CSS - Hangover

Earlier this week, CSS announced all of the details surrounding their upcoming fourth album, Planta.  The record will feature eleven new tracks and, unless it's gone through a title change, "I've Seen You Drunk Gurl" is absent.  There's some Richard Avedon inspired artwork to go along with the music, as you can seen above.

This will be the band's first album since the departure of longtime member, Adriano Cintra, but that doesn't seem to be slowing them down at any rate.  To make things even better, the now all-girl band also decided to reveal Planta's lead single, "Hangover".  The track definitely leans on CSS' poppy side.  The punk attitude is resting while some synthy horns and a dance-like beat get the job done.

Planta will be out on June 11.  Keep reading to stream "Hangover" and check out the record's tracklisting...

CSS - I've Seen You Drunk Gurl

CSS (also know as Cansei de Ser Sexy) are currently working on their fourth album with musician/producer Dave Sitek.  As a little tease of what's to come, the band posted a new track last week.  "I've Seen You Drunk Gurl" will be released as a limited 12" on Federal Prism.  There are no official release dates for the single as of yet, but hopefully the wait won't be too long.

The song itself is a strange departure from their usual sound.  It's lacking in punky guitars and instead features a Beastie Boys inspired beat.  I've heard quite a few negative reactions towards the single, but I actually think it's pretty great.  "I've Seen You Drunk Gurl" still has the CSS attitude that the band is known for.  Check it out...

My Favorite Albums Of 2011: Part 2

It's time for part two of my "Favorite Albums Of 2011" list.  The last post featured ten (plus one bonus) albums that didn't quite make it into my top twenty.  My top twenty is mostly unranked, aside from the final three records.  The way I see it, is there really that big of a difference between my twelfth and eleventh favorite albums of the year?  For that reason, I've kept specific numbers out of the game until three, two, and one.  Let's get into it... 

Penguin Prison - Self Titled

After collecting a variety of Chris Glover's singles and remixes over the past two years, I anticipated this album for months.  Penguin Prison's self-titled debut is one of the most upbeat and fun records I heard all year.  It's pop, but not your usual club bangers.  There's just this sound that he has, and you can hear it on his remixes too.  The "Penguin Prison" sound.  I love it.

Cults - Self Titled

I was initially attracted to this album purely for aesthetic reasons.  While browsing new through some new releases, I stumbled upon Cults' debut.  It just looked like something I would be into.  As randomly predicted, I found it to be an amazing album.  "You Know What I Mean" is the album's centerpiece.  That song perfectly demonstrates Cults' ability to mix the old with the new.

Glasvegas - EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\

I feel like the order of songs on EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ could be reversed and you would have a completely different album.  Instead of a decline, the album would progress from the lows of "Change" and "I Feel Wrong (Homosexuality Pt. 1)", finally ending with their anthem of a single, "The World Is Yours".  This record couldn't have a more appropriate name.  It pulls at you with oddly comforting themes of longing and loneliness, but the production is so massive and truly euphoric.

Björk - Biophilia

My feelings on Biophilia are constantly changing.  It seems to have a polarizing effect.  The majority of the album consists of harps, bells, and any other twinkling instrument.  Sure, there are some beat driven moments, such as "Mutual Core".  But for the most part, Björk is howling about her extraterrestrial days of collecting minerals on Venus.  It's a strange concept that had me wondering what goes on in this Icelandic singer's mind.

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

I'm actually late to the Girls party.  Around the release of Father, Son, Holy Ghost, I also started listening to their debut.  "Lust For Life" is on my regular playlist and I blast it more than one would like to admit.  With that said, they quickly became one of my most listened to acts of 2011.  If I were to make a list that combined the concept of NME's "Cool" list and Barbara Walters' "Most Fascinating People" list, Christopher Owens would most definitely be a headliner.

Kimbra - Vows

After the "Kimbra weekend" feature earlier this year, this singer from New Zealand is a common sight on The Soundtrack Of My Life.  Her debut album hasn't been released in the US yet, but I predict good things for Kimbra when that day arrives.  Vows manages to create a pop sound without giving into any of today's gimmicks or trends.  Add in her jazzy stylings and a vocal range to kill for, and you have an outstanding record.

