Song of the Day

Song of the Day: Battles – Ice Cream

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There’s little better than efficient creativity – and Battles has that combination down. The rock group blew listeners away with its first album, Mirrored, in 2007. Shortly after came Gloss Drop – and now (enter the efficient creativity component) – welcome Dross Glop. The band’s latest creation is unique, yet capitalizes on the second album’s tracks by remixing all of its original tracks via guest remixers including The Field, Kode9, and Qluster.

The result? Awesomeness.

My favorite track on the new album is probably Ice Cream from Dross Glop 4 (the album was released as a four-part 12” series), remixed by Brian DeGraw of Gang Gang Dance. The tempo is varied, the vocals are a fun ingredient in the mix, and the tune will have you twitching, if not full out dancing, well before its 4:07 run is over.

It’s worth checking out all the tracks on this compilation – and the artwork besides (which is another efficiently creative masterpiece: the artists have taken Gloss Drop’s original cover art and spattered it with different hues – another very cool ‘remix.’)

This band has definitely made its mark and continues to do so. They’re on the go so check them out when they’re nearest to you.

6/2 – Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
6/3 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
6/4 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
6/5 – Columbus, OH @ Outland Live
6/6 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
6/7 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
6/9 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
6/10 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
6/11 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
6/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
6/23 – Denver, CO @ Westword Music Showcase

May the 4th Song of the Day: Arab Strap – Ben Kenobi Theme

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May the 4th.

Time to get your nerd on.

Today is international celebrate Star Wars day. I think I’ve seen 4-5-6 at least ten times each. It captured my imagination as a kid and who didn’t pretend they had a light saber at some point.

Arab Strap is a Scottish indie act perhaps best known for being the subject of the Belle and Sebastian song Boy With the Arab Strap. They did release a few good albums as well. Anyway, it’s clear that either Aidan Moffat or Malcolm Middleton were big Star Wars fan because they did this cover of the famous John Williams tune for their Cherubs EP. It seems more westernish then the original. Still, very good.

Check it out.

Song of the Day: Niki and the Dove – DJ Ease My Mind

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I’m not quite sure how to place Niki and the Dove‘s music.

It has a certain electronic pulse to it while at the same time sounding organic and green. The music feels like it would exist in the same world as Florence and the Machine. Basically, if the hobbits on the shire decided to throw a rave, I would imagine they would play a lot of Niki and the Dove. The much talked about Swedish act has their debut album Instincts coming out May 14th and judging from initial listens, it’s going to be good. How can it not be? check out this cover.

DJ Ease My Mind is a single off the record and it’s got a fantastic rolling percussive feel to it. I love the buildup during the song and Niki’s vocal is in perfect dramatic alignment. Check it out.

Song of the Day: Miike Snow – Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)

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If you’ve ever searched for a song that will make you enter an angry dance marathon, it’s Miike Snow‘s, Bavarian #1 (Say You Will) off of their newest album Happy to You. With it’s marching band drums, and Andrew Wyatt’s far ranging vocals, it serves almost as an anthem, while it’s lyrics begging a mystery person to give him another shot, even though he states bluntly “I can’t be trusted, to wait on hard times“. Andrew Wyatt has the ability to make you feel as if you’ve been emotionally punched with his vocals, like he’s getting that last word in the argument. Happy to You is Miike Snow’s sophomore album, and it definitely matches if not outdoes it’s predecessors electro-dance anthems.

Miike Snow plays the Sound Academy on May 1st, win tickets here!