The Pilot

Welcome to the inaugural posting from The Weekly Stew, your weekly dose of amazing new songs that you didn't have the time or energy to find yourself. The blog will run on a weekly posting schedule with a list of 5 new tracks every week to get your feet stomping and your heart pounding. This first post will contain 10 tracks that I have enjoyed over the past few months that you will most likely have heard if you have ever come for a ride in my car for more than 5 minutes.

 A huge thank you has to go to Dylan Royal for the design work on the header and all aspects of the blog you see before you, who knows, you may even see a few guest listings from Mr Royal down the line.

Now onto the music.

 1) Foster The People - Houdini (RAC Mix)

 I first heard this song while at Two Door Cinema Club in Joburg and instantly fell inlove. It has some crazy beats and a whole lot of rhythm that make it a party starter whenever its played. RAC really are some great remixers, they take indie songs and totaly alter the sound of the songs yet they usually manage to make them sound as good, if not better, than the originals.
 

2) The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love

This is one dancey catchy number indeed, starting off with some catchy piano and synth and then building throughout the entire song until echoes of "let me hear that song" will echo in your brain for days afterwards. This song epitomizes what American pop bands should aspire to and is a firm favorite of mine.

3) The Art Of Sleeping - Empty Hands

The Art Of Sleeping are an Aussie band from Brisbane who we recently met when a few of their members were in Durban for a wedding. They are an awesome bunch of guys who are really on the cusp of making it big in the Australian and even International market. This, one of their new offerings, is really a treat on the ears and combines great vocals with some rad melodies throughout the song.

4) Pond - Moth's Wings

Think psychedelic rock is dead? Think again! Pond is another Australian band making epic music! The band features 3 of the members from Tame Impala and has really made some fantastically groovy music on their new album. Moth's Wings is the first single from the album and is a winner in my view, it combines some smooth riffs with a rocking beat. Have a listen; you won't be disappointed.

5) Zulu Winter - We Should Be Swimming

No this is not an Afrikaans folk band from Volksrust, this is one of the most exciting new bands to come out of London this year. The 5 piece band, formed only last year, have taken the London music scene by storm and are currently on their first international tour in Australia. We Should Be Swimming is my favourite track of theirs. A synthy mysterious start suddenly moves into a foot tapping beat with some sweet vocals, and only gets better from there, until you find yourself singing along to the chorus and trying to find the nearest pool to jump into.

6) The Killers - Runaways

The Killers need no introduction, they are one of the defining bands of indie rock and roll over the past 10 years. I loved their first 2 albums 'Hot Fuss' and 'Sam's Town' but was rather indifferent about their next few offerings. Runaways is the first single off their new album that will be out a little later this year. I love it. It takes me back to the days of listening to 'Hot Fuss' on repeat for hours. I really cant do the song justice except to say that it will become another anthem like 'Mr Brightside'. You'll be doing yourself a favour by giving it a listen.

7) Citizens! - True Romance 

The next 2 songs are a double bill from British indie-pop rockers Citizens!. This band has been one of my favourites over the past few months. This 5 piece band is full of potential for greatness as their first album has shown. Their songs just get stuck in your head yet for some reason you just dont seem mind. They are produced by Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos who has always had a magic sense of what to do with a song. This shown strongly in these 2 songs. These guys manage to be truly original yet still a bundle of fun. So have a listen and thank me later.

8) Citizens! - Reptile

Reptile is the second single from Citizens!. Besides being a strikingly smooth and suave song the music video is also one of the best I have seen for a while.

9) Torches - Silent Film

I first heard this song only this week, instantly falling in love. The song starts off gloomy until suddenly  a great BOOM of guitars hits bringing you into the light of day. The song then further progresses into the refrain of "Cut to the final scene/Does it make your heart beat any faster?”, with the vocalist beating the lyrics out surrounded by a musical bliss in the background. This song promises to be a classic in coming months

10) Van She - The Idea of Happiness

I thought I would end the first post off with a little bit of a party track. This is the first Van She song that I have heard and I must say that I am impressed. I actually heard of them through my sister who lives in Melbourne so I can't claim all the glory. This is a party track of note so get those dancing shoes on and turn up the volume as you listen to this final track of the first edition of The Weekly Stew.