As a fan of all forms of electronic music this blogger wanted to talk about as wide a palette as possible, from whispery ambient to pur laine synth pop to hard industrial. And in that mix are those bands who exude an electronic ethos but may use drums, or may even use guitars (were it not for O.M.D. we would say one should draw the line at bass…), and when we called Metric or Bat for Lashes or Polly Scattergood albums among the best electronic albums in their year, some took umbrage. So it is that every now and then we hear a band that becomes a favourite and has a distinct sound, in many cases borrowing a cup of sugar from the electronic movement and we can’t help but think, how would the purists label this?

This is top of mind right now with a new Metric album on the horizon (and we are most excited, though it should be said that tremendous new single  ”Youth Without Youth” is decidedly anything but electronic), and we cant help but wonder what we’re going to get from the talented Canadians this time around. In the meantime, three bands (because it seems we always do things in threes here at Softsynth HQ) we’re loving right now are not obviously electronic bands but what are they exactly?We missed the Sleigh Bells party when it first kicked into gear, and it was in fact a series of photos of the band in Vanity Fair shortly before the release of their second album – or more specifically photos of the lovely Alexis Krauss that caught this bloggers eye and imagination (so predictable, would say Mrs. Softsynth. We would plead guilty.). Now, this band is all about the guitar. They are more Kills than the Kills. Heavy, distorted guitar rules the roost. No one would mistake this band for anything but a stright ahead rock outfit. And yet…and yet. Listen to either Sleigh Bells album. There’s something else going on in there. Tons of drum and sound loops littered everywhere. Listen to “Kids” and there’s boatloads of samples and effects. It’s two-thirds of the song “Run the Heart” before a guitar makes an appearance, while Krauss is surrounded by synth effects until that time. “Rachel” has no performed guitar at all. The band is more about creating the largest wall of sound possible using whatever instrumentation that gets them there. And it makes for exciting listening.

When The Big Pink first emerged, in the days prior to even having an album in-market, they were sold as something of an electronic act. Their Wikipedia page opens with “The Big Pink is an English electronic rock duo…” And yet to listen to either of their albums and that’s not at all apparent. In fact on this very blog there was once a debate as to whether this band could make any kind of claim to the label, and since the initial unveiling few seem prepared to call them electronic. And yet…and yet. When one listens to the incomparable “Velvet” what does one hear first but the throbbing electronic sequence or the programmed drums? Their fantastic new album Future This is a seamless blend of guitar, electronics and general noise (see: the title track, or “77″, or “1313″…). It’s neither one thing or another. But it’s still wonderful for all that.

Our old friends Garbage are due with a new album in a matter of weeks. This was a huge, influential band for this blogger during their heyday in the 90s. When Martin Gore of Depeche Mode did a remix for one of their early singles we went seeking the album out expecting a new electronic wonder, but while we sure didn’t find that, we did find a wonderful new favourite band. Their output was of mixed quality but the one-two-three punch of “#1 Crush” from the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack, then the incomparable Version 2.0 and Beautiful Garbage stands as among this guy’s all-time favourites. And listen to our favourite Garbage song, “Sleep Together” and point us to a more powerful electronic song. That period was defined by their use of electronics and their mix of guitar rock and sound experimentation was what made them great (it was by largely abandoning that balance that doomed their Bleed Like Me album). Baited breath to see what the new one sounds like.

So are we arguing that any of these bands are “electronic bands”? Not in the slightest, but each illustrate perfectly the challenge in defining what makes a band an “electronic” one. Depending on where one drops that needle it can net a very different result. These bands are or have been exciting ones precisely because they are hard to define, and because fans of very different styles of music can hear something meaningful in their output. There’s something awfully cool in that.

Or maybe this is all moot and was just an excuse to carve out some space on an electronic music blog to talk about some bands we’re really into right now, genre be damned…? Who’s really to say…

Watch: The Big Pink – Velvet

10. The All-American Rejects, Kids in the Street

The recently released fourth studio album by The All-American Rejects, Kids in the Street, followed suit with their previous albums with catchy hooks and strong vocals from frontman Tyson Ritter. While the sound of the album is unsurprising, the band has certainly matured from the days of “Swing, Swing.”

9.  (To be released on June 12th) Rush, Clockwork Angels

Forming in 1968, the Rush is releasing their 20th studio album in June. Their last studio released, Snakes & Arrows,came in 2007. The band has released a few singles off of the album, most recently “Headlong Flight” in April. Going from that single alone, it appears that the Canadian progressive rockers still have the ability to come off strong after over 40 years, yet still sound current and updated.

8. (To be released on June 19th) The Smashing Pumpkins, Oceania

This one is especially tricky. The Smashing Pumpkins’ signed with EMI for the release of Oceania, and a statement was released that the album is meant to be an “experience,” and everyone will hear it at the same time. No singles have been leaked, so it appears everyone will have to wait until June. As long as it’s nothing like Zeitgeist, this might be good.

7. (To be released on May 28th) Sigur Rós, Valtari

Although the ethereal Icelandic band’s sixth studio album isn’t to be released until May 28th, their first single off of the record, ”Ekki Múkk,” came in late May. Typical of Sigur Rós, the track is soothing, adding strings which are often heard in their other tracks. Overall, the sound is most certainly not a disappointment, and can be easily compared to earlier works.

6. Bear In Heaven, I Love You, It’s Cool

With strong guitar work and, unapologetic lyrics and a somewhat 80s feel, I Love You, It’s Cool is a strong followup to Beast Rest Forth Mouth, which was released in 2010. The production on the album is excellent, and the flow of the album is fairly smooth up until the last tracks, where it slows a bit. Overall a great futuristic sound.

5. (To be released on May 1st) Marilyn Manson, Born Villain 

Manson said himself that this album would be different from his earlier work, citing that it would be more rhythm-driven, “very death metal”, more repetitive, and he would sing in different keys  than he has been used to on previous albums. Slayer has been cited as an influence for the record. The first single released off of the album, “No Reflection,” lives up to Manson’s statements. He’s evolved, and the music video is pretty awesome.

4. Chromatics, Kill For Love

Melancholic, dark and synth-y, Kill For Love harbors a dreamy and rhythmic sound often favored in the 80s. The new wave electric and poppy beats and elegant vocal musings have elements reminiscent of New Order and Jesus and Mary Chain, which makes the album a great listen.

