This week was all about utilizing what I learned in Girl Scouts all those years ago. No, not building a fire or navigating my way out of a forest, but that whole “make new friends but keep the old” adage. And by “friends” I mean, “musicians who I consider to be my friends because I spend so much time with them and turn to them when I need to cry, sing really loud, or dance around in my undies.”

There were some great new releases this week from some of my favorite musical talents ever, in addition to some from bands I never knew. And while I may have fallen for some of the new stuff, I’ll always hold onto the old faves.

Mat Kearney- City of Black and White

If you don’t listen to Mat Kearney, you need to. He’s hard not to like, trust me. I loved him from the minute I heard his album Nothing Left to Lose in 2006; from his smooth voice to his meaningful lyrics to the fact that he spells his name with only one “t.” I’m also in love with his new album City of Black and White, which is filled with his smooth voice again and equally as many meaningful lyrics. And yes, he still spells his name with one “t.” If you like music like The Fray and Joshua Radin, you’ll likely enjoy Mat Kearney.

My favorite song is definitely “Here We Go,” but honestly, there’s not much I don’t like about Mat’s new album. “Never Be Ready” is also pretty awesome and I totally love the lyrics: “We’ll never be ready/If we keep waiting for the perfect time to come/Hold me steady, we’ll never be ready.” The only thing I really miss with this new album is Mat’s white boy rapping. I suppose this album does sound a bit more mature without it, but it was so incredibly fun it’s hard not to miss it. But I guess that’s how it always goes when friends start growing up and changing; they may be different, but you find a way to love ‘em anyway.

Mandy Moore- Amanda Leigh

Mandy Moore is probably one of my favorite people in the world. Ever since high school, if you asked me who I would want to play me in a movie, it would be her. I thought it was nearly impossible for me to like her any more and then she married my other favorite person, Ryan Adams. I thought the world would implode upon such an awesome marriage of two beautifully talented people, but thank God (at least so far!) it didn’t. And Mandy survived to make another album, Amanda Leigh. Now, before you think I’m some super Mandy fan who isn’t going to properly judge her album, I’ll admit right now, I was not a huge fan of her last album Wild Hope. I found it to be mighty boring. So I was super nervous for Mandy’s latest release. But she didn’t disappoint me at all.

Marriage must be doing something good for her because her album is absolutely amazing. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Why is Amanda Leigh so much better than Wild Hope? It actually has a lot of personality, unlike the previous attempt. The first single “I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week” actually gets you dancing, but also showcases her beautiful voice. It’s almost like “Candy” grew up….a lot. There aren’t really any songs on Amanda Leigh that I dislike, but I’m a really big fan of “Fern Dell” and “Nothing Everything,” which are both upbeat and fun. I also have to love “Merrimack” because it’s totally about the river I grew up next to. Oh, and I absolutely love “Bug” as well, because “Bug” is Ryan’s nickname for Mandy. OK, I’ll stop gushing about Mandy Moore now. At least until she and Ryan Adams come out with an album of duets. Then the world really might implode.

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I know I’ve head about Phoenix before, but I had no idea who they were or why should I listen to them. Then I learned they were “French Rock” and I still had no idea why I should listen to them. But then I listened to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and now I know why I should listen to them. Because apparently I was made for French rock. And Phoenix is just awesome. Allegedly, the album’s first single “Lisztomania” is about Franz Liszt and his piano performances. I have absolutely no idea who Franz Liszt is, but I totally feel like I have this “Lisztomania” when I listen to Phoenix.

Phoenix is the kind of music that makes you get up and dance and throw your hands around in the air. I’m not kidding here. They actually sound a bit like NYC’s own MGMT, mixed in with a bit of The Strokes. And maybe a dash of Franz Ferdinand too. I don’t even know the band very well, but I already feel like they’re allowed to have songs like “Love Like a Sunset,” where they spend 6 minutes building up the song instrumentally, and then start singing with only a little over a minute left. It works! Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix makes me wonder why more people I know don’t listen to Phoenix. And for that matter, why don’t more people I know listen to French rock? And what other French rock have I been missing out on? I’m grabbing my beret, heating up some crepes and working on building up my French music catalog ASAP. This is good stuff.

Maybe because you haven’t stopping partying for the past 3 days? It’s OK – it’s Welcome Week.

But it’s not OK, because even that Red Bull you chugged isn’t working. And you really wanna go out.

The solution? Music, duh.

Invite a few of your girl friends over to help ramp up your partying spirit: throw back a few cocktails, put on your party face, and listen to this awesome mix. If this doesn’t get you goin‘, get back into bed. You are dunzo for the week.

1-Burning Down The House-Talking Heads

Start off with a karaoke-worthy song that you can sing along to.

2-If You Steal My Sunshine-LEN

Forever one of the most upbeat songs of all time.

3-Last Night-The Strokes

A song you’ll want to bob your head to, but be careful if listening to it when putting on eyeliner.

4-Ready For The Floor-Hot Chip

A danceable song by a new British electropop band you’ll want to recommend to the DJ (a fantastic pick-up line!)

5-Fire It Up-Busta Rhymes

Bring in some 90’s tunes while you’re fixing your hair.

6-Hey Ya!-OutKast

A song you’ll never want to stop dancing to, no matter how many years old it is.

7-Paper Planes-M.I.A.

Take a shot for every gunshot sound effect. Just kidding! You’ll probably pass out before you get to the party, or the end of the song.

8-Electric Feel-MGMT

You’ll want to keep your ears tuned to this indie rock band from Brooklyn long after you’ve pre-gamed, gamed, post-gamed, and nursed your hangover.

9-I Believe In A Thing Called Love-The Darkness

There’s nothing better to put you in a good mood than laughing your ass off at your friends’ attempts to hit the high notes.

10-Fuck the Pain Away-Peaches

If you’re still living at home, you might want to turn down the volume on this raunchy tune. Otherwise, pump it up. This is a great song to end your pre-game time with. It goes on a little long, so shut it off whenever you’re ready to head out the door.

Don’t have all these songs? You can listen to the mix at mixwit.com (our newest obsession).

New York has long catered to many musical scenes…but ever since The Strokes and Interpol came along, many a band have been modeling themselves after this too cool for school image and many other bands who just do their own thing have been left in the dark.

Sure, they’re busting their asses and making it on their own terms in their own ways, but I thought I’d give some of them a boost and show you a different side of the New York City music scene. Ready? Alright. Get set to do some Myspace homework, boys and girls.

“Blame You I Do” /THE OUTSIDE

“Jealous” PILLOW THEORY

“Sorry You Missed It” THE BATTERIE

“Mighty Iron Giants” VILLA VINA

“Ire Fire” MADE OUT OF BABIES

“Goes Cube song 50″ GOES CUBE

“Fantastic” BOYSKOUT

“A New Town” SPELLING AND GRAMMAR

“Stages” LIMBS

“Illustration of Collapse” SNEAKTHIEF

So go do some research and stay tuned for more on underground bands of other cities and states.