Underwater Explosions

Best New Music: Django Django

2012-02-08T10:21:00.004-05:00

I first wrote about Django Django here back in August '10, when I stumbled upon the video for stompin' single "Wor." Now, a year and a half later, the band has readied its debut full-length, which romps, rollicks and frolics like a blister on a cowboy galloping through the desert in the sun.

Desert riders

From sunny pop numbers ringing with choral harmonies -- to art-y psych rock dirges and frenzied cowboy chases -- Django Django covers a lot of ground in its 48 minutes, and always keeps the listener guessing. Head over to Phrequency.com to check out my full review, as well as another stunningly weird video.

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XPN2, 2/6/12

2012-02-07T10:30:00.001-05:00

6:00

The Cure, “The Lovecats”
Greatest Hits

Lilys, “Accepting Applications at University”
The 3-Way

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Grimes, “Nightmusic”
Visions

Of Montreal, “So Begins Our Alabee”
The Sunlandic Twins

Is Tropical, “The Greeks”
Native To

Blouse, “Firestarter”
Blouse

The Jesus and Mary Chain, “April Skies”
Darklands

.

The Big Pink, “Give It Up”
Future This

Seaborne Spiders, “The Keeper”
Seaborne Spiders

M83, “Raconte-Moi Une Histoire”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

The Drums, “What You Were”
Portamento

Beach Fossils, “Daydream”
Beach Fossils

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Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die”
Born To Die

New Young Pony Club, “Ice Cream”
Fantastic Playroom

Janelle Monai feat. Big Boi, “Tightrope”
The ArchAndroid

Google image result #1 for "Tightrope." Seems about right.

7:00

Charlotte Gainesbourg, “Greenwich Mean Time”
IRM

Clinic, “The Return of Evil Bill”
Internal Wrangler

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Wild Nothing, “Nowhere”
Nowhere (7”)

The Aliens, “Magic Man”
Luna

Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky”
Out of the Blue

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, “Bright Lit Blue Skies”
Before Today

Burning Hearts, “Into the Wilderness”
Extinction

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The Growlers, “Sea Lion Goth Blues”
Hot Tropics

Twin Library, “Shaking Hands”
No Summer / Shaking Hands (7")

Twerps, “Coast to Coast”
Twerps

Nada Surf, “Clear Eye Clouded Mind”
The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy

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Django Django, “Hail Bop”
Django Django

Black Tambourine, “Throw Aggi Off the Bridge”
Black Tambourine

Low vs. Diamond, “Don’t Forget Sister”
Low vs. Diamond

The Pharmacy, “Dig Your Grave”
Stoned & Alone

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The Arcade Fire, “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”
The Suburbs

Tune in again next week for a special show of pre-Valentine's jamz, plus bonus on-air banter btw me and my snarky b.f. Matt.

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Music Video Mondays: Burning Hearts

2012-02-06T10:30:00.004-05:00

Finnish duo Burning Hearts craft warm, dense indie pop teeming with dreamy layers. On single "Into the Wilderness," floaty keys and pounding bass lines make vocalist Jessika Rapo's smoky alto seem even more enthralling -- transporting the listener into a world of grainy footage and gorgeous watercolor skies. Perfect for a chilly Monday morning.

The band's sophomore record, Extinctions, drops February 21. In the meantime, tune in to my radio show tonight (Monday) from 6 to 8 to hear Burning Hearts on the airwaves.

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Demographic Study: The Hipstagram

2012-02-03T14:40:00.002-05:00

A few weeks back, a friend of mine shared with me the details of a particularly disastrous first date. His date, a cute chick who could be vaguely classified under the label "scenester" -- seemed really into him at first, impressed by the fact that he was bearded and in a band.* As the night continued however, he noticed her zoning out when he brought up other topics (such as family, the economy, whether or not Groundhog Day is the best Bill Murray flick ever), looking up only when he mentioned local celebrities or buzz bands.

"It was really weird," he told me, one night over beers. "She just had this totally vacant expression on her face the whole time. And when I asked her what she was into, she just name-dropped a list of people she knew, without offering any opinion."

Google image result #1 for "Disastrous first date." Not sure what's
disastrous here, unless she is a Vegan and offended by his lobster shirt.
(p.s. -- result #4 is a picture of Jennifer Aniston)

It was at that point I realized my friend's predicament. The chick he was dating may have seemed a hipster bomb shell, but in all reality, was more of an empty hipster shell -- a swirling mass of reblogged tumblr posts and instagrams where her soul should be. I call these chicks (and dudes): hipstagrams (an amalgamation of "instagram" and "hipstamatic") for they are but hipster holograms, vapid collections of ideas and images with no real substance behind them.

Google image result #37 for "Empty Hipster Shell." Is that Dov Charney?

Of course, the very term "hipster" summons images of fashionable detachment -- art school students smoking cigarettes blankly and plaid-clad indie kids standing arms-crossed and motionless at shows. What sets the Hipstagram apart is that he or she is not capable of independent thought -- only reflecting and regurgitating all that is around them. As a result, the Hipstagram is always -- at least in some regards -- incredibly popular, for he/she spends all his/her time meeting the "right" people, and "forming" the "correct" opinions. And while "hipsters" in general (whatever that means) are always creating -- music, art, short stories, blog posts -- the Hipstagram contributes nothing but drunken sex and retweets -- plus offended sneers for all those not quite cool enough.

Google image result #15 for "drunken sex and retweets." SEXY!

In the end, the Hipstagram is not a bad person to have on your side -- they are always very well connected, and can help you get your foot in the door nearly anywhere. Invite them to a party and they'll up your coolness quotient -- just don't try to discuss anything serious, unless you want vacant stares.

*details changed to protect the guilty

Previously on Demographic Study: The iPhone Killjoy. (See all "Demographic Study" posts here.)

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Best New Music? Breaking down Lana Del Rey

2012-01-31T11:33:00.003-05:00

She has a sultry, husky voice and a dedicated PR team -- but is Lana Del Rey truly deserving of a Best New Music title? Over at Phrequency.com, I break down the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding indie's most loved (and most hated!) it girl -- head over there to check it out!

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XPN2 Playlist, 1/30/12

2012-01-31T10:45:00.001-05:00

6:00

Guards, “Do It Again”
Do It Again

Guided by Voices, “Teenage FBI”
Do the Collapse

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The Duke Spirit, “Don’t Wait”
Bruiser

Pickwick, “Hacienda Motel”
Myths, Vol. 1

Celebration, “Great Pyramid”
Hello Paradise

Little Comets, “Isles”
In Search of Elusive Little Comets

Goodnight Lights, “Deeper Down”
Electric Spark

.

Jonny, “Candyfloss”
Jonny

The Velvet Underground, “There She Goes Again”
The Velvet Underground & Nico

The La’s, “There She Goes”
The La’s

Maritime, “With Holes for Thumb Sized Birds”
Heresy and the Hotel Choir

Robbers on High Street, “Face in the Fog”
Hey There Golden Hair

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Tiny Victories, “Lost Weekend”
Those of Us Still Alive

Two Door Cinema Club, “Something Good Can Work”
Tourist History

Ava Luna, “Past the Barbary”
Services

The Doobie Brothers, “Rockin Down the Highway”
Toulouse Street

Hospitality, “Betty Wang”
Hospitality

Google image result #1 for "Betty Wang." Yes,
this is Betty Wang, DDS. Now you know!

7:00

Chairlift, “Met Before”
Something

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The Life and Times, “Day Nine”
No One Loves You Like I Do

...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, “Summer of All Dead Souls”
Tao of the Dead

Jawbreaker, “Save Your Generation”
Dear You

The Minders, “Golden Street”
Golden Street

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Summer Twins, “Good Friends”
The Good Things

Surfer Blood, “I’m Not Ready”
Tarot Classics

The Swimmers, “What This World Is Coming To”
People Are Soft

Y La Bamba, “Squawk”
Court the Storm

Animal Collective, “My Girls”
Merriweather Post Pavilion

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Andrew Bird, “Eyeoneye”
Break It Yourself

Nits, “Nick in the House of John”
Strawberry Wood

Gabriel and the Hounds, “The World Unfolds”
Kiss Full of Teeth

Yukon Blonde, “Stairway”
Tiger Talk

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The Polyphonic Spree, “What Would You Do”
What Would You Do

Tune in again next week for more hot jamz!

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Local Radar: Vintage Kicks

2012-01-27T12:15:00.001-05:00

The term "geek rock", at least to me, always conjured up images of sweater-vest wearing, bespectacled nerds bent over their guitars, offering nasal-y, lovesick anthems (see: Rivers Cuomo). It seems appropriate enough, since all geeks are naturally whine-y, nasal-y weaklings, who might be crushed under the weight of an electric guitar.

Google image result #1 for "Death by Guitar."
(From this site)

And yet -- having exhibited nerd tendencies (I suppose) for most of my life (at least until college, when nerdiness became "hip") -- and having joined a fraternity (if you will) where Nietzsche jokes were tossed around at the foosball table -- I have to say: no geeks these days listen to Weezer. (Weezer is for your friends trapped in high school, and people who watch Glee.) Geeks in Philadelphia just wanna rock.

The Dead Milkmen -- original Philly geek rockers

Enter Vintage Kicks, a hard-hitting, punk-rock 5-some whose debut record King Geek (2011) offers the sort of bitter, volatile ragers that sound best blasted on full-volume, and make me want to smash shit every time i listen. Drawing on post- and garage punk (think: The Pixies, Hot Snakes, Murder City Devils) with a tinge of emo (Piebald, The Promise Ring) and references to "Judas," "Rick Ocasek" and "my senior thesis," Vintage Kicks make music that seems perfectly crafted for New York Times-reading rebels and Spring Fling at Pilam.

V. Kicks

Tunes like "Absolutely Crazy" ricochet with fiery angst, while "Jetty Jump" matches fluid, melodic guitar with hostile vocals and jagged riffs. Vocalist Alex Marlys half sings-half screams while Chris Penny's capricious guitar licks and Mark Walter's aggressive drumming keeps things moving. They've made 2 appearances on my radio show already, with more soon to come -- nothing gets the blood flowing like an adrenaline-fueled punch to the eardrums.

Download their debut record, King Geek, for FREE via their Bandcamp, and get ready to rage.

Previously on Local Radar: The Really Cooks. (See all "Local Radar" posts here.)

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Best New Music: Chairlift

2012-01-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

Looking at this photo, you'd never guess these 2 stoned (or at least: stoney-eyed) individuals are capable of producing some of the most gorgeous, crepuscular pop the 21st century has ever seen. And yet ... Something, the sophomore record from Brooklyn's Chairlift -- is a sweeping record of feel-good '80s grooves and spacey melodies SO delectable, it's already in the running for the year's best. Check out my full review at Phrequency.com, and prepare to be swept away.

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XPN2 Playlist, 1/23/12

2012-01-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

6:00

The Rosebuds, “Kicks in the Schoolyard”
The Rosebuds Make Out

Vampire Weekend, “Mansard Roof”
Vampire Weekend

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Dinosaur Feathers, “Know Your Own Strength”
Fantasy Memorial

Generationals, “U Say It 2”
Actor-Caster

The Little Ones, “Like a Spoke on a Wheel”
Morning Tide

La Sera, “Please Be My Third Eye”
Sees the Light

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A Place to Bury Strangers, “So Far Away”
Onwards to the Wall

Pavement, “Silence Kit”
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

The Lovely Feathers, “Ooh, You Shocked Me”
Hind Hind Legs

Cloud Nothings, “Wasted Days”
Attack on Memory

Cheap Time, “Too Late”
Cheap Time

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Screaming Females, “Bell”
Power Move

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, “Satan Said Dance”
Some Loud Thunder

David Byrne and Brian Eno, “Strange Overtones”
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

The Clash, “Rudie Can’t Fail”
London Calling

Nada Surf, “Waiting for Something”
The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy

Google image result #4 for "Waiting for Something"

7:00

Lower Dens, “Brains”
Nootropics

The War on Drugs, “Brothers”
Slave Ambient

The Sounds, “Tony the Beat”
Dying to Say This to You

Kennedy feat. Yelle, “John & Yoko”
Life is a Party

Sleigh Bells, “Comeback Kid”
Reign of Terror

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The Ting Tings, “Hang it Up”
Sounds from Nowheresville

Washed Out, “Feel It All Around”
Life of Leisure

Porcelain Raft, “Put Me to Sleep”
Strange Weekend

Dragonette, “Pick Up the Phone”
Fixin to Thrill

Princeton, “Martina and Clive Krantz”
Cocoon of Love

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The Radio Dept., “This Time Around”
Clinging to a Scheme

Little Joy, “Brand New Start”
Little Joy

Cat Stevens, “Here Comes My Baby”
Matthew & Son

Weezer, “Don’t Let Go”
Weezer (Green album)

The Essex Green, “Penny & Jack”
Cannibal Sea

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Darwin Deez, “Radar Detector”
Darwin Deez

Tune in again next week for more musical ear candy.

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Twin Sister Seduce a Willing JB's

2012-01-23T09:39:00.009-05:00

Twin Sis at Johnny Brenda's (Click any photo to enlarge)

The scent of seduction hung limp in the air Sunday night at Johnny Brenda's, as a nearly sold-out crowd gathered to catch Brooklyn's Twin Sister -- a band billed on JB's website as "music you could feel comfortable cheating on someone to."