3. (To be released on May 8th) Garbage, Not Your Kind of People

Returning from a hiatus, Garbage is releasing their fifth studio album next month. Based off of the band’s single “Blood for Poppies,” this record seems like it could be a respectable followup to earlier works. The guitar riffs are unmistakably similar to past albums, in a great way, and Shirley Manson’s vocals are still as strong as ever, with a little pop mixed in.

2. Tanlines, Mixed Emotions

Brooklyn-based duo Tanlines’ first studio album, Mixed Emotions, is a strong representation of what they’re all about. With dance-y, poppy, electronic sounds, the record comes off totally 80s-esque. It’s enjoyable and spacey.

1. The Big Pink, Future This

The Big Pink’s sophomore album, Future This, follows up nicely to the band’s 2009 debut album, A Brief History of Love. The band’s sound has elements of The Cure, which isn’t so much of a surprise as they’ve covered “Lovesong” for a Cure tribute album in the past. The album starts off strong with “Hit the Ground (Superman),” and has a pretty steady hold throughout the album, only dropping off here and there in the middle, but ends up holding its own through the finish.

Between Two Ferns Coming to Comedy Central.

Watch Mansome Trailer.

Cosmopolis Trailer.

Interview: Alison Brie.

Gotye Didn’t Like What Glee Did to His Song.

New: Fiona Apple “Every Single Night”

Listen to Jack White’s Blunderbuss.

The Big Pink “Lose Your Mind” Video.

New Beach House: “Equal Mind”

The Black Keys Cover “The Weight” at Coachella.

Listen to “Cracked” by OFF!

Check Out Saint Etienne “Answer Song”

Marina & The Diamonds “Starring Role” Acoustic Clip.

The Flaming Lips featuring Erykah Badu “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”

Stream: Lower Dens Nootropics.

Stream: Wolfbrigade Damned.

Iggy Pop Announces French Covers Album.

Bruce Springsteen Adds Second Wrigley Show.

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound Cover Otis Redding.

Listen if you like “Creep” Also: The Best Thom Yorke GIF of the Day.

Rare Home Video of Kurt and Courtney.

Stayin’ Alive.

Happy Anniversary: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, YouTube.

A Tale of Two Hoodies.

Awesome Timelapse: Birth to Age 12.

Joe Millionaire Then and Now.

Eating Pizza With Swag. Pizzashirt.

People Hate the Word Moist.

Baffled Boxer Dog.

Challenge Accepted!

Fifth Avenue Frogger.

Sun-Times Names Jim Kirk editor-in-chief.

the big pink love them their hoodies and dizzying strobe lights. check out the new video for the uk electro duo’s future this track “lose your mind” up above.

- sunbaer

Let me begin by saying I’m going to keep these reviews very brief for at least this post. I’ve been meaning to write this for ages and due to one reason or another have been delayed in publishing it. However, with my favorite NHL teams one by one getting knocked out of the playoffs (Red Wings and Pens), I seemingly have more time to dedicate toward finally getting this done. My own feelings on these albums were first formed many months previous so revisiting them fully for the sake of being thorough is a waste of time. That and I have about 20 other albums to add to newer posts. Put on some good headphones and enjoy!

Snow Patrol – Fallen Empires

Release Date: Jan 2012
Label: Universal
http://www.snowpatrol.com/
Rating: First Half 8/10 Second Half 3/10

I’m not sure what it is about Snow Patrol, but I’ve never liked any album in its entirety outside of Final Straw. Every other album, as a whole, is quite good and has at least a couple great songs but there always seem to be lulls where I readily hit the skip button. That said, the first half of Fallen Empires is fantastic. From, I’ll Never Let Go till Fallen Empires, Snow Patrol seems to have segregated their driving melodies whereas the latter half have slower, softer songs. That’s not to say the second half is bad. It’s simply not what I find to be Snow Patrol‘s strong suit.

Highlights:
My personal favorite on the album – I’ll Never Let Go
The Weight of Love
Fallen Empires
Breaking my preference for their driving melodies due to the great progression – This Isn’t Everything You Are

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Black Keys – El Camino

Release Date: Dec 2011
Label: Nonesuch
http://www.theblackkeys.com/
Rating: 8/10

Everyone has their favorite installment of a band. While Rubber Factory had its strong points, I can say that I prefer the direction The Black Keys have taken since then. Each album shows greater range and more commercially accessible songs. The Black Keys also have found a seemingly unique ability to always stay rooted in the blues, and  not by some music expert demanding that having certain chords shows a root in the blues but having songs that actually sound like they could be played on a porch in some balmy climate by a brokenhearted guitarist.

Highlights:
I can’t pick my favorite between these three. They are all great -
Little Black Submarines:
Sister
Gold on the Ceiling

Okay I take that back… Gold on the Ceiling wins. That song is… just… awesome.

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Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun – Hurry Up & Wait [EP]

Release Date: Feb 2011
Label: Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun
http://www.myspace.com/todaythemoontomorrowthesun
Rating: 6/10

I’ll keep this brief: I found Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun due to the IRP (Indie Rock Playlist) including Oh, Black Gold from their new album Wildfire in a recent playlist. I haven’t yet reviewed Wildfire and honestly have a lot of other albums to hit before that so I quickly went through their EPs. That said, their band’s name makes me chuckle and their EPs are pretty good.

Highlights:
Never. Always. Good: which unfortunately I can’t find a youtube link for (grammar fiends excuse me for ending in a preposition). Oh well. Just trust me. So in the meantime, here’s Oh, Black Gold

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Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun – The Lightning Exhibit [EP]

Release Date: Feb 2011
Label: Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun
http://www.myspace.com/todaythemoontomorrowthesun
Rating: 7/10

Between the two EPs, I prefer this one. If you consider the two together as an LP it would make for a great album. With Oh, Black Gold as an indicator of the band’s progress I’m thoroughly looking forward to eventually getting Wildfire and having something nice to say about their progress.

