FF

New releases! The first comes from St. Albans group, Friendly Fires. It's a wonder that I hadn't come across these guys earlier than I did - I've given this record heavier rotation in the last week than I've given any of the other new releases in the past month. These guys bring to mind the better, albeit poppier, aspects of LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Late of the Pier and (yes, I'm gonna do it) My Bloody Valentine. Though that last one only begs inclusion as the result of one song in particular, I wouldn't throw a combination like that out at a group I didn't feel was completely worth it. Quit wasting your time, check this one out. ("Friendly Fires" will be released stateside on September 23).
Friendly Fires - "Jump In The Pool"
Friendly Fires - "Strobe"

Friendly Fires - "Paris"



I've had a sort of love-hate relationship with TV on the Radio over the years. To avoid a long diatribe, I'll just say that I've too often found myself enjoying one or two particular songs disproportionately more than the rest of the album. Throw in the fact that in all of these instances this tendency has existed despite the presence of constant critical acclaim (over some aspect of the music that I was obviously missing), and you've got an abridged version of the diatribe I was initially trying to avoid. Let's set it straight; I like TV on the Radio, I was and am excited about the album, and after having listened to it I can honestly say that you should be as well. I wouldn't say that the reason I've had trouble connecting to their past work was necessarily because it was going over my head in some way, but this new record takes a far more straightforward approach than any of their other output. As someone who just wants more "Wolf Like Me" and "Staring at the Sun" (and isn't afraid to admit it), this album really meets the expectations I had set for it. Plan on picking this one up when it's released on September 23.

TV on the Radio - "Halfway Home"
TV on the Radio - "DLZ"

What You've Missed

Van She - Changes (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) (MP3)
MSTRKRFT - Bounce (Mansion Remix) (MP3)
Fred Falke - Last Wave (Fixture & Damon Allen Remix) (MP3)