CSS - La Liberación

After two albums, it finally seems like CSS found an appropriate balance between the danceable sound of their debut and the more rock oriented sound of Donkey.  You may still have trouble taking them seriously, but that's the best part.  Plus, any album with a Mike Garson piano solo automatically gets bonus points in my book.

Feist - Metals

I love "1234" just as much as the next person, but I feel like Feist thrives the most when she slows down the tempo a bit.  She did just that on Metals.  It's still a powerful album, just not in the big band sing-along way.  The closing track, "Get It Wrong, Get It Right", is possibly one of the best songs in her catalog.

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

From the first song to the final note, Ceremonials is a bellowing album with enough hooks to satisfy the most restless of listeners.  Florence Welch kept her winning formula of Lungs and expanded it to twice the size.  She sounds like a choir and remains one of the biggest voices in pop music. 

The Black Keys - El Camino

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the genius that is the "Lonely Boy" music video?  If that doesn't convince you to give the album a listen, then I'm not sure what will do the trick.  There are tributes to Led Zeppelin on "Little Black Submarines" and I hear Bowie on "Sister".  I bet you'll never be able to listen to "Lonely Boy" without having a mental image of that dancing man.

Check back soon for the third and final installment including my top three albums of 2011.

CSS - La Liberación

Although the release of CSS' debut album Cansei de Ser Sexy initially failed to make much impact in 2005, one year and an Apple commercial later, CSS would be the band that everyone is talking about.  Their wild and danceable album contained tracks such as "Alala", "Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above", and the breakout single "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex".  They has created an electro-rock album with punk attitude.  CSS' second album Donkey switched gears with less dancing and more rocking.  Now the band is back with La Liberación.  This record is Cansei de Ser Sexy revisited.  The old sound has been updated with some new surprises.

CSS' name is an abbreviation of the phrase Cansei de Ser Sexy, which translates to "tired of being sexy".  That ridiculous attitude, the same sense of humor that brought you "Meeting Paris Hilton", is one of the shining features of CSS.  The Brazilian band is lead by Lovefoxxx, who breezes through live performances with capes and black lipstick, the latter of which earns a cameo on La Liberación.

La Liberación kicks of with the synthesized "I Love You", which features a call and response "I love you - I love you, too".  The opening track flows into "Hits Me Like A Rock", the lead single with Primal Scream's frontman.  Bobby Gillespie is the first of many guest artists on this album.  Ssion, Ratatat, and Mike Garson all make appearances.  "City Grrrl" is a club anthem waiting to happen, while "Partners In Crime" channels Aladdin Sane.  The album is a bit spastic in genres at times.  At one minute you'll have a Spanish punk piece and then a half spoken mellow rap track lies near the end of the record.

CSS still manages to save "F**k Everything" for last.  The finale is guitar driven with shouts of angst.  After a break of silence, Lovefoxxx returns to exclaim her love of "going to the pub with the gays" and "cookies", among other things.  It's bizarre and hilarious, a pretty good description of CSS.

La Liberación is out now on Cooperative Music.  You can buy a physical copy here.  If you prefer the digital way, then go here.

CSS - Hits Me Like A Rock

CSS' third studio album, La Liberacíon, is set to be released on August 29 and today they released the record's lead single, "Hits Me Like A Rock". The track features some backup vocals from Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream and should get you properly excited for the album.

Those of you who have listened to more than just "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex" know that CSS strayed from the synth and grabbed the guitars with their sophomore album, Donkey.  "Hits Me Like A Rock" is a nice chunk of synth-filled paradise.  It sounds like summer and may give you the urge to sway back and forth like a tipsy partygoer.  This single should (and probably will) be blared in the car with the top down.

You can download "Hits Me Like A Rock" below, for the cost of your e-mail address.  Remember to look for La Liberacíon on August 29.

