[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: May 2012

Sorry we're a little late this month, friends. We've been busy working on some exciting things that we can't wait to be able to share with you in the coming months! This past month the releases really started to shine and you can see/hear it for yourself from the sweet sounds of Some Kind of Mixtape: May 2012, which just you can check out via the player below. As always, there are "liner notes" after the jump with more information on each track. You should also be following us on 8tracks so we can share mixes with each other.

Hugs, high fives and stage dives,

kibbe, shey, adrian & rocko

Some Kind of Mixtape - May 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

The Hives - "If I Had A Cent"

Everyone's favorite Swedish garage rock band return with their latest offering Lex Hives the follow up to 2007 album The Black and White Album. Although the previous album was received as more of a commercial release compared to The Hives' first 3 LPs, their newest effort takes brings the group back to excellence. Don't believe me? Take a listen to the track "If I Had A Cent" which is a downright amazing tune which could have been featured on Tyrannosaurus Hives or Veni Vidi Vicious perhaps. Lex Hives is set to release this week, take a listen to the full album stream here and make sure you pick it up and go check out a Hives live show or 3. —Rocko

Hounds - "The Wicked Witch"

Frantic dance-punks Hounds just released their new EP The Wicked today which includes the spooked out track "The Wicked Witch." Fans of Does It Offend You Yeah?, The Prodigy, Refused or Nine Inch Nails will find their nasty bass lines, eery synths and anarchic vocals totally irresistable. When you find that you can't get enough of the track, you can grab it over here. Those of you attending this year's Download Festival can catch the Essex four-piece while you're there this Friday (June 8th).  —kibbe

The Vaccines - "No Hope" (from their forthcoming sophomore LP The Vaccines Come Of Age)

The Vaccines' debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? was met with some underwhelming reactions from some, but I was a huge supporter and still am. The album was on of my favorites last year and has been constantly spinning since then. When the band announced that their sophomore album would be released in September, I couldn't help but be giddy as a fucking school girl. "No Hope" propelled this giddiness even further. The raucous guitars and drums meld seamlessly with the vocals, making for a catchy song that is simply enjoyable to listen to. It's also fantastic to hear that Justin Young is experimenting with his vocal style, expanding on the limited range he delivered on the band's first album. September 4th can't come soon enough. —Adrian

Yeasayer - "Henrietta" (from their forthcoming LP Fragrant World)

From day one, the psychedelic stylings of Yeasayer have had me hooked, and for five years, All Hour Cymbals and Odd Blood have been consistent go-to albums. "Henrietta" is no different. The moment that I heard the song I was in a state of bliss, mesmerized by its many sounds. At first, it is immediately reminiscent of Ratatat's LP3 (which is no way a bad thing), but goes further to evoke the groovy and eccentric sounds of Odd Blood before slowing down and capturing the psychedelic simplicity of All Hour Cymbals. It not only captures what made the first two Yeasayer albums so great, but builds on it in a seamless way that comes across as anything but forced. It just works, and I can't bring myself to press stop. —Adrian

Age of Consent - "Heartbreak"

If you haven't guessed yet, I am quite the sucker for the mini-80s ressurection happening right now in the electronic realm. Bands like London duo Age of Consent give me a sense of relief that I didn't completely miss out on experiencing music like this fresh out of the box in clubs, considering I don't think it would have gone over well for a 5 year old me to roll into a nightclub dancing around to Depeche Mode in 1989. For those of you in the same boat as I am, "Heartbreak" is sure to satisfy your hunger for retro-sounding dark synthy tunes. —kibbe

Hot Sugar - "The Kid Who Drowned At Summer Camp"

For those that don't know, I like beats. Anything with a banging beat and catchy melody I'm always down to give a good listen to. One of the label's that does it best is Ninja Tune records who specialize in great instrumental music by some of the producers such as Blockhead, Amon Tobin, Mr. Scruff and more. So it only seems right for the label to release Nick Koenig better known as Hot Sugar's second EP Moon Money the follow up to 2011 debut EP Muscle Milk (which if you haven't heard it I highly suggest you do so). The melodies on this record are unreal and extremely addictive it was even hard for me to choose 1 track for it to be on this month's mixture (no kidding I changed the song like 3 times). The sound of Hot Sugar to me sound like if you were to take AIR, Ratatat and Mux Mool smash them all together, break it apart and put it back together but in a randomize pattern thats the awesome sound you'd get. I know that didn't make much sense but just give the track a listen and you'll see what I mean, then go pick up both EPs. —Rocko

