photo | dslr | january thirteen

mp3 | shannon and the clams | gremlins crawl

released late last year, "gremlins crawl" represents the most recent work out of oakland, california's indomitable shannon and her clams. back in 2010, shannon and the clams released their debut full-length - in cassette form - i wanna go home, with the following year seeing their topnotch followup, sleep talk. steeped in the surf-rock sounds of the fifties rockabilly explosion, the band conjures readily evident influences in the form of familiar groups like the beach boys and the ronettes. lo-fi, garage-pop rooted in the style of the overwhelmingly nostalgic fifties can only yield the best of results. check out the stream for "gremlins crawl" above and snag the (right click, save link as) download here.

mp3 | tiger waves | fields

new chilled-as-crud track from austin, texas' tiger waves. "fields" was released last week backed with "a smirk & a smile."  the guys have been comparatively prolific, producing a swath of singles, ep's and even a full-length in the last year or two.  among the numerable releases, surf-drenched "weekends," definitely deserves a listen.  the track at hand, "fields," however, takes the cake, employing a gentle, dreamy and all-together calming beach-riff that floats seamlessly behind and beyond soft, hollowed vocals.  yeah, it sounds a lot like real estate and even ducktails but this is a good thing.  stream the track above and give it a (right click, save link as) download here.

mp3 | youth lagoon | dropla

by now, every one of you have likely heard trevor powers' (aka youth lagoon) new track, "dropla," the first single to emerge from his upcoming full length, wondrous bughouse - due march 5 via fat possum.  the song has been dominating the webz for the past week,  but it would be an injustice to this site, space and time to forego posting it all together.  the boise, idaho man seems to be at it again, after a phenomenal first effort in the form of 2011's year of hibernation, employing familiar but always refined and delicate arrangements that perfectly accompany the artist's fragile, and often frail vocals.  at six minutes in length, the steady and relatively upbeat percussion comes in early, only to eventually taper off as an extended outro emphasizes the wonderfully ambient keys and strings. if you've somehow managed to miss it, stream "dropla" above and snag the free (right click, save link as) download here.

photo | dslr | january thirteen

mp3 // photo set | naomi punk | burned body

we had the privilege of seeing olympia's naomi punk the other night at portland's bunk bar. these guys are on some next level shit, utilizing and simultaneously destroying a grunge format that's been around for decades. seemingly relentless, methodical and paced thrashes inevitably surrender to delicately refined and cathartic melodies, only to return once more to the steady pulse of surging drums and crunchy strings. it's a formula that's thoroughly rewarding for those with even the slightest of attention spans. the trio released the feeling - their debut lp - on vinyl back in april of last year and were later picked up by captured tracks, which eventually saw the release of a cd rendition back in november. give the breakout single "burned body" a stream above and (right click, save link as) download here. also check out the photo set from the show below.

mp3 | clear plastic masks | i'm free

"i'm free" by the brooklyn-based quartet, clear plastic masks is solid enough rock and roll to stand alone, without a gimmick or tired cliche attached to it.  however, that's not always how we do things around here. the track has come to be a bit of an anthem after my recent departure from my derelict, succubus hometown.  the jangly, lo-fi rock warms the soul and  hittin' the 4 bus to downtown portland's pearl district on the way to school with this track blasting has been quite the experience. it's been a long time coming. give the jam a stream above and be sure to grab the (right click, save link as) download here via the folks at rollo & grady.

stream | part time | seashells

david speck, the san francisco native responsible for the synth-driven pop-ballad featured above is also the mastermind behind the part time band. released last summer, "seashells" is easily one of our favorite tracks out of the electronic dream weaver thus far. astral guitar work and a pulsing, clap-driven beat provide a malleable canvas for speck's immediately familiar, but all the same, transcendent vocals. simple and straightforward, the track foregoes superfluous complexities in order to realize a clean, and entirely rewarding soundscape. check out the stream above. track by way of friend and roomie, vince - an emerging contributor who you guys can expect to see a lot more from these days.

photo | dslr | january thirteen

portland bound



i've arrived at my new home on portland, oregon. alongside the changes in my own life, expect to see a lot of new and big things from butyouwould. there's clearly been some down time while i've made every attempt to get things squared away here, but as we get this shit in order, you'll be seeing a new and exciting side of the site. it's the same butyouwould you know and tolerate, cranked to eleven. stay tuned, friends.

mp3 | frank ocean x outkast | pink matter | big boi rework

last year saw the release of what's likely one of the best r&b albums of all time with frank ocean's topnotch channel orange. just as we finally begin to create playlists void of frank ocean, big boi goes and blows it. the new rework of channel orange's "pink matter" hit the web a few days back and was officially released by big boi over the weekend.  it's less of a remix and more of the same song with an added verse.  that's actually exactly what it is.  fortunately, said verse is good enough to warrant a listen.  unfortunately, that same verse is good enough to throw "pink matter" back onto a playlist or two.  stream it above and grab the (right click, save link as) download here.

previously on butyouwould: big boi »

mp3 | the men | candy

released early last year, the men's most recent lp, open your heart, serves as yet another testament to the bands virtually unparalleled versatility. the brooklyn-based garage-rock buds have tinkered with everything from shoegaze to black metal over the past three years, with their latest effort taking more of a folk direction - and to great effect. from their label's soundcloud:

what makes this band so unique is their ability to synthesize their influences rather than just regurgitate them. on open your heart, the band’s 3rd full length, the ny quartet explore twangy country music, guitar solos, surf-ish riffs, psych, and just about everything in between.

