Austin, Texas is home to some of the best bbq restaurants on the planet, the largest urban bat colony in the world (I bet you didn’t know that), SXSW (I bet you did know that), and now Max Frost, the formerly under the radar musician who has burst onto the scene over the past few months with an onslaught of tracks that blend hip hop, funk, soul, rock and folk.  Other than having an amazing comic book villain name, internet searches reveal very little on the man.  His recent single, “White Lies,” is a soulful track that combines Cee Lo style vocals with the frantic danceable energy of Electric Guest.  With songs like “White Lies,” it was only a matter of time before Frost became the new obsession of indie music blogs…and just about everyone else.  Enjoy.

Check him out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop White Lies here

Still Corners released their sophomore album, Strange Pleasures, on May 7th, and to celebrate this joyous occasion, today we turn our attention to “Berlin Lovers,” the first single off the London group’s indie pop album.  Still Corners impresses me with their ability to change their sound just enough to keep it fresh, while maintaining a familiarity by keeping the band’s essence intact.  Their first album, Creatures of an Hour, had a thematic haziness that was utterly calming and intoxicating.  ”Berlin Lovers,” which first hit airwaves in February, signified a bit of a sharper exploration into electronics.  Don’t get me wrong.  That dream pop aura still hovers over Strange Pleasures like a mist but every now and then a jagged little synth dagger slices through the fog.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop Berlin Lovers here

Seven albums in and Tegan and Sara always find a way to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  On Heartthrobs, their latest album, the twin sisters have elevated their techniques and delved into more sentient subjects,  revving up the synths and crafting anthems for the jilted lover.  This new direction, which is bit more mainstream that T&S lifers are used to, suits them well, especially with their newest single, “I Was a Fool.” The pop single sports sweet harmonies, lush electronics and lyrics that deftly tap into romance’s fatal flaws.  If you can’t relate to “I Was a Fool,” there is a pretty decent chance you are a robot.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop “I Was a Fool” here

Side Note: I feel like “I Was a Fool” could be played at the heartbreak scene in every 80s teen movie.

If you feel the need to dance like a damned fool, then immediately skip this review (which you probably would anyway) and just play “Sweater Weather” by Parks.  The debut single from the Boston group is bursting with schizophrenic energy from the kinetic guitar chords to the crisp harmonies to the wild rhythmic thumping, all of which make you want to do anything but sit still.  While there is a semblance of garage rock sound to Parks, the band’s wholesomeness feels like the garage was cleaned by your sweet, Aunt Maggie.  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop Sweater Weather for free here

Side note: How in the world do these guys only have 546 fans on Facebook?

When I first heard “All the Bros Say” by Abadabad, I did a double take.  Not because of the name, but I had to confirm that I was listening to a band that didn’t exist when I was born.  ”All the Bros Say” sounds like it was written while the group was literally surfing in Malibu in 1960, not while the Massachusetts fivesome was putting together their debut EP, The Wild, in Boston last year.  Anyway, they have me fooled (which is easy to do).  ”All the Bros Say” is a fuzzy, ‘beach pop’ track with a haziness that mimics recordings on vintage analog equipment. Even with its old school vibe, Abadabad emits a modern energy matched with less throwback-ish lyrics (and i aint spending my summer wondering where you are/so get the hell out of my car).  Enjoy.

Check them out here

Or on Facebook

Scoop “All the Bros Say” here

Side note:  Frontman Jeremy Lee Given may be the first guy to make telling a girl to get the hell out of his car sound endearing.  Kudos.

It’s been at least four or five minutes since I’ve posted something imported from Australia.  The latest is synth’s newest heavy hitter, Chela.  Chela‘s star is on the rise as she appears to be churning out catchy, lovelorn electro-pop hits pretty regularly these days.   Chela built her buzz by appearing with LA’s buzzworthy Goldroom but is showing now that she can easily take the reins.   Each song she releases comes with a visually simplistic video focused solely on the songstress. The most recent to receive the video treatment is “Guts,” a slick track with an anthematic chorus and beats that make staying away from the dancefloor close to impossible.  Enjoy.

Check her out here

Or on Facebook

Get “Guts” here

Side note: Looks like Chela saves a fortune on paint.

Any song inspired by an episode of Futurama, especially one where men are forced to engage in “snu snu” on a planet dominated by giant Amazon women, gets my attention without even hearing a note.  Good thing “Amazon,” by GRRL PAL, has a lot more going for it than just pop culture references.  Formed in 2012, GRRL PAL has only released one song, “Amazon,” an upbeat, synth-pumping pop track led by the ethereal chants of leading lady, Jay Daniel.  GRRL PAL promises the release of their debut EP this month and let’s hope this grrl keeps her promises.  In the meantime, hopefully Amazon motivates you to go out there and get some snu snu.

Check them out on Facebook

Download “Amazon” for free here

Ducktails, which started out as the solo project of Matthew Mondanile of Real Estate, has slowly turned into a group effort over the course of four albums, with Mondanile incorporating friends and colleagues into the music making process.  Ducktails’ most recent album, the slightly soulful The Flower Lane, released in January of 2013, has a nostalgic feel with pop melodies that mimic the styles of 70s jazz and 80s synth.  The standout track is “Letter of Intent,” a smooth, lo-fi tune that lays down a funky clarinet solo and borrows the soft, angelic tones of Future Shuttles’ Jessica Farkas.   “Letter of Intent” proves that Mondanile should invite his friends over to play more often.  Enjoy.

Check them out on Facebook

Buy “Letter of Intent” here

Side Note: Am I the only one who thinks the clarinetist is Macauley Culkin’s doppleganger?

Indians was created by Copenhagen’s Søren Løkke Juul with a desire to create new challenges for himself.  After forming, the band quickly signed with famed label, 4D, and released its debut album, Somewhere Else, which still sounds like a solo affair for Juul.  Somewhere Else is a deliberate, tranquil record, with Juul’s falsettos filling the corners of every song and his keyboard doing the rest of the work.  Guitars play a subtle role throughout the album and at most times, the percussions feel nonexistent.  But this minimalist approach has a purpose, resulting in a hazy synth album with hints of folk and scattered bursts of pop energy that play out like moments of discovery amidst Juul’s expansive exploration of his new creation.

Best Tracks:

“Somewhere Else”

“Lips, Lips, Lips”

When & Where:

Somewhere Else is perfect for that stage between awake and asleep, where you don’t know what the hell is going on, your body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds, and everything is moving in slow motion.  Just agree with me so I don’t feel weird.  Thanks

Check Indians out here

Or on Facebook

Buy Somewhere Else here

I know it was only last week that I posted an entry about the instrumental skills of Slow Magic, but the single “On Yr Side,” released in September of 2013 (five months after Slow Magic‘s debut album, Triangle), redefines chillwave with its soft, vocal echoes, spindly synths and synchopatic beats.  The progression of Slow Magic‘s musical talents is tangible when comparing Triangle to “On Yr Side.”  The recent single showcases a more worldly command with Middle Eastern-influenced electronics snaking through the track that can transport you to a party in a Williamsburg warehouse or a hookah bar in Turkey.  Enjoy.

Check him out here

Or on Facebook

Download “On Yr Side” for free here