lectrolips: "nerdy frames"

in case you missed it: you can now listen to last night's episode of "black sheep" on which i was a guest. stream the episode | download the episode (mp3) | download in iTunes | more info

lectrolips was one of the very first bands we blogged about on the Pop Sucker. (seems like yesterday. sigh...) the boys have been consistently churning out catchy '80s-inspired electropop over the last two years. their new single, "nerdy frames," is their best yet. channeling later ABBA (think "the day before you came" and "under attack"), and with an overall lyrical tone of fond sentimentality and nostalgia, "nerdy frames" is one of those perfect end-of-summer songs capturing a moment in time of lovelorn teenagers and bittersweet goodbyes.

Nerdy Frames by LectroLips

LCTRISC: "sunbird"

don't forget, bitches! in less than three hours i'll be a guest on the online radio program "black sheep." the show starts at 9 pm PST. for more info on how to tune in click here.

LCTRISC is text speak for the word "elektrisk," which is swedish for "electric." (have we lost you?) it doesn't really matter what you call adam "leslie" jonson and oskar "lenny" linnaeus. "sunbird," the nordic duo's latest track, is something right out of AM 70s radio -- think america or seals & croft -- with a modern electropop twist. it's floating, airy and romantic; a sunbird in flight.

LCTRISC - Sunbird - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

unstoppable: zak waters rises to the surface

tune in tomorrow to the online radio program "black sheep" at 9 pm PST. yours truly will be a guest on the show talking all things music. for more info on how to tune in click here.

pop singers are a dime a dozen. some have talent; others have staying power; while some have personality. to find one with all three qualities you'd be better off getting into a time machine and traveling back at least 40 years. but that's not always the case. five months ago we introduced you to one of the rarer breed: zak waters. talented and soulful, waters also has personality to spare. and with his new EP new normal recently released it's clear this boy will be around for quite a while. we caught up with him recently via email.

oddly enough you're not the easiest google search. so, for all the folks out there, can you tell me a little bit about your background and how you got into music? you were in a band called blueskyreality prior to your solo effort, correct?

i know! i'm trying to get my google cred up! there's a pretty famous photographer out there with my name so i'm always getting google alerts for his stuff. such a tease … well, i guess i kind of always sang since i was little, but nobody knew. i was just embarrassed about it. i would sing in my room ... hiding away rocking usher and brian mcnight and elvis.

then a couple of years later [my family] just picked up and moved [from LA] to canada. while i was there my grandpa taught me how to play guitar. he would sit in the living room and play old country songs every day after work, and i would just follow along. i loved it! we moved back to LA a couple years later, and i kind of fell off of music for a while. i got really into sports. halfway through senior year i got injured and couldn't play anymore, so me and music reunited.

oddly enough, i joined a metal band. (i wanted to impress a girl; isn't that always the story?) i played bass and sang, and i thought i was really cool with my fingerless gloves. we played four shows, then my step dad grounded me and stopped me from going to practice. [he said] i should be "singing" and not "screaming like some asshole." so that ended and the guitar player and i started blueskyreality. we played around LA for a couple years, practiced relentlessly and signed with motown in 2008.

that ended for many reasons, mostly ones out of our control. but on top of it, i didn't really want to compromise anymore. i'm still besties with all those dudes and love all of them. being in that band really helped me hone performing and songwriting especially. i also learned a whole lot about the music business and met a lot of the connections that have helped me in my solo project.

let's talk about new normal. it just came out a couple weeks ago. how long have you been working on it?

my co-writer/co-producer JBAM and i started this about a year ago. it just happened organically as bluesky was coming to an end. we wrote and produced about a full-length's worth of material, but decided to just put out an EP of songs that fit the best together. and that's new normal. i had that title for a while, and it really fits for me because this EP came out of an incredible amount of change and adversity.

as this EP was being made, my 4-year relationship was ending, one of my best friends (the bass player of blueskyreality) was recovering from a terrible car accident, and the band that was my life and identity for the past four years was ending. while visiting [my friend] in rehabilitation, the doctor said: "things will be different. there will be a lot of adjustments, but eventually you'll find a new normal." that stuck with me. and that is what this EP is. they're definitely modern pop songs, but we were really inspired by songs from a different generation, '70s and '80s funk mostly.

the songs from that time were still so musical, but also felt really good. nowadays with top 40 it's not really that way at all. this is our best work to date. we came together and created something greater than the sum of our parts. i'm really proud of it.