"candy" is easily one of our favorite tracks from their third album. give it a stream above and (right click, save link as) download here via the guys at rollo & grady.

photo | dslr | october twelve

photo | dslr | september nine

cause she always liked her shadow more than her reflection

stream | ta-ku | night 1

australian native, ta-ku recently announced he'd be dropping "a beat a night for 25 nights" in honor of the late, great seba jun aka nujabes. by now, i'm sure all of you have heard at least one of the japanese producers profound cuts. if not, get with it. ta-ku's first tribute, "night 1" nailed it. a soft and bare intro surrenders to drums that come as clean as they get, while a sturdy bass line about half way through serves as the final piece of the puzzle, providing body and warmth against the tracks cold keys.  it's worth noting, "night 2," which was released a few hours ago, is looking real good as well. if these first two tracks are any indication, we've got another twenty-three nights of solid, nostalgic beats coming our way. stream last night's track above and be sure to visit ta-ku's soundcloud for new (and old) releases. via the artist's description:

25 nights for nujabes. a beat a night for 25 nights in dedication to seba jun. night 1. a simple lullaby. enjoy.

photo | dslr | january thirteen

stream | foxygen | no destruction

sam france and jonathan rado, the veritable masterminds behind one of our most frequently blogged artists, foxygen, just released another single. "no destruction," from the forthcoming we are the 21st century ambassadors of peace and magic (january 22 via jagjaguwar), has already drawn comparisons to the likes of the velvet underground, pavement and the rolling stones, and rightfully so, but the duo manage to create something entirely their own.  there's a good chance this is one of foxygen's greatest strengths: the band is able to perfectly meld their background and influences with their own ideas and direction, creating a work that feels immediately familiar and fresh at the same time.  click that sideways triangle in the middle of that thing up there and enjoy the track.

previously on butyouwould: foxygen »

while we're at it, be sure to check out the video for yesterday's release, "san francisco," the second single from the upcoming lp. the song is really good.

mp3 | jeremih | fuck u all the time | shlohmo rework

another track via one of la's finest modern producers: henry laufer, also known as shlohmo, released a remix of jeremih's "fuck u all the time" in october of last year.  as a general rule, there's almost no meaning in comparing a remix to the original -- apples and oranges business -- but in this case, we can make an exception.  shlohmo's rework is superior in every way.  there's little room for debate here.  the track employs laufer's quintessential style, developing a methodically textured and layered atmosphere as an ominous backdrop alongside trudging, heavy bass lines and sharp snares.  give it a stream above and don't miss the (right click, save link as) download here. track by way of the indomitable gb.

stream | moods | love is real

producer extraordinaire moods dropped "love is real" a few weeks back via his soundcloud.  how it's possible for a cut of this caliber to have slipped past our radar is a goddamn mystery. a terrible, nightmarish mystery. crisp high-hats, clean, jazzy strings and samples that are spot-on, this is the hiphop we grew up on; this is the hiphop we fell in love with. a brief insight into the mind of the man:

i always try to experience new things in life to avoid getting stuck in the same daily pattern, breaking out of that barrier, try to see and discover as much as possible as long as i'm here... wherever i go i'm making sure i have my field recorder with me. that is what you hear in all the intro's. every beat has got a moment i experienced.

do what it takes to get this track. stream above, repeat infinitely.  good morning.

mp3 | white blush | jolene

carol rhyu, the writer, producer and voice behind los angeles' white blush released her self-titled ep last year, with the first singles hittin' the web back in march.  employing gentle synths, galloping drum machines and ethereal vocals, her tracks weave an intricate and often delicate tapestry of soaring, electronic dream pop.  grounded by lyrics laden with gloom and production that bounces somewhere between hope and despair, the ep remains engaging and rewarding throughout. stream one of our favorites, "jolene," above and head over to the artist's bandcamp where you can name your price and snag the downloads for any or all of the six tracks from the album.

photo | dslr | november twelve

mp3 | unknown mortal orchestra | i'll come back 4 u

for one idiot reason or another, i was set on disliking this song before i'd heard it, which proved to be a pretty easy thing to do for the first 56 seconds.  unfortunately, that chorus is painfully addictive and i'm a chump for a good hook. unknown mortal orchestra, the trio from portland, oregon (ruban nielsen, the band's creator, is originally from new zealand) put out their debut, self-titled ep june of 2011 to considerable commercial and critical acclaim. they've been relatively quiet since, with the exception of "swim and sleep (like a shark)" -- we recommend a listen -- and this "i'll come back 4 u" business which hit the webs summer of last year. if you guys haven't already heard it, check out the stream above while you grab the (right click, save link as) download here.

photo | dslr | april twelve

stream | toro y moi | say that

"say that," the latest single from chaz bundick, aka toro y moi, has been charming its way onto our playlists over the weekend, despite a first impression that was just shy of underwhelming. needless to say, the song gets better as it progresses and while it's no "new beat," the track stands on its own merits, earning your trust after a few runs through. the single is taken from the upcoming anything in return lp, which is currently slated for a january 22 release date. based on what we've heard from the album so far, it would seem chaz has managed to fashion another uniquely warm and crisp sound well worth a listen. check out the stream above while we find a legit link.

previously on butyouwould: toro y moi »

photo | dslr | january thirteen

mp3 | ryan hemsworth | basedworld

dropped on the artist's soundcloud new year's eve, alongside an endearing and concise "i love you" and a generous link to the download, "basedworld" is the latest track from ryan hemsworth. the cut is an ideal anthem for facing this new age of ours. rarely do we stumble upon such talent and simultaneous humble appreciation from a single artist, but it's encouraging and endearing. we've touted hemsworth as a veritable music god around here, and while it's often foolish to propose such claims, until he fucks up, we're sticking with it. check out the last gift of the year by streaming the track above and grabbin' the (right click, save link as) download here via gvb.

previously on butyouwould: ryan hemsworth »