CNN: Indie Asia on Tour w/ Handsome Furs

I was checking out Handsome Furs' Myspace tonight to see what they've been up to lately and noticed they are currently being featured in a CNN travelogue docu-series called "Indie Asia on Tour with Handsome Furs." A new episode will be featured every Thursday on CNN.com, a must watch if you're a fan of Handsome Furs and traveling. Click on the above video to play.

SURFER BLOOD | Astro Coast | Swim Video

I've been listening to Surfer Blood's full length Astro Coast for the last couple of days and have to say it's fantastic! Are there any other bands from West Palm Beach, Florida? If you're into any of the indie/alternative bands to release music in the last 10-20 years, the best description I can come up with of Surfer Blood is that they're a conglomeration of all that is notable: Pavement, Arcade Fire, The Shins, Band of Horses, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, Weezer (1st album), etc..... With a touch of reverb thrown in for good measure (see surf music).

Looks like West Palm Beach, Florida now have their very own flagship band and maybe it will become the new Brooklyn(?). You can download the song "Swim (to reach the end)" from Astro Coast via P4K and watch the video for the same song below:

Spoon: 01/18/10 | L.A.'s El Cid

If you're like me and heard about the secret Spoon show at Los Angeles' El Cid by the time it had already happened, here's a really good video posted at Grimy Goods that documented the event.

Blur: No Distance Left to Run | Documentary

If you're a Blur fan like yours truly, I noticed the below trailer the other day and thought I'd share. Looks like it will first be released in the UK this month and then on DVD next month in the states.

Spoon's 'Transference' | Exclusive First Listen

NPR is streaming Spoon's new album Transference, see below player, right now before the official release date of 01/19/10. The band decided to DIY it this time around without the help of a producer, which I think was a wise decision as this one goes back to the sound of Girls Can Tell and A Series of Sneaks. Britt Daniel doesn't need a dude meddling with his genius anyway. The songs are catchy and the in/out sound fx are used to great affect as well. Wish I could take the below player with me on the go, guess I'll just have to wait... I haven't said this in a while but this one is a must have.

Yeasayer | "Tightrope" Live on 89.3 fm

Stumbled on this live video of Yeasayer at the radio station The Current, 89.3 fm, out of Twin Cities and couldn't resist posting it, so good. Even though this song isn't on their forthcoming album, Odd Blood, you can currently download the new single "Ambling Alps" (MP3) courtesy of Secretly Canadian. The album is set to be released 02/09/10.

Lilys "Claire Hates Me" | Happy New Year

I've been totally addicted to the song, "Claire Hates Me," by Lilys for the past couple of weeks. You can download it at Stereogum by clicking here. Not sure how it initially fell under my radar as I was pretty obsessed with the EP A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns when it first came out years ago. Is there even a better noisy guitar pop song than "Ginger"? RIYL: Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Swirlies, Beach Boys

On a Coco B's note, we're going to be writing one more song and then it's full steam ahead to add the bells and whistles and get it all mixed down for public consumption. Can't wait to get it done, sit back and listen to what we've been doing for the last year or so.

Tycho | RCRD LBL Downloads

Ghostly Int'l has been trickling a few singles from Tycho, aka Scott Hansen from San Francisco, to the masses for free download at a variety of places (RCRD LBL, Pitchfork) lately. Listen to the songs below, download them and you won't regret it. RIYL: Neon Indian, Animal Collective, Beach House, Yeasayer

Phoenix | La Blogotheque (Take Away Show)

This is one of my favorite takes of Phoenix performing the song "1901" thus far. If you haven't heard of the website La Blogotheque and their Take Away Show, it's definitely worth a visit to their site. As seen in the above video, they put bands in public places and allow them to perform within the natural acoustics of the big city. Sometimes you can catch the shows on the cable tv channel Current TV. I think the channel is owned by Al Gore?

CCS Skate Video w/ Cairo Foster and CoCo B's

Check out the above CCS skate video featuring Cairo Foster and our song "Five Mile Jet Drag" from Basement Songs: The Two EP's release.

Deastro | Moondagger

Deastro has accomplished what I wished M83 would have done more consistently on the album Saturday=Youth. If you like a bit more of the upbeat electro-rok, then you'll probably like Deastro's new album Moondagger.

Download (via Pitchfork) : Vermillion Plaza

CoCo B's: Case of the Polaroids

Working on a new song last nite, Bob and I busted out the MPC 2000 sampler which doesn't get used nearly enough in our studio as it should. We each got a case of the polaroids.