With a wealth of new music from every source imaginable and every direction of music discovered, it’s hard to discover original pieces. Oryx and Crake, a nine-person group from Atlanta has provided a description and tracks that folks are comparing to Wilco, Portishead, Sparklehorse and The Mamas and Papas. You can call what they do “orchestra-rock” or say they’re channeling Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene or any other bands of that nature. What many might call a homage, styling or any other form of influences that has resulted in this collection of songs, I think it’s one of the most original ideas of 2010.

I’m not here to compare them to any of these groups, but to celebrate everything contained within their self-titled debut record. This is not the kind of music you get to find often in Atlanta; beautifully crafted, written and orchestrated pieces by genuine people. When I first sat down to listen to this record with headphones and ears tuned and ready, I was absolutely blown away by these tracks. A friend described to me long before I first heard them as that awfully generic term “orchestral-rock”. If there was a term I could use to describe this record it would have to be “just-listen-and-see rock.”

The record kicks off strong with “Fun Funeral”, a song so cool that I went back to listen to it a few more times before moving on to the rest of the record. The opening lyrics are bleak with lead-vocalist Ryan Peoples singing “wake up it’s time for fun funeral/put on your best gown for the black ball/put on your veil to hide your smile/now you’ve finally won your trial.” It’s an opener that sends complete shivers, but in a good way.

The standout track for me is very much the sprawling 7-minute epic “I Could Be Anyone Anymore”. In fact, if we’re drawing comparisons, I’ll even say that when the chorus kicks in on this track, I get a feeling reminiscent of John Entwistle’s solo catalogue. The string arrangements that this track builds towards the end are gorgeous. After the first few tracks, I’m begging to hear this on vinyl. Even at the start of the track “Superlady”, I hear the crackling and I momentarily lapse and think that someone’s trying to adjust the record in the player. It’s a nice touch.

This record is a triumph of complex sounds, stories and feelings all the way through the final track, a dreamy “Lullaby”. Instead of looking at these tracks as an influence from other bands, I’m going with the feelings I got from the first listen and that was of wonderment. It’s not only one of the best records of the year, but one of the best debuts I’ve heard all year. It’s a record that’s a joy to go back to and listen to a second time (and by the time of writing this, I’ve listened through it ample times to say that it’s getting better after many listens) The album is only 9 tracks long and at 43 minutes it goes by fast. I highly recommend checking it out, though, because these tracks will likely stay on repeat if you let them.

This weekend Oryx and Crake are having a record release party at The Earl on Saturday night. Another great local band. Athens-based Venice is Sinking will be opening. As much as I love this record, I’m eagerly awaiting their live material, so it’s sure to be one of the best things you could be doing in Atlanta this weekend. Also; you should follow these guys on twitter. They’re got some golden tweets.

Listen: Oryx + Crake on Soundcloud
Follow: Oryx + Crake on Twitter

The music of Twin Sister is slow and dreamy. Earlier this year they released Color Your Life, an EP that starts off with a 7-minute track called “The Other Side of Your Face”. It’s a slow building track, but gorgeous nonetheless. Recently, after an in-store at Criminal Records here in Atlanta and a show at The Earl, I fell in-love with their sound. It could have been the drum-machine kicking in during the stand-out track “All Around and Away We Go”, or finally hearing “Lady Daydream” live, but they struck a chord I haven’t felt since seeing Beach House earlier this year. The show was short, but I look forward to more music from these guys. In the meantime, check out “All Around and Away We Go” below!

Download: Twin Sister – All Around and Away We Go

Taking a break from the hazy fuzzy buzzy chillwaves, summer wavves and best-coast jams, we have Menomena. Their new record Mines really delivers everything we’d want from a summer rock record; dripping sex-rock (“TAOS”) , sing-along ballads (“Dirty Cartoons”), jazz infusion (“BOTE”) and Steely-Dan-Meets-Traffic-Inspired Jams. (“Oh Pretty Boy, You’re Such A Big Boy”)

They’re hitting up the tour circuit and will be exploding stages in Atlanta on October 8th at the Variety Playhouse. You can also catch their worldwide television debut on Jimmy Fallon on August 9th. According to their Twitter, they’re hoping Jimmy doesn’t pronounce it “man-enema”. I hope not either.

