a truce

according to wikipedia: "an armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting." that's actually a fitting description for the musical stylings of canadian folk-pop duo armistice. it's peaceful and disarming. "god will get his man," the best track off their debut self-titled EP, sounds like a stripped-down james bond theme. while jay malinowski and béatrice martin, the guy and gal behind armistice, seem to be channeling the nancy sinatra-lee hazlewood kind of fun and playful duet. 

armistice - "god will get his man"

kids of 88 giveaway: win an iPad!

those auckland lads are really something. sam and jordan, aka kids of 88, are giving away a free iPad to one lucky fan. here are the deets:

The Kids of 88 got this suh-weet iPad for Christmas from a guy who was dressed in a red suit and smelled like whiskey. And rather than keep the Apple goodness to themselves they’ve decided to give it away to one of you lucky bastards. Here’s all you have to do:

Sign up here to join the Kids of 88 mailing list http://mybandcards.com/kidsof88/

On March 31st they’ll pick a name at random and then hook that person up with the iPad. How will you know if you’ve won? VIA EMAIL! So make sure you check the email address you give them.

and if you're in san francisco on march 24, check out the kids' SF debut at popscene!

forever my love

every artist needs a gimmick. since we live in a world of complete unoriginality, each artist has to do something to make themselves stand out. smokey robotic's is a two-foot monkey-bear hybrid robot that looks sort of like a cross between a saturday morning cartoon character and the jack-in-the-box mascot. and here's where he came from, according to their web site:

Almost 40 years ago, in a no name bar somewhere in Mississippi where two roads meet, with a storm blowing in from the Gulf, something happened.

The story goes that a woman walked in who was so shockingly beautiful, and somehow dangerous, that the bartender stuttered when he poured her a shot.

The rednecks parted in silence as she made her way to the old Wurlitzer jukebox that had been dark and silent for years. She put in a coin, they say, and at the same moment there was a flash of lightning that seemed to come through the door.

The jukebox lit up and Al Green’s Simply Beautiful came pouring out. She didn’t seem surprised, not even when a two foot robot blew right out of the jukebox’s flashing lights and stood beside her. She took its hand, and they left. No one followed them. When Al Green was done, the jukebox went dead and silent again.

That was it. For almost forty years. Like it never happened. Like they fell off the earth. Until now…

When asked where he came from, Smokey only smiles and points up. Journalists often ask him to describe his music, to compare it to other artists. Smokey always giggles and says whatever amuses him on that day.

He has compared himself to everyone from Sam Cooke to Lady Gaga.

Smokey Robotic: “I’ve been making music since God’s dog was a puppy.”

Smokey Robotic - Forever My Love (Single Mix) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

luxxurious

the '80s are back. again. revel in it.

Baron Von Luxxury - The Lovely Theresa - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

born before, and again

gaga wasn't the first one to write a power anthem called "born this way" geared toward the gay community. way back in 1975, a songwriter named bunny jones (seriously), wrote the song "i was born this way" which was first recorded by an artist named valentino (real name charles harris). according to the liner notes of the excellent compilation, queer noises, 1961-1978: from the closet to the charts, which chronicles the hidden history of gay pop music, jones observed at the time, "i began to feel that gays were more suppressed than blacks, chicanos, or other minorities." the song, as recorded by valentino, is jaunty, but sounds better suited as a theme for a TV sitcom. still, it went to #1 in the u.k., and was a minor hit in the u.s. two years later, it became a major disco hit in the u.s. for carl bean, encapsulating a period of major developments and freedom in the gay community before the onset of AIDS.

Valentino - I Was Born This Way - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

are you leaving

why hasn't he blown up yet? no seriously. why? friggin' pop genius.

Erik Hassle - Are You Leaving (Radio Edit) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

burial grounds

the island disco sound of los angeles-based airlines' "burial grounds" does wonders to break one out of the winter doldrums. check 'em out on bandcamp, where you can pick up their debut EP visions for as little as an email address. and forget all you troubles... at least for a little while.

Airlines - Burial Grounds - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

the dark side of lykke li

there's nothing but darkness to be found on swedish chanteuse lykke li's sophomore album, wounded rhymes. from its title to the songs themselves (and their titles), even down to the cover art, the themes of heartbreak and desolate pain run rampant. but man, does she sell it.

it's been three years since lykke li's debut album, youth novels, made her the indie pop it girl. with wounded rhymes she noticeably matures and blossoms in her songwriting, even if her feet are firmly rooted in sorrow. don't look for tunes with that same electropop snap and beats as the beguiling and incessantly catchy "little bit" and "breaking it up." that's not to say the album doesn't have its share of funky, beat-driven hip-shakers. bjorn yttling, of peter, bjorn, and john, is on as sole producer again, and he and lykke li bring the goods on "get some," the album's first single, and the opener, "youth knows no pain." but those songs are really misnomers to the album's underlying tone (particularly "get some").

