.com/
http://www.darkwasthenight.com/
I’ll go ahead and predict that this compilation album will probably be in my top 5 of 2009. It was produced by members of The National as a fund-raiser for Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Yo La Tengo’s contribution to it is one of the best on the 2-disc album.
But let’s talk about Yo La Tengo. For every over-the-top, ridiculously loud and/or silly Yo La Tengo song, they create one that is so simple and sweet that you want to cry. This is an amazing little love song – dim the lights, hold your lover’s hand, and listen to this track together.

Son Lux – “Throw”
http://www.sonlux.blogspot.com/
I learned of Son Lux from my favorite music podcast – NPR’s All Songs Considered. They featured him as a “best unknown artist” of 2008 and then I started seeing him pop up all over. He recently did some great remixes of My Brightest Diamond tracks for record label Asthmatic Kitty. This track was a new, unreleased on he posted on his blog. His 2008 album “At War With Walls and Mazes” is impressive enough on its own and then you find out that he singled handedly played and/or sampled every single instrument on the album – wow.

Dan Deacon – “Snookered”
From the album Bromst
http://www.myspace.com/dandeacon
Dan’s last album was insane. Great, but insane. I’ve heard him refer to his own music as “rhythmic noise” and it is just too hard to listen to sometimes. This new album is more polished and finds a perfect balance between the “rhythmic noise” and the beautiful melodies. I picked this track out because of the range it demonstrates in music. Be sure to watch the mini-documentary Pitchfork made during the recording & mixing of this great album – it’ll make you love & appreciate it even more.

Fever Ray – “When I Grow Up”
From the self-titled album Fever Ray
http://www.myspace.com/feverray
One of 2006′s stand out albums was The Knife’s dark electronic album “Silent Shout”. The Swedish duo are siblings and haven’t put out anything since then. Now Karin Dreijer Andersson has released a solo album under the moniker “Fever Ray”. The album definitely lives up to hype and this track is the one that really stands out to me. Watch its accompanying music video for a little extra creep factor.

Beirut (Realpeople) – “My Wife, Lost In The Wild”
From the album March of the Zapotec/Holland
http://www.beirutband.com/
This 23-year-old musician already has 3 critically acclaimed albums under his belt. This latest release is a two-part record with the first half being influenced by his recent trip to Mexico and features a 19-piece band backing him. The second half (my favorite) is credited to “Realpeople”, another one of his pseudonyms, and features mostly electronic music.