Good Pop, Bad Pop

Good Pop Bad Pop goes Tumblr

Yesterday we decided it was finally time to unveil the new Tumblr which I think will make for an easier to use more attractive place (thanks to my visual designer and girlfriend Kenzie) to hang our heads. After many problems with technical issues and various other time spent between settling into my new home of Ohio we finally have it up and running with more to come in the near future. Link pages will be added, video may be displayed and I will have the ability to direct upload which helps a ton with submissions that have an Mp3 but no link to use for streaming. Thank you all for being patient and still submitting your work and I will try my best to provide you with the best content and coverage available each day. Hope to see you in our new home soon here are the keys to the front door.

Good Pop Bad Pop

Uncategorized

November 2, 2011

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Selva Oscura – Sea Crown

I was having a terrible dream last night. All around me the temple was crumbling and I was forced to swim through a flood in search of the gems that had caused this mess. Columns had begun to spring tiny cracks that filled with the rushing water and parted in a creep all around me. These vast chambers had always been the only home that I had ever known. My only connection to the surface came from the older members of our group who had seen the passing ships while out finding food and all around our floating home you could only see the many miles of rippling blue water. With very little time to waste I swam along the ocean floor collecting pieces of our greatest treasure in hope that I would have time before my world came crumbling down around me. Our temple was sinking and all of the fish had already started to evacuate as I dug through the sand attempting to collect and replace those gems before the sea crown destroyed us all. Just as I placed the last gem into its slot I awoke choking on my own breath.

Selva Oscura who I posted about when his AS/IS/WAS EP was released on Chill Mega Chill is back with a rough cut preview version of a track from an upcoming EP scheduled for the fall. Sea Crown is a wispy ride over a calm blue ocean of sound with a stuttered sample and rippling background. Its steady thump quickly penetrates its way into your ears and the light textured elements are perfect for a relaxing headphone listening. As I allowed it to twinkle and groove I realized just how much of a large sound he was able to create with a fairly minimal number of elements that shift and twist in all of the right places to make for a very enjoyable five-minute auditory excursion. The song plays out light and airy but still has plenty of thump for a morning run or workout and it makes for an exciting preview of sounds to come. Give it a listen here then head over to his Soundcloud for a free download to hold you over until the final version is done for the release of the upcoming EP.

Selva Oscura – Sea Crown

Other Selva Oscura info found here

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Chillwave, Electronic, Experimental, Uncategorized

August 30, 2011

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Work Drugs – Third Wave (TEEEL Remix)

The first wave came on somber and slow hardly even reaching the sand. We weren’t afraid then even though the sky was starting to grow dark with grey clouds. We had all headed down to the beach to relax and listen to music playing just loud enough to hear over the sounds of the water. John had gone out on his board and was waiting for something worth cutting into. The second wave was a little larger and almost crashed into the spot were we had made our fire and set up the boombox. Trey was roasting a marshmallow and I was heading over to the cooler to grab another beer when we heard the thunder. The third wave was the one that we would always remember. John turned fast and started to make his way up onto his feet before the wave grew huge and he disappeared inside of it. That third wave left us with both a dead fire and a snubbed out friend.

I can’t say enough good things about TEEEL’s remixes. He chooses both a nicely varied group of artists to apply his sounds to and each of his remixes whether it be for Com Truise, Toro Y Moi, or Jenson Sportag which I posted about here have always turned the original pieces into something fresh and different. His latest challenge was taking on the relaxed sounds of one of my recent favorite artists Work Drugs and their song Third Wave. TEEEL amps up every element of the original turning that laid back hazy dream pop song into a ready for the party four on the floor get down number. Thumping bass and a hard snapping snare ride side by side with that solid vocal from the original track while original synth work transforms the entire sound of the original. Give it a listen here then head over to the TEEEL Soundcloud for a free download and an introduction to this great producer and a bevy of his work.

Work Drugs – Third Wave (TEEEL Remix)

Other TEEEL info found here

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Electronic, Remix, Synth Pop

August 29, 2011

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Sun Glitters x Halls – There/Swan Split EP

I was just standing there near the water watching the shapes in the clouds. Their white billowing forms twisted and turned revealing various shapes for the world to see. I could see the sun shining behind large grasping hands or the biting mouth of a large dog. Fish made of water particles swam through the endless blue sky as the breeze gently blew. I remember the soft the feel of the grass underneath my legs and back once I decided to lay down and peer up to see what else I might spy. A puffed rabbit hopped into my view and slowly passed in front of me. The wind was passing over my face and the sound of the water had begun to sing me to sleep. Just as my eyes started to close and my mind prepared to drift off I noticed one final shape. The spreading wings of a large swan flew by and my body was calm and content as I started to fall asleep.

