sono - panoramic view (2007)

man.. europeans know how to make some sexy music. if you vibe with stuff like bloc party, placebo, 120 days, tgr lou (you know, that big city-bright lights shit you can dance/have sex/do drugs to), etc.. these three germans are definitely right up your alley. with three releases under their collective belt since 2001, this is definitely their most defined and strongest release to date. check out the video for my favorite track, all those city lights, below:



sono on myspace.

download panoramic view:



- panda

lola ray - liars (2006)

i love this album. john balicanta really has a knack for writing solid as fuck dance/pop songs (not to mention some fresh tattoos). something like a hybrid of nightmare of you and hot hot heat (with influence from acts like the cure, morrissey, and the jam shining throughout), the band turn liars into songs you can grind to, as well as songs for any late night drinking-your-sorrows-away session.

lola ray signed to benji and joel maddens' (ew) DC flag label and released their debut album in 2004, but are now free agents and hard at work on their follow up to liars (their second album). give this one a shot, i promise you'll have these anthems in your head for days.

lola ray on myspace.

download liars:


- panda ray

pollen

pollen were one of the last truly talented bands to release an album through fueled by ramen (and contrary to most fueled by ramen bands, there's a huge lack of photographs of them on the interweb). sounding like texas is the reason, gameface, jimmy eat world, and the descendants started an all star power pop group, pollen released four albums before disbanding in 2000. fans of newer-school bands like the get up kids and hot rod circuit would also certainly be into this. huge guitar riffs, insanely catchy choruses, and an intricate rhythm section to boot.

drummer/principal songwriter/lyricist bob hoag has gone on to record some of your favorite bands (including little compass, dear and the headlights, the format, the bled, and the first band i ever sang for.. heist at hand) at his flying blanket studios in arizona. he was also recruited as keyboardist/pianist for the ataris on their last album/tour.

flying blanket studios.

fan run pollen myspace.

download chip:


download peach tree:


- panda

ra ra riot - ra ra riot (2007)

saw these guys open up for tokyo police club last summer and had a lot of fun during their set. solid group of dudes out of syracuse. just smooth indie-pop for summertime. it'll do you good. these guys have a full length coming out on barsuk (who they recently signed to) in mid august called "the rhumb line."

ra ra riot on myspace.

download:



-ga ga grizzly

estelle - american boy (f/ kanye west) (2008)

it's about time kanye got on a straight pop track. straight out of the UK, estelle is bringing back a more urban pop, and manages to keep it bubbly. and sure enough, kanye kills it on this track.

estelle on myspace.

download:

estelle - american boy (f/ kanye west)

-grizzly don't act a fool, now now.