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