Major Lazer - Hold The Line

Major Lazer is a duo of DJ's.  The pair of Diplo and Switch are behind the strange image of this group.  "Hold The Line" features Santigold and Mr. Lexx.  You can find the track on their album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do.  The truth about the song is... it's catchy.  The guitar work is what carries the song, along with Santigold.  The song starts off sounding almost like an old western showdown, with the sound of a clopping horse.  Then you hear it, "Major Lazer!".  Yes, the groups name is shouted at the beginning of the song.  Finding a correct genre for this unique song would be incredibly difficult.  It mixes reggae, electronic, hip-hop, and dance elements.  The result of this fusion is nothing else, but Major Lazer.  I would checkout this track if you need some... odd music.  You won't find too much that's similar to this act.  I didn't think I would like this song, but I do.  You should give it a try.

Mr. Dream - No Girls Allowed

Mr. Dream has created an EP full of raw punk rock music.  From the opening song, "Knuckle Sandwich", to the closing track, "Unlovable Loser", the album is wild and fun.  With just five songs that rarely clock in at over three and a half minutes, the collection is short and sweet.  That's how punk music should be.  The Brooklyn based band definitely has a successful future ahead of them.

"Knuckle Sandwich" is the major standout track.  By starting the album with this song, it's almost impossible to stop listening further.  The bass line in the verse, along with the beat, is contagious.  Even if you don't care for the rest of the songs, this one's a keeper.  Odds are... you'll enjoy the entire EP.

One thing that stood out the most, was the large amount of catchy bass riffs.  In every song, there's something great creeping along the bottom of the instruments.  The musical element that is mostly ignored in many songs is used to its advantage here.

I would check out the No Girls Allowed EP if you love energetic and rough punk music.  You could definitely call this album "noisy".  Mr. Dream reminds me of the fundamentals of this genre.  Distorted guitars, pounding drums, and crazy vocals... what else do you need?

Hole - Skinny Little B***h

What will Courtney Love do next?  Apparently she's singing, once again.  Just when you thought she was occupied with the Guitar Hero lawsuit, Love is back with her old band.  When I say old band, I don't mean her original band.  Sure, it's still called "Hole", but the band lineup is completely different.  This song sounds like it belongs in the nineties.  If you heard the music without the front-woman's hoarse yells, you'd think it was a Nirvana song.  I feel that the band has completely eliminated any chance at radio play because of the obscene lyrics.  Let's just say that extreme censoring would be necessary.

Former Hole Lineup

I've never been a fan of Courtney Love in the past, and this remains unchanged.  She sounds incredibly tired and rough, maybe even a little... old.  It's really hard to get past her, personally.  Even when you do, the song is still bland.  I don't criticize music for no reason, this song deserves the complaints.  I would pass on "Skinny Little B***h", especially if you aren't comfortable with excess profanity.  It sounds like grunge music that would've been overshadowed by Nirvana if released in its appropriate era.

The Raveonettes - Last Dance

"Last Dance" starts with the sound of twinkling chimes.  A lonely synth bleep is added.  Then, the chorus blasts in with, "If this is the last dance - Then save it for me baby".  This chorus will be implanted into your brain for the rest of the day.  Once you hear it, the melody refuses to leave.  The Raveonettes are a Danish alternative rock band.  This single is on their latest record, In And Out Of Control.  The album was released last fall.  The duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, have created a great pop song.  The verses are quiet and the hook is loud, really loud.  The synth solo after the bridge only makes it better.  I would check out "Last Dance", or the entire album, if you like alternative and pop music such as The Big Pink, The Duke Spirit, and maybe even Yeah Yeah Yeahs circa It's Blitz!.  You'll remember this song for its jingle-like melody and catchy chorus.

The Appreciation Post - Work/Sleep

Sometimes you just want to listen to some fun poppy music, right?  You're not in the mood for anything to heavy or serious.  If you're feeling like this, then you should hear The Appreciation Post.  This band from Boston makes fun synth filled rock music with a pop twist.  You might even want to call it power-pop.  Earlier this year, they released their EP, Work/Sleep.  From the start to the end, this album is packed with so much energy, you won't know what to do with it.

The album, which contains seven tracks, kicks off with "The Beating Of A Lifetime".  The synth laden song is a good start for the EP.  It correctly sets the sound for the following songs.  The album continues at a good pace.  Each song is a chunk of adrenaline pumped pop-punk.  This continues until "Better My Future", a short interlude.  I actually think that this track is one of the album's most memorable moments.

The band has definitely established a signature sound.  On every song you'll hear a quirky synth keyboard. They mix the pop-punk genre with a synth-pop, or electro feeling.  I like the sound.  They don't take the keyboards to an extreme, which is great.

I would check out The Appreciation Post if you like Weezer, Anarbor, The Academy Is..., or maybe even Hellogoodbye.  Their style is comparable to so many other bands.  You should definitely give the Work/Sleep EP a chance.  You can download the entire album from the band, for free, here.