Boston electro pop ensemble Passion Pit have reason to keep the blogosphere’s bees a-buzzin’ as of late. With the buildup mounting for the band’s proper follow up to everyone’s favorite EP of ’08, Chunk of Change , Michael Angelakos and company revealed to us their plans to bring together a full fledged crew of middle-schoolers. The epic PS 22 Staten Island children’s choir were invited to record with the Pit in order to add some pizazz on one of their most intoxicating new jams. According to Mr. Google, these youngsters are no strangers to fame, having performed their services for Tori Amos and NYC major Michael Bloomberg, as well as covering everything from Coldplay to Bjork.
Head on over to Fader then to read their account of the situation. Here’s hoping those kids were paid handsomely for their contributions (most likely in tater tots and Dunkaroos). In other PP news, the band will lay their boston beats down on audiences throughout 2009, first kicking things off by joining Ra Ra Riot for a stint on their journey through North America. Full set of tour dates after you make the plunge.
MP3 – Passion Pit – I’ve Got Your Number
Syracuse indie pop troupe Ra Ra Riot recently played a show to tons of eager LA fans at Sunset Blvd’s The Echo. Mania TV’s At The Show was lucky enough to snag some footage of the band in action. You can take a look at all four episode’s at Mania TV’s website where you’ll find performances of “Each Year”, “A Manner To Act”, “Can You Tell”, and “Dying Is Fine”. And, of course, after their stellar performance, At the Show host Brendon got a chance to hang out with the band for a little chit chat and tomfoolery. The result? He took two Ra Ra representatives to a swealtering video store to peruse movies about Michael Moore stalkers, shy people, and sky pirates. Yes, sky pirates…
In what seemed like a fruitless quest to wean myself off The Dodos’ Visiter, (yes, I know it dropped forever ago) I finally found salvation with the long awaited full length from Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line. Despite having just been released August 19th on Barsuk, I may have already listened to the album a billion times, only to find new things I like about it every time I push play.
Including new and improved versions of previously recorded tracks from their debut EP, the album fulfills what anyone would expect in a full length from the band. Songs that encompass death and the celebration of life show how the band has continued to evolve and thrive even after the death of drummer/songwriter/friend John Pike.
Produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Gossip, Islands, Blonde Redhead) at Bear Creek Studios, The Rhumb Line includes a revamped version of “Dying is Fine,” which includes lines from E.E. Cummings’ “Dying is fine) but Death”. The band also uses violin and cello players Alexandra Lawn and Rebecca Zeller to their full potential on songs like “Winter ’05” and “Oh La”, where the strings act as the songs’ melodic backbone rather than as accessories. … Continue Reading
