If you like solid rock and roll, catch Philly up-and-comers Moon Women this Friday at Black Cat and/or Saturday at the Troc with Black Lips and Vivian Girls. Both are sure to be great shows!

Download Moon Women’s Live XPN album for free here and watch out for their debut 7″ ‘Light Moves Slowly” coming soon.

What exactly is Moonface? Well, judging by the “pay-what-you-want” EP teaser, Dreamland EP: Marimba and Shit-drums, it’s another outlet for Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Frog Eyes) to hook us up with interesting music…and he doesn’t disappoint. It’s a one song, 20 minute Marimba and drum exploratory that is beautifully written and more digestible than his other works.

Download it HERE.

The official EP will be out on Jagjaguwar on January 26.

Here is an awesome treat from the folks at Adult Swim – a free remix album featuring some of the best electronic artists of the moment remixing Atlanta area hip hop. The results are pretty amazing. Here’s my favorite track from the album (surprise, surprise it involves Memory Tapes…)

{MP3} Dem Getaway Boyz – “Imma G” (Memory Tapes Remix)

Download the full album + artwork for free HERE.

It was a great year for music, in my opinion. Here’s a list of albums and songs that I loved this year. If you haven’t previously heard something on the list, take a chance and give it a listen. And please, let me know some of your own favorites in the comments!

***********Favorite Albums***********

Memory Tapes – Seek Magic {MP3 Download: “Plain Material”} {Buy It}
The most fully realized and beautiful electronic album of the year. Former Hail Social-er Dayve Hawk combines his previous projects Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes into one interstellar, electro funk classic.

The xx – The xx {MP3 Download: “Basic Space”} {Buy It}
I once heard this album described as Young Marble Giants crossed with Sade, but there is something more unique about it. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s unlike most music in today’s current indie climate. Or perhaps it’s because it’s genuinely fragile and honest – qualities that are sometimes lacking in said climate.

Sun Airway – Oh, Naoko EP {Free EP Download}
This self-released EP from Philly duo Jon Barthmus and Patrick Marsceill is a romantic and extremely detailed mini-masterpiece of electronic beauty. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more about these guys in the near future…

Micachu and the Shapes – Jewellery {MP3 Download: “Just In Case” } {Buy It}
A debut album like this should not be overlooked. Micachu is a brilliant new talent who has, for my money, made the most adventurous pop album of the year.

The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love {MP3 Download: “Dominoes” } {Buy It}
The Big Pink’s debut contains one pulverizing anthem after another. It’s a mix of brooding industrial tones and aggressive guitars set against somber, yet soaring vocals. They recently killed it at Johnny Brenda’s during their first US tour. This band could get huge.

Various Artists – Not Given Lightly: A Tribute To the Giant Golden Book Of New Zealand`s Alternative Music Scene {Video: It’s a Musical – “All My Hallowness To You” (Tall Dwarfs Cover)} {Buy It}
Thomas Morr, owner of Morr Music likes to invite his label’s artists to create tribute albums for the music he loved growing up. While previous comps payed tribute to one band (Morrissey, Slowdive), this one pays tribute to an entire scene. New Zealand’s ’80s DIY scene (Flying Nun Records…) set the stage for what we now know as “indie-rock” in the classic sense. Here, the music of groundbreaking artists like The Bats, The Chills and Chris Knox is re-imagined with an electronic edge by established and new bands on Morr’s label. The second half of the comp features new material from those new bands.

Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy {MP3 Download: “Overnite Religion”} {Buy It}
Our own hometown Lou Reed. All aboard “The Freak Train”!

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix {Video: “1901″} {Buy It}
In what sounds like the culmination of 8 excellent music making years, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is a bold and electrifying release that only becomes more enjoyable upon repeated listens.

Stegosaurus Trap – Miniature Maze {MP3 Download: “Broken Castles”}
This one came out of nowhere and blew my mind. It’s a purely DIY statement of beautiful psych-folk music. The album was being offered for free through his MySpace page, but the link seems to be down. Message him directly on there and ask for it.

Taken By Trees – East of Eden {MP3 Download: “Watch the Waves”} {Buy It}
Lovely, Eastern tinged-pop from the former singer of The Concretes. It also features a brilliant cover of Animal Collective’s “My Girls”, re-titled “My Boys”.

Nurses – Apple’s Acre {MP3 Download: “Caterpillar Playground”} {Buy It}
Often thrown into the freak-folk category, Nurses’ sample-heavy, back-woods psychedelia transcends the genre with a warm and warped grin.

Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For the Young {Stream: “11th Dimension”} {Buy It}
Simply put, this should’ve been the second record from The Strokes.

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post-Pavillion {Video: “Summertime Clothes”} {Buy It}
The enigmatic Baltimore crew steps up their game for their most accessible and realized album to date.

Fontän – Winterhwila {MP3 Download: “Early Morning”} {Buy It}
A mix of Swedish pop, English prog and imaginary film soundtracks from a couple of brilliant musicians on the same label as Studio. Mesmerizing and painfully overlooked.

Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport {Video: “Surf Solar”} {Buy It}
If Brian Eno’s music has evolved into noisy trance, this would be the result. What’s more awesome is this interview they did with Joe from Breakfast at Sulimay’s!

Bat For Lashes – Two Suns {Video: “Daniel”} {Buy It}
What beats Natasha Khans angelic and mystical voice when it’s met with sweeping electronic arrangements? Yep, you guessed it. Nada!

Metric – Fantasies {MP3 Download: “Satellite Mind”} {Buy It}
Oh really, Metric? Are you really going to come back after a 4 year hiatus and blow my mind with a kick-ass stadium rock record? Yes? Well, good because I’m loving it.

