Single Survey 09-03-11: Toro y Moi, Neon Indian, Noel Gallagher, & more

Every week, The Tune publishes a survey of the newest songs making their way around the internetz and the music world in general. Despite the name, it is not just reserved for newly-released CD singles, but rather for any new songs from albums that have not been released yet. The songs will mostly be ones that have leaked/been published over the former week, but occasionally we will throw in little-known tracks from the last few weeks or months that never made it onto our survey. Again, the only condition is that the album has not been released yet. EPs and singles are okay. We are also introducing a new rating system for singles, one that is somewhat unique. Rather than rating the songs based on a 5-star scale, a thumbs up/down scale, or having no rating system (isn’t that annoying?), we will give them prizes not unlike sporting events: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Shit.

We’re only a few months into this concept of an entire week’s worth of new songs in one place, with streaming links and our new rating system, so make sure to leave us some feedback and let us know what you think! You can comment at the bottom of the post or email us with the form on the right (and slightly down).

This week’s survey includes new, free MP3s from Toro Y Moi, Justice, Wavves, Surfer Blood, Frank Ocean, Neon Indian, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Röyksopp, Braids, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Summer Camp, The Olivia Tremor Control, Joe Goddard (of Hot Chip), and many more! If you’d like to write a review for any, go to our Staff page and apply to write for The Tune. Also, look for the red MP3 tag for free and legal downloadable songs!

Toro Y Moi – “All Alone” (Chillwave) MP3

The leadoff track on Chazwick Bundick’s new EP as Toro Y Moi, Freaking Out (which drops September 13), is a ritzy summer beat overlaid with one of Bundick’s best vocal performances so far. The production is even crisper than before, leaving behind the sight of musical metamorphosis as “All Alone” unfolds its colorful wings and stretches them out.

Justice – “Audio, Video, Disco” (Electrorock) MP3

French duo Justice’s upcoming sophomore album, October 25′s Audio, Video, Disco, is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated fall releases of 2011. March’s GOLD-rated “Civilization” MP3 was our first taste, and after a few short clips, we finally get another full-length song thanks to Some Kind Of Awesome. No-one does epic electronica like the French (see: M83, Daft Punk); world-shaking drums and soothing-yet-inspiring reiterations of the word “audio” escort this one high into the sky.

Wavves – “I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl” (Indie Rock) MP3

If you didn’t catch onto the buzz last year, Wavves is a San Diego indie rock group led by Nathan Williams that hearkens back to ’90s rock like a rabid dog surfing. Their newest EP, Life Sux, contains this visceral driving rocker that references the Foos‘ leading man. Perhaps if Williams keeps making music like this, he’ll get his wish.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – “If I Had A Gun” (Pop-Rock) MP3

It’s a very Beatles-ish offering from the former Oasis brother, but while it proves yet again that Noel is the better songwriter of the two (Beady Eye doesn’t hold a candle to this pop-rock lovesong), this performance feels just a little flat. After the enjoyable “Wonderwall”-esque guitar in the first verse (“If I had a gun/ I’d a shoot a hole into the sun”), the levels go loud and don’t vary enough. Sound familiar to Don’t Believe The Truth? Oh well, it’s still abso-fucking-lutely catchy.

Switchfoot – “Afterlife” (Modern Rock)

I can’t fault Switchfoot. As far as Christian modern-rock bands go, they’re pretty much the cream of the crop — or whatever cliche you want to use. From “Meant To Live” to “Stars,” Switchfoot are full of cliches, but that hasn’t stopped them from generating a few quality albums (Oh, Gravity!, The Beautiful Letdown) and regular doses of adrenaline. “I’m ready now/ I’m not waiting for the afterlife,” they sing now, but the message about changing oneself for the better might be hidden by the religious undertones.

Ben Folds Five – “Tell Me What I Did” (Pop-Rock)

Somewhere between “Battle Of Who Could Care Less” and “Not The Same,” one of the three new Ben Folds Five tracks on their upcoming retrospective is a busy buzz at the bowling alley, a jaunty piece that would’ve fit right in on Whatever And Ever Amen but feels a little dated in 2011. Good for a little nostalgia, at least.

Insane Clown Posse – “Leck Mich Im Arsch (prod. Jack White)” (Rap)
I’m… speechless. Utilizing a melody written by Mozart, this “song” (translated as “lick me in the ass” — and that’s exactly what the song is about) deserves the quite fitting SHIT rating. What’s scariest is that Jack White, general purveyor of musical awesomeness, agreed to produce it for some reason.

Surfer Blood – “Miranda” (Indie Rock) MP3

Last time we heard from the West Palm Beach ’90s-influenced rock band was in early July, when they released a rather mediocre Polaris cover. But they’ve got a new EP heading our way in October, and the first cut utilizes a walking melody that almost plays the part of a bass guitar in three-minute gem.

James Vincent McMorrow – “Higher Love (Steve Winwood cover)“
(Indie Pop) MP3

Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow sounds almost exactly like Bon Iver, which is perhaps why his 2010 debut Early In The Morning didn’t really generate much interest. But his permafalsetto vocals and solo piano performance (à la Justin Vernon’s spectacular cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” from earlier this year) lend this Steve Winwood classic a tenderness that exposes the song’s inner beauty.

Frank Ocean – “Thinking About You” (R&B) MP3
Frank Ocean – Thinking About You by Island Def Jam
Heavy on the falsetto, light on the sexy slowjam groove… this is a juxtaposition that isn’t hard to learn to love. Just turn down the lights and listen to the magic.

