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Posts Tagged: Washed Out

Lemonade “Lifted” & Music Video

Lemonade’s self-titled 2008 debut went unnoticed by many, including myself. Hailing from San Francisco & Brooklyn, Lemonade are preparing their next release on True Panther. This time an EP titled Pure Moods. “Lifted” is the first taste of what Lemonade have in store for us.

“Lifted” accurately and effectively shows us exactly what Lemonade are all about. They influences they cite on their myspace page are present and actively engaged on the track, molding and meshing in a way that sounds exciting and original.

Lemonade’s Pure Sounds EP is out March 9th on Panther Sounds. I highly recommend you download the EP’s lead single, “Lifted” below:

Lemonade "Lifted": Play Now Play in Popup
1534 playsDownload

Feature / MP3 / Music / Reviews — 699 Comments
21
Dec 09

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Artwork by the talented and generous Adam Sarpalius.

The final list is here. We have been working on this Absolute (sarcasm) Best Songs of 2009 list all year, updating it at the end of every quarter. I was only going to have PMA’s Top 50 of the year listen, but I couldn’t narrow it down beyond the top 75. This list will represent and acknowledge some of the artists I felt had to be left out of our Best Albums of 2009 list.

As always, I upheld only one rule while making this list: a song cannot be on this list, unless it was released as a single. As a reminder, here is my definition of the word “single” — 1) A song that has been given away for free to promote an upcoming album (known as a promotional single). 2) A song that has been played on TV or the radio (two of the largest mediums of discovering new music). 3) A song with its own music video and/or EP. 4) Loophole: an album-track that has attracted enormous amounts of attention that it’s become that artist’s “calling card” of sorts.

I want to thank everyone who takes the time to leave a comment, even if its obvious that you came here through Google (PMA pops up when you google “Best Songs of 2009″). As always, don’t be shy to share your personal favorites of the year. Trust me when I tell you I didn’t go out of my way to list all of your favorite songs of the year, so if you want those songs represented, list them yourselves in the comments. I also want to thank the wonderful contributors this site has for helping me with this list. And finally, Adam Sarpalius, whose work as graced this list since July.

Now, onto the Top 75: Continue reading →

MP3 / Music — No Comments
16
Dec 09

Dream Cop – Basement Tapes

Dream Cop Basement Tapes mp3

Dream Cop is Tommy Davidson, the latest tape musician to find himself on my radar. While we haven’t been crazy about listening to this type of stuff for prolonged periods of time (read: Neon Indian, Washed Out), we do enjoy a warm, fuzzy track (read: Neon Indian, Washed Out), and that is exactly what “Basement Tapes” is.

MP3: Dream Cop – Basement Tapes

Listen to the nearly-as-good “Warm Thrash” at Dream Cop’s Myspace page.

Listen / MP3 / Music — 8 Comments
30
Nov 09

Monarchy

Monarchy listen
I can’t tell you much about Monarchy. I can only tell you what I know and what I know is that Monarchy is a duo from London serving up some glorious electro-pop music. I can also say that our favorite boutique label Neon Gold is releasing Monarchy’s debut single, “Gold In The Fire” in February of 2010.

The atmosphere surrounding “Gold In The Fire” is as airy as its synth backbone is bouncy. Almost sounding like a polished Washed Out track, “Gold” has a beautiful simplicity to it that allows you to loop the song over and over again effortlessly.

MP3: Monarchy – Gold In The Fire

Better yet — believe it or not — is the single’s backing track, “Black, The Colour of My Heart”. Keeping Monarchy’s outer-space, atmospheric theme in tact, “Black” is reminiscent of Röyksopp’s brooding synth-work. But the suckerpunch here is the massively affective pop hook Monarchy throws over the synthesized drama.

MP3: Monarchy – Black, The Colour of My Heart

With these two songs (save a couple of remixes) serving as our sole offerings by this mysterious duo, I can’t help but feel excited for what lies ahead.

Album Reviews / Music / Reviews — 12 Comments
21
Sep 09

Washed Out, Life of Leisure, EP Review

Don’t forget to rate this album at the end of the post (something I’m trying out)
Washed Out, Life of Leisure, EP Review albumreviews Washed Out
Life of Leisure EP

Mexican Summer
out October 20th

69/100
[Rating Scale]

[rating:69/100]
Life of Leisure is an appropriate title for an EP that sounds like partying all night in a dark, sweaty room and waking up on a beach at dawn next to someone you like, cold sand in your hair. Like night-swimming, half your face submerged, and the moon across the water. Like walking home on sandy streets lined with resorts, gently holding someone’s hand, feeling in your chest the distant pulsing bass from basements and passing cars. It sounds like something sweet and simultaneously sharp – fruit-flavored vodka? It doesn’t sound like dance music or party music or techno music – it is a sensuous electronic whirlwind, but that isn’t really a genre, is it? Continue reading →

Favorite Songs / Listen / MP3 / Music — 6 Comments
11
Sep 09

The Sound Of Arrows – Into The Clouds

The Sound Of Arrows Into The Clouds favorite songs

For anyone looking to satisfy their pop music cravings, The Sound Of Arrows are definitely the next big band to check out. On their insanely infectious song “Into The Clouds”, the Swedish duo show off how “big” their music can be.

This stuff should be blaring for arena sized crowds to dance around to and sing along with. It is hard to point out one thing that separates The Sound Of Arrows from every other group. I think it is just the way everything comes together with an energy and effectiveness that is rare to hear. Check out their latest 12” for “Into The Clouds.” Another great catch, Neon Gold.

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http://www.vimeo.com/6034355

–postscript–

This is old news to some of you — and I wasn’t even going to blog about it — but Britney Spears has performed a cover of Alanis Morisette’s defining, super-smash hit single “You Oughta Know” live on a couple of her shows (in Boston and Chicago, I believe). As far as I can tell, she sang it live, in person, and sounded pretty damn great. Here is a video of the Chicago performance.

Dragonette has released a video for their follow-up to the brilliant summer scorcher, “Fixin To Thrill.” Their new single, “Pick Up The Phone” is quite good. Watch the video @ Vinyl and Vodka.

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Washed Out is on my radar. His six-track EP, Life of Leisure, is getting major spins on my iPod. We brought him to your attention (hopefully) last week. Here is another cut from his EP called “Feel It All Around.” It apparently samples the hell out of Gary Low’s 1983 single “I Want You”. Not that it matters much to me. It’s a fantastic song from one of my favorite EPs of the year.

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-Luis Tovar

Favorite Songs / Listen / MP3 / Music — 3 Comments
6
Sep 09

Washed Out – Luck / Hold Out

Washed Out Luck / Hold Out favorite songs

Combining a hip-hop beat Andre 300 and Big Boi would want to rap over with energetic synth rhythms and hazy, slow vocals, Ernest Green, the mastermind behind the new Georgia sensation Washed Out, has created an interesting and original blend of many different styles.

The one-man-ominous-synthfilled-indie band thing has really caught on lately, but surprisingly a lot of these guys have created original and successful music. Instead of being clumped together as a group of artists who create almost the same music, these guys all find their own unique voice.

“Luck” and “Hold Out” only scratch the surface of how good Washed Out is, but these two tracks are good introductions to Ernest’s music. With the diversity amongst the tracks on their EP Life of Leisure, Ernest Greene has a good shot at making a real name for himself in the indie scene.

Washed Out – [download id="220"]

Washed Out – [download id="219"]