I ain't gonna lie, I'm a big fan of side projects. Some of the best things I know are the little musical offspring produced by these side projects, and there is immense evidence for this: the awesome collection of songs a la the collaboration of Ben Gibbard and James Tamborello that is The Postal Service, and need we even mention Broken Social Scene. Now enter Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot and Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend: both, from bands that I really dig.

Their little proverbial baby is Discovery, due July 7th. And I am pretty excited for this, especially after hearing Osaka Loop Line (mp3 below). It's hard to pinpoint what the album sounds like which gives it its charm and complexity. Part video game-like keys, electronic beats, laidback lilting vocals, and definitely shout-outs to certain genres like R&B and that old synthy/80's beat. It's kind of like meeting someone completely new, and after chatting awhile recognizing slightly familiar idiosyncracies.
Osaka Loop Line
Orange Shirt
Can You Discover? (an updated, reworked, rebooted version of Ra Ra Riot's Can You Tell? previously recorded by Rostam and Wes)
Can You Tell? (Ra Ra Riot)

Labels: etc., side projects