"sadness is a blessing" might be the album's best track. underneath her plaintive wail and longing for an ex-boyfriend, lykke li and yttling have come up with a clever, multi-layered track that evokes feelings of '50s and '60s girl groups in its arrangement. well done.

while it might not please everyone, wounded rhymes is a smart move. it keeps one guessing just where she'll go on her third album. for now, we'll have to feel the pain. 

Lykke Li - Youth Knows No Pain - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

breaking hearts

i first fell in love with this song when i heard it on the hype machine last january. since then, irish singer/songwriter james vincent mcmorrow has been steadily building his fan base. his debut album, early in the morning, was recently released stateside, and with shades of gordon lightfoot, mcmorrow establishes himself as the indie folk it boy. 

james vincent mcmorrow - breaking hearts

electropop presidents day

and on the fourth day, george washington said: "let there be electropop." and so there was. so he and lincoln massacred the indians, freed the slaves, chopped down a cherry tree and wrote the bill of rights. and this is why we celebrate presidents day. in honor of our forefathers, i've rounded up some new electropop goodies that would make even grover cleveland bust a move.

Nowonder - Dream by the Pop Sucker

Nowonder - White Light - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Champagne Riot - Heart Stab - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Patrick Wolf - The City (Richard X Remix) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Burns & Fred Falke feat. Seb - First Move - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

recent posts you might have missed

hello, loyal readers! here are some recent Pop Sucker posts to check out that might have flown under the radar.

gaga's newest: why it works, why it doesn't

the world's biggest pop star and champion for the underdog has unleashed the new titular single from her upcoming album, born this way. lady gaga's album is probably the most anticipated of 2011. it's technically her second effort, if you count the fame monster not as an LP but an EP, and it will be critiqued, analyzed, and studied to death. will she encounter the dreaded sophomore slump or will born this way transcend the young lady's ultra-famous image as a musical epic and solidify her place in pop music history? judging from the new single, it's impossible to tell, but it seems she still has much to prove.

the bianca story

if you're looking for a great murder mystery, look no further than 1973's the last of sheila. it's a spectacular and underrated show business whodunnit written by (of all people) stephen sondheim and anthony perkins.

rattle this ghost town

it continuously amazes and angers me when i find a fantastic new band and it says on their facebook that they're unsigned. i mean, seriously?! that no-talent bitchface cunthead ke$ha has a record deal and is making millions, and a band as good and talented as cincinnati's walk the moon isn't?

heat of the night
BAKER scored two songs of our top songs of 2010 list, including one in the top 10. he's prepping his first mixtape, echo, to be released soon. it'll contain tracks we've already featured on the Pop Sucker, but the new track, "heat of the night," is one of his best yet.

night surgeon / night nurse

in the pantheon of barbara stanwyck's films, "night nurse" is not one of her best. in fact, it's terrible. unfunny, contrived, and even the old reliable stanwyck isn't so hot. it's a shame, too, because who doesn't love a little pre-code hollywood t&a? night surgeon, on the other hand, is terrific.

crooked eye

the music of newly-formed quartet you and others around you (YAOAY) has an interesting history. in 2007, 333 tapes of songwriter brad ikonnis were discovered in a basement in columbus, ohio. ikonnis died in 1988 at the age of 24. YAOAY got a hold of the tapes and they formed the basis of the band's music.

welcome to paradise

if paradise always looked like this, i'd be there. check out the new single from australian DJ/producer sam le more.

sam le more - "paradise"

turn it up

seriously, is there anything this chick does that isn't good?!

Oh Land - We Turn It Up - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

rainy day appropriate

if you're a regular reader of the Pop Sucker you've probably noticed that i tend to favor more upbeat tunes. however, it's been so rainy, gray and gloomy in san francisco this whole week, that this song seemed very apropos. the tunics are a british foursome whose second album, dabbler's handbook, will be released in march. "dear god" is the closing number and perfectly encapsulates the tagline on their site: "indie rock. dark, troubled, and delightful." not that every song on the album is a tearjerker like "dear god." just take a listen to "shadows." (which sounds very familiar, but i can't place which song.)

The Tunics - Dear God - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

The Tunics - Shadows - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

white flag

swedish singer september had one of the best dance-pop tunes of the '00s with "cry for you." it received massive airplay in the u.s. and she was the first swedish artist to receive a gold certification for the single since ace of base's "cruel summer." still, september is just a bit too euro for american top 40 radio, which is further proof that american top 40 radio sucks. her newly-released fourth studio album, love cpr, is another long-player chock full of euro-dance beats, big hooks, memorable melodies, and september's distinct warbling vocals. it may not make waves in the u.s. like "cry for you" or "satellites" -- hell, the album will probably never get released stateside! -- but it's worth seeking out for feel-good frivolous fun.  

September - White Flag - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

september - "cry for you"

clara bow

there are certain criteria that will always get you posted on the Pop Sucker: 1) anything nancy sinatra; 2) bands with hot guys to ogle at; 3) naming your band after the greatest silent film star in history.

Clara Bow - Won't Bring It Back - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

gimme karma

i wasn't sure what to think when i heard "gandhi" by le corps mince de francoise. was it annoyingly catchy or just annoying? the loopy, skewered beats and the subtle harmonies of the two 20-something finnish beauties made for an odd combination. then i heard "beach life" and was convinced these girls know what they're doing. it's like the knife and beach house had a love child and named it ace of base.

le corps mince de francoise - gandhi

le corps mince de francoise - beach life

locomotive

we first brought you alex winston back in october with her tune "animal," which was appropriately raw and carnal. but "locomotive," the first single off her debut sister wife, is anything but. it's a dreamy, ethereal gem that hearkens back to late-90s sophie b. hawkins-style acoustic pop. but it's winston's nasally, almost whiny vocal chirp that really sell the song.

Alex Winston - Locomotive - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

gaga's newest: why it works, why it doesn't

the world's biggest pop star and champion for the underdog has unleashed the new titular single from her upcoming album, born this way. lady gaga's album is probably the most anticipated of 2011. it's technically her second effort, if you count the fame monster not as an LP but an EP, and it will be critiqued, analyzed, and studied to death. will she encounter the dreaded sophomore slump or will born this way transcend the young lady's ultra-famous image as a musical epic and solidify her place in pop music history? judging from the new single, it's impossible to tell, but it seems she still has much to prove.

why it works: its message. gaga has always been an outspoken advocate for gay rights. in "born this way," she's written a power anthem for all minorities. she wisely chooses to belt out the notes of the chorus with confidence and strength. furthermore, the lyrics are straightforward and don't feature any of her clever, yet often cryptic, turns of phrase. as a songwriter, she knows how to write a solid pop song with a big hook and "born this way" is no exception. expect this tune to be played to death on radio and embraced at gay pride rallies throughout the year.

why it doesn't work: the production. only time will tell, but i have a strong suspicion this song will not age as well as some of her other songs. it already sounds like a tired david guetta throwaway. the soft, subtle strings in the background at the first verse are striking and effective, but completely lost and never return. comparisons to other pop songs and singers are inevitable when you're as famous as gaga. the obvious icon to point to is madonna and while i typically toss those comparisons in the garbage rather quickly, i have to admit that "born this way" is much too reminiscent of madonna's "express yourself" and "rescue me," with a dash of sylvester's "you make me feel." not that this is a bad thing, but for someone who has written what she hopes will be the ultimate gay anthem, it doesn't quite work.

bottom line: good, but not great. it'll blow up (as expected) then likely fade when the next single drops.

lady gaga - born this way (single)

rattle this ghost town

it continuously amazes and angers me when i find a fantastic new band and it says on their facebook that they're unsigned. i mean, seriously?! that no-talent bitchface cunthead ke$ha has a record deal and is making millions, and a band as good and talented as cincinnati's walk the moon isn't? bullshit, i say. their hook-soaked stadium rock, killers-esque sound is massive, as evidenced on their first single "anna sun," taken from their debut album i want! i want! they deserve to be heard. besides, these dudes look much more hygienic and are way hotter than ke$ha.

Walk The Moon - Anna Sun - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

[the cassingle life]: electric blue

i was about 7-years-old when my family got cable. we had the basic cable package which afforded us MTV, but not VH1. my grandparents had VH1, however, and i remember falling in love with this song when i saw the video ... and with the lead singer's bon jovi-inspired mullet. read more here.

leader of the pack

hunx and his punx get a lot of press in san francisco's alternative weeklies. truth be told i had never heard a single song of theirs despite reading a lot about them. basically their sound is inspired by the girl groups of the early '60s. only this time, the front woman is a front man, and he's gay. so there's a homoerotic spin to every tune. (which is, of course, insanely hot.) the first single from their first proper studio album, too young to be in love, is called "lovers lane." it's doo-wop, '50s malt shops, girl groups, glamor, camp, gaiety, "leader of the pack," and "be my baby" in three-and-a-half minutes.   

Hunx & His Punx - Lovers Lane - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

The Shangri-Las - Leader Of The Pack - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

despite a sort of novelty appeal, this is still one of the greatest pop songs of all time.

go on yer self

Aaron Wright & The Aprils - Go On Yer Self - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

let them come

a quick trip to wikipedia offered up the tidbit that swedish pop singer lisa miskovsky is also a semi-professional snowboarder who has participated on the national swedish snowboarding team. she also enjoys ice hockey and surfing. ummm, could it get any hotter? true, because her sounds are slicker than a powder-packed mountainside (<---- i have no idea what that means). 

her new album, violent sky, took me a few listens, but i have to say it's quite good. the standout is "let them come," the hookiest, catchiest tune on the album. sort of a cross between sheryl crow, feist, and kt tunstall, miskovsky blends folk pop, acoustic, light electronica, and even some world music sounds into an enticing and intoxicating mix.

Lisa Miskovsky - Let Them Come - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker