Top 12 Albums & 3 Memorable EP's!

Joy Formidable

The Postelles

• Cut Copy -Zonoscope
• Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
• CSS - La Liberacion
• James Blake - James Blake
• The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
• M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
• The Postelles - The Postelles
• The Strokes - Angles
• Destroyer - Kaputt
• Cults - Cults
• Yuck- Yuck
• The Wombats - The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch

Mayor Hawthorne

• Strange Talk - Strange Talk (EP)
• Florrie - Experiments (EP)
• Phantogram - Nighlife (EP)

Yuck

From the first time I heard "You Know What I Mean", I've been hooked on Cults. Girl groupsy vocals, hand snaps, an homage to 60's greats like The Supremes... The entire album is pretty fantastic, definitely a favorite of mine!

The Joy Formidable have been on my radar for quite a while but I only just saw them live at this year's SXSW. The energy in their live show completely blew me away! It certainly stands out in my memory of that trip. I have since seen them 3 more times, fangirl status!

No matter what variance of "a bad day" I'm having, when I turn on Sam Cooke or Otis Redding it's suddenly better. Mayer Hawthorne brings me to that same place. If you haven't yet, you need to pick up his latest album but also do yourself a favor and get his first too:)

These are selection of albums that I've been burning out all year long. 

Cut Copy

Happy Holidays from all of us at Stic-of-the-Week! 

Xoxo, till next year, 

Chelsea, Lauren & Deenah 

Sounds of Summer: The Postelles 6/17

It was a beautiful Friday night in the city and while all the usual debauchery was going down in Wicker Park, I retreated north to Schubas and watched The Postelles play to a full house of enthusiastic 20-somethings.

I saw these charming Manhattan natives open for Free Energy at Double Door back in January and had been itching to see them since. Their sound has been compared to that of The Strokes, The Kooks and Neon Indian yet there is also a bit of soulful flair in front man Daniel Balk's voice that is both familiar and refreshing. (Coincidentally as I'm writing this, Sam Cooke is playing and I think how awesome it would be to hear them cover a song *wink, wink*:)

The Postelles took the stage at 11:30 sharp playing a sweet but slightly short set that not even your boyfriend could help but dance to. Highlights included a fantastic rendition of Elvis' "Hound Dog", a new "written-on-the-road" song called Running Red Lights, and crowd favorites White Night, Stella and Sleep On The Dancefloor. Aside from a startling smack in the head from an overzealous fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the night from start to finish. These guys play straight up rock n' roll like seasoned vets, no computer bullshit needed. And that voice.. well let's just say I can't seem to get enough.

I highly recommend getting their freshly released self-titled debut album and playing that thaang all summer long.. Also, check out their latest video below for Sleep On The Dancefloor, but trust me, you won't be!

Free Energy & The Postelles - Rockkk on

I was able to check out The Postelles and Free Energy on Thursday night. First off I've never heard The Postelles who opened for Free Energy, they impressed the socks off me. Their lyrics are incredibly catchy, I see see good things happening for this band. They covered Elvis even, yes Elvis!? Break out the poodle skirt and cat glasses and jive away...

After a wonderful set from The Postelles, Free Energy took the stage, Paul Sprangers (lead singer) came on stage with a Batman shirt, saying he is representing Chicago aka Gothem City. Talk about a guy with a lot of energy on stage!? Sprangers dominated the stage and jumped and sang all around it. I think his feet were equally off the ground as much as they were on the ground. I really love Free Energy's vibe, they are really fun and just a feel good band. Also you can certain bust some moves listening to them, which is always a plus.

More pictures on Stic's Facebook.