PMA | Pretty Much Amazing

Ellie Goulding x Chiddy Bang “Under The Sheets”

Luis Tovar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:15:31 PST

Following up their mad “Stylo” remix, Chiddy Bang take on Ellie Goulding’s fantastic “Under The Sheets“. The remix will appear on Chiddy Bang’s Swelly Express follow-up, Air Swell. Just like The Swelly Express, the tunes on Air Swelly were inspired, written and recording during Chiddy Bang’s travels (this time, cross-Atlantic) and meteoric rise in the music industry. In fact, Chiddy’s debut single “Opposite of Adults” (or “Kids”) is currently sitting within the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart!

Download Chiddy Bang’s remix of “Under The Sheets” below:

[via]

Tags: Chiddy Bang, Ellie Goulding

Best of the Week Ending March 12th

Luis Tovar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:23:54 PST

This is for all of you readers who don’t stop by PMA on a daily basis — I’ll point you to my favorite posts of the last week.

Album Reviews: On Friday (3/12) we reviewed Free Energy’s highly anticipated debut, Stuck On Nothing; and on Wednesday (3/10), we stamped Broken Bells’ self-titled debut with our “Favorite Albums” tag, the fifth album this year. Both reviews come paired with a LP/CD giveaway.

Giveaways: We are currently giving away The White Stripes’ new Live CD/DVD documentary Under Great Northern Lights.

Listen to new songs from MGMT (“Congratulations“) and LCD Soundsystem (“Oh You“)

Download new songs from Drake (“Over“), MGMT (“Flash Delirium“) and Neon Indian (“Sleep Paralysist“) for free.

Watch great new videos from Yeasayer (“O.N.E.“) and Lady GaGa (“Telephone“).

No tags for this post.

Free Energy ‘Stuck On Nothing’ Album Review

Genevieve Oliver — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:47:05 PST

Vinyl giveaway details at the end of the review.
Free Energy
Stuck On Nothing
DFA / Astralwerks
out May 4th*
74 /100
[Rating Scale]

Rate Free Energy’s Stuck On Nothing

Philadelphia foursome Free Energy’s much-hyped debut album, Stuck on Nothing, is what you would put on in your car if you were escaping from somewhere boring. It’s driving, cathartic, danceable, youthful, the kind of record you would put on a couple miles down a monotonous highway to wake you up, spur you to roll down the top, get you doing an awkward dance in your seat. This seems like Free Energy’s whole M.O. – let’s do something to feel good. Let’s do something to be happy. Let’s do something to get away. “We’re breaking out this time,” Paul Sprangers croons in the album’s first five seconds. “We’re gonna start a new life.” With hooks this irresistible, bright power-pop instrumentals, and an overwhelming sense of positivity, it’s impossible not to believe him.

Free Energy’s melodic chops are best suited to the upbeat power-pop jams they serve up in the record’s first half – the Guitar Hero wailing of “Free Energy,” the “Boys are Back in Town”-esque chord progressions and incongruous saxophone licks on “Dream City,” and, best of all, the infectious big drum beats and syncopated vocal on album standout “Bang Pop,” which has all the pop sensibility to qualify it for daily rotation on Z100. Some of the slower tunes, like “All I Know” and the joyous explosion of album closer “Wild Wind,” manage to hold their own weight, helped along by the band’s masterful waily guitars and loud drums. Sprangers’ voice is warm, calm, and something about it is identifiable – or maybe it’s just his lyrics, which are always sweet, heartfelt affirmations: “You’re not alone!” The electric, infectious positivity conveyed through both music and lyrics is Free Energy’s greatest strength.

But, perhaps Free Energy’s greatest downfall is how well they know their strengths. Those waily guitars and loud drums and prominent vocals sound good – they sound really fucking good. Those first three tracks are awesome. All you want to do ever is roll all the windows in the car in the springtime and drive around on the back roads yelling all the words to “Bang Pop” – “I was super messed up like it would never end!” Can you get down with that? I can get down with that. Shit, that’s all I want to do ever from now on!

The thing is, Free Energy’s (admittedly very successful) formula works wonders for the album’s first half, and after that it’s easy to think “Hmm, this is alright, but can we do something that doesn’t start with some Boston-style power chordage?” Not to say that the second half of the album is weaker – “Hope Child” is a straight-up jam, as is “Light Love.” Free Energy are, unquestionably, a talented band, who have masterfully put together an album that that sounds great and plays to their strengths – but I know they are capable of more variation, more risks, and more depth.

