Sam & The Womp - Bom Bom

"I'm the cat with the bass and drum"

Some songs just make you happy. I'm well aware that this isn't for everyone. Some will surely find it annoying, but from the very first few seconds, I was completely entertained. Bom Bom is a delirious mix of Balkan influences, ska, modern dance and ridiculously animated lyrics. To be completely honest, the band's name was what first drew me to the track. It sounds like some weird kid's show. Upon listening to it, I was happy that this is no kid's song (though I imagine it would appeal to them). Instead, it's the kind of bizarre novelty track that pops up occasionally in Europe but never seems to make it across to the States. Anybody who knows me well knows that I love a little weirdness. I may be sick of it in a few weeks, but for now I can't stop listening.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

MNDR - #1 In Heaven

"You can tell them, I'm smiling"

I, along with everyone else, was first introduced to MNDR when she collaborated with Mark Ronson on his excellent Bang Bang Bang. I loved that song, and filed her name away for future reference. Now, after an EP and some singles, she's gearing up to release her first album. #1 In Heaven was the first single, released several months ago, and it represents exactly why I'm excited for the album. I love the electro sound coupled with the off-kilter vocals and pop melody. The song title recalls the excellent Sparks track, #1 Song In Heaven, and the subject matter is pretty much the same. I like to think that MNDR's version is a bit of an ode to Sparks, but that may just be wishful thinking. Either way, it's damn good.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Flashback Friday: The Surfers - Windsurfin'

"Everybody has fun, fun, fun"

Sometimes, you don't even know that you're in the mood for a disco Beach Boys pastiche by a Dutch group until you hear it. Yes, you read that right. This is a disco Beach Boys pastiche by a Dutch group. And it was a European hit thirty-some years ago. And, it's ridiculously fun. Ridiculously stupid, as well, but that's what makes it so delirious. This is about as novelty as novelty gets, and that's no bad thing. I feel like any song with a sound like this almost has to be novelty to impart its full effect. More than that, though, I love how specific the lyrics are. This isn't just surfing. It's windsurfing. How many songs do we have about that? You know this is going on your Summer playlist this year ;)



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Watch the hilarious video here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Dragonette - Rocket Ship

"You pin me like a poster to the wall"

I've meant to post this song for so long now. In fact, it's been floating around my computer for about a month. I think I've waited so long that I'm not even "late" anymore. Instead, hopefully I'll catch those readers who missed this track when it first surfaced. Anyway, Dragonette are preparing for the release of their anticipated third album (which needs to come out... stat!). As part of that preparation, they teased us with Rocket Ship, a new album track. Despite the propulsive title, the song is more of a squiggly midtempo electro number. It's got that shiny bubblegum pop sound that the band specialize in, yet it also has moments of edge that are pure Dragonette. Best of all, you can download it free via the embedded soundcloud player below!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy Dragonette's music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Elton John vs. Pnau - Karmatron

"I can see it very well"

I'm really in love with this new album by Elton John and Pnau. Technically, I guess it's actually by Pnau, since they're the ones who re-swizzled Elton's master tapes into modern dance music. But Elton's vocals are all over these songs, so it's really his 70's persona that comes through most clearly. Anyway, I'm obsessed. My only complaint is that, at only eight tracks (one of them instrumental), the album isn't long enough. My favorite tracks, unsurprisingly, borrow from some of my favorite Elton songs. Karmatron is an absolute marvel. It takes some of his most bombastic recordings, like Funeral For A Friend and The Ballad Of Danny Bailey, and makes something even more dramatic. This song simply explodes. It reinterprets Madman Over Troubled Water like you wouldn't believe. And oddly, it doesn't sound miles away from something that could've been included on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, way back in the 70's. Excellent job, Pnau.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Diviney - You're So Cool

"You are the best I've ever had"

I love surprises, and this is definitely a great one. Now, it may not be a surprise to those who follow the band more closely than I do, but I had no idea that Shaun Diviney, leader of Australia's Short Stack, was releasing a solo album. Short Stack were responsible for one of my absolute favorite albums of 2010. I still play it today. Unfortunately, the band have since disbanded, but if this song is any indication, I'm not too upset. Diviney's solo work sounds a bit different from SS, but it's a welcome progression. I feel like he kind of went from Billy Idol to INXS. It's still in the wheelhouse for his charismatic voice, but the sound is brighter and dancier than before. You're So Cool is a HIT, perfect for the Summer and perfect for radio. Embrace it people, please! I need more music from him, because I am totally in love with this track.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Learn more about his music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Urban Cone - Kings and Queens

"Let's talk about your biggest dreams"