And while we may never know the number of adulteries actually committed that night on the dance floor -- there is no questioning that the crowd stood enchanted, as the five piece sung and slow-grooved its way through an hour plus of sultry, ethereal pop.

Front woman Andrea Estella

Twin Sister's debut full length, In Heaven, is a scintillating blend of spacey dream pop and sly, disco-infused grooves, from the airy, meandering "Kimmi in a Rice Field" to the catchy, funky "Bad Street." Live, these same songs felt denser and teeming with life, as the band pounded out solid bass grooves, then swaddled them in layers of keys and vocals. Especially bewitching was front woman Andrea Estella, whose tiny frame looked smaller swallowed by an oversized blazer, and who pursed her lips and cooed into the mic like a sexy, intoxicated wood nymph.

In 70 minutes, the band played most of the songs off Heaven, plus early hit "All Around and Away We Go," and 2 new ones -- the former (listed on the set list as "Divide Me" [as far as I could tell]) a delicate arrangement of arpeggios and boy/girl harmonies, and the latter ("Tower of Two") a dance-y rager. They closed with an extended version of "The Other Side of Your Face," then broke shortly, returning with an encore performance of "Lady Daydream," the crowd swaying and dancing along. Not bad for a snowy Sunday night!

Brooklyn up-and-comers Ava Luna opened the show with their unique blend of vintage-inspired, doo wop-tinged electro-disco-funk, winning the crowd with front man's Carlos Hernandez's impassioned falsetto, and big, juicy bass licks, especially on tunes like exuberant closer "Past the Barbary." The set was enough to convince me to scoop up their Services EP -- I'm curious to see what's next for these guys!

Ava Luna

Groove of the Moment: Black Bananas, "Rad Times"

2012-01-20T09:18:00.006-05:00

It debuted on my radio show last Monday, and has been swirling in my head ever since. A new one from scene vet Jennifer Herrema + band (formerly of RTX), "Rad Times" features not only the most hipster-y name ever, but also a mean beat and fair amount of "wack attack" (their words.)

The record Rad Times Xpress IV drops January 31 -- but download this lil gem now via (I am not shitting you) Urban Outfitters.

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Best New Music: Cloud Nothings

2012-01-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

Seeing as I am not a bro-dude, I don't usually like to describe things as "baller"...but when it comes to Cloud Nothings' third LP, Attack on Memory, "baller" seems the only term appropriate.

polar bear sweatshirts = totes baller.

From grunge-y, tormented post-punk assaults to angst-fueled diatribes about love and happiness -- Attack on Memory rocks out with its metaphorical cock out, yet never feels bombastic or overblown. Check out my full review at Phrequency.com, and learn how you can stream the whole thing for free.

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XPN2 Playlist, 1/16/12

2012-01-17T11:00:00.001-05:00

6:00

Stephen Malkmus, “Gardenia”
Real Emotional Trash

Mazes, “Wait Anyway”
A Thousand Heys

Wipers, “Mystery”
Is This Real?

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Jay Reatard, “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me”
Watch Me Fall

Cloud Nothings, “No Sentiment”
Attack on Memory

Vintage Kicks, “Jetty Jump”
King Geek

X, “Under the Big Black Sun”
Under the Big Black Sun

Jacuzzi Boys, “Automatic Jail”
Glazin’

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The (International) Noise Conspiracy, “(I’ve Got) Survival Sickness”
Survival Sickness

The Anniversary, “The D in Detroit”
Designing a Nervous Breakdown

Blondie, “One Way or Another”
Platinum

The Boo Radleys, “Lazarus”
Giant Steps

The Blow, “Parentheses”
Paper Television

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The Kooks, “See the Sun”
Konk

Wavves, “Baseball Cards”
King of the Beach

Sonny and the Sunsets, “Pretend You Love Me”
Hit After Hit

Google image result #12 for "Pretend you love me."

7:00

Cults, “Bumper”
Cults

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Of Montreal, “Dour Percentage”
Paralytic Stalks

Beck, “Sissyneck”
Odelay

Black Bananas, “Rad Times”
Rad Times Xpress IV

Cut Copy, “Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution”
Zonoscope

The Big Pink, “Stay Gold”
Future This

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White Rabbits, “Heavy Metal”
Milk Famous

Alex Winston, “Velvet Elvis (RAC Remix)”
Velvet Elvis

The Shins, “Simple Song”
Port of Morrow

The Bright Light Social Hour, “Bare Hands Bare Feet”
The Bright Light Social Hour

The Maccabees, “Pelican”
Given to the Wild

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Cuddle Magic, “Moby Dickless”
Info Nympho

Architecture in Helsinki, “Hold Music”
Places Like This

The Futureheads, “Hounds of Love”
The Futureheads

Free Energy, “Hope Child”
Stuck on Nothing

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The Replacements, “Waitress in the Sky”
Tim

Tune in again next week for more hot jamz!

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Haiku Review: Cults

2012-01-16T14:06:00.002-05:00

Sunny harmonies

Belie cold weather; dancing,
making out occur

Photo Kate Bracaglia for A. V. Club Philly

Read the full review (Friday night, Union Transfer) here!

Music Video Mondays: To Get Lost In

2012-01-16T10:25:00.005-05:00

British pop band Fanfarlo have always struck me as a sorta happy, Polyphonic Spree-type act, filled with needless euphoria -- but new video "Shiny Things" displays a much darker side. Exhibit:

Now check out this vid from NYC's Loudest Band, A Place to Bury Strangers, composed entirely of Instagrams. Where the instagrams came from is not clear. Still rad though:

Fanfarlo's new record, Rooms Filled With Light (not gold) is out Feb. 28; APTBS's new record, To the Wall, is out Feb. 7.

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Cover of the Moment: Cults do Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows"

2012-01-14T00:40:00.002-05:00

Friday night at Union Transfer...

Nice.

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XPN2 Playlist, 1/9/12

2012-01-10T10:18:00.005-05:00

6:00

Young the Giant, “My Body”
Young the Giant

Walk the Moon, “Anna Sun”
I Want! I Want!a

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Guided by Voices, “God Loves Us”
Let’s Go Eat the Factory

Guided by Voices, “The Unsinkable Fats Domino”
Let’s Go Eat the Factory

Family Portrait, “Other Side”
Family Portrait

Foreign Born, “Blood Oranges”
Person to Person

Frankie Rose, “Know Me”
Interstellar

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Stereo is a Lie, “I Wont”
Stereo is a Lie

I Was a Cub Scout, “Save Your Wishes”
I Want You to Know There is Always Hope

Holy Ghost!, “Do It Again”
Holy Ghost!

Hot Chip, “Over and Over”
The Warning

Yacht, “Beam Me Up”
Shangri-La

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Grimes, “Oblivion”
Visions

Groove Armada, “History”
White Light

Is Tropical, “Clouds”
Native To

Google image result #7 for "Native To" "Clouds". Not sure what is going on
here, but I like it!

7:00

The Hidden Cameras, “Boys of Melody”
The Smell of Our Own

Hefner, “The Hymn for Cigarettes”
The Fidelity Wars

The Bouncing Souls, “Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell)”
Hopeless Romantic

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Black Lips, “Spidey’s Curse”
Arabia Mountain

Dead Trees, “World Gone Global”
Whatwave

Wilco, “Dawned On Me”
The Whole Love

Smith Westerns, “Smile”
Dye it Blonde

Allo Darlin, “Darren”
Darren

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Chairlift, “Amanaemonesia”
Something

Oi Va Voi, “Yuri”
Oi Va Voi

Julian Casablancas, “Left & Right in the Dark”
Phrazes for the Young

White Birds, “Floating Hands”
The Key Studio Sessions Volume 3

Blouse, “Into Black”
Blouse

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OK Sweetheart, “Home”
Home

Kate Nash, “Do-Wah-Doo”
My Best Friend is You

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Belle & Sebastian, “Sukie in the Graveyard”
The Life Pursuit

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz.

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Music Video Mondays: Chairlift + The Ground Up (feat. The Lawsuits)

2012-01-09T11:56:00.002-05:00

The video's been out for a while now, but I'm posting it anyway, b/c I'm kinda obsessed. Check out this new single from Brooklyn band Chairlift, which provides the perfect opportunity for '80s-inspired indulgence/full-body unitards:

The band's sophomore record Something drops January 24, which gives you 2 weeks to scoop up a matching mint green bodysuit at American Apparel. (Also, tune in to my radio show tonight at 6 p.m. on XPN2 to catch a track from Something live.)

On a local note, how sweet is this collab between local hip-hop trio the Ground Up and twangy rockers The Lawsuits?

From South Philly, reveling in the love.

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12 Records to Look Forward to in 2012

2012-01-05T13:40:00.001-05:00

2011 has been buried and in the ground long before I puked all over my shoes 2 a.m. on January 1...which means it's time to focus on a new year of music. Over at Phrequency.com, I break down 12 records we're excited about in 2012, and how you can scoop up free songs/videos in the meantime. Head there to check it out!

Here's a hint...

XPN2 Playlist, 1/2/11

2012-01-03T10:08:00.003-05:00

6:00

Dengue Fever, “2012 (Bury Our Heads)”
Cannibal Courtship

Yeasayer, “2080”
All Hour Cymbals

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Camera Obscura, “Happy New Year”
Biggest Blue Hi-Fi

Harlem Shakes, “Strictly Game”
Technicolor Health

The Apples in Stereo, “Next Year at About the Same Time”
Travellers in Space and Time

The Zombies, “This Will Be Our Year”
Odyssey & Oracle

The New Pornographers, “Crash Years”
Together

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Islands, “This is Not a Song”
Asleep & A Forgetting

Spectrals, “Doing Time”
Bad Penny

Sondre Lerche, “Words & Music”
Heartbeat Radio

Vivian Girls, “I Heard You Say”
Share the Joy

Hunx and His Punx, “Blow Me Away”
Too Young to Be in Love

.

Nurses, “Trying to Reach You”
Dracula

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, “Fright Night (Nevermore)”
Before Today

Twin Sister, “Bad Street”
In Heaven

Bad Street, head left. (From this site)

7:00

Dum Dum Girls, “Heartbeat (Take It Away)”
Only in Dreams

The School, “Can’t Understand”
Loveless Unbeliever

.

Los Campesinos, “Straight in at 101”
Romance is Boring

Buzzcocks, “Real World”
Love Bites

Yo La Tengo, “Nothing to Hide”
Popular Songs

Guided by Voices, “Hot Freaks”
Bee Thousand

The Fresh & Onlys, “Waterfall”
Play It Strange

.

Yuck, “Doctors in My Bed”
Yuck (Deluxe)

Superchunk, “Digging for Something”
Majesty Shredding

Les Savy Fav, “Patty Lee”
Let’s Stay Friends

Gorillaz, “On Melancholy Hill”
Plastic Beach

Van She, “Kelly”
Van She

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Atlas Sound, “The Shakes”
Parallax

The A-Sides, “I’ll Come Around”
Hello, Hello

The Beatles, “I’m Looking Through You”
Rubber Soul

Dr. Dog, “Where Did All the Time Go?”
Shame, Shame

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The Black Keys, “Gold on the Ceiling”
El Camino

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz!

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Overlooked Bands of 2011: Part 2!

2011-12-27T12:35:00.000-05:00

Last week, I shared with you 4 of my fave overlooked bands of 2011; this week I break down the final 3 at Phrequency. This week's category: bands from my home state.

This just missed the cut.

I know what you're thinking. Head there to check 'em out!

My Top Ten Records of 2011!!

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

I've counted down 20 records so far, which means there are only 10 more to go. Wanna find out who topped my list this year? Head over to Phrequency.com for the goods.

Here's a hint...

Happy 2012 everybody!

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My Top 30 Records of 2011: 20-11

2011-12-20T16:22:00.007-05:00

I've already detailed records 30-21 of my 2011 faves -- here are numbers 20 through 11.

I caught you streaking in your Birkenstocks...

20. Smith Westerns, Dye it Blonde
A gently sparkling record of blithe, '60s-influenced radio rock, Dye it Blonde finds Chicago's the Smith Westerns perfecting their brand of breezy, lovelorn pop -- from the lush harmonies and yearning of single "Weekend" to the church-y psychedelics and guitar twang of "All Die Young." Think music for first dates and mix-tapes -- cuz "Love is lovely when you are young." Truer words were never sung.

19. Real Estate, Days
I like to think of Real Estate as this generation's Yo La Tengo (not to imply the real YLT, who are still one of my all-time faves -- aren't just as awesome and relevant as ever) -- a Jersey band making gentle, fuzzy records about everything and nothing at the same time. Days is a laid-back listen of low-key summertime melodies that are both understated and bittersweet -- all "wasted hours," "aimless drives" and "years passed by." I see a Wes Anderson soundtrack in their future.

18. Mayer Hawthorne, How Do You Do?
I love most of How Do You Do?, the sophomore record from Mayer Hawthorne, so much that sometimes I forget that there are 2 songs on this record that are practically unlistenable -- the cheesy, Al Green-esque opener "Get to Know You" and awkward Snoop Dog appearance on "Can't Stop." But the rest is pure retro goodness -- from the falsetto-laced groove of "A Long Time" (a tribute to Detroit!) to the lush vocals and piano bounce of "Dreaming" and the Temptations-worthy hook of "The Walk." Makes me reminisce about listening to oldies radio in my parent's minivan, on the way to soccer practice or whatever.