  

Sleigh Bells, CSS, Mr. Dream, and Wet Witch: Live At The 9:30 Club

At around 7:00 P.M. last Saturday, the 9:30 Club had a line of people waiting outside the venue.  A group of all ages and buzzing with excitement.  Some wore neon outfits complete with matching headbands, while others took the term "hipster" to a new level.  They were all waiting for a night of frenzy.  Sleigh Bells and CSS were in DC for a sold out night of their co-headlining tour and they brought along Mr. Dream and Wet Witch for good measure.  Once the doors to the venue opened at 8:00, everyone rushed towards the stage for a good spot.  I settled down somewhere between the first and second row and was advised by an obviously concert savvy girl to keep a steady hold on my spot because, "It's gonna get crazy."

The show kicked off with Wet Witch at around 8:30.  Most of the crowd had no idea what to expect from them, so when the band's first song was an intense blast of noise, hands instinctively covered ears.  Wet Witch is a trio consisting of a guitarist, drummer, and vocalist.  The vocals were harsh while the drums shattered the room.  After the initial impact of the first song, the crowd loosened up. By the end of their set, there were mixed reactions.  Some were anxious and now noticeably pumped for the night to go on, while others got their ear plugs ready.  Wet Witch gave the club a good taste of what the mood would be like for the rest of the night, full of energy.

After a short set change, Mr. Dream prepared to take the stage.  The drum kit was moved to center stage with each vocalist on either side.  They started with one of my favorites, "Knuckle Sandwich".  The crowd warmed up to their sound much quicker than the previous band.  "Winners" caused every head in the pit to nod with perfect timing.  The combination of heavy rock numbers and lighter songs with sing-along melodies definitely turned some heads.  The bounce of "Knick Knack" under the dark red lights had me singing along all the way until the final note.  Their set seemed significantly longer than Wet Witch's quick spree and it ended with screams of "Mr. Dream!".

Once Mr. Dream left the stage, there was a decent wait until CSS would come out.  Although the majority of the audience was there to see Sleigh Bells, everyone was more than ready for CSS.  The entire venue roared when the lights went down.  Once CSS' Lovefoxxx ran onstage, the night changed completely.  She controlled the room with her wild antics, which included running through the crowd, spraying the room with everything she drank, and shedding her clothing.  When the opening beat of "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex" hit the air halfway through their set, everyone that wasn't already a CSS fan before the show was now converted.  Dance breakdowns during "Move" kept the night going at full speed.  The highlight moment of "Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above" transitioning into "Alala" topped off their set.  CSS had transformed a rock show into a dance party.

It was around 11:30 by the time CSS ended their set.  Sleigh Bells wasn't scheduled to take the stage until midnight.  This meant a long and restless wait was inevitable.  While many of the concert-goers wore CSS shirts, and some discovered new favorites in Wet Witch and Mr. Dream, it was clear that Sleigh Bells attracted almost everyone to the show.  The guitar amps, which took the shape of the giant wall, were pushed out closer to the edge of the stage.  The lights went out and after the first beat of the duo's "Iron Man" intro, the entire pit rushed forward causing the front rows to fall against the railing.  The now neon lights blinded the crowd.  Sleigh Bells had taken the night to another level.  Every strobe light was brighter and every noise was louder.  The crowd recited perfect lyrics back to Alexis Krauss, who donned a "SLAY BELLS" jersey over reflective and splattered leggings.  "Infinity Guitars" and "Rill Rill" were the crowd favorites.  Alexis surfed the pit, while guitarist Derek Miller sat on the rail during "Holly".

Sleigh Bells ended the night with a riot inducing rendition of "A/B Machines".  The back of the room surfed its way to the front.  People were thrown onto each other.  It was exactly how their music felt like it should be, chaotic and fun.  They played a fairly short set, about forty minutes which included almost every song that they had.  That didn't stop a group chant of "Sleigh Bells!" once the band left the stage.

The girl who told me to be ready for a crazy time was one hundred percent correct.  The concert, which let out at around 12:45, was explosive.  The glazed eyes and wide smiles were appropriate measurements of how hard the 9:30 Club was hit.  Each band played a completely different genre of music, but it only makes sense that they tour together since it was the raw energy that they all had in common.

Keep reading for more pictures of the show...