PREMIERE: Upstairs Downstairs - "Parkas Indoors"

Kicking of this fine week, Mixtape Muse has the honor of premiering the video for Upstairs Downstairs' single "Parkas Indoors," off their new, self-titled sophomore album. Animator Ric Carrasquillo's stop-motion work provides a clever, pensive visual treatment for this charmingly melancholic and melodic track that sounds like the sun sneaking glances through the clouds. With nothing more than some tape and imagination, Carrasquillo creates life out of seemingly mundane things to evoke a sense of lost time, regret, and longing for something more. It's a strong complement to the San Francisco quintet's dreamy indie folk pop song. As a pair, they produce something rather thought-provoking, with the implication that sometimes it's the little things that mean the most. Watch the magic below.



"Parkas Indoors" is from Upstairs Downstairs new self-titled sophomore album, out tomorrow on 20 Sided Records.

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PREMIERE: Bard & Mustache - 'Bitter Painter' EP

Today, I'm honored to share with you Bard & Mustache's new EP, Bitter Painter, in its entirety. Unless someone ripped it and threw it online somewhere before this post was made, this is the only place you can currently hear Bitter Painter online. It was first released into the world last week at the duo's show at The Windup Space in Baltimore. So, for those of you who missed that show or the one in Monteclair, NJ this past Friday, here is the EP in all its glory. I highly recommend checking it out. When you compare where Bard & Mustache (vocalist/guitarist Erin Murphy and vocalist/cellist Greg Bortnichak) were musically on their most recent EP, Found, Bitter Painter sounds like a reinvented band in a number of ways, or rather, a band that has matured very beautifully. And when you consider this is just a rough idea of where Greg and Erin are headed on their forthcoming debut album (due next year), it's a pretty awe-inspiring listen.

PREMIERE: "Signs of the Civilized" from the New Bravestation Album

Ever since I heard the first song off of Bravestation's 2010 EP, I've been a fan. Following a productive and successful 2011 that included their first tour of the UK, the Toronto band is gearing up to release their debut LP. The as-yet-untitled album is, in my estimation, going to be one of the year's best releases, and today Mixtape Muse has the honor of sharing "Signs of the Civilized," a brand new song from the album. When I first wrote about Bravestation, I said there was something clearly unique about their sound, and, as you'll soon hear, their new material proves that these four gentlemen are intent on crafting something that skirts the lines of proper classification.

VIDEO PREMIERE: powerdove - "Sickly City"

Annie Lewandowski (aka powerdove) epitomizes the word "haunting" with such sparse instrumentation on powerdove's debut album, Be Mine. Over a patchwork of twinkling chimes and bells, sustained woodwind notes, swells and scratches of cymbals, and more, Lewandoski gently plucks her acoustic guitar as her voice soars and melts into the heart and mind. It's the simplicity of the music that emphasizes the impact of her enchanting, intimate delivery. The music is inescapable; Lewandoski sounds as though she's playing directly at your ear. It can be beautiful or eerie and everything in between.

Today, Mixtape Muse is proud to have the privilege and opportunity to premiere the new video for Be Mine's "Sickly City." It's a track that toys with, in an indirect way, the contrast between (re)birth and destruction, perfectly illustrated by the video's use of public domain footage documenting the demolition of New York's Star Theater. The way the music and visuals complement one another makes this video a must-see.

BUY: Be Mine is out February 15th through Circle Into Square. Purchase it at Amazon or Amazon MP3.

WORLD PREMIERE: Sparta Philharmonic - "Maybe It's Best" Video

The Sparta Philharmonic released one of last year's best albums with (trans)migratory birds. Today, Mixtape Muse is proud and excited to premiere the video for album-standout "Maybe It's Best." The most striking and significant images in the video appear while frontman/guitarist/cellist Greg Bortnichak pulls a heavy rope along, racing through the woods with more intensity and heart than most Olympic runners. Thematically, it tackles connection and relationships, represented by various symbolic images throughout the piece. Watch it all below.

MP3: Sparta Philharmonic - "Maybe It's Best"

To get an insider's understanding of the video, read what Greg has to say about it after the jump.

MIXTAPE MUSE PREMIERE: James Apollo - "Happiness"

James Apollo's video for his song "Happiness" would best be described as hectically beautiful. It's a snapshot of the immediacy of life and how, sometimes, life is nothing but a blur. The video expresses how quickly time slips by when you're having fun as we follow Apollo, bandmates, and friends hanging out in various locations. Apollo sings with a rasp, full of emotion and sounding as though he's seen more in a lifetime than most people. "Happiness" possesses that hypnotic sound generally found in music that is birthed in the Mississippi Delta, and it makes for one bluesy folk tune that's rich in soul and raw emotion.