mark morrison: "return of the mack" (viceroy "jet life" remix)

gotta thank my friend jeff (aka the new jan brady) for turning me on to this. san francisco DJ viceroy has remixed mark morrison's 1997 r&b hit "return of the mack" into a reggae-tinged summertime spectacular. it's the third remix in viceroy's "jet life" series, which reworks tunes to fit the series' motto "summertime, all the time."

lauryn hill pleads guilty to tax evasion

ooohhhh, gurl! if there's one government agency you don't want to fuck with it's the IRS. ever the recluse, lauryn hill appeared in a new jersey court today -- in a super cute orange skirt! -- to plead guilty to charges that she didn't file taxes in 2005, 2006 or 2007. she earned approximately $1.5 million in that three-year period. tax evasion carries a maximum one-year jail sentence for every year not filed. she'll be sentenced in late november at which time she said she might make a statement about the charges, sentencing and her decision to plead guilty. or perhaps she'll use the opportunity to announce a new album. cause, you know, courts are the place for that sort of thing.

[VIDEO] kyla la grange: "walk through walls"

check out the new video from the gorgeous u.k. singer-songwriter kyla la grange whose debut album ashes is set for release on july 30.

track listing:
1. walk through walls
2. courage
3. i could be
4. to be torn
5. vampire smile
6. woke up dead
7. been better
8. heavy stone
9. you let it go
10. catalyst
11. lambs

[VIDEO] lana del rey: "national anthem"

the fright-fest that is lana del rey released her video today for latest single "national anthem." truth be told the song is one of the few standout tracks on her debut album and the video tries very hard to give it and its leading lady a sort of camelot-inspired elegance as seen through a million instagram photos.

spice girls musical coming to london; "mama mia!" producers tapped

seriously?

treasure island music festival 2012 lineup

start saving those pennies, kids. the treasure island music festival just announced their 2012 lineup today. but if you wanna check out their stellar array of musicians on both days, it'll cost you between $110 and $240. that's not too bad though when you consider the artists they've got on tap: girl talk and the xx are the headliners; public enemy celebrates 25 years; gossip return to the bay area for the first time in three years; local bands and artists including toro y moi, tycho, ty segall, the coup, imperial teen, k.flay, and dirty ghosts; plus M83, grimes, the presets, best coast, porter robinson, SBTRKT, divine fits and los campesinos! ticket pre-sale starts wednesday, june 27 at 10 am PST. will you be there?

[VIDEO] diamond rings: "i'm just me"

"now i'm growing older/i'm getting bolder/confident in my own skin/i just want to come through/i want to come to/i just want to let you in." so sings diamond rings on "i'm just me," the first single from his upcoming new album. after a banner year with critical praise for his debut special affections, the gender-bending, glam, new wave throwback bolsters his sound with a more modern production. "i'm just me" retains the '80s synths and the rich baritone vocals that made tracks like "you & me" and "something else" so irresistible. in some ways it sounds like he's aiming straight for a radio hit, hoping to break the mainstream. while additional exposure is most certainly deserved, his tongue-in-cheek ironic performances and personality might not translate if coupled with a top 40 mentality as far as his music is concerned. but maybe he'll prove an artist can have both and succeed.

jens lekman announces fall tour dates

there are few singers who make me swoon and cause my cold, cold heart to melt. come to think of it, there's only one: jens lekman. ever since i first heard him i've just been smitten. he's also one of the artists whom i have seen in concert the most. today he announced a fall european and north american tour in support of his upcoming new album i know what love isn't out on secretly canadian. also check out a video for one of the album's tracks, "erica america."

