It’s been a slow couple of months for interesting new music from established acts, be they indie or mainstream. Other than Kanye and Jay-Z’s epic collaboration on “Watch the Throne,” we haven’t heard much from the usual suspects.

But that’s not to say times are tough! Plenty of great music is streaming and downloadable right now, both from up-and-coming indie acts and locals. Here are my picks for the week.

Thundercat made himself known to indie audiences when he guested on Flying Lotus’ excellent “Cosmogramma” last year. FlyLo reciprocated by producing his debut LP, “The Golden Age of Apocalypse.” Stream it over at Hype Machine.  

Tulsa and Enid have combined to give us Good Morning Grizzly, a pretty, pop-rock project that put this first big track up for download. It’s called “Stars and Satellites,” and you can snag it at the band's Bandcamp page.

Hazy, Swedish, mix ’n’ mash duo jj have a new track up for download at Gorilla Vs. Bear. The lengthily named “You Don’t Know How Much It Would Hurt Me If You Said You Were in Love with Me,” it’s certainly creepier and sexier than anything they’ve previously recorded.

GVB is also streaming this new track from Twin Sister, who recorded one of the best songs we heard last year in “All Around and Away We Go.” Give ’em both a listen.

Okie Chase Kerby (The City Lives) is getting back into the pop-rock game with Defining Times. Their debut EP was up for free download earlier in the week, but now it’ll set you back $5. I call that money well-spent.

Peter Bjorn and John stopped by KEXP’s studios in Seattle to play a couple of tracks off their latest record, “Gimme Some.” Watch “Breaker, Breaker” (complete with cowbell!) below.



Ho, boy. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Much like the sneak peek at the single they set loose a little early a few weeks ago, New York dance-punk gods The Rapture streamed an in-studio listening party for their new album, “In the Grace of Your Love.” You might recall me blowing my top over “How Deep Is Your Love” a few weeks ago. This stream has amplified my anticipation for the album a dozenfold.



Oklahoma City rapper and good guy Jabee put out a remix to the track “Beautiful Day” off his “Lucky Me” mixtape. Give ’er the ol’ download and listen.

Also, Stephen Malkmus recently played a set of his new material at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. There, he also announced the winner of his blowjob contest. I promise it’s not as gross as you think.  



About a week ago, we heard a titillating tweet from James Blake promising a mysterious Bon Iver collab. It is now here and it is glorious.

When Blackwatch Studios’ Jarod Evans speaks, people listen. The guy’s worked with all the best local musicians around, and — with partner Chad Copelin — regularly works with regional and national-caliber talent. So when I woke up to find a Facebook message from Evans saying that Tulsa jack-of-all-trades artist Nathan Price has developed “2 or 3 records’ worth” of material with Broncho bandmate Ben King over the last two years, well, I got pretty excited.

Evans said that they’re looking to get an Ol’ Savior album out in early 2012. He also was kind enough to upload two unnamed tracks to Vimeo, which you can hear below. They’re soulful and steady, mostly acoustic, rich with grand piano and just a hint of synthesizer as some spice. Price sings low, and King sings high, and they complement each other beautifully.

I just can’t really get over how talented these guys are, especially considering how starkly this stuff contrasts against the punk music they’re gearing up to tour behind.




You can follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook for further updates.

Local guy Ryan Lawson has a Twitter handle, but not a TV or access to the Internet. Interesting.

He’s also got a bunch of good, authoritative songs in folk, country and bluegrass styles, so maybe there’s something to living out on the fringe. He also plays his guitar the approximately the same angle Paul McCartney played his bass, which you can watch below, thanks to the “Chevy Bricktown Showcase”: