MS MR – Think of You

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MS MR has premiered a dreamy new video for their song “Think of You,” from their debut LP Secondhand Rapture — perfectly described by Pitchfork as “deep, thunderous rumblings, celestial twinkling, foggy shrouds, and the sweet clarity of a pastel dawn.”

Directed by BRTHR, the vid takes the 80’s like power-pop ballad and matches the genre in a modern tribute to the old public access television show “TV Party.” The directing duo wanted to create a quirky, lo-fi universe that’s sort of strange, but loveable at the same time. And indeed there’s a lot to love about this video, from the 80’s stylistic flair, to the psychedelic elements and modernistic twists.

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Lizzy Plapinger, the vocalist of MS MR calls to mind Florence Welch both visually and in her affective delivery of the song’s pathos — essentially “what it feels like to realize the person you once loved was a toxic bomb of negativity” (h/t to Winnie Cooper).

I still think of you and all the sh*t you put me through
And I know you were wrong.

Also, dates for their first North American tour were recently announced! Check out their sched below and visit their facebook page for ticket info. I for one am super stoked about their stop at DC’s Black Cat in September.

8/4 Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL
8/9 Outside Lands – San Francisco, CA
8/23 Reading Festival – Reading, UK
8/24 Leeds Festival – Leeds, UK
8/25 Rock en Seine – Paris, FR
9/1 Electric Picnic Festival – Stadbally, IE
9/16 Café Campus – Montreal, QC
9/17 Phoenix – Toronto, ON
9/19 The Church – Philadelphia, PA
9/21 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
9/22 Black Cat – Washington, DC
9/24 Webster Hall – New York, NY 
9/25 Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
9/27 Berkley Riverfront Park – Kansas City, MO
9/28 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
9/29 Majestic – Madison, WI
9/30 Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
10/2 Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
10/6 Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
10/7 House of Blues Cambridge – Dallas, TX
10/8 Warehouse – Houston, TX
10/9 House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
10/12 Corona Capitol – Mexico City, Mexico
10/13 Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
10/17 Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
10/18 Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
10/19 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
10/23 Venue – Vancouver, BC

AlunaGeorge – Bad Idea

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AlunaGeorge has released another teaser off their long-awaited album Body Music — now due out July 29th. On the heels of previous catchy singles “Your Drums, Your Love” and “Attracting Flies,” “Bad Idea” is yet another infectious effort by the London duo. Stream below and be on the lookout for their debut LP later this month via Island Records.

The future-pop pair will be touring Europe this summer, landing in the US for a smattering of tour dates in late August (full schedule below). **Tip for the locals: tickets go on sale for their stop at DC’s U St Music Hall at 10A this Thurs. Don’t miss out!

 

AlunaGeorge 2013 Tour Dates:
7/11 – London, UK @ New Slang Kingston
7/12 – Lisbon, PT @ Optimus Alive! Festival
7/14 – Balado, UK @ T in the Park
7/17 – Montreux, CH @ Montreux Jazz Festival
7/19 – Dublin, IE @ Longitude Festival
7/20 – London, UK @ Lovebox
7/21 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim
7/27 – Hyeres, FR @ Midi Festival
8/02 – Katowice, PL @ OFF Festival
8/04 – Hertfordshire, UK @ Standon Calling Festival
8/06 – Magalofes, ES @ Majorca Rocks
8/07 – Ibiza, ES @ Ibiza Rocks
8/10 – Bucharest, RO @ Summer Well Festival
8/11 – Helsinki, FL @ Flow Festival
8/15 – Kiewit, BE @ Pukkelpop
8/23 – Leeds, UK @ Reading and Leeds Festival
8/24 – Liverpool, UK @ Creamfields
8/25 – Reading, UK @ Reading and Leeds Festival
8/30 – Chicago, IL @ North Coast Music Festival
9/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ Made in America
9/03 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
9/05 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
9/06 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
9/07 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
9/08 – Montreal, QC @ Virgion Mobile Corona Theatre
9/09 – Toronto, ON @ The Hoxton
9/11 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
9/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The El Ray
9/14 – Rochester Hills, MI @ St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival
9/24 – Tokyo, JP @ Liquid Room
9/28 – Sydney, AU @ Listen Out Sydney
9/29 – Perth, AU @ Listen Out Perth
10/05 – Melbourne, AU @ Listen Out Melbourne
10/06 – Brisbane, AU @ Listen Out Brisbane
10/12 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront
10/13 – Newcastle, UK @ Digital
10/17 – Leeds, UK @ Cockpit
10/19 – Oxford, UK @ Gathering 2013
10/20 – Bristol, UK @ Academy
10/21 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
10/22 – Birmingham, UK @ Library
10/24 – London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire
10/25 – Cambridge, UK @ Junction
10/26 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
10/29 – Sheffield, UK @ Plug
10/30 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
11/03 – Stockholm, SE @ Debaser
11/04  – Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret
11/05 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
11/06 – Hamburg, DE @ Stage Club
11/11 – Brussels, BE @ AB
11/14 – Cologne, DE @ Gebaude 9
11/15 – Berlin, DE @ Bi Nuu
11/17 – Franfurt, DE @ Zoom
11/18 – Munich, DE @ Strom
11/19 – Milan, IT  @ Magazzini Generali
11/20 – Zurich, CH @ Exil

