So Dance We All

So the Battlestar finale was the best finale ever, and if you disagree, well then you're just crazy. That said, it was pretty heavy-handed, so for those in need of a frakkin' pick me up (I never said I wasn't a nerd), check out some of the best dance tracks released this month:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero" (disabled)




Okay, so know how I said that, despite it being my favorite song of '09 so far, I wasn't gonna post this one, since it's flooded the internet so thoroughly? Well, apparently, my friends are not the hype machine geeks that I am, as a couple complained that I only posted the video link. So here it is.

Phoenix - "1901" (disabled)




Moving on, here's the first single off Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The French electropop group made waves in the US a few years ago with the single, "Everything is Everything", but have since re-appeared with an album brimming with artistry that, quite frankly, I wouldn't have pegged them with. Every track that's leaked so far has been a breath of fresh air, but the official first single remains my favorite of the bunch.

Roy G and the Biv - "Runnin"





So yes, I do occasionally check my e-mail. Not often, but it happens. I've been burned too many times by PR folks shoving mediocrity down my throat, and as a result, I've become painfully lazy at posting new artists who get directly pitched to the site. The cleverly named Roy G and the Biv (look it up), who hail from deep down in the heart of Texas are proof enough that I should change this practice. Their music recalls fellow Texan dance duo Ghostland Observatory, except they're decidedly more accessible. They also recall Australian duo Empire of the Sun, except they're decidedly grittier, with a host of rock and soul vibes spicing up the bleeps and bloops. By all accounts, their SXSW sets were a damn good time, so I'm looking forward to seeing them venture out West. For a look at their greater catalogue, check out their Myspace HERE. In the meantime, enjoy the new single.

----------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------

Asher Roth - "Lark on My Go Kart"< (disabled)/a>




So Mr. Roth becomes the first artist to get "Song of the Week" status twice on the site, and it's actually for good reason. True, since I posted "The Reading" a couple months ago, he's blown the fuck up with the omnipresent (and yeah, kind of obnoxious) "I Love College", but lest any true hip hop fan doubt his skills, he returns now with some of the best rhymes I've heard in a long time, referencing Mario Kart, 30 Rock and lonely MILFs in one casual breath, backed by equally inventive
production. If his debut LP veers in this direction, and away from fluff like "College" (not that there's not a place for that too), we could have a serious contender on our hands. PS: he locked this shit up for me as soon as he mentioned Razor Ramon.
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Under Construction (In Real Life, That Is)

Still no working computer............still settling into the new place........but nontheless, Shark Party continues. Hopefully in a couple weeks the dust will officially settle, but until then, enjoy some of the best new tracks on the net that aren't Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Royksopp or Grizzly Bear. All three bands have had albums leak in the last month, and all three are fucking amazing, specifically Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Of course, every blogger and their mother has already pillaged them, and posted the tracks up for all to hear, so there's no need for me to join the fray.


Instead, simply click HERE to check out the best track of '09 so far. Now, onto other stuff....

Kid Cudi - Dat New New (VIKING remix)





Kid Cudi capitolized off his 808s & Heartbreak spot with more Kanye-approved solo stuff in 09, quickly building a cult following. More than that, he's effortlessly crossed over to the indie rock crowd by writing songs that don't sound complete until they get slick electro-remixes. Such was the case with Crooker's version of "Day & Night", and such is even more the case with his second "net single", as remixed by VIKING. Here a spare, simple beat gets transformed into a monster of a club banger.

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone



Speaking of bangers, Mr. Calvin Harris is back with a track that's suddenly competing with Royksopp for most played club track around. By all accounts, I should already be sick of it, but I actually find myself enjoying it more with each listen.

------------------------Song of the Week---------------------------------


Kelly Clarkson - "I Do Not Hook Up"





I know what you're thinking. First post in weeks, and my song of the week is a Kelly Clarkson track? Well, whatever. It's easily Clarkson's best pop ditty since "Since U Been Gone", which means in a few months (when it's undoubtedly released as the second single), it'll be the pop song that's cool for all the hipsters to say they "secretly love". I'm just getting a head start on that love. And for the American Idol fans on here (and I know there's a cross-section....), the song is co-written by new judge Kara DioGuardi, in case you were starting to doubt her credentials (I'll ignore the fact that she originally penned it for a Katy Perry demo). Not only is this a great pop song on its own, but with Clarkson at the helm, the power chorus gets lifted into the stratusphere, and the ra-ra-girl-power message is infectious, rather than obnoxious. And again, hate all you want in the comments, but I know this is going to get twice as many downloads as anything else I posted today.

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Cryptacize - "Tail & Mane"





Chris Cohen, ex-guitarist of Party faves Deerhoof, has been brought on board the new band Cryptacize, recently approved by Mr. Sufjan Stevens and signed to his Asthmatic Kitty record label. Suf's praise is well warrented: just when you thought Gypsy pop was a dead trend, they revive it anew in a thoroughly untrendy way. Get ready to hear a lot more of these guys.

Dropkick Murphys - State of Massachusetts



Finally, here's the theme song to my new television guilty pleasure, MTV's Nitro Circus. If you haven't seen it, it's basically the de-evolution of Jackass, but watching it will undoubtedly make you feel better about your own life. And the theme song is fucking awesome, brah!