Indie rock outfit, Guards, is gearing up for the release of their aptly titled debut LP, In Guards We Trust, due out on February 5th. “Silver Lining” is their first single: an upbeat little number that will remind you just how good these guys are. In case you missed it, you can download their fantastic 2010 EP here.
[Mp3] Guards – “Silver Lining”:
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Former Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ guitarist, John Frusciante, is back with his upcoming album, PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone, set for a September 25th release. You can get a taste of the new LP with “Walls and Doors”: Frusciante has crafted an inventive, erratic and ever-changing medley of melodies – it’s a real trip.The songwriter released a statement about the track:
“This song, recorded in September 2010, marks the point at which I began combining 60s and early 70s production styles with modern electronic production styles. This song was also the first time I successfully balanced pop music with abstract forms of music. This song showed me that the pop parts of myself and the more adventurous parts of myself could blend without one compromising the scope of the other.”
Passion Pit‘s former keyboardist, Ayad Al Adhamy, is leading a new band called Team Spirit, and they are gearing up for a fall release of their self-titled debut EP. Their first single, “Phenomenon” sounds nothing whatsoever like Passion Pit, but don’t let this disuade you. The guitar-driven, power-pop track is energetic and instantly catchy. Check it out below.
Blonds have been consistently putting out great tracks, ever since self-releasing their EP, Dark Roots, last year. The Florida-based band has recently relocated to Brooklyn to continue working on their forthcoming debut album, The Bad Ones, which hits the stores on August 7th. Their new single, ”Time”, is a slow-burner track that is intimate and emotional, without feeling too heavy – in fact, it is quite airy and atmospheric. Think Beach House. You will definitely like this. Listen below.
Blonds – “Time”:
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The Irish trio, Two Door Cinema Club, is set to release their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Beacon, on September 3rd. “Sleep Alone” is the first single to be revealed, and it showcases the band at their best: slowly building to a glittery chorus, the synth bassline punctuates the song and the reflective lyrics uplift the track. Quite the bold return. Listen below.
[Mp3] Two Door Cinema Club – “Sleep Alone”:
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In her cinematic new video for “National Anthem”, Lana del Rey plays both Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O to rapper A$AP Rocky’s JFK. Or maybe she was Monroe all along, and this video is meant to explore how different things could’ve turned out if other choices had been made, and how certain things – like a life’s premature end – cannot be avoided. Or maybe it’s about a loss of innocence. Or maybe A$AP Rocky is Obama and there is some social commentary there. I have no clue. But the video is visually quite nice, running for over 7 minutes, all the shots are sepia-filtered and Instagram-looking for that 60s vintage feel. Watch below.
[Mp3] Lana del Rey – “National Anthem”:
Lana Del Rey’s debut album, Born To Die, is out now.
The London Olympics are right around the corner, and while everyone is getting excited about all the athletic events and friendly international competition, Muse has given us something new to look forward to. They have been selected to create the Olympics official song, and here it is. Muse are masters of grandeur, no doubt about it. “Survival” is a Queen-esque song but with the added bonus of Muse’s signature epic crescendos, and some pretty heavy lyrics about never losing, surviving and such. The whole thing is incredibly theatrical, and the fact that it is a chorus-less tracks comes off more like an album opener than an Olympic anthem. That said, “Survival” IS anthemic; only Muse can pull off these cataclysmic build-ups and stunning orchestral arrangements. I love love love it as a track, but I’m not sure if it is terribly fitting to the occasion or friendly-enough for everyone. Either way, this song will play during most sporting sessions and medal ceremonies, so get used to listening to it. A lot. Check it out below.
[Mp3] Muse – “Survival”:
Last month we heard Passion Pit‘s lead single, “Take a Walk.” Now they have released another track from their forthcoming sophomore album, Gossamer, due out on July 24th via Columbia Records. The song, titled “I’ll Be Alright”, stays true to Passion Pit’s maximalist style; it is a happy and upbeat – or rather, manic – track, with some interesting glitchy and dizzying segments thrown in there for good measure. Listen below.
Hot Chip’s new album, In Our Heads, drops tomorrow (June 12th). In anticipation, they’ve released “Don’t Deny Your Heart” as the second single, and it is a pretty good one. The 80s-indebted track is a fun and catchy jam with a Talking Heads vibe – you are sure to love it. Give it a listen below and stream the full album here.
Hot Chip – “Don’t Deny Your Heart”:
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Langhorne Slim has not put out new material since Be Set Free was released way back in ’09. Until now, that is. His new album, The Way We Move, will hit the stores on June 5th. Our first taste is the titletrack, and I am happy to say that it does not only meet expectations – it exceeds them. The track is passionate, catchy and just a damn good listen. Check it out below.
