pop that rocks

Heaven, indeed

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:30:00 -0400

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 make it, fear not. The show will be streaming live on Spotify courtesy of La Blogotheque.

You can also still stream the album in its entirety over at NPR if you care to try before you buy. And you should buy. For “Heartbreaker,” alone this record deserves all the ears it can get.

We Can't Be Beat

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:54:00 -0400

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.

Kill For Love sans drums

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:03:55 -0400

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 stuff.

Chromatics will also be touring with Hot Chip later this summer. Score.

(via)

Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 5.3.2012

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:41:45 -0400

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…

Purity Ring - Obedear
Major Lazer - Get Free (feat. Amber Coffman)
Lemonade - The Place Where You Belong
Jai Paul - Jasmine
Toro y Moi - Talamak (First Version)
Sand Circles - White Sand
Lushlife - The Romance of the Telescope (feat. Andrew Cedarmark)
Blouse - Fountain in Rewind
Twin Shadow - Five Seconds
Nite Jewel - One Second of Love (Peaking Lights One Love Remix)
THEESatisfaction - Sweat
Peaking Lights - LO HI
Kuhrye-oo - Give In (For the Fame)
Bobby Womack - Please Forgive My Heart
Lizzy Mercier Descloux - Funky Stuff
Hot Chip - Night and Day
LA Vampires by Octo Octa - Wherever, Boy
Frankie Rose - Apples for the Sun (The Go! Team Remix)
jj - Beautiful Life
Santigold - The Keepers
Chairlift - Wrong Opinion
Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumors
Chromatics - At Your Door
Beach House - Lazuli
Lower Dens - Candy
Prinzhorn Dance School - I Want You

Directed by Sebastian Mylnarski. New album Nootropics is out...

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:12:54 -0400

Directed by Sebastian Mylnarski. New album Nootropics is out today and it’s very very good. Beach House meets kraut with a dash of xx.

Five Seconds

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:09:59 -0400

Twin Shadow will release his sophomore album Confess on July 10 via 4AD. Download the surging teaser single below:

Directed by Winston H. Case.

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:36:27 -0400

Directed by Winston H. Case.

Here’s a bewitching b-side from the Canadian vinyl release...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:20:44 -0400

Here’s a bewitching b-side from the Canadian vinyl release of Grimes’s Visions, still one of the year’s best.

Every Single Night

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:08:39 -0400

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.

Obedear

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:48:42 -0400

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 - Obedear

Lo Hi

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:43:12 -0400

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 Love.” Yes, I know these songs are already out an about at this point, but they’re too damn good for me not to talk about them.

Nite Jewel - One Second of Love (Peaking Lights One Love Remix)

Light + Space

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:12:15 -0400

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.

Surprised I missed this last week. Dirty Projectors have...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:56:41 -0400

Surprised I missed this last week. Dirty Projectors have unveiled the first single from their new album Swing Lo Magellan, out July 10 via Domino. It’s called “Gun Has No Trigger” and it sounds like Dave Longstreth has been listening to a lot of Gnarls Barkley in the time since Bitte Orca. Hear for yourself.

A little taste of Heaven, the new record from The Walkmen, out...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:46:26 -0400

A little taste of Heaven, the new record from The Walkmen, out June 5 via Fat Possum/Bella Union.

(via)

An Interstellar Giveaway

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:34:03 -0400

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. I’ll select a winner at random that day.

For the second pair, listen in to my weekly radio show Transmission this Thursday for details.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor (sorry couldn’t help myself).

From Julia Holter’s exquisitely enchanting new album...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:37:25 -0400

From Julia Holter’s exquisitely enchanting new album Ekstasis, out now on RVNG.

Julia will also be touring the States starting in April. Can’t wait.

Out Now, FINALLY: Chromatics - Kill for Love Even after all the...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:14:00 -0400

Out Now, FINALLY: Chromatics - Kill for Love

Even after all the false starts and delays, totally worth it.

Get it now and hear for yourself.

Coming Soon: Peaking Lights - Lucifer The follow-up to last...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:09:30 -0400

Coming Soon: Peaking Lights - Lucifer

The follow-up to last year’s still stellar 936. Out this June on Mexican Summer. Stream a mixtape of album snippets and influences below. I’m already psyched.

(via/via)

New Light Asylum: "IPC"

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:12:19 -0400

From their self-titled debut album, out May 1 on Mexican Summer.

Preview a new song from Hot Chip’s forthcoming album In...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:49:50 -0400

Preview a new song from Hot Chip’s forthcoming album In Our Heads, out June 11 on Domino.