Zak Waters - In The Kitchen With The Lights On - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

"unstoppable," which is a great song, is very empowering. what inspired you to write it? it's not on the actual EP. did you intend for this to be a separate single? it was recently used on a promotion for "america's got talent," yes?

thank you very much! this song actually came to me in the form of an instrumental track. a guy named rene arsenault wrote the music. somehow "the x factor" people got a hold of it and contacted my publisher. he said "we need a great topline (lyrics and melody) for this, for the winner of 'x factor.'" so i wrote "unstoppable." because it was originally intended to be for "the x factor," i had to write it from the perspective of someone who had just accomplished their ultimate goal. i tried to picture someone standing on a stage, holding their face in their hands, crying ... just in complete disbelief.

"x factor" didn't end up using it, but my publisher decided to keep pitching it around where it got put on hold for pretty much every singing competition on television. then one day i got a call from an old friend and they were like "hey your voice is on TV!" i saw the promo and decided i should just put the song out on its own since it didn't really fit the new normal vibe. i love it, and i'm glad that i didn't have to end up to giving it away to someone else!

Zak Waters - Unstoppable - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

are you planning a tour anytime soon? working on a full-length album?

working on the LA buzz right now, but if a good opportunity for a tour came up i would leave tomorrow! probably within the next 2 or 3 months though. as far as a full length, i've got a lot of songs in the vault, but i just wanna focus on promoting this EP and getting my name out there for now. then we'll release the secret weapons!

what's currently in rotation on your iPod?

well, right this moment "don't leave me" by blackstreet. as of lately: the essential teddy pendergrass, walking on a dream by empire of the sun, tower of power, jamiroquai, forget by twin shadow, glassjaw, voodoo by d'angelo (my pre-show "get in the mood" album…ahh yeeee), and "blangee blee" by land of talk.

one question i've been wanting to ask you for a while now: does anyone ever call you zakariah?

ha! no. not even my mom. sometimes i even forget that's my full name and second guess how it's spelled.

indie pop fourgy

i couldn't decide which song to post so here's a roundup of four recent indie pop gems. also, don't forget: i'll be on the online radio show "black sheep," this tuesday, august 30 at 9 pm PST. tune in!

The Drums - Money - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Summer Camp - Better Off Without You - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Real Estate - It's Real - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Jubilants - Antics - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

marilyn chambers: "benihana"

my bestie, daniel, and i just got back from one serious mindfuck of a film. resurrection of eve was the last film in a series showcasing san francisco as the epicenter of the pornographic earthquake that shook the world in the '60s and '70s. no two people were more influential in that market than the mitchell brothers, jim and artie. under their tutelage, marilyn chambers became the biggest porn actress in the 1970s and throughout the home video explosion of the 1980s.

in 1972 behind the green door, like deep throat, ushered in a new era of hardcore chic porn. it became one of the biggest film moneymakers of all time. (it was followed quickly by the aforementioned eve, also starring chambers.) with her girl-next-door and "99 and 44/100% pure" image, chambers was catapulted to stardom. the poster girl for porn and a virtual overnight sensation (and millionaire.)

throughout the decade she became a stage actress, a mainstream film actress, an authoress and yes, even a singer. "benihana" was chambers's foray into disco in 1977 and to tell the truth, it's not that bad. yes, it's disco, and chambers isn't necessarily the best singer, but keep in mind these were the days before autotune. she coos and breathes heavily; she grunts and groans and sounds on the verge of a perpetual disco climax. porno chic, baby. pass the blow.

tune in to the online radio program "black sheep" on tuesday, august 30 at 9 pm PST. yours truly will be a guest on the show talking all things music. for more info on how to tune in click here.

hard-fi: "fire in the house"

hard-fi should be a lot bigger than they are. when they arrived in 2005 they were the critics' darling of indie rock bands. their debut track, "hard to beat," was one of the best-reviewed singles of the year, as was their album stars of CCTV. their second album, once upon a time in the west (2007), produced the single "suburban knights," one of the best songs of the '00s. while the album was well reviewed and certainly increased their global recognition, hard-fi seemed to teeter on the brink of explosive popularity but never quite crossing that line. after a four-year hiatus the brits are back with killer sounds. while the album has some great touches, nothing comes close to the latest single, "fire in the house." it's dance-rock at its finest, replete with soulful vocals, electronica and a godzilla-like hook.

