Get Your Topsiders On...

I'm kicking myself right now for not posting this 3 weeks ago when I first heard Yacht's new album, See Mystery Lights, as Pitchfork has now beat me to the punch (damn you, Salazaar!!), but this album is too perfectly happy and summer-encapsulated to not fawn over publicly. Jona Bechtolt (you know him as an ex-member of The Blow) is the driving force behind Yacht, and deserves a trophy or a cookie (or at least a stroke on the ego from a Miss September) for the triumph that is Yacht's sophomore effort, See Mystery Lights. And what of the other half of Yacht, you ask? Well, Claire L. Evans' vocal recalls the spacy, assured timbre of The Knife's Karin Dreijer Andersson, with a vibe much closer to that of The Blow crossed with other Swedish faves The Tough Alliance and JJ. "I'm in Love With A Ripper," features a dubstep backbeat with an overall sound that rivals "I'm In Love With a Stripper" for pop appeal. "Summer Song" features a much richer, deeper arrangement complete with funk tinges, such as a cowbell and choppy, rhythmic guitar hits, and shouty interjections that make it a guaranteed hit with any block party and/or friendly neighborhood hipster kiddo. "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" has a hook so repetitive and catchy it'll tear a hole in your brain and have you lapping up the excess. As long as you're making tracks this juicy, Yacht, what's mine is yours. mmm brains.

I'm In Love With a Stripper - T-Pain f. Mike Jones (to prove my point)

YACHT - Summer Song from Jona Bechtolt on Vimeo.

YACHT - Psychic City (Voodoo City) from Jona Bechtolt on Vimeo.

A Good Lott

Don't be fooled by appearances, this blonde lil' lady (she's 18) who goes by the name of Pixie Lott has more than a couple surprises up her sleeve - the first and foremost being a powerhouse vocal that can hold its own with the best of 'em. Seriously, powerhouse. Already popular in the UK with her lead single "Mama Do," Pixie Lott is like a better version of Duffy and a poppier (a little worse musically, a bit better, albeit less-unique- vocally) version of Amy Winehouse. Her cover of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" initially caught my attention - a stripped down, acoustic take that showcases her incredible control and a musical sensibility well beyond her years . Keep an eye out for this one, with material this solid, Mercury Records promoting her album, and voice that commands attention, it should only be a matter of time before she's getting major airplay in the US. (Just because this post is a few hours late, please enjoy the lovely clip of Tyler Hilton and with Alexa Dirks singing a gorgeous cover of Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather." Good looks, Wisots.)

Use Somebody - Pixie Lott

Boots of Spanish Leather (Tyler Hilton and Alexa Dirks)

I Like It Dirty

Though I was absent from the blog for a hot minute, there's nothing like the release of an unexpectedly incredible art-pop album to get me back to it. The Dirty Projectors, Dave Longstreth's rock collective from Brooklyn, on their new album, Bitte Orca, have released some of the best new music I've heard all summer. The distinct vocals of Longstreth and his female guest singers wind comfortably through harmonies, synth blips, vocal compressors, and the strum of guitars that sound like they might hail from a basement in Williamsburg or the top of Mt. Fuji. "Stillness Is The Move," kind of sounds like a white, indie rock take on an upbeat song that Aaliyah could have released. "No Intention" takes a cue from Swedish indie pop with a steady, slow beat reminiscent of The Knife, Cleast Eatwood, and (vaguely) the Tough Alliance, while successfully throwing in an impossibly catchy guitar lick behind a simple male vocal that accounts for an overarching sound most akin to that of The Shins. "Cannibal Resource" recalls early Of Montreal with its arrangement and singer's vocal timbre, with a guitar sound borrowed from George Harrison and his trusty Beatles. And that's just for starters. The album is a pleasure from start to finish, no weak spots, just great music. A truly worthwhile album for any music fan. Hey, Dirty Projectors, well played.

Oh, Boy...Boy

Man Man is one of those groups that you either love or hate. They're weird, they're noisy, they're kind of a clusterfuck, but also kind of awesome (if you're into weird, noisy clusterfucks). Straight out of Philadelphia, they're riding in on the coattails of Zappa but marching to the beat of their own drum (or more likely with them, pots and pans). So far they've released 3 albums, and though it's not particularly prolific as a body of work, there are little slices of heaven to be picked away, and one thing is for damn sure: the bearded men of Man Man know how to bring the fun...fun.

Engrish Bwudd - Man Man

Top Drawer - Man Man

Doo Right - Man Man

Catarac Coup de Ville

Lisping and lame French punning aside, if you haven't heard of the Bay Area kids known as The Cataracs, get familiar. Take a little bit of Chromeo, a little bit of Flobots, with just a smidgen of Hyphy flare and you'll get something close to the sick sound of The Cataracs. They switch comfortably between auto-tuned melodies on tracks like "Baby Baby (The Lover's Anthem)," old school flow and sampling on tracks like "Rich Girl," and hyphy swagger on tracks like "Marshawn Lynch (Feat. The Jacka & Mistah F.A.B.)" for an impressive set list, to say the least. Any hip hop or pop music enjoyer will for sure enjoy this. Tighter than leather spandex. yeeeeeeeeee!

Baby Baby (The Lover's Anthem) - The Cataracs

(sketchy video for) Rich Girl - The Cataracs

Marshawn Lynch - The Cataracs

Heads Up

In honor of it being Sunday morning, instead of heading to mass, today I'm going to feature a band with soul. The Duhks, from Winnipeg, Canada, are a five-piece outfit that churns out some of the least hick-tastic, most genuinely listenable Appalachian-inspired roots music. Though the arrangements are more traditional, Sarah Dugan's vocal has a youthful, clear alto timbre of Feist with the control of Fiona Apple. "A Mighty Storm," "Toujours Vouloir," and "You Don't See It" are my personal favorites. N-joi.

A Mighty Storm - The Duhks

Toujours Vouloir - The Duhks

You Don't See It - The Duhks

Oscar Worthy

I'm gonna go ahead and ignore the weird white fog swirling around my window that may or may not be the sign of a nuclear apocalypse and focus all my energy on the yummy new album Actor just released by St. Vincent, aka singer/songwriter/guitarist Annie Clark. The New York Times is officially in love with her, but I found her first, so back off, yuppie scum. Now that that's settled, down to the brass tacks. Actor delivers more of the simple, delicate melodies first introduced on Marry Me, but explores deeper arrangements with more variation. The real kicker about St. Vincent's swagger, particularly on this new release, is her ability to convey the subtle nuances of complicated emotions with poise and non-chalance. "Actor Out Of Work," "Laughing With a Mouth Of Blood," and Just The Same But Brand New" are my personal favorites. Also included is St. Vincent's Black Cab Session of Dig a Pony. 'Cause it's that awesome. ¡Happy weekend!

Actor Out of Work - St. Vincent

Laughing With a Mouth Of Blood - St. Vincent

Just the Same But Brand New - St. Vincent

Dig A Pony - St. Vincent Black Cab Session