Bobby Womack - "Stupid"

It's been a helluva a ride for the legendary Bobby Womack over the last 2 years. From having his career take off once again after collaborating with Damon Albarn on the last 2 Gorillaz efforts and touring with the band, linking up with Albarn once again to release his first solo effort in over 10 year and being diagnosed with colon cancer and beating it and becoming cancer free definitely qualify Womack for being the title of his newest LP, The Bravest Man In The Universe. I knew with Albarn and XL label boss Richard Russell (who produced Gil Scott Heron's last album I'm New Here) being at the helm of the production and Womack's soulful croons it was destined to be one of my favorite releases before even hearing song one. And when the first single "Please Forgive My Heart" dropped it just confirmed my expectations. Take a listen to one of my favorites from the new album "Stupid" (which introduction track features Gil Scott Heron) from the upcoming album. Then, do your ears a favor and check out the full album stream here. —Rocko

Killer Mike - "Big Beast" Feat. Bun B, T.I., and Trouble

I like to pick tracks that I feel a connection with. Or tracks I've been listening to heavily over the sat month. This month it's safe to say I've listened to Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music a hell of a lot and the album's opening track is a damn fine one. Each morning at 6am I'd roll out of bed feeling a little worse for wear and within a few seconds of the track I'd be pumped for the day. Big beats and skillful wordplay I challenge you to not to shout "pow motherfucker Pow" repeatedly after listening to it. —Shey

El-P - "The Full Retard" 

Another album I've been giving a lot of love to links in nicely to Killer Mike. It's El-P's Cancer for Cure, his reinvention if you will. His new single "The Full Retard" is a perfect introduction to an artist who has grown and changed his sound to make one  great sounding powerhouse of music. You can't not want to dance around to the entire album while getting your party on. Big respect to El-P for this track and a brilliant new album after some time away. If you haven't already picked it up, I advise you do. Hell, we like it so much we've put him on our last two mixtapes! —Shey

Diplo feat. Lazerdisk Sex Party - "Set It Off" (from his Express Yourself EP, out on June 12th)

With each of his consecutive releases, I notice that Diplo gets better and better as a producer. "Set It Off," which features Lazerdisk Sex Party, is easily one of his best yet. A slow and subtle introduction of the vocal sample "set it off" perfectly builds into the barrage of grimy synths and erratic percussion. What is even better, though, is the fantastic pacing. A well timed lull in the middle of the song leads directly into the cocking of a shotgun, which triggers the complete onslaught of synths, samples and percussion. Whether it's Major Lazer, production work for other artists, or his own music, Diplo continues to impress and show why he is one of the best producers in electronic music. —Adrian

D-WHY - "We Don't Know"

Every now and again you get an email in your inbox that makes your ears prick up and the day D-WHY arrived in mine was one of those days. The young artist is looking to have a very promising 2012 and his track "We Don't Know" is the perfect track to stick on the May Mixtape. We're all a little excited for Summer now, c'mon you can't deny it, and why should we! This track is a great soundtrack to the long summer evening and it's certainly a nice little tease of what's to come on his forthcoming mixtape, Don't Flatter Yourself. —Shey

Dent May - "Best Friend"

A song so sweet and simple as Dent May's "Best Friend" is just what you want to toss on all of your playlists as the summer (or a current relationship) starts to heat up. The Mississippi-born crooner will charm his way into your heart with his upcoming sophomore album Do Things, which is out on June 12th courtesy of Paw Tracks. —kibbe

[Dot to Dot Preview] Wavves

Earlier in the week we mentioned the return of Dot to Dot Festival along with a little tid-bit on the band Pulled Apart by Horses, who we will be making sure to check out over the weekend. In case you've forgotten, it takes place from June 2nd to 4th in Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester respectively.

Along with PABH we're pretty excited to check out Wavves. Nathan Williams will take to the UK bringing his surf punk with him and no doubt a fair bit of noise too. Although we've not had much in the shape of new material from Nathan since the release of the Life Sux EP late last year, the minimal approach to live shows should be something of a treat for the crowds at Dot to Dot. Check out a performance of "King of the Beach" from last year's Bonnaroo at the top to see what you could be enjoying.

If you're at the festival at any of the cities this weekend they'll be playing on the 2nd at Bristol's O2 Academy 1 at 8:30pm. In Nottingham they'll Jongleurs at 9pm (June 3rd), before finishing up on Monday, at Manchester's Sound Control Loft at 8:30pm. The full line up can be found here while the venue guide and set times for every other band are also up for your perusal here. Tickets are available for just £20!

[Dot to Dot Preview] Pulled Apart By Horses

As we've mentioned, the wonderful Dot to Dot Festival will be taking place in three locations over the coming bank holiday weekend in the UK. It will see a flurry of bands take to the stage across the three cities and we're going to give you some recommendations as to who we will most definitely be checking out. It's going to be loud.

First up we have a favourite of ours, Pulled Apart by Horses. The Leeds band have gone from strength to strength since releasing their self-titled debut back in 2010 and then arlier this year they released the stellar follow up, Tough Love. In a live setting these guys just tear the roof off. More energy than a shipment of Red Bull and enough riffs to have your ears ringing for days. 

The band will headline Bristol's Trinity on the 2nd of June, Nottingham's Jongleurs on the Sunday, June 3rd. They'll finally finish up the weekend in Manchester on Monday in Sound Control's Loft. For an idea of what you could be in for, check out a video of them performing "Wolf Hand" live earlier in the month at the top via Noisey. After that, jump over here for more info and to purchase tickets. 

[News] Dot to Dot Festival Preview

Summer is creeping in and with that you'll of noticed a host of Festivals taking place in just about every corner of the globe. Dot to Dot Festival started back in 2005 in Nottingham bringing together some top music acts across a number of venues. Fast forward to 2012 and the event has grown to three cities, all playing host to the chosen bands over a weekend. This years event will take place over the weekend of June 2nd to 4th in Nottingham, Bristol and Manchester. It's sure to be a great way to spend the bank holiday weekend in the UK and some ridiculously good bands will take to the stages over the weekend.

Up at the top you can see some of the line-up which includes, The Drums, Pulled Apart by Horses, Wavves, Willis Earl Beal, Summer Camp, Willy Moon and countless other top artists. Over the next week or so leading up to the event we'll post up some recommendations for bands we'll most definitely be checking out and will be at the Manchester date to report on all the shows we possibly can! Keep your eyes peeled for it but in the mean time for some more info hit up the official site. The full line up can be found here while the venue guide and set times are also up for your perusal here. Tickets can be purchased for the event here so get planning and see you in the pits!

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: April 2012

Honestly, where is this year going!? It feels like last month we were doing our end of the year write ups and making plans to party on New Years Eve, but here we are nearly halfway into the year already. That means it's definitely time to start making all of your festival plans and start picking songs to listen to on the way to the beach. This month's tunes that have been hand selected by us for Some Kind of Mixtape: April 2012 are sure to point you in the right direction. As always, we've left you some tidbits about each song via our "liner notes" below and be sure to have a listen below via our 8tracks player. Our other mixtapes from earlier in the year are all over on 8tracks as well.

We luvah you facez,

Kibbe, Shey, Adrian & Rocko

Some Kind of Mixtape - April 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

Animal Kingdom - "Strange Attractor"

It's been hard to take this song off of repeat ever since I saw the rather bizzare video to accompany the track, but "Strange Attractor" one of those kinds of songs that you want to put on while driving at sunset with the windows down so that the glimmering guitars and airy vocals can echo up into the sky and bring the stars out more quickly. This lovely gem comes from London outfit Animal Kingdom who are a week away from releasing their sophomore album The Looking Away that's packed with their unique blend of indie pop. Keep your eyes peeled on May 8th and be sure to grab a copy of the album for yourself. - Kibbe

Jai Paul - "Jasmine" (Demo) (from the Jasmine (Demo) Single)

Somehow, with only two songs to his name, Jai Paul has managed to remain in music conversation for years. His premier track "BTSTU" initially released in 2007 as a demo, and has since been reworked several times and sampled by the likes of Drake and Beyoncé. "Jasmine," Jai Paul's second outing, delivers an even more enticing package than, with deep, pounding basslines, catchy guitar riffs and echoey, reverb-heavy vocals combining seamlessly. Despite having only two tracks, Jai Paul deserves all the hype given to him. Bragging rights are acceptable with a track record such as his. - Adrian

