It’s not always easy to be objective about a new album release by one of your favorite artists. And I preface this by saying Pet Shop Boys have been one of my favorites, really only second to Prince, since their debut Please in 1986. Don’t let their lack of airplay in the States since the 90’s fool you, PSB have sold over 50 million records worldwide, are the UK’s most successful duo ever, and still consistently make noise in the […]
Posts tagged "electronic music"
Jamie Lidell and the Q-Kidz find “Big Love”
In my initial review of Jamie Lidell’s latest record, I mentioned “Big Love” by name as a standout. Highly danceable, funky, unapologetically lifts its main beat from “The Pleasure Principle,” the song is an absolute standout on an already solid record. It’s an obvious choice for a single, but Lidell’s videos are never obvious visual counterparts (though they’re generally entertaining). “Big Love” focuses on neighborhood kids (actually the Q-Kidz dance team) flocking to the local rec center, which eventually turns into a near-disco-experience. […]
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories: Album Review
From their 1997 debut Homework and even moreso with 2001’s Discovery, Daft Punk arguably became the foremost ambassadors of electronic music, at once pleasing the discerning tastes of college radio and mainstream audiences. They’ve simultaneously managed to maintain a sort of indie credibility while shilling commercial products for The Gap, Sony, Victoria’s Secret, Coca-Cola, and Adidas. Today’s release of Random Access Memories is one of 2013’s most anticipated releases, the culmination of a months-long publicity campaign waged primarily through television […]
Declan’s Well, Campaign Capsized: Album Review
An electronic musician from New Jersey makes catchy pop about heartbreak and suburbia. What’s not to like?
Spin Cycle: How to Destroy Angels, An Omen
Two EPs in, How to Destroy Angels is showing no signs of living up to the duo referenced by their name.
Spin Cycle: Neon Indian’s “Era Extrana”
Hailing from the Denton, Texas, Neon Indian is the brainchild of Alan Palomo. Sometimes labeled as “chillwave” (whatever the hell that means), Neon Indian is an interesting brand of electronic music – perhaps too poppy for the avant-gardists, perhaps too abstract for the mainstream. I happen to find it a perfect marriage. Neon Indian debuted in 2009 with their full-length Psychic Chasms. That album’s low-fi electronic grooves garnered the band a good amount of buzz on the blog/college radio circuit, […]
Spin Cycle: Mike Doughty’s “Dubious Luxury”
Dubious Luxury is an almost vocal-less electronics and sample heavy album. If you were looking for the latest Mike Doughty solo record, go here. Still with me? Good, because you’ll be deeply satisfied if you’re a dance/electronica fan and even more satisfied if you love Mike Doughty and want to see another facet of his musical personality. For some reason lately, I’ve been eating up any kind of dance music coming at me. David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, hell, even […]