Highlights:
Automatic (Traits of a Traitor): Couldn’t quickly find a youtube clip with decent audio.
Like It Or Not
Terrain

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The Duke Spirit – Bruiser

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: Shangri-La
http://thedukespirit.com/
http://shangrilamusic.com/thedukespirit/
Rating: 6/10

The Duke Spirit have always been hit or miss with me. They have a definite 60′s psychedelic rock sound similar to Jefferson Airplane which will always strike gold at least once on an album. Their previous release, Neptune, had This Ship was Built to Last and The Step and The Walk. Bruiser continues the trend with Sweet, Bitter Sweet being a stand alone gem on the album. And perhaps my first grading of this album was harsher than need be; as I’m listening to it again other songs are sounding better than the did the first few times over.

Highlights:
You have to appreciate Leila Moss’s great vocals on every album but this one highlights her range – Sweet Bitter Sweet
After listening to the album again I’m enjoying this more – Surrender

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The Big Pink – Future This

Release Date:  Jan 2012
Label: 4ad Records
http://musicfromthebigpink.com/
Rating: 8/10

I swear The Big Pink have been hit harder than many bands I remember from the curse of overexposure. Dominos is a great song, but it was also impossible to escape. I still enjoy it, but not as much as I would have if for a 4 month span it wasn’t playing everywhere. Considering the treatment of Dominos, I half expect the same to happen for at least one of the songs on Future This. There are plenty of candidates but the standout choice is Hit the Ground (Superman), it’s simple, catchy, and easy to sing along with. That said, great album from The Big Pink.

Highlights:
Stay Gold Ponyboy! – Stay Gold
I’m glad I don’t listen to the radio because I fear I’d never escape this song even though I love it – Hit the Ground (Superman)
Rubbernecking

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Kavinsky – Nightcall [EP]

Release Date: Apr 2010
Label: Record Makers
http://www.myspace.com/kavinsky
Rating: 7/10

It seems strange to have a review for an EP with 2 original songs and a bunch of remixes but the remixes are dissimilar enough to warrant a review and in getting earlier EPs I’m thoroughly liking the 80s feel throughout every EP. Additionally, the creepy 80s high school/dirty terminator is growing on me. Nightcall and Pacific Coast Highway are both great.  PCH has a permanent spot on my running/workout mix as it feels straight out of Total Recall. Of the remixes on the EP Nightcall (Sawagii’s Revenge Remix is the big standout sounding like a hair metal rock opera.

Highlights:
Nightcall
Pacific Coast Highway
Nightcall (Sawagii’s Revenge Remix)

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Chromatics – Night Drive

Release Date: Oct 2010
Label: Italians Do It Better
http://www.myspace.com/chromatics
Rating: 5/10

It’s not often that a good pair of headphones make the difference between a good song and a great song but the effect of headphones with good to decent bass channels really improves Tick of the Clock. Drive had a solid soundtrack to make the tone of the movie. Thus it was no surprise that Tick of the Clock would be a good song; however, with a much improved bit rate and good speakers, Tick of the Clock was improved tenfold. The rest of the album is similarly good. Glass Candy and The Chromatics are having an excellent showdown for synthpop/decadent pop champion now that Goldfrapp has shifted artistic directions. May the most decadent sounding band win!

Highlights:
Tick of the Clock (Short Version)
Tick of the Clock (Extended Version)
Running Up The Hill

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Desire – II

Release Date: July 2009
Label: ????
http://www.myspace.com/primitivedesire
Rating: 4/10

Okay, by now it should be clear that I got all these albums due to the Drive soundtrack. Synthpop is a guilty pleasure of mine and thus I don’t admittedly seek out new synthpop groups. Previously my cadre of guilty pleasures was Goldfrapp, Glass Candy, Kissy Sell Out (KSO, COME OUT WITH A NEW ALBUM ALREADY!). Thus I’ll always entertain other synthpop groups. Unfortunately, this album doesn’t really standup to Under Your Spell. Mirror Mirror is fairly good but every one of their EPs sound alike. Some bands excel at making songs, others excel at albums. Desire falls into the latter category. If you want something to play in the background, they will suffice, but don’t look for them to energize you.

Highlight:
Under Your Spell

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The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Out of Frequency

Release Date: Jan 2012
Label: B.A.R. Music
http://www.theasteroidsgalaxytour.com/
Rating: 7/10

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour has always been a group beyond my descriptive abilities. Sure they have elements of psychedelic pop, but beyond that I have no effective words with which to characterize them. That said, they are highly entertaining due to their unique style. I don’t find Out of Frequency as much of a home run as Fruit, maybe it’s a double, but it’s still enjoyable and changes very little of the elements that made Fruit such a bizarrely enjoyable experience. Also it helps that Mette Lindberg is great on the eyes… as most Danes seem to be.

Highlights:
Heart Attack
Out of Frequency
Mafia
My personal favorite song from the album – Ghost in My Head

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Hanni el Khatib – Will The Guns Come Out

Release Date: Sept 2011
Label: Innovative Leisure
http://www.hannielkhatib.com/
Rating: 7/10

A hat tip to Marshall for passing along Hanni El Khatib. My only complaint on Hanni is the short duration of virtually every track; however, considering the development of The White Stripes, I’m entirely willing to overlook that point. In solidarity with the track lengths. That’s all I’m going to say for the album.

Highlights:
Build. Destroy. Rebuild.
Fuck It. You Win.
Garbage City: of course the slow song on the album isn’t on youtube…
You Rascal You

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Dr. Dog – Be The Void

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: ANTI Records
http://www.drdogmusic.com/
Rating: 10/10

I’m not an easy grader. Especially of music. As a TA, I hated that we were instructed to grade nicely. That says, Dr. Dog earned every ounce of this rating. They typically come out with great overall albums with a couple nice songs but on Be The Void, every song is a winner and the album has a couple really fantastic songs that depart a bit from the typical Dr. Dog sound. Rather than list every song and sing its praise I’ll just say my two favorites ended up being Big Girl and Warrior Man. If you don’t have it yet, get it.

