What: A modern tribal ritual is performed on experimental folk composer, Daniel James. “Bows & Arrows (Vegas)” is from Canon Blue’s sophomore release, Rumspringa.
Directed by: Dave Ogle

Well, folks, it’s officially August. The summer is coming to a close, which is sad on all counts. One of the best ways I know to get over a bout of depression (like the one the ending of summer will certainly bring) is to dive headfirst into music, new or old. The comfort of old favorites can bring a sense of nostalgia that has the ability to cheer you up in no time. As far as diving into old music goes, seing as how Lollapalooza begins today, we might suggest you dust off some old My Morning Jacket, Coldplay, or Eminem. Whatever floats your boat. New music, however, can bring hope for the future. A sense that with the changing seasons one thing will remain constant: good music. All right, I’m off my sad sack soapbox. Here are, without a doubt, the top 10 mp3s of the week. – Winston Robbins

Best Coast – “How They Want Me To Be”

Best Coast unveiled one of the year’s best videos last week, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t make headlines this week. Bethany Cosentino dropped this track a few days back, the first taste from what will eventually become their sophomore LP. And though it’s only a demo, the track is as solid as can be. If this version of “How They Want Me To Be” is a demo, imagine what it’s gonna sound like when recorded properly. No, really. Imagine. Go. -Winston Robbins

Best Coast – “How They Want Me To Be”

Canon Blue – “A Native (Madison)”

Backed by Amiina, better known as Sigur Rós’ string section, Daniel James, aka Canon Blue, comes off the blocks with a chamber power-pop morsel. When you have something akin to “driving violins”, that’s a step in a good direction. -Jeremy D. Larson

Canon Blue – “A Native (Madison)”

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Definite Darkness”

As Cymbals Eat Guitars ready their sophomore followup Lenses Alien, lead singer Joseph D’Agostino is still as scattered as ever. But that’s a good thing, and so is the scatterbrain guitars of this track which gives you something to dig into as well as float on. -Jeremy D. Larson

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Definite Darkness”

Das Racist – “Michael Jackson”

I don’t even know who the joke is on anymore with Das Racist, and I think that’s the point. Even if they’re shrouded in layers of irony and goofs like the gaggle of comedians they are, all you have to do is craft a hook like this and it all washes away. This may be the late entry for the jam of the summer. -Jeremy D. Larson

Das Racist – “Michael Jackson”

Jens Lekman – “An Argument With Myself”

Swedish heartthrob Jens Lekman is all prepped and ready to drop his An Argument With Myself EP. To keep us enticed (oh, and what a job he’s doing), he hit us off with a little taste of the EP, the title track to be precise. It’s afro-pop, it’s spoken word, and it’s blissful. ‘Nuff said. -Winston Robbins

Jens Lekman – “An Argument With Myself”

jj – “We Can’t Stop (Feat. Ne-Yo)”

Swedish outfit jj’s never been shy about their love for hip hop in all its forms, so the fact that they just dropped a track with a legitimate hip hop artist (Ne-Yo to be exact), makes all kinds of sense. What doesn’t make so much sense, however, is how Adult Swim keeps on cranking out incredible tracks week after week. Seriously, those guys don’t miss a beat. jj’s track is the latest addition to the collection and it’s just as good as the others. -Winston Robbins

jj – “We Cant Stop” (feat. Ne-Yo)

Katie Dill – “Bluish” (Animal Collective cover)

This track serves several purposes. On the tertiary, it highlights Animal Collective’s heart-felt songwriting of late by stripping away all but two layers of the Merriweather Post Pavillion track “Bluish”. Secondarily it serves as an entry for those unversed in both AnCo and Katie Dill‘s work, but primarily it showcases Dill’s outstanding vocal performance as she snakes her way through this ballad. Dill fronts the Deleware band Mean Lady, which I also recommend. -Jeremy D. Larson

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Teenage Tide”

This little ditty may have gone unnoticed by the masses, which is unfortunate since it’s possibly the pick of the litter this week. L.A. trio Letting Up Despite Great Faults dropped their latest EP Paper Crush earlier this week, with this track as the centerpiece. “Teenage Tide” is just further proof – pop-centric shoegaze will never die and thank goodness. -Winston Robbins

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Teenage Tide”

Neon Indian – “Polish Girl”

Neon Indian made the Top 10 cut last week with their big-league banger “Fallout”, and it doesn’t appear that they have any intention of slowing down. No matter that their sophomore album Era Extraña isn’t slated to drop until September 13th, they decided to crank out another hit, this one possibly even better than the last, which is saying a lot. It certainly carries a deeper pop vibe, and is immensely catchy. This could very well be an autumn season ruled by Neon Indian. -Winston Robbins

Sleep ? Over – “Romantic Streams”

This slow electronic cut is courtesy of Austin, TX’s own Stefanie Franciotti (aka Sleep ? Over). The little known electronic auteur allegedly played an incredibly moving set at Gorilla v. Bear Fest a little over a week ago, and judging by this track, it’s probably true. Her smooth vocals are right at home sitting atop the driving beat and the relentless barrage of synthesizer that lulls you right into a steamy trance. -Winston Robbins

Sleep ? Over – “Romantic Streams”

In the folk-tronica vein of early Múm records or a tech-savvy Grizzly Bear with some Manitoba/Caribou tossed together, James’ singer-songwriter sensibilities linger underneath sheets of billowing electronics. In fact, Canon Blue’s debut album, “Colonies”, was mixed by Grizzly Bear member Chris Taylor, which is evident in the spacey swoops and harmonies.

The self-proclaimed “electro-billy” artist fuses crackling laptop beats with lush vocal melodies. A direct link from Canon Blue’s MySpace will get you a download of the Halcyon EP, including the beautiful title track which also sits in the site’s media player. This track opens with a dramatic, Sigur Ros-climactic build before lunging into a Sufjan Stevens-esque pop song, complete with staccato piano and violin.

This is followed by the orchestral shuffle of “Avatar Furr”, a song complete with splashing cymbals and heavily multi-tracked vocals. “Pilguin Pop” flutters with synth stabs and a McCartney-esque vocal melody.

Even when the sounds get crunchy or rough, the melodies remain ethereal, transcendent.

For instance, “Battle Hymn” opens with stuttered, distorted drumkit and chanted, garbled vocals. James keeps the pretty coming, though, as a layer of clean, clear piano underscores the piece before a catchy vocal melody takes the forefront.

Throughout the “Halcyon” EP and the man’s MySpace, James showcases consistently “pretty” music, full of melodies, lithe synths and enough saccharine vocals to give anyone a sugar rush. For some, that’s a recipe for a great evening. For others, it can become a little too much. At worst, the MySpace is good for a song or two before you’ve had too much. At best, you’ll be immediately hooked and send a check to Denmark.