Givers - Saw You First
October 31, 2011
October 29, 2011
Little Red "Rock It"
Little Red @ The Drake Underground
Aussie sensations Little Red hit Toronto Friday night as part of the band's inaugural North American tour, to a lively crowd at the Drake Underground, anxious to eat up the band's vintage pop.
October 25, 2011
Record Revue: Little Red
If there is one thing North American audiences are lacking it's a good straightforward pop band, all too often we're fed band after band of pop-punk but Australian natives, Little Red fill that void nicely. Bringing their debut album Midnight Remember across the Pacific, Little Red introduce North Americans to their simple, crisp pop-rock tunes.
EP Beat: Kimbra
A brief introduction to the Kiwi wunderkind, on her North American debut the Settle Down EP, and the love affair with Kimbra begins.
Record Revue: Coldplay
Marking Coldplay's complete assimilation into Top 40 is Mylo Xyloto, like Viva La Vida, it's palette is expansive from the Cure-esque boppy, new wave of "Hurts Like Heaven" to the sonic progressive-pop of "Paradise". Coldplay pulls from a variety of sources on their fifth studio album, making their first three records sound even more humbling.
Record Revue: Kelly Clarkson
Nearly a decade after she was crowned American Idol, Kelly Clarkson maintains the two elements that have made her successful - her five alarm voice, obviously - but more importantly her "every girl" appeal.
October 24, 2011
Record Revue: Penguin Prison
Marrying 80s synth-pop with electronic grooves, Penguin Prison mine playful pop tunes so sweet you're likely to develop cavities.
Record Revue: Class Actress
Rapprocher convincingly pulls off its noir pop aesthetic with slinky, unashamed pop tunes without venturing into sugary pop territory, thanks to classic drum beats, layered analog synths within simple melodies. Combing Elizabeth Harper's golden age film star qualities with lo-fi, '80s new wave tunes, Class Actress lives in a completely different era.
October 21, 2011
Dominant Legs Shine Despite Power Outage
Dominant Legs @ The Drake Underground
San Francisco's Dominant Legs made a note worthy debut in Toronto Wednesday night, with the band setting up to perform ahead of Portland, Oregon's Nurses, power at The Drake Hotel went out, leaving the 5 piece momentarily sidelined. Once power returned Dominant Legs tickled the audience's ears with their sunny nostalgic pop.
Video of the Week: Class Actress
Class Actress - Weekend
Class Actress' retro party track "Weekend" gets a lo-fi, noir video treatment, with come-hither close-ups, amateur home video shots seen through a cyanopsia lense. Elizabeth Harper seems to like putting her head in hand and tossing her full head of hair around. It all begins to feel a little like an amateur porn with all that exposed skin and use of door ways to slink Harper's feminine frame over. But hey, it's never to early to bring on the Weekend and a little sexy fun.
October 20, 2011
EP Beat: Body Language
Social Studies (Deluxe Edition) 3.5/5
Brooklyn's Body Language find a sweet spot between spacey funk and dancefloor grooves. Social Studies (Deluxe Edition) gives a variety of soul-flavored electro-pop that ranges from the disco synth of "Falling Out" to bouncy, playful pop of title track "Social Studies."
October 18, 2011
Single Selections: Oct. 18, 2011
Hamilton, ON's Arkells have dropped their latest, Michigan Left, with their track "Bloodlines" as iTunes Single of the Week. A pleasing jangly rock tune that's radio-ready and like cohorts Tokyo Police Club or Hey Rosetta!, Arkells seem destined for bigger and better things.
EP Beat: First Rate People
Ontario's First Rate People release their latest offering, Someone Else Can Make a Work of Art EP, easily some of the best pop of the year.
October 17, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)