Stream: Lean Horse Marathon – “Reflections”

School starts tomorrow for me. It’s been a really good, albeit nearly blogless, summer and tomorrow morning will feel like a new awakening. In the above video teaser for “Sacrifice Hat,” the centerpiece of Lean Horse Marathon’s Reflections, light starts piercing through the dark. Slowly but surely the lights get brighter and the noise gets louder, just like they will tomorrow morning when I have to pry myself out of bed. It’s an awakening, just like “Sacrifice Hat.”

Lean Horse Marathon is Baltimore’s Jeff Koplovitz, an 18-year-old with a great ear and chops to boot. You can stream Reflections via Only For Us for the time being and buy it on iTunes. Facebook rumors lead towards the possibility of a cassette in the future.

Full review of Reflections is to come as well.

–Daniel

Video: LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends”

We’ve seen LCD Soundsystem rock out as Muppets not once, but twice over the years, but James Murphy, Nancy Whang and Pat Mahoney get the LEGO treatment in the above video for the killer “All My Friends,” undoubtedly one of the most emotional songs in the LCD catalog. Check out its resemblance to the original, here.

–Daniel

Video: Twin Sister – “Bad Street”

It’s safe to say that from the above video for “Bad Street,” Twin Sister and co. knows how to put on a killer houseparty.

In Heaven is due out September 27 on Domino.

Also, check out the band’s performance of “Daniel” on Pitchfork: TV as part of the Summer Jammin’ with Ice Cream Man series.

Video: Vivian Girls – “Take It As It Comes”

You have to admit that you knew this track was destined for a music video the first time you heard it. The dialogue between Vivian Girls‘ Cassie Ramone and Katy Goodman was just too good to pass up. And, what do you know, they did in this Travis Peterson-directed clip.

“Take It As It Comes” is the seventh track off of Share The Joy, the 2011 release from Vivian Girls on Polyvinyl.

Vivian Girls are touring this fall and will play in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s on September 6 and at Ottobar in Baltimore on September 7 with Widowspeak.

–Daniel

Video: Kurt Vile – “Baby’s Arms”

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a video filmed entirely on a Windows Phone. Gimmick or not, this video, directed by Todd Cole, for one of Kurt Vile‘s standout tracks off of Smoke Ring For My Halo is so, so cool, with perfect aesthetics for the tone of the song. Also, get “Baby’s Arms” for free from the Matablog.

Kurt Vile is on tour and will be in Washington, D.C. on August 10 with Woods and White Fence.

–Daniel

Video: Future Islands – “Before The Bridge”

A little under a month ago, Future Islands dropped the A-side from their next single due out on Thrill Jockey, and now they have a video to go with “Before The Bridge.” The clip is directed by Abram Sanders and vibes extremely well with the track. Watch it over at Pitchfork.tv.

MP3: Future Islands – “Before The Bridge”

–Daniel

Happy Fourth of July from Fresh Heirs!

We’re coming up on our first birthday here at Fresh Heirs so we figured we’d celebrate America’s birthday, too! Enjoy this, um, cool(?) video for Dom’s “Living In America” and set off some fireworks. Oh, and check out Dom’s new song.

–Daniel, Anna, Marc & Lowden

Video: New Song by Sharon Van Etten with Aaron Dessner @ Northside

Sharon Van Etten @ Northside Festival (Photo by A. Lowden)

While the rest of the Fresh Heirs staff is still rocking out at Northside, here’s a quick update. Last night Sharon Van Etten debuted a new song with Aaron Dessner of The National. He is producing her new album that is planned to drop next year! Here is a sneak peak at that new material!

Full Northside recaps next week!

-A. Lowden

MP3: Future Islands – “Before The Bridge”

Baltimore trio Future Islands just has it together. The stream of 2010 releases lacks a weak link, including the masterpiece, full-length In Evening Air. Now the group has released its first new track since November, when it dropped “The Ink Well” on a Friends Records split with Lonnie Walker.

“Before The Bridge” is in the same vein of the past Future Islands releases, with atmospheric synths and a bass line that drives the song forward. When I heard them perform this song back in March at Red Palace in D.C., I instantly took to the synth line that really gives the song an incredibly dance-y feel. While most Future Islands songs are dance songs, this one ups the ante, something that I am extremely pleased with. Although it needs almost no elaboration at this point, Sam Herring’s vocals are spot-on as usual.

Friends Records’ Brett Yale, who posted the track on Impose, writes that Double Dagger’s Denny Bowen plays live drums on “Before The Bridge,” amping up the rhythm section even more behind William Cashion’s bass. The “Before The Bridge” 7″ is due out July 19 on Thrill Jockey (limited to 750 copies) and the B-side will be called “Find Love,” and “is promised to be more of a dancefloor jam.”

Download “Before The Bridge” here.

Watch video of Future Islands’ last Baltimore performance at the 2640 Space here:

–Daniel

Andrew Bird in Prospect Park: 6/10/11 (Photos & new song)

Andrew Bird in Prospect Park 6/10/11 (Photo By A. Lowden)

Andrew Bird opened the new season of Celebrate Brooklyn! last night in Prospect Park. At the show he played many old favorites, and at least 3 new songs from the upcoming album he is working on with his band. Check out the first performance of his new song, “Give It Away”, as well as some photos after the jump.