Passion Pit

Now that the hysteria over MGMT has died down a bit (it has…hasn’t it?) we can turn our attention and our itunes to Passion Pit. A band born in Massachusetts (by frontman Michael Angelakos trying to impress his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day) and probably best described as electronic indie-rock in the style of the aforementioned MGMT. I’ve been listening to their track “Sleepy head” in my brand new overly large headphones and I haven’t been this excited about a band since, well, MGMT. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair” is one line tripping around my head in between the thumping beat and the keyboard tinkling bell-like in the background. (And apparently that’s Jack Keraouc speaking at the beginning of the track)

Album “Chunk of Change” is due for re-release on the 16th of September.

Basia Bulat

This song has got to be one of the best songs about a first love. The album version is short, sweet and exceptionally beautiful. It is extended and has the backing of a band on the single version but both hit the spot. “Before I Knew” is one of those tracks that sounds like the perfect song on the first listen and then you know it is the perfect song on the second. Everyone needs to have Basia Bulat on their mp3 player. She’s a 24 year old Canadian singer/song-writer whose album “Oh, My Darling” was released in 2007 and has just been shortlisted for the Canadian 2008 Polaris Prize. She says she loves songs that you want to sing along to. I defy you not to sing along with her.

Album “Oh, My Darling” is available on Rough Trade Records.