Hint - Portakabin Fever (2003)

Hint is a DJ from Sussex who makes chill, downtempo trip-hop laid down over subdued dance beats; he constantly genre-hops, incorporating elements of hip-hop, folk, electronica, and soul, managing to blend all this together into a coherent whole

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This is Me Smiling - This is Me Smiling (2007)

A fun little four-piece from Chicago who plays chillaxed pop rock; their song "Mixin' Up Adjectives" has ended up on a few compilations, so if you've heard them at all it was probably that song, but this album is full of great tracks that get stuck in your head

I don't feel like I'm giving much of a description of this, but I promise it's not because I don't love the album, it's because I woke up like ten minutes ago...besides, that's why I post the Myspace links (since apparently there's been some confusion), so that you can check out what the band sounds like before 'committing' to a whole album

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Youth Group - Skeleton Jar (2005)

Sydney-based indie pop/alt rock, very chill shit; folksy at times, but also bears (dohoho) some resemblance to Pavement; I guess you could call some of this soft rock if you really wanted to, but don't judge it on that, mmkay

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The xx - xx (2009)

Dark and flowing debut from this London four-piece, influenced heavily by '80s goth rock and post-punk, this is an incredibly relaxing and chilled out album (best listened to at midnight, I find), helped along by the smooth vocals of Romy Madley Croft; this is already shaping up to be one of the most hyped releases of the year (Pitchfork review and "Best New Music" status imminent; touchdown in five, four, three, two...), but the catch is that it actually deserves to be

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Michita - Three (2009)

Phenomenal third album from this Japanese jazz-hop artist - this is chill and mellow, but also quite moody at times, and despite being largely instrumental also features some great rapping interspersed throughout; I am not typically a fan of albums that run for over an hour, but this never drags or bores, so don't miss out on this

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The Octopus Project - Golden Beds EP (2009)

This is only five tracks long, but it's still an excellent addition to the Octopus Project's already-impressive catalog; this release shows them further experimenting with the addition of vocals to their unique brand of relaxed-yet-danceable indietronica, and I must say, I really like the direction they're heading (and can't wait to go pick up a copy of this tomorrow)

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Hello, Avalanche

Lullaby for the Working Class - Blanket Warm (1996)

Calm, soothing and comforting debut from Nebraska-based acoustic indie folk band Lullaby for the Working Class, features members of Cursive, Bright Eyes, and the Berg Sans Nipple

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Monkey Swallows the Universe - The Casket Letters (2007)

Swooning, folksy, acoustic, chilled-out indie pop that's about "love, jealousy, apathy, imaginary friends, and pirates"; if you like Slow Club you'll probably like this

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Michael Leviton - My Favorite Place to Drown (2006)

First and (so far) only album from Michael Leviton, a Brooklyn-based ukulele player; this is a very chill and relaxing listen, definitely nice for those downbeat summer days

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The Octopus Project - Hello, Avalanche (2007)

This four-piece from Austin makes really chill instrumental indie/electronic stuff, but still manages to sound like a pop band

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Deep Puddle Dynamics - The Taste of Rain...Why Kneel (1999)

One-off hip-hop collab between a bunch of anticon dudes (Sole, Dose One, and Alias) and Slug (from Atmosphere), really moody and abstract stuff, highly recommended for anyone with even the slightest interest in hip-hop

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The Incredible Moses Leroy - The Incredible Moses Leroy Become the Soft.Lightes (2003)

Oh contemplative midnight albums full of infectiously mellow indie pop, how I love you

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Goldfish Don't Bounce - The Space Between (2005)

Totally chilled out and laid back ska, almost like a lounge band. If the Cranberries made ska punk music, this is what I imagine they'd sound like

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Softlightes - Say No to Being Cool Say Yes to Being Happy (2007)

If you listen to nothing else that I've posted, listen to "The Microwave Song" on this album from this really overlooked electro-indie-pop band. Say No to Being Cool Say Yes to Being Happy starts out pretty mellow but then blasts into a really upbeat danceable track called "The Robots in My Room Were Playing Arena Rock" (come on, you HAVE to want this now), and it only gets better from there

Summer is here bitches, and you're probably going to be spinning this a lot for the next few months (I know I am)

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East River Pipe - What Are You On? (2006)

Chilled out and melancholic twee album, some of the songs remind me of Eels, especially the vocals

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Bruno Coulais - Coraline OST (2009)

Fantastic score to a fantastic film, swings between moods of playfulness and menace, also contains a short track by They Might Be Giants written specifically for the film, I really can't recommend this soundtrack (or film) enough

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The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993)

Mellow alt rocky 90s album, contrary to popular belief "Zombie" is not their only song

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