The brilliant, clever, forever cat-loving, manager of our brick and mortar store, Miss. Holly Caroline, has pulled together a list of her favorite Summer songs. Here is the run down for Summer 2011 Playlist no.1:

To me, the word “county” has a lot of meaning and good vibes attached to it. When I think of “county,” I instantly think of the rural counties where I grew up in, Buckingham County and Nelson County, Virginia. Full of rolling blue mountains, mountain springs, rope swings and gravel roads. It’s rare that I hear music that I’m not already familiar with that takes my mind back to the “county.”

We just left the pool and it’s hotter than hell outside. Hot enough that your sunscreen sweats right off of you and starts to boil. It’s the type of heat where anything below 90 degrees feels good. The type of heat where even your sunglasses are useless. It’s summer and you’re in it. Here’s a little nostalgic suft tune that will get you though that drowsy heatwave and ready for a cold beer. Hope you all are having a great holiday weekend! Click for the continuation.

Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest” is a documentary film directed by Michael Rapaport about one of the most influential and groundbreaking musical groups in hip-hop history – A Tribe Called Quest.  Having released five gold and platinum selling albums within eight years, A Tribe Called Quest has been one of the mos commercially successful and artistically significant musical groups in recent history, and regarded as iconic pioneers of hip hop.

The Sandwitches are that band that we put on a mix cd months ago, forgot who they were but know that we love their work and know the exactly what track they are on the cd. Everybody Taste has already named them their “Mrs. Jones’ Cookies” the best album for the first half of 2011. Subtle electric guitars, simple drumming and some of the best and most unique female vocals we’ve heard in a while. Their music sounds like it could fit in anywhere from a Disney movie to a horror film. Listen to “Lightfoot” and you’ll get the picture.

Take a minute to check out this very sexy new video from Metronomy entitled, “The Bay.” Directed by “the realizer” David Wilson in Devon, the shots are amazing, the edit is amazing and we must say, everyone is dressed very nicely. Makes us want to spend summer at the bay. That was an easy decision. Click for the video.

When we frist hear this duo the first thing we thought was that they Tashaki Miyaki was just a spinoff from Stone Darling, but that’s not the case, at least we think. The truth is there isn’t much known about Tashaki Miyaki besides their simple, three track Bandcamp page. No Myspace, no website, no nothing. But hey, mysteries are always good. What we can tell from their song, “Something is better than nothing,” is that whoever Tashaki is, he/she/or he & she or she & she sure know how to sing, especially when paired with some great guitars and reverb.

Matt, over at Evrerybody Taste just dropped an awesome mixtape earlier this week that is guaranteed to make you shake a leg. Filled with new and old, once again they’ve pieced together an amazing compilation of songs with artists ranging from Appaloosa to Yelle, perfect for any second of your day.

It’s hot as hell outside. You can look off into the horizon and see the heat rising already – and it’s not even summer yet. Get your beach towels out, trunks on (if you’re even wearing any) and throw some D batteries in your old boombox. Add in some Y Niwl (the fog), an alt-rock surf band from Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom, and you’re good to go.

The UFO Club is a really neat name of a band. It just so happens to be a nice little collaboration between Lee Blackwell of Seattles Night Beats and Christian Bland from the Black Angels. The two just did a really good cover of Phil Spector’s, “Be My Baby,” available on Austin’s Reverberation Appreciation Society. You an listen to all eight tracks from the record on Night Beat’s Facebook page.

The simple pleasure of discovering a new artists or hearing a song you’ve never heard before, it’s really great. It also happens to be Friday. So, we went over to Rollo & Grady and right in front of our eyes was Anika, an artist that we were somewhat familiar with, but got even closer when we heard the track, Terry.

Last weekend, you should have been in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a rare occasion of musical talents joining forces to create one hell of a cover. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Sharon Van Etten and Richmond’s own, Fight the Big Bull, got together for a special rendition of Alan Lomax’s Tribulations. The artists were part of the MusicNow festival in Cincinatti during the performance of Sounds of the South, an evening of re-imagining of Alan Lomax’s songs from his early travels in the south. Click for the amazing video and give Richmond some love.

You hear that beat in the background? Reminds us of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Stevie all blended together. Yet this young London chap (he’s only 23)  is providing us with enough rhythm and soul to make our parents get up and groove. We’re picturing late night summer parties with white Christmas lights strung from tree to tree, an ice cold drink in your hand a warm breeze floating over your face. If you’ve somehow forgotten how good soul music is then let this be your reminder.  Michael Kiwanuka is the new face of R&B, in our eyes anyway. Downloads after the jump.

Our favorite music blog, Everybody Taste, just released a nice little summer mixtape that will make you want to back your trunks, grab your boards and head to the beach. With tracks from Craft Spells, Billy Idol, Stone Darling, and more, it’s all you need besides some sunscreen. Download it here.

We have a little crush on Priscilla Ahn, and she just dropped a new album. Enjoy.

If you aren’t familiar, checkout this video.

