Steal These Records! (then really go buy them when they're officially released)

Spring! Spring is a time for the birds and the bees, the flowers and trees, the moon up above and good new music. As the days grow longer and we bid farewell to Winter's chill, some great new records are just waiting for their respective record labels to "pull the trigger".... I highly recommend you get your hands on the following as soon as possible:

Crystal Antlers - Tentacles

Listen to this one turned up loud on a hot day in the car with the windows down - it absolutely rocks. There's been alot of buzz surrounding these guys following their '08 EP and they are most definitely the best of the "crystal bands". Brace yourself though... this aint no weed smokin camping music.

What sold me: they rock out the pipe organ
Favorite track: Andrew
Official release: 4/7

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Veckatimest is a gimme. This record has been hailed as the second coming for some time now. I managed to get my hands on a copy and was nothing less than amazed after first spin. It exceeds the hype and is a contender for one of the best albums of the year. Get it before you see it on the "indie best sellers" rack at Best Buy in October. Listen to it on the couch with the windows open and your eyes closed.

What sold me: Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold is calling it "the album of the decade"
Favorite track: While You Wait For the Others
Official release: 5/26

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

This album is the bomb. (bad joke) and it hails from France... (alas, should we smoke cigarettes or eat cheese during our menage a trois?) What better to reign in the season's change than a solid indie-euro-pop album. Every track on this puppy makes you want to tap your foot and smile. I've listened to it over and over again for the better part of four days and can't manage to put it down.... Yes, its really that catchy.

What sold me: I can't stop listening to pop music
Favorite track: Rome
Official release: 5/26

-Kevin