On this week’s Monday Morning Tape….

… we’ll start with a great acoustic performance from one of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters, then see what the East Coast urbanites are up to (twice), check in with Ireland’s favorite bard, and finish back on the West Coast with some summer driving music.

A hot and happy Monday to you.

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Dan Mangan – Race to the Bottom

Let’s start with some clever social commentary by way of an indie rock song played in the style of an acoustic folk song.

Mr. Mangan released an EP called Unmake last month; it’s well worth checking out.

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Conveyor – What a Low Heart

Here’s something very artsy, very Brooklyn, and very hipsterrific … but also quite catchy and good.

Conveyor’s sophomore full-length album, Ready Not Ready, was released three days ago.  Check it out, man.

RIYL: Dirty Projectors, Alt-J, good music, the pinnacle of irony (or the death of it, depending on how you look at such things)

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You Won’t – No Divide

Just a friendly reminder here: Massachusetts-based indie rockers You Won’t released a really great album called Revolutionaries a couple months ago.

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Foy Vance – Purple Rain (Prince cover)

The over/under number of Purple Rain covers you’ve heard since Prince’s untimely death is probably around 273 or so.

Nonetheless, you should try to squeeze in three minutes for Mr. Vance’s treatment of it.  It’s an acoustic duet that strips the song down to its basics, and boy howdy is it a good one.

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The Rebel Light – Strangers

Tough one to describe here… maybe 1 part Pet Sounds, 1 part Local Natives, 1 part early Vampire Weekend?

The song pleasantly grooves and rollicks and bahbahbahs its way through 3 1/2 minutes.  It’ll be a great addition to your next summer road trip.

The Rebel Light recently signed with DualTone Records — their new 5-song EP, entitled A Hundred Summer Days, will be out later this year.

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Until next week, cheers.