Some of you may or may not know United Nations. If you don’t know who they are, go to their MySpace page and stream the whole record until August 28th before the September 9th release. If you know who they are and are eager for more then…read on.

The word on the street is that people who donated $1 to the band off of their marketing poll have been receiving cryptic emails back with an attached MP3. From what I’ve been told this song is an ballad/alternate version of the track “Model UN” and sounds nothing like anything on the record. Awesome.

Last week we said that the new album, Oceans Will Rise, by The Stills was our most anticipated album of this year. Well now it’s here for you to stream before it’s August 19th release. Listen for yourself on MuchMusic.com, for us it’s everything we wanted! Also, don’t forget to check out their new video for “Being Here”.

Stand out tracks: Don’t Talk Down, Being Here

Have you heard of Series Two Records? Probably not. Because you’re used to being fed music through large music websites, commercial radio or from what your friend stole after seeing it featured on iTunes. Series Two is authentic bedroom-pop. It’s a CD-R based label that has released some of the finest international pop records here in the US in one of the most unique fashions: word of mouth by the love of music.

Every few weeks I am fortunate enough to receive an e-mail from Chris from Series Two with information and MP3s of their newest releases. This week it was music from Sweden’s Niklas Tafra from his album Why Even Bother and posted below you will find the track “Oh Daniel” off of this release. It will fill your senses with the emotions of Belle and Sebastion and leave you with a pleasant Beirut aftertaste. Promise.

Please don’t forget to check out Series Two Records.If you like what you hear, purchase their records.

Niklas Tafra - Oh Daniel (mp3)

Free music?? That’s crazy! The Gay Blades have gone all Radiohead on us and are offering 2 new tracks for completely free. The songs “Mean Muses” and “Shake The Graves” can be downloaded for free thanks to their recent digital 7″ released on RCRD LBL. The beauty of this new release: the band is actually getting paid for it. That’s right, you aren’t just stealing this shit and then using that money to buy your girlfriend new underwear to make her other boyfriend jealous. RCRD LBL’s ad revenue pays the band every time a track is downloaded, so feel free to stay on that site and download your ass off. Download them here.

Also, don’t forget, The Gay Blades have signed to Triple Crown Records and will see a re-release of their debut album Ghosts on September 23rd.

2003’s Logic Will Break Your Heart was great. 2006’s Without Feathers was boring. So now why would The Stills‘ newest record, Oceans Will Rise, be one of our most anticipated releases of 2008? Because any smart band would follow up a lackluster effort with ambition and a reinvented sense of who hey are (and who you want to think they are). A 30 second clip of their lead single, “Being Here”, has more raw energy in it than every track on Without Feathers combined. Looking at a release on August 19th, Oceans Will Rise will rise could potentially be the one record this Summer that finally stands out, so don’t forget to put down that frozen margarita and pick it up!

Pre-Order: The Stills - Oceans Will Rise

Photo credit: Jason Debiak

Our good friends in E For Explosion have headed out on the road with the likes of The Reign of Kindo, City Lights & a slew of other bands. Check them out if you want to hear a lush mash-up of My Bloody Valentine, The Jealous Sound & early Jimmy Eat World. Tour dates are posted after the jump and visit their MySpace for even more tracks.

E For Explosion - Sunday

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