There is something incredibly soothing about the music of Swedish-born crooner Jose Gonzalez (who is of Argentinean descent). His stripped down, acoustic melodies and fragile vocals are a breath of fresh air among the action-packed tracks of his peers in the pop charts. Parasol Records is streaming Gonzalez' entire EP "Stay In The Shade" on its web site. The label also features an mp3 of the title track that was featured earlier this year in an episode of FOX' The OC. "Stay In The Shade" is ultimately a song about denial that starts out slow and climaxes abruptly to reflect its lyrical theme.
If you have a moment, also make sure to check out Gonzalez' gorgeous cover of Kylie Minogue's "Hand On Your Heart" which is as close to perfection as the original. Stream it here.
Download Jose Gonzalez "Stay In The Shade" 
Click here to listen to an audio link from Sveriges Radio. About 19 minutes into the broadcast you can listen to Pet Shop Boys' brand-new single "I'm With Stupid" from their forthcoming new album Fundamental. The group earlier explained that the song is inspired by the relationship between Tony Blair and George Bush. Full of his graceful wit, Neil Tennant sings, " Call you every day/ Fly across the ocean/ Just to let you get your way/ No one understands me/ Where I'm coming from/ Why would I be with someone/ Who's obviously so dumb?"
The song also has a gay theme with the Pet Shop Boys describing the relationship between the two leaders in a more intimate way, " I have to ask myself like any lover might/ Have you made a fool of me?/ Are you not Mr Right?.../ Is stupid really stupid or are you really smart?/ That's how you stole my heart." Read all the lyrics here. Listen to it on Sveriges Radio now. It's good. Really good. (Thanks to Thomas for the heads up!) [source]
Stream Pet Shop Boys "I'm With Stupid" (19 mins in) 
Pay attention, folks. Here's a hot new track to kick start your week with. Check out "Today," the new video from Dutch house DJ/producer JunkieXL that is the title track from his fourth album that will hit stores on April 18. Directed by first-time video director Glenn Cole (who is also co-founder and creative director of advertising agency 72andSunny), the video
for "Today" features JunkieXL (aka Tom Holkenborg) as a barber who creates outrageous "junkiefied" haircuts for anyone who visits his barbershop. Cole and Junkie XL first collaborated on a Nike World Cup commercial in 2002, which resulted in the JXL remix of Elvis' "A Little Less Conversation."
After releasing three very successful albums, Holkenborg moved from Amsterdam to Venice Beach, CA to concentrate on film, video game and commercial projects. He has produced remixes for Depeche Mode, Britney Spears, Coldplay and many others.
On "Today" Holkenborg avoided to work according to one single concept. In a press statement he said he just wanted to make ten great tracks. "I thought I should do something I'd never done before, which is start and then finish an album within two or three months," he says. "That's why this album is the perfect snapshot of where I am at the moment musically. That's why it's called 'Today.' Where I am tomorrow, I don't know." To make it a consistent body of work he only used singer Nathan Mader for the disc's vocals.
Watch JunkieXL "Today" (YouTube) Free Download: Metric "Poster Of A Girl"
sound like a track that The Killers could have produced? Perhaps it is just my Brandon Flowers inclination, but the song's keyboard stylings and Emily Haines vocal cues really remind me of the sound The Killers have put out. It is not my intention to do Metric any injustice, because these Canadians have been making great music in their own cool, indie way since the late '90s. But if The Killers can do it than Metric can do it too (without Flowers, but with Haines' arresting presence). The impeccable synth-rock tune "Live It Out" that is generally a bit rougher around the edges than this song might indicate. Also, check out the excellent video for the song. (Thanks to Metric's management for allowing me to share.)
Download Metric "Poster Of A Girl" Watch Metric "Poster Of A Girl" [Quicktime] 
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