Spring time is beginning to show itself in different corners of the hemisphere, and here in Pittsburgh, I can’t wait to leave the cave and bask in the sunshine. It seems like Pittsburgh winters last forever, but then again, to me the w

eather is inhospitable if I can’t be in a T-shirt. Perhaps I’m living in the wrong place, but even so, here are some newly released songs that help me to get in brighter spirits and remind me that summer is just a few months away.

Taste of Spring by Julia Trotti.

Alexander Ebert, who is the frontman for Ima Robot as well as The Magnetic Zeros, debuted his solo project “Alexander” at SXSW this year. This song, A Million Years is an earthy, warm, and fuzzy acoustic trot that is light heated and sweet. It’s the sort of song that makes you want to sip iced coffee and venture out on to the back deck after what seems like an eon of winter hibernation. The lyrics are cryptic musings about finding new love after an extended period of solidarity, and you’ll be able to draw lots of analogues to spring.

Alexander Ebert – A Million Years
Thanks to our friends at Aurgasm for this MP3.

My friends at Those Who Dig introduced me to this track, and it really gets me in an optimistic, snow-melting, spring mood. The Belle Brigade is a family made up of sister Barbara and brother Ethan Gruska. They are releasing an album on April 19, so definitely pick that up. Losers is a funny song because it is sort of a defiant, proud, proclamation of mediocrity. It is an inspirational song that reminds us to focus on experiencing life, rather than striving to perfect it. Maybe not spring-themed per se, but optimism and rebirth are central tenants of both the season and the song.

Bell Brigade – Losers

Larcenist is a rustic, neo-folk band from Boston that have built a career around vintage resonance and blue collar conviction. Leon is a beautiful, expansive piece about the tribulations of the working class. It’s honest. That honesty reminds me to keep focusing on my work and to perform well so I can keep the money banking up for the summer months. This song is included to caution us to not let Spring get the best of us, but instead, keep banking all the positive energy for the summer time.

Larcenist – Leon

Seryn is a 5 piece band from Texas that has a strong gift for layering and texturing a dense amalgamation of guitars, ukulele, accordion, bass, viola, banjo and various percussion. The sound is praiseful… rejoiceful even. Vocally, they remind me a lot of the Polyphonic Spree in their zealous, triumphant intent and execution. We Will All Be Changed talks about experiencing growth and renewal as humans much like Spring does to the rest of mother nature. It’s happy, hopeful, simple, and pure – adjectives surrounding Spring.

Seryn – We Will All Be Changed
Thanks to our friends at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends for this MP3.

Kyle over at Music Savage turned me on to the Canadian orchestral indie rock band Hey Rosetta, and I’m very thankful. While I can’t put my finger on it, doesn’t Canadian orchestral rock just remind you of the Spring? The precise, hypnotic energy in lieu of miscalculated thrashing is what makes Hey Rosetta glued to my headphones. Where lots of indie rock bands get sloppy in the louder registers, Hey Rosetta just make me want to turn the volume up and bask in

the perfection.

Hey Rosetta – Yer Spring