poptastic: hold me.

dl: POPTASTIC - Hold Me (alt)

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I should say that I extremely enjoy Poptastic as a concept. It sounds good on paper--a co-ed group channeling the '90s boy-band era sound and electronically mangling the resulting songs beyond recognition. Awesome. I like to indulge in the occasional shameful boy-band tune. And if I have a legitimate excuse to embrace this indulgence in a way that involving some artistic merit and a little less shame, then sign me up! That's the thing. I want to love Poptastic so much, but some of the songs are a little too mangled for my liking. With that said, I need to give Poptastic major props for their hilarious website, where you can download desktop wallpaper's of your favorite band member that resemble fan-made High School Musical livejournal icons.

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BONER TRACK: POPTASTIC - Are You Happy? (alt)

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- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT - HYPE IT -

anavan: the perfect sound.

dl: ANAVAN - The Perfect Sound (Z)
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I wouldn't have survived last week without Anavan. At any point when I got too stressed, I'd pull out my computer, open iTunes, find "The Perfect Sound", press play and repeat as necessary.

I imagine that loyalists to Anavan's punkier roots won't appreciate the extreme dance-pop direction of this tune. Having heard a few select songs from their upcoming album Cover Story, some of you may be relieved to know that "The Perfect Sound" isn't necessarily indicative of Anavan's overall sound.

Beyond their own tunes, Anavan's drummer AB has been doing a variety of remixes including A++, Foot Village, Sgt. Sass, Totally Radd!!, Sophie Nix, Attractive and Popular, kyoka, and Destructo Bunny the International Peace Keeper. The Sgt. Sass remix was runner-up in the No Big Deal remix contest, but personally I think AB was robbed on that one (no offense to Japattack).

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BONER TRACK: SGT. SASS - Take Your Man (ANAVAN remix) (Z)
BONER TRACK II: TOTALLY RADD!! - Cold Moonlight (ANAVAN remix) (Z)
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- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT - LAST IT - HYPE IT -

unicornicopia: one woman emotional sound sculpture.

UNICORNICOPIA has accordions, a Barbie Ferrari double cassette karaoke machine, a mbira from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe, and a lot of other instruments and things that make sounds. She makes music with these things.

Born Natalie Weiss, she has been performing as Unicornicopia since 2001. The project has taken many forms-- a rock band, a musical with puppets, and now "a one woman emotional sound sculpture". I know, I know...a one woman WHAT? Don't fear listener. All you need to know at the moment is that she is a pretty girl with a pretty voice, and she makes pretty extraordinary experimental pop music. You can figure out the rest later. Her vocals are very reminiscent of someone I can't really think of. Essentially, if you like the voices of Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs of The Finches or Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, then you will probably like Natalie Weiss when she sings. You will especially like her if you always wished those other two bitches* had accordions.

Currently, she is recording a new album produced by Joe McGinty, a former member of The Psychedelic Furs who has also worked with Nada Surf, Amy Rigby, and Ronnie Spector. She promises that it will be "uplifting". If you like this uplifting music and happen to be in the Brooklyn area, be sure to check her out on June 24th (Luna Lounge, 8PM). I would if I could. But I can't.

d/l: UNICORNICOPIA- Grace. You're a Dear. (YSI)
d/l: UNICORNICOPIA- Crash My Bike (YSI)
(experimental pop with a pretty voice)
- space it -

* Okay, so they're not bitches. They're just girls! But sometimes I like to call people bitches. Sorry.

WEBBYVANDERQUACKIN': Unicornicopia also worked with Travis Stewart of Machinedrum, who just so happens to be streaming "OOHEE", a Yo Majesty track that a lot of the internet might not have heard yet. Hear it on his space. Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." is the single of the week on iTunes, and it seems that the general iTunes community doesn't like it much, eh?

azeda booth: mysterious body.

AZEDA BOOTH is a Canadian experimental-pop sextet. Mysterious Body is an EP recorded two years ago by only two of its members.

So, uh, why is it being released now? "...The recording is a glimpse into the beginnings of Azeda Booth and a taste of things to come," says the band. Apparently the new material is a bit different, but I respect that they want us to know where they're coming from. Especially when where they're coming from is so good(!).

Mysterious Body is quickly being recognized for two songs featuring male vocalist Jordon Hossack's incredible falsetto-- "Landscape (With Grass)" and "Dead Girls". The songs are considered opposites, but I'm not sure if I agree. Perhaps it is the three mellow instrumental tracks that enclose them...but for me, each of these songs has the feeling of a lullaby. "Landscape (With Grass)" is your mother singing you to sleep, while "Dead Girls" is your tone-deaf babysitter. Neither of the songs have the lyrical content of lullabies (as mothers aren't often singing that "your children hate you"), but don't act like "Rock-a-bye Baby" isn't a little fucked up. Just sayin'.

Azeda Booth also is skillful in creating good short songs. Four out of the five songs on this EP clock under three minutes, and you know how I feel about short songs. If you don't know...well, I like them. Speaking of short songs, be sure to take a listen to "Puddle Duck" on their space. Absolutely beauty-licious.

d/l: AZEDA BOOTH- Landscape (With Grass) (YSI)
d/l: AZEDA BOOTH- Dead Girls (YSI)
(experimental pop)
- site it - space it - hype it -

BLOGWATCH: I Wanna Fuck Dirty Harry, Get Weird Turn Pro, and Indie Selections for Your Erections all have weird names and new tracks off of Bjork's upcoming album Volta. Speaking of Bjork, i was there has a Spank Rock remix of "Earth Intruders". Culture Bully brings us an mp3 of Amy Winehouse's performance of "Rehab" on The Tonight Show. The wirewool offers an interesting take on Diddy's "Last Night", which may make you feel less guilty for liking it so much. MASALA shows love to a radio rip of a new M.I.A. tune "Boyz".