Friday I'm In Love - 16/8/13

Friday I'm In Love is a weekly feature.

Highlights of what I loved over the past week.

Week = Friday to Friday.

May include things of a non-musical variety.

Pet Shop Boys - Electric

When this album came out last month, it sat on my "to listen" list for quite a while until I eventually forgot about it.  I must admit that this is partially due to their last album, Elysium.  It wasn't a bad release, but something about it failed to thrill me.  Still, whenever I say "you're a winner", it must be in that Neil Tennant "winnah" voice.  So that's something.

Earlier this week, a promo copy of Electric arrived in the mail and you can imagine my surprise after giving it a spin.  This record is amazing in more than one way.  First, the energy that Elysium seemed to lack is in full power this time around.  Secondly, those Pet Shop Boys have been experimenting. The album's production, thanks to the wonderful Stuart Price, gives the heaviest and most trendy electronic artists a run for their money.  You have tracks like "Love Is A Bourgeois Construct", which is practically a tribute to the classic PSB sound, and then "Thursday" with Example or "Shouting In The Evening", a massive electro club hit if I ever did hear one.

The Pet Shop Boys have still got it and Electric will surely stand the test of time against their legendary catalog.  Definitely check it out if you need some fantastic electronic music.  I know it'll be on my rotation for a long time to come.  You can buy a copy of the record here and listen to a few songs below.

Betty Who - The Movement

Over the past few weeks, one album in particular has been glued to my brain. This album, or EP to be more specific, contains some of the most exciting pop music I've heard in quite some time.  I know I'm always ranting about the big names like Robyn or Gaga, but this record is something to be recognized.

Betty Who's The Movement actually came out earlier this year, but I've recently found it.  It consists of four spectacular and infectious pop singles.  I say "singles" instead of "songs", because every track on the debut could be a hit on some level.  The opening single, "Somebody Loves You", is an eighties tinged dance piece and probably packs the most power upon first listen.  Actually, the entire album sounds eighties inspired to a certain extent, whether immediately obvious or not.  "You're In Love" falls into the mid-tempo range and reminds me of something Katy Perry would pounce on if given the chance.

My current favorite song on The Movement is "Right Here".  It's more reserved, approaching with a method of simplicity by placing the focus on a powerful vocal.  The instrumental is also mellowed out when compared to the rest of the album, but it's true that less can really be more.  The album's closer is "High Society".  I find myself singing this one throughout the day without notice.  A line like "We'll drink Chardonnay through the day cause we say so..." has never been more contagious.

Another great detail about The Movement is the fact that it's completely free. That's right.  Betty Who has all four songs posted on her website free of charge to download as you please.  You can also use the Soundcloud player below to grab the songs.  Check out the music video for "Somebody Loves You" while you're at it.  If you're really enjoying the music, then head this way to buy a Betty Who shirt perfect for wearing while dancing.

Friday I'm In Love - 9/8/13

Friday I'm In Love is a weekly feature.

Includes highlights of what I loved over the past week.

Week = Friday to Friday.

May include things of a non-musical variety.

Astralwerks "Music In 20/20" Box Set

To celebrate their 20th anniversary as a record label, Astralwerks released a limited edition box set for Record Store Day back in April.  After searching numerous record stores, I unfortunately couldn't manage to find a single one of the 1,250 sets for myself.  But the musical Gods believe in second chances.  Twenty years after the exact date of Astralwerks formation, the label collaborated with Insound to offer the remaining few copies to the public. I jumped on that opportunity like you wouldn't believe.  My copy just arrived in the mail a few days ago (#465!!!) and it's an amazing anthology of Astralwerks massive catalog.

There are twenty flexi discs printed on a rainbow of colors.  Each one is a song by a different artist and includes the original artwork.  Some are hit singles, while others are unreleased rarities.  The artists range from veterans such as The Chemical Brothers to the recent big names like Diamond Rings and David Guetta.

Hopefully some of you were able to snatch a copy, either on RSD or through Insound.  As far as box sets go, Music In 20/20 is visually and sonically fantastic.  Check out some more pics of the box set below.

Glass Candy - Feeling Without Touching

"Feeling Without Touching" is a piece of electronic goodness from Glass Candy.  The song resembles something from the 80's via Talking Heads.  With a beat that sounds like a robot, the song may be one of acquired taste.  The vocal style of, singer, Ida No channels the famous Yoko Ono.  Something about the tone of No's singing is incredibly similar to Yoko's distinct voice.  If you like odd and bouncy pop songs, then this quality is an added bonus.

The group's EP, Feeling Without Touching, was released in February of this year.  The tracks on the album are definitely out of the ordinary.  With spoken words and buzzing synth beats, you'll be turning your head in curiosity.  The instrumentals on the EP sound like they could also belong to Madonna during her early career.  If you like original and sometimes even questionable electronic or dance music, then check out Glass Candy.  Their music may be far out and weird at times, but it's also pretty interesting.

Owl City - Vanilla Twilight

One of the biggest pop songs of last year came from Owl City.  "Fireflies" took over the radio charts almost instantly.  The feel good song proved that Owl City was here to stay.  The biggest question on everyone's mind was, "Could Owl City top Fireflies with an even better song?".  That question may be answered with the electro-pop acts second single off of his album, Ocean Eyes.

Owl City is, in fact, one person.  Adam Young is the mastermind behind these catchy pop tunes.  "Vanilla Twilight" is a ballad in some variety.  The song starts with a lone piano behind Young's honest voice.  Then, the full synth-ridden instrumentation that Owl City is known for kicks in.  The main element that stands out in Owl City's songs, are the lyrics.  Adam Young creates lyrics that might be simple, but they're also incredibly honest, cute, and maybe even a little childish.  "Vanilla Twilight" is truly a modern love song.

Many have said that Owl City is too similar to The Postal Service.  While their styles of music are closely related, Owl City has managed to separate itself from this comparison by musical theme.  Between the odd subject choices and obscure lyricism, you won't confuse the two artists for long.

I believe that Adam Young has topped his previous smash hit with "Vanilla Twilight".  The song is great from it's bright yet mellow beat to the emotion filled vocals.  If you enjoyed "Fireflies", then you will most likely also enjoy this song.  Owl City is currently on tour with his female equivalent, Lights.  After his current tour, he's hitting the road with John Mayer.  He clearly has big plans ahead of him.  I would definitely check out this song or buy his album, Ocean Eyes, if you enjoyed his previous work.  "Vanilla Twilight" has the potential to make Owl City top the charts all over again.

La Roux

Here's one of my latest finds. La Roux is an English electropop duo led by singer Elly Jackson. English pop music has always different greatly from American pop, but I'll take La Roux over Lady GaGa any day. Their music reminds me of the 80's. They sound similar to Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, and maybe even Prince. The music consists of incredibly catchy beats and synths, while Jackson sings even catchier melodies. I've listened to three of their songs, Tigerlily, Bulletproof, and a remix of In For The Kill. Tigerlily is my favorite of the three, with Bulletproof as a close second. While I've never heard the original version of In For The Kill, the remix (Heartbreak Remix) is a little to long for my liking. I could definitely see Bulletproof becoming a Top 40 hit. I'm actually surprised it isn't already. I guess mainstream radio in the US isn't quite as friendly to electronic and dance music as Europe is. If you like upbeat pop music with a dance/electronic twist, then check out La Roux.