Get a little taste of Menomena by downloading “TAOS” from Mines below. It will please your ears.

Download: Menomena- TAOS

A band like Phantogram is hard to sum up. The duo behind the band, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel are from a small town in New York, but they produce hip-hop induced beats and electronic wonders. Soaring vocals, fuzzy guitars accompany the debut record Eyelid Movies too. I’ve had a few of their MP3s floating on my iTunes for a while, but recently I just downloaded the whole debut of theirs, and it’s an amazing album.

They recently announced a US tour, and it includes a date in Atlanta on September 29th at The Drunken Unicorn. I’m going to make sure I’m there.

Watch: Phantogram- When I’m Small
Download: Phantogram- When I’m Small

I’ve been listening to Tame Impala’s debut Innerspeaker for a while now. It’s not technically out in the United States yet, nor do I know when it will be. I do know that when it comes out here, and when they tour, it’s going to be big. This album, form the kickstart of mind-dripping guitar rock-out with “It Is Not Meant to Be” and “Desire Be Desire Go” all the way down to the fuzzed out closer of “I Really Don’t Mind”, you’re going to be in love with this album. Pitchfork and Yours Truly have had their hands all over these guys, but I can’t wait for them to tour.

Upon first listen, you’ll notice the vocals sound eerily familiar. It’s as if The Beatles more psychedelic tendencies were brought back in 2010, and done right. I really can’t get enough of this record, even after 50+ listens. For this occasion, I’m sharing two MP3s, and once your done with that, find a way to track down this import. I’m waiting to hear it on sweet, ear-happy, vinyl.

Download: Tame Impala- Desire Be Desire Go
Download: Tame Impala- Solitude Is Bliss

A funny thing happened when I went to see Drink Up Buttercup at The Earl last week. It turns out they have a Zach Galifinakis look-alike as their lead singer. I’m not serious, but with the beard and the awkward stage talk, you could hardly tell the difference. The four-piece from Philly played a short set of tunes from their latest album Born and Thrown On a Hook. Absurd jumping around, classy vocals and all around shenanigans all around as they played a lively set. Below I share with you one of my favorite tracks from that album.

Download: Drink Up Buttercup- Doggy Head

It’s rare that a comedic actor has so much going for him, including a budding hip-hop career. That’s what we have with Childish Gambino, the hip-hop alter-ego of Donald Glover. You may have seen him on NBC’s Community, or as part of Derrick Comedy, but get ready to enjoy him giving us one of the best hip-hop albums of the year. Not only is it spot-on, one of the best I’ve heard all year, but he’s giving away for free on his website.

Donald doesn’t shy away from sore subjects either, all the way to acknowledging this is not a joke album and pointing out that the only ones who do it right are Lonely Island. I do also believe this is the only hip-hop album to reference Tiny Fey, as Glover acknowledges those who helped him to where he is now. The biggest stand-out is “Put In My Video” featuring the lines “Smarty art chicks can put it in my video. Nerd girls who can put it in my video” and references getting raped by Aubrey Plaza. You shouldn’t be late to this party.

Download: Childish Gambino- Culdesac

There are a lot of buzzbands being created this summer, not just by little bloggers like me, but big news outlets from ABC News to the parody of Hipster Runoff. Alongside Wavves, you’ll find Best Coast; Bethany Cosentino’s little band of vintage sounding pop music.

After a series of singles, her debut “Crazy For You” is finally be released with a few of her previous tracks like “When I’m With You”. The album is a series of throwback 60s pop songs that will charm the hell out your ears.

If you want to be entertained by Bethany herself, it’s worth checking out her Twitter feed which includes talking about losing her weedcard, her ramblings with Wavves, and how much she misses her cat, Snacks, while on tour. (She created a Twitter for her cat too)

Urban Outfitters has been streaming her debut over on their website, which includes the spectacular cover art of california and a picture of Snacks himself on the cover.

Download: Best Coast- Boyfriend