It’s been an especially great few days for new music. This week’s mix features eagerly awaited releases (Panda Bear, Interpol) and singles that are dying to be heard (The Knocks, Fitz & the Tantrums) and then heard some more. So, without further ado, Right Click + Save As your next 10 fresh cuts after the jump.
1. Panda Bear – “Slow Motion” Noah Lennox’s solo folio proves just how integral he is to Animal Collective’s success. With the familiar psychedelic pop tendencies and euphoria-inducing hooks, this B-side ascends to a new level of aural healing.
2. Interpol – “Barricade” Interpol, who are prepping for a supporting slot on tour with monsters of rock U2, are also gearing up to drop their self-titled fourth full-length September 7th. The release includes “Barricade,” which hearkens back to their old “Antics.”
3. The Knocks – “Make It Better” Apart from helping produce neon nuggets of goodness for folks like Samuel and Alex Winston, B-Roc and JPatt further expand their own catalog with a new single that traverses uncharted frolic-pop territory, where “Young Folks” drive around in Deloreans, listening to Delorean.
4. The Walkmen – “Blue As Your Blood” The second leaked song from the Walkmen’s upcoming sixth album, Lisbon, sort of sounds like Hamilton Leithauser singing over some Phoenix-sized grooves. The instrumental majesty of strings, guitars, and clomping drums sucks the oxygen right out of you because it’s so goddamn breathtaking.
5. Screaming Females – “I Don’t Mind It” Finally, after four years, Marissa Paternoster and her two non-screaming males are getting the recognition they deserve. Their muscular brand of post-riot grrrl femme-wave means there is absolutely no shortage of scuzzy guitar licks.
6. Hey Champ – “Word = War” The Chicago synth-pop trio made ripples with their single, “Cold Dust Girl,” and then their signing to Lupe Fiasco’s label back in ’08. Now, with the release of their debut, Star, they’re definitely about to make waves with their undeniably catchy dance numbers. So come on, feel the Illinoise!
7. Meursault – “Crank Resolutions” Meursault’s fervent vocals, folktronic melodies, and Scottish heritage bring a certain Frightened Rabbit to mind. Luckily, Neil Pennycock’s sprawling arrangements on “Crank Resolutions” snowball into what can only be accurately described as a “lo-fi epic”.
8. I Am Arrows – “Green Grass” The more music Andy Burrows makes on his own, the more we forget that he was once part of Razorlight. When the bass suddenly kicks in at the minute mark, he delivers an experimental wake-up call that’s impressively both jarring and laid back.
9. La Strada – “Mean That Much” This Brooklyn six-piece has set sail for the horizon with their Franco-Baltic-influenced gypsy-pop. Not only do they employ Colin Meloy-like vocal harmonies, but they complete the four minutes of pure, sun-soaked bliss with sublime cellos and xylophones.
10. Fitz & the Tantrums – “MoneyGrabber” Instead of following up Songs for a Break Up, Volume I with a second installment, Fitz and his Tantrums are Pickin Up The Pieces, and this preview of new material is exactly what we’ve been waiting to hear. Much like his East Coast contemporary, Francis & the Lights, Fitz brings a smooth concoction of horns, pianos, and soulful pipes to the proverbial table.
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The Flavorpill Mixtape XXXIV: Panda Bear, Interpol, The Walkmen Panda Bear – “Slow Motion” In a way, Noah Lennox’s solo folio outside of Animal Collective proves just how integral he is to the trio’s success. With similar psychedelic pop tendencies and euphoria-inducing hooks, this B-side is already on another level of aural healing, in slo-mo. Interpol – “Barricade” http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/01-Barricade.mp3 If Interpol was never a household name for you, they should/will be, and not just because they’re supporting U2 this summer. The self-titled fourth includes “Barricade”, which hearkens back to their old Antics, and drops September 7th on Matador. The Knocks – “Make It Better” http://neongoldrecords.com/blog/jams/theknocks_makeitbetter.mp3 Apart from helping produce neon nuggets of goodness for names and faces like Samuel http://flavorwire.com/102860/the-flavorpill-mixtape-xxxii-of-montreal-passion-pit-wild-nothing and Alex Winston http://flavorwire.com/74951/the-flavorpill-mixtape-xvi-nada-surf-neon-indian-ellie-goulding, New York’s B-Roc and JPatt further expand their own catalogue with one for the summer charts. The duo’s newest single traverses uncharted frolic-pop territory where “young folks” drive around in Deloreans, while listening to Delorean. http://www.box.net/shared/static/rr89skx3dj.mp3 The Walkmen – “Blue As Your Blood” “Blue As Your Blood” marks the second from the Walkmen’s upcoming sixth, Lisbon, and it sort of sounds like Hamilton Leithauser singing over some Phoenix-ized grooves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O0HB-e908E The instrumental majesty of strings, guitars, and clomping drums sucks the oxygen right out of you and leaves you breathless until the eventual release on September 14th. Screaming Females – “I Don’t Mind It” http://www.forcefieldpr.com/screamingfemalesidontmindit.mp3 Finally after four years, Marissa Paternoster and her two non-screaming males have been getting the recognition they deserve. Their Ted Leo-influenced brand of post-punk femme-wave means there is absolutely no shortage of scuzzy guitar licks. Hey Champ – “Word = War” The Chicago synth-pop trio made ripples with their Urban-defining single, “Cold Dust Girl”, and then their signing to Lupe Fiasco’s label back in October. Now with the release of their debut, Star, they’re definitely about to make waves, with their undeniably catchy dance numbers. So come on, feel the Illinoise! Meursault – “Crank Resolutions” http://www.theclerisy.net/Meursault%20-%20Crank%20Resolutions.mp3 The fervent vocals and folktronic melodies of Scottish heritage bring a certain Frightened Rabbit to mind. Luckily, Neil Pennycock’s sprawling arrangements snowball into what can only be accurately described as a “lo-fi epic”. I Am Arrows – “Green Grass” http://alienhits.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-am-arrows-green-grass.html The more http://flavorwire.com/84178/the-flavorpill-mixtape-xxi-rooney-the-national-deerhoof music Andy Burrows makes on his own, the more we forget that he was once part of Razorlight. When the bass suddenly kicks in on top of the acoustics at the minute mark, he delivers an experimental wake up call http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inn0XiwcbXI that’s both jarring and laidback in bed. La Strada – “Mean That Much” http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&file_id=f_465401866&shared_name=0hr21m06rj From the onset, the Brooklyn six-piece sets off into the horizon with their Franco-Baltic influenced gypsy-pop. Not only do they employ Colin Meloy-like vocal harmonies, but they complete the four minutes of pure, sun-soaked bliss sublime cellos and xylophones. ZAZA – “Always On” http://www.kissbrooklyn.com/music/071310/02%20Always%20On.mp3 Like Broken Social Scene with less help from friends, this Brooklyn duo carry the heavy drums and ethereally layered vocals all on their own. Taking in all the shoegazey curlicues and mellow vocal cues, it makes sense that one half produced the Pains EP, Higher Than the Stars http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Stars-Pains-Being-Heart/dp/B002IJQ38E.