Remember when MTV played music videos…and they were actually good? Often times they made no sense or were severely crypyic, which was the best thing about them.

No Age’s MTV video debut (weird unto itself) for the song “Eraser” is either and ode to those glory days or an homage to the classic film Groundhog Day. Entertaining, nonetheless:

No Age will play in Philly at The Church with Abe Vigoda and High Places on July 10th. Check out our recent review of their album.

Today is the last day that you can enter to win our Art in the Age, Ben Woodward Walrus Tee. Seriously, it’s probably the easiest thing you’ll ever do in your life. All you have to do is fill this out the form then go about your day! It’s so simple, even a baby walrus could do it!

We will pick 3 winners on Wednesday. Good luck!

UPDATE 7/1: The contest is now over, winners will be notified on 7/2

If you like your hip-hop mixed with 90’s dance club electronic, then this remix of Pase Rock and Amanda Blank’s “Sexy MF” by Philly’s Japattack! will have you dusting off your rollerskates and Cross Colour overalls in gleeful nostalgia, although I doubt you ever roller-skated to such good-time filth! If Snoop Dogg and Robyn’s “Sexual Eruption” is the Penthouse of new risque hip-hop, then this track is the Hustler.

Pick up the original version on 12″ from Boomkat.

Pase Rock ft. Amanda Blank – Sexy MF (JapAttack! Remix)

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Philly people, you seriously can’t miss this! The excellent, ear-shattering lo-fi three-eyed monster that is Times New Viking will strike Johnny Brenda’s this eve and leave a trail of flowers after the dust settles. As it so boldly states on their awesome new tour poster and t-shirt, a collaboration with our friends at Art in the Age (shameless, shameless plug!) the hippies are back and they are punks!

Those raucous Jersey kids Titus Andronicus will open. See ya tonight and don’t forget your ear-plugs!

Times New Viking – Teen Drama

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There’s no doubt about it, our friends over at XXJFGs have awesome taste. Their recent post about Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls got me a-downloadin’ “Tell the World” and I’m glad I did. It’s a treble-y wash of femme-fatale pop, with a sexy and muffled 60s garage beat. Make it your rampage anthem on the way to the beach this summer.

Vivian Girls s/t album sold out pretty quickly, but it will be available again this fall on In the Red.

Vivian Girls – Tell the World

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Perhaps I didn’t emphasize this enough in my Philly Popped! Fest review, but one man, one gloriously admirable man in the crowd of sweaty, scrawny indie-kids stood above the rest. This man was dubbed by my friend Jackie and I as…The Dan Deacon Super-Fan:

NWA – Express Yourself

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The electro-dub debut single from Swedish newcomer Parken is easily my favorite of the year (so far). I still haven’t looked into what the lyrics translate to, nor do I intend to. The mystery of their meaning gives it an even greater appeal, as if the massive production and blinding brilliant melody weren’t enough.

In this video Parken, aka Pelle Lindroth and crew perform a stripped down version of the song with the northern day-break wilderness serving as their backdrop. The original version is still the preferred one, but it’s interesting to hear how the song adapts to different instrumentation. Plus that little keyboard that Rigas is playing is just soooo adorable! You know you want one.

You can grab the original here. Look out for Parken’s debut full-length, Länge Leve Parken, which was produced by Rigas and will be released September 5th on Flora and Fauna Records. Might just be amazing…

Why did I not get into Bonnie “Prince” Billy earlier? In the past, I was vaguely aware of a singer/songwriter by the name of Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy), who strummed some great gee-tar. Maybe I failed to delve into his music due to confusion over his various group names and monikers over the past decade or so.

Whatever the reason for my failure to be enlightened in the past, I would now like to share with you my favorite track off of Lay Down In The Light, his latest album. This particular tune rings out as an honest and simple breath of fresh air in the first days of what seems to be a sweaty, electronic-festering summer.

After spending a few afternoons alone, outside with this tune, I emphatically resign myself to the personal belief that there will be nothing better than listening to Bonnie “Prince” Billy weaving his nostalgic melodies, drinking seltzer, and sweating out worldly troubles on the back porch this summer.

If this genre of bare-bones, good-old-fashioned-songwriting is what some have dubbed “Americana,” then I am unabashedly American. You, too? Give it a listen.

Lay Down In The Light is available now from Amazon!

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Easy Does It

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Specifically, the music of Women, a foursome hailng from Alberta, Canada whose psychedelic dirge “Black Rice” keeps creeping into my playlists. Sounding like The Shins on morphine, it swells with a blissful beat, shiny bells and a general sense of melancholy that would make Lou Reed feel right at home.

Their debut, s/t album will be released 7/8 on Flemish Eye. Listen to it in its entirety here.

Women – Black Rice

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On Saturday, Robin and I attended the Popped! Fest in West Philly. The oh-so-dreammmyyy indie bill included Dan Deacon, Gogol Bordello, Crystal Castles and others (we only caught a song or two from The Ting Tings and weren’t interested in seeing Vampire Weekend or Mates of State). The weather was absolutely perfect for an outdoor fest and the crowd was definitely with it. Check out some reviews and photos from the event:

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Donovan, one of the most poetic singer-songwriters of the 60’s psychedelic era discussed his creative influences with The Atlantic. From The Beats to The Beatles and beyond, the great transcendental troubadour reveals the inspiration behind songs like “Happiness Runs.” Have a look:

If you don’t already own Donovan’s music, do yourself a favor and get to it!

Touted by some as the new Queen of Disco, Victoria Hesketh, aka Little Boots has written a snazzy little pop tune called “Meddle” that has absolutely nothing to do with Pink Floyd. In fact, your brain will be more likely to register it as Hot Chip-y, with a little Robyn-ese thrown in for good measure. I’m not ready to hand her the prestigious, aforementioned title, but I like what I hear so far.

You can download a free mix by Little Boots on her new website and keep an eye out for a 7″ release of “Meddle,” along with remixes. Here’s the track list for the free mix:

Goldfrapp – “Happiness” (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve remix)
Sally Shapiro – “Time To Let Go” (Lindstrom remix)
Hot Chip – “My Piano”
Little Boots – “Magical” (demo version)
Charlie – “Spacer Woman”
Celebration – “Hands Off My Gold” (SMD remix)
Los Angeles TF – “Magical Body”
Primary 1 – “Hold Me Down” (The Shoes remix)
SMD – “Hotdog” (Cosmo Vitelli remix)
Little Boots – “Stuck On Repeat” (Fake Blood remix)

*Kudos for including Charlie’s “Spacer Woman”–definitely a cosmic disco classic.

Little Boots – Meddle

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