POP MUSIC MATTERS

BEST NEW TRACKS - Weekender - "Danny Pong"

Weekender - "Danny Pong" - from Nang Presents: The Array Vol. I out now via NANG RECORDS. Modern electro just...well...it just doesn't get any better than this. Wish I had more info on this artist for ya...but there ain't shit out there. Listen here:

Danny Pong - Weekender

BEST NEW TRACKS - Goldfrapp - "Rocket"

Goldfrapp - "Rocket" - from Headfirst due out March 22nd via MUTE RECORDS. Like, um, Christopher Cross meets, well, meets Goldfrapp! Holy Hell this is HOT!

www.myspace.com/goldfrapp

Rocket - Goldfrapp

BEST NEW TRACKS - Lindstrom & Christabelle - "Lovesick"

 
Lindstrom & Christabelle - "Love Sick" - from Real Life Is No Cool out now via Feedelity Recordings.

BEST NEW TRACKS - Junior Boys: "Hazel"

Artist: Junior Boys
Song: "Hazel"
Album: Begone Dull Care
Label: Domino, 2009

Hazel - Junior Boys

As a hopefully delicious preview of what we can expect on the Junior Boys' third and highly anticipated new album, Begone Dull Care, "Hazel" serves up perfectly all those uppity synth-pop smarts we've come to expect from the Canadian duo. Clocking in at just over 6 minutes, "Hazel" is one of the Junior Boys' danciest tracks to date and one of the strongest singles of 2009.

Begone Dull Care is out today.

www.dominorecordco.com/artists/junior-boys

BEST NEW TRACKS of 2009: so far.

It's kinda been a slow start to the year for pop music, don't ya think? Eh, I suppose that depends mostly on who you ask. Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion was released early this year to universal acclaim; I suspect it will find its way into the top 5 of most year-end "best of" lists. Then again, it's only April and there's still tons to look forward to. Next week brings the new Junior Boys album, Begone Dull Care, while April 21st will bring with it the new Depeche Mode record, Sounds Of The Universe. Other albums still to come are new ones from Camera Obscura, Bob Dylan and the highly anticpated new album from France's Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Not that January through April have been totally shitty. Quite the contrary. It just hasn't been all that exciting. The playlist that follows is a short collection of some of 2009's strongest tracks, so far that is. Enjoy and please feel free to leave comments. - Kenny S. McGuane

The Best Tracks of 2009: So Fa...

TOP 10 TRACKS OF 2008 - Sorry So Late

My apologies for the delay. It's just that I've only recently discovered lala...and holy hell am I having some fun with it. Late last year Pop Music Matters and the Daily Vault published my picks for the Top 10 Albums of 2008. Now having discovered the capabilities of lala, I thought it best to publish a playlist that includes the Top 10 Tracks from the Top 10 Albums of 2008. Better late than never.

CLICK HERE for the original article. - Kenny S. McGuane

And here's the lala playlist for you to enjoy:

Selections From Pop Music Matt...

BEST NEW TRACKS - Phoenix: "1901"

Artist: Phoenix
Song: "1901"
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Label: V2, 2009

1901 - Phoenix

With its dazzling synths and crystal clean guitars, the newest track from France's Phoenix (doesn't that sound weird?)--"1901"--is an ultra satisfying preview of what one can--hopefully--expect from their new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, due out May 26th in the US on V2 Records. The internationally acclaimed French alt-pop-rock band have revealed a totally revamped and gorgeous website which oughta make for some fun while everyone gears up for the new album in May.

"1901" is about as straight ahead as it gets for indie-rock, in fact categorizing it as such sort of does it a disservice.

It's just great fucking pop music. - Kenny S. McGuane

www.wearephoenix.com

BEST NEW TRACKS - Antony & The Johnsons: "Kiss My Name"

Artist: Antony & The Johnsons
Song: "Kiss My Name"
Album: The Crying Light
Label: Secretly Canadian, 2009

Kiss My Name - Antony & The Jo...

An upbeat track in a sea of slow-burners, "Kiss My Name" stands out among the rest on Antony & The Johnsons' latest release The Crying Light. That's not to say that the rest of the record sucks, indeed it doesn't (click here to see what I had to say about it last month). As one of pop's most bizarre and intriguing figures, Antony Hegarty shines brightly on The Crying Light and his vocals on "Kiss My Name" are closer to the genius performances he lent to last year's Hercules & Love Affair's self-titled debut.

The Crying Light is out now on Secretly Canadian Records. - Kenny S. McGuane

www.antonyandthejohnsons.com

BEST NEW TRACKS - Franz Ferdinand: "No You Girls"

Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Song: "No You Girls"
Album: Franz Ferdinand: Tonight
Label: Domino, 2009

No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand

Bet ya thought Ferdinand were all done, eh? It's okay. I did too. But they're still here and on the thumping, disco-rock, dance track "No You Girls", Franz Ferdinand are leaping forward and reaching out to all those skeptics who tried for so long to avoid them. This is an irresistible fucking song and critics all around the world are calling Franz Ferdinand: Tonight one of the best rock albums of the year. So far that is.

You be the judge. - Kenny S. McGuane

www.franzferdinand.co.uk

BEST NEW TRACKS - Pet Shop Boys: "Love etc."

Artist: Pet Shop Boys
Song: "Love etc."
Album: Yes
Label: Parlophone (UK), Astralwerks (US), 2009

Love etc. - Pet Shop Boys

It's finally arrived, the first single from the first Pet Shop Boys album since 1996's Fundamental...and they're in top-notch form. If "Love etc." is any indication of what the rest of the album will sound like, then Yes will likely be their best record since 1993's Very. As one of synth-pop's most adored and successful acts, the Pet Shop Boys helped to musically define 1980s and continue to maintain their relevance more than twenty years after their debut.

Do these guys ever age?

Yes is out now on Parlophone Records in the UK and will be out in the US on April 21st. - Kenny S. McGuane

www.petshopboys.co.uk