PINS - "Eleventh Hour"

Seeming to have come from nowhere, PINS have emerged like a butterfly, fully formed and dripping in an undeniable beauty. This, their second track with thumping anthemic drums paired with the distant yet bright guitar makes a great combination. The chant like vocal work also adds to the mystery. A lot darker than the rhythm of "Shoot Me" but just as moreish. I've had this on repeat a lot this last month so maybe you'll enjoy it just as much? - Shey

El-P - "Oh Hail No" Feat. Mr Muthafuckin eXquire and Danny Brown

One of my personal anticipated records of the year, El-P delivers yet again with his forthcoming 3rd LP (no pun intended), Cancer For Cure. And what better track to represent a sharper wittier El than the banging "Oh Hail No" which features 2 of the most current hyped wordsmiths, Mr Muthafuckin eXquire and Fool's Gold's Danny Brown. Although, the guest features on this track (and the album) stray away from El-P's old Def Jux partners, the trio deliver without mercy over El-P's destructive backdrop. C4C hits shelves on May 22nd, preorder here and make sure you check out El's upcoming tour featuring Mr Muthafuckin eXquire, Killer Mike and Despot. - Rocko

Norah Jones - "After The Fall"

Danger Mouse x Norah Jones = Awesome. That pretty much sums up Norah Jones' new album, Little Broken Hearts (which actually dropped today) to a T. After Jones teamed up on Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi's Rome album last year, it was on inevitable for things to come back around and have Jones and DM work together on a full LP together. Aside from the leaks and single releases ("Happy Pills", "Say Goodbye" and "Travellin' On") the track I have currently on repeat is "After The Fall" which displays that classic Danger Mouse sound combined with the amazing vocals and lyrics from Norah Jones. Check it out and pick up the album today. - Rocko

Jack White - "Missing Pieces"

No-matter what band/group/project he's working on at any one moment, Jack White can make it his own. Now, when it came to his solo project it's hard to deny that we all, yes even you there in the back, we all got excited. A man of many talents but we all wanted to see and hear what direction his very own solo album would take. "Missing Pieces" is the opening track from Blunderbuss and it encompasses everything Jack is. Multiple instruments all prominently yet carefully placed resulting in an engaging piece of music. Just listen, stop reading. - Shey

The D.O.T. - "And A Hero"

I discovered The Streets and The Music back in college. I remember being so fascinated by the tone of Rob Harvey's voice on The Music's self-titled album and chuckling to myself at how clever I thought Mike Skinner's lyrics were on Original Pirate Material. Years went by and I watched their careers unfold and was pretty upset as both bands dwindled around the same time. Little did I know at the time that the brief collaborations on The Streets' Computers and Blues album would transition Skinner and Harvey into a new project which we now know as The D.O.T. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but after hearing "And A Hero" I could not be more excited to see this next chapter unfold for these two. The production on this track is like a breath of fresh air into Skinner's signature sound and Harvey's vocals on this track make my eyes water just a tiny bit every single time. I absolutely cannot wait to hear more - Kibbe

Major Lazer - "Get Free" (Feat. Amber Coffman)

What can I write about Major Lazer that hasn't already been said? I could try to make up some off the cuff word to describe their sound. But why should I? We all know by this point that the combination of Diplo and Switch is a beautiful one and by adding in Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors for vocal duties just takes it up another notch of ever growing greatness. No doubt we'll be having more Major Lazer treats over Summer, Diplo doesn't know how to take a break. - Shey

Purity Ring - "Obedear" (from their forthcoming album Shrines out July 24th via 4AD and Last Gang)

Edmonton duo Purity Ring are swiftly and gracefully establishing themselves as a favorite throughout the blogosphere, dropping select songs here and there. The difference? Each and every song they release is absolutely fantastic. "Obedear" is the best track they've delivered so far, and makes the July  24th release of their debut album Shrines even more anticipated. Pulsating gothic synth sounds surrounding ominous chanting and the spine-tingling vocals of Megan James, "Obedear" is the kind of song that, despite leaving you with goose bumps, has you desperately wanting more. What's not to love? - Adrian

