5/9

       One of my favorite people in the world is going to be back in the US today PLUS summer is finally here and this oppressive heat is demanding that you face summer head on, so check out the playlist then lay back and chill in the pool or go out and have fun; either way, you can't go wrong with these awesome tracks. 

"Animals" Lux Lisbon

"Be Brave"  YLHCSD

"Sweet Ophelia" Zella Day

"Young Hearts" Strange Talk

"Lay Me Down" Dirty Heads (stop everything you're doing and see Dirty Heads perform live. Right now)

"Paris" Magic Man

"Lessons Learned" Matt and Kim 

"Waves" Sleeper Agent

"Since Last Wednesday" Highasakite

"Coastline" B.o.B

"Goodness Gracious" Ellie Goulding 

"Look To The Stars" Semi Precious Weapons

"Youth" Foxes

"Remember Me At All" The Middle Names

"My Body" Young the Giant

"First Things First" Neon Trees

Summertime

With any hope, you're like me and finished your last final today and have a few weeks off from classes and are more than a little ready for summer to finally be here, and The Head and The Heart's release for their "Summertime" video could not be more perfect. 

The track features lead vocals, for the first time ever, from Charity Rose Thielen (violinist/back-up singer) and holds a sweet melody that carries you away and strays just far enough from the band's normal root rock sound that the track, fittingly so, feels like a vacation from the rest of the album. 

Even if you still have another week or so of classes to slough through before you finally get a taste of freedom, you can still check out the slightly trippy and completely sweet stop-motion animation video of a track that promises long days and warm nights to come. 

Grab "Summertime" from THATH's sophomore album, Let's Be Still, and catch the band on tour this summer. 

"Summertime" The Head and The Heart

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Take It Slow

With a sound reminiscent of 'classic' Tokyo Police Club and lyrics which bring to mind the often metaphorical and greatly articulate Radiohead, there's an inherent feeling of hominess to Tapioca and the Flea's track. Although the single sounds like a song which has been in your playlist for years, it maintains an undeniably fresh sound with its delicious blend of psych, indie rock, and electronic music which I can't get enough of.

Lyrics like "I don't know which way I wanna go, I'm running away now, I'll leave my heart on the ground", "do you think she'll really mind, if I need to take my time...do you think I even care?", and "well I don't know where I belong, my mother said it won't be long, but I don't know which way to go, she's moving fast, I'll take it slow" are unapologetically honest and combine with a swirling melody and prominent rhythm gorgeously; by the time the song hits its oh so sweet melody at 2:01, I'm already set to play it again.

Everything from that wandering keyboard and sturdy drums to those vocals which you can sink into and an unrelentingly solid guitar riff make the track completely addictive, so check out the video below, head to the websites, and buy the single from iTunes now. 

"Take It Slow" Tapioca and the Flea

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Knock You Out

Bingo Players' single, "Knock You Out", features the duo's signature heavy synth lines with a decidedly fun rhythm and powerhouse vocals. The track was one of the songs Baümer worked on with Hoogstraten before his passing and was debuted at the Remembrance Festival during Miami Music Week, with a portion of the concert's proceeds going to the Dutch Cancer and American Cancer Societies in Paul's honor.

Lyrics like "you pick on the weak, your twisted tongue speaks all the fears you hide, the fear inside", "and the bully's best friend is the poison pen, but you can't touch me...you try to phase me but I get stronger every day...my power's fed by your hate" and a remarkably addictive chorus which insists "my fight is won, who needs a gun, boom, boom, knock you out, you knocked me down, but who's laughing now?" are amazingly articulate; add in the song's final crescendo into a full blown dance floor melody that forces you to move and the track could not be any better. 

Check out the incredible single below and grab it from Beatport now (or from iTunes on May 13th).

"Knock You Out" Bingo Players

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