Photo by Sarah Murphy Jurado Holy crap is " River of Love" chessy. I mean, it's called River of Love , seriously, by the group United State of Electronica – a band that self identifies as "disco pop." Completely, unabashedly, poppy and over the top – the little snare hit, the snappy guitar riffs, and of course the alternately auto-tune-crooning and soaring-coed-chorus vocals. From the first twenty seconds of this song you know exactly what the next three and a half minutes are going to sound [...]
Enjoy yesterday's sensational performance of 'Earthquake' in feature below. MP3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Yes Giantess Mix)
Photo courtesy of Little Dragon's Myspace Page . Is there something in the water in Gothenburg, Sweden? The Knife, The Tough Alliance, Jose Gonzalez, Jens Lekman, and now Little Dragon – those damn Swedes just keep pumping out irresistible pop melodies in a variety of weird incarnations. Little Dragon's track "Runabout" is certainly a slice of quirky pop, but it is uniquely, wonderfully sun-soaked; the soundtrack to a leisurely bike ride on the nicest day of summer, when you're headed to your best friend's house or the beach or a BBQ. [...]
Hat tip to Michael Marotta of the Boston Herald for this. Here's his full post . And the nominees are! Album of the Year Manners - Passion Pit The Everyday Visuals - The Everyday Visuals Saving Seamus Ryan - Esoteric Diving for Gold - Session Americana Axe to Fall - Converge Torrent - Will Dailey Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem Act of the Year Will Dailey Doomriders [...]
Enjoy a few snippets from yesterday's performance in the feature below. MP3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Yes Giantess Mix)
I was immediately drawn into "People C'mon" by Delta Spirit off their debut album, Ode to Sunshine . They have been compared to Cold War Kids, and with reason, but that's not a bad thing in my book. The piano melody about half way through the song combined with some "papapas" and "lalalas" by lead singer Matthew Vasquez make the song for me. Scratch that: everything makes this song-it's simply just well put together. And hey, they're the kind of band that uses trash can lids as an instrument. So if you're into that sort [...]
Check out Wolf Gang's rockin new single The King and All His Men - it's the second single from the UK's Max McElligott & co., a rollicking pop romp (lots of ooo-ooo- ing & ahhh-ahhh- ing), heavily inspired by 70's rock (Bowie, Talking Heads) & McElligot's killer set of pipes are distinctly similar to those of David Byrne. Check out the new single below - these guys have a lot of potential. Catch Wolf Gang at their MySpace HERE ! The King and All His Men- Wolf [...]
I've held off posting about Girls because of certain reservations I had about them. Specifically, I can't listen to the lead singer's voice for a long period of time. But whenever I do sit down to listen to their album, Album , I'm not overwhelmed or blown away, as their 9.1 Pitchfork rating might imply. I will admit, however, that "Lust For Life," as well as "Laura" and "Hellhole Ratface" are essential and should be required listening in 2009. But take these tracks out of the equation and you are left with little to get [...]
Enjoy last week's appearance below. She recently chatted with Absolute. MP3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Yes Giantess Mix)
Neon Gold is 21st century story. Like counterpart Modular in Australia ( Ladyhawke, Cut Copy, Van She, etc), they're bringing out incredible new music that manages to straddle indie, pop and other genres, usually with a keen sense of melody. Based in New York, Neon Gold was started in 2008 by two college students: Lizzy Plapinger (Vassar '10) and Derek Davies (NYU, yr?). [...]
You know that we at PMA love almost any grandiose, orchestral, too-fun-for-its-own-good pop song. Especially if that song has an "ooo" or an "ahh" in it somewhere. That said, it's pretty obvious that we love Fred's "Damn You Hollywood," a dynamic, epic track from a band that seems to have quietly garnered tons of attention and acclaim over the past year. Most of this praise has come from the band's homeland of Ireland, as the album Go God Go has been named best album of 2008 by multiple Irish publications. But with tracks like [...]