July 28 - Castelbasso, IT - Soundlabs Festival
Sept 10 - Helsinki, FI - Tavastia
Sept 11 - Aarhus, DK - Train
Sept 12 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega
Sept 13 - Oslo, NO - Rockefeller
Sept 14 - Malmo, SE - KB
Sept 15 - Gothenburg, SE - Pustervik
Sept 17 - Stockholm, SE - Dramaten
Sept 19 - Manchester, UK - Ruby Lounge
Sept 20 - London, UK - Hackney Empire
Sept 21 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt
Sept 23 - Paris, FR - Gaite Lyrique
Sept 24 - Strasbourg, FR - La Laiterie
Sept 25 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli de Helling
Sept 26 - Berlin, DE - Postbahnhof
Oct 1 - Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Oct 2 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
Oct 4 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix
Oct 5 - Montreal, QB - National
Oct 6 - Boston, MA - Royale
Oct 8 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
Oct 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
Oct 12 - Washington, DC - 930 Club
Oct 13 - Richmond, VA - National
Oct 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
Oct 16 - Atlanta, GA - Variety
Nov 1 - Seattle, WA - Neptune
Nov 2 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
Nov 3 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Nov 5 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore Auditorium
Nov 6 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
Nov 8 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
Nov 9 - Phoenix, AZ - The Crescent Ballroom
Nov 12 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
Nov 13 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk
Nov 14 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's

[VIDEO] fiorious: "so pretty"

my buddy fiorious is back with a new video for his latest single "so pretty." the track comes from his eponymous debut album which is now available on iTunes. get it, bitches! (p.s. i want that pink suit.)

jj's new EP "high summer" available for free download

swedish indie pop duo jj have released a new EP on sincerely yours called high summer. it features five tracks and they're all available in one convenient zip folder at the sincerely yours site.

cyndi lauper: "sex is in the heel" (from "kinky boots: the musical")

pop icon cyndi lauper has been hard at work on her first broadway musical kinky boots for some time now. it's based on the 2005 british film of the same name about a shoe factory worker struggling to stay afloat until he finds inspiration in a sassy drag queen. lauper has written the music and lyrics for the broadway adaptation while harvey fierstein has written the book. it will be directed and choreographed by tony award-winner jerry mitchell and premieres this october in chicago before heading to broadway. a dance remix of one of the songs, "sex is in the heel," has hit the interwebz with lauper on vocals. check it out below and grab a free download here.

stars announce new album, offer free download

montreal band stars announced their new album the north will be out september 4. check out the first track, "the theory of relativity," below. you can also grab a free download of the tune in exchange for your email at their site.

dragonette: new album, free download, contest, tour, world domination

big day for dragonette fans. (hmm...there should be a nickname for dragonette fans. "little monsters" is already in use. any suggestions?) their long-awaited third album, bodyparts, finally has a release date: september 25. they also offered up a free download of a new album track called "rocket ship." the album's first single, "let it go," was released in march. "the right woman," which was featured on diane von furstenberg's compilation proud to be a woman, vol. 3, also was released as a single earlier this year.

they're also running a really cool contest where fans can write the music for one of the new album's tracks, "untouchable," based solely on lyrics provided by the band. the winning version will become an official b-side for an upcoming single and the winner gets $500 among other goodies. more details can be found here. deadline is august 17.

finally, check out the band this fall on tour:

6/23: Winnipeg, MB @ Red River Exhibition - FREE SHOW w/ gate admission

7/1: Mississauga, ON @ Canada Day / Mississauga Celebration Square - FREE

7/5 Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Blues Festival

7/6: Vancouver, BC @ Summer Playland Festival

7/7: Regina, SK @ Summer Invasion

7/11: Edmonton, AB @ HOT Factor Block Party / Public House - FREE

7/12: Calgary, AB @ The Stampede - FREE

7/14: Mexico City, MX @ Auditorio Blackberry

9/11: Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom *

9/12: New York, NY @ Webster Hall *

9/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

9/14: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club *

9/15: Washington, DC @ Black Cat

9/16: Cleveland, OH @ Ingenuity Festival - FREE

9/18: Chicago, IL @ Metro *

9/19: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *

9/20: Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club *

9/21: Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *

9/24: San Diego, CA @ Belly Up *

9/25: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre *

9/26: San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine *

9/27: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir *

9/28: Seattle, WA @ Decibal Festival / Neumos *

* = w/the knocks

trailer for green day's upcoming album "¡dos!"

green day today released the official trailer for their upcoming album ¡dos!, the second (um. obvs) in their new trilogy ¡uno!, ¡dos!, and ¡tré! being released on september 25, november 13, and january 15, respectively.