Hard-Fi - Fire In The House - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

zoë badwi: "reckless"

need some stellar dance-pop to bring you into hump day? who doesn't, mary? australian zoë badwi has amassed a half dozen dance/club hits over the last few years. the time has come to collect all of these tunes, and a few others, into the solid debut album, zoë, which was released a few weeks ago in her native land. check out "reckless" below.

Zoë Badwi - Reckless - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

brock zanrosso: "edge (end of the world)"

brock zanrosso is not a porn star. at least not of which we are aware. although he could be. look at him. he's got the name, the swagger and he's talented. but before you get too turned on, keep in mind that he's only 17. the vancouver singer-songwriter first gained recognition two years ago on a canadian american idol-type show called the next star, on which he was the first-runner up. no wonder. he's got the musical chops. his voice is soaring on his newly released EP, prelude, especially on "edge (end of the world)," a crisp, clean radio-friendly pop song. what's better is the club-ready, highly-addictive hipjoint remix of the tune. this boy is going places. now he's just got to learn not to shave his chest. fur is sexy.

Brock Zanrosso - Edge (End Of The World) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Brock Zanrosso - Edge (End of the World) [Hipjoint Remix] - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

the heart strings: "good times are coming for to get you"

like all great pop songs of the '60s the heart strings' "good times are coming for to get you" whips by in just over two minutes, but it feels pleasantly longer. it's built around an insanely catchy hook and beautiful harmonies. if this were 1966 and the beach boys were still making music, this song could easily fit on one of their albums. timeless.

The Heart Strings - Good Times Are Coming For To Get You - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

frankmusik: "no i.d." (feat. colette carr)

umm, yes. dive in. face first.

the other night i loaded 300 new songs onto my iPod and prepared for another day of frenzied aural consumption. the first song i heard was "no i.d." by frankmusik featuring colette carr. frankmusik has been omnipresent in u.k. pop music over the last few years, however  the 25-year-old has had a slow build in the u.s. this year. now he's just about ready to burst. the singer/songwriter/producer is working with erasure on their new album and is slated to open for them on their new tour. frankmusik's first u.s. solo single, "do it in the a.m." was recently released and features far east movement. his new album will be out in september. the second single is the aforementioned "no i.d." it may not be breaking any new musical ground, but it's absolutely the hookiest, catchiest song so far this year. we dare you to play this just once and move on to the next song. good luck. i never did hear the other 299 songs i loaded onto my iPod.

Frankmusik - "No I.D." feat. Colette Carr by Interscope Records

will young: "the way i see"

pretty boys don't do one gosh-darned thing for me. but there's something so incredibly sexy about will young that i would absolutely throw it in him. for those not in the know, will young is britain's version of kelly clarkson. as a matter of fact, he came before kelly clarkson. will won the inaugural pop idol in 2001, which eventually spun off into american idol. the boy has been in the business a decade and has racked up an impressive 8 million worldwide album sales. still his presence in america is, not surprisingly, lacking. young's sixth studio album, echoes, is coming out next week. the lead single, "jealousy," got some major positive blog buzz in the last month, but it's this song, which is will be a bonus track on the amazon u.k. version, that's pop-soul-funk magnificence.

cataldo: "rock of calvary"

prison boxing, the forthcoming new album by cataldo (alias eric anderson), was born of not one, but two close relationships coming to an end. one thing is certain: melancholy never sounded so good. "rock of calvary," the lead single, is a dan fogelberg-meets-the shins indie folk-pop treasure. you can check it out below and even grab it for free over at bandcamp.

