Here’s one from the Arnold-inspired Bay-native skate-punk fools Arnocorps. If you’ve ever seen them live, they look straight out of Predator or Commando or something.

ArnoCorps
“I’m Ballsy” (mp3)
from “The Ballsy EP”
(Smog Veil Records)

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I think one of my least favorite descriptive terms for music is “retro” – I mean could you be more vague and non committal? So as a rule I rarely describe anything as “retro,” but, you know the thing about rules is they are made to be broken, so here we go. In an act of sustained and dedicated TOTALLY RETRO worship of 60′s garage pop, northern soul and other yummy styles of that precious musical era, The Midwest Beat is a wonderful band on a retro mission. Here’s one from them I posted earlier called “Get It Started” is a gr8 rave up, and this single “Color Radio” shows these Madison, Wisconsin disciples of 60′s pop luv in a more philosophical mood. Recorded on analog tape and released on vinyl 45′s, of course. Collect ‘em all!

The Midwest Beat
“Color Radio” (mp3)
from “At the Gates”
(Dusty Medical Records)

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One of the not-so-best-kept-secrets in rock n’ roll is Atlanta, GA’s The Woggles. Their shows have become the stuff of legend – one of those bands people tell you “OMG you have to see this band before you die” kind of thing, and it is because they rock insanely and ridiculously hard. Like a new wave 70′s band shot through a civil war cannon, they distill the essence of mod, punk, power pop and even early glam, into a singular spirit of pure rock n’ roll firewater. Here is the title track from their gr8 new album, “Ragged But Right.” Awesome.

The Woggles
“Ragged But Right” (mp3)
from “Ragged But Right”
(The Woggles/Swank Tones Music BMI)
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When Zion I released their first full-length album, Mind Over Matter In 2000, hip-hop was still in the middle of its creative and cultural dominance of popular music. 10 years later Zion I has continued to release music and perform, leaving this humble Oakland group as the creative and cultural springboard of hip-hop. “Turn it Up” is another Zion I production with originality and attitude that shows why MC Zion and Amp Live Amp are making music that’s 3 steps ahead of the rest.

Get more free music and some knowledge over at the Zion I crew website.

Outdoor Miners from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada are on a small indie label called Pop Echo. “Disgust” is the title track from their album. It sounds like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü and Nirvana but from an even colder, more northern place. Careening existential indie rock. I digs it.

Outdoor Miners
“Disgust” (mp3)
from “Disgust”
(Pop Echo Records)

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Here in the states we have MSTRKRFT. In Sweden the have BMK. This techno renegade outfit is making warehouse friendly bangers with electro overtones and floor stomping beats. Download “We Don’t Care,” cover your face with a cool bandana, and pump your blood stream with “party favors,” cause this one is going to get your night jumpin’.

BMK
“We Don’t Care” (mp3)
from “We Don’t Care”
(Swedish Columbia)

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How pop do ya wannit? This is some yummy grown-up bubblegum for yer tummies. A criminally infectious chorus tops an electronic dance pop treat that would work as well in any nightclub as it would on pop radio. Not the Beach Boys hit of the same name, but def some shameless fun. A word of caution, this hook will stick to you like sugar frosted honey buns. Dragonette, from Toronto & London, my urban fun-loving dears. Pop h8ers need not apply.

Dragonette
“I Get Around” (mp3)
from “Galore”
(I Surrender Records)

I love Steve Davis, he sounds so much like JJ and his original compositions are always such ear candy for me! I love the entire album! This track is an uptempo, bright jazz instrumental with gr8 combo playing and some sweeeet solos. Tight!

Steve Davis
“Nato” (mp3)
from “Images”
(Posi-Tone Records)

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Dear old Matthew Dear walks away from his signature glossy techno sound to deliver something funky, warm and strangely poppy. Like Prince in a psychedelic mood only kinda Kraftwerky. Lots of gr8, unusual sounds in this mid-tempo diversion. A sexy, intellectual little brain mint. I can feel it.

Matthew Dear
“I Can’t Feel” (mp3)
from “Black City”
(Ghostly International)

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Was reminded of K’Naan (who, if ya don’t know already, is the new next) while watching World Cup – since his brilliant “Waving Flag” is the official song of the 2010 FIFA tournament. Last year when I first discovered K’Naan’s music I was properly stunned. He writes beautiful, brave, inspiring songs, which bring together elements of hip-hop, reggae, rock and the kitchen sink in novel ways, creating work that is original yet instantly accessible. This live recording is more on the hip-hop / poetry side, and it tells you more about the man’s background than a bio can, really. If a guy who took the last commercial flight out of Somalia with his mom as a young kid as his country descended into chaos asks “What’s Hardcore?” how do you answer?

K’Naan
“Whats Hardcore?” (mp3)
from “The Dusty Foot on the Road”
(Interdependent Media)

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