More love for one of my favorite labels, Hidden Pony. Last week I showed you The Danks. This week I bring you one of my personal favorites from the label, the 7-piece indie pop band from Regina, Rah Rah. Their sophomore album Breaking Hearts, which had its U.S. debut last November, is sensational and does everything from tug on the heartstrings to propel feet and fling arms for joy.
This 7″ single Little Poems is out on June 7th as a taste of their third full-length Poet’s Dead coming later this fall (although neither of the tracks on this 7″ will be available on the later release). The notes of Neil Young on the title track are strong with twang-tinged molasses rock n’ roll and the sleepy male vocals of Marshall Burns, complimented preciously by the sweet and honest alto of Erin Passmore. If you haven’t heard her solo music on the Downtown EP, I highly recommend it.
And guys, just to let you in on the fun, I’ve heard demos of the upcoming LP and promise that you’re in for a treat.
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros just released a new track “That’s What’s Up” from their upcoming record Here, out May 29th on Community Music. Catch them in SoCal on May 4th at the Greek or on the 5th at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Hot off the press from one of my favorite labels, Hidden Pony brings us this great video from The Danks. It’s a kaleidoscopic, drug-hazed, fun-binge of slightly hazy indie rock and cotton candy.
Their new record Are You Afraid of the Danks is coming out on May 22nd and I have no doubt it’ll shine.
Reptar’s new record Body Faucet will be out on May 1st via Vagrant Records, but you can hear the whole thing right here. These guys are a riot live–I saw them a few months ago in Los Angeles. The record is catchy as hell and it wouldn’t surprise me if “Sebastian” turns into the Summer 2012 “Pumped Up Kicks” phenomenon. Listen now while it’s still a voluntary decision and you can say, “I knew them when…”
I love how sweet and charming this song is. A great tribute to some of the great singing couple/duos – Emmylou Harris & Gram Parsons and June Carter Cash & Johnny Cash. Who would have thought that a Swedish duo would be making some of the best Americana today?
Kalem and I had so much fun making this video with Tic Tic Boom! I’ve gotten to know the front-duo Mike and Leilani of this dark synth pop band pretty well over the last year and they’re really great to work with.
We wanted to create something a bit more than a live session, but not quite a music video for the acoustic version of the track “The Open” from the band’s sophomore EP Reasons & Rhymes. What we ended up with is what we’re calling a “b-sides video” for this b-side track and I hope you enjoy it!
We filmed all outside of Mike and Leilani’s apartment in Hollywood, California and inside their home studio.
I’ve never been to Coachella, but I say with confidence that I don’t regret that. But I do suppose that I owe the festival a big “THANK YOU!” for sending this amazing co-headlining show my way. In between the Coachella weekends this year, there are amazing shows in the outskirts of LA and tUnE-yArDs and St. Vincent at The Glass House in Pomona this Thursday 4/19 is the best one.
I have been completely obsessed with both of these bands this year. My crush on St. Vincent is clear from the love I’ve been giving the project on my site (WATCH THIS: St. Vincent – “Cheerleader” / Favorite Albums of 2011). tUnE-yArDs has gotten less textual support, but I love Meryl nearly as much. I’M SO EXCITED!
My feelings on Best Coast are generally mediocre at best, but this song caught me off guard–in an amazing way. This is the title track on their upcoming album The Only Place on Mexican Summer out on May 15th and I’m definitely excited to see where this record takes them. Perhaps a little less noisy, a little more poppy, and perfect for a West Coast summer!
The minimal and downbeat electronic undulating mixed with lo-fi guitar and a Karen-O like female vocalist on this track “Wait” from London’s quickly ascending star Airhead (aka Rob McAndrews) is magical. It only takes a few seconds to find yourself completely enraptured. It’s stunning. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring, rocking you involuntarily like a puppet to its beats.
If you hear the James Blake connection, it’s no accident. They went to school together and have always written and performed together. “He’s one of my closest friends and an incredible musician to work alongside,” says McAndrews.
Wait/South Congress was released as a ten-inch single on 3/19, their first release on R&S Records. Their debut album will follow later this year and I’m anxiously waiting.