See also: Best New Music: Mayer Hawthorne; The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 10-1

17. The Vaccines, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?
A rousing record of jangly pop-punk from British buzz band The Vaccines, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines is fun, accessible and a little bit snarky -- from the tongue-in-cheek title (what should one expect from a breakout band's debut?) to lyrics that reference break-up sex, religious hypocrisy, ego and self-destruction. That and opener "Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra)" is prob my fave song from the past decade that clocks in at under 90 seconds.

See also: Music Video Mondays: The Vaccines

16. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Mirror Traffic
Stephen Malkmus -- former Pavement front man and purveyor of all things awesome -- is one of my favorite musicians still making records today and Mirror Traffic proves he's absolutely still got it. Produced by Beck (another one of my faves!), MT is a playful romp through wordy lyrics (I can't even do one sit-up...sit-ups are so bourgeoisie), twisted chord progressions, and understated rock anthems.

See also: Best New Music: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

15. Veronica Falls, Veronica Falls
A melancholy record of twisted retro pop, Scottish quartet Veronica Falls offer their own take on '60s girl groups, beach pop and C86 -- adding reverb and dark imagery for a result that feels instantly familiar and yet very much rooted in the now. From the haunted folk-pop of "Bad Feeling" to the perverted surf beat of "Beachy Head," Veronica Falls is a darkly intense listen that reels you in to its gloomy underbelly.

See also: Music Video Mondays: Veronica Falls; Overlooked Bands of 2011, Part 1

14. Cut Copy, Zonoscope
An exuberant record of lush vocals, poppy chord progressions and starry-eyed dancefloor jamz, Zonoscope is the feel-good record of the year, incorporating both the '60s A.M. pop sounds I love so much and glittering electronic flourishes. From the brilliant pop bounce and scintillating layers of "Where I'm Going" to the sweeping, '80s feel of "Hanging on to Every Heartbeat," Zonoscope is at once playful, celebratory, stylish and sweet -- perfect for party soundtracking, or listening to on headphones and rocking out.

See also: The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 20-11

13. Spectrals, Bad Penny
A jangly, jazzy record of classically-influenced piano-based charmers, Spectrals' Bad Penny is wistful, dreamy, and low-key: music for Sunday mornings or perhaps Sunday evenings at the supper club, wine glasses clinking as Louis Jones softly croons. From the surf undertones on opener "Get a Grip" to the lively bounce of "Confetti," this is makes me want to don red lipstick and high heels and waltz around my living room.

See also: The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 20-11; Overlooked Bands of 2011, Part 1

12. The Black Keys, El Camino
El Camino, the 7th full-length from Akron, OH's the Black Keys is rollicking romp through 11 bluesy rockers which finds the burgeoning stars (who went from recording records in their basement to selling out stadiums) cleaning up their sound and adding glammy touches -- from the female back-up singers on "Lonely Boy" and "Gold on the Ceiling" to the '80s synths on "Sister." The result is an insatiable celebration that still rocks just as hard as ever.

See also: Best New Music: The Black Keys; The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 20-11

11. Mazes, A Thousand Heys
A Malkmus-y record that's more accessible than Malkmus himself, A Thousand Heys is a fun, jangly journey that incorporates so many of my favorite things: from shambling, '90s lo-fi and pop-punk to garage rock and Beatles-esque pop. Front man Jack Cooper has a sort of lazy, drunken way of singing, and a slacker mentality that shines through in lyrics like "I never want to get out bed" or "I wanna sit at home without a job." Still, this doesn't stop songs from exploding with free-wheeling energy and indeed Heys offers 13 tunes in a little more than 13 minutes. Fun!

See also: Best New Music: Mazes

And there you have it! Stay tuned for the final ten next week.

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My Top 30 Records of 2011: 30-21

2011-12-20T16:20:00.008-05:00

I've already shared my top 31 songs of the year (see here, here, and here!) -- now it's time to break down my 30 favorite records. Here's the first batch:

Sometimes music has to be cruel to be kind

30. The Go! Team, Rolling Blackouts
There is no one in the biz making records quite like The Go! Team and Rolling Blackouts is a fun, variegated romp through hip-hop beats, kitchen-sink percussion, and joyful party-rock anthems. (No, not like that.) "Secretary Song" is a sweet, sparkling gem of indie pop, while "Ready to Go Steady" hearkens back to '60s girl groups. Did I mention there's a guest appearance from Best Coast too? Awesome.

29. Dom, Family of Love
I've seen Dom preform twice this year and both times front man Dom stood with his hair covering his face, seemingly too cool to even make eye contact. It's the type of gesture that might piss me off...if Dom (the band) weren't purveyors of a new breed of lazy, snot-nosed electro-pop that holds too cool to care as its mantra. That being said, Family of Love is a surprisingly dense record of lush synths and catchy melodies that might be vapid in content, but still sounds damn good.

See also: Haiku Review: Dom

28. Xylos, Xylos
The self-titled debut from Brooklyn band Xylos, Xylos is a shimmering record of crepuscular pop, ranging from breezy and light to scintillating and dance-y. Front woman Monika Heidemann has a deep, rich voice which lends a sense of balance to otherwise blithe, floaty concoctions. It's only a matter of time before these guys make it big.

See also: Best New Music: Xylos

27. Man Man, Life Fantastic
The 4th full-length from Philly gypsy-punk collective Man Man, Life Fantastic is perhaps their most nuanced yet, as the band employs their trademark oompah beats and bar band keys to paint a portrait of something dark, and foreboding. The title track is a swinging, skulking account of children discovering a dead body at a picnic (yes, really) -- while "Dark Arts" is a spooky escapade through guitar runs and front man Honus Honus's growly vocals. And of course, "Piranha's Club" -- with its mischievous lyrics and upbeat feel -- provides some much needed levity.

See also: Best New Music: Man Man; The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 31-21

26. Dominant Legs, Invitation
A quirky, glittery record of Talking Heads-inspired pop, Invitation is a feel-good listen meant for sunny days, open roads, first kisses and running through sprinklers giggling. Band creators Ryan Lynch and Hannah Hunt hail from San Francisco, where the gorgeous weather and laid-back lifestyle must have rubbed off on their songwriting. I'm not complaining.

See also: Best New Music: Dominant Legs; The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 31-21

25. Hunx and his Punx, Too Love To Be in Love
A jangly record of vintage-inspired garage rock jamz, Too Love To Be in Love both pays tribute to and subverts early '60s stereotypes with song titles like "He's Coming Back" (that would be "my boyfriend," of course), "Bad Boy" and "The Curse of Being Young" -- re-imagining these classical tropes with a punk bent. Front man Seth Bogart has a talk-y, winking way of singing that's more playful than sarcastic, while Shannon Shaw (of Clams fame) contributes smoky vocals and bass skillz.

24. St. Vincent, Strange Mercy
A darkly elegant, and at times harshly creative record, Annie Clark -- the quirky force behind St. Vincent -- offers a twisted, seductive collection of intimate, electro-rock anthems, from the bouncy, orchestral "Cruel" to the lush, slinky "Surgeon" ("Must find a surgeon....come cut me open," croons Clark serenely.) Occasionally discomforting and yet bewitching.

See also: Best New Music: FALL 2011 ESSENTIAL LISTENING

23. The Rosebuds, Loud Planes Fly Low
So Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard -- formerly married, and making music together as the Rosebuds -- split up. Luckily, their band didn't, and Loud Planes Fly Low -- their first post-break-up record -- is a stunning collection of dark, dreamy melodies to get lost in, from wistful, otherworldly opener "Go Ahead" to clanking, strings-laced lullaby "Second Bird of Paradise" and head-y release "Woods."

See also: The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 31-21

22. Mister Heavenly, Out of Love
A collaboration between two of my fave zany music makers -- that would be Islands' Nick Diamonds and Man Man's Honus Honus -- along with veteran drummer Joe Plummer -- Mister Heavenly offers a unique amalgam of old-skool doo wop, circus rock and neo-psychedelia that is rollicking, playful, giddy and instantly recognizeable. They even invented a new word for it: doom wop. Let's hope this album isn't a one-off!

See also: Best New Music: Mister Heavenly

21. The Horrors, Skying
The third full-length from Britain's most capricious buzz band, Skying sees the Horrors abandoning past styles to create a lush, sweeping record of gorgeous '80s synths and visceral post-punk anthems. From the Interpol-meets-arena-rock grandeur of "Endless Blue" to the poppy, Simple Minds feel of "Still Life," Skying is a trippy journey through the best of the era many of hope to forget.

See also: Best New Music: The Horrors; The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 20-11

That's it for the first batch -- stay tuned for numbers 20-11 soon!

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XPN2 Playlist, 12/19/11

2011-12-20T10:10:00.004-05:00

6:00

Veronica Falls, “Bad Feeling”
Veronica Falls

Girls Names, “When You Cry”
Dead to Me

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Savoir Adore, “Dreamers”
Dreamers

Nada Surf, “See These Bones”
Lucky

Seapony, “Dreaming”
Go With Me

New Order, “Ruined in a Day”
The Best of New Order

Ratatat, “Falcon Jab”
LP3

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Tennis, “Origins”
Origins

The Concretes, “Ooh La La”
In Colour

The Morning Benders, “All Day Daylight”
Big Echo

The Lucksmiths, “Camera Shy”
Naturaliste

Happy Birthday, “Girls FM”
Happy Birthday

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Ports of Call, “Fadophobia”
Fractals

Royal Headache, “Never Again”
Royal Headache

Jaill, “Snake Shakes”
That’s How We Burn

The Soft Pack, “Answer to Yourself”
The Soft Pack

"Answer to Yourself": the video!

7:00

The Soft Boys, “Underwater Moonlight"
Underwater Moonlight

.

Cloud Nothings, “Stay Useless”
Attack on Memory

Iceage, “You’re Messed”
New Brigade

Jeff the Brotherhood, “Wastoid Girl”
We are the Champions

The Teenagers, “Love No”
Reality Check

I Monster, “Goodbye Sun”
A Dense Swarm of Ancient Stars

.

Hey Ocean!, “Change”
Is

Hockey, “Curse This City”
Mind Chaos

LCD Soundsystem, “I Can Change”
This is Happening

The Strokes, “Is This It”
Is This It

.

Miike Snow, “Devil’s Work”
Devil’s Work (Single)

Wild Beasts, “All the King’s Men”
Two Dancers

Sparks, “Thank God It’s Not Christmas”
Kimono My House

Gruff Rhys, “Post Apocalypse Christmas”
Atheist Xmas

Super Furry Animals, “The Very Best of Neil Diamond”
Dark Days / Light Years

.

A Band of Bees, “Love in the Harbour”
Octopus

No show next week -- I'm off for the holidaze -- but I'll be back Monday January 2 with a special New Year's Show. Til then!

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Haiku Review: The War on Drugs

2011-12-19T07:29:00.004-05:00

Bluesy, world-wearied
open road anthems met with
a hero's welcome

photo Kate Bracaglia for A.V. Club Philly

Read the full review (Saturday night, Union Transfer) here!

The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 10-1

2011-12-16T10:30:00.004-05:00

21 down...10 more to go. Here's my breakdown of my 10 favorite songs of the year!

10. Bodies of Water, "Like a Stranger"
The sleeper hit of 2011, Bodies of Water's "Like a Stranger" has a skulking, vamp-y beat and theatrical feel, like a duet in a Broadway musical. Husband-wife duo David and Meredith Metcalf alternate between hushed intensity and soulful crooning, but always with a playful wink, and as the horns join in, the whole thing feels like a celebration.

9. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, "How Can You Luv Me"
A funky, quirky jam that resonates with old-skool funk sensibilities, UMO's "How Can You Luv Me" has a catchy chorus that burrows in your skull, and lithe, spring-y beat that inspires bad dancing. Ruban Neilson has an impassioned, skitterish way of singing, and when he belts out the refrain, you feel like he's truly singing for love.

8. The War on Drugs, "Baby Missiles"
The tour-de-force of War on Drugs front man Adam Granduciel, "Baby Missiles" is the anthem of a wandering soul, and perfect music for blasting while rolling down the highway. A repeated motorik beat lends it a sense of forward-motion, while Granduciel's twangy vocals and impassioned harmonica-playing posit him as the new Springsteen, a relatable everyman trying to figure things out.

7. The Babies, "Breakin' the Law"
The great thing about "Breakin' the Law," the breezy single from Vivian Girls' Cassie Ramone and Woods' Kevin Morby, is that it feels like a classic punk jam -- so much so that it's come on shuffle a few times when I wasn't paying attention, and I could have sworn it was Joe Doe and Exene Cervenka crooning. This a tune about reflecting on youthful craziness with a smile, and a little alt-country lilt.

6. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi feat. Jack White, "Two Against One"
A tune from the Rome album, the soundtrack to a spaghetti Western that doesn't exist -- "Two Against One" is sinister, windswept, and atmospheric, all handpicked guitar and Jack White's warbly vocals, as he paints a world of showdowns and masked avengers, where one keeps their enemies "closer than a mirror ever gets to me." Chilling.

5. YACHT, "Dystopia"
A gutsy, snarky diatribe about the end of the world, "Dystopia" serves its pseudo-apocalyptic vision with nervy, DFA-style electro-pop, Claire Evans crying out vehemently, "The earth, the earth, the earth is on fire" and "Let the Motherfucker burn!" It's a rager for smart kids, and the video (shown here along with counterpart jam "Utopia") is just so fantastically nerdy (Evans and front man Jona Bechtolt running/biking through space, trying to avoid being sucked into a black hole) it makes me love it even more.

