The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Chameleon



"I am a chameleon"

Friday's post is coming today because I am moving across the state this weekend so internet will be a little scarce until late Sunday. But, in the meantime, enjoy this uber-funky cut from the new Swedish band The Je Ne Sais Quoi. The group has a real freestyle jazz feel, even though their music has got a pop edge (and punk attitude) to it as well. They certainly don't sound like anyone else out there. Whether that will serve them well or not remains to be seen, but the stuff from their new album, including this track, sounds amazing. The album, Rhythm, comes out September 19th and promises to be funkier than anything else this year. We'll have to wait to see if that's true.

The Je Ne Sais Quoi - Chameleon (mp3) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the single here!)

Lorraine - Saved

"Then again I did not want to be saved"

I usually don't post requests, but it's always good to highlight again Norwegian band Lorraine, who have yet to release their debut album and need to. So, this song is for that anonymous person who left comments wanting it, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't give it a listen as well. All of the eight or so tracks I've heard from this group are amazing, and we can't let them escape without delivering a full-length. For those of you who haven't heard of Lorraine (probably none of you if you read this blog), they produce sleek, poppy synth music that sounds like an updated version of fellow Norwegians A-Ha.

Lorraine - Saved (mp3) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the single here!)

The Rinse - Young Offender

"If I could I would defend her"

I've always thought of The Rinse as the baby Maroon 5. And, given my disappointment with Maroon 5's recent album (and Wake Up Call, which I honestly can't stand), these guys fill the soulful pop/rock vibe that Levine used to inhabit in my cd collection. Young Offender is taken off of the band's debut EP (the wonderfully titled The Rinse, Sir?), which is a collection of five wonderfully produced modern pop songs. A full length album will be arriving next, and I hope that radio will catch onto this group. Every song I've heard from them sounds like a single.

The Rinse - Young Offender (mp3) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the EP here!)

Office - Possibilities

"We discovered we were temporary at best"

I posted a song by Office (the brilliant Wound Up) last year and now finally the band is about to release their major label debut. Despite being from the States, Office really sounds like it comes from Britain. Fans of classic indie britpop will love this group, especially this sweeping, gorgeous track called Possibilities. The song reminds me a bit of the short lived Upper Room that released a few singles and an album last year. Like Wound Up before it, Possibilities typifies that perfect, top-down summer driving music. The verdict's still out about the rest of the album, but this is definitely a group to watch out for.

Office - Possibilities (mp3) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Preorder the album here!)

Jupiter Rising - Electropop



"Drug addiction when I can't stop"

File this new single firmly in the box marked "guilty pleasure." Usually, I abhor that term, since most of the music I like is usually classified as such by other people with more boring taste, but for this duo and this song it totally fits. Electropop is American pop group Jupiter Rising's first (moderate) hit, preceding the release of their album next week. Somehow it reminds me of a slowed down Aqua, though I think that's just because I'm getting hung up on the "candy shop" lyric. Either way, the mainstream pop sound (and ridiculously inane lyrics) of the song isn't usually my thing, but the chorus here is too addicting to pass up. And, anything titled Electropop automatically gets my attention.

Jupiter Rising - Electropop (mp3) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Preorder the album here!)