May 2012
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Heaven, indeed
The Walkmen’s subtly stunning new album Heaven is out today on Fat Possum, just over ten years after their debut Everybody Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone. Fitting, as it’s their best release since then, which is saying a lot.
To celebrate the release, the band will be playing a rare, intimate hometown show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC next Wednesday, June 6. If you can’t...
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We Can't Be Beat
This year marks a decade since The Walkmen released their still-transcendent debut album Everybody Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone. To celebrate, you can stream the lovely lead track from their new album Heaven, out May 29 on Fat Possum. Fun fact: guitarist Paul Maroon (pictured above) used to frequent the bank I worked at in college.
Anyway, listen below.
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Kill For Love sans drums
Chromatics are now offering up percussion free versions of 11 songs (the “pop songs”) from their album-of-the-year contender Kill For Love. Per Johnny Jewel:
“I think that the drums on the album are so heavy, that it’s interesting to hear the record as this almost empty, almost a cappella kind of thing.”
Hear what he means here. It’s haunting, alluring...
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Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 5.3.2012
My weekly online radio show Transmission aired last night at 9pm ET (and re-airs Saturday at 6pm ET) on Y-Not Radio. This week featured new music from Purity Ring, Major Lazer, Twin Shadow, Peaking Lights, Beach House and more. if you have a track or artist that you think is Transmission-worthy, feel free to hit me up via e-mail or twitter.
This week’s playlist with MP3s after the jump…
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Five Seconds
Twin Shadow will release his sophomore album Confess on July 10 via 4AD. Download the surging teaser single below:
April 2012
7 posts
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Every Single Night
This new Fiona Apple single damn near broke the internet (or at least SoundCloud) yesterday. It’s easy to hear why.
The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever do is out June 19 on Epic.
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Obedear
Purity Ring will release their highly anticipated debut album Shrines this July on 4AD. You may have already heard about seven seconds of the first single via their website. Now you can download the whole thing below. It’s a coolly seductive preview of coming attractions, and every bit worthy of the hype brought on by their stellar 2012 trifecta of singles. Bring on the rest.
Purity Ring...
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Lo Hi
Peaking Lights’ upcoming album Lucifer is already becoming my de facto Summer 2012 soundtrack and it’s only April. Stream the ridiculously rad first single below, featuring adorable guest vocals from the couple’s son, Mikko. Blue Ivy who?
And while I’m on a Peaking Lights kick, here’s their delectably dubbed out take on Nite Jewel single “One Second of...
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Light + Space
Hear the exquisite closing track from Laurel Halo’s forthcoming full-length debut below. Quarantine drops June 5 in the States via Hyperdub. That cover alone makes me think album of the year contender.
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March 2012
15 posts
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An Interstellar Giveaway
Frankie Rose will be playing the North Star Bar next Thursday, April 5 in support of her shimmering new album Interstellar. Thanks to North Star and my man Josh, I have not one, but TWO pairs of tickets to give away!
I’ll be giving away the first pair through my blog this week. Just email me at popthatrocks@gmail.com with your name and favorite album of 2012 so far by Monday, April 2....
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New Light Asylum: "IPC"
From their self-titled debut album, out May 1 on Mexican Summer.
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Stream Julia Holter's recent Le Poisson Rouge... →
I don’t know about you but there went my afternoon at work.
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Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 3.8.2012
My weekly internet radio show Transmission aired last night at 9pm ET (and re-airs Saturday at 6pm ET) on Y-Not Radio. This week featured new music from Beach House, Bear in Heaven, Chromatics,Julia Holter, Bobby Womack and more. if you have a track or artist that you think is Transmission-worthy, feel free to hit me up via e-mail or twitter.
This week’s playlist with MP3s after the...
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Neptune
Enjoy a tall, refreshing new glass of Lemonade from their forthcoming album Diver, out May 29 on True Panther. Perfect listening for the gorgeous spring weather today.
Lemonade - Neptune
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Believe
Believe, the debut EP from Sweden’s World Tour, drops April 10 on Cascine. The title track is yet another in a long line of Balearic pop gems from both the label and the country. Stream and download below.
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A Review in Haiku: Julia Holter - Ekstasis
Laurie Anderson
comparisons justified
and often surpassed
Ekstasis is out Thursday on RVNG. You can also still stream the album at NPR.
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Sinful Nature
Bear in Heaven release their synth-tastic new album I Love You, It’s Cool on April 3 through Dead Oceans. Like its predecessor Beast Rest Fourth Mouth, it’s a commanding, confident collection of songs that walk the line between dance and rock with impressive balance. This newest leak from the album demonstrates it better than I could. I particularly like the jagged synth ripples that...