Highlights:
Do The Trick
Big Girl
Warrior Man
That Old Black Hole

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The Sheepdogs – Learn And Burn

Release Date: Oct 2011
Label: Wea Int’l
http://www.thesheepdogs.com/
Rating: 7/10

I will start this review out in a strange manner. I really wanted to not like the Sheepdogs. I mean really badly. Rolling Stone magazine just really doesn’t mean what it used to and the whole push to have an unknown band make the cover I found to be proof of the magazine’s decline. That said, they are Canadian and Chuck Klosterman gave them his seal of approval. I don’t always agree with Chuck, but I definitely respect him. So, I, likewise, gave them a chance and thoroughly enjoyed them. I feel like they’d be entirely at home in the background of Dazed and Confused, which I suppose makes perfect sense as people like to joke how Canada is behind a few decades. The more I listened, the more I thought of the Doobie Brothers, the Allman Brothers, CCR, or Grand Funk Railroad. Anywho, that’s a long enough ramble. Really pleasant surprise.

Highlights:
The One You Belong To
Please Don’t Lead Me On
I Don’t Know
I Should Know (Medley)

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Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: Astralwerks
http://www.aircheology.com/
Rating: 5/10

Air have always been perennial favorites for late night background music. They are always relaxed, melodic, and rarely grab your attention for extended periods (which in this case I mean as a good thing). While the album is enjoyable the slightly play-like format of the album doesn’t really work to the benefit of the album hence my overall mediocre rating.

Highlights:
Given the overall mediocrity I really like Seven Stars

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Release Date: June 2011
Label: Fat Possum (Ryko)
http://unknownmortalorchestra.com/
Rating: 7/10

Sometimes things are bad-weird, weird-weird, or cool-weird. Unknown Mortal Orchestra is cool-weird. In both name and performance. I give full credit to the Dinner Party Download for introducing me to Little Blu House, the best song on the album. The beats are funky, the sounds are strange, the song names and spellings are odd. None of it makes sense. But it works.

Highlights:
FFunny FFriends
Thought Ballune
This music video is really really weird and feels inspired by Hercules Love Affair – Blind… an equally weird song and video – Little Blu House
I feel stranger after watching those…

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Small Black – New Chain

Release Date: Oct 2010
Label: Jagjaguwar
http://www.myspace.com/smallblacksounds
http://soundcloud.com/small-black
Rating: 5/10

While nothing really stands out on New Chain the overall album comes off pretty well. Electro-rock-pop through and through, the album’s stronger songs come up front and the general sound lasts throughout. For a lack of anything remarkably positive or negative to say I’ll leave the review at that.

Highlights:
Search Party
Camouflage
Photojournalist

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Cults – Cults

Release Date: June 2011
Label: Columbia
http://cultscultscults.com/us/splash/
http://cults.bandcamp.com/
Rating: 8/10

Sometimes things just hit you at the right time and place. When I first listened to Cults, I instantly dismissed them. After rehearing Go Outside featured on the Dinner Party Download, somehow my old opinions of the album were erased and I listened to it again with a new slate. On second review, Cults comes off much better. Maybe it works better since summer is on the way and the album definitely has a light tone to it.

Highlights:
Oh My God
Go Outside
Abducted
Walk At Night

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Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

Release Date: Sept 2010
Label: 4ad Records
http://halcyondigest.com/
Rating: 4/10

Let me apologize right off for the super creepy album cover. I really don’t like looking at it. I can’t tell if it’s a guy dressed like a creepy woman or a creepy doll made to look like a creepy guy dressed as a woman. I also don’t know which would be scarier. I’ll say I don’t bother including albums that I generally dislike but Halcyon Digest has a couple really great songs. Thus I leave open the possibility that I might change my mind on others in the future. Yet again, I tip my hat to the Dinner Party Download for this find.

Highlights:
Helicopter
Desire Lines

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Band of Skulls – Sweet Sour

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: Vagrant
http://bandofskulls.com/
Rating: 9/10

I can’t sing the praises of Band of Skulls enough. It normally takes at least 2 solid albums to enter my pantheon of favorite bands but Baby Darling Dollface Honey was so thoroughly excellent that they instantly vaulted into Mt. Olympus. Their followup, Sweet Sour, isn’t quite as solid as their debut but it’s still excellent. The inclusion of quieter songs actually works and shows greater range than the mostly garage rock focus of BDDH. The vocal range of Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson as always come off well, especially in the less aggressive songs.

As an aside, something about Band of Skulls album covers disturbs me, especially Sweet Sour. If you’ve ever walked through a taxidermy/animal fetus display you’ll get what I mean. You just see a natural oddity that makes you cringe just a bit, because it is simultaneously familiar and foreign. Sweet Sour has too much of that. I have no idea what I’m looking at but I looks like I should and shouldn’t at the same moment… and that irks me.

Highlights:
Any video with luchadores is a win in my book. Add in that the song is awesome and I’m all in – Bruises
Sweet Sour
The Devil Takes Care of His Own
Put on some good headphones and enjoy – Close to Nowhere

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Power Glove – So Bad

Release Date: 2010
Label: ????
http://www.powergloveaudio.com/
Rating: 7/10

All thanks to Lenchner for this grab. Only four songs but they’re all pretty good. Each could also suffice for a sweet Street Fighter or Mega Man soundtrack. Or maybe some cheesy 80′s sports heavy movie. Listen and expect a montage.

Highlights:
Nightforce
Streets of 2043
Fantastic Lover
Maximum Potential

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John Morillion – Love It All [Single]
Release Date:
Label: ???
http://johnmorillion.com/
Rating: ???

A rating for one song sounds stupid… except when it’s a great song… I have absolutely no complaints with this song and am somewhat baffled that a Frenchman could seemingly have no accent in the slightest. I look forward to whatever he comes out with next: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPHIyGl-K6k

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Le Butcherettes – Kiss & Kill

Release Date: May 2010
Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions
http://lebutcherettes.net/
http://lebutcherettes.bandcamp.com/
Rating: 6/10

Saying Le Butcherettes are equal parts Ramones, White Stripes, and Le Tigre seems like a stretch… and yet weirdly appropriately. Great garage rock sound, feminist anthems, and plenty of piss n’ vinegar in their veins. More on the band in the next review.

Highlights:
I’m Queen
Kiss & Kill
Honey Honey

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Le Butcherettes – Sin Sin Sin

Release Date: May 2011
Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions
http://lebutcherettes.net/
http://lebutcherettes.bandcamp.com/
Rating: 7/10

Okay so, Kiss & Kill had an average song length of 2:00. Sin Sin Sin has an average song length of 3:02. Thus, much like the White Stripes, as Le Butcherettes put out more albums their songs get longer while maintaining quality. Thus the original comparison stands. I will say Sin Sin Sin has slightly less piss n’ vinegar.

