CSS

Myspace // "Rat Is Dead (Rage)" [mp3]

Everyone's favorite Brazilian weirdos, CSS, are at it again. Two years after the release of their astonishingly huge debut LP, the quirky electro-punk band are set to release another album on July 22 on Sub Pop Records. Donkey finds the band diving headfirst into the electro-dance genre with Lovefoxxx at times purring over pulsating synths and big dance beats. Gone are many of the quirks that made their last album so surprising and enjoyable, like lyrics about topics as diverse as art, sex, and Paris Hilton and weird sounds and riffs driving each song. Though I have definitely enjoyed the new record, there are definitely a few songs that I dare say are so straight-ahead and normal that I've thought to myself, "This is CSS?"

Tour Dates:

Jul 11 2008 Les Ardentes (Liege)
Jul 13 2008 London Rise Festival (London)
Jul 16 2008 iTunes Festival @ Koko (London)
Jul 18 2008 Summercase Festival (Barcelona/Madrid)
Jul 19 2008 Summercase Festival (Barcelona/Madrid)
Jul 27 2008 Fuji Rock Festival (Niigata)
Jul 30 2008 First Avenue (Minneapolis)
Jul 31 2008 Turner Hall (Milwaukee)
Aug 1 2008 Lollapalooza (Chicago)
Aug 4 2008 Osheaga Festival (Montreal)
Aug 5 2008 Kool Haus (Toronto)
Aug 7 2008 Trocadero Theater (Philadelphia)
Aug 8 2008 All Points West Festival (Jersey City)
Aug 9 2008 Roxy (Boston)
Aug 10 2008 House of Blues (Atlantic City)
Aug 16 2008 Flow Festival (Helsinki)
Aug 22 2008 Leeds Festival (Leeds)
Aug 24 2008 Reading Festival (Reading)
Aug 31 2008 Electric Picnic (Ireland)
Sep 5 2008 Bestival (Isle of Wight)
Sep 14 2008 Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks Amphitheater (Denver)

So So Modern

Myspace // "Vulture Kisses" [mp3]

So So Modern is a great electro-punk band from Wellington, New Zealand. And by band, I actually mean a "four-person collective interested in creating a more fun and meaningful future through performance and music" (at least, so says their ridiculous bio). I'd much rather call them electro-punk, synth-core or something of that nature, as their music basically consists of yelping vocals, thrashing guitars, and pounding drums all complimented by a tornado of synthesizers. Their vocalist and general punk weirdness evokes the best of Q and Not U or The Javelins, but only with more of a British influence. So if you're feeling a little adventurous, definitely check So So Modern out.

The Great Escape Preview: Damn Shames

Myspace // "Fear of Assault" [mp3]

Damn Shames are a three piece from Edinburgh that play a high octane brand of electro-punk. With yelping vocals over squealing guitars and electrified drums, the young band is probably best described as a cross between Klaxons and Clor on speed. Damn Shames cut their teeth playing small shows in the northern United Kingdom before being noticed by Luke Smith of Clor who offered to re-record their demos. They signed to Abeano/XL Recordings not long thereafter, two labels with some of the hottest young bands in the UK right now (like Blood Red Shoes and I Was A Cub Scout to name a few). If those labels are backing Damn Shames, then I'd be willing to wager that they're pretty much the best band ever. Can't wait to hear them play.