[ALBUM REVIEW] fiona apple: "the idler wheel..."

by daniel samaniego

Rating: ★★★★☆

the long intermissions between fiona apple studio albums are now legendary, solidifying the beguiling enigma of the intensely private artist. the fan-driven "free fiona" campaign of 2003 may have catalyzed the re-recording and subsequent release of her junior masterwork extraordinary machine, but miss apple has insisted she could have gotten along well enough without it. in light of her cool reserve, it is a true thrill that the idler wheel is wiser than the driver of the screw and whipping cords will serve you more than ropes will ever do has appeared over half a dozen years later, seemingly out of nowhere, dazzling with it's musical sophistication and blunt, searing emotional evocation. this is "fire and music," as raw and powerful an album as her first trilogy.

this new collection of songs, ambitious as ever, like their predecessors prove she has done a lot of living, reading, and listening during these supposed silences. each song on the idler wheel… suggests a microscopic examination of nina simone archives, scores of books read, and lifetime of love won and lost.

but if that progression fits a little too neatly into the fiona of 1997 box, it is. heartbreak may be her grandest subject, a richness that can only be expunged from a true understanding of blues, but that richness is toyed with here by a talent for irony and black comedy. this refreshing sense of adventure is best heard on early standout "daredevil." don't let me ruin me/i may need a chaperone, she wails over a spare pattering of drums. jolting around the two-minute mark, her voice seems to rip open, sharply dipping into a lower register bark, as the keys pound hard, look at me i'm all the fishes of the sea!/gimme. gimme. gimme./what you've got in your mind in the middle of the night.

indeed many of the songs introduce us to one character – only to be pompously discarded during the course of one song for another. especially moving is the hyperbolic self-parody of "valentine": i'm not free/a fugitive too dull to flee/i'm amorous but out of reach/a still life drawing of a peach…i stand no chance of growing up/i've made my peace, i'm dead! i'm done!

the theatrical pace climaxes with the comedic closer "hot knife," in which she and her lover trade places as either the hot knife or a pad of butter cutting into one another. the myriad refrain of the chorus underscores the innate seduction/conflict duality of male and female love with more than a wink to american lore through it’s charming metaphor.

though the instrumentation throughout is austere, there is little more than fiona and piano, the subtle electronics serve only as a ground – make no mistake these are by no means quiet songs. the work formerly held by the busy arrangements has been transferred to the vocalist herself. the dynamic mania of the songs is fully possessed by apple the vocalist and poet – full of venom, contradiction, discerning judgment, and a lot of love. it may be anguish waiting for her next album, but the idler wheel… is a generous offering, leaving a reservoir to contemplate until then.

key tracks: "daredevil," "valentine," "left alone," "hot knife"

zak waters: "skinny dipping in the deep end"

my buddy zak waters is prepping his debut LP for the fall but the first single has summer written all over it. "skinny dipping in the deep end" also comes with a ridiculously fun video. i'm just waiting for the x-rated version!

the drops: "eleanor" and "fire on your feet"

we're all in love with someone we don't know.

the drops are a fairly new four-piece from basel, switzerland. they've released two singles thus far: the jaunty "fire on you feet" and the haunting "eleanor," a gem of a tune which was included on this month's music alliance pact compilation. both songs owe a lot to '60s baroque pop. in fact, "eleanor" immediately brought to mind a different tune by the same name (only spelled "elenore"), a hit in 1968 by the turtles. regardless the drops have a style and panache that's their own and they know how to write a good pop tune. their debut album flying dutchmen is said to be available, according to their facebook page, but for the life of me i can't find where to purchase it.

the presets announce new album "pacifica," plus limited edition deluxe version

australian electronica duo the presets are taking a "go big or go home" approach to their forthcoming album pacifica. their newest effort, their first in four years, is available for pre-order on their site in a limited edition deluxe version. but it don't come cheap. it's $99. for that amount you get: the album in three formats (CD, vinyl and mp3 download) and a hardcover book featuring expanded artwork and a limited edition lithograph numbered and signed by the band. it's all housed in a 12" case with a lenticular cover. sounds impressive! the deluxe version is limited to 1,500 copies worldwide. the standard version of the album drops september 14.