 Highlights:
I’m Getting Sick of You
Bang!
Prepare to be weirded out – Henry Don’t Got Love
All You See In Me Is Death

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Behind Sapphire – Behind Sapphire

Release Date: Mar 2010
Label: Behind Sapphire
http://behindsapphire.tumblr.com/
http://behindsapphire.bandcamp.com/album/behind-sapphire
Rating: 5/10

Sometimes you just need something completely laid back to enjoy. Behind Sapphire is a great indie band for that purpose. Not especially great but laid back, pleasant, and a nice use of horns. Actually, come to think of it… they sound a lot like Norah Jones… maybe I’m crazy but I’m just now hearing that.

Highlights:
I was unaware McDonalds entryways had adequate acoustics – Waiting by the Satellites
Christmas Nigh

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Behind Sapphire – Diamonds

Release Date: Dec 2011
Label: Behind Sapphire
http://behindsapphire.tumblr.com/
http://behindsapphire.bandcamp.com/album/behind-sapphire
Rating: 5/10

Maybe, just MAYBE, if the Canucks can bring home the Cup some day, people can sing Vancouver, Baby! proudly. It’s a catchy song and Vancouver is a really cool city… okay yeah I’m just rubbing it in at this point but it’s rather fun. I really want to give this album a 6 but the unnecessary auto-tune usage just kills that possibility. C’mon guys and gals, your vocals are great, don’t try to be fancy.

Highlight:
Vancouver, Baby!

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The Maccabees – Given to the Wild

Release Date: Jan 2012
Label: Polydor UK
http://www.themaccabees.co.uk/
Rating: 7/10

I’m not quite sure what it is about England that spawns excellent bands. Simple statistics show that the US should produce plenty of good bands. So why is it that a country with 1/6 the population of the US occupies far more than 1/6 of my music library? I couldn’t really tell you. That was a nice little ramble, in the meantime: the Maccabees latest release is quite good. The standout is the obvious single, Pelican, but there are other gems on the album as well. As a second rambling aside, I keep attempting to use last.fm to better describe a band’s sound but find the “similar artists” section wildly inadequate, if you have any better methods to gain such an insight, I’d love to hear it.

Highlights:
The standout single really is fantastic if you haven’t heard it yet – Pelican
Feel To Follow
Went Away
Go

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Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: MOM & POP MUSIC
http://reignofterror.tv/
Rating: 8/10

I was not a huge fan of Sleigh Bell‘s first album; however, after Reign of Terror, I’m going to need to revisit that. This album bleeds attitude. Starting an album with True Shred Guitar is like a basketball team playing full court press right off the tip or a hockey team instantly breaking out into a bench-clearing brawl after the drop of the puck; you just know it’s going to be a good listen from the first power chord. In concert I’ve seen two bands effectively energize the crowd through a dramatic intro, Razorlight and Bang Camaro; True Shred Guitar is the audio equivalent to an electric open. While Comeback Kid is being touted as the single of the album, I actually preferred Crush. Alexis Krauss crushes the vocals and Derek Miller never stops shredding.

Highlights:
be patient… this actually has decent audio – True Shred Guitar
Crush
Comeback Kid
Demons

_______________________________

Fujiya & Miyagi – Transparent Things

Release Date: Jan 2007
Label: Deaf Dumb & Blind
http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/
Rating: 6/10

I believe I was first told about Fujiya &  Miyagi at least a half decade ago. Unfortunately the person who recommended them deserves little respect in my eyes so I passed over the recommendation nonchalantly. After hearing their rendition of Your Silent Face by New Order, I enthusiastically found what I could and gave it a listen. Ankle Injuries is a definite standout, even though it brakes my rule of a band repeatedly saying their name in the song. Additionally, the accompanying video is simply excellent and very reminiscent of Fell In Love With A Girl by the White Stripes. Last.fm does get this one correct is saying that Datarock and !!! are very similar in sound and delivery. Overall, Transparent Things is a nice laid back electronic album.

Highlights:
Ankle Injuries
In One Ear & Out The Other
Cassette Single

_______________________________

Fujiya & Miyagi – Lightbulbs

Release Date: Sept 2008
Label: DEAF DUMB & BLIND
http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/
Rating: 5/10

As a followup to Transparent Things, Lightbulbs does really try to change the formula of what seems to work for the band. It’s not that the album is bad by any means; it just lacks the catchy song that could have an accompanying creative video that was Ankle Injuries. Knickerbocker comes the closest to a single on the album but is a just too immutable to be truly memorable.

Highlights:
Knickerbocker
Goosebumps

_______________________________

Django Django – Django Django

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: PID
http://www.djangodjango.co.uk/
Rating: 7/10

It doesn’t make a ton of sense how a Scottish band can make an album that sounds so authentically western in nature. I have no idea what Django means. I’ve looked it up in wikipedia, the dictionary, urbandictionary, but none of them satisfactorily answers that question. Django Django have a truly unique sound. However, unlike most experimental groups, their songs are catchy and melodic. Default is a really great single for the album but there are many other songs just as entertaining. My only real piece of advice in listening is to give the album several listens as its enigmatic nature take a while to fully enjoy.

Highlights:
Default
Waveforms
Wor

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Ting Tings – Sounds From Nowheresville

Release Date: Mar 2012
Label: Columbia
http://www.thetingtings.com/site/
Rating: 5/10

Another victim to the curse of front-loading an album, which was my identical feeling toward We Started Nothing, their first release. That said, much like We Started Nothing, the first half of Sounds from Nowheresville is great. Silence is a strange open but really enjoyable. After that, the album delivers the best trio of songs from the set in Hit Me Down Sonny, Hang It Up, and Give It Back. Give It Back in particular sounds exactly like a Le Tigre riff. After these, the album loses focus and tries a wide range of different sounds, none of which seem to work.

