Girls - Heartbreaker

In 2006, Christopher Owens and Liza Thorn began a music project called Curls, which dissolved itself when Liza decided to focus more on her new band, BRIDEZ. Not to be dissuaded, Christopher recruited Chet White to join him and changed the band’s name to Girls.

Chris was formerly a member of Holy Shit . Being raised in the Children of God cult where “pop music was banned, women sold themselves for sex and several members were driven to suicide… the Girls’ singer’s life seems to have been a blur of prescription drugs, punk rock shows and art happenings.” All of which has deeply inspired and informed the music the band make.

Following their last year's widely acclaimed debut LP entitled Album, Girls have released EP Broken Dreams Club on November 22.

The band is offering Heartbreaker as a free Download.



Girls @ Myspace.

Source: The Bearded Cephalopod, LastFM, Wikipedia

Panda Bear - Last Night at the Jetty

Panda Bear is the moniker of Noah Lennox, a founding member of Animal Collective who is also a member of Jane.

As a teen, Lennox began listening to electronic music and artists such as Aphex Twin, all of which became a huge influence on his later work. He recorded and performed music and started to use the name Panda Bear because he drew pictures of pandas for the artwork of his recordings.

His first solo release was the self titled Panda Bear in 1999. After focusing more on touring and recording with Animal Collective, he released the follow-up Young Prayer in 2004 and the highly acclaimed third solo album Person Pitch in 2007.

Lennox's fourth album Tomboy is due to be released somewhere in 2011. Despite the fact that the album itself doesn’t technically exist, he keeps on releasing singles from it. Last Night at the Jetty marks the third single.



Panda Bear @ Myspace, Facebook

Source: LastFm, Wikipedia

Fitz and the Tantrums - MoneyGrabber

Embracing vintage Motown sounds with a modern twist, Los Angeles-based band Fitz and the Tantrums create soul-pop gems without employing a single guitar.

The band was founded by Michael Fitzpatrick, who had begun writing soul music for a solo project on an old church organ he had purchased.

“I got a call from my ex-girlfriend,” Fitz explains, “And she said, ‘My neighbor is moving out in a hurry and has to sell everything. And, he has this organ…”. Fitz called some movers, and seven hours later, the organ went from the curb to his living room. That night, Fitz stationed himself in front of that vintage instrument and wrote the blue-eyed soul anthem Breaking the Chains of Love.

The overflow of inspiration startled him. He’d spent years in L.A.’s music industry, writing music and working in a studio with Beck producer, Mickey Petralia. But with that organ he had finally found his voice.

Fitz added friend James King to the group as an arranger and soon after expanded the band to a seven-piece, including several horns. Fitzpatrick shares the vocal duties with Noelle Scaggs. Other members include Joseph Karnes, Jeremy Ruzumna, and John Wicks.

In just over a year, Fitz and the Tantrums went from the living room to the main stage. The group's debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1, was released in 2009. Dangerbird Records signed the group in 2010 and issued their first full-length album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, in August. The debut single from the record, is called MoneyGrabber.



Fitz and the Tantrums @ Myspace, Facebook, Twitter

Source: Wikipedia, Fitz and the Tantrums

Niki & The Dove - Mother Protect

Niki and the Dove are a Swedish trio fronted by singer-songwriter Malin Dahlström who, according to Popjustice, sound like "the Knife at Eurovision".

Before forming Niki and the Dove, lead vocalist and songwriter Malin Dahlström was programming for Midaircondo, singing lead in now-defunct rock band The Dora Steins, contributing wispy vocals to various electronic productions and doing solo shows and performance art all around Sweden under the name Disdishdance.

Her new band combines epic choruses with Eastern European drum styles to make soaring songs dripping with euphoria. Recent single Mother Protect contains its fair share of incredible moments, specifically what sounds like a panpipe solo around the two-minute mark.



Niki & The Dove @ Myspace, Facebook

Source : Guardian, LastFM, The Fader

Museum of Bellas Artes - Days Ahead

Museum of Bellas Artes have released only five songs so far. Yet, everyone is talking about them. The trio of electro-pop creators from Stockholm started of a year ago with Who do you love, a catchy cover of an obscure Motown tune. After that, the band took some serious time to think about what they wanted to do.

The result is four track EP, Days Ahead, containing the singles Watch The Glow and Days Ahead. It's all about 70s funk and 80s electronica, organs and synths, indie rock pompousness and Balearic beats.

Days Ahead is a song about longing. The video shows the main theme of a child that sits in solitude, passing the time with kaleidoscope eyes, counting minutes and waiting for something to come. You’ll start to feel its loneliness, but there’s nothing wrong with dancing alone.



Museum of Bellas Artes @ Myspace, Facebook

Source: The Rcommender, Yourstruly, Niteversions