Said the Whale - Step into the Darkness

My sweet light, sweet love of mine
It might never again feel like it’s the right time
If it’s the end, well, let’s cross that line
Let us step into the darkness
Let’s step into the darkness

I was a ghost, you were the fear of god
All of my shrines, old broken hearts and wind chimes
I was alive just waiting for the hand of time
All of my ghosts went up in smoke
And through the window

A Vancouver band that's been around for 10 years, and sounds this fantastic - how had I not heard of them before?? Anyway, I *have* been listening to them a bunch since this track landed in my Spotify "Discover Weekly" back in April. Sorry it's taken so long for me to share! (Guess I'm part of the problem. But no more! Go forth - dig in their back catalog - see them at a show, etc.)

RIYL: Young the Giant, Local Natives, Hippo Campus, Colony House

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Imagine Dragons - Dancing in the Dark

Most days I'm keeping to myself
Living in my little bubble
Throwing my weight and moving my body through the sea
You could come join me
Moving like the weekend
I don't need nobody

I got a text from my Seattle SIL yesterday raving about this song and I was at a loss. See, I was a big fan of ID's debut album (and earlier indie EP) and saw them live 2-3 times during that period - they were awesome. But their sophomore album totally turned me off. And new single "Believer" seems like a dull retread (musically) of "Radioactive" so I hadn't given this third album a try. But. Now I have to say, thanks sis! This song is something special.
As an aside: (Obviously) this track shares a name with a Springsteen song - one of his best, IMO. I was both delighted and disappointed that the Imagine Dragon's release didn't turn out to be a cover, ha. (My most-favorite Springsteen? "Brilliant Disguise" hands down.)

RIYL: The Moth & The Flame, OneRepublic, Fall Out Boy

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Barns Courtney - Golden Dandelions

Lay me down in golden dandelions
'Cause I've been waiting for this moment all my life
Follow me into the dark
Ooo-oooh
She said lay me down in golden dandelions
'Cause I've been waiting

Spotify describes Barns Courtney (whose name sounds totally backward in a fun way) as "splitting the difference" between Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons. I suppose, for many that might sound terrible. I was a bit intrigued, and I'm happy I gave him a listen. His voice actually reminds me a lot of one of my recent favorites, Sameer Gadhia from Young The Giant. I can't say I like all his tracks, because I don't, but "Golden Dandelions" is fantastic and I think if Barns can avoid the bro-pop trap, he'll be good.

RIYL: Mumford & Sons, Kishi Bashi, Young The Giant, Lewis Del Mar

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Rostam - Bike Dream

You wake up late, you feel your heart begin to work
And now you’re all dressed up of course
And hailing cabs out of your door
On 14th Street I feel my head between my knees
And orange swimming through the trees
And orange swimming through the trees
Where could I go? What could I do?
Put in the state, my lips and eyes give me away
And now there’s nothing, I can say no
I'm pulled away, I see another of myself
Who's found true love and happiness
To sit and smoke there on the chair for

A new something lovely from Rostam - who announced departure from Vampire Weekend last year. He's since released a couple singles and helped a few other artists out (Frank Ocean, HAIM) and of course his collab with Hamilton Leithauser. Now this fuzzy track, which coincides with the announcement of his first solo album, Half Light, due in full release in September. 

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Hamilton + Rostam, Kishi Bashi

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Delta Spirit - Bushwick Blues

Do you recall that night
We took the L
Out into Bushwick?
It was colder than hell

So maybe there
We should have stopped
'Cause I'm left here
Feeling like a cop

Because my love is strong
And my heart is weak after all

It's a bit of an oldie but a goodie, "Bushwick Blues" recently popped into my head a few weeks back, when I was on the L train out to Bushwick to capture the Bushwick Collective for my street art photo project, Ephemerazzi. It's a great track and I've got hopes we'll hear some new music from them soon.

RIYL: Rogue Wave, Sea Wolf, My Morning Jacket, Langhorne Slim

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