It’s as if we are all waiting for that one song to usher in and define the summer.  Well, the wait is over in epic fashion.  On May 16, the (no longer) unknown LA group, Smallpools, released “Dreaming,” their debut single through record label Neon Gold, home of fellow synth pop crooners, Passion Pit.  ”Dreaming” bursts from the first note with explosions of electrifying synths, twangy guitars, slick lyrics and an incredibly tight production.  Sure, they share a similar sound to their  labelmates, but that takes nothing away from how addicting and impressive Smallpools’ first entry is.  ”Dreaming” is destined to be on every single summer mix I make over the next three months. Enjoy.

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Side note: I’ve been playing this song on repeat for the past 2 days with no intention of stopping.

Warm Soda isn’t here to waste your time.  Not one of the tracks on their debut LP, Someone for You, reaches 3 minutes in length.  The power rock group says what it needs to and moves on.  It’s on us to keep up.  Prior to the release of Someone for You, Warm Soda created major buzz and big expectations with the garage rock/glam track, “Waiting for Your Call.”  Warm Soda is a bit of an enigma, having substance while at the same time capturing the style of the not-so-deep glitzy 80s rock, with wild guitars, dramatic vocals, and hardhit drums.  It’s the little touches – like the bass guitar quietly flickering frantically in the background – that makes “Waiting for Your Call” something worth waiting for.  Enjoy.

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MØ, the Danish singer making waves in just about every indie music ocean, recently released a video for her fourth single, “Waste of Time.”  Short for Karen Marie Ørsted, MØ has a taste for sputtering, soulful electronics, and far-out, DIY videos.  ”Waste of Time” is no different.  MØ‘s voice slings back and forth to the rhythm of finger snaps, harmonic grunts, and crackling synths, only cut by a perfectly gratuitous guitar solo overlaying the chorus.  She recently signed with RCA Victor and her debut album is due out this year.  Everyone looking for the next Purity Ring or Grimes need look no further.  Enjoy.

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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.

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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 has the 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.

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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 a 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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