White Fence - "Green Balloon" (from the Green Balloon 7" Single out May 22nd via Sexbeat)

Being a huge fan of Ty Segall, the psychedelic stylings of White Fence stood out immediately. "Green Balloon" is a great example of what makes the '60s-inspired psychedelic rock revival so appealing, as drowned out vocals and fuzzy guitar riffs pound in your ears like a flashback to a decade where music was at its finest. In every way, this song evokes the feeling of freedom and experimental creativity that was so prominent in the '60s, and all with a refreshingly carefree attitude. With his collaborative LP with Ty Segall out and volume one of his two volume Family Perfume LP released, 2012 is proving to be a good year for White Fence and the psychedelic rock revival. - Adrian

The Uncluded (Aesop Rock x Kimya Dawson) - "Bats"

Rhymesayers always knows how to deliver big on Record Store Day and this year was no different with the release of the 2012 RSE picture disc featuring new music from RSE flagship artists, Atmosphere and the debut of Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson's collaborative project, The Uncluded. We've been excited for this collaboration ever since the announcement of the two working together on Kimya's recent LP Thunder Thighs and last year's Daytrotter Session. And after hearing the studio version of "Bats", we can't wait to hear more from two of music's most eclectic artists. The duo's album will drop later this year, but you can expect Dawson to guest feature on Aesop Rock's forthcoming album Skelethon this July. - Rocko

Ladyhawke - "Sunday Drive"

Relationships are such complicated things. A lot of times the central issue in a troubled relationship is a lack of communication. I really doubt that this was the case when Ladyhawke penned her latest single, "Sunday Drive". She really lays her heart bare in front of all of us as she details a relationship that is clearly not doing so well. Not only do her lyrics speak to just about anyone who's ever had a tough love life, but her delivery on this song was very well thought out. She doesn't come off sounding too miserable, but there's just a twinge of pain in her voice as she sings, "Please don't go / I need your love" from the chorus. Typically by the end of the song I feel the urge to hunt down Ladyhawke down myself to give her a hug because the song has shaken me that much. - Kibbe

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: March 2012

Spring is officially here! The sun is peaking out through the clouds and all the good little music lovers on the planet are getting a head start on finding that perfectly epic summer jam. As usual, we've been pouring over tracks from artists far and wide on our never ending quest to bring you the best of the best from the past month. Rocko has even come more out of his blogging hiberation in the past month because the releases are increasingly getting better and better. Without further ado, please enjoy Some Kind Of Mixtape: March 2012 below, have a peek after the jump at the "liner notes" to see why we picked the tracks we did, and make sure you head over to 8tracks and your mixtapes with us!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Kibbe, Shey, Adrian & Rocko

Some Kind of Mixtape - March 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

Clock Opera - "Once and For All" (from Ways To Forget, released April 23rd via Moshi Moshi/ Island Records)

Clock Opera are preparing to release their debut, Ways To Forget, later this month we've had numerous twinkles from the band since last year. "Once and For All" opens the album with a slow building intro that rises into a spine tingling track of crescendos and vocal work. It's a perfect opening album track and it opens the door to an album that truly is wonderful. Every track is impeccable, this included. You listen intently as each nose and blip you feel is meant to be exactly where it is. No filler. Just pure musical goodness. - Shey

Pillow Fight (Emily Wells x Dan The Automator) - "In The Afternoon" (from In The Afternoon Single)

Whenever super producer Dan The Automator gears up for another "passion project" such as Handsome Boy Modeling School, Deltron and Lovage you know its gonna be an amazing listen and down right fun. with Dan and his newest project Pillow Fight with singer/songwriter Emily Wells. The two hooked up through mutual buddy, DJ extraordinaire Kid Koala (who also collaborates on the project) and the rest has been history since. Pillow Fight are gearing up to release their debut album later this year with David Choe providing the visuals and if it's like any of Automator's previous projects its gonna be sexy. - Rocko

The Cribs - "Come On, Be A No-One" (lead single released April 23rd, taken from In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, out May 7th via Wichita)

The band of Brothers from Wakefield, The Cribs, have come a long way since their early days and their Self-titled debut back in 2004. They're readying the release of their fifth studio album, In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, and this track is their first in a few years. Raw and sing along worthy it's a welcome return from the boys. The track is set for release on the 23rd of April with the album dropping a month later in May. Get your fix of what's to come in the shape of "Come On, Be A No-One". - Shey