Sweden specializes in a certain type of music--a hybrid of electronica, indie and dance with a hint of that Scandinavian accent. Bands like The Tough Alliance or Lo-Fi-Funk come to mind immediately when I think about this. I think I can now add the strangely named Urban Cone to that list as well. I know very little about the band, but the moment I heard this track, with its persistent, bright synth and Sound-Of-Arrows-esque vocals, I knew that I was listening to something both familiar and special in its own right. I love the atmospheric production and the anthemic, yet restrained, hook.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Learn more about them here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Madeon - Finale

"Go out fighting, go out young"

My Summers tend to be about ten times as busy as the rest of the year (that's why posts don't always come every day), and I'm often looking for some pump-me-up music to keep myself awake and energetic. I think this totally fits the bill. Madeon is an amazing, prolific, young new French producer. This is his latest track and it's an absolute behemoth of a song. Incorporating elements of dubstep, UK rock and dance, it's the kind of track that makes me want to run up a mountain, pump my fists and just scream up to the sky. In other words, screw energy drinks. This'll get you up in the morning.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more of his stuff here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

RAC (ft. Penguin Prison) - Hollywood (The Magician Remix)

"I'm not your friend anymore"

I heard this song the other day and said to myself: "that voice sounds very familiar." I was very pleased that I could accurately peg the vocals as Penguin Prison's before I actually learned the song title/details. Hollywood is the result of awesome production by RAC (André Allen Anjos & Chris Glover, from my birth town of Portland, Oregon) and the aforementioned PP vocals. It is, from first listen, an amazingly catchy slice of retro synth pop. I mean... that chorus! It's good to have Penguin Prison back in any capacity, but to have it as part of a track so hit-worthy is even better. The original version and remixes are all available for free download on soundcloud, but it's this particular remix that, to me, is the definitive version. It adds the necessary bounce to the track without extending it to something that wouldn't be appropriate for radio.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the song for free here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

No Doubt - Settle Down

"I'm trying to get a hold on this"

No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom, along with Savage Garden's debut, were the first two albums I owned. Both continue to be favorites. I was absolutely OBSESSED with No Doubt in high school and as I went onto college and life, they never let me down. So it's a great pleasure to post this song today, their first new single in nearly a decade. Their upcoming album, out in September, was one of those holy grail type records that it seemed would never actually be released. Now it's actually happening! So, given all of this excitement, is the single actually worth it? I think the answer's yes and no. I wish it was a little more Tragic Kingdom and less Rock Steady, and that it was more of a big, brash comeback statement kind of track. But, like some of their best songs, I think it's a bit of a grower. I listened to it this morning and wasn't really all that impressed. Then I listened to it a few more times in preparation for this post and I'm already liking it much better. More than the single, though, I need the album. I can't think of any other album I'm anticipating more this year.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Flashback Friday: Maywood - If You Wanna Be Free

"Take your chance, don't blow it"

Ah, Maywood... how I love thee. I first wrote about these sisters way back during the early months of this blog. Back then, it was a post on their biggest hit (and still excellent) Late At Night. Since then, I've delved deeper into the girls' back catalog and compiled a best-of album of all of my favorite tracks. The thing about Maywood is that when they're good, they're really good. But they've also got a lot of downtempo filler to sift through. Most of their uptempo numbers are completely awesome in that "guilty pleasure" way, though. Their music is a mix of pop, eurodance, country, and disco. You really can't go wrong with any of their singles, but I chose to post this track because I'm feeling in an especially discotastic mood. And this definitely fits the bill. The girls certainly know their way around a melody. I'll try to remember to post the tracklist of my best-of in the comments later so you can check out Maywood's highlights for yourself. But if you don't get that far, be sure to at least youtube "Distant Love" and "Standing in the Twilight" after listening to this song.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their greatest hits here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Nervo & Avicii - You're Gonna Love Again

"It's starting with you, it's starting with me"

I can't believe I haven't posted about Nervo yet. They're an Australian dance/DJ duo that just happen to be sisters. As their career has gone on, they've stepped forward as vocalists. While their music remains undeniably planted in Clubland, I feel like they're also getting a little poppier with their melodies and production. This new track sees them teaming up with producer of the moment, Avicii. That alone is guaranteed to get them some radio play. It helps that the song itself has the type of hook that easily positions it as a Summer dance anthem. It's very of the moment, but has enough meat on its bones to stick around after the sun's gone away.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the track here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Killers - Runaways

"Why you wanna fight it?"

