El Rey del Mambo y la Reina de Saba

One last Spanish beauty to close out January...

Klaus & Kinski are my current favourite band out of Spain (also holders of my #4 album of 2010 "Tierra, trágalos") and even though I rarely know what they are singing, it rarely matters. This is all-around beautiful...

La Casa Azul - Todas tus amigas

¡Mas español! This video is a trip! What are those girls on?! I'll tell you, a disco pop high!!!

La Casa Azul has a new album ("La Polinesia meridional") coming out this year on Elefant! I can't wait!!! Disco Flamenco!!!

Zipper

I love when bands write such perfect pop nuggets that even our slight language barrier can't stand in the way...



I love the color. I love the lead singer. I love the weePOP! records sticker on the guitar! This is the title track from an EP released on Elefant Records in the later part of last year.

Shrag - Talk to the Left!

'Cos you ain't right!! This is pretty old now (4-5 years) and I remember first hearing it at SF Popfest in 2009...I just couldn't resist... I present...SHRAG!

 

 ps. They released a new album last year "Life! Death! Prizes!".

Selebrities

I love love love this cover!! I also love love love the 80s magic happening in this video!!

Selebrities hail from Ft. Lauderdale but now reside in Brooklyn, not surprising...You can download their debut EP "Ladies Man Effect" from the lovely upstart label Cascine. Follow this link and just throw 'em your e-mail address. Definitely a fair trade for some lovely tunes!

Shine 2009 - Higher

Well, isn't this fun?...

Released on new label Cascine with some other joys like World Tour & Selebrities...I must investigate!

Cosmetics

First, they were good for your face, now they're also great for your ears... Cosmetics hail from Canada and they are so lovely...hints of Siouxsie, hints of Class Actress, hints of Client...mmmmmmmm...They have two 7" singles (one for each song below) and both have lovely b-sides. They were released on the ace Captured Tracks, who will also be releasing the self-titled debut album in March! Yayyyy!!

Still Corners

Beautiful beautiful beautiful...dream...beautiful...love...

Jarvis the Guest

Not sure who these folks are but they were wise enough to utilize the silky smooth voice of pop god JARVIS!! Good song! (I quote directly from the vimeo page below)

"Britpop legend Jarvis Cocker lends his signature vocals to "Synchronize," the kickoff single from Discodeine's first full-length album out February 14th on Dirty / Pschent." Dir. JF Julian
Synchronize is available on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/synchronize-ep/id403300514
"DISCODEINE is one of the most anticipated duos, the brainchild of two musical producers to haunt our collective conscious in recent years: Pilooski, an already well-known fixture amongst the Parisian music scene (best known for his “dirty edits” series and his collaborations and remixes for LCD soundsystem, Jarvis Cocker, Iggy pop, Brian Ferry, Nina Simone...) and Pentile, an equally respected musician/producer in his own right (and until now best known for his involvement with Octet and France Copeland)."

Fujiya & Miyagi

yaayyyyyy new Fujiya & Miyagi!!!
Due out on Jan 25 via Yep Roc is their new album "Ventriloquizzing"...beautiful name indeed...

Here is the first video offering from the album, the very very creepy "Sixteen Shades of Black and Blue"...




Also, enjoy the awesome album trailer...

Best of 2010 - The ALBUMS!!!!!!!!!!

Delayed, but still here...my TOP 25 albums of the year 2010. In my Number 1 spot, one of the finest musical creations I've had the pleasure of taking into my ears, heart and soul in a very long time. Truly beautiful.
The rest, just damn good music.

1. The Magic Theatre - London Town
2. Freezepop - Imaginary Friends
3. The Golden Filter - Voluspa
4. Klaus & Kinski - Tierra, trágalos
5. Robyn - Body Talk
6. The Legendary Pink Dots - Seconds Late for the Brighton Line
7. Rebekkamaria - Sister Sortie
8. Chinawoman - Show Me the Face
9. Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love
10. School of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire

11. Lætitia Sadier - The Trip
12. Trembling Blue Stars - Fast Trains and Telegraph Wires
13. Allo Darlin' - Allo Darlin'
14. Scissor Sisters - Night Work
15. New Young Pony Club - The Optimist
16. Gigi - Maintenant
17. Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle
18. Villa Nah - Origin
19. Duffy - Endlessly
20. Twin Shadow - Forget
21. Sally Seltmann - Heart That's Pounding
22. Husky Rescue - Ship of Light
23. Kelis - Flesh Tone
24. Christina Aguilera & Cher - Burlesque
25. The Felt Tips - Living & Growing

Best of 2010 - The SONGS!!!!!!

Oh, such pop...I think all 34 (the same number of concerts that I attended this year...no coincidence!) are quite the POP...not much in the way of slow jams this year which is weird 'cause I usually have plenty. OH WELL...POP IT LIKE IT'S HOT!!!

These are in loose order...

1. Little Majorette - Bite the Bullet
2. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
3. Rebekkamaria - Corollaceous
4. The Magic Theatre - Silent Snow
5. Champagne Riot - Heart Stab
6. Class Actress - Careful What You Say
7. iamamiwhoami - y
8. Robyn - Dancing on My Own
9. Class Actress - Someone Real
10. Chinawoman - Go
11. iamamiwhoami - t
12. Freezepop - Doppelganger
13. Robyn - Fembot
14. Allo Darlin' - My Heart Is a Drummer
15. Moto Boy - The Heart Is a Rebel
16. Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go
17. Klaus & Kinski - Forma, sentido y realidad
18. Christina Aguilera - Elastic Love
19. Janelle Monáe - Tightrope (feat. Big Boi)
20. Kelis - Acapella
21. New Young Pony Club - We Want To
22. Christina Aguilera - Monday Morning
23. Craft Spells - You Should Close the Door
24. We Are the World - Fight Song
25. iamamiwhoami - u-2
26. Best Coast - When I'm With You
27. Leslie Hall - Tights Pants/Body Rolls
28. Belle and Sebastian - I Want the World to Stop
29. The Pipettes - Stop the Music
30. The Superions - Who Threw That Ham at Me
31. Villa Nah - Rainmaker
32. Gigi - Alone at the Pier (feat. Rose Melberg)
33. The Bronson Brothers - Mirror Mirror
34. Gram Rabbit - Off With Your Head