Binary - "Modern Man" (from their upcoming single release "Modern Man" out on April 23rd)

I am so excited about what London band Binary have up their sleeves. They keep releasing singles that hit the spot for me every time. Their latest single, "Modern Man" is no exception to this. You can try your hardest, but this song will take over your brain in a matter of seconds as singer David Troster croons snotty lyrics while its moaning guitars and gritty bass line weave back and forth in the darkest parts of your mind. If you enjoyed "Prisoner" at all you are definitely going to want to grab this track the second it drops on April 23rd. - Kibbe

Rocket Juice & The Moon - "Poison" (from Rocket Juice & The Moon)

In music, 2012 so far has been the year of Damon Albarn with the return of Blur, the release of a new Gorillaz tune, producing the upcoming Bobby Womack record, the upcoming release to Albarn's opera Dr. Dee and the recent collaborative project with good friend Tony Allen and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rocket Juice & The Moon. RJ&TM's sound is that of a polished world music, funk jam session with tons of guests (Erykah Badu, M.anifest, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and more) and is as organic as you can get for a studio album. Check out the sexy, standout track "Poison" which features Albarn on the vocals and make sure you pick the band's album which is out now. - Rocko

Future Unlimited - "The Coast" (from their debut self-titled EP)

First and foremost, I love synth pop. Holy Ghost!'s debut album was one of my favorites from last year, and Nashville duo Future Unlimited have quickly and deservedly taken their place in my recently played list. Despite being relatively unknown until very recently, Samuel D'Amelio and Dave Miller's brand off '80s infused synth pop stands out immediately as incredibly catchy and appropriately atmospheric. Their debut self-titled EP was released only two weeks ago, and since then the song "The Coast" has been heavily replayed. It evokes the prominent styles of '80s music, that being pulse-pounding synthesizers and distant, brooding vocals. On every level it displays a love for the 1980s, but with that, Future Unlimited have gone further, giving the song an unexplainable modern relatability. "The Coast" is simply a fantastic and distinct representation of '80s influenced synth pop. - Adrian

St. Lucia - "The Old House Is Gone" (from his debut EP St. Lucia)

The slow build. The glittering synths. The echoy vocals. We've heard it a million different ways over the past few years. For some reason though, the way that St. Lucia pulls it all together for "The Old House Is Gone" from his self-tiled EP that dropped earlier this month just takes it to the next level for me. This song comes on and suddenly my heart gets lighter, I have a huge smile on my face and I just want to do my best Scott Stapp impersonation and just fling my arms back and dance around in the sunlight. It's so ethereal on the ears and euphoric in your heart. I absolutely love it. As far as I'm concerned, St. Lucia isn't going anywhere but up from here. - Kibbe

Indians - "Magic Kids" (from the Magic Kids 7" single)

In a month where Scandinavian pop dominated my eardrums—I'm looking at you Miike Snow—it was a massive surprise to hear Danish group Indians' brand new single "Magic Kids." Differing from their Scandinavian contemporaries, Indians encapsulate a melancholic song in a melancholic package. It is this package that is so captivating, though, as it takes you through an atmospheric dreamscape of ambient chimes, arrays of wave synths and distant, crooning vocals. It's an alluring single that only makes me more impatient to hear more from this Copenhagen outfit. - Adrian

Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines" (from his upcoming debut album Blunderbuss out on April 23rd)

It's really hard not to worship everything that Jack White touches. Although admittedly it took a bit for "Love Interruption" to grow on me, I took to "Sixteen Saltines" within seconds. This is Jack White at his best. His signature guitar sound shines so brightly in this song that you could go blind. It's got just a tiny touch of that White Stripes feel to it as well, so extra bonus for those of us who miss them terribly. I'm also having a hard time not thinking about his somewhat-recent divorce with Karen Elson while hearing these and trying to deduce what went wrong in their relationship based on the subject matter of these latest singles. Either way, I am super amped to snatch up this album in a couple of weeks and then rock out at Roseland Ballroom in May. - Kibbe

Plugs - "On and On" (from their upcoming debut album Plugs)