Highlights:
Hit Me Down Sonny
Hang It Up
Give It Back

_______________________________

Heartless Bastards – Arrow

Release Date: Feb 2012
Label: Partisan Records
http://www.theheartlessbastards.com/
Rating: 9/10

It’s a personal motto of mine to always end strong. Thus it’s fitting to end this post with my favorite album of the bunch as well as an album whose best song, in my opinion, is the last. Yes, I gave Dr. Dog a better rating; however, I am familiar with Dr. Dog and expected a good album. I had not previously heard of Heartless Bastards and thus did not know what to expect. A pleasant surprise always trumps expected greatness in my mind since the swing between delivery and expectations is so great. It’s simply baffling to think that Heartless Bastards started in Cincinnati. Their sound seems authentically southwestern, something you’d hear in a slightly beat up country bar like the Double Deuce from Roadhouse. After falling in love with Heartless Bastards, I subsequently purchased all their older albums which weren’t as thoroughly excellent but showed where a diamond like Arrow had its beginnings. And let’s be honest, Heartless Bastards is a great name for a band.

Highlights:
My favorite – Down In The Canyon
Close 2nd – Simple Feeling
Late in the Night

•Sprinkles and Tacos Por Favor with Adam Firstman (top middle, with Sarm Studios‘ and Tricity’s Aaron Horn) and Lottie Tricity (top left) on April 15, 2012. •Gut-punching show from Kasabian (bottom left) at Fonda Music Box with Allyson DeMunda on April 17, 2012. •Perfectly chosen DJ set from Justice (bottom right) at Club Nokia with Jenn Harrison on April 18, 2012. •Home Los Feliz and The Big Pink (top right) at the Echo with Adam First Man and Lottie Tricity April 19, 2012.

Check out some of Aaron’s and Lottie’s music as Tricity.
Watch Kasabian’s performance of “I.D.” from the show at the Fonda.
It was when Tom Meighan sang, “music is my…my wo-oo-oorld” that I felt the gut-punching start. It didn’t let up for the whole show. I miss that feeling. The video is in HD, be patient.
Watch a bit of Justice’s (pronounced Jus-teese, even though everyone makes fun of me) DJ set at Club Nokia.
Not one song was out of place–not one, even TRex’s “Bang A Gong.”
Watch the Big Pink perform “Hit The Ground Superman” at the BBC 1 Live Lounge.

Awesome-ish news! My country is really heading the good musical direction. Summer Well. this is what i like.
I am dissapointed to see The Asteroids Galaxy Tour being bigger than Wolf Gang and Citizens!, but at the festival’s moment, i won’t care. But oh boy, THE STONE ROSES? I almost cried.

But here is a list of the few songs I managed to fit into the show: 

1. RJD2 – All For You (background music) 

2. Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Rmx) 

3. Mark Ronson & Lily Allen – Oh My God 

4. SBTRKT – Right Thing To Do 

5. Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?

6. The Balconies – Kill Count 

7. Beach House – Myth 

8. The Belle Game – Sleep To Grow

9. The Big Pink – Hit The Ground (Superman) 

10. Bombay Bicycle Club – Lights Out, Words Gone 

11. Zeus – Are You Gonna Waste My Time?

12. Wintersleep – Resuscitate 

13. Portastatic – Center of The World 

Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell formed The Big Pink in 2007. Although both of music stock, their debut, A Brief History of Love, was the first collection of songs that either were really able call their own. Both from London, the genetics of The Big Pink are not incidental. Milo, the son of 1960s producer Denny Cordell, is behind the celebrated Merok label, instrumental in unleashing the mutant soul of Crystal Castles, Salem, and Teengirl Fantasy upon the world, while Furze first made a name for himself playing with industrial behemoths Panic DHH and Alec Empire. Such disparate roots speak loudly of the ambitions of The Big Pink, as they pull unexpected and marginal forms into the spotlight of a wider audience.

We’re fortunate to be able to give away a pair of tickets to their show tonight at the Echo. To win, just download our app, find the offer, and enter. We’ll announce a winner at 5PM PST.

Watch The Big Pink’s 4AD Session as they perform “Stay Gold.”

Last night was a prime example of why it’s a brilliant idea. While Miike Snow gave a fine performance on Saturday at Coachella, they are the type of outfit that thrives in a smaller venue like the El Rey. Within the red velour walls of the old theater, the group built their undulating walls of infectious electro-pop till the crowd was dance-happy and drooling.

In that intimate space, one could actually see and therefore appreciate the band live-layering their instrumentals on the spot – whereas from a polo field away, it much more of a ‘watch the blinding lights and just dance’ experience.’

The Big Pink

The Big Pink opened Tuesday night with their scuzzy Anglo shoegaze. Touring now as a full band of four rather than simply original duo, a bombastic chick drummer, two dueling DJ/synth masters, and wiry lead singer Robbie Furze warmed the crowd up with pulsing, gritty electro-pop tracks.

Each song was sewn together slightly awkwardly but charmingly by Furze’s wiry, shrill voice and catchy electro beats. We only wish Robertson woulda stopped commenting “Are you ready for Miike Snow??” and let us all revel in his own sound…

Miike Snow

By the time Miike Snow came to stage, velour red wall to velour red wall was packed with anticipating fans. As was apropos for their mysterious image, the group came on in yellow gold face masks, like god-like cousins of Jason Voorhees in Friday, The 13th (which we all barely survived last week, right…?) They peppered the set with new tracks as well as older favorites…building momentum through hits like “Silvia” and “Burial” while exposing fans to the live renditions of tracks from their newer album Happy To You, like “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will.)”

Meanwhile, the futuristic golden podium in the center of stage, hypnotic visuals careening in the back, and complex light formations all around transfixed the audience into a reverie. While lead singer Andrew Wyatt has a distinctive awkwardness about him, half-shy as though he’d rather not be on the stage at all, half-spellbound in the music himself, he and his Swedish compatriots connected well with the sold-out crowd last night, coercing them into sing along and dance party throughout the set.

Miike Snow

For the last half of the set, as well as the memorable encore, the audience was grooving like it was Friday 2 AM instead of Tuesday 11 PM. Memorably, Miike Snow closed with a sweaty, jump-up-and-down, grab-the-ass-of-a-stranger dance-off to the much-loved track, “Animal,” which insured we all went home sweaty and satiated. For those of you who missed it, it’s well worth scouring Craiglist for extra tix to tonight’s sold-out show at El Rey, or making a pledge to see ‘em live this Saturday at Coachella Weekend 2.

