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DOWNLOAD: Sunny Day Sets Fire - Brainless
We first introduced you to the exuberant, happy-go-lucky Sunny Day Sets Fire- with the bad-ass remix that the Cool Kids did of their tune "Stranger" a few months back. Now, we're showing off their true skin with the original version of the song "Brainless." (Yeah, we know- Baron Von Luxury and Mad Decent have also made killer dance remixes of the same track too). Buttressed by a playful trumpet and acoustic guitar, "Brainless" is light-hearted and whimsical; a perpetual happy-pill. This tune and others off SDSF's July release "Summer Palace" are guaranteed playlist favorites for idling in the park or daydreaming out the window this summer.
SOUNDS LIKE: Of Montreal, Blonde Redhead, Ra Ra Riot
DOWNLOAD: Drink Up Buttercup - Seasickness Pills
Yesterday, I promised if I heard one more band that sounded like Beatles I’d spew. (Kinda like if I saw another pair of blublockers in Brooklyn). Then today I listened to Drink Up Buttercup. Granted they are from the outskirts of Philly so their pseudo-english singing accents are a mystery. But they evoke some of wit and charmed hooks of The Beatles, for instance in their anthemic tra-la-la choruses in “Gods and Genlemen," without being trite. They also show smart composition; “Seasickness Pills” displays quite dizzing psychadelia and ends in a Queen-like freak-house serendes.
SOUNDS LIKE: The Beatles, Animal Collective, Of Montreal
Download: Drink Up Buttercup - Seasickness Pills
EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD: Lykke Li - Everybody But Me (diskJokke remix)
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It feels like summer and the 22-year-old Swedish nymph Lykke Li unleashes her EP in the states today. To celebrate, we present: “Everybody But Me” (diskJokke remix). With brash drums, electro pulses, and lush sounds of the sea, it's calm and cooling yet infectious. A perfect prelude to............a vacation.
You want to catch the ingenue up-close and personal? Lykke Li kicks off her North American tour today, at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly. She heads to NY for two nights, May 7th and 8th. The cherry on top? She's touring with our other Swedish indie favorites, El Perro Del Mar. Dance. Dance. Dance. indeed.
Sounds Like: Sia, El Perro Del Mar, Kaki King
DOWNLOAD: Hello Tokyo - Kiss Me Goodbye (Vandaleyes Remix)
Yeah. Where Brooklyn At. The Brooklyn rockers Hello Tokyo have allowed their song "Kiss Me Goodbye" to be remixed into sun-blissed lo-fi waves by Vandaleyes (the DJ moniker for the drummer, Sam Broe, who's been mixing since he's 14.) The result is perfect for chilling on a Brookyln rooftop circa 2 pm on a Saturday that feels like a Sunday, lethargic limps soaking in sun rays and sangria. FYI Hello Tokyo has a new album "Sell The Stars" out.
SOUNDS LIKE: Joan Jett, Garbage, Metric
Download: El Perro Del Mar - Glory To The World
Sarah Assbrin, the brainchild behind El Perro Del Mar, has a crystal-clear, paper-thin voice that's so delicate- if it were a physical object, you'd tiptoe around it not to break it. Enveloped with light guitar, oboe and horn (I think I heard a flute in there too?), the result is quite breathtaking and hypnotic. The songs from her newest album, "From the Valley To The Stars,' are imbued with a bit of hope and a lot of introspection, such as the hymn-like "Glory To The World" below. We'd recommend you check her out as she tours with the cheeky ingénue , Lykke Li, in May.
psst: For your thoughtful ears, we also included "How Did We Forget," from her old album for you to feast on as well.
Sounds like: Lykke Li, Kaki King, Jens Lekman
Stream: El Perro Del Mar - Glory To The World
Download: El Perro Del Mar - How Did We Forget
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - clickclickclickclick
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Bishop Allen has been charming since their debut Charm School. Pun intended. Yeah, they are Brooklyn cats these days and last year, they released 12 EPs for every month of the year- further demonstrating their vigor and happy-go-lucky indie pop appeal. Now with their new album, these kids (named after the street in Central Square where original members Justin Rice and Christian Rudder first lived and recorded while at Harvard) continue to pump out infectious summery rock ballads- like the mellow acoustic one below.
DOWNLOAD: Annuals- Sore
July 2007: The sun was setting over McCarren Park Pool. Sipping Brooklyn Lager, I was waiting for Band of Horses to go onstage. Dodgeballers were wearing too-short shorts, families were picnicking on the teal-pool floor. The Annuals were playing. Don't know whether it was the mellow tunes, the lager, or the dodgeballers, but that moment was kinda immortalized as a quintessential summer day for me.
The Annuals' new EP Wet Zoo has a similar summer golden-pop tint. Chilled out, folky, Adam Baker kinda whispers through the lyrics of Sore. The rest of the EP is shared with the band Sunfold (which shares members with The Annuals). To chillax, check em out at Coachella.
DOWNLOAD: Boo and Boo Too- David Turns A Mystic
Said music is frenetically loud and drunkenly sloppy. Said music is emphasized by distorted guitars-while drawing analogies to Sonic Youth. Said music sounds is not afraid to end by a high pitched throb. Said music hails from Lawrence, Kansas- where some late-night drinking parties (like said picture above) presumably end with brash, angsty punked-out rock dirges. Said music does not want a hug. Said music comes from the outfit Boo and Boo Too. Check it below.
Download: Boo and Boo Too- David Turns A Mystic
Download: Boo and Boo Too- Couch on Fire
DOWNLOAD: Alamo Race Track - Black Cat John Brown
Alamo Race Track, a Dutch band, has woven a catchy tale that sounds a bit like a fable, a bit like an old wives tale. Told in deep baritone, the lyrics warn: "then you get older, you can't catch time, you have a good life, and then you die." Hey, everyone could use a good dose of fatalism set to a catchy hook every once in a while.
Download: Alamo Race Track - Black Cat John Brown
Upcoming Tour Schedule:
3/15 Habana Calle Minty Fresh/Excelsior Showcase at SXSW (708 E 6th St)
3/21 Doornroosje Nijmegen
3/22 ROTOWN Rotterdam
3/22 TIVOLI DE HELLING Utrecht
DOWNLOAD: Ra Ra Riot- Can You Tell
It's no mistake their initials sound like a lion's roar. Ra Ra Riot is a carthatic cacophy of distorted guitar, orchestrated strings, bass, keyboards, and vocals. After losing their drummer John Pike tragically last year, the troupe has manage to fill their sorrow with sound- "Can You Tell" releases bursting, frothing blasts of guitar and symphonic violin swells- It's fearsome.
Download: Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell
Ra Ra Riot's SXSW Schedule:
Wednesday March 12th - Austin Convention Center, 5pm
Wednesday March 12th - Todd P Party @ Ms. Beas, 9:30pm
Thursday March 13th - Saddle Creek/Arts & Crafts/The Onion/Canvas
Media Party @ Emos, 1:55pm
Friday March 14th - Soundcheck Magazine Party @ Emos Annex, 2:30pm
Saturday March 15th - Diesel Party @ Saengerrunde Hall 8:50pm
Saturday March 15th - Park the Van/Daytrotter Party @ Emos Annex, 10pm
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