The first thing I am going to say to you is, just listen to this song now . That is a clear demand, and if you do not do, so you are completely missing out on one of the best songs of the year. "When You Walk Into The Room" is a clear anthem for love that just explodes. It's a passionate song that has you wailing with the talented Fyfe Dangerfield - best known as founding member of Guillemots - who is coming out with his solo album Fly Yellow Moon sometime in January 2010. [...]
My Gold Mask, comprised of drummer/vocalist Gretta Rochelle and guitarist Jack Armondo, are going to be the hot new thing. They've got that BRKLYN hipster style, and two person bands are all the rage now (No Age, Japandroids, etc.). That said, if My Gold Mask blows up, it won't be undeserved. The track "Violet Eyes" is haunting, soulful rock/post-punk/pop/whatever, stripped down rhythms and jangling guitars setting up a bleak yet catchy stage on which Rochelle's voice can dance. With throaty-white-girl pipes reminiscent of Karen O., Rochelle dances [...]
Enjoy today's brief Q&A (highlighting her fave song of the decade) below. MP3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Yes Giantess Mix)
Hot Damn! I don't think we've ever been inundated with so many Scandinavian exports, and all of decent quality, which is more than you can say about a certain Danish beer! What with Casiokids , First Aid Kit , Sebastian Lind , and (to a certain extent) Fanfarlo , we're really being spoiled across the back end of 2009. If that wasn't enough, here comes the excellent Erik Hassle . Swedish born Erik could be on his way to be a massive pop star (yes, I said 'pop', sue me), he's damn [...]
A laptop has never sounded so personable, so human, so fragile than when in the hands of Four Tet's Kieran Hebden. His latest offering, "Love Cry," is a nine-minute, fully charged number that is as engaging as it is beautiful. Once the vocal sample kicks in, the piece moves in fluid, singular motions. Though it is meticulously conceived as up-tempo, chill-out music, "Love Cry" is brimming with curiosity and euphonious soul. "Love Cry" will be available on a limited-edition 123 single, backed by "Our Bells" starting November 2nd via Domino . You [...]
Designer Drugs' new release on IHEARTCOMIX, Riot/Drop Down, is out today (October 27th)! Fortunately for your ears and mine, they are offering "Drop Down" as a mp-freebie. "Drop Down" showcases Designer Drugs' sheer excellence at what they do. It's an ambitious club-banger, busier than usual, but still expertly executed. Download it here: Designer Drugs - Drop Down Tags: Designer Drugs , Favorite New Songs , IHEARTCOMIX Related [...]
Fever Ray's current single "Seven" is a smooth, filmy track about daydreaming in your youth... about suicide. At least that's what I got from it. But despite it's dark undertones, there's no reason why "Seven" shouldn't be a jam. The Twelves and I shared these sentiments and I'm psyched to premiere their Halloween-like disco remix of Fever Ray's "Seven." Author insert a music with WS Audio Player Download ( Fever Ray - Seven (The Twelves Remix) ). Fever Ray's Seven [...]
Last week our lil hometown newspaper, The Washington Post, introduced a redesigned top to bottom print edition, and while I quite like much of the overall redesign—as an art director by day—I've got some problems with some of the changes which had me pining away for the 'old' and discarded look. The 'golden days' if you will. Of a week back. But I didn't even realize I was in the halcyon, 'golden era' of the Post two weeks back. I was in the present, not fully appreciating something that arrives day in and day out with regularity and [...]
Kissy Sell Out, a UK DJ and producer that is known for this energetic and charismatic style, is quickly gaining notability. "Go Explode" is a song off his debut album, Youth , which came out earlier this year. The album took over a year to produce and reflects upon his childhood memories. "Go Explode" is a song that is very cleverly put together. You can feel/hear Kissy's awkwardness, anxiety and just straight up clumsiness with girls not only in the lyrics of the song, but also in the jolting electronics. Mid way through, you can hear a [...]
new music from vampire weekend – cousins + music video
WKND PLYLST!! This has nothing to do with NEW MOON!
HOT CHIP TAKE another crack at IT and I’m IN
The Beach House Theory of 2k10.
Friday Five: Surf Songs