4. The Black Lips, "Time"
On the surface, this is such a simple, straightforward punk song and yet...it's pretty much dead on in its execution. Guitars are jangly and brash, drums are steady and the vocals are imbued with a sort of drunken honesty as the band -- now less rapscallious hooligans and more an established force on the scene -- encapsulate their growth and future with no frills lyrics: "Time is moving on....But I keep on moving, moving...moving right along." love it.

3. Mayer Hawthorne, "The Walk"
How perfect is this song? A poppy, sunshine-y nugget of retro-inspired joy, Mayer Hawthorne's "The Walk" is ear candy for people who grew up listening to Motown on oldies radio and feel instantly lighter when they hear The Temptations' "My Girl." "The Walk" is nearly as good as "My Girl," with an infectious piano line, breezy chorus of "Shoops" and Hawthorne's (/Andrew Cohen's) smooooth falsetto. Plus the video is kick-ass.

2. Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks"
In some ways, "Pumped Up Kicks" IS the song of the year -- it's certainly the song I heard most this year blaring from car speakers / rando stores / the soundtrack to Gossip Girl (who were actually a little late on this one.) It's a funny song in some ways -- a sort of sassy, electronic dance groove with a skulking bass line and semi messed-up lyrics about kids with cool sneakers running away from a gun-wielding psycho. And yet it is absolutely infectious, so much so that hearing just the first few notes will get my head bobbing.

1. Cults, "Go Outside"
An internet sensation turned lead single on one of my fave records of the year -- Cults' "Go Outside" is a pure gem of sparkling pop goodness, and its online popularity is especially awesome (/ironic!) given its lyrics insist on outdoor activity (rather than indoor Internet-browsing.) But mostly I love this song because it's so well done -- the intro sample from cult leader Jim Jones ("To me death is not a fearful thing; it's living that is treacherous..."), the crisp xylophone and sweet-as-honey vocals, and the fact that "Go Outside" -- despite its dainty charm -- ultimately turns out to be precisely non-romantic, as front woman Madeline Follin concludes "I want to live my life and you're just in my way." Subvert your expectations, go outside, and live.

Stream tunes 10-1 right here -- thanks for listening!

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Overlooked Bands of 2011: Part 1

2011-12-15T17:00:00.002-05:00

Ahhh year-end madness! I've already posted 20 of my top 30 favorite songs of the year (see here, and also here), and I'm brainstorming my fave records as I speak (as I type?) But before we all get carried away declaring this record or this record (M83? Bon Iver?) the year's best...why not take a step back and remember some of those albums that WEREN'T Pitchfork Best New Music/the subject of 1,000,000 blog posts?

Google image result #1 for "1,000,000 Pitchfork blog posts." Is that
Zooey Deschanel? (From this site.)

Over at Phrequency.com, I review 4 records that may have been lost in the shuffle...and are def worth a second spin. Head over there to check it out...then stay tuned next week for another helping of 2011's best overlooked bands.

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The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 20-11

2011-12-14T12:57:00.010-05:00

I've already shared with you songs 31-21 of my fave songs of the year (check 'em out here)...here's my breakdown of numbers 20 through 11.

20. Shannon and the Clams, "The Cult Song"
Shannon and the Clams are a West Coast garage band, who write simple, 3-chord punk songs that are somehow livelier and more raucous than ordinary 3-chord punk songs, thanks to front woman Shannon Shaw's off-kilter song-writing and a healthy dose of "Ooga Boogas." "The Cult Song" sounds a little bit like a bunch of drunk muppets doing a capella, but in a good way.

19. The Horrors, "Moving Further Away"
By far the longest tune on the countdown, clocking in at 8 1/2 minutes, "Moving Further Away" is an epic exploration of fuzzy synths and danceable grooves, examining the inevitability of growing older and friends "moving further away." Segueing from melody to fade-out (seagulls chirping in the background) to exuberant, morbid reprise -- "Moving Further Away" belies its long running time by keeping intensity levels high -- then cuts out suddenly, leaving you hoping you for more.

18. Tennis, "Marathon"
A breezy, effortless gem, "Marathon" is a blissful piece of twee pop, as sweet as a Popsicle on a summer day. Set against a backdrop of finger snaps and gently strummed guitar, Alaina Moore's vocals resonate with unadulterated innocence as she weaves the tale of an ocean journey, all "shifting shoals" and "high tides." Precious.

17. I Break Horses, "Wired"
On I Break Horses' "Wired," the band creates an alternative world of swirling layers, wispy vocals and flowing, circular keys that cushion and engulf you like a cloud. One part dreamy shoegaze, one part eletro-pop, one part downtempo Starbucks lobby music, "Wired" manages to be both strikingly gorgeous and slightly dischordant, minor chord progressions undercutting Maria Lindén's airy vocals.

16. Grimes, "Vanessa"
Claire Boucher, the mysterious and beautiful force behind Grimes, is a master at creating atmosphere. "Vanessa" is trance-y, moody, seductive and slightly discomforting, as if propelled by sexy, dark forces. Plus how oddly beguiling is this video? I know this is what MY friends and I do during our girls-only sleepovers. (Not really.)

15. Spectrals, "Get a Grip"
Spectrals founder Louis Jones writes sunny, '60s-influenced, surf rock charmers not dissimilar from many pop acts today (see: Surfer Blood, Best Coast, the Morning Benders.) But unlike the aforementioned, Jones imbues his tunes with a classical influence, incorporating bits of jazz piano and tin-pan alley for a result that feels effortless and timeless.

14. Craft Spells, “After the Moment”
Craft Spells' "After the Moment" is one of those songs that feels like you've heard it a million times, its swirling synths and deep vocals reminiscent of the best of New Order. Creator Justin Vallesteros negotiates the fine line between vapid '80s dance tracks and emotionally-invested bedroom pop with absolute finesses, creating a tune that makes you want to bob your head along, but also reminisce fondly about magical nights with past loves.

13. Cut Copy, “Where I’m Going”
Cut Copy's 2011 album Zonoscope is a thrilling listen of colorful psych pop -- and "Where I'm Going" is amongst its best...a hazy slice of exuberance complete with twinkling keys, pulsing beats, and full, echo-y, vocal harmonies punctuated with ardent "Yeahs!" This is music to listen to in the summer, outside, dancing barefoot in an open field. As soon as June arrives I will do just this!

12. The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
God this song is infectious! Less fuzzy and more focused than past releases, "Lonely Boy" is a rollicking, toe-tapping rocker about a guy who...can't get any from his prude girlfriend. But he doesn't care because he's rocking too hard! Dan Auberbach's guitar line here is positively staggering. Pretty sure they'll still be playing this on the radio a decade from now.

11. Dum Dum Girls, “He Gets Me High”
The Dum Dum Girls are one of my favorite bands making music right now, and this song (from the EP of the same name) might be my favorite. Dee Dee's voice is dark, smoky, and emotive and..the reverb! the guitars! To me, "He Gets Me High" evokes images of dark bars in seedy neighborhoods and falling for guys who you know are no good because they are sexy and have access to drugs. Except after listening to "He Gets Me High" a couple times...I feel no need to seek out a seedy bar, because hearing Dee Dee sing about it feels debaucherous enough.

And there you have it...another 10 down. Stream songs 20-11 for free right here -- then stay tuned for the final 10 on Friday!

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XPN2 Playlist, 12/12/11

2011-12-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

The Year-in-Review show!

6:00

Gardens & Villa, “Black Hills”
Gardens & Villa

Girls, “Honey Bunny”
Father, Son, Holy Ghost

.

BOAT, “When Frank Black Says (No. 14 Baby)”
Dress Like Your Idols

tUnE-yArDs, “Bizness”
w h o k i l l

WILD FLAG, “Romance”
WILD FLAG

Lykke Li, “Youth Knows No Pain”
Wounded Rhymes

Sonny and the Sunsets, “She Plays Yo Yo With My Mind”
Hit After Hit

.

Man Man, “Piranhas Club”
Life Fantastic

Yuck, “Georgia”
Yuck

The Rosebuds, “Woods”
Loud Planes Fly Low

Dominant Legs, “Hoop of Love”
Invitation

Shannon and the Clams, “The Cult Song”
Sleep Talk

.

The Horrors, “Moving Further Away”
Skying

Tennis, “Marathon”
Cape Dory

Google image result #1 for "Cape Dory." When will it be summmmmmmmer?

7:00

I Break Horses, “Wired”
Hearts

Grimes, “Vanessa”
Darkbloom

.

Spectrals, “Get a Grip”
Bad Penny

Craft Spells, “After the Moment”
Idle Labor

Cut Copy, “Where I’m Going”
Zonoscope

The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
El Camino

Dum Dum Girls, “He Gets Me High”
He Gets Me High

.

Bodies of Water, “Like a Stranger”
Twist Again

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, “How Can You Luv Me”
Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The War on Drugs, “Baby Missiles”
Slave Ambient

The Babies, “Breakin’ the Law”
The Babies

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Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi feat. Jack White, “Two Against One”
Rome

YACHT, “Dystopia”
Shangri-La

The Black Lips, “Time”
Arabia Mountain

Mayer Hawthorne, “The Walk”
How Do You Do

Foster the People, “Pumped Up Kicks”
Torches

.

Cults, “Go Outside”
Cults

Wanna read the rationale behind my choices? Check out my breakdown of the first third here -- then stay tuned to this blog this week as I break down the 2nd and final thirds!

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The Top 31 Songs of 2011: 31-21

2011-12-12T10:30:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe another year is nearly gone, and yet here we are on the brink of 2012. There was so much good music this year, even if I found myself wishing chillwave would go away (it's time). And to celebrate, I'll be hosting my very own YEAR IN REVIEW show tonight (Monday) from 6 to 8 on XPN2, where I'll be counting down my 31 favorite songs of the year. (Why 31 you ask? Because that's how many fit in a 2-hour show.) Check out the first installment of the list here, then listen in tonight to catch the whole thing live.

Piranhas Club member

31. Garden & Villa, “Black Hills”
The opening to G&V’s self-titled record, “Black Hills” is a perfect introduction to the band…which is to say, space-y, atmospheric, and a little bit chilling. But what really drove it home for me was hearing this tune in Gossip Girl (yes, I’m serious) where it proved an elegant and seductive backdrop to the Masked Ball scene, where Blaire stalks Chuck and Elizabeth Hurley plots. (You know the one.)

30. Girls, “Honey Bunny”
Ok, so it’s not as unique and thrilling as last year’s “Lust for Life” (my fave song of 2010!) but there is something breezy and charming about this tune, which resonates with ‘60s pop-cheeriness. That and the line about girls hating Christopher Owens’ “bony body” and “greasy hair” is SO self-deprecating (except not really, since he still [ostensibly] gets laid)—and might just be this year’s “I wanna pizza and a bottle of wine.”

29. Boat, “When Frank Black Says (No. 14 Baby)”
Frank Black, Pixies front man, is certainly an icon for some of my bearded, plaid-claid intellectual friends and this tune—from sloppy Seattle punks Boat—both pays tribute to and pokes fun at that fact. Plus I can never resist an awesome jangle. This is a tune to get drunk to and nod your head really fast. “In time you will become a cynic!”

When Frank Black Says (No. 14 Baby)

(No video for this one, but click to listen!)

28. tUnE-yArDs, “Bizness”
I’m pretty sure there’s no one out there making music quite like tUnE-yArDs, the bizarre, percussive project of ukulele master Merrill Garbus. “Bizness” rules because it’s creative without being jarring, with a structure that seems like it’s threatening to fall apart at any moment, only to press on with increasing power. The video is equally thrilling and bizarre. (Also check out this video I shot of her live during the 2nd Street Festival!)

27. WILD FLAG, “Romance”
The raging debut single from ‘90s supergroup WILD FLAG, “Romance” is awesome for many reasons: it’s catchy, rocking, and shows off the mad skillz of each member, from Carrie Brownstein’s empowered vocals to Mary Timony’s guitar shredding to Rebecca Cole’s lively organ bounce to Janet Weiss’s turbo drumming. Plus how awesome is the music video? This song makes me want to rage. “We dance to free ourselves from the room!” sing the ladies. Damn straight!

26. Lykke Li, “Youth Knows No Pain”
Another tune prominently featured in Gossip Girl (god they do such a good job choosing music); Lykke Li’s “Youth Knows No Pain” encapsulates the fearless determination of young people who are not afraid to put themselves out there; who go out dancing and drinking and partying and experiencing heartbreak over and over again because they are young, and the world is their oyster. The dark, shuffling beat and organ glitches lend this tune an almost seedy, urban feel—the type of music you’d expect to hear blaring from speakers at 2 a.m. at some hipster dive under the Brooklyn Bridge.

25. Sonny and the Sunsets, “She Plays Yo-Yo With My Mind”
The great thing about Sonny and the Sunset’s “She Plays Yo-Yo With My Mind” is how effortless it feels. This totally sounds like a ‘60s garage rock single, recorded in someone’s basement and released on 45. And knowing front man Sonny Smith’s DIY background and penchant for lo-fi—perhaps it was. Plus, how can you NOT dig that guitar line? Positively skulking.

24. Man Man, “Piranha’s Club”
I adore the video for this jangly gem, which features children going crazy and generally getting into mischief. And that’s kinda what this song is about—releasing stress and getting into trouble—smashing plates and punching your dad in the face. (“Think about it,” chirps Honus Honus.) It’s a welcome respite on an album that mostly deals with death and dying, with a circus bounce that you can’t help but bob along to. And it has a surprisingly sweet ending, when Honus admits—plates smashed around him, no doubt—“I don’t want to be the stranger in your rearview mirror; I just want to be the man you bring home to dinner.” Even piranhas need love you know.

