POP*STAR*KIDS - PEOPLE MAKE ME LONELY

"Don't like the TV or the radio"

Pop*Star*Kids describe their fans as "sharp, brightly colored humans." That can definitely describe this New York band as well. Relentlessly upbeat and catchy, P*S*K make fun, 80's-inspired electroclash rock. They've got three albums out but have yet to go mainstream. Of course, given the way they dress, that's not particularly a surprise. But who wants to be mainstream anyways? I can safely say that there's nothing like this on U.S. radio right now (or ever, for that matter). This particular song reveals all that's great about this band. Chugging synth, overdubbed vocals, guitar solo...all in just over two minutes!

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

ROGUE TRADERS - WATCHING YOU

"I see you watching me watching you"

Australia's Rogue Traders typify a sound that I wish would catch on in America. Dance music and rock work so well together, and now that No Doubt have all but lost Gwen to solo stardom, there's a lot of room for female-fronted rock/pop groups. This song, the third single from their debut, emulates what sounds like the immensely catchy beat from the Knack's My Sharona to brilliant effect. Basically, it's a big, dumb pop-song. But, in this day and age, we all need more of those.

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

THE SIMILOU - ALL THIS LOVE

"All this love saved up for nothing"

This is probably the perfect summer song. Just wait until that chorus kicks in! A nice throwback to eighties synth-pop that never was, the Similou (from Sweden) have crafted a total number one hit here. Bubbly and bright, without being annoying or "cute," this song will quickly be lodged in your brain. The video to this song reminds me of Super Mario Bros. The guys are playing/dancing on a cloud and shooting rainbows (no kidding; and trust me, it's not as totally campy as it may sound!).

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

THE CHALETS - FEEL THE MACHINE

"Everybody wants to feel the machine"

You can use your imagination as to what this song is about... Somewhere between Franz Ferdinand and the Go Gos, this Irish band has a kitschy sound that could really be huge. I think a song or two of theirs has appeared on the U.S. TV show Greys Anatomy, but their album's yet to be released in America (along with like every good album in the world). The video to this song is also very entertaining.

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

THE RASMUS - F-F-F-FALLING

"The night is calling me like a drum"

This would be the perfect theme song for a cool, Buffy-like TV show. Random, I know, but I'm throwing that out there anyways. But, theme song or not, this is one of the most delicious slices of poppy rock I heard from 2004. From the lovely fade in, to the punchy guitars, to the soaring bit after the second chorus, to the strange Michael Jackson-ish sound in the second verse, this song has classic written all over it. They definitely outdo all of the meat-n-potatoes "rock" (I'm looking at you, Nickleback) that litters American radio at the moment.

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)