Archive for September, 2008
Synth-pop is not going to come to any more perfectly wrapped than it does when delivered by the Swedish duo known as the Tough Alliance. Bright-eyed and playful, “Neo Violence” is an indie pop song dressed to neon-perfection in swashes of bubbling house music and vaguely (and expertly) antiquated production. If you like this song, check out the the full-length album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
This Australian trio play a fiery, type of blues-inspired roots music that makes the whole genre feel as lively as it did oh-so-many years ago back at the crossroads. “You Gotta Go” is a bottle-neck slide-fueld groover taken from their self-titled album. If you like this song, check out the the full-length album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
The Cypress Hill rapper known for funky Latin lingo keeps it strictly English on Fumble, a serious song about setbacks and redemption. Sen Dogs gruff flow may catch long-time listeners off guard as it bounces atop an industrial beat peppered with DJ scratches and piano, but his signature vocal back-ups punctuate the chorus and give it that Cypress Hill energy. If you like this song, be sure to check out the album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
This sister duo mix up country, pop, and rock influences on their new album Habitación Doble. It’s a sweeping ballad that has a little help from singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile. Previous fans of Ha-Ash may notice a big difference here – the track is in English. The sisters have gained prominence on Mexican charts for their slick, roots-y pop but have branched out on this new album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Kick back, snack on some chips, and soak in the sunny vibe. Newcomer Little Jackie plays corner reporter on “The Stoop,” relaying big-city buzz from the steps of a Brooklyn brownstone. Imani Coppola is responsible for the free-flowing pop/R&B vocals, while beatsmith Adam Pallin takes credit for the production — a bouncy Motown-style rhythm spiked with horns and keys. File somewhere between Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
This Mexican American sister duo mix up country, pop, and rock influences on their new album Habitación Doble. Hanna and Ashley Pérez Mosa shot up the charts in Mexico on the backs of songs like “Amor A Medias” and “Me Entrego a Ti” from their previous album, Mundos Opuestos. This new album is rich with slick, roots-y pop music, most notably on the sweeping ballad we’re featuring this week.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
On “Buildings — Mountains”, the first track from the album Keep Color, this Kansas City group create a new kind of ornate pop that dazzles with electronic touches and emotional pull. The group make for a dreamy listen with a sound that has a mysterious coastal feel (despite their landlocked roots). The perfect soundtrack to setting sail into unknown territories.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Brooke Waggoner has spent most of her young life learning to compose, perform, and orchestrate classical music. This track from her debut full-length, Heal for the Honey is most definitely a pop song, but you cannot deny the influence her training has put into her ornate music. Driven by her fluttering notes, the song is flowery, but smart, expressive, and soulful.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
The three Dominican Americans who make up Unique grew up on a mixture of bachata, salsa and hip-hop. Bachata’s influence is heard in those requinto guitars which are pitched a bit higher than your traditional guitars. The trio’s back-and-forth melodies are straight-up R&B, while the entire track is a light, percussive groove. If you like this song, check out the the full-length album.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
Lenka is a pop singer from Sydney, Australia, whose song “The Show” is a sugary bit of indie-tinged sweetness. It’s hard not to use the word “cute,” but there it is and we mean it in the most endearing sense possible. The pianos are jaunty and give the track a bit of bounce that’s furthered by the subtle horns in the backdrop. Lenka’s little-girl-lost vocals are the clincher, though. By the end, it’s impossible not to start grabbing hands anonymously and trying to skip, frolic, and otherwise enjoy life.
IMPORTANT: Downloads are only free on iTunes for approximately 1 week from this post date.
