Warpaint - So Good

You're too much, I can't take it
You always seem to make my heart stop and
I can tell that there's something in your eyes
Calling me
I want you now, I want you all over me
Can't you tell me all your secrets?
I'll tell you all mine
I'll tell you all mine

"So Good" showcases the best of Warpaint past and Warpaint current. It's got the ethereal vocals, the gothic grooves and rhythm and the Bernard Sumner-ish guitar riffs of their past work and the upbeat pace and vibe that's so common on their latest album, Heads Up. An album that gets better and better with repeat listens.

Kerri and I saw them here in Austin last night and they were so good. Heh. Anyway, if you get a chance, check them out.

RIYL: New Order, Dum Dum Girls, Eisley, Poliça, Bat For Lashes

Upcoming Shows

Little Comets - Dancing Song

Back in 2011, a quirky four-piece from Sunderland and Newcastle brought a ton of fun into my musical world. Culminating in a fantastic and memorable show at that year's SXSW, I spent many hours enjoying their crazy percussion, funky guitars, squeaking vocals and positive attitudes. In search Of Elusive Little Comets is a great introduction to an amazing band and if you've not had the pleasure, you should. And if you can see them live, please, do yourself the solid and do so.

RIYL: The Wombats, The Cribs, Maximo Park, Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club

Upcoming Shows

Nick Murphy - Stop Me

Keep waking up in the night
When my ears turn red
I heard some shit that I said
You're probably trying to be nice
I'm not cold, I just been through way worse times

I'm not dreaming now
I'm in control
You can't bring me down

You can't stop me, I made it this far
Alright
I can't help it
Got things I need to do
Before I wait on you, oh

Nick Murphy is a conceptual singer-songwriter with an electronic twist. Formerly recording/releasing as Chet Faker, the Australian decided to move forward with his given name instead. Fittingly, the video for his 2014 hit "Talk is Cheap" showed the metaphoric life and death of the artist. "Stop Me" is the first single for the upcoming album by Murphy, and has a double-length version to the one included here, which he says is the yang to the first half's ying. I chose the radio-length version instead, since I often don't have patience for an 8 minute track, but it's really beautiful if you want to go ahead and add it to your personal playlist.  

RIYL:  Glass Animals, alt-J, Jagwar Ma, Flume, Bastille

Upcoming Shows

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People

You bastards overlooking street art
Better yet, street smarts but you keep us off the charts
So motherfuck your numbers and your statisticians
Fuck y'all know about true competition?
That's like a AL pitcher on deck talking about he hittin'
The only one who's hitting are the ones that's currently spittin'
We got your missy smitten rubbing on her little kitten
Dreaming of a world that's equal for women with no division
Boy, I tell you that's vision
Like Tony Romo when he hitting Witten
The Tribe be the best in they division
Shaheed Muhammad cut it with precision
Who can come back years later, still hit the shot?
Still them tryna move we off the fucking block
Babylon, bloodclot
Two pon yuh headtop

A Tribe Called Quest's new album, the first in 18 years, We got it from here...Thank you 4 your service came out last week. The first single "We The People" is a hard-hitting cut about equality that speaks to some of the tougher realities our world is currently dealing with. It has sick beats, sure, and some fun hooks, but it's also an anthem that should remind us that we're all in this together and we need to keep sticking up for the rights of all people.

I have yet to hear the full album, but I've read a couple of reviews that say it's terrific and a worthy tribute to the late Phife Dawg.

RIYL: De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, The Roots, Jurassic 5

Upcoming Shows

Declan McKenna - Isombard

I'll make it clear
You'll make it then
But never here
Never again
So which one hangs
Police with gangs?
It's all the same
It's all the same
I met you here
But then you ran
You ran with fear
You fearless man
So tell your violent and tame
That they will cry
Never again

Declan McKenna is a catchy but earnest songwriter, almost exclusively focusing on heavy (and timely) issues. Starting when he was 15, McKenna says he is merely reflecting what is on the mind of his peers (such as the massive FIFA corruption in "Brazil", or the undeniable tie between religion and hate in "Bethlehem"). For this track, he is taking on right-wing newscasters, with their frequent poor choice of words and frustrating justifications (AND he is attempting to channel e.e. cummings). This is definitely a boy after my own former-angsty-teen/deep-thinking/music-loving heart! I got to see him at his SXSW (and basically American) debut this March and he was adorably endearing, playing all his own instruments, on a tiny stage, with his lonely spotlight, sharing his heartfelt pop. If by chance you don't care for his politics, you can just enjoy the refreshing British indie pop sound - as I'm sure is the case for a good number of his peers as well. 

RIYL: Lewis Del Mar, Day Wave, The Shelters, Simon & Garfunkel, Counting Crows

Upcoming Shows