To enter to win a copy of Free Energy’s Stuck On Nothing on LP (or CD, if you’d like), all you have to is leave a comment and retweet this review. Have you heard the album? If so, rate the album (above) and leave a comment with your thoughts on this review and the album in general. If you haven’t heard the album, comment about your expectations, or listen to it in its entirety at on the Lala player above. Make sure to leave a valid email address in the comment field. Entries will be accepted until May 4th.

* Stuck On Nothing is already out on iTunes. It will be released physically, May 4th.

Tags: Free Energy

New MGMT “Congratulations”

Luis Tovar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:12:33 PST

Earlier this week, MGMT debuted the first single from their hotly anticipated Oracular Spectacular follow-up, Congratulations. It would not be an overstatement to say that “Flash Delirium” was welcomed by a flurry of mixed reactions by fans (personally, I thought it was great).

Well, the album’s title track, “Congratulations” has leaked, and you can listen to it too now (and download it, if you’re sneaky). If you weren’t big on “Flash Delirium”, you probably won’t be into “Congratulations”, but I can’t see why that would be the case. Listen to the track below, and pre-order Congratulations at Insound.

STREAM: MGMT “Congratulations”

Congratulations is out April 13th on Columbia.

Tags: MGMT

Lady GaGa “Telephone” (feat. Beyonce) Music Video

Luis Tovar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:53:43 PST

You can watch Lady GaGa’s nine and a half minute tribute to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction in her new music video for “Telephone”. While the chola fights, product placement, unusual fashion (smoking cigarette sunglasses, beer can hair rollers, CSI tape “body suits”), the mass murder and the infamous Pussy Wagon are far more interesting than the song itself, this hasn’t stopped “Telephone” from becoming Lady GaGa’s sixth straight No. 1 song on Billboard’s Pop Song Charts.

Tags: Beyonce, Lady Gaga

The National “Terrible Love” (Live on Fallon)

Luis Tovar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:02:16 PST

The National debuted “Terrible Love,” the lead track off their highly anticipated Boxer follow-up, High Violet last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The audio doesn’t sound too great on regular computer speakers, so I suggest you pop in the headphones.

High Violet is out May 11th on 4AD. Are you ready?

Tags: The National

New jj “I Know”

Luis Tovar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:31:56 PST

Listen to this new jj bonus track, “I Know”, which can only be found on the jj nº 3 LP (via).

You can buy jj nº 3 here.

Tags: jj

New Here We Go Magic “Collector”

Luis Tovar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:18:14 PST

Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic first plopped themselves onto my radar when I saw them open up for Grizzly Bear and continued to spur my interest with great tunes like “Tunnelvision”, “Fangela” and “Only Pieces”. This summer, Here We Go Magic will follow up last year’s self-titled debut with Pigeons. “Collector” is the first sample of the band’s sophomore effort, and it’s quite a departure from “Tunnelvision”. In fact, on “Collector”, Here We Go Magic seem to have aligned their sound with bands like The Soft Pack, while still keeping a slice of their original aesthetic.

Secretly Canadian is giving away the “Collector”, download it below:

Here We Go Magic’s Pigeons LP is out June 8th in the US, available the seventh in the UK.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Tribune report that the Strokes will play Lollapalooza and release a new album in September.

Tags: Here We Go Magic, The Soft Pack

GIVEAWAY: White Stripes: Under Great Northern Lights

Luis Tovar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:04:25 PST

I am excited to say that PMA will be giving away the new CD/DVD (documentary) from The White Stripes: Under Great White Lights (watch the trailer above) Box Set. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, March 17th. To enter just leave a comment with your favorite White Stripes song. Also, it won’t hurt to retweet this contest.

Learn more about the box set from this press release:

Live CD Track Listing:

1. Let’s Shake Hands

2. Black Math

3. Little Ghost

4. Blue Orchid

5. The Union Forever

6. Ball and Biscuit

7. Icky Thump

8. I’m Slowly Turning Into You

9. Jolene

10. 300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues

11. We Are Going to Be Friends

12. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself

13. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn

14. Fell In Love With a Girl

15. When I Hear My Name

16. Seven Nation Army

In the summer of 2007, The White Stripes embarked on a cross-country Canadian tour to accomplish their goal of performing in every province and territory across the expansive northern nation. Beginning Friday, February 26th in Seattle and Toronto, the Emmett Malloy-directed documentary film, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights, which captured that incredible journey will be making its way across North America for a series of special screenings – allowing fans a peek into the touring lives of one of the world’s most enigmatic bands before its official DVD release on March 16th.

Additionally on March 16th, audiences across the country will have the opportunity to host their own screenings of The White Stripes Under the Great White Northern Lights. Fans have the chance to “Be a Part of the Tour” by purchasing a special screening kit and turning a favorite room, a local hangout, or any other location of their choice into their own premiere event. For more information on being part of this momentous occasion go http://whitestripes.bside.com.

