Looking through my playlist, there are three songs that have bubbled up in the last week that I wanted to share with you, in case, your itunes is like mine and they fell in the cracks when they first hit the record store racks.

The Features - "Rambo"
The Features have long been a favorite of mine since their release of Exhibit A.  Sure they have connections to Kings of Leon and hail from Nashville, but their songs are far from homey and relaxed. They are brash and haunting, battling bible-belt ghosts with the intensity of Okkervil River (before they've had their morning coffee) and Spoon (after they've had a few beers).

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It's been four years since the last Radio Dept album (a statistic that no one--especially you, me and the band--are pleased with), but thankfully the band has made sure the wait is worth it. The result is Clinging to a Scheme, an album that has been greeted with a flurry of hipster's jumping up and down like they just got an American Girl doll (I think even Pitchfork squealed with joy) and catapulted the band onto the official Top 5 of Most Blogged About Artists list.

Of course this new album is more important than the hype surrounding it. The album builds on the signature Labrador Records stamp of high quality swirls of vocals and C86 orchestration over the lush backdrop of keyboards, beats and sassy tambourine. Songs like "This Time Around" and "Never Follow Suite" will bring back memories of Saint Etienne, Pet Shop Boys and your dream of what would have happened if the Stone Roses and My Bloody Valentine would have joined forces.

One of the more beguiling things about the album is that one of this year's most important indie pop releases will be available on vinyl in a strictly limited edition batch of 500 copies... and we've got one of those 500 records to give away! There's also a *slight* chance that we'll be able to get it autographed for you (no promises, but all hands in the air if it happens!).

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I have the major hots for just about anything with the Labrador Records stamp. Although I can't verbalize it as well as Steve Thornton, imaginary staffer who objectively and positively swooned over the comprehensive Labrador compilation, Labrador 100 - A Complete History Of Popular Music, in 2007, the label's decade plus of solid releases has cemented them as a staple conversation topic in any indie-pop thinkthank... and therefore, recipient of my lustful gazes from across the crowded dance floor.

On April 25th, Labrador Records' The Mary Onettes will be in Seattle at the Sunset Tavern in support of their new album Islands with Hotels and Erik Blood opening.  The Mary O's new full length is a dreamy set of modern day anthems fit for any John Hughes soundtrack. The songs are exceptional pieces of beautiful orchestrated indie-pop that flows with pretty angst ("Now I dared to think I'm something that I'm not " from the song "Dare" which you can sing along to in the video below).

In short, if you like your mix tapes chock full of Jesus and Mary Chain, Cure, New Order, and Pains of Being Pure at Heart you'll kick yourself for missing this show.

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The Legends strike a nice balance between drowning in JAMC distortion (really heavy reverb and distortion) with soft, catchy harmonies. When a reviewer said they sound like what might happen "if My Bloody Valentine swallowed Peter, Bjorn and John", I thought it might just mean really high-pitched whistling, but fortunately that's not the case. The Legends are led by Johan Angergård, who is also part of other Swedish bands Acid House Kings and Club 8. On and On is the bands first proper LP since 2004's Up Against The Legends. They did put out a handful of EPs since then.

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The Mary Onettes should find Doc Brown and go back to 1985.

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The Boy Who Wouldn't Stop Dreaming will find a welcome home with these addicts of gentle, melancholy music.

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Today I think we've all earned some Swedish electronica spiced up indie-pop from Club 8.

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What is it about Sweden anyways? Is it the long winter nights? The long summer days? The frightening good looks? The socialized medicine? Hell, they have socialized BOOZE (Absolut vodka is owned by the government). They do give grants to musicians, which might strike your average starving band in the US as bizarre, but these bands earn it.

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