After what seems like a long hiatus, the Killers are finally back with a new single! Those hoping for a sound that hearkens back to their debut are bound to be a little disappointed, since Runaways sounds a lot like a missing track from Sam's Town. In other words, it's a dramatic stadium rock number with a heavy Springsteen influence and some big guitar riffs. I'm not complaining, as I personally loved Sam's Town. Still, on first listen this is no When We Were Young. It might sound very similar, but I'm not sure the hooks are quite as strong. I don't know... maybe it's a grower. I suspect so. The song is from their upcoming album, Battle Born. If the rest of the tracks are more-or-less in the same vein as this one, I think I'll be satisfied.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their previous albums here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Amelia Lily - You Bring Me Joy

"I'm done with all the pain"

I don't generally like to post radio rips or incomplete tracks, but I'm too excited about this one to let it go without a few words. Amelia Lily was my favorite contestant of last year's UK X-Factor. She certainly had the most interesting journey, being voted off at the start by the judges and then voted back in by the public. Despite loving her, I didn't have high hopes for the music she'd make afterward. I really just expected a UK version of Kelly Clarkson. Then I heard that she was working with Xenomania and my interest was instantly piqued. I was hoping for something that sounded like one of their Girls Aloud tracks and, lo and behold, that's exactly what I got! You Bring Me Joy is an epic pop/dance track. What it lacks in complicated melody it more than makes up for in pure oomph. On first listen, it's incredibly simple, almost to the point of thinking: is this it? But give it a few more plays and you'll be fist pumping along with it. Also, she sounds fantastic--so sleek and confident. I can't wait to hear the complete, HQ version.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. No album to preorder yet, but keep your eyes out! Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Flashback Friday: Babe - Indian Habits

"There ain't no Indian law for you and me"

The political correctness of this song is debatable. I mean, they're not saying anything derogatory about Native Americans, but the entire track is wrapped around cheesy stereotypes--even though the message is a strong, feminist one. Anyway, Babe were a Dutch girl group active in the late seventies and early eighties. I'm completely enamored with them, but mostly because they make me laugh. Throughout their career, they had two lead singers. The first, Gemma Van Eck, has become an obsession of mine. I find her wide smile and awkward dancing/pronunciation charming and completely irresistible. Just check out this video for proof (particularly from 2:45-2:57 -- those are EPIC moments that have defined my past few weeks). This track, though, is from Babe's second incarnation. They were a little edgier here, though they still had their ridiculously funny moments. And lyrics aside, isn't this song amazing? From the production to the bevy of hooks, Indian Habits is more adventurous and energetic than most pop these days. I can really imagine Girls Aloud having recorded something like this. It's just bonkers, off the wall stuff. Just when you think it can't get any catchier or weirder, it does.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Learn more about them here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Muse - Survival

"I'll never lose"

When it comes to Muse, I like a big, dramatic, theatrical track. Hell, when it comes to any artist I like a big, dramatic, theatrical track. But especially Muse. This track, the first from their upcoming album as well as a special recording for the Olympics (see pic above), seems to be getting a lot of flack from critics. You know what, though? I actually really enjoy it. Sure, the melody's not all that memorable, and it's campy as hell, but I like how they don't seem to be taking themselves too seriously here. With Muse's musical output, I'm usually pretty hit and miss. I chalk that up to the fact that a lot of times they just don't sound very fun. Too much self-seriousness makes for music that can be a chore to listen to. With this, it's pretty clear that they're in it for a laugh (especially that insane final note), and I'm right there with them. From the ridiculous operatic background vocals to the constantly escalating rock thunder march, I really hope the new album contains more songs like this.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Kyla La Grange - Walk Through Walls

"My heart is heavy"

Kyla La Grange is on the cusp of stardom. Her song, Heavy Stone, remains her masterpiece and was one of my top ten singles of last year despite being pretty unknown. Now she's back with what sounds like a more proper launch, even though it's an old track. Walk Through Walls has been given a new radio sheen, adding some punch to what was already a great song. But with Kyla it's not about the production. It's all about the voice. Think a little less overpowering Florence + The Machine, maybe with a bit of Stevie Nicks thrown in. This isn't the type of music I post here very often, unless it's really special. Kyla is really special. Radio needs to sit up and pay attention. Luckily, the album's out at the end of this month.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Little Mix - Wings

"Mama told me not to waste your life"

The Powers That Be behind UK X-factor 2011 were pretty smart this time around, releasing the Little Mix single right at the beginning of the Summer. I think the girls needed it, because despite their winning the series, I'm not sure they're the commercial shoe-in that acts like One Direction and Alexandra Burke have been. Girl groups are a harder sell, especially when they're going a bit retro, as Little mix have done. Wings is not the type of style that I prefer in my pop music. It's heavy on the throwback production... coming out very similar to Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man from a few years ago. Still, it's ridiculously commercial and instantly catchy. And as far as this style goes, it's a pretty good representation. I'll be very interested to see how it does on the charts--I'm imagining quite well at the start, but the real test will be the staying power (or lack thereof).



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.