So I made out pretty well during this year’s Record Store Day. In addition to picking up several exclusive RSD releases while out and about on Saturday, I returned home with some other fun finds on vinyl and CD.

While my wallet is now $150 lighter, one of the best things I got didn’t cost me a single penny. Among a pile of freebies set out on one shop’s counter was a 7″ single by Great Northern, housed in a plain (but numbered) picture sleeve emblazoned only with the band’s name. I threw it in the bag with my purchases, not knowing what to expect, and didn’t give the single a spin until late Sunday when I was pretty happy to hear I’d scored big.

Great Northern is a Los Angeles indie outfit fronted by Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte. Their debut, Trading Twilight For Daylight, was released in May 2007, and song “Home” was later selected as an iTunes free Single of the Week (the track also featured in a Nissan commercial last year). Sophomore set Remind Me Where The Light Is is out now via iTunes, with a physical release set for April 28.

First single, the aforementioned “Houses,” has a driving beat and an electric guitar sound reminiscent of early R.E.M.’s darker tunes, with haunted vocals from Stolte standing in for Stipe. Hear here:

Head over to GreatNorthernMusic.com to hear three more songs in full (different in tone than “Houses,” but equally intriguing).

Purchase Great Northern – “Houses” via iTunes, where album Remind Me Where The Light Is can be yours for the bargain price of $5.99.