Favorite songs after the jump…

***********Favorite Songs***********

Kid Cudi ft. Ratatat & MGMT – “Pursuit of Happiness” {Stream It}
Spacey Hip-Hop PERFECTION!

Animal Collective – “My Girls” {Watch the Video}
Who needs drugs, when we have this?

Surfer Blood – “Swim (To Reach the End)” {MP3 Download}
If you like The Shins, but wished they rocked harder.

Fan Death – “Reunited” {Watch the Video}
Dark, orchestral disco from the lower depths.

Sun Airway – “Oh, Naoko” {MP3 Download}
Too beautiful for words.

The Big Pink – “Dominoes” {MP3 Download}
A two-headed Verve/Jesus and Mary Chain monster!!!

Phoenix – “1901″ {MP3 Download}
These guys can’t mess up, can they?

Fever Ray – “If I Had a Heart” {MP3 Download} {Watch the Video}
I prefer her work with The Knife, but this is perfectly haunted.

The King Khan & BBQ Show – “Invisible Girl” {MP3 Download}
If you’re gonna listen to one “garage rock” song this year, make it this one.

Matias Aguayo – “Rollerskate” {MP3 Download}
The Argentinian Bobby McFerrin?

Blank Dogs – “Setting Fire to Your House” {Watch the Video}
A more evil Interpol.

Kurt Vile – “Freak Train” {Watch the Video}
Philly’s constant hitmaker with his best tune to date. 7 minutes of awesomeness.

Yo La Tengo – “Nothing to Hide” {Watch the Video}
Still know how to write a great pop song.

Smith Westerns – “Girl in Love” {MP3 Download}
This is what T-Rex might have sounded like if he had recorded his music in his bedroom.

Yura Yura Teikoku – “Dekinai” {MP3 Download}
Loopy Japanese rock and their name means “Unstable Government”. Coup! Coup!

Handsome Furs – “I’m Confused” {MP3 Download}
If you don’t like to dance, don’t listen to this song.

Fanfarlo – “Harold T. Wilkins” {Watch the Video}
The British, more bouncy version of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Gildon Works – “Forth But First” {MP3 Download}
It’ll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Woods – “Sunlit” {MP3 Download}
Summer, please come back.

Asobi Seksu – “Me & Mary” {Watch the Video}
Wintery Shoegaze.

Neon Indian – “Deadbeat Summer” {MP3 Download}
Acid disco through blown-out speakers.

Bishop Allen – “The Ancient Commonsense of Things” {MP3 Download}
The most humble pop song of the year.

Little Dragon – “Swimming” {Watch the Video}
“Ooo, Ooo” – minimalist, baroque pop

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – “Who’s Asking” {MP3 Download}
If you want high-energy, choppy guitars with hints of Math-rock and late ’90s, look no further. Oh, and the drummer kicks total ass!

Nobunny – “Motorhead with Me” {MP3 Download}
Do you like that girl? Make her a mix with this on it.

Also, there were tons of great videos this year but, hands down, this is my favorite music video of the year:

YES! THIS ACTUALLY EXISTS!!! Chances are you have this magnificent cover in some version of a “Worlds Worst Album Covers List”, and now you can see if the music matches the beautifully conceived artwork. Download Ken By Request in full HERE. (Megaupload).

Does Ken By Request live up to the hype? Can ANYTHING live up to the genius of that cover? I know one thing is clear…he ONLY takes requests! I have yet to listen to it, so tell me how it is in the comments.

As you can see, I have been digging around for some older stuff and trying to expand my horizons lately. I came across this gem earlier today and I’m loving it. It’s an atmospheric synth-pop tune reminiscent of Suicide and Cocteau Twins, originally found on the British band’s only tape release Space Museum. Beautiful melancholia.

{MP3} Solid Space – “A Darkness in My Soul”

Download the full tape from NLFM.

Golden Ages is a new band from Philly with a  sound you may be familiar with (think M83, Animal Collective). The song is head-trip as is the free EP. (Mediafire Download)

{MP3} Golden Ages – “Everything Will Be Alright”
Download audio file (01-Everything-Will-Be-Alright-1.mp3)

(via HoneyPower)

Philly’s Sun Airway is the new project from Patrick Marsceill and Jon Barthmus (formerly of the A-sides). Their new EP, Oh, Naoko, is a smart mix of breezy electronics and lush vocals. It’s easily one of the best records of the year thus far. Listen to the title track below (my personal favorite from the EP), and if you like it, which I’m sure you will, grab the free EP.

{MP3} Sun Airway  – “Oh, Naoko”
Download audio file (944mp3_01_oh_naoko1.mp3)

Download Miniature Maze for FREE.

Preview two of my favorite tracks below:

Stegosaurus Trap – Broken CastlesDownload audio file (924mp3_05_broken_castles.mp3)

Stegosaurus Trap – DopeworkDownload audio file (925mp3_12_dopework.mp3)

Omaha gets Dan Deacon (son of a!), Salt Lake gets Tokyo Police Club (meh) and Philly gets…Secret Machines and Making Time’s Dave P. NOICE! The Philly show is presented by WPRB 103.3 in Princeton, one of the most consistent and knowledgeable indie stations in the country. Oh yes, she and I go way back.

Grab your free ticket for the August 12th Philly show here and you can purchase the benefit comp here.

What’s that? You definitely prefer free music? Cool, me too. Go and download Urban’s newest FREE mix, featuring Music Go Music, War On Drugs, Lykke Li, Dr. Dog and MORE. So what if all the songs can be found on Hype Machine? You LOVE FREE shit, just like me!

Secret Machines – Lightning Blue EyesDownload audio file (758mp3_lightning_blue_eyes.mp3)