23. Yuck, “Georgia”
British rockers Yuck craft hazy, fuzzy, ‘90s-influenced guitar rock that feels instantly familiar and warm and “Georgia” is the warmest and most familiar of all. Major chords, boy-girl harmonies, and a swing-y, sing-along beat make this tune an easy-going favorite that doesn’t have to try too hard.

22. The Rosebuds, “Woods”
2 years ago, The Rosebuds were another married couple, making cute, upbeat, indie poppers that were actually great. Then they broke up, and I worried their tunes would become dark and mope-y. And they sorta did…but I didn’t mind, because the result was songs like “Woods” which is twittering and uneasy and cathartic and striking. Kelly Crisp’s keyboards are skitterish like the soundtrack to a horror movie while Ivan Howard wails like a man heart-broken. This is a song about dealing with emotions by running away and getting high, which is about as un-cute and un-romantic as you can get.

21. Dominant Legs, “Hoop of Love”
San Francisco’s Dominant Legs write sunny, summery exuberant pop and “Hoop of Love” is perhaps their most sunny and shimmering. Combining a ‘60s pop influence with just the right amount of ‘80s bounce, this is song for blasting from the car stereo, windows down, much like the video suggests. This will be on the soundtrack for every party I host for the next 5 years (maybe).

Stream songs 31-21 for free right here -- then check back here later this week as I break down songs 20-11 and 10-1.

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Best New Music: The Black Keys

2011-12-08T09:51:00.001-05:00

It just dropped yesterday, and already it's on everyone's lips, blaring from ipods and car speakers and the stereo at Rittenhouse sports bars (don't ask.) Its draw is immense -- hipsters! their parents! people who still listen to Kings of Leon! -- and even though you kinda WANT to hate it for being so popular, you just CAN'T, because it's really THAT GOOD. I'm talking of course about El Camino, the new record from Akron, OH bluesmasters The Black Keys, which will have you dancing and flailing with glee.

Head over to Phrequency.com to read my full review, along with 5 reasons we <3 the band.

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XPN2 Playlist, 12/5/11

2011-12-06T10:52:00.006-05:00

6:00

Cheap Time, “People Talk”
Cheap Time

Wax Idols, “Gold Sneakers”
No Future

.

Hunx and his Punx, “Lovers Lane”
Too Young to Be in Love

Shannon and the Clams, “The Cult Song”
Sleep Talk

The Ramones, “I Wanna Be Sedated”
Road to Ruin

Vintage Kicks, “Absolutely Crazy!”
King Geek

Telekinesis, “Coast of Carolina”
Telekinesis!

.

Soda Shop, “Farewell”
Farewell

Oh No Oh My, “Walk in the Park”
Oh No! Oh My!

MGMT, “Electric Feel”
Oracular Spectacular

Islands, “Disarming the Car Bomb”
Vapours

Mister Heavenly, “Charlyne”
Out of Love

.

Man Man, “Knuckle Down”
Life Fantastic

Fair Ohs, “Colours”
Everything is Dancing

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, “Belong”
Belong

Wild Nothing, “Chinatown”
Gemini

.

Twin Sister, “Lady Daydream”
Color Your Life

Still Corners, “Endless Summer”
Creatures of an Hour

Google image result #8 for "Endless Summer." Ahh, summer. (From this site.)

7:00

Of Monsters and Men, “King and Lionheart”
My Head is an Animal

.

Coeur de Pirate, “Ava”
Blonde

Phoenix, “1901”
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Yelle, “Safari Disco Club”
Safari Disco Club

Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out” (Daft Punk Remix)
Take Me Out

.

The Clientele, “Harvest Time”
Bonfires on the Heath

Jens Lekman, “An Argument with Myself”
An Argument with Myself

Xylos, “Dust”
Xylos

Morcheeba feat. Judie Tzuke, “Enjoy the Ride”
Dive Deep

.

Chairlift, “Sidewalk Safari”
Something

The Chemical Brothers, “All Rights Reserved” (Feat. The Klaxons)
We Are the Night

Maximum Balloon feat. Katrina Ford, “Young Love”
Maximum Balloon

Little Dragon, “My Step”
Machine Dreams

The New Pornographers, “Sing Me Spanish Techno”
Twin Cinema

.

Smith Westerns, “All Die Young”
Dye It Blonde

Tune in again next week for my favorite show of the year...the YEAR IN REVIEW SHOW!! Featuring all your favorite songs from 2011.

Local Radar: The Really Cooks

2011-12-05T11:39:00.011-05:00

Cooks King Alon, Pete Band, Josh Band at PhilaMOCA (Click any photo to enlarge)

There's a lot you can say about local pysch-rock foursome The Really Cooks -- just don't accuse them of not being fun. In fact, "fun" is probably the first word that comes to mind when describing these West Philly hooligans -- well, "fun" and maybe "wacky," or perhaps "raucous." A fixture on the scene for 3+ years now (prior to forming The Really Cooks they performed as The Josh and Pete Band) The Cooks understand that music is meant to be enjoyed -- and help facilitate said enjoyment with costumes, cartoons, and seriously catchy tunes.

Cook Pete Band

On new record Dr. Lemonade Stand (released this past weekend) the band takes fun to a whole new level, with an energy-fueled romp through 11 '60s-influenced charmers, full of zany characters, vocal harmonies, and Josh's formidable bar-band keyboard-playing. The band celebrated its release this past Saturday with a full-on musical carnival at PhilaMOCA, playing Dr. Lemonade Stand in its entirety for eager crowds.

The record kicks off with quirky dance number "Dance in High Heels," a intriguing and creative cavort about a chic who -- like myself -- experiences problems walking in heels. Could this trait really be endearing, as the band suggests? For my sake, let's hope so. Follower "Porter" is a psych-tinged, circus-y gambol, complete with cartoon voices -- while "All Up in the Air" is a punchy, sunny rollick, choral vocals resonating like CSNY. "Claude Monet" is a skulking, Eastern-tinged charmer about -- you guessed it -- Claude Monet ("Forget Michelangelo," croons the band) -- while "Patio" is a rollicking toe-tapper about making out with a girl on the patio, until her dad gets angry and threatens to hurt you. ("We tried to write a love song, and this is what we came up," explains the band.) But my fave track? The slinky, psychedelic "Mr. Badman," an insatiably dark romp with Queen-like levels of drama.

Alon sings along

And while Dr. Lemonade Stand sounds certainly sounds awesome on record -- live, it felt imbued with extra specialness, courtesy of the band's energy and antics, from audience participation to cotton candy-flinging to drummer Lem "Lemonade"'s goofy, charming grin. Add to the mixture a ridiculously impressive collection of cartoon videos (Pete Band moonlights as an animator) AND a willingness to commit completely -- and you have yourself a force be reckoned with. Def one of MY fave up-and-coming bands this side of Philly-- now that's cookin'.

More photos from The Really Cooks CD release:

Lemonade: 25 cents

Openers Mercury Radio Theater

Openers Conversations with Enemies

Getting psyched for The Really Cooks!

Cookin'

Previously on Local Radar: White Birds

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Best New Music: Shannon and the Clams

2011-11-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

Shannon Shaw, Clams front woman, has one of those voices in rock: bluesy, gritty, perhaps a tad boozy -- that makes for a raucous, growl-y good time. On sophomore release Sleep Talk, good times are flowing, as Shaw and the band rip through 12 retro charmers with energy, wit, and just the right amount of "ooga-boogas."

OOGA-BOOGA!!!

Check out my full review over at Phrequency, and scoop the sweet vid for the title track.

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/28/11

2011-11-29T10:52:00.005-05:00

6:00

Film School, “Bones”
Fission

The Broken West, “Perfect Games”
Now or Heaven

.

The White Wires, “Did You Forget My Name”
WWII

Thee Oh Sees, “Carrion Crawler”
Carrion Crawler / The Dream

The Depreciation Guild, “Dream About Me”
Spirit Youth

Illinois, “Nosebleed”
What the Hell Do I Know?

The Beets, “Dead”
Stay Home

.

Bad Sports, “I May Be Cruel”
Kings of the Weekend

Total Babes, “Someone to Blame”
Swimming Through Sunlight

Cake, “Sick of You”
Showroom of Compassion

Gentleman Jesse & His Men, “I Get So Excited”
Gentleman Jesse & His Men

The Clash, “Washington Bullets”
Sadinista!

.

M. Ward, “One Hundred Million Years”
Hold Time

Savoir Adore, “Honestly”
In the Wooded Forest

The Dodos, “Black Night”
No Color

The Dogs, “We Don’t Have to Do Anything”
Camping

The Black Keys, “The Go Getter”
Brothers

Google image result #2 for "Brothers." Cute, right?
(Except for the couch, which is hideous)

7:00

Portgual. The Man, “So American”
In the Mountain in the Cloud

.

Neon Indian, “The Blindside Kiss”
Era Extrana

Washed Out, “Eyes Be Closed”
Within and Without

The Golden Filter, “Solid Gold”
Sisters

Tom Tom Club, “Genius of Love”
Tom Tom Club

Of Montreal, “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)”
The Sunlandic Twins

.

Cut Copy, “Where I’m Going”
Zonoscope

Klaxons, “Golden Skans”
Myths of the Near Future

Lykke Li, “I Follow Rivers”
Wounded Rhymes

Frou Frou, “Let Go”
Details

Cults, “Never Saw the Point”
Cults

.

The Kinks, “I Need You”
The Ultimate Collection

The Zombies, “Friends of Mine”
Odessey & Oracle

The Beatles, “The End”
Abbey Road

Yo La Tengo, “If it’s True”
Popular Songs

.

Foreign Born, “Winter Games”
Person to Person

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz!

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Music Video Mondays: Spectrals

2011-11-28T10:33:00.002-05:00

Bad Penny, the debut album from new Slumberland signees Spectrals, is full of easy-going vintage grooves perfect for easing back into these last 3 weeks of work before the holiday. This tune debuted on my radio show last week, but I liked it so much I decided to include it again here:

Something in the styling reminds me of early Sondre Lerche -- which is to say, classically-influenced, delicate, and sweet. Much <3!

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Turkey Day Soundtrack: 5 Tunes to get you in the mood (for food)

2011-11-23T16:08:00.005-05:00

Ahh Thanksgiving. America's celebration of food, family, and gluttony is almost upon us, and if you're anything like me, that means major stressing over travel and turkey-basting. But it doesn't have to be that way! Head over to Phrequency.com to check out my Thanksgiving playlist...then queue it up, and let the food coma begin!

Domesticity, 11/20/11

Happy Thanksgiving from Underwater Explosions!

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/22/11

2011-11-22T10:30:00.003-05:00

6:00

Duchess Says, “S.O.H….”
In a Fung Day T

Dive, “Sometime”
Sometime

.

Class Actress, “Love Me Like You Used To”
Rapprocher

Yeasayer, “Ambling Alp”
Odd Blood

TV on the Radio, “Wolf Like Me”
Return to Cookie Mountain

Atlas Sound, “Mona Lisa”
Parallax

St. Vincent, “Cruel”
Strange Mercy

.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, “Maniac”
Hysterical

The Feelies, “Waiting”
Time for a Witness

Fergus & Geronimo, “Powerful Lovin’”
Unlearn

Rachael Yamagata, “Stick Around”
Chesapeake

Lissy Trullie, “Madeleine”
Lissy Trullie

.

Calexico, “Writer’s Minor Holiday”
Carried to Dust

Felt, “Spanish House”
The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories; Ignite the Seven Cannons

Elf Power, “We Dream in Sound”
A Dream in Sound

From Elf Power's FB

7:00

Another Sunny Day, “The Center of My Little World”
London Weekend

Wilco, “ELT”
Summerteeth

.

Spectrals, “Get a Grip”
Bad Penny

Girls Names, “Bury Me”
Dead To Me

Widowspeak, “Harsh Realm”
Widowspeak

Let’s Wrestle, “I am Useful”
Nursing Home

Architecture in Helsinki, “Denial Style”
Moment Bends

.

Dom, “Living in America”
Sun Bronzed Greeks Gods

Computer Magic, “Running”
Electronic Fences

The Rosebuds, “Go Ahead”
Loud Planes Fly Low

Keep Shelly In Athens, “A) The Rogue Superhero B) Ready to Pay the Price”
Own Our Dream

Head Like a Kite, “My Very First Ransom Note”
Dreams Suspend Night

.

Blackbird Blackbird, “Dreams I Create”
Summer Heart

Real Estate, “Wonder Years”
Days

Mayer Hawthorne, “Dreaming”
How Do You Do

Of Monsters and Men, “Little Talks”
My Head is an Animal

.

The Kooks, “Eskimo Kiss”
Junk of the Heart

Tune in again next week for more hot jamz!

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White Birds: In Photos!

2011-11-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

I've already documented my love for new Philly band White Birds (see here, and also here); last Sunday I was fortunate enough to stop by the band's session for XPN's The Key and snap a couple photos. You can check 'em out there...and stay tuned for the full session shortly!

photo Kate Bracaglia for The Key.

