Sheppard - Geronimo

"Can you feel my love?"

Mark my words: in a couple of months, this song is going to be everywhere. Sibling/friend band Sheppard has taken their native Australia by storm and it's just a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers them. They straddle the line between Mumford & Sons-esque folk elements (not my favorite thing) and sunny pop harmonies (much better). It's basically jolly, happy music that makes you feel good. Up until this new single, they were a promising act with a couple of decent tunes. Geronimo, though, blows everything out of the water. It is simply one of the catchiest songs I've heard in some time, screaming for ubiquity in advertisements and movie trailers. Hopefully that doesn't happen, since it tends to make me dislike even a great song, but if the band and their management play their cards right, global domination is theirs. For now, it's an immensely enjoyable, rousing pop single perfect for the upcoming summer season.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Fooo - Lose Our Lungs

"Every day is another party"

This is such a stupid song, but therein lies its insane brilliance. I mean, the lyrics here are not only ridiculous, but they're completely cliche-ridden. Yet, they're delivered with sincerity and almost unbelievable energy. Unlike so many others in the Fooo's same genre, these guys are 200% committed to the art of trendy pop music. That's why their debut album is so great. Yeah, the melody and the production are there, but what really shines through is the personality. In anybody else's hands, a track like this, filled with its inane braggadocio, would be an absolute joke. With the Fooo, you get the sense that the band is laughing along with the listener. Of course, it helps that the deceptively simple chorus is quite the earworm.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Akdong Musician - 200%

In addition to being a huge K-Pop fan, I've been obsessed with K-Pop Star (Korea's answer to American Idol or X-Factor) throughout its three seasons. Akdong Musician were the winners of last year's season two, which also happened to be the best season. The sibling duo hail from Mongolia but have signed with huge Korean agency YG (home to G-Dragon, Bigbang and 2NE1, amongst others) and have just released their first album. They specialize in hyper-clever, cute acoustic pop... which is normally the kind of thing I absolutely detest. But, there's just something about these two. It's hard not to love them and their music, and this track is no exception. 200% is a bubbly, summery single that brings a smile to my face. It's a near-perfect hybrid of pure pop, indie and hip-hop. It didn't click fully the first time I heard it, but after a couple of listens I found myself totally smitten.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Donkeyboy - Crazy Something Normal

"We don't need advice"

I'm a little behind on this one, but I'm so happy that the best band with the worst name is back for another excellent single. Their last album, Silver Moon, was surprisingly amazing, so I am eagerly awaiting the follow-up (which better be released soon). Their new single Crazy Something Normal presents everything I love about this band. Their music has such a wistful, almost alien sound to it, but at its core lives a beating heart of pure pop. Much of this has to do with frontman Cato Sundberg's androgynous, hypnotic vocals. Simply put, his inimitable tone is an incredibly unique, gorgeous instrument. This track layers on a children's choir in the chorus, which just puts it over the top. Fantastic.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.