(Photos and Review by Faith-Ann Young)

Lesson learned at this year’s Coachella: get out there early.  Sure,easier to act on when its 70 degree weather versus 100, but it’s a travesty about the music you miss when you come out late.  I got to the fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Saturday to see my beloved Dragonette.  Context:  on the Monday before Coachella my fabulous and beautiful friend Marianne invited me to SoHo House to see Dan, Joel and Martina perform, but it was an awkward set.  I ran into Martina before the show and she was worried it was going to like dinner theater.  I told her, “it’s SoHo House.  Everyone’s cool.  Don’t worry.  You’ll be great.”  And of course, they were.  But the setting was all wrong.   Cut to Coachella.

My friend Currey gave me permission to jump out of the car in the parking lot and sprint (with a bad ankle) to the Mojave tent to see Dragonette‘s debut at Coachella.  Parking was a bitch on Saturday.  I missed “Hello” but got there just in time to hear my favorite new tracks, “Live In This City” and “My Legs Go Out Late.”  This was Dragonette’s crowd.  Jumping, dancing, arms flailing.  Yes, the crowd’s response from this outstanding and painfully underrated band put a grin on Joel, Dan and Martina’s face the entire set.  I was so happy for them.  “Pick Up the Phone,” “Fire In Your New Shoes,” “Fixin’ to Thrill” and new single, “Let It Go” were all big crowd pleasers.  I even got my own self-gratification as Martina spotted me in the crowd, mimicked my arm waves and gave me a big smile.  They were the buzz of the festival all day Saturday.

Currey suggested we check out American rapper Azealia Banks at the Gobi tent before The Big Pink.  Wow.  This girl meant bid-ness with her pink weave, “can’t miss me” black and white stripes, and matching back-up dancers.  The Harlem native was making her first appearance at Coachella and she threw down the gauntlet early with her breakthrough hit “212.”  But it was her power vocals not rapping prowess that stopped me in my tracks.  Just sampling a few verses from Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” made me lust for more.  Beautiful.   While a gifted rapper she is, it’s remarkable she’s not marketing that voice more.  Will be interesting to see if she does.

One of the acts I was most excited to see coming into the festival was The Big Pink from the U.K.  Comprised of guitarist and vocalist Robbie Furze and synth/keyboardist Milo Cordell, their music is described as electro-rock, but seeing them for the first time, it felt more rock than electro, but I loved it nonetheless.  Opening with “Stay Gold” from their new album Future This, it seemed they were a little uncomfortable on stage.  They pulled big black curtains at the back of the stage to make it feel more like a dark club, and Mr. Furze performing mid-afternoon seemed like a fish out of water, in a dry, dry desert.  But they pulled through.  “Jump Music,” “Velvet” and their latest single, “Hit the Ground (Superman) got them into their groove as well as the crowd.

But it was drummer Victoria Smith who stole the show.  She was like a zombie drummer who would come in and out of a still-faced coma to grimace at their “suck my discotheque” t-shirt-wearing roadie or to kill a drum solo.  I was sort of obsessed with her.  I discovered she used to play drums for a band called Ipso Facto, described as a goth-inflected, melodramatic psychedelic rock band.  Yep, that sealed the deal.  I love her, and her mad drumming talent.  Can’t wait to see them again in New York.   “Give It Up,” “Rubbernecking” and their best known song “Dominos” wound down their set.  They left us on a high note with “Lose Your Mind.”  And I about did.  So good.

Brief highlights of other acts I caught include “Undiscovered First” by Feist on the Outdoor Stage and “Australia,” “Simple Song” and “Bait and Switch” by The Shins on the Coachella Stage.  Saturday was too packed full of acts to see their entire sets, but catching a few by each was worth it.  Feist featured three back-up singers who seemed to be scared to death of her.  I’m sure she’s lovely, but they would sing into one mic and pay close attention to the quirky Canadian singer with eyes bugged out in fear.  Perhaps the Heineken Lights were kicking in?  I don’t know.  Still, she sounded great.

After more Heineken Lights and a piece of spicy pie, I caught Swedish indie band Miike Snow on the Outdoor Stage.  About to embark on a huge tour to support their new album Happy To You, they opened with their new single, “The Wave.”  A quick note about the video editing skills of the Coachella staff:  Seriously smart and nimble, cutting from all angles — in real-time.  The screens on every stage were live action music videos.  Kudos to the producers for pulling together such a crack team, it was very impressive.  That said, Miike Snow used the video screens to project cool imagery and their iconic rabbit/buck symbol.  Front man Andrew Wyatt led the way with “Cult Logic,” “Pretender,” “Silvia,” “Black & Blue,” their wildly catchy “Paddling Out,” “Black Tin Box” and closer and fan favorite “Animal.”   Will see these guys again in New York in a couple weeks.  Looking forward to a longer set, hearing my favorite new track, “Devil’s Work” (sadly absent from the set list) and seeing Penguin Prison open up for them.

On top of all those great acts, I caught four DJ sets, or at least parts of them.  First was Jacques du Cont, the French alter ego for the DJ work of superstar producer Stuart Price.  Slick and sexy, du Cont had legions of mid-afternoon kids on ecstasy reaching the rafters early, culminating with his stellar remix of The Killers “Mr. Brightside,” one of my all-time favorites.  French maestro Martin Solveig also had a relatively early time slot and he did not disappoint.  I’m partial because he sampled “Big in Japan” and “Boys and Girls” featuring Dragonette, and closed with his monster smash from last year, “Hello” (also featuring Dragonette).  David Guetta sort of bored me.  Despite opening with his amazing single featuring Sia, “Titanium,” this set was all about David Guetta.  Even the graphics and light show featured only his name.  As SNL’s Judy Grimes would say, “I give it two ‘Mehs’ and one get over yourself, man!“  Finally, there was Kaskade.  Ah, Kaskade.  They are classy with a C.  If there was ever a definitive class act DJ, it’s Kaskade.  So polished, so lush, so perfect.  I still love “Angel on my Shoulder” to this day.  How could Sunday possibly top Saturday?

