Blog: The Needle Drop

</iframe A remix of the debut single from up-and-coming house producer Ghosteffects . Completely aware of its kitsch, this track dishes out one scoop after another of pulsating beats and innuendo-laced vocal samples. This remix actually alters the mood of the original a bit, too; keeping the emphasis on playful synths and the never-ending groove. Look for this single on the 14th of this month on Afterlife Records .

For a project that wants to remain anonymous, Rhye sure is trying to make waves with its music. So, in support of the fantastically beautiful song " Open ," the project has seen fit to release a video performing the song. A video, yes, but it doesn't exactly feature the identities of those involved in Rhye. Rather, it seems to be shot from behind the musicians as an audience of one quietly listens with great intent.

On her latest album, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten brings her fantastic voice to a higher level of production. WATCH THE REVIEW

A remix from the new Battles Gloss Drop remix 123 series, which I blogged about last month . This Shabazz Palaces remix comes from the 2nd installment of this series. The Alchemist and Kode9 are also featured on this 123. Grab tracks from the series on Bleep.

ARAB SPRING by Literature Literature is a pop rock group whose sound has a lotta jangle and a little lo-fi. It's a familiar angle, but the songwriting is too catchy for me to ignore, reminding me a lot of groups like Smith Westerns. While most tracks on this Literature LP have a happy-go-lucky vibe, they never stray too far from their rough and sorta rowdy rock attitude, keeping these tracks from getting too sweet. The band is currently allowing a digital download of this LP for whatever price you'd like. Grab the [...]

mmpsuf is a Lithuanian electronic music duo someone turned me on to via the TND Facebook page . I breathe a sigh of relief every morning I wake up and see we're still allowed to share music with one another on the Internet. Back on topic: The duo has a new EP out on SoundCloud , and this specific track, "God's Retina," has some sweet vocals singing a somewhat painful melody. The foundation of looped, vocal coos make for a pretty chilling atmosphere. The beat behind it all is pretty subtle, too. The sound of [...]

Finding Reasons by New Build Here's the first track to drop from the forthcoming New Build album, Yesterday Was Lived and Lost . The group comes straight out of the UK, and the album the song comes from should be out in March. They've also got strong connections to groups like Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem. A lot like that Rhye track I just blogged today, this rhythm and synths on this one call out to the 80s, but nostalgia isn't where this song ultimately gets its power. The quirky, syncopated [...]

Caught this song on the Fader , and I'm completely smitten with it. It's from an anonymous California-based duo named Rhye. They've currently got a 123 out on Innovative Leisure for the track streaming above. "Open" has a light, electronic groove that reminds me of the synth-heavy art pop of the 80s. The gently sparkling guitars that flow throughout the track call back to the same era of music. The vocal, though, isn't really hitting me with any kind of time period. All it's hitting me with is unadulterated beauty. It's smooth, pretty, soft, and [...]

Download / RSS New music from Big K.R.I.T., Shlohmo, Evian Christ, the Gaye Blades, Heems, Jack White, Bowerbirds, John Talabot.

On his latest EP of new material, Shlohmo heads in the direction of future garage, and maintains the modest and moody sounds that his music usually promotes. WATCH THE REVIEW

On A Place To Bury Strangers' latest EP, the New York Band delivers roughly the same style of noise-laden post-punk they usually do-except, to me, there's just less of an impact this time around. WATCH THE REVIEW

London pop rock outfit Veronica Falls drops its first single since the release of its 2011 album, Veronica Falls . It was one of my favorite LPs last year, and was so due to its infectious hooks, close vocal harmonies, and moody fall-appropriate atmosphere. This new track, "My Heart Beats," is noticeably more sunny. In fact, I'd say the mood of this track and those on the self-titled are almost night and day. The rhythm has a lot more drive to it, the melodies are much more upbeat, the vocals don't carry any [...]

Tincture is an Australia-based producer whose discography is a little limited right now, but this track was just too good not to share. On "You'll Learn," Tincture actually uses Usher's "Burn" as source material for its nimble vocals. The choppy dubstep groove is fantastic as well. This guy is loaded with promise. / via /

A new video from R&B underdog BJ the Chicago Kid, teasing toward his forthcoming release, Pineapple Now-Laters . The Davy Greenberg-directed video matches BJ's down-to-earth sensibilities. The music, on the other hand, is where the real ambition lies. Between a smooth beat and killer vocals, I can't say much negative about this track other than that it's criminally short. / via /

Not Alone 7" by Teen Demon Last month , I came across some of the most aggressive and noisy rock 'n' roll I've heard in a while. The band responsible: Teen Demon. They've got a sound that combines elements of punk, noise, and garage rock that I think has some great potential. Check out the four tracks from the outfit's latest EP above. Happy moshing! Especially on the track "Gold."

One of my favorite YouTube channels right now is easily 5-Second Films . Thought there is a limit on time in the project's videos, there's no limit on hilarity. Was that corny enough? Music's greatest satirist, "Weird Al" Yankovic, was actually featured in the YouTube channel's latest episode. Yesssssssssssssssssssssss!

Every since Death Grips dropped a new track via an ominous video on YouTube last night, people have been asking me what I think of the experimental hip hop jam. So far, I'm liking what I'm hearing. I think the reversed vocals and the muddy beat on this are a nice, trippy direction for this track. Of course it's got me stoked on what are supposed to be two, yes, two new albums from Death Grips this year . The first is gonna drop in April. Be on the look out. [...]

On his latest album, singer-songwriter presents exactly what this album's title suggests. I just wish the instrumentation sounded better. WATCH THE REVIEW

MP3 Last year, I covered quite a few up-and-coming MCs, and one of the most clever I came across was a young buck by the name of Milo. His debut mixtape, I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here , was one of the first releases I've heard to take the nerd rap and make it relatable and endearing-you know, instead of a cartoony effigy. Milo's got a new mixtape on the way, and it's nothing but new rhymes and instrumentals from beatmusic producer Baths. The title? Milo [...]

• Milo - Atlas Flushed (Grumpy Groucho Marxist Response)

A new track from Here We Go Magic's forthcoming LP, A Different Ship. It's set to drop via Secretly Canadian on May 8th. "Make Up Your Mind" shoots for roughly the same quirky, Feelies-inspired rock sound that material off of Pigeons and January did. I will say this time, however, the music does not feel as cold or intentionally robotic. Rather than being eye-widening and hypnotic, "Make Up Your Mind" comes off as almost danceable. Definitely a warmer sound from these guys.