Wings + Horns and maple syrup aren’t the only good things out of Canada these days, you can now add Yukon Blonde to the list. Originally from Kelowna, Yukon Blonde was named one of the top ten bands to break out in 2010, by the CBC and that they have. They have worked with producer Shawn Cole to create some amazing new sounds, including this single, “Wind Blows.”

“Wind Blows” blends great Neil Young-esque guitar and vocals similar to Fleet Foxes. Their sound is on the rise, you’ll definitely be hearing much more from them in the near future. These Canucks deserve a chance.

Out of Sacramento comes Ganglians, a group that resonates deep in your head. In “Jungle”, the guitar is so smooth and noticeable that it carries every inch of the song on to the next. But, allow yourself to take a second and listen to the background sounds, all of them. It makes us fees as if we’re in a 1970’s Jeep Grand Wagoneer with our boards (if we had any) piled on top looking for a parking spot. It’s the kind of song you listen to in the middle of the day when the sun is at it’s peak. Then you listen to it again.

We just stumbled on an amazing post over at the Jake Davis blog showing some great stills taken from the 1977 Jamaican film, Rockers. The 35mm slides show Jamaican culture during it’s prime shot by the producer’s wife, Cherry Kaoru Hulsey. They do enough talking for themselves. The book containing these photos, released in 20o1 is available at Rest Store, apparently the only store in the USA where it’s available.

If you’re around Richmond this coming Friday and want to change it up a bit, stop by Strange Matter on Grace St. for a night to remember. Hope you’re feeling irie ;)

The Limiñanas are really hitting the spot right now. All the windows are open and that trademark warm Richmond breeze is pouring in. “I’m Dead” is on repeat for the third time now and the French vocals are confusing my location in the world. Perfectly distorted guitars and an authentic cool sound form a 60′s-psych-drumming-barefoot vibration ease through to some great guitar. It’s probably some music your parents would love, which has got to be a good thing.

It’s killing me, in a good way. I love this song but the singers voice is reminding me of someone. Is is David Byrne? Orange Juice? Anyone out there? Either way, the sounds coming from San Francisco right now are simply amazing and Magic Bullets are no exception. With a record label in Brooklyn, there 80′s inspired, messy garage-pop sound is more than catchy and is able to span across the country with bouncing knees.

Magic Bullets  - Lying Around

Take a little bit of the Beatles, mix in some Chuck Berry and maybe even the Hollies, then fly them all down to Argentina and you’ve got Los Gatos Salvajes! This is pure 1960′s Argentinian surf/garage-rock at it’s best from an album that’s currently out of print. Los Gatos Salvajes (The Wild Cats) were one of Argentina’s first rock bands, playing from about 1964 to 1967, and were hugely influential in the evolution of Latin American rock music. Enjoy!

If you were there then it was a night to remember. If you weren’t then this video (all 3 hours and 41 minutes of it) might help you relive the last live show that LCD Soundsystem will ever do. Last Saturday in Madison Square Garden, James Murphy was joined with cameos fromArcade Fire, Shit Robot, The Juan MacLean and others as well as covers of Eddy Grant, Alan Vega and Harry Nilsson. In other words, totally fucking awesome. Click here for the video.

One of our favorite little bands to have playing in the background have just graced us with a track from the just released “Actor-Castor” album. Generationals, based out of New Orleans, Louisiana already gave us the “Trust EP” near the end of 2010 and have already done it again.  Actor-Castor’s single “Greenleaf” is the accumulation of summer 2010 feel with strong vocals, fun keyboard and a great beat. Kind of gives us the feel of some upbeat vintage pop.

In 1974, after a few years of no big moves from the superstar, Bob Dylan headed back out on the road with his back up band from 1966, The Band. The Band would of course later rise to fame with their own sounds, but this particular tour after Dylan’s hiatus was already spreading large in the media. Bob Dylan and The Band reunion tour of 1974.

However the combination this time didn’t blend. Robbie Robertson of The Band quoted, “Tour ’74 was hard work, just the intensity of the music was so high that it was really straining. “Whenever Bob sings with The Band it’s like Thunder and Mountains, you know, screaming at the gods in the sky and everything is so high-pitched, such intensity and energy.” This is probably why the tour stopped in ’74.

From RVA Magazine: “The Strokes’ fourth full-length studio release finds the band in rare form. Forgoing the Julian Casablancas-helmed writing and composition formula that had been the mainstay of the band’s illustrious and enigmatic career, the album finds the roles reversed, with the band composing and Casablancas’s vocals existing supplementally to the main body of the music.”

Here’s a little preview of spring for you. Let’s blend the always fun vocals of one of our favorite muses, Brigitte Bardot over the smoothness of Booka Shade. The end result is pretty awesome; full thanks to Rollo & Grady over in L.A. What’s on your spring mixtape?

Booka Shade – Contact (Brigitte Bardot Mix) download

Somehow I’m awake, pretty early on this beautiful Saturday morning in Richmond, Virginia and I just so happened to stumble upon the amazing sounds of California’s, Stone Darling. Their music just made my morning. Well, them and the sun and a nice cup of tea and a funny fat cat named Paulie. Their whispery voices and mellow sound creates a lush and gorgeous pop confection that only takes a few seconds to love. Makes me want to hug spring – we’re officially fans.

