Icon - Rockstar

This weird little track has won me over. It makes no secret of the fact that it's aiming for Gangnam Style success, from the inane chants to the "everybody dance" nature of the second half. Yet, as derivative as it is, I can't help but love it. Part of that is due to the colorful, 80's music video, part is the addictive "I-C-O-N... my name" chants, and part of it is how "rockstar" somehow has been turned into "rockster." This is a new breed of K-Pop. It's very international and kind of experimental (in a G-Dragon Crayon sort of way). It's a shame that the accompanying EP is incredibly boring.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Watch the video here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Preatures - Is This How You Feel

"I wanna know, wanna know"

Imagine if awesome Californian pop group Haim went just a tiny bit funkier. I think that, if that were to happen, they'd sound a lot like Australia's The Preatures. Is This How You Feel features a lot of the aspects I love about a great pop song. Bright, sunny production, a girl/boy vocal duo, and a lot of percussion. It's got a great organic sound that really stands out in an age of electronic dance anthems. There's something incredibly classic about it. The rest of their stuff seems a bit mellower, unfortunately, but this should provide them with a nice-sized hit Down Under.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Raise - Page Two (In This Light)

"In this light, he looks like Mr. Right"

Their has been so much good dance music around this Summer, most of it emanating from Europe. Avicii's latest smash, Wake Me Up, is currently taking over the world (and rightfully so -- I'm obsessed and may very well post about it later), but today I'm going to highlight a slightly lesser-known dance track. It's just as amazing, though. Raise's Page Two (In This Light) is the sequel to their less-exiting Page One from a few months ago. At first, you're lulled into the song by Vera Kebbe's soulful, airy vocals, but then that monster beat drops and lets you know what you're really in for. The last minute in particular is just huge. It works as both an excellent pop song and a total club-banger. Perfect for this hot weather we've been having in Northwestern USA.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Sound Of Arrows - There Is Still Hope (Fear Of Tigers Remix)

"Within the darkest hour, there is still hope"

This may very well be the best seven minutes of music we'll hear all year. The original version of this song is one of my absolute favorites from Sound Of Arrows, but now--two years later--this remix kicks it even higher. I may or may not have gone totally nutso to this track over the weekend and ended up as an emotionally invigorated pile in the corner of my room. Just sayin'. This band does things to me, and the combination of them and Fear Of Tigers is beyond brilliant. Epic. Epic. Epic. If anything this a "must listen," then this is it. Now we just need a video to go along with it.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their (fantastic) album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.