In between recording sessions for their obscenely-anticipated 2009 full-length, Boston buzz beneficiaries Passion Pit are keeping up a feverish pace in support of August’s Chunk of Change EP . After a slew of highly-regarded CMJ shows, and a run of sold-out west coast dates with French electro-pop starlet Yelle , the band has announced a live schedule that should see them through the remainder of the year and into early ‘09. But before they embark, they’re, you know, finishing that record of theirs. And if you’re eager to check on their progress, the boys got you covered with their recently launched studio blog . Give it a look, and then scope out the tour dates below the fold.

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Sort of an afterthought at this point, considering the monsterous CMJ these guys had, but Pitchfork finally weighed in on Passion Pit ’s debut EP, Chunk of Change . Recommended, indeed! Buy it, people. Buy it !

And if you don’t buy it, at least try your hand at remixing “Sleepyhead.”The kids at Finger on the Pulse, who’ll host the band at their No Big Deal event on December 5th in Brooklyn, are hosting a remix contest until December 2nd. You can grab the parts here , and send your remixes to nobigdealbk@gmail.com with “Passion Pit Remix” in the subject. Show info after the jump.

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Passion Pit
Chunk Of Change / Frenchkiss / BUY

Caffeine-buzzed, rainbow-saddling electro pop, peppered with squelches and squeaks, tugged along by a falsetto that sounds like a marvelously mangled indie rock take on Chipmunk Soul. All. That. And. More. On Chunk of Change, the debut from Passion Pit. A stick of dynamite. A punch in the gut. A perfectly potent introduction to one of 2008’s most exciting young bands, Boston’s crown jewel, and the owners of the best song we’ve EVER HEARD THIS MONTH, “Sleepyhead.” The EP descended last week via Frenchkiss Records, and should serve as plenty more than a taste of what’s to come on next year’s full-length debut. The New York Times loves it. And so do we. And so should you.

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Boston-based electropop outfit Passion Pit unveils its proper debut, the Chunk of Change EP, this week via Frenchkiss Records. The brainchild of Michael Angelakis, Passion Pit draws from a variety of influences, from the classic pop of Randy Newman to the synth work of Giorgio Moroder. The EP, originally put together as a Valentine’s Day gift for Angelakis’ girlfriend, has been re-mastered and amended to include two bonus tracks, “Better Things” and the dancefloor-pounding blog-fave,

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The short-player is currently streaming in its entirety on AOL Spinner .

With a wildly successful Pianos residency in the rearview, Angelakis and his five piece live band will embark on a short run of dates with French pop tart Yelle late next month. But before the stint, the Pit is keeping busy, playing alongside Sunset Rubdown at Mercury Lounge in New York City this Wednesday, throwing a celebratory CD Release Show at Great Scott in Allston, and then taking the stage at Bowery Ballroom in NYC with The French Kicks, before joining labelmates The Dodos at Pop Montreal in Quebec. All dates below the fold.

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We love us some alliteration!  But what we love more (apparently, along with everyone else) is Passion Pit live.  Playing the third of three sold out residency shows at Pianos last Wednesday, Passion Pit made it clear that they’ll be the band to see this fall.

They played a short set, comprised mostly of tracks from their upcoming debut EP Chunk of Change, which drops September 16th on Frenchkiss Records. The talent of frontman Michael Angelakos (who recorded most of the EP all by his lonesome) translated well to the 5-piece’s live performance.  The energy during “Smile Upon Me” resonated with the crowd, who was clapping along with the band and tearing it up on what quickly became a dance floor.

During the last song of the show, single “Sleepyhead,” the room was singing along while jumping up and down to the beat. Rarely do you see this much excitement around a band in anticipation of not even their debut album, but a mere EP!

So if you like alliteration, but even more importantly great live music, then check out Passion Pit’s next New York show at the Bowery Ballroom on September 24th with the French Kicks.  Trust us, you don’t want to miss them again.

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Pictures from the show after the jump!

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Passion Pit is an infectious new band from Boston with a sweet little back-story. Frontman/mastermind/good boyfriend(?) Michael Angelakos originally wrote and recorded four of the six songs on Passion Pit’s upcoming Chunk Of Change EP as a belated Valentine’s Day present for his girlfriend. All together now: “aww!”

But seriously folks, this is no gimmick. Just some damn good songwriting, and one of the most exciting artists signed to Frenchkiss Records since, well, The Dodos. Their songs are spirited, energetic and catchy, proving to be the kinds of earworms that you actually want to hear running through your head when you wake up in the morning (sorry, Leona Lewis, I’m kicking you out of my head). Any given day at Rind HQ you can hear Passion Pit coming out of someone’s speakers, and we are some discriminating listeners! If you don’t want to take our word for it, just ask anyone who saw the band open for Girl Talk, Death Cab For Cutie, or any of the other notable artists they’ve warmed the stage for (and by warming, we mean burning up). They’ve also received quite a bit of love in the online world of late, surely with more to come.

Passion Pit is already one week into a residency at New York’s Pianos, so that means you New Yorkers can still catch them on 8-20 or 8-27! They’re also playing a couple of shows in their hometown of Boston, along with festivals Monolith and Pop Montreal.

Chunk of Change hits all digital retail stores on September 16th, but until then you can check out the band’s Myspace and download one of the tracks that Angelakos didn’t write for his girlfriend right here:

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Here’s what it is: complex, loud, tight, fun, dreamy, soulful. And what do we call it? “Sleepyhead,” the new single from Cambridge-based poppers Passion Pit, lead by lyricist, beatmaker, and plain-and-simple mastermind Michael Angelakos.

Here’s what it’s not: dull, boring, or anything resembling sleep. In fact, the track, with it’s electro-claps, high pitched vocal loops, and dominant synth melodies will promptly launch your dance-deprived ass out of bed in the morning. I guarantee it - coffee ain’t got nothing on “Sleepyhead.”

“Sleepyhead” is also the bonus track on this five-piece band’s upcoming EP, Chunk of Change. Passion Pit recently signed to Frenchkiss Records (home to Les Savy Fav and The Dodos, among others) and have already made waves by opening for acts like Death Cab For Cutie, Girl Talk, and These New Puritans. And you New Yorkers should pay special attention, because the band has secured a three-date residency at Pianos on the 13th, 20th, and 27th of August. So wake up and mark your calendars!!

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