Having first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2009, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights documents the band playing to crowds in towns of all sizes across the Great White North – from traditional venues to matinee gigs at unusual locations such as a bowling alley, a boat and even on a city bus – culminating in a momentous 10th Anniversary show at the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. A captivating mix of striking live footage and poignant off-stage moments, this visually stirring and emotive feature length film celebrates the band’s 10 year history, bringing the band full circle in their career to a place reminiscent of how they first started out; shows where no one knew who they were, and where they were left to make a first impression with their music.

AMC Theaters is holding special midnight screenings of the film on Thursday, March 11 at the following locations:

WASHINGTON DC – Hoffman 22
DETROIT – Forum 30
PHILADELPHIA – Neshaminy 24
CHICAGO – River East 21
MINNEAPOLIS – Rosedale 14
LOS ANGELES – Block 30
SAN DIEGO – Mission Valley 20
SEATTLE – Pacific Place 11
BOSTON – Boston Common 19
NEW JERSEY – Palisades 21
NEW YORK CITY – Empire 25
ATLANTA – Barrett 24

Additional screenings of the film include:

February 26th SEATTLE – Northwest Film Forum @ 9:00pm

TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 9:15pm
February 27th SEATTLE – Northwest Film Forum @ 9:00pm

TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 9:15pm
February 28th TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 4:30pm and 7:00pm

March 1st TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 7:00pm

March 2nd TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 9:30pm

March 3rd MINNEAPOLIS – Sound Unseen @ 6:00pm, 7:45pm and 9:45pm

TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 9:00pm
March 4th PORTLAND – Mcmenamin’s Bagdad Theater @ 7:00pm

TORONTO, Ontario – The Royal Theatre @ 7:00pm

SYDNEY, Nova Scotia – Cape Breton Island Film Series and East Coast Music Awards at Empire Theatre at 9:30 pm

March 8th PHILADELPHIA – Trocadero Theatre @ 6:45pm

CHICAGO – The Music Box @ 7:30pm
March 9th LOS ANGELES – The Egyptian Theater @ 8:00pm

March 10th NEW YORK – IFC Center @ 8:00pm

ATLANTA – The Plaza Theatre @ 7:30pm

OTTAWA, Ontario – Mayfair Theatre @ 9:00pm
March 11th SAN FRANCISCO – Variety Screening Room @ 6:30pm

NEW YORK – IFC Center @ 7:00pm and 9:00pm

DETROIT – Burton Theater @ 9:00pm

OTTAWA, Ontario – Mayfair Theatre @ 9:00pm
March 12th WASHINGTON DC – AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center @ 9:30pm

AUSTIN – SXSW Film Festival Premiere, Paramount Theater @ 10:00pm

EDMONTON, Alberta – Metro Cinema in the Citadel Theatre @ 9:00pm

March 13th KANSAS CITY – The Screenland Armour @ 7:00pm and 9:00pm

SALT LAKE CITY – Tower Theater @ 7:00pm

BOSTON – Brattle Theater @ 9:45pm

EDMONTON, Alberta – Metro Cinema in the Citadel Theatre @ 9:30pm

March 14th EDMONTON, Alberta – Metro Cinema in the Citadel Theatre @ 9:00pm

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – Broadway Cinema @ 7:00pm

March 15th SAN FRANCISCO – Roxie Theater @ 9:45pm

Tickets will be available at the theater box offices, and tune into your local radio stations for possible giveaways too. Additional sneak-peek theatrical screenings of The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights may also be announced soon, so be sure to keep checking www.whitestripes.com to keep updated on all new developments for these upcoming releases.

Fans will also be able to purchase The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights as part of a limited edition box set, which includes not only the film, but also a live DVD of the band’s 10th Anniversary show, Under Nova Scotian Lights, as well as a CD/double LP of 16 live tracks, exclusive 7 inch, hard cover book of photographs and a silk-screened print. This impressive package will also be available on March 16th, with pre-orders currently being accepted from http://whitestripes.com/ugwnl_boxset/.

Tags: The White Stripes

New Neon Indian “Sleep Paralysist”

Luis Tovar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:58:17 PST

“Sleep Paralysist” is the latest free single to sprout up out of the Green Label Sound vaults. In the passed, they’ve released new, free tracks from Matt & Kim, The Cool Kids, Chromeo and Theophilus London. Today, Neon Indian graces the front page of the label’s website. “Sleep Paralysist” was co-produced by Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo and Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor. I can already hear the distorted chillgaze/glo-fi synths on Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest follow-up, can you?

Tags: Grizzly Bear, Neon Indian