Boys Like...

Girls is now among my favorite things to come out of San Francisco sharing the honor with recreational inline skating and pride parades. They've got a sound reminiscent of the Beach Boys with a vocal sound comparable to The National and lyrics fit for Conor Oberst. "Lust For Life" is a dancier song of theirs bringing energy to their airy, harmony driven vocal. "Hellhole Ratrace" is a slower, melodically driven song that drives straight to your heartstrings. "Headache" is a down tempo song that lazes along to the beat of a warm, sunny day, which we could all use a little bit of in this cold. If you're into these clips, the whole album, cleverly entitled "Album" is worth a listen. Pitchfork has given it an impressive 9.1, and the blogosphere is drooling over it, so any budding music enthusiasts would be wise to get familiar quickly and pride themselves on early discovery of this great new band.

Girls - Lust for Life

Girls - Headache

Better than the River

Mr. Hudson is Kanye West's new project, and when Kanye's paying attention, you should too. It's definitely a sound evolved out of West's 808s records, as Mr. Hudson's consistently auto-tuned clean vocal sounds like a mix of The Fray with a touch of David Bowie's panache played over Kanye West's immaculate beats. "Supernova" is a potential hit with a Coldplay-esque, emotionally charged chorus. "White Lies" is reminiscent of "Coldest Winter" off 808s, while "There Will Be Tears" provides a nice change of a pace to an Imogen Heap/Frou Frou inspired production quality while the lyrics show a more emotional, raw side (while still auto-tuned). Look for Mr. Hudson to blow up within the next few months, his sound is begging for an audience. Won't you be his?

Mr. Hudson - Supernova

Mr Hudson - White Lies from MrHudson on Vimeo.

Mr. Hudson - There Will Be Tears

For Those Who Like It Ruff...

Born Ruffians are the best thing to come out of Canada since the word "eh" (sorry, Drake...better luck next time). They bring enthusiastic, charmingly-boyish folk-infused indy rockpop. Yeah, those are a lot of adjectives, but they've earned them. "Badonkadonkey" is the funnest of the fun with a nice lil' nonsensical set of lyrics guaranteed to combat any morning blues. "I Need A Life" is anthemic, ready to party, and the perfect little indian-summer-of-a-song antidote for this obnoxious early cold. "Little Garcon" is a cute, folk acoustic number that's a great change of pace and showcases their folky, adorable vocal harmonies and yelps reminiscent of Fleet Foxes crossed with a less annoying Landon Pigg (in real life, not Whip It! in which, I'll admit, he was pretty effing endearing). For a good time, call Born Ruffians...or you know, spark a j. Whatever works.


Born Ruffians - Little Garcon

This La Roux-lz

If you haven't heard of English group La Roux, you're definitely not British or an overzealous music nerd, because overseas, they're huge. And with good reason. Ben Langmaid's blend of synth-heavy, über-kitsch electro pop with Elly Jackson's ethereal tone boasts some of the catchiest hooks on the alt scene since Lady Gaga was relatively undiscovered (not to say I told you so). Their sound is a one-off of The Gossip with more mainstream sensibilities. Admittedly, their lyrics can fall into the trap of easy rhymes and trite imagery, but their hooks hit where it counts. Off their self-titled, major label debut, "Bulletproof" is the clear standout. It has one of the better chorus lines I've heard all year as Jackson croons, "this time, baby, I'll be bulletproof." Other noteworthies include "I'm Not Your Toy," which features a heavy 808 sound and calls out, over an uppity, video-game-esque synth line, "you don't like me you just want the attention/I'm not your toy." "In For The Kill" is one of the more solidly produced, pared down tracks with an airy, synth-light arrangement that leaves room for the vocals to harmonize and intertwine beautifully within. My personal choice (it's a grower, not a shower) is the unassuming "Armour Love" that weasels it's way into your brain and won't let up with it's epic, gorgeous melody and raw lyrics. For some solid, soon-to-be-mainstream pop, La Roux delivers in spades. As an added bonus check out Elly Jackson's acoustic version of "Quicksand."

Quicksand (Acoustic)