MOTHXR – Stranger
Spotted: A rock star stuck in the body of a TV leading man. Penn Badgley – yes, MOTHXR’s frontman is none other than the Gossip Girl himself – flaunts his surprisingly tender, pleasantly raspy voice that practically melts into plucking guitars and swelling disco synths here. This atmospheric cut from the Brooklyn-based band’s debut album makes a convincing argument for how sometimes style does work over substance, vividly painting a picture of a late night bathed in seductive technicolor traffic lights and with it, an immersive musical experience.
Holy Two – Undercover Girls
This French duo’s single is one of those indie pop songs that upon first listen, one can’t help wondering why it doesn’t catch on virally and go on to dominate international airwaves. The melodies are instantly catchy, the looped guitar riffs fun and mystical, the gritty vocals channeling all kinds of vixen badassery, with a few ballsy rap verses thrown in for good measure. It sounds earthy, gloriously messy like rolling in the beach sand on a hot day, and in an alternate universe, is a frontrunner for Song of the Summer.
Review Like Nobody's Reading 