Nro. – Artista – Título
1 – Pulp – Babies
2 – James – Born Of Frustration
3 – The Big Pink – Dominos
4 – Ian McCulloch – Proud To Fall
5 – Bad Lieutenant – Shine Like The Sun
6 – Mark Lanegan Band – Ode to Sad Disco (Live)
7 – The Replacements – Alex Chilton
8 – We Were Promised Jetpacks – Ships With Holes Will Sink
9 – Violent Femmes – Add It Up
10 – The Perms – Skin and Bones
11 – The Cure – A Night Like This (Live)
12 – Plastik Durdens – Somedays
13 – The Raveonettes – Demon’s Fire
14 – El Mató A Un Policía Motorizado – Doctora Muerte
15 – Robert Pollard – Bats Flew Up
16 – Team.Radio – French Doll
17 – Telekinesis – Palm Of Your Hand
18 – Tokyo Police Club – All My Friends
19 – Electric Six – Dance Commander
20 – The Tape Disaster – Para Onde Apontam Seus Móveis
21 – Dom – Bochicha (Live)
22 – The Joy Formidable – Whirring
23 – Tripmaster Monkey – Shutters Closed
24 – Butter 08 – Butter of 69
25 – Bailter Space – X
26 – Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days
27 – Spin – Scratches In The Sand
28 – Echo & The Bunnymen – Rust

Pulp – Babies

The Big Pink – Dominos

The live stream is quickly becoming a staple at major music festivals this summer, following on the success of Ultra Music Festival’s live stream, Coachella is offering an even more in depth streaming with the ability to watch different sets at the same time as well as putting reminders in your computers calender for you. It comes to no surprise that Radiohead will not be streaming their show on Saturday but there are still more than enough bands to check out this weekend.

Coachella Live Stream – Click Here

Here is S2L’s Short List

Acts not to be missed are in bold.

(All times are EST)

Friday, April 13th

• 8:05 – Grouplove
• 9:20 – Dawes
• 12:45 AM – The Black Keys
• 1:05 AM – Explosions in the Sky
• 2:15 AM – M83
• 3:10 AM – Amon Tobin
• 3:25 AM -  Swedish House Mafia

Saturday, April 14th

• 6:25 – The Big Pink
• 7:20 -  Azealia Banks
• 7:50 – tUnE-yArDs
• 12:30 AM – Bon Iver
• 1:10 AM – Miike Snow

Sunday, April 15th

• 6:30 – Santigold
• 9:15 – Beats Antique
• 10:45 – Justice
• 11:30 – Beirut
• 12:30 AM – Gotye
• 12:45 AM – Modeselektor
• 12:45 AM -  Florence & The Machine

It’s been way too long since I last DJed, but on Friday I was DJing in Kentish Town for Symptomatic’s event Freak Scene. It felt so good to be back! This is what I played…

• Elephant Stone – Seven Seas
• Crystal Stilts – Shake The Shackles
• Yuck – Get Away
• The Swell Maps – Cake Shop Girl
• The Raveonettes – I Wanna Be Adored
• My Bloody Valentine – When You Sleep
• S.C.U.M – Whitechapel
• The Jesus And Mary Chain – Reverberation
• TOY – Left Myself Behind
• The Big Pink – Velvet
• BRMC – Aya
• Adjeef The Poet – Eek, I’m A Freak
• The Fuzztones – She’s Wicked
• Black Lips – Cold Hands
• Ulterior – Sister Speed
• Mind Spiders – Worlds Destroyed
• Bass Drum Of Death – Get Found
• The Lysergic Suite – Behind The Walls
• O. Children – Malo
• M83 – Midnight City
• Cults – Abducted
• The Horrors – I Can See Through You
• UNKLE – Hold My Hand
• Kasabian – Where Did All The Love Go?
• Primal Scream – Can’t Go Back
• The Black Keys – Hell of a Season
• Pink Floyd – Lucifer Sam
• The Rolling Stones – Under My Thumb
• Miles Kane – Rearrange

115 days for anyone counting… Lineup after the jump.

Lineup: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Black Keys, Jack White, Justice, Avicii, Florence + the Machine, Passion Pit, the Shins, Sigur Ros, Fun., M83, Franz Ferdinand, Metric, Dawes, the Temper Trap, Die Antwoord, Mona, the Growlers, the Gaslight Anthem, Hey Rosetta!, JEFF the Brotherhood, Band of Skulls, Anamanaguchi, SBTRKT, First Aid Kit, Tame Impala, Wax, the Walkmen, FIDLAR, JJ Grey & Mofro, LP, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, At the Drive In, the Afghan Whigs, Miike Snow, Bloc Party, Delta Spirit, the Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Michael Kiwanuka, Gary Clark Jr., Alabama Shakes, Tune-Yards, Sharon Van Etten.

Milo Greene, Neon Indian, Dum Dum Girls, Kopecky Family Band, Washed Out, the Jezabels, Aloe Blacc, Trampled by Turtles, Yuna, Bear in Heaven, Walk Off the Earth, Blind Pilot, Animal Kingdom, Chairlift, Dev, J. Cole, the Black Angels, the Sheepdogs, Yellow Ostrich, the Dunwells, GIVERS, DJ Mel, Polica, Empires, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kevin Devine, Wale, Childish Gambino, Doomtree and Macklemore & Lewis.

Dry the River, White Rabbits, Helena, Haley Reinhart, Imaginary Cities, the Head & the Heart, the Devil Makes Three, Overdoz, the Big Pink, Oberhofer, Ambassadors, Twin Shadow, the War on Drugs, DJ Zebo, the Tallest Man on Earth, Chancellor Warhol, Toro Y Moi, O Rappa, Laura Warshauer, Dr. Dog, Bowerbirds, Red Oblivion, Of Monsters and Men, Orchard Lounge, Los Jaivas,  Amadou & Mariam.

Perry’s stage: Bassnectar, Santigold, Skream & Benga, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Kaskade, Little Dragon, Star Slinger, Calvin Harris, Porter Robinson, Nadastrom, NERO, Sub Focus, DJ Nihal, Madeon, the White Panda, Knife Party, Zedd, SALVA, Zeds Dead, Paper Diamond, Kid Color, Big Gigantic.

Bold = Headliners