Stone Darling – All I Wanna Do (download)

Stone Darling – You Can Get to That (download)

At the end of this month, the Hat Factory is going to get really, really packed. Richmond’s own Audio Ammo teams up with Steve Aoki on March 30th. May we suggest getting in line now?

California’s Extra Classic is fairly new to the music scene but you could never tell. Their first single, the uptempo dub and reggae-fuled “Congo Rebel” will be released on a 45 shortly, but until then you can catch the group at SXSW. Congo Rebel borrows strong influences from Scientist, The Mighty Diamonds and Gregory Isaacs for a groovy spring time jam your sure to love.

Extra Classic – Congo Rebel

Oregon Bike Trails not only is a really awesome name for a band, but they create an equally as tender sound. Their Santa Montica sound reminds us of cold beer and clothes-pins, bare feet and warm breeze. Does anyone have any other information on these guys? We’re in love!

Oregon Bike Trails – A Summer Thing

Oregon Bike Trails – High School Lover

Oregon Bike Trails – Deep Sea Lover

It’s finally out! Alexander Ebert (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) is proud to present us with is anticipated solo album, simply titled Alexander. We were pleased last year to hear the fist single “Truth” and were instantly ready for the rest.  Alexander is almost what you would expect, minus a lot of the clapping, whistling and humming that we’re used to. This album is still a great one, from start to finish.

Athens, Georgia based Futurebirds currently own one of my favorite covers of all time, and I’ve only listened to it twice. Worst thing about the song is that you can’t download it anywhere. First world problems, huh? The cover is of Stevie Nicks “Wild Heart” which is the first single off of their forthcoming 4-track EP via Flamina, set to come out April 1st. Even though modern day music pushes out a cover every other second, this one definitely stands above the rest, even with a male voice. Hats off gentlemen.

You can stream the amazing track here.

Last night at Balliceaux we couldn’t help but instantly pick up a love for this little upbeat party track, especially about 1:25 in when the electronic steel drums kick in. The track is by Denmark’s Tensnake, a DJ that has quickly gotten a following throughout Europe. “Coma Cat” is sampled from Anthony & The Champ’s “what I Like.” Thanks to Weird Sailboat for the find.

Tensnake – Coma Cat (mp3)

In support of Wikileaks, M.I.A. has just released her new free mixtape, “Vicki Leekx” with the help of Diplo, Munchi, Switch, Rusk and more. Definitely worth a listen, especially that it’s now officially Friday.

This type of post really needs no words to describe it. Free Gucci II, the Burrrtish Edition. Get it here, via the Blaaahg.

Our friends over at The Blaaahg just put up a great little post on Gregg Allman and the release of his new album, Low Country Blues, which has already been called the best album of his career. Click here to read the rest. If you’re interested in listening to the album, Rolling Stone is streaming the entire thing here.

Have we got a nice little treat for you. To start the week off, we’ll be at Capsule NYC with many appointments to help keep you looking good throughout 2011. If you run into us up there, don’t be shy, we love meeting new people. Secondly, thanks to Everybody Taste, we landed on this great cover from Vampire Weekend of Plastic Bertrand’s “Ca Plane Pour Moi.” Click for the continuation.

I go through phases of liking Neil, loving Neil, then for some reason, hating Neil. But the hating Neil is only like 4.2% so don’t worry. Right now I’m in a love Neil phase, and it’s been lasting a bit longer than normal. We’ve compiled a few of our all time favorite Neil songs for you to enjoy.

Yet another song to make you wish for hot summer days. Ducktails is the solo project of guitarist Matthew Mondanile (Real Estate) who just joined forces with Panda Bear to give us this ear-warming single “Killin’ the Vibe.” The latest album, now available on iTunes entitled Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics will be out very soon (Jan.18th) on Woodsist Records. Check it out and please don’t kill the vibe, this one’s a good one.

Ducktails – Killin’ the Vibe (feat. Panda Bear)

With the current state of the weather, it’s so easy to wish of warm summer days at the beach. Personally, I’m over the cold, even though there are plenty of days to go in this winter. With that in mind, Beach Fossils are a band we can constantly turn to for inspiring sounds and thoughts full of waves. Click for the video.

I’m not sure where or how I first heard this album, but all I remember is that I was nine years old. My best friend and I would play “When I Come Around” on repeat for hours in my room as well as stare off into the album cover and try and figure things out. We both were in the process of growing our hair our, liking girls, skating, and totally decorating our JanSport book bags with whiteout and patches. This goes out to you 1994. Click on.

In 1968, Van Morrison released what is called by many as one of the greatest rock albums of all time – Astral Weeks. This eight-track album tells the amazing arc of life from spiritual rebirth to death. Mingled within the album is “Cypress Avenue” – a track that confronts the prospect of aging, based on a wealthy street in Belfast. “It was a whole avenue lined with trees and I found it a place where I could think.”

Click for the continuation.