DOWNLOAD: The 'III' Mixtape

Well, that didn't take long. Due way back in April of this year, our third, free, mixtape is finally available for download right now. The last two have, more or less, had themes, but III is more of a general collection of tracks that have caught my ear over the past few months. Some you may have heard a few of these songs on the site over that time, while other songs are making their debut on the site. Like the past two mixtapes, my hope is that III introduces you to a new favorite artist/band and gives these talented folks even just a little bit more exposure. Sorry it took so long! Download and enjoy. Cheers, friends.

REVIEW: We Can't Enjoy Ourselves - Make A Mess of Sacred Ground

We Can't Enjoy Ourselves - Make A Mess of Sacred Ground

Indie pop: the most charming of musical genres. It’s accessible, catchy, melodious, and seemingly simplistic – an easy listen that bears replay on account of its spirited pacing. It can lean more towards good ‘ol rock ‘n’ roll or indulge in more innocent, light-hearted affair. It’s a genre that handles melancholy and heartbreak with a graceful brilliance, molding it into something that can be just as charming as newfound love. For a perfect example of this balance, look no further than New York’s We Can’t Enjoy Ourselves’ debut album, Make A Mess of Sacred Ground. Amplifier tubes heating up with jangly chord progressions? Check. Musical acuity for mixing sounds of the present with those of decades past? Check. Witty lyrics on everything from heartache to aging? Check. Here we go.

We Can't Enjoy Ourselves Releasing New Album, Download New Song

We Can't Enjoy Ourselves, the New York band lead by Giovanni Saldarriaga, have a new album on the way that, by all accounts, has been a long time coming. If you didn't catch the boat last time around, don't miss their new album, Make A Mess of Sacred Ground, out next week. Until then, download and listen to the album's first single below.

SEE & HEAR: We Can't Enjoy Ourselves - "Put Your Blue Dress On" (+ Download New Song!)

It's safe to say that the found footage that was used to craft this music video was not filmed specifically for "Put Your Blue Dress On," but, as you'll see, it matches up quite well. Then again, We Can't Enjoy Ourselves possess a classic edge to their sound that recalls the upbeat swing and sharp cut rock 'n' roll of decades past. So, it only seems fitting that this song and old footage suit one another in just the right ways. The piece was directed and edited by Will McCord.

Download "Put Your Blue Dress On" and a brand new song from We Can't Enjoy Ourselves below.

LISTEN: We Can't Enjoy Ourselves - "Charming Man"

We Can't Enjoy Ourselves - "Charming Man"


In an honest tone, a man sings with aching heart to a girl that means more than anything to him. He makes no apologies for who he is, but insists there's more to him than she knows. It's about the dance between man and woman, one driven by love and affection. Supported by a pleasant round of doo wop back-up vocals and innocent '50s charm, this "Charming Man" keeps a certain amount of his grit with a bright, twangy chord progression that was born in a garage. It's a golden tune that plays with a vibrant spirit; like James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause," there's a great deal of emotional complexity beneath its appealing exterior.

We Can't Enjoy Ourselves, from what I've gathered, is the brainchild of NY-based Giovanni Saldarriaga.

"Charming Man" is from We Can't Enjoy Ourselves' 7-track album One Belongs Here More Than You. Listen to the whole thing and download it (for FREE) after the jump. The only unfortunate piece of news is that it came out all the way back in July of last year -- meaning we all overlooked it. It's slowly becoming a new favorite of mine. I say slowly because I'm only three tracks into it. It runs the gamut of rock 'n' roll and its subgenres. Check it.