Best New Music: Of Monsters and Men

2011-11-17T15:45:00.001-05:00

Of Monsters and Men hail from Iceland, a country I associate with Bjork, putting random v's and j's in the middle of words, and the bad guys from Mighty Ducks 2. A few years from now though, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys were the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Iceland -- so engaging and dynamic are their tunes.

also engaging: their band photos, like this lil gem (from Facebook)

No, really. On debut record My Head is an Animal the band displays a penchant for grand sweeping theatricality and cathartic tunes that burrow in your skull for days. Read my full review at Phrequency.com, and check out a live performance of standout single "Little Talks."

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Haiku Review: Architecture in Helsinki

2011-11-17T15:13:00.003-05:00

Talking Heads-style

moves, plus sonic silliness
equals aural joy

photo Kate Bracaglia for A.V. Club Philly

Read my full review (Wednesday night, Union Transfer) here!

Haiku Review: The Kooks

2011-11-16T15:34:00.002-05:00

Blithe tunes made blither

thanks to high spirits, passion,
and SO MUCH DANCING

Photo Kate Bracaglia for A.V. Club Philly

Read my full review (Tuesday night, Trocadero) here!

Previously on Haiku Review: Cold Cave

XPN2 Playlist, 11/14/11

2011-11-15T10:11:00.005-05:00

6:00

Mannequin Men, “Don’t Grow”
Mannequin Men

The Really Cooks, “Claude Monet”
Dr. Lemonade Stand

.

The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
El Camino

Dinosaur Jr., “Pieces”
Farm

No Age, “Eraser”
Nouns

Pavement, “Summer Babe (Winter Version)”
Slanted & Enchanted

Maritime, “Air Arizona”
Human Hearts

.

GoodBooks, “Passchendaele”
Control

The Cribs, “Save Your Secrets”
Ignore the Ignorant

Blur, “Country House”
The Great Escape

Fruit Bats, “Tangie and Ray”
Tripper

Bright Eyes, “Lover I Don’t Have to Love”
Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

.

Pulp, “This is Hardcore”
This is Hardcore

Gorillaz feat. Lou Reed, “Some Kind of Nature”
Plastic Beach

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, “Another Morning Stoner”
Source Tags & Codes

Google result #2 for "Another Stoner." (Apparently TOD have a trademark
on the phrase "Another Morning Stoner" b/c all image results for this are
pics of the band. Whatevs. Animals can be stoners too.)

7:00

The Front Bottoms, “Maps”
The Front Bottoms

Quasi, “Chocolate Rabbit”
R&B Transmogrification

.

Pants Yell!, “Reject, Reject”
Alison Statton

Papercuts, “Chills”
Fading Parade

Dum Dum Girls, “Always Looking”
Only in Dreams

Galaxie 500, “Blue Thunder”
On Fire

Helium, “Superball”
The Dirt of Luck

.

Super Furry Animals, “Sidewalk Serfer Girl”
Rings Around the World

Beck, “The New Pollution”
Odelay

Supertramp, “Breakfast in America"
Breakfast in America

Happy Mondays, “Country Song”
Bummed

The Ting Tings, “That’s Not My Name”
We Started Nothing

.

The Danvilles, “I Tell You”
East

Swimsuit, “The Grit”
Swimsuit

BOAT, “Dress Like Your Idols”
Dress Like Your Idols

Peter Bjorn and John, “Living Thing”
Living Thing

.

Wyldlife, “Invisible Boy”
Nicotine

Tune in again next week for more awesome jams!

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Music Video Mondays (x2!): Wyldlife + Seventeen Evergreen

2011-11-14T11:24:00.001-05:00

This tune from NYC punks Wyldlife debuted on my radio show last month -- here's the fantastically rowdy video, which proves that punk is not dead, although it's still fond of stupid haircuts:

Feeling the punk <3? Tune in to my show tonight to catch another cut from Wyldlife!

In the meantime, speaking of adventures in fashion...

This nugget from San Fran duo Seventeen Evergreen hit the blogosphere last week -- I've always imagined this type of stuff goes on at Philly Aids Thrift late at night.

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Best New Music: Mannequin Men

2011-11-09T11:59:00.003-05:00

Chicago hooligans Mannequin Men write sloppy, sloshy, easy-going rockers that combine elements of all my favorite things: power-pop euphoria; lo-fi jangle; and drunken resolution -- into a venerable sing-along of boozy joy.

Mannequin Men living up to their name

On their 4th and self-titled album, they present their strongest batch of songs yet, and the perfect soundtrack for low-key weekend, killing a case with friends. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, and party on.

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XPN2 Playlist, 11/7/11

2011-11-08T10:56:00.004-05:00

6:00

Faces on Film, “Knot in the Vine”
Some Weather

Fanfarlo, “Deconstruction”
Deconstruction

.

Wavves feat. Best Coast, “Nodding Off”
Life Sux

Superchunk, “Seed Toss”
No Pocky for Kitty

Surfer Blood, “Drinking Problem”
Tarot Classics

Yuck, “Get Away”
Yuck

Wu Lyf, “Spitting Blood”
Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

.

The Drums, “Book of Revelation”
Portamento

Mazes, “No Way”
A Thousand Heys

Islands, “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby”
Return to the Sea

Vampire Weekend, “Holiday”
Contra

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, “Counting Down the Hours”
Shake the Sheets

.

The Vaccines, “Blow It Up”
What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?

The Replacements, “Can’t Hardly Wait”
Pleased to Meet Me

Guided by Voices, “Motor Away”
Alien Lanes

The Thermals, “No Culture Icons”
More Parts Per Million

,

Brass Band, “Begs Me Not to Beg”
Melt White

Mazzy Star, “Lay Myself Down”
Common Burn / Lay Myself Down

The happiest Mazzy Star has ever looked

7:00

Justice, “Civilization”
Audio, Video, Disco

Brakes, “All Night Disco Party”
Give Blood

YACHT, “One Step”
Shangri-La

.

Phantogram, “16 Years”
Nightlife

M83, “Steven McQueen”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Belle & Sebastian, “Blue Eyes of a Millionaire”
Come on Sister

MGMT, “Siberian Breaks”
Congratulations

Yo La Tengo, “Season of the Shark”
Summer Sun

.

Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps, “Calliope”
Little Wind

William Fitzsimmons, “Psychasthenia”
Gold in the Shadow

Rafter, “A Frame”
Animal Feelings

Wolf Gang, “Stay and Defend”
Suego Faults

.

Dum Dum Girls, “Bhang Bhang I’m a Burnout”
I Will Be

<3 music? (Who doesn't?) Tune in again next week for more sweet tunes!

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5 "It's Always Sunny" Episodes That Need to Happen, Stat (a.k.a., Kate has fun with Photoshop)

2011-11-04T15:41:00.008-04:00

A classic Sunny moment

Sometimes when I get drunk and watch TV, my brain is filled with enlightened thoughts about ideas for future episodes. Here are the results of one drunken evening with It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: 5 classic Philly-isms that have yet to be explored, plus some sloppy Photoshopping, completed while at work.

1. The Gang Gets Hip.

Ironic '90s tee? Check. Fatty in a diaper + headband? Check. Charlie
photoshopped onto body of chick in tube top? Chhhheck.

Philly is full of hipsters, so how come there has not been an episode making fun of them yet? Maybe they meet some art school students and spend an episode trying to adapt to the lifestyle, wearing plaid and riding bikes, then get sad when they move to Brooklyn at the end. They could be probably even convince some of the UArts students to appear in this episode for free -- nothing says exposure like making fun yourself on national TV.

2. The Gang Gets Flash-Mobbed.

Guns of steel to the rescue

Major citywide catastrophe = majorly funny television episode. I'm thinking this would involve some sort of retaliation plan gone horribly wrong, possibly using Cricket as bait.

3. The Gang Versus the PPA.

Like Parking Wars...on crack

This would be a classic match-up of laziness and ego.

4. The Gang Steals the Rocky Statue.

Smooth moves

Seriously, how has this not happened yet?

5. The Gang Discovers a New Favorite Bar.

No photoshopping required

The gang stumbles into Mac's Tavern (i.e., the bar Caitlin Olsen and Rob McElhenney own in real life), and is weirded out when the bartenders are their dopper-gangers and the menu items are named after them. Like the "The Bizarro" episode of Seinfield, but weirder. Plus i would love to see Charlie get in a fight with himself!

Excellent!

Best New Music: Phantogram

2011-11-02T12:40:00.004-04:00

Uber-cool New York duo Phantogram craft sexy nighttime music that still sounds good during the day. Combining old-skool samples with blistering beats, hazy shoegaze guitars, and Sarah Barthel's dreamy, emotive vocals -- Phantogram manage to capture both sadness and exuberance on new EP Nightlife, detailing the emotional highs and lows of life on the road, experienced during last year's tour.

Looking dejected (From FB)

The result is a passionate musical journey that belies its 27 minute running time. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com -- then tune in to my radio show next Monday at 6 to catch a track from Nightlife.

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/31/11

2011-11-01T10:43:00.004-04:00

The Halloween show!

6:00

Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, “Rare as the Yeti”
Dracula Boots

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Heads Will Roll”
It’s Blitz

.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Red Right Hand”
Let Love In

The Cramps, “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”
Songs the Lord Taught Us

Veronica Falls, “Found Love in a Graveyard”
Veronica Falls

Dead Man’s Bones, “My Body’s a Zombie for You”
Dead Man’s Bones

.

No Kids, “For Halloween”
Come Into My House

Michael Andrews, “Slipping Away”
Donnie Darko

Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
Ocean Rain

The Hooters, “All You Zombies”
Amore

M83, “Graveyard Girl”
Saturdays = Youth

.

Screaming Females, “Ghost Solo”
Castle Talk

The Pixies, “Wave of Mutilation”
Doolittle

Murder City Devils, “Demon Brother”
In Name and Blood

Nine Inch Nails, “Dead Souls”
The Downward Spiral (Deluxe Edition)

"Dead Souls" live -- even scarier than you imagined (from this site)

7:00

Roky Erickson, “Night of the Vampire”
You're Gonna Miss Me: The Best of Roky Erickson

Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London”
Excitable Boy

.

Man Man, “Spooky Jookie”
Life Fantastic

The Who, “Boris the Spider”
A Quick One

Atlanta Rhythm Section, “Spooky”
Underdog

Babyshambles, “Back from the Dead”
Down in Albion

Creedence Clearwater Revival, “I Put a Spell on You”
Creedence Clearwater Revival

.

Creepoid, “Grave Blanket”
Horse Heaven

Concrete Blond, “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)”
Bloodletting

Del Shannon, “Ginny in the Mirror”
Home and Away: The Complete Recordings 1960-1970

Donovan, “Season of the Witch”
Sunshine Superman

.

Be Your Own Pet, “Zombie Graveyard Party”
Get Awkward

Jaill, “How’s the Grave”
That’s How We Burn

The Misfits, “Night of the Living Dead”
Collection

Elf Power, “I Walked With the Zombie”
Nothing’s Going to Happen

The Beach Boys, “The Monster Mash”
Concert

.

The Misfits, “Halloween”
Legacy of Brutality

Tune in again next week for more (non-Halloween-themed) craziness!

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Music Video Mondays: HALLOWEEEEEEEEEEEEN Edition

2011-10-31T10:28:00.000-04:00

AGGGGGHHH Halloween!!! It's here, and it's horrid. (In a good way.) Here are 3 creeptastic new vids to check out, while covering your face in zombie make-up.

1. The Pack A.D., "Haunt You"

I'm not sure what's scarier -- this tune, or the fact that you can't tell whether the band is male or female! (They're chicks, according to Facebook)

2. Summer Camp, "Down"

Cinemagraph gifs of your fave Halloween cliches! For the nostalgia lover in us all.

3. Twin Sister, "Kimmi in a Rice Field"

Who knew dream pop could get so twisted?

Want more spooky tunes tonight? Tune in to my radio show from 6 to 8 for 2 hours of Halloween horrors. Muahahahahaha.

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This Mischief Night, Remember Who You're Dealing With...

2011-10-30T13:45:00.003-04:00

The youth today are not to be messed with!

(even if they're totes adorable)

Happy almost-Halloween!

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Best New Music: Class Actress

2011-10-27T16:20:00.002-04:00

Class Actress write icy, sultry dance grooves dripping with '80s sexuality and infused with bedroom mystique. The project of Brooklyn vixen Elizabeth Harper, the band totes seduced me live last Friday night, and put out a pretty good record too in Rapprocher, their debut on Carpark Records. Check out my full review -- plus the steamy vid for single "Weekend" -- over at Phrequency.com -- then considering adding Rapprocher to your iTunes "seduction" playlist (you know you have one.) Retro '80s pop for the win!

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This Day is Music History: October 27, 1998

2011-10-27T13:00:00.001-04:00

It was the start of something new. Something passionate, and wild, and sometimes a little violent. (Sometimes a lot violent.) Something with a face like this:

To some, it was just a record; to others, a way of life. What was this face-smashing riot fodder? Head over to A.V. Club Philly to find out!

(See more "This Day in Music History" posts here)

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/24/11

2011-10-25T11:25:00.005-04:00

6:00

The Raveonettes, “Oh, Stranger”
Batman: Arkham City - The Album

M83, “Reunion”
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

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Milagres, “Here to Stay”
Glowing Mouth

Blonde Summer, “Cathode Ray”
Eleganza

Black Lips, “New Direction”
Arabia Mountain

Male Bonding, “Carrying”
Endless Now

Comet Gain, “The Weekend Dreams”
Howl of the Lonely Crowd

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Real Estate, “It’s Real”
Days

Big Troubles, “Misery”
Romantic Comedy

Ok Sweetheart, “You Let Me Down”
Home

Princeton, “Calypso Gold”
Cocoon of Love

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Class Actress, “Weekend”
Rapprocher

The Brunettes, “Red Rollerskates”
Paper Dolls

Friendly Fires, “Photobooth”
Friendly Fires

Phantogram, “Don’t Move”
Nightlife

.

