Category: Pop

  • On their last single, “Stops My Mouth,” Bat and Ball delivered electronic beats with sparse guitars and cool basslines.  It was a somewhat melancholic tune with a haunting vocal courtesy of Abi Sinclair, who comprises the duo with her brother Chris.  Now they’re back with their new single “Lizard Cuts,” a deeply melancholic song about  “loss, desire…

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  • One of the most interesting things about Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jillian Banks’ debut album, Goddess, is how decidedly *not* top 40 it is. Listening to her songs, you can’t help but think “if only.” If only the beats were more boisterous. If only the bass pulsated in a punchier way. If only the tempo were…

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  • “I feel the magic,” sings Petite Meller during her wonderful, uplifting song “NYC Time.” You’ll feel it, too, on this delightful remix by Betablock3rs, who give it a delicious, thumping beat, rays of sunshiny synth, and perfect drum machine beats. Easily the best remix we’ve heard this month.

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  • DJ Shadow has been one of our favorite electronic artists for decades now. He never fails to be wildly imaginative, letting his thoughts and loops take him in new directions at every turn. And that’s precisely what he’s done here with his highly invigorating remix of Kimbra’s “90’s Music.” Slamming beats, throbbing bass, jangly percussion…

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  • Printer Clips is side-project of Paul Noonan, best known as the lead singer of Bell X1. Interestingly, he did not sit back and create a solo album in his downtime. That would have been too easy. Instead, he did an album of duets with female singers. Although PJ Harvey and Emmylou Harris declined to participate,…

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  • As you may or may not be aware, Robbie Williams was selling copies of every show of his Swings Both Ways Live tour, just as he did with every show of the Take the Crown tour. It’s not a brand new concept, but only a small number of other artists have ever actually done so…

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  • Back in 2012 Kimbra seemed to become an overnight sensation thanks to her part in Gotye’s global hit “Somebody That I Used To Know.” So when her debut album Vows was released here in the States later that year I expected it to be a huge success. Unfortunately, all those downloads of “Somebody That I…

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  • There was a time, not so long ago, when any mention of “Youngblood Hawke” would have made me think of the book Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk.  To tell you the truth, I’ve never read it, but it’s on the list of books that I intend to read in the not so distant future, largely…

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  • OK GO’s new EP opens with the mid-tempo track “Turn Up the Radio,” a song about getting down to business with one’s significant other. The idea, I think, is to turn up the radio so your neighbors can’t hear you shagging. “I’ve got to lose myself tonight / So turn off the lights,’ sings Damian Kulash…

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  • Color us damn impressed. Totem’s latest track, “Chase Me,” is one truly gorgeous, mid-tempo electro-ballad. With its monster beats and haunting vocals, it’s like the dreaminess of Bastille meets the potency of Imagine Dragons. Seriously, it’s that good. And he’s giving it away for free. Unfortunately, it’s in flac format, so you won’t be able…

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  • By now you’ve probably realized that we think that LIGHTS can do no wrong. Well, this haunting, down-tempo tune is just further proof of her flawlessness. Lyrics, vocals, music — it’s beautiful and touching all around.

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  • Western Education were formed during spring 2011 on the east coast in the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, birthplace and muse of Jack Kerouac, after vocalist Greg Alexandropoulos plastered the UMASS Lowell campus with flyers seeking some compatible musicians. His search discovered bassist Will Hunt and guitarist Georgio Broufas and the trio set about making some…

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  • “You don’t love me like I love you,” sings Whinnie Williams, her voice dripping with melancholy during this lovely, retro-tastic number. If you hear shades of Lily Allen and Nicola Roberts here, well, that’s no coincidence. You see, the track is produced by Future Cut, who’s recently worked with Lily, meanwhile Whinnie has written songs…

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  • As you probably know, I recently reviewed Youngblood Hawke’s August 6th, 2014 show at Brighton Music Hall in Boston.  My review was wholly positive and I feel the same way about their debut album, Wake Up, which is, in fact, crammed with plenty of gorgeous anthems to rouse you.  Each of its songs are stimulating…

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  • I’d like to say that I discovered Caught A Ghost through my own music hunting efforts, that there’s some cool backstory about how I came to be aware of their existence. But the truth is simple and probably not very interesting: their publicist contacted me, asked me to review their upcoming show opening for Youngblood…

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