Bon Iver's (a.k.a. Justin Vernon) Blood Bank (EP) includes amazing four songs. The songs have quite down beats, like in the cover, the ep has some snow feeling inside. I don't like to be in that car. Anyway, here comes the opener, a slow and impressive one:

mp3: Bon Iver - Blood Bank

Sweet and lovely french pop singer Jane Birkin releases her new album Enfants D'hiver. I've heard all the new songs just today. Next year, she will start her new tour, going at Paris' Palace from March 10 to 15, 2009. All the lyrics are written by Jane Birkin.

Jane Birkin - Période bleue

They're so underrated and this is really a great indie rock album. I loved the whole record,
title-track "The Great Escape" has every great indie rock hooks like any famous band in the world. The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, now here they come The Rifles. 8.5/10
Highlights: The Great Escape, Fool To Sorrow, History, The General

The Rifles - The Great Escape
The Rifles - The Great Escape Music Video

This EP is weighted with melancholy, desperation, and God. Each song throbs and pulses with angels and buzzing guitars. The live tracks are unplugged and restive, but no less tingling with dark and light. ‘Badges and Badges’ feels like a private concert on an autumn porch, ‘I Can Feel A Hot One’ was born a gorgeous hit and I feel the EP is worth it just for this song. It combines the best of beauty, sadness and spirit in a very memorable package. ‘Sleeper 1972’ is a song to lull one into numbness or to rest. Later in the song Andy Hull bellows out his passion, all stirring softness and quiet rebellion. ‘I Was A Lid’ was my second favorite, with rolling guitar thunder and ripping, roaring vocals. The acoustic version of ‘Wolves at Night’ is just a great listen, and it impresses me more and more with each play through.

The DVD is an interesting peek into the band’s life on the road. It’s fun to see what good friends they are, and I was impressed that they move all of their own gear and really put blood, tears and sweat (literally, a lot of sweat!) into their music. They also give their all at each and every live show they play. It includes Many live performances as well as music videos as special features.

There’s not a line in any of these songs that isn’t worth listening to. I rarely bother to look up lyrics to music. Either I can hear them or I can’t, and they tend to get shrugged off if they don’t feel insistent enough to make me need to know. But with tracks as epic as these, tracks obviously loaded with story, tracks sung with such passion…. I had to go looking. Fully understanding the words only made me sink deeper into their meaning. This band’s music is contemplative as well as rocking, a worthy mix of fuel and flame that I know will only make them shine brighter and brighter in years to come.

The limited EP/DVD Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind is out through independent stores only. See thinkindie.com for a list of places to get your hands on it.

Spring 2009 will see the release of Manchester Orchestra’s sophomore album, Mean Everything To Nothing.

Listen to some of these songs here at their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/manchesterorchestra

1. Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses

2. Lady GaGa featuring Colby O'Donis - Just Dance

3. The Killers - Human
They're still on my list, because i think their new song is great!

4. Oasis - I'm Outta Time

5. Cat Power - Dark End Of The Street

6. Radiohead - 15 Step| Myspace Video

7. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

8. Beyonce - If I Were a Boy

9. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive | Myspace Video

10. Kanye West - Love Lockdown

Flashback
Silver Penciled (The End Has No End) have already mentioned about how cool The Strokes are. I want to share a song from their masterpiece Is This It:
The Strokes - Trying Your Luck