Blondie, “Atomic”
The Platinum Collection

Dominant Legs, “Hoop of Love”
Invitation

Google image result #1 for "Hoop of love." Very creative, Google.

7:00

Talking Heads, “Road to Nowhere”
Little Creatures

Casiokids, “Dresinen”
Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen

The Rapture, “In the Grace of Your Love”
In the Grace of Your Love

LCD Soundsystem, “Time to Get Away”
Sounds of Silver

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The Soft Boys, “I Wanna Destroy You”
Underwater Moonlight

Crocodiles, “Sleep Forever”
Sleep Forever

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Berlin”
Baby 81

Bodies of Water, “Mary, Don’t You Weep”
Twist Again

.

William Fitzsimmons, “So This is Goodbye”
Derivatives

Zero 7 feat. Sia, “This Fine Social Scene”
The Garden

Geoffrey O’Connor, “Like They Say it Does”
Vanity is Forever

Girls, “Honey Bunny”
Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Good Old War, “My Own Sinking Ship”
Good Old War

.

Local Natives, “Sun Hands”
Gorilla Manor

Tune in again next week for sexy Halloween-themed madness!

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Music Video Mondays: Ok Sweetheart

2011-10-24T10:33:00.001-04:00

Warning! Adorableness ahead.

Ok Sweetheart is the moniker of Erin Austin, a Texan-turned-San Franciscan who crafts '60s-tinged heartbreak pop, with just the right amount of hopeful. I'm not really into baking, but there's something delightfully domestic about this too cute video for first single "Home."

Like this tune? Tune in to my radio show tonight at 6 p.m. to catch another song from OK Sweetheart.

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This Day in Music History: October 21, 1972

2011-10-21T12:42:00.004-04:00

He was one of the city's most bizarre and intriguing forces, whose legacy still delights and beguiles unsuspecting crowds. He's written over 1000 songs, in countless styles, and directed a band that sometimes swelled to 30 members. Who is this strange and prolific music-maker and why did he move to Philly? Head over to the A.V. Club to find out!

Nope, it's not Bill Cosby!

Best New Music: Dominant Legs

2011-10-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

Main legs Ryan Lynch and Hannah Hunt

San Francisco's Dominant Legs make bright, playful pop perfect for dreary, rainy days like today. Inspired by the shimmer and sheen of '80s acts like Fleetwood Mac, the quirkyness of the Talking Heads and the heart-on-sleeve songwriting of The Boss -- Dom Legs offer a fresh take on synth pop on debut record Invitation. Check out my full review over at Phrequency.com -- and regale yourself with summertastic vid for first single "Hoop of Love." Ahh, summer. Just 8 more months til your return...

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/17/11

2011-10-18T11:28:00.004-04:00

With a focus on retro and retro-inspired pop+soul!

6:00

The Pipettes, “Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me”
We Are the Pipettes

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, “I Second That Emotion”
The Ultimate Collection: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

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Mayer Hawthorne, “The Walk”
How Do You Do

The Supremes, “Come See About Me”
The Ultimate Collection: The Supremes

Adele, “He Won’t Go”
21

The Black Keys, “Your Touch”
Magic Potion

Big Star, “She’s a Mover”
Radio City

.

Minks, “Little Fawn”
Araby

The School, “Let It Slip”
Loveless Unbeliever

Tennis, “Baltimore”
Cape Dory

The Lilys, “A Nanny in Manhattan”
Better Can’t Make Your Life Better

Who Knew, “Made Belief”
Bits and Pieces of a Major Spectacle

.

The Really Cooks, “Mr. Badman”
Dr. Lemonade Stand

She & Him, “Thieves”
Volume Two

The Kooks, “Taking Pictures of You”
Junk of the Heart

Three 4 Tens, “Mary’s Poppin’”
Change is on its Way

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Cults, “You Know What I Mean”
Cults

Cee-Lo Green, “Forget You”
The Lady Killer

Sometimes, there are no words

7:00

Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”
Video Games

Los Campesinos!, “By Your Hand”
Hello Sadness

.

The Boo Radleys, “Kingsize”
Kingsize

Ride, “Kaleidoscope”
Nowhere

Black Kids, “I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You”
Partie Traumatic

Allo Darlin’, “The Polaroid Song”
Allo Darlin’

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Dr. Dog, “Say Something”
Easy Beat

Jonny, “Goldmine”
Jonny

The Beatles, “The Night Before”
Help!

The Chimeras, “Leigh”
She

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The Go! Team, “Buy Nothing Day”
Rolling Blackouts

The Four Tops, “It’s the Same Old Song”
The Ultimate Collection: The Four Tops

The Shangri-Las, “Heaven Only Knows”
The Best of The Shangri-Las

Vivan Girls, “Dance (If You Wanna)”
Share the Joy

The Temptations, “My Girl”
The Definitive Collection: The Temptations

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A Band of Bees, “Chicken Payback”
Free the Bees

Tune in again next week for hot jamz and cool grooves!

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The Walkmen at Bloktoberfest: In Photos!

2011-10-16T17:59:00.009-04:00

Just a couple photos of NYC rockers The Walkmen performing at Bloktoberfest, 2011:

Click any photo to enlarge

All photos (c) Kate Bracaglia. Do not use without credit.

What an amazing set!

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Maritime Brings it Old-Skool to JB's

2011-10-14T14:55:00.009-04:00

Maritime front man Davey von Bohlen has been in the business of rock for many years now. 17 years, to be exact -- counting his stints with Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, and Vermont, in addition to his work with Maritime. With each project, the prolific songwriter's charged emotional content and electric stage presence helped him win fans -- although perhaps nowhere as successfully as with Maritime, whose accessible melodies and cathartic sound have made them a mainstay on alternative radio. Last night, the band brought their sparkling indie rock to life, with an hour-long set at Johnny Brenda's, in support of new album Human Hearts.

JB's. (Click any photo to enlarge.)

"It's been a long time since we've played in Philly," stated von Bohlen early on -- some casual googling on my part suggests 2007. Perhaps not surprisingly then, the band treated the crowd to an-hour plus set of discography-spanning material, the crowd shouting out songs titles, and whooping with each recognized intro. von Bohlen himself was a bastion of energy and antics, flailing about the stage kicking up his legs -- while drummer Dan Didier kept things tight and moving. And while early numbers saw von Bohlen reverting to his Promise Ring tendency of wailing off-key (which always used to annoy me back in high school) -- he soon found his stride as the night went on, hitting notes with ardor AND accuracy.

Tunes like new single "Paraphernalia" resonated with beautiful melancholy, while "The Guns of Navarone"'s jaunty pop bounce had the audience grooving. The band closed the night with "Air Arizona," a sense of urgency ringing out amongst the crowd. Maritime might be an aging band -- but they still bring it hardcore, and that rocks.

All photos (c) Kate Bracaglia. Do not use without credit.

Best New Music: Mayer Hawthorne

2011-10-12T16:30:00.001-04:00

Photo by Doug Coombe

You may not suspect it from looking at the photo above -- but this man has a hell of a voice. It's sweet, and soulful, and capable of obliterating the highest of high notes in formidable falsetto. Now add to the picture a stunning multi-instrumental prowess, and a penchant for breezy Motown-style R&B grooves...and you have yourself the work of Mayer Hawthorne, the 32-year-old chanteur who has been winning hearts (and umm, <3s) all across America. And nowhere does he shine as brightly as on sophomore album How Do You Do, which dropped yesterday on Universal Republic. Head over to Phrequency.com to read my full review, and catch a video for first single "The Walk."

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/10/11

2011-10-11T10:42:00.004-04:00

6:00

Future Islands, “Balance”
On the Water

Love and Rockets, “So Alive”
Love and Rockets

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Blonde Summer, “Silver Jesus”
Eleganza

The Hold Steady, “Stuck Between Stations”
Boys and Girls in America

J. Roddy Walston and the Business, “I’ll Tell You What”
Hail Mega Boys

Cherry Ghost, “Here Come the Romans”
Thirst for Romance

The Morning Benders, “Wet Cement”
Big Echo

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Jacuzzi Boys, “Los Angeles”
Glazin’

Eternal Summers, “Silver”
Silver

Super Wild Horses, “Love”
Fifteen

Ty Segall, “Goodbye Bread”
Goodbye Bread

The Velvet Underground, “After Hours”
The Velvet Underground

Creaky Boards, “Lie to Me
Brooklyn is Love

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Beat Happening, “Indian Summer”
Jamboree

Reading Rainbow, “Wasting Time”
Prism Eyes

Big Troubles, “Sad Girls”
Romantic Comedy

Belle and Sebastian, “Expectations”
Tigermilk

Yes, this appears to be a comic based on Belle & Sebastian's "Expectations"
(from this site.) Too bad the text is too small to read. I assume the "Bitch" is
Veronica, the "fat girl with a lisp."

7:00

Mannequin Men, “Hobby Girl”
Mannequin Men

The Lemonheads, “It’s a Shame About Ray”
It’s a Shame About Ray

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Voxtrot, “Easy”
Voxtrot

Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell”
The Rhumb Line

We Barbarians, “Headspace”
Headspace

Jay Reatard, “Can’t Do It Anymore”
Watch Me Fall

Total Babes, “Be So True”
Swimming Through Sunlight

.

The Crayon Fields, “Graceless”
All the Pleasures of the World

Geoffrey O’Connor, “Proud”
Vanity is Forever

Portugal. The Man, “Head is a Flame (Cool With It)”
In the Mountain in the Cloud

Holy Ghost!, “Hold On”
Holy Ghost!

The Horrors, “Changing the Rain”
Skying

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The Sky Drops, “Cut That Corner”
Making Mountains

The Breeders, “Cannonball”
Last Splash

.

Dominant Legs, “Where We Trip the Light”
Invitation

Tune in again next week for more tunes!

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Music Video Mondays: Big Troubles

2011-10-10T11:10:00.002-04:00

Jersey quartet/new Slumberland signees Big Troubles might be (comparatively) new kids on the scene -- but that doesn't stop them from tackling the big questions -- like love, sex, and getting your computer working (or not!) -- as they do in this video for "Sad Girls", off new release Romantic Comedy.

Like this song? Stream the entire album for free over at Stereogum -- then tune in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 to catch a cut from Romantic Comedy.

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Best New Music: Geoffrey O'Connor

2011-10-05T10:55:00.007-04:00

My freshman year of college, I had a crush on this guy who I think was obsessed with melodrama. Whenever he spoke, he'd leave these big, dramatic pauses between sentences, as if allowing the enormity of what he had just said to sink in. He'd also talk really quietly -- almost whisper (especially when he was drunk) -- so that you'd really have to lean close to understand him. And the reason I bring this up is because...crushing on this guy felt emotionally similar to listening to a Geoffrey O'Connor record -- such as the recently-released Vanity is Forever.

O' Connor, seeming O-so-nonchalant (see what I just did there?)

Like my college crush, O'Connor is fond of hushed, breathy vocals, dramatic pauses, and intense, simile-filled lyrics that unfold slowly over the course of a song. He's indebted to the '80s (my crush liked yacht rock) -- and knows smoothness is more important than all else. Listening to Vanity is Forever, one feels not exactly vain, but certainly indulgent -- check out my full review over at Phrequency.com, and be sure to watch the creep-tastic video for "Whatever Leads Me to You."

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XPN2 Playlist, 10/3/11

2011-10-04T10:17:00.005-04:00

6:00

Yuck, “Coconut Bible”
Yuck (Deluxe)

Smith Westerns, “Weekend”
Dye it Blonde

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Wyldlife, “City of Inbreds”
Wyldlife

Sonny and the Sunsets, “Reflections on Youth”
Hit After Hit

The Rakes, “Work, Work, Work (Pub, Club, Sleep)”
Capture/Release

Jaill, “She’s My Baby”
That’s How We Burn

Harlem, “Be Your Baby”
Hippies

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Best Coast, “When You Wake Up”
Summer is Forever

Surfer Blood, “Fast Jabroni”
AstroCoast

Veronica Falls, “Beachy Head”
Veronica Falls

The Beets, “Doing As I Do”
Let the Poison Out

The Subways, “Shake! Shake!”
All or Nothing

.

Bella Clava, “Ding Dong Ditch”
Holy Crow

I Monster, “Inzects”
A Dense Swarm of Ancient Stars

Sonic Youth, “Silver Rocket”
Daydream Nation

Revolution, I Love You, “Not So Sure”
We Choose to Go to the Moon

Passion Pit, “Little Secrets”
Manners

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Jeffrey Lewis, “Cult Boyfriend”
A Turn in the Dream-Songs

1990s, “Cult Status”
Cookies

Google image result #7 for "Cult Status." Apparently, this is the
Cult Status Gallery in Minneapolis, MN. And it's amazing!

7:00

Brilliant Colors, “Cult Face”
Again and Again

Miike Snow, “Cult Logic”
Miike Snow

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High Places, “Year Off”
Original Colors

The xx, “Heart Skipped a Beat”
xx

Junior Boys, “Ep”
It’s All True

Still Corners, “Cuckoo”
Creatures of an Hour

Marie Laforêt, “Les Vendanges de L'Amour”
CD Story

Revolver, “Balulalow”
Revolver

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Bishop Allen, “South China Moon”
Grrr…

The Pretenders, “Brass in Pocket”
Pretenders

Dum Dum Girls, “In My Head”
Only in Dreams

En Tout Cas, “Wait a Long Time”
Dengue Fever

Crocodiles, “Hearts of Love”
Sleep Forever

.

