Gossamer, the summer 2012 followup to Passion Pit’s 2009 breakthrough album Manners does not disappoint, and stays true to the band’s simultaneously delicate and powerful sound that fans have come to love. “Constant Conversations,” one of the album’s standout tracks, especially highlights this soft and hard musical juxtaposition, coming together with a catchy chorus and plenty of “oh oh oh”s you just might find yourself singing along to. The song is thoughtful and not too in your face, the perfect transition into an autumn mindset. The video for the track is equally lush and artistic, featuring some indie Hollywood faces in … (read more).

It may be the end of August, but summer isn’t over yet! We want you to enjoy and soak up the last of this season, and some breezy tunes are the perfect way to do just that. Music Monday this week brings you “Petition (Vacationer Remix)” by Tennis. As the title suggests, this remixed track is light, fun, and transporting, complete with “sha la la“s! If the music sounds particularly harmonious, that may be because the duo behind Tennis is actually a husband and wife, who met studying philosophy in college–the perfect beginning to an indie pop band! Enjoy this … (read more).

This Monday we bring you yet another escape to ward off any Monday blues with New Navy’s catchy hit single “Zimbabwe.” The Aussie band has gained a lot of attention in the blogosphere over the last couple of years (reaching particular prominence in their homeland, playing with Australian greats like Wolfmother), and songs like this perfectly showcase why the quartet’s jams are catching on. Throw this on for your next warm weather barbeque or road trip and everyone will be getting into their feel-good summer vibes. It’s hard to resist their listener-friendly blend of pop, indie, and even electronic musicality, … (read more).

Reaching earthly paradise by Monday? Sounds good to me! Okay, so we may not be able to promise you that, but breakout stars YACHT do deliver fantastical-sounding tunes and lyrics on their hit single “Shangri-La,” originally released last year. The core members of the American band are duo Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, and includes other musicians when touring. The album Shangri-La often deals with heavy themes in a fun and light style, making YACHT compulsively listenable and fun, despite such themes as the post-apocalypse and the afterlife. The song “Shangri-La” is no exception, with happy, bouncy melodic piano … (read more).

When I think of summer, one of the first things I think of are drives out on the road, escaping the chaotic heat of the city and heading to breezier, quieter, beach-filled (preferably) places. Those drives are quintessentially summer when amazing, upbeat music is playing on the speakers to help you pass the time until you’re at your destination, and a driving playlist is a must. So for this week’s Music Monday, we bring you Tegan and Sara’s fun “Back In Your Head,” a great