There is some serious electronic business going on as you listen to the latest split EP between Sun Glitters and Halls. Four tracks make up the EP with each artist contributing one new song as well as a pair of traded remixes between both of their work and their own album art depending on which Bandcamp you visit to pick it up. On There the offering from Sun Glitters deep bass and light crackles sit side by side with vocal sampling and a twinkling background perfect for headphone listening and they apply their signature sound to the Halls song Chakra Drums with their remix turning it into a thumping beast.

Halls has contributed Swan which is a lush heavy on the electronic song with throbbing percussion and a haunting chamber like vocal that is framed by the steady beats. Halls has also taken the Sun Glitters song To Much To Lose and broken it down to next to nothing giving those minimal elements that remain a somber tone to drift away with. Snag the full EP now through either the Sun Glitters or Halls Bandcamp and slide into those headphones now.

Other Sun Glitters info found here

Other Halls info found here

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Downtempo, Experimental, Remix, Uncategorized

August 28, 2011

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Gabriel White – Summer You

In the winter you were the one keeping me warm. Your kind words and your voice filling my insides with a heat I had never known. The blood rushed through my veins through those snow filled months warming a previously lifeless heart that had grown as cold as the weather that surrounded us both. During the spring our love continued to bloom like the many plants and flowers where you lived and the cactus and wildflowers spread around my desert home. Late night conversations continued to draw the two of us together as we made plans to travel and meet up. After two weeks of getting to know what each other would be like face to face I was ready to make the jump in. I packed away my things and boarded that plane excited to finally spend a life time with the summer you.

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the work of Yung Life ever since hearing Patient Love last summer and the new album Youth’s Hours was another triumph from them as well that was not to be missed. In saying that, I was excited to see that Gabriel White (one half of the duo) was also recording an upcoming EP on his own under his own name and lead me to a listen. The songs on the EP will focus on the simplicity of summer loves and all of the delicate nature that goes with them. Currently you can preview two of the songs from the EP through his Soundcloud and I urge you to do so as you will like me be anxiously awaiting the release of the full EP. Today’s featured track Summer You with its steady drum pounding and strummed guitars is paired up there with another single from the EP titled in la vela. Have a listen here and head over there to give a listen to both soon.

Gabriel White – Summer You

Other Gabriel White info found here

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Uncategorized

August 25, 2011

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Triptides – Who Knows

I hope that in the end no matter what I have to do I can give you everything you could ever want. I want to see us both succeed in finding the career that we are after. I want to move out of our little apartment together and find a house that we can call a home. I want to give you a family and I want us both to be a part of each others. I want to grow and share and create with you. I want to sink my heart so far into this each day that all that it will ever know is you. I can’t say that it will be easy to get there or if we will even have the same goals we began with. All I do know is that I love you and love being with you every moment that I can. After a hard days work the only thing I can think about is getting to see that smile and returning one of my own knowing that just the look into each others eyes is enough to say I love you. I don’t know what our future holds but I think it is going to be exactly what we want it to be. Who knows what this life may hold for us both as long as we have each other in it.

It’s great to see that the guys from Triptides are back with an all new album and even better to see getting a handmade physical release on cassette by the band and a digital release through Beachtapes. I’ve followed these guys and their work for some time now and am happy to report that the new thirteen track album Psychic Summer is full of garage infused surf rock that is perfect for the end of Summer. After a calm sixties sounding intro appropriately titled Drift Away settles you in the sounds take off and take you to the beach with their knack for creating a modern update of classic surf and lo-fi sounds. Upbeat guitar driven tracks, slowed down keyboard filled hazy tambourine dream tracks, and slight psychedelia mix to hold your attention from beginning to end. Pick up the latest album both digitally through Bandcamp on Beachtapes or as part of a 100 edition limited red cassette handmade by the band themselves after hearing this small sample of the album Who Knows here.

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Garage, Lo-fi, Surf Rock

August 25, 2011

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Walsh – Kommissar (featuring Persona La Ave)

We all knew that he was dirty. The paper trail was starting to form with various unmarked brown envelopes turning up around the office. His toadies were on the streets while we were hard at work protecting those that couldn’t protect themselves. In dark alleys and store back rooms all over the city the hand offs were happening. Trunks that would never be searched were waiting in garages and being filled with powder or cash. The fact was we had no choice but to keep our mouth shut and keep doing what we could to keep things clean. One small misstep and it could mean you don’t get to feed your wife and kids or even worse you found yourself with a few new holes in your body and floating in the river. With my head held low I went out to my squad car and hit the beat as hard as I could just to keep my mind off the payoffs going to the kommissar.

I already have Brandon Biondo’s Walsh project to thank for introducing me to Squadda B and Main Attraktionz and now I have him to thank for his latest EP Don’t Want 2 Fall In Luv. This time the special guest on the EP is Persona La Ave who makes an appearance on two marvelous tracks filled with rough edged yet beautiful synths dancing over solid steady beats that even verge into a hip-hop like groove on Somebody. He has an ability to really push the rugged rough almost industrial sounding electronics and meld them into catchy hypnotic melodies that are both party rockin or perfectly set for headphone relaxation. Even a small bit of Dub shows its face in the track Highwalker with its echo chamber percussion and reggae guitar riff. Have a listen to Kommissar which features Persona La Ave here then head over to DRACULA HORSE to download the full EP.

