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)

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.