adele song wakes 7-year-old from coma

no, really.

in case you missed it: astralwerks' free pride 2012 album download

it's officially gay pride week and in case you missed the facebook posting last week, astralwerks records has put together a free album download called hey boy, hey girl! - pride 2012, celebrating all things gay. so whether you're planning to partake in any of the festivities this week or weekend, or whether you're resentful and bitter because you're missing pride for the fifth year in a row because of a 9-5 job that demands much more than you're emotionally or physically willing to give, this album will carry you through.

hey boy, hey girl! - pride 2012 

1. Eric Prydz - Mighty Love (Instrumental)

2. Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party - Antidote (Tommy Trash Remix)

3. David Guetta - Paris

4. Gold Fields - Treehouse (Gloves Remix

5. Morning Parade - Headlights (James Nije Remix)

6. The Chemical Brothers - Don't Think (Live From Japan

7. The Good Natured - Video Voyeur (Adrian Lux Remix)

8. Air - Seven Stars

the rolling stones deny retirement and glastonbury rumors

my gay dad, dave, was utterly beside him saturday when he told me that he read the rolling stones would be calling it quits in 2013 following a smattering of uk and us shows and a final one-time appearance at glastonbury. luckily for him and other superfans the tabloid claims seem to be false at least according to the band's reps and reported on NME. the band is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary with a photo exhibition in london set for this summer, as well as coffee table books chock full of rare pics. 

shia labeouf goes full frontal in new sigur rós video

the transformers actor, 26, exposes it all in the new (NSFW) 8-minute video by icelandic band sigur rós. steamy.

tiny victories: "lost weekend"

swirly synths dot the atmospheric aural landscape of "lost weekend," a track by brooklyn duo tiny victories from their debut EP those of us still alive. it's hard not to get caught up in the urgency of the song. from the vocals to the dance floor-ready production. it's the phonic equivalent of a million and one shooting stars.

cosmo jarvis: "love this" and "sunshine"

i've got a crush on cosmo jarvis. the british singer-songwriter first gained prominence early last year with his song and video "gay pirates." the tune, with its story song narrative and rollicking saloon-style sing-a-long chorus, is really a pointed social commentary on equality and civil rights. jarvis, who is straight, proved himself a formidable ally to the gay community right out of the gate. "gay pirates" was the lead single from his debut album is the world strange or am i strange? which covers a multitude of musical styles and some very mature, confident songwriting from the 22-year-old. he serves up even more with "love this," the wonderful first single from his upcoming new album think bigger, set for release in mid-july. also from the album and up for a free download is the toe-tapping, country-infused screecher "sunshine."

lightning love: "i know"

hailing from ypsilanti, michigan lightning love is comprised of leah diehl, her brother aaron, and ben collins. their plaintive ballad "i know" with its driving rock beat has been on repeat the last few days. it comes from their latest EP girls who look like me and it's sort of the musical equivalent of a hipster caught in a quarter-life crisis, trudging along the sidewalk because his girlfriend won't do anal, he ran out of PBR and the latest check from his millionaire father hasn't reached his mailbox yet. yup. just like that.

a silent film: "anastasia"

on their last u.s. tour british rockers a silent film showcased some songs from their forthcoming second album, sand & snow. i happened to catch them when they played san francisco and one of those song, "anastasia," immediately caught my attention. luckily the studio version does the song justice with its sweeping string arrangement and robert stevenson's sensuous, dramatic vocals. sand & snow is out now.

nova albion: "human condition"

their submission came to me via email several days ago with the subject line "we like U2 and tears for fears." good enough, let's open it. then i saw that they, nova albion, were from san francisco. although the Pop Sucker showcases artists and bands from across the globe there's nothing more satisfying than being able to give some blog lovin' to strong, up-and-coming local bands. score! then i hesitated. i've been fooled before. there are tons of up-and-coming local artists and many send me their tracks. for all i know this could be some half-assed dubstep mash-up of U2 and tears for fears songs*. excitement quickly turned to disillusionment but i downloaded the song and listened anyway. it was worth it. their first single is great indie rock and i'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from these guys (and other locals) soon. just hope it's not dubstep...

*for the record: don't send me any of these.

revolver: "let's get together"

i've often wondered why artists from non-english speaking countries decide to make music with lyrics in english. on one hand it makes perfect sense; the top two countries in which music is produced and exported -- and by which success in the industry is measured -- are england and the united states, both english-speaking countries. music with english lyrics is likely to reach a broader audience. one thing that didn't occur to me is that harmonies in english are often easier and more effective in pop music. at least that's what paris-based band revolver says. their new album let go relies heavily on harmonies, as evidenced in the lead track "let's get together." the band has cited the beatles, simon & garfunkel and the kinks as major influences, among others and it's easy to see why.

revolver - let's get together

hot chip: "let me be him"

hot chip's new album, in our heads, comes out tuesday. have you had a chance to hear it yet? i don't know how i feel about it but here's one track that's been on repeat:

jukebox the ghost: "the spiritual"

it should come as no surprise that a track called "the spiritual" is steeped in gospel music, rich, layered harmonies and intricate vocal arrangements. the song belongs to philly band jukebox the ghost who are currently on tour in support of their latest album safe travels. the musical accompaniment of "the spiritual" is wisely kept to nothing more than light hand claps, piano, drums and goose bump-inducing harmonies which, despite being provided by only a trio of voices, has the effect of a choir of thousands.   

tour dates:

Jun 09 - Bonnaroo - Ford Garage (acoustic set), Manchester, TN

Jun 09 - Bonnaroo - Cafe Where, Manchester, TN

Jun 15 - Heirloom Arts Theater, Danbury, CT

Jun 16 - Space Center, Portland, ME

Jun 21 - Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA

Jun 22 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Jun 29 - 930 Club, Washington, DC

Jun 30 - Mr. Smalls Theater, Millvale, PA

Jul 06 - The Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH

Jul 07 - Earth House, Indianapolis, IN

Jul 08 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL

Jul 09 - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN

Jul 11 - The Riot Room, Kansas City, MO

Jul 12 - Firebird, St Louis, MO

Jul 13 - The High Watt, Nashville, TN

Jul 14 - Bunbury Music Festival, Cincinnati, OH

Jul 28 - Blue Balls Festival - Luzern Pavillon, Lucerne, Switzerland

Aug 03 - Riverside Garden Park, Red Bank, NJ

Aug 10 - Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco, CA

husky rescue: "deep forest green" and "wind in the willows"

the first time i ever heard husky rescue was several years ago when i was working retail. one of their tracks, "summertime cowboy," and its accompanying video were on the store's soundtrack. i was certainly intrigued by their sound and the video (see below) but then when you hear the same two hour soundtrack on a loop during an eight hour shift you tend to pay attention to songs you might normally skip over while streaming online. (also full disclosure here: i was dating a guy at the time who believed he was a cowboy in a past life and insisted upon addressing everyone as "pardner" and felt the need to wear spurs with any and every kind of footwear, except for boots ironically. so the song took on a double meaning for me.) but husky rescue stuck with me and i became enamored with the finnish electronica group.

for the record this is a new reincarnation of husky rescue. co-founding member and lead vocalist reeta-leena vestman took time off after the band completed the tour for their last album 2010's ship of light. so other co-founding member marko nyberg decided to shake things up a bit and change the lineup. he tapped swedish vocalist johanna kalén and friend antony bentley and husky rescue, now a trio, has released their first EP, deep forest green. check out a couple tracks from the EP and the video for "summertime cowboy" below and leave your comments on their new sound.

husky rescue - wind in the willows

the happy hippo family: "mustache"

very few men can get away with mustaches. salvidor dali, yes. hitler, no. (and for the record, no women can get away with mustaches. just so we're clear.) but for the swedish indie rock outfit the happy hippo family a mustache is a surefire way to get laid as they croon during their appropriately titled new single "mustache." godspeed, i say.

lemonade: "softkiss"

buzz-worthy band lemonade dropped their new album diver last week and the brooklyn by way of san francisco trio serves up a dozen crystalline, slickly-produced tracks. there's a chilliness to the album that isn't always engaging -- one is even appropriately titled "ice water" -- but each track is nonetheless aurally pleasing. "softkiss," which the band calls the album's most personal track, puts this chilly atmosphere to good use with its lovelorn lyrics, especially the heartbreaking line "when it's cold/do you still wear my coat?"  

slowolf: "see u in my dreams"

under the name slowolf sinewy, sexy and furry danish producer/DJ andreas asingh has come up with an intoxicating, shivery blend of downtempo trip-hop/pop on his debut single "see u in my dreams." (think gorrllaz.) check it out and the trippy music video below.

hyper heart: "eris"

i will be completely honest with you: sometimes i download music specifically for the cover art.

[ALBUM REVIEW] scissor sisters: "magic hour"

Rating: ★★★★☆

in the hands of any other artist magic hour, the scissor sisters' newest album, would have been an unmitigated disaster. however, because it's a scissor sisters album it's an unrivaled success. especially when it's stacked up against the other albums in the band's canon. magic hour isn't about a band trying to prove themselves to critics and audiences; it's about a band having fun, and it's outrageously effective and contagious.

on paper the album sounds contrived and tired; it's produced by alex ridha (boys noize) and features co-production and writing credits from superstars pharrell, calvin harris, diplo and stuart price, as well an appearance by up-and-coming rapper azaelia banks. but from the opening notes of the the first track "baby come home" it's clear the band wants to party, and how! the track, with its repetitive piano chords and solid hook, is one of the group's greatest songs and is as good as anything on their celebrated debut album.

continued below

"let's have a kiki," a club gem that's reminiscent of madonna's 1991 single "rescue me," is also one of the standout party anthems. a 'kiki' is slang for an all-night party rife with glamor and decadence (think cocaine-fueled evenings at studio 54). and the band is all about it as they sing on the chorus: let's have a kiki/i wanna have a kiki/lock the doors/tight/let's have a kiki/motherfucker/i'm gonna let you have it/let's have a kiki/i wanna have a kiki/dive/turn/work/let's have a kiki/we're gonna serve/and work/and turn/and hon-hon-honey. disco-era glamor and decadence are two things that aided in launching the scissor sisters into the mainstream and this track most certainly pays homage. it's no wonder then that lady gaga asked the band to open for her on a portion of her monster ball tour last year.

"kiki" isn't the only time the band channels early-'90s club rhythms. "self control" sounds like a blend of soul II soul, technotronic, and snap! in many ways the production sounds dated but that might have been intentional and there is a certain nostalgia about it that's appealing. "san luis obispo" is a sunny, tropical ode to the california central coast city.

despite the dance beats the album does has its share of softer moments. "inevitable" sounds like it could have been an unreleased bee gees track, though not a great one. "year of living dangerously," co-written by diplo, is more successful but "somewhere," near the end of the album's brief 47 minutes, succeeds wildly and is arguably the album's best song. with a moroder-inspired beat that recalls "i feel love," the song soars magnificently then washes over you and wraps you in its sensuous synths.

scissor sisters are compelling whether they are delighting in acting the fool on tracks like "kiki" or "fuck yeah" or pining for loves lost and tropical escapes. and magic hour is one to revisit time and again. 

scissor sisters - somewhere

scissor sisters - self control

scissor sisters - let's have a kiki

ghost beach: "miracle"

it wasn't too long ago that i posted on ghost beach and their dreamy, sun-drenched sound. the new york duo describes their music in three adjectives: tropical, grit, and pop. their latest track "miracle" is the perfect example. hearkening back to mid-'80s tempos and arrangements (think madonna's "who's that girl" period), the song is perfect beach music with just the right balance or toughness and tenderness courtesy of josh ocean's raspy vocals. you can grab a free download of the track on their site.