Bonobo – Know You

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The Brooklyn-based and British-born electronic producer Bonobo (aka Simon Green) released new album The North Borders a couple months back, and it’s one you should know. The artfully layered sounds and textured melodies of Green’s music are exemplified on the track below.

Bonobo’s upcoming tour dates can be found on his website here, including a stop at DC’s 930 Club in October.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (T-E-E-D) – Household Goods

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Although I featured TEED on my Best-of-2012 list and mentioned him briefly on this Foals feature, I have been fascinated with the UK artist (and his futuristic headgear) for some time and have yet to pay him proper tribute. Thus, what better time to recognize electronic DJ/producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs than on the day of his concert in DC? (There are still tickets avail, though I can’t imagine why — what with his alleged glittery cannons and dancing dinosaurs on stage.)

TEED, otherwise known as Orlando Higginbottom released his first EP in 2009 and eventually his debut album Trouble in 2012. Sample some of the addictive and avant-garde electro-house beats with “Household goods” and “Garden” below, available on iTunes.

Devendra Banhart – Mi Negrita (Daniele Di Martino Edit)

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The divine Devendra Banhart is a Venezualan-American folk singer whose fourth album, Mala released in March. His enticing blend of Latin American romantic folk is infused with “flamenco-tinged guitars, ranchera-influenced group vocals, strutting mariachi percussion and quietly-enunciated, reverb-coated Spanish vocals,” as described by All Things Go.

It doesn’t get much better than that – but when you add a beach house backing by the skilled London-based producer Daniele di Martino, the result is an exquisite rework that’s perfect for a Friday afternoon (or rooftop rendezvous).

Make sure to pick up a free download below and check out the tour dates. He’ll be playing at DC’s Sixth & I Historic Synagogue June 8th.

 

Upcoming Tour Dates:

5/31 Park West – Chicago, IL Buy Tickets
6/1  Saint Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI  Buy Tickets 
6/3  Danforth Music Hall – Toronto. ON Buy Tickets
6/5  Théâtre Corona – Montreal, QC Buy Tickets
6/7  Wilbur Theatre – Boston, MA Buy Tickets
6/8  Sixth & I Historic Synagogue – Washington, DC Buy Tickets
6/10  Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA Buy Tickets 
6/12  The Town Hall – New York, NY Buy Tickets 
6/26  Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland Buy Tickets
6/28  The Old Market – Brighton, UK Buy Tickets
6/29  Glastonbury Festival – Pilton, UK Buy Tickets
7/2  Kulturkirch – Köln, Germany Buy Tickets
7/3  Gruenspan – Hamburg, Germany Buy Tickets
7/4  Muffathalle – Munich, Germany Buy Tickets
7/6  Heineken Open’er Festival – Gdynia, Poland Buy Tickets
7/8  Heimathafen Neukölln – Berlin, Germany Buy Tickets
7/9  Mousonturm – Frankfurt, Germany Buy Tickets
7/11  Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands Buy Tickets
7/12  Le Splendid – Lille, France Buy Tickets
7/13  Le Trianon – Paris, FR Buy Tickets
7/14  Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland Buy Tickets
7/17 The Ritz – Manchester, UK  Buy Tickets
7/18  Barbican Hall – London, UK Buy Tickets
7/20  Plaine de la machine à feu, Dour Festival – Dour, Belgium Buy Tickets
7/21  Colours of Ostrava festival  – Ostrava, Czech Republic Buy Tickets
7/22  KKL Luzerner Saal – Lucerne Switzerland Blue Balls Festival Buy Tickets
7/25  Piazza Napoleone – Lucca, Italy With Neil Young Buy Tickets
7/26  Rock in Rome – Rome, Italy With Neil Young Buy Tickets
7/27  CarroPonte – Milan, Italy Buy Tickets
7/30  Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain Buy Tickets
7/31  Teatro Circo Price – Madrid, Spain Buy Tickets
8/2  Casa da Musica – Porto, Portugal Buy Tickets
8/3  CCB, Lisbon – Portugal Buy Tickets
8/24 FYF Fest – Los Angeles, CA Buy Tickets

CHVRCHES – Gun

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One listen to CHVRCHES shimmery new single and you’ll understand why the electropop number is currently seated at the apex of the indie stratosphere. Although I prefer their previous release, the Scottish trio is an undeniable pop force. Officially out July 25th in the UK, “Gun” is sure to be featured on their highly anticipated debut LP – set to release sometime in September.