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Myth
It’s a new Beach House song. Do I really need to say anything more?
Taken from their new album Bloom, which apparently comes out in May via Sub Pop. Where have I been? Don’t answer that.
Stream it below or download it for the cost of an email:
February 2012
17 posts
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Big Sur
A little Philly flavor to take you into the weekend. Lushlife is offering this song up on his bandcamp page as a teaser for his forthcoming full length, Plateau Vision. It almost sounds like he’s rapping over a Baths or Bibio track, which is as good a compliment as I can think of right now.
The rest of the album is out April 17 on Western Vinyl. Don’t forget to grab Lushlife’s...
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WatchWatch Austra cover Robyn’s Röyksopp-produced jam “None of Dem” for Australian radio network Triple J. Interesting, to say the least.
Side note, the DJs are kind of cute, no?
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Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 2.16.2012
Tune in tonight at 9pm ET (or again Saturday at 6pm ET) to hear my interview with Class Actress’s Elizabeth Harper on Transmission on YNot Radio. We talk about her new album Rapprocher, fashion, relationships and all kinds of new stuff…
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A Review in Haiku: Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
If you must go soft
More songs like “You Lost Me” and
“Never Say Die” please
Reign of Terror is out next week. Stream it now.
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Orion
Exciting!
comagic:
Computer Magic is releasing an EP with Kitsuné on March 12th (artwork above) entitled ‘Orion’. Here’s the track-listing, and here’s a link to download the mini-mix! Enjoy! I hope! Ah!
1. Introduction Song
2. Trinity
3. Help Me
4. Moving Forward
5. Orion
Download Orion minimix via/ The Culture of Me.
-Danz
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Lunch Hour Pops 2.14.2012
Marvel at the highs (hello Radiohead) and lows (oh hey Skillrex) of this year’s Bonnaroo line-up.
A sweet, swoony “Valentine” surprise from Charli XCX.
A touching, tender new anti-bullying charity single from EMA.
A little embarrassed to admit I’m kind of into this new Nicki Minaj song in a guilty pleasure way. Give it a listen if only to disagree violently with me.
10...
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Lunch Hour Pops
Here are my picks for the best ways to kill time at your desk during whatever magic hour you get to eat and pretend to be working today…
Who is Bon Iver?
This page almost makes me wish he would change his performing name to Bonnie Bear. It would almost make his music more interesting.
Brooklyn’s Selebrities followed up their underrated 2011 debut with a dark, Italians Do it Better...
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In the Dark
Here’s another sultry, soulful taste of Nite Jewel’s forthcoming sophomore album One Second of Love, out March 3 on Secretly Canadian:
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In the Same Room?
You may be, Julia Holter, but your songs sound like they come from a different world. A warmer, more ethereal one than what was hinted at on last year’s still great Tragedy. If the rest of Ekstasis sounds half this good, there won’t be anything tragic about it.
Out March 8 on RVNG.
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Strange Symmetry
*Seeing another blog celebrate its tenth anniversary inspired me to get my ass in gear with posting again. Well, that and the sudden resurgence of awesome music again after the typical post-holiday drought but either way, I’m back. Look for regular posts again in addition to a new site layout and a facebook page (?!) in the coming weeks.
The wait for new albums from the Italians Do It...
January 2012
6 posts
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Unless You Speak From Your Heart
Porcelain Raft’s Strange Weekend is already shaping up to be my favorites of the year, or if that’s too soon for you, the season. In anticipation of its pending release, he’s unveiled another new song for all to listen to. It possesses the same timeless ragtime bounce that made Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” an instant classic, with added theremin and reverb...
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My bad, Molly Nilsson
Like many people, I first became aware of Swedish synth-popper Molly Nilsson via John Maus’s cover/duet of her single “Hey Moon” on last year’s We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves. Despite making it a goal to keep an eye for her output—and acquiring/devouring her 2009 album These Things Take Time—I still managed to to miss her latest release.
Shame on me...
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Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 1.5.2012
My weekly internet radio show Transmission returns from holiday hiatus tonight at 9pm ET (and re-airs Saturday at 6pm ET) on Y-Not Radio. This week, I discuss New Year’s Resolutions, high musical hopes for 2012, and play new music from The Weeknd, James Blake, Grimes, Matthew Dear, Molly Nilsson and more. if you have a track or artist that you think is Transmission-worthy, feel free to...
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Moving Visions
A primitive version of this single from Expensive Looks, aka New Yorker Alec Feld, made enough of an impression on me to warrant inclusion on my very first blog mix. Flash forward to one year later, and Feld has made the song all shiny and new again. It’s the first taste of his debut album Dark Matters, out January 17 on Group Tightener, and it still bangs like a boss. Listen below...