Walsh – Kommissar (featuring Persona La Ave)

Other Walsh info found here

August 22, 2011

Toro Y Moi – New Beat (Star Slinger Dancehall Mix)

I am growing sick of the same old sounds coming from my radio. Twenty eight year old women pretend to be sixteen and have about an equal amount to say over a thumping watered down techno or dubstep beat. Beer soaked washed up rockers still make your drunken mother and her biker boyfriend take a road trip out to the nearest city to re-live a youth lost. Two producers process the same old bass drums and machine gun snares that you have already heard a countless amount of times ever since N.W.A. came straight out of Compton while some small vocabulary about sex and drugs is recycled yet again. One in a hundred of these stations might lead you to a single song that is great for five plays then dead by the end of the week once you have heard it spin a thousand times. Just once I would like to get into the car and roll the windows down while I spin that dial to station after station blaring a new beat.

It’s been a long time since I left you with another dope beat to step to from the Dilla inspired brilliant beat making mind of Star Slinger and that is never no fault of his own. Track after track and remix after remix he never fails to leave a sugar sweet taste on your lips with his reworks and this latest mix for Toro Y Moi’s New Beat proves just that. Coming quickly after a fresh mix of the latest Caged Animals track Teflon Heart his take on New Beat is built on a bouncy bass drum riddim straight from Kingston. Dub horns play and lift the spirits over a speeding cymbal and rattling percussion section. The vocal is inserted perfectly giving this track from early in the year a new breath that is ready for a dance floor near you. Hear both of these quality remixes now via his Soundcloud along with quite a few other remixes he has had his hand on in recent months and get out there and catch him live on August 28th when he plays Creamfields in Manchester.

Toro Y Moi – New Beat (Star Slinger Dancehall Remix)

Other Star Slinger info found here

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Dancehall, Electronic, Remix

August 22, 2011

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School Knights – Brother

We have shared everything including our blood for the most part of twenty-eight years and now we are apart and growing up on our own. Each of us is finding our place and our own other halves in two parts of the country. We used share our tastes in toys and video games and grew to teach other about film, history, science and music. We both played the drums and rode skateboards and you always were the better half. While you may have been inspired by the things I found first you always managed to take them further and show me what could be done if our minds were put to something. After our father died we took strength in one another and started to find out just how grown up we had become. I miss you, I love you, I wish nothing but the best for you because I could never ask for a better brother.

School Knights came to me first through a rollicking rock n roll ride called Prom Queen and the pair are back with an all new full length album that is brought to you by the fine folks at DRACULA HORSE. The eleven track album is a loud boisterous bash of rock that is filled with newly mastered versions of the early tracks as well as a whole slew of brand new sound for your ears. The pair of Zack Roif and Weed Diamond’s Michael Stein have been busy playing with the likes of Ty Segall, Black Lips, and Gauntlet Hair but after hearing this debut I think now is their time to step into the spotlight. There sound is loud, fun, and energetic with slashing guitars and wild drumming creating a spiral of sound around their vocals as you tell from this small sample of the album titled Brother. Head over to their Bandcamp and show them a little love by purchasing ALL DAWGZ GO 2 HEAVEN for a fiver if you are into the sound or give it a free test drive first through DRACULA HORSE then return once you get nice and settled in.

School Knights – Brother

Other School Knights info found here

August 21, 2011

Future Islands – Balance

For as long as I can remember I have had my bare feet pressed against this length of suede. Day after day I wake up and am given my ride to the gym by my mother and manager to begin my stretches. Then I will head out onto that mat-covered floor and pull myself up onto both my best friend and my worst enemy. My legs wobbled in the beginning and I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to get the hang of this sport. As I continued to come in and practice while aging I found that I was capable of things most people would never even attempt much less master. Now I dance, leap and my legs split like a pair of scissors in the air before I land gracefully and present myself to the judges. I will then spin slowly with one leg extended outward and quickly flip my body twice before jumping into the air in a tucked roll. After I feel the balls of my feet land on that mat my arms will lift while my chest pushes forward to take in the roar of the crowd and at last I will feel that balance.

With a classic bass line throbbing behind glorious synths Balance brings the three men of Baltimore’s Future Islands to new heights. From the moment Samuel T. Herring lets his voice belt out you will be hooked and riveted. Nostalgia is imminent as you fall into the bass groove and those riveting synth melodies reminding you of artists that have come before repackaged and presented in a nature that gives it a rebirth. I can’t even believe that allowed myself this much time to sit on my laurels and not share this slice of pure pop bliss. Just give the single from their upcoming album On The Water to be released on Thrill Jockey in October a listen or ten here and I think you will agree that this style can still be updated, enjoyed, and embraced by an entire new generation of music listeners as well as those from generations gone by.

Future Islands – Balance