tink - ratchet commandments
signed by timbaland, the chicago rapper/singer tink is coming out heavy on the hype and with a talking point jam that lists all the things you shouldn't be dating in the pool out there. apparently aaliyah showed up in a dream to tell timbaland to sign this girl, so really, tink has her to thank. looking forward to hearing what else is up her sleeve!
alphabet. feat ila - just another day
made up of producer/musician duo jamie hartley and jacob savage, alphabet. actually only formed last october and are already causing some buzz on the internet (they were name checked under the bbc introducing series a few weeks back). if this chilled out first single is any indication, there will be some good music to come in 2014.
dia frampton - the broken ones
[as a runner up to the surprise hit music competition 'the voice', dia frampton quickly got signed to universal records after all her recordings for the show charted high on itunes. though dia was once part of a sister act (meg & dia), her solo release looks like it could be a word of mouth success story. it helps to have a strong debut single like this one. on our radar!]
eliza doolittle - skinny genes [singer/songwriter eliza doolittle is poised to take over the cute catchyness left open by lily allen and yet drag a few unlikely fans with her smokey soulful voice. it's an interesting mix and she's definitely on my radar for the coming months]
eliza doolittle - epk [want to know more? check out this epk!]
little jackie - the world should revolve around me [link 2] [remember imaani coppola? about 10 years ago, the kooky neo soul singer had a minor hit with legend of a cowgirl only to be lost in the shuffle of being at a major label soon afterwards. well, it looks like imaani is back and this time she's collaborating with the talents of programmer/producer adam pallin in the form of little jackie. the duo have crafted a fun album filled with motown references filtered through catchy catchy pop. check out their latest single that's just begging to be soundtracked for the summer!]
those dancing days - run run [link 2] [any band that has high regard to the girl groups of the of the 60's deserves props. add to the fact that this five piece all girl band hail from sweden and you pretty much have the perfect mix of reasons to 'heart' them. we've radared this band back in january and i'm happy to hear that they're still making good catchy retro-fitted pop songs perfect for the summer.]
annuals - sore [link 2] [what a lovely discovery! this six member group of eclectic performers hail from raleigh, NC and have combined their talents to release their latest EP wet zoo. filled with melodious wistful songs that kick into surprising crescendos, the annuals are not only working on their upcoming full length album, but also their various solo side projects (in which all the members help each other out on). it's a musical lovefest and that's the way i like it!
currently touring the east coast, try to check out the band at one of their upcoming gigs below:
June 18 - Brooklyn, NY at Sound Fix Records (in-store performance) June 18 - Brooklyn, NY at Union Pool June 19 - Arlington, VA at Iota June 20 - Philadelphia, PA - Millcreek Tavern June 21 - Carrboro, NC at Arts Center
bryn christopher - the quest [link 2] [for a 1st single, this is an impressive release. bryn's winehouse-esque vocals not only has a timeless quality, but he also has a tone that sounds like a diva in sequins. reports that his debut album will feature samples from the never before used stax catalog only makes for something even more raw and timeless. i can't wait!]
kerli - walking on air [link 2] [i first saw this video on perez tv and was drawn into the estonian popstars sound (part esthero part bjork). signed to island def jam, looks like kerli is on the verge of something big, can't wait to hear more!]
white lies - unfinished business [link 2] [this four piece has the UK blogs buzzing with their confident sound that kind of blends the editors, joy division and the killers filtered through a more popular song structure. i'm a nerd for built up rousing anthems so these guys pretty much had me at their opening chords. doing the festival rounds this summer, keep an eye out as there's a rumored mini-US tour in august.]
white lies - death (demo) [link 2] [i actually saw this performance on my favorite music show later with jools holland first and was won over by their performance. i definitely like this song better than the 1st single and can't wait to hear what else they have to offer on their upcoming debut.]
royworld - dust [link 2] [that's right, if you're missing out on a big-boombastic lush heart-on-your-sleeve kind of pop music, then hopefully this uk band will fill your void for the time being. heck, they even have keane producer andy green working with them, what more of a substitute do you want?]
[i've kind of gotten in pretty late on the 'discovery' of foxburo hot tubs, but this green day offshoot makes the kind of retro rock n roll music that just makes a blogger like me a tad giddy. gosh, i'm sentimental. if you like what you hear, download the album online now.]
kings have long arms feat candie payne - big umbrella [link 2] [what a cute song! of course i knew candie payne from her collaboration with mark ronson last year, but the sheffield based guise of adrian flanagan is definitely new to me. so imagine my surprise to read that 'kings have long arms' have already recorded with philip oakey (human league) but also members of the smiths! looks like i'll have to do some back logging of this act soon.]
ingrid olava - only just begin [link 2] [from the confines of her apartment in oslo, norway, comes singer/songwriter ingrid olava. creating quite a buzz back home with her lush melodies and intimate vocals, the debut album juliet's wishes is surprisingly a confident collection by such a new young talent. thanks to vegard for the heads up!]
want more? check out a recent live cover that ingrid did of adele's chasing pavements below:
natty - cold town [link 2] [check out this new uk artist with a reggae/politico twist. after performing on the influential later with jools holland show last week, natty looks set to bring some good vibes for the rest of 2008. a new finlay quaye for the 2000's?]
[like a mix between MIA and yeah yeah yeahs (fact checkers - it's true, ALL of these acts consider brooklyn home these days), santogold (aka santi white) has everyone talking about her fresh approach to music. part rapper, part vocalist and all sass, santogold's fuses everything from synth beats to reggae to rock in order to fit her unique catchy sound. with an album due next month, you'll definitely be hearing more from this act this year.]
alphabeat - fascination [link 2] alphabeat - fascination (bimbo jones remix) [link 2] [i challenge anyone who can't derive some sort of giddy pleasure from this danish pop band. it's as if molly ringwald and her best gay friend (circa "sixteen candles") decided to form a band for the annual battle of the bands... and won! while we're at it, check out the even gay-er remix by bimbo jones! happy weekend all!]
alphabeat - boyfriend [link 2] [check out their latest single in denmark which is more rocked out and tones down the happy to a 5. whew!]
mgmt - time to pretend [link 2] [what a wonderfully trippy video! brooklyn pumps out yet another hipster band that is buzzing all over the place. made of of ben goldwasser and andrew vanWyngarden, the duo met at uni back in 2002 and over the years crafted the epic psychedelic pop that you hear today. i can't believe there's all this great new music out these days... and it's only FEBRUARY!]
patrick park - here we are [link 2] [thanks to good ol stereogum, i got introduced to the sweet songwriter sounds of LA via colorado boy patrick park. though he's been working the live music scene for the past few years, it was his song "life is a song" on the final episode of the OC that brought him some recognition. hopefully this sweet tune will bring him some new fans for 2008. enjoy!]
