3 Perfect Playlists For All The Lovers (And Haters) Out There
If you cringe at the thought of tolerating typical V-Day tunes, we’re right there with you. And since we know you’re sick of the sap, we’ve concocted the perfect playlists for all you music lovers who want to ditch the Rachel Berry-approved ballads and serenade (and impress) your sweetheart with your sweet indie music intel.
If you're trying to impress your date with moves like Jagger, here are some sexy songs to put you and your V-Day love in the mood:
"Get Some" — Lykke Li
"Make Love All Night Long" — TV on the Radio
"The Moneymaker" — Rilo Kiley
"Bedroom Hymns" — Florence & the Machine
"Need You Now" — Cut Copy
Want something a little subtler? Here's some deliciously sweet ear candy, to treat your Valentine:
"Honey Bunny" — Girls
"Little Bit" — Lykke Li
"To Be Alone With You" — Sufjan Stevens
"Shelter" — XX
"Wait" — M83
Is the sight of couples in bliss testing your gag reflex? Don't buy into the heart-filled hype with these anti-V Day tunes:
"Dancing on my Own" — Robyn
"Not In Love" — Crystal Castles
"You Make Me Wanna Die" — The Pretty Reckless
"Somebody That I Used to Know" — Gotye feat. Kimbra
"Lover I Don't Have to Love" — Bright Eyes
Videos: All Via YouTube
If you're trying to impress your date with moves like Jagger, here are some sexy songs to put you and your V-Day love in the mood:
"Get Some" — Lykke Li
"Make Love All Night Long" — TV on the Radio
"The Moneymaker" — Rilo Kiley
"Bedroom Hymns" — Florence & the Machine
"Need You Now" — Cut Copy
Want something a little subtler? Here's some deliciously sweet ear candy, to treat your Valentine:
"Honey Bunny" — Girls
"Little Bit" — Lykke Li
"To Be Alone With You" — Sufjan Stevens
"Shelter" — XX
"Wait" — M83
Is the sight of couples in bliss testing your gag reflex? Don't buy into the heart-filled hype with these anti-V Day tunes:
"Dancing on my Own" — Robyn
"Not In Love" — Crystal Castles
"You Make Me Wanna Die" — The Pretty Reckless
"Somebody That I Used to Know" — Gotye feat. Kimbra
"Lover I Don't Have to Love" — Bright Eyes
Videos: All Via YouTube
Musical Muses: New Look's Grunge-Glam Style
Hailing from Canada, New Look creates the kind of soothing, electro-dance music that makes us feel like we're suspended in that magic hour right before the sun comes up and you're still wearing your party shoes. Their self-titled album has been stuck on repeat ever since we saw them perform live in NYC a couple weeks ago. Producer/musician Adam Pavao and his wife, former model and singer Sarah Ruba are the newest darlings of the indie-pop scene, and we're obsessed with their whole package: their music, their story, their sensibilities… Also, have you seen them? If they aren't our generation's version of Sonny and Cher (with talent to match), color us blind. The duo let us into their charming Brooklyn pad, and frontwoman Sarah answered a few questions about what it's like making music with your main man at your side.
Photographed by Dan McMahon
Photographed by Dan McMahon
Wanna Be Friends With The DJ? Just Don't Request D.A.N.C.E
We've been around enough turntables in NYC to understand that requesting a song is not the quickest way to get on a DJ's good side, but let's face it, it's inevitable you'll be jonesing for your fave tune. It's a classic scenario for modern-day (er… night) NYers: you're out on the town dancing the night away, but you just know everyone would have a much better time if you could just hear that new Rihanna song — or, any Rihanna song — just one more time. But how do we do it without offending the deej and becoming a pariah of NY nightlife? There's always screaming the name of the song you want to hear or hijacking the DJ booth, but, like, how much more obnoxious could you be? On behalf of DJs everywhere, three reps recently put party-goers out of their (our) misery and spilled all on requesting and tipping—and whether either of those matter at all. Mood Music Please: Mulberry Has Your V-Day Soundtrack
Yes, that's right, Mulberry. On top of delivering the world bags, accessories, and clothes that give us a case of the swoons, the British brand has also been doing some pretty tight music curation with their Mix Tape Tour – a web surfaced series featuring up-and-coming soundsmiths rocking out exclusively for the luxury label. For Valentine's Day, the Mix Tape Tour has upped the romantic ante, posting covers of beloved British love songs like, "How I Wish You Where Here," "Love In Vain," and others as played by groups like Citizen!, Tribes, Summercamp, The Do (pictured above), and more in their eccentric performance space. Yes, it's all very schmoopy and perfect for some background tunage while you light candles and pitch woo to your boo on Tuesday. Personally, we're partial to this cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Sometimes Always" by the adorable duo known as Big Deal – but we've always had a soft place in our hearts for shoegazer love ballads. (Mix Tape Tour)
Photo: Courtesy Mulberry.
Lana Del Rey Rocks A Gold Tooth And We're Confused (Again)
In her latest attempt to distract us from her confusing SNL performance, Lana Del Rey has been sporting a glittery gold cap on one of her canines. And no, we don’t mean her dog has a cute sparkly hat. We mean this girl is actually attempting to rock tooth bling. Naturally, this comes on the heels of many other aesthetically questionable decisions, one of which was letting her PR team run wild with her “gangsta Nancy Sinatra" image (we would also include the lip enhancement, but the truth is that those pumped lips gave her an edge). Sure, we can’t fault a girl for chasing her dream, and what a beautiful dream it is — making it in a "Hollywood Sadcore" world that is one, big, hazy '70s trailer park where everyone is devastatingly sexy and the sunlight is always warm and yellow (sigh). But, in all honesty, her attempt to rock a golden tooth is not quite the path we would have chosen for ourselves. How do you feel about the bling? Is it a bold move that deserves some praise, or perhaps just an attempt to gain some attention? (Huffington Post)
Photo: Via Huffington Post
Bon Iver On Whiskey And Lebanese Moisturizing Tips….In 60 Seconds
Has it already been five years since the Bon Iver swoonfest began? The indie-crooner seemed to go directly from a cabin in Wisconsin to a Kanye collaboration, and is now staring down a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist (and stirring up a little controversy along the way).
This Is Our Jam: Moonlight Bride, "Lemonade"
Chattanooga, Tennessee isn’t exactly known as a hotbed for indie rock, but that only works to Moonlight Bride’s advantage. The story of life in a small town has been part of rock-‘n'-roll since since the beginning, and the open road is often just one more van-payment away. With Moonlight Bride’s “Lemonade,” you can imagine lead-singer Justin Giles wandering a townie-filled party, bored and restless as he chucks empty beer cans off the back porch. “This kids are drunk and don’t like guitars,” he laments, embodying ‘90s slacker heroes like Modest Mouse and Hum. Anything is possible, but Giles can’t do it alone, and “I’m not sure if everybody’s down” is the ultimate caveat. As "Lemonade" ends over a soaring refrain, Moonlight Bride come to an understanding: “They won’t always be around.” We're down if you are, dude.
Moonlight Bride—Twin Lakes EP
"Lemonade"
All music is for sampling purposes only. Please go out and buy the artists' records. If you would like for us to remove a track, please email us at feedback@refinery29.com.
This Is Our Jam: John Talabot (Featuring Pional), "Destiny"
If the two things that define Barcelona (aside from the architecture) are the beach and the nightlife, then local producer John Talabot’s breezy take on Balearic house might be the four-on-the-floor heartbeat of the city. “Destiny,” from his debut album fIN, sees Talabot teaming up with Madrid-based producer Pional, and edging toward a (slightly) darker sound than past releases. Yet, for a guy who defines himself with lighter-than-air bounce and sun-baked samples, "darker" shouldn't be mistaken for "gloomy." Together, "Destiny's" shades of ‘90s club and slinky disco make for one of the best dance tracks of the new year. Now, where’s our sangria?
John Talabot (Feat. Pional)—fIN
"Destiny"
All music is for sampling purposes only. Please go out and buy the artists' records. If you would like for us to remove a track, please email us at feedback@refinery29.com.
This Is Our Jam: Baden Baden, "You'll See"
Leave it to the French to put the romance back in indie. “You’ll See,” from Paris-based Baden Baden, is a beautiful piece of crisp, crystalline pop. Among memories of young love and hopes for the future, the words “you’ll see” are more wishful thinking than confident boast. The accompanying video tracks intertwining jet streams as they streak across the sky, the implication being that perhaps the watcher has been left behind. The band shares its name with a German resort town, whose motto (according to the official website) happens to be "Baden-Baden is so nice, that you have to name it twice." When it comes to Baden Baden the band, we'll put the track on repeat. (No Fear of Pop)
Baden Baden—Baden Baden
"You’ll See" [MP3]
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This Is Our Jam: Frankie Rose, "Interstellar"
We’ve already shared “Know Me” from Frankie Rose’s upcoming album Interstellar, which saw the ex Dum Dum and Vivian girl eschewing the fuzz of past releases for a possible career high. Now with the release of Interstellar's title track, Rose reveals even loftier ambitions. “Interstellar” is a slow burner whose atmospheric beginnings give way to a driving piece of cosmic rock. Backed with dark washes of guitar and glittery synths that could have been cribbed from Nova, “Interstellar” plays like a sonic justification of it’s title. It’s as slick as Heaven or Las Vegas-era Cocteau Twins, and cements Rose’s move from indiepop to dreampop with effortless aplomb. Just wait until those first whoa-oh-ohs kick in.
Frankie Rose—Interstellar
"Interstellar"
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Turn The Radio Up, Roll The Windows Down: We Found Our New Joy-Ride Jam
With SXSW quickly approaching, we're making a mental list of all the bands we're pining to see, and Delta Spirit is definitely in our top five. Now, after hearing their latest song "California," we're even more amped. The SoCal quintet have shifted away from their previous Americana/Folk style and — in true Cali fashion — added some sun and surf to the mix (and we like it!). Taking a cue from indie greats like Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio, DS has added some swirling synths and head-bobbing beats into what is sure to be the new gem of West Coast jams (and our new fave song to play on repeat). "California" finds the dream mix of mellow guitar riffs and catchy ooo-hoos, making their new sound perfect for some beers and bon-fire time on the beach or just a cruise down the PCH — with the windows down, of course.
Take a listen to "California" and you'll see their third LP when it drops March 13.
Delta Spirit —Delta Spirit
"California"
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Photo: Courtesy of SXSW.
This Is Our Jam: oOoOO [Feat. ButterClock], "NoWayBack"
oOoOO (pronounced “oh”) is the nom de guerre of San Francisco producer Christopher Dexter Greenspan, whose haunting music sounds pretty much like you’d think it would when reading his band name on paper. “NoWayBack” has oOoOO picking up where he left off with 2010's self-titled EP, this time in tandem with angelically voiced Berlin artist ButterClock (she co-wrote and sings on the track). The resulting first taste of the forthcoming Our Loving Is Hurting Us is a mix of Italo synths and spare drum kicks intertwined with ButterClock’s hazy vocals. It's spoOoOOky stuff, and beautiful too.
oOoOO [Feat. ButterClock]—Our Loving Is Hurting Us
"NoWayBack"
All music is for sampling purposes only. Please go out and buy the artists' records. If you would like for us to remove a track, please email us at feedback@refinery29.com.
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