Also check out their punchy pop remix of MS MR‘s “Hurricane.” See a list of the group’s upcoming tour dates below — including a sold out show at DC’s Black Cat! June is going to be a good month : )

 

CHVRCHES – Upcoming Tour Dates
6/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Troubadour
6/2 — Solana Beach, CA — Belly Up Tavern
6/5 — Austin, TX — The Mohawk
6/6 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
6/7 — Lawrence, KS — The Granada Theatre
6/8 — Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line Music Cafe
6/10 — Chicago, IL — Lincoln Hall
6/12 — Toronto, ON — The Hoxton
6/15 — Montreal, QC — Le National
6/16 — Boston, MA — Paradise
6/17 — New York, NY — Webster Hall
6/21 — Washington, DC — Black Cat
6/22 — Dover, DE — Firefly Music Festival
6/23 — Philadelphia, PA — Union Transfer

Junip – Your Life, Your Call

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Long before José González made a name for himself as a critically-acclaimed solo artist, he was cutting his teeth with the folk rock group Junip, which consists of the Swedish–Argentine singer-songwriter on vocals/guitar, Elias Araya on drums, and Tobias Winterkorn on the organ/moog. The trio have reunited for another collaboration on their third and self-titled album, which released today. Listen to their single “Your Life, Your Call” below.

 

José and his hushed pop lay at the heart of Junip, however, with his seductive bossanova sound and haunting vocals ever-present. So hard to pick just a few, but check out a couple of choice solo efforts below — including one of my favorite covers of all time.

 

Junip will be performing at the Highline Ballroom in New York June 13th, followed by a show at the 930 Club in DC June 15th. For a full list of tour dates, visit their site here.

The Postal Service – Turn Around

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The Postal Service are back from a long hiatus with a 10th anniversary edition of their immensely popular 2003 debut album, Give Up. Released April 9th last week, the reissue contains a number of rare b-side gems, PS covers and two previously unreleased tracks – “A Tattered Line of String” and most recently “Turn Around” (audio below).

The group that originated as a side project for Death Cab For Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard, Rilo Kiley‘s vocalist Jenny Lewis, and producer Jimmy Tamborello has just embarked on a reunion tour in celebration of the release – the dates of which can be found here. I’m pleased to report that I will be seeing them in June at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, with opener Ra Ra Riot (who I was remiss for having not seen at 930 club!). Kismet.

 

Also check out the following remix of “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” (on the reissue as well) and one of my favorite original tracks, “Clark Gable.”

I want so badly to believe that there is truth, that love is real
And I want life in every word to the extent that it’s absurd.

Alesso – ‘If I Lose Myself’ Mix

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Alesso (born Alessandro Lindblad) is a DJ/EDM producer from Sweden. Achieving worldwide recognition with progressive house hit “Years” in 2011, the Swede recently dropped this anthemic remix of OneRepublic’s “If I Lose Myself.” With its catchy vocals, captivating synths and dramatic build-up, I find myself unable to stop from bursting into song whenever I hear it.

He also paired up with Dirty South last year to release explosive pop ballad “City of Dreams,” included in my best of list for 2012 —  it’s that good.

Alesso will be playing at DC’s Echostage April 19th. Although I have yet to experience this venue, given the amount of energy the Swedish producer packs into his music I’m sure it is to be an exhilarating show.

Local Natives – You & I

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In case you haven’t heard, Local Natives and their gorgeous harmonies are back on their new album, Hummingbird, released January 29 via Frenchkiss records (and I insist you visit the label’s previously linked fb page, for no other reason than to view the absurdly awesome cover photo). The LA-based band does not disappoint with their sophomore effort, retaining their original melodic appeal while putting forth some new introspective material.

Local Natives are playing two sold-out shows at 930 Club in DC next month – April 5th and 6th. Sad to say, I do not have a ticket. If someone wants to remedy this, please contact me immediately. I was also delighted to see that directly following their DC stop, the group will be headed to my hometown, Tulsa for a performance at Cain’s Ballroom on the 9th. Nice!

Sample a couple of tracks off the new album – “You & I” and “Heavy Feet” – below, along with another favorite off the debut album Gorilla Manor.

oh what a fool I was to think / that I could get by on a smile and a wink