Ariel Pink & R. Stevie Moore – “Dutch Me” (Indie Pop/Electronic)

Ariel Pink and lo-fi mentor R. Stevie Moore team up for this sickly, druggy pop song that slurs “touch me” so much that it becomes “dutch me” — thus the title. Electronic blips and bloops provide a surprisingly compact and sensual beat, and you may find yourself throwing it on repeat. Hope there’s more where this came from.

Röyksopp – “Shores Of Easy” (Electronic) MP3

The waveform of this song looks almost like a rocket, and the 14-minute instrumental plays like a dance club on the moon.

Chris Cornell – “The Keeper” (Acoustic Rock)

From the soundtrack to the upcoming movie Machine Gun Preacher, here’s a new track from the former Soundgarden singer. Like much of his best solo work, it’s a mellow acoustic contemplation — Eddie Vedder he ain’t, but it could be the spiritual successor to The Who‘s “The Seeker.”

Braids – “Peach Wedding” (Indie Pop/Experimental) MP3

Last week, we acquainted you with Purity Ring‘s “deciduous, chemical” song “Belispeak” MP3 — and now we’ve got the other side to that split 7″, a tart, tempting work of indie pop by Canadian indie band Braids.

Neon Indian – “Hex Girlfriend” (Indie Rock) MP3
Somewhere between power pop and psych rock, the newest offering from Neon Indian’s upcoming Era Extraña, which drops in only nine days, is easily the band’s edgiest to date. By the time it’s deconstructed into a digital cacophony for the last iteration of the wordless chorus, you’ll be completely absorbed.

Woods – “Skull” (Folk Rock)
-Brooklyn Sun & Shade authors happily skulk along on new split 7″ with Kurt Vile

Beak> – “Welcome To The Machine (Pink Floyd cover)” (Electronic) MP3
-Portishead‘s Geoff Barrow invents wacky, spooky, ‘tronically-pounding Floyd cover

morningdeer – “Closer (Nine Inch Nails cover)” (Electronic/Soul) MP3
-sexy B&W cover art and soul/funk flavors provide for a memorable interpretation

Kid Creole & The Coconuts – “We’re Rockin’ Out Tonight” (Electronic/Pop/Funk) MP3
-multi-genre “Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy” artist is back with strutting funk piece

We Were Promised Jetpacks – “Medicine” (Alternative Rock) MP3
-Scottish rock group melodically crushes you into the ground

Summer Camp – “Better Off Without You” (Indie Pop-Rock) MP3
-London duo feel fresh and biting in a world where pop-rock rarely does

Joe Goddard (of Hot Chip) – “Gabriel (ft. Valentina)” (Electronic) MP3
-Hot Chip synth/percussion member invokes a swingin’ angel on his newest single

Kasabian – “Pistols At Dawn” (Indie Pop-Rock)
-we were blown away by “Days Are Forgotten“; here’s its bobbing, barmy B-side

The Front Bottoms – “Looking Like You Just Woke Up” (Indie Rock)
-nappy slow-go punk from New Jerseyites that sneer/whine like mewithoutYou

DJ Shadow – “Warning Call (ft. Tom Vek)” (Electrorock)
-post-punk darkness like The Bravery, but executed with class and skill

Spank Rock – “Nasty (ft. Big Freedia)” (Electronic/Hip-Hop)
-did we really need lyrics like “when I say ‘halle,’ you say ‘lujah’”? no – but it’s fun

Com Truise – “Datebar” (Electronic) MP3
-sample-chopping, completely unremarkable electronica

Glass Candy – “Warm In The Winter” & “Beautiful Object” (Electronic)
-crisp disco-driven pop with teasingly cute female vocals

Grouper – “Water People” (Ambient/Indie)
-one of the year’s most appropriate song titles from this Portland, OR songwriter

The Olivia Tremor Control – “The Game You Play Is In Your Head Parts 1, 2, & 3” MP3
-Elephant 6 psych-pop masters are back with a three-part opus of a song

Pusha T – “Feeling Myself (ft. Kevin Cossom)” (Hip-Hop)
-smooth new song from the Bronx artist that has high radio potential

Young Statues – “Pretty Girls Make Raves” (Indie Pop-Rock)
-the leaves are beginning to drop, so the multi-colored autumn pop-rock must too

TEETH – “Flowers” (Electronic)
-”don’t fuck with me OR my mom” electronica from noise-pop U.K.ers

Simian Ghost – “Free Agent” (Electronic) MP3
-Swedish giddy pop that bends so far it breaks down

Silent Diane – “Capella” (Electronic)
-one of the first “witch house” bands, this group is still goth but the synths are brighter

Juk Juk – “Winter Turn Spring” (Electronic)
-if it started as winter, I could dig this concept — but there’s not enough movement

Regina – “Unessa” (Indie Pop) MP3
-the title means “Asleep,” but this is more like the moment between sleep and waking

DRC Music – “Hallo (ft. Tout Puissant Mukalo & Nelly Liyemge)” (World/Electronic)
-Damon Albarn (of Gorillaz and Blur) with Democratic Republic of Congo musicians

The Go Round – “Angela” (Folk) MP3
-strolling through jangly folk, this one doesn’t quite hit the mark

Amtrac – “Came Along” (Electronic/Indie Pop) MP3
-in only 3.5 minutes, moves through a few movements — cool pop song

Tasseomancy – “Diana” (Folk/Pop) MP3
-lush, loveable melodies over an acoustic/folky core

Rockie Fresh – “Breakthrough (ft. Chamillionaire)” (Hip-Hop) MP3
-Chicago rapper wants to breakthrough into the mainstream – this is the way to do it

Death Kit – “Boy” (Electronic/Pop) MP3
-L.A. electronic post-punk locals bounce their way through a catchy-as-hell single