Mazes, “’Til I’m Dead”
A Thousand Heys

The Vaccines, “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)”
What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?

.

The Black Lips, “Modern Art”
Arabia Mountain

Tune in again next week for more sweet tunes!

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Music Video Mondays: Male Bonding

2011-10-03T10:32:00.002-04:00

What if photographs could talk? What would they say? And more importantly: what would they look like saying it? Male Bonding answer this crucial question, and more, in the video for "Tame the Sun," the opening track off Endless Now:

Like this post? See all "Music Video Mondays" posts here.

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Song of the Moment: East Hundred, "Fools, Kings, and Queens"

2011-09-30T14:04:00.005-04:00

I know what you're thinking: TWO Songs of the moment, in one day, Kate? That's crazy!!! I hear ya. And yet: there is so much awesome out there, why not celebrate it? Philly quintet East Hundred have for years now delighted fans with smoky pop tunes full of sparkling synths and magnetic vocals, and this song (from the recently-released The Spells) is no different. Head over to AV Club Philly for a complete breakdown, then catch the band live Saturday (tomorrow!) at JB's.

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Song of the Moment: Jeffrey Lewis, "Cult Boyfriend"

2011-09-30T11:28:00.001-04:00

Jeffrey Lewis is an NYC-based writer, comic book artist, and anti-folk hero, whose biting wit and DIY ethic have turned many an awesome head. He's also a prolific songwriter, whose massive discography yields quite a few gems, including new tune "Cult Boyfriend," from the forthcoming A Turn in the Dream Songs

Looking good there J

I've always been a sucker for literate lyrics + snark (see also: Sonny & the Sunsets) and Lewis pretty much IS these two things so...

JEFFREY LEWIS - cult boyfriend by lanadadora

To quote Lewis himself: "This song probably won't go too much further than an open mic...it's guaranteed though that one or two people are going to really like it."

Well said Jeffrey, well said.

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Best New Music: Dum Dum Girls

2011-09-28T12:10:00.001-04:00

Head Dum Dum Dee Dee Gundred

My love for vintage pop group Dum Dum Girls is certainly well-documented on this blog, with their 2010 record I Will Be scoring a top spot on my end-of-year countdown. But there's always the fear with breakout bands that they'll quickly fall off the radar (does anyone care about Japandroids anymore?), and the world will forever be amiss. Luckily, this fate does NOT befall DDG, whose sophomore record Only in Dreams is a shimmering collection of rollicking, pop stunners that show the band maturing, but still remaining relevant. Check out my full review at Phrequency.com -- then don't be surprised if they make another appearance in this year's Top Record countdown. What can I say, I have a soft spot for punk rock girls!

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XPN2 Playlist, 9/26/11

2011-09-27T10:57:00.004-04:00

6:00

Wolf Gang, “Lions in Cages”
Suego Faults

The New Pornographers, “Your Daddy Don’t Know”
FUBAR: The Album

Feist, “How Come You Never Go There”
Metals

.

Twin Sister, “Kimmi in a Rice Field”
In Heaven

Twin Shadow, “Castles in the Snow”
Forget

Guided by Voices, “Glad Girls”
Isolation Drills

The Flaming Lips, “Race for the Prize (Peter Mokran Mix)”
The Soft Bulletin

The A-Sides, “Amazing Graces"
Silver Storms

.

Veronica Falls, “The Fountain”
Veronica Falls

Frankie Rose and the Outs, “Candy”
Frankie Rose and the Outs

Cults, “Walk at Night”
Cults

Grizzly Bear, “Two Weeks”
Veckatimest

STRFKR, “Born”
Reptilians

.

Youth Lagoon, “Afternoon”
The Year of Hibernation

Noah and the Whale, “2 Atoms in a Molecule”
Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down

Of Montreal, “Disconnect the Dots”
Satanic Panic in the Attic

Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, perhaps having his own satanic panic

7:00

Oi Va Voi, “Stitches and Runs”
Travelling the Face of the Globe

Dengue Fever, “Only a Friend”
Cannibal Courtship

.

The Front Bottoms, “Flashlight”
The Front Bottoms

Arctic Monkeys, “Fluorescent Adolescent”
Favourite Worst Nightmare

Osker, “Kinetic”
Idle Will Kill

Mister Heavenly, “I am a Hologram”
Out of Love

Fair Ohs, “Everything is Dancing”
Everything is Dancing

.

WILD FLAG, “Romance”
WILD FLAG

Sleater-Kinney, “Dig Me Out”
Dig Me Out

Cloud Nothings, “Understand at All”
Cloud Nothings

Superchunk, “My Noise”
Superchunk

Elba, “Statues and Shipyards”
Elba

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The Walkmen, “Angela Surf City”
Lisbon

Generationals, “Greenleaf”
Actor-Caster

Grouplove, “Spun”
Never Trust a Happy Song

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Jamaica, “Short and Entertaining”
No Problem

Tune in again next week for more fly tunes!

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Music Video Mondays: Veronica Falls

2011-09-26T12:31:00.000-04:00

Scottish popsters Veronica Falls craft playful, occasionally sweet, occasionally morbid, C-86-style noise pop that Pitchfork describes as "stagy revivalism with the slightest hint of mutiny." "Bad Feeling" appears on their self-titled debut, and hints at darker undercurrents hidden behind those sunny boy-girl harmonies.

Like this tune? Listen in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 to catch another track from Veronica Falls.

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Popped Fest Saturday: In Photos!

2011-09-25T17:20:00.012-04:00

Skepticism might have been running high when this year's Popped Fest was moved from FDR Park to Temple's Liacouras Center due to rain. But doubts quickly evaporated as soon as the bands took the stage, and transformed the sports arena into a brilliant celebration of tunes. I checked out the festival Saturday night; here are some photos of the action.

Sun Airway. (Click any photo to enlarge)
All photos (c) Kate Bracaglia; do not use without permission

The Budos Band

Titus Andronicus

Rakim

Kreayshawn

Foster the People

Confetti explosion during Girl Talk's set

Girl Talk

What an amazing night!

Best New Music: Youth Lagoon

2011-09-23T10:10:00.001-04:00

With a band name that positively REEKS of disaffected juvenescence -- and a backstory fueled by harrowing anxiety -- Idaho's Trevor Powers is the new voice of a generation of bedroom dreamers, whose bloopy electronic concoctions reveal and relieve buried worries and fears. On debut LP The Year of Hibernation, Powers accesses these deep-seated feelings, resulting in a powerful record that never tries too hard. Head over to Phrequency.com to read my full review, and fawn over the stunning vid for single "Montana."

disaffected youthz

Song of the Week: Sun Airway, "Wild Palms"

2011-09-23T09:42:00.003-04:00

It's a dense, teeming morsel of dreamy ear candy, that recently made its MTV debut. Head over to AV Club Philly to delve into "Wild Palms"' mysterious layers, and explore the inspiration behind the tune.

A still from the gorgeous video, directed by Ricardo Rivera

Previously on Song of the Week: The War on Drugs, "Baby Missiles"

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XPN2 Playlist, 9/19/11

2011-09-20T10:29:00.003-04:00

Wispy synths and dreamy vibes to usher in fall:

6:00

Broken Bells, “The Ghost Inside”
Broken Bells

Xylos, “Second Order”
Xylos

.

St. Vincent, “Cheerleader”
Strange Mercy

Grimes, “Vanessa”
Dark Bloom

Happy People, “Dance for Fools”
HP-EP

Telekinesis, “Tokyo”
Telekinesis!

Neon Indian, “Polish Girl”
Era Extraña

.

Ladytron, “White Elephant”
Gravity the Seducer

Purity Ring, “Belispeak”
Belispeak (Split 7")

The Jezabels, “Endless Summer”
Prisoner

Nick Diamonds, “In Dust We Trust”
I Am an Attic

.

Washed Out, “Amor Fati”
Within and Without

I Break Horses, “Winter Beats”
Hearts

Super Furry Animals, “The Roman Road”
Rings Around the World (Expanded Edition)

Nico, “These Days”
Chelsea Girl

A famous cinematic depiction of "These Days"...

7:00

Spoon, “I Turn My Camera On”
Gimme Fiction

.

I Monster, “Hey Mrs. (Glamour Puss Mix)”
Neveroddoreven

Yelle, “Dans Ta Vraie Vie”
Pop-up

The Rapture, “Never Die Again”
In the Grace of Your Love

White Rabbits, “Kid on My Shoulders”
Fort Nightly

Television, “See No Evil”
Marquee Moon

.

Question Mark and the Mysterians, “I Need Somebody”
96 Tears

David Bowie, “Suffragette City”
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Jukebox the Ghost, “Schizophrenia”
Everything Under the Sun

Orca Team, “Vancouver B.C.”
Let it Go

Yo La Tengo, “Autumn Sweater”
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

.

Jets to Brazil, “Autumn Walker”
Perfecting Loneliness

Yuck, “Georgia”
Yuck

Les Savy Fav, “Let’s Get Out of Here”
Root for Ruin

.

Let’s Wrestle, “If I Keep on Loving You”
Nursing Home

Tune in again next week for more sweet tunes!

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Music Video Mondays: Grimes

2011-09-19T11:26:00.001-04:00

Darkbloom, the dreamy split EP from electro-masters Grimes and d'Eon dropped back in May, and has been winning regular play in my iTunes as of late: the wispy vocals and echo-y layers a perfect compliment to the fall's first chilly winds. "Vanessa" is one of Grimes's seductive offerings, and is accompanied by this strangely atmospheric vid:

Like this tune? Listen in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 to catch more trippy autumn sounds.

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This Day in Music History: September 19, 1960

2011-09-19T10:00:00.003-04:00

It was a song that changed how America listened to music; it was a song that made America dance. My dad (who was 9 when it was first released) remembers its impact, recalling:

"I remember I was in cub scouts when [said tune] became popular and me and my friends -- there were probably 5 or 6 of us -- all we wanted to do was dance."

Getting down

What was this famed 1960 song? Head over to AV Club Philly to find out.

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This Day in Music History: September 14, 1999

2011-09-14T17:02:00.008-04:00

It was a big day for the world of rap...and for one rapper in particular. I had the opportunity to interview her back in college while interning at Philly Style, and she blew me away with her style and grace. Who is she? Head over to AV Club Philly to find out.

Here's a pretty big hint...

Best New Music: FALL 2011 ESSENTIAL LISTENING

2011-09-14T15:46:00.001-04:00

It is just me, or has this week been an AMAZING time for new releases? Over at Phrequency.com, I break down the 6 albums that should be on any back-to-school playlist this fall, and hook you up with sweet video candy for each. YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING? Surf on over to Phrequency.com, and prepare for enchantment.

In the meantime, here's a hipster-y pic of me spinning tunes Monday night at XPN2:

(Photo courtesy of John Vettese)

Rock on music lovers, rock on.

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XPN2 Playlist, 9/12/11

2011-09-13T10:25:00.007-04:00

The Back-to-School show! Feat. over an hour straight of best new music (plus a smattering of "back-to-school" tunes...)

6:00

Guided by Voices, “Big School”
Static Airplane Jive

Ramones, “Rock 'N' Roll High School (Ed Stasium Version)”
Road to Ruin

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Fountains of Wayne, “Too Cool for School”
Scary Movie: Music That Inspired the Soundtrack?

The Yardbirds, “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”
For Your Love

TV Girl, “Benny and the Jetts”
Benny and the Jetts

CSS, “Hits Me Like a Rock”
La Liberacion

Le Tigre, “Deceptacon”
Le Tigre

The Apples in Stereo, “Dream About the Future”
Travellers in Space and Time

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Grouplove, “Tongue Tied”
Never Trust a Happy Song

Portugal. The Man, “Got it All (This Can't be Living Now)”
In the Mountain in the Cloud

Dom, “Telephone”
Family of Love

Wolf Gang, “The King and All of His Men”
Suego Faults

The Drums, “Days”
Portamento

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The Dogs, “A Decent Warning”
Camping

Wavves, “I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl”
I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl (Single)

Bombay Bicycle Club, “Shuffle”
A Different Kind of Fix

The best thing about this is...I assume that's supposed
to be Dave Grohl? I mean, it has to be, right?

7:00

WILD FLAG, “Glass Tambourine”
WILD FLAG

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ARMS, “Heat & Hot Water”
EP

The Olivia Tremor Control, “The Game You Play Is In Your Head, Parts 1, 2, & 3”
The Game You Play Is In Your Head, Parts 1, 2, & 3 (Single)

Elba, “From a Sinking Ship”
Elba

Dum Dum Girls, “Bedroom Eyes”
Only in Dreams

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St. Vincent, “Northern Lights”
Strange Mercy

Girls, “Magic”
Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, “Hysterical”
Hysterical

Wilco, “Whole Love”
The Whole Love

The Kooks, “Junk of the Heart (Happy)”
Junk of the Heart

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra, “Little Blue House”
Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Gardens & Villa, “Black Hills”
Gardens & Villa

Marshmallow Coast, “Little Pythagoras”
Seniors and Juniors

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Beck, “Devil’s Haircut”
Odelay

Tune in again next week for more sweet jamz.

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