For those who have yet to hear former Does It Offend You, Yeah? member Morgan Quaintance current band, Plugs, its time for you to get familiar just in time for their upcoming debut album releasing this year on Eurostar Records. These Euro rockers came onto the scene in 2010 with more of an electronic influenced, rock sound as displayed in their first single "All Them Witches" and their 2011 single "Black Microdots" and have transcended themselves within a two year period to showcase they are more than a one genre band. And that they do, as shown in their recent single, the rock heavy tune "On and On" which provides vocal melodies very reminiscent to the sound of Beck Hanson's. Keep an eye out on these guys for what is next to come. - Rocko

Tanlines - "Not The Same" (from their debut album Mixed Emotions, released on March 20th via True Panther Sounds)

Tanlines debut album Mixed Emotions had me hooked from the get go. The Brooklyn duo's experimental style, which sees indie rock infused with elements of synth pop and several worldly genres, draws you in immediately and never lets go. No matter what the mood of the song, whether it's more upbeat ("All of Me") or more contemplative ("Nonesuch"), each one has something that makes it unique yet they are all cohesively addicting to listen to. "Not The Same" is particularly great, though, as it's simple progression and evocative lyrics meld effortlessly with catchy percussion. But, what makes the song so good is Eric Emm's vocal works, which sees a lot of breadth here, hitting emotional highs and thoughtful lows. "Not The Same" is a standout song from a standour album. - Adrian

Japandroids - "The House That Heaven Built" (from Celebration Rock, released June 5th via Polyvinyl)

What's not to love about a two piece that can create this much noise! Japandroids returned in March with "The House That Heaven Built", the first track taken from their newly announced album Celebration Rock, it's big, it's brash and for me I played it on repeat about 10 times in a row upon first hearing it. That's always a good sign. For me this track also feels like Summer and the past week in the UK has been unusually great so that's another reason to play this track really loud. The perfect soundtrack to the perfect sun-filled day. - Shey

[Interview] Teen Daze Talks Fans, the Blogosphere, Touring and Gives Advice for Up and Coming Artists (Part Two)

Vancouver native Jamison came from humble beginnings in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, a beginning which eventually led to studying abroad and a broadening view of the world. Through the absorption of books and knowledge, Jamison came to better understand the world around him, and music became the outlet for this influx of experience and insight. These lifelong influences and a passion for music that came to fruition early on in his life led to the creation of the Teen Daze project, a project that has since flourished. With numerous EPs under his belt, Teen Daze has dabbled in various aspects of the electronic realm, but with his forthcoming debut LP, the solo artist has refined his sound into a cohesive and ultimately more powerful and evocative way. All Of Us, Together is his most ambitious project yet, and it is clear that the album will come to define his rising career.

Teen Daze is gearing up to release All Of Us, Together on May 22nd via San Francisco record label Lefse, and, with a European tour set to start next week, the musician took the time to chat with me over the phone for a fantastic hour long conversation. During the second half of the interview, Teen Daze and I discussed how important fans, the blogosphere and how beneficial it is for bloggers and artists to work together, as well as giving advice to up and coming artists out there. You can listen to the 25-minute second half of my interview with Teen Daze below, and head here to listen to the first half in its entirety.

[Interview] Teen Daze Talks Musical and Life Influences, His Upcoming Album and Genre Classification (Part One)

Vancouver native Jamison came from humble beginnings in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, a beginning which eventually led to studying abroad and a broadening view of the world. Through the absorption of books and knowledge, Jamison came to better understand the world around him, and music became the outlet for this influx of experience and insight. These lifelong influences and a passion for music that came to fruition early on in his life led to the creation of the Teen Daze project, a project that has since flourished. With numerous EPs under his belt, Teen Daze has dabbled in various aspects of the electronic realm, but with his forthcoming debut LP, the solo artist has refined his sound into a cohesive and ultimately more powerful and evocative way. All Of Us, Together is his most ambitious project yet, and it is clear that the album will come to define his rising career.

Teen Daze is gearing up to release All Of Us, Together on May 22nd via San Francisco record label Lefse, and, with a European tour set to start next week, the musician took the time to chat with me over the phone for a fantastic hour long conversation. During this time, we covered everything from his career, his influences, the blogosphere, perspectives on the ideas of genres and classification, as well as how important fans are to a musician. Below, you can listen to the 27-minute first half of my interview with Teen Daze, while the second half is set to be published tomorrow.