Cataldo - Rock of Calvary - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

baby monster: "the fear of charlie sunrise"

the title "the fear of charlie sunrise" sounds like a magnificently salacious pre-code hollywood melodrama from the early 1930s. however it's actually the title of a glorious indie electronic pop song by L.A.-based duo baby monster. the song, which includes the great line "if you're so fearless/take your hand off your heart," comes from the band's recently released eponymous debut album. the duo is gaining some much-deserved positive buzz around the album and especially "the fear of charlie sunrise," which just received the remix treatment from alunageorge. check them out below.

Baby Monster - The Fear of Charlie Sunrise - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

Baby Monster - The Fear of Charlie Sunrise (AlunaGeorge Remix) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

ivy: "world without you"

ivy has been around for quite some time, but i'm sorry to say i never discovered them until now. the new york trio is set to release their first album of new material in six years at the end of september. all hours is a dreamy, mellow electronic pop album dotted with delightful blips and bloops and dominique durand's pleasant, french-accented vocals. check out "world without you" below.

Ivy - World Without You - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

owl eyes: "closer"

"toto, i've a feeling we're not in owl city anymore."

brooke addamo is more doe-eyed than owl-eyed, but no matter. no one's going to be looking at her eyes when she opens her mouth to sing. the melbourne beauty's new EP raiders is a hypnotic, fantastical daydream set to music. addamo has a pleasant, slightly airy, and almost forlorn quality to her voice. it's emotive, convincing and she sells it, especially on standout cuts like the celestial  "closer." you can check it out below.

ladytron: "white elephant"

if a musician's career endures the elements long enough, he or she reaches a certain point where critics and the masses begin using the musician as a main point of reference when critiquing other, usually newer, artists. liverpool duo ladytron has endured the elements. still their new song "white elephant," an exquisite, illusory electropop number, feels a lot like shiny toy guns covering the later ABBA catalog. this isn't meant in a pejorative way. the song is still very ladytron. no matter if there are any ABBA influences, it's still a shimmering example of synthpop done right.   

Ladytron - White Elephant - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

rachel goodrich: "light bulb" (anr remix)

here's a snappy little remix from ANR of miami singer-songwriter rachel goodrich's "light bulb."

Rachel Goodrich - Light Bulb (ANR Remix) - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

that work: "secret lover"

for sweet, sweet lovin', afternoon delights and boogie nights.

Secret Lover by THAT WORK

diamond doves: "club night"

according to wikipedia a real diamond dove's "flight is strong and direct and can be undulating ... they are known to have a variety of calls. the calls sound mournful, slow and have a falsetto quality to them." the sounds of new york's diamond doves, the band, share similar qualities. take a song like "club night," for example. it too is mournful and slow, but it's also seductive, almost creepily so. it wraps you in its alluring aural spell and takes you on a tantalizing ride. ok, so maybe it's not so much like a real diamond dove after all.

Diamond Doves - Club Night - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

juni järvi: "looking at you is like looking at the sun"

"golly! this must be jens lekman's new song!" that's what i exclaimed when "looking at you is like looking at the sun" came on my iPod yesterday. upon closer inspection it was realized that the singer was, in fact, juni järvi. could have fooled me. and he did! the sound of their baritones is eerily similar and they share the same style of light, frothy, feel-good swedish pop. luckily with songs as good as "looking at you," in no time i'll be swooning over juni as much as i swoon over jens.

Juni Järvi - Looking at You is Like Looking at the Sun - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

firefox ak: "boom boom boom" and "the way that i do"

the name firefox ak might conjure up fantasies of some newfangled, super-fast internet browser but it's actually the stage name of swede andrea kellerman. her light electropop and her voice are distinctively european sounding, but they're universal in appeal. tinkling keyboards, soft drum machines, and lovely, lyrical, lilting vocals punctuate memorable melodies and light harmonies. her debut album, color the trees, has just been released overseas and will hopefully see a release stateside soon. it was hard choosing which songs to post, but check out the video for lead single, "boom boom boom," and "the way that i do" below.

Firefox AK - The Way That I Do - thepopsucker.blogspot.com by the Pop Sucker

hello, hoodie allen!

lay down your arms. hoodie allen is here. there's no use putting up a fight. between his expert rapping skills and big pop hooks, this is summer music to the nth degree. don't try to resist him. just hit play.

The Chase Is On by Hoodie Allen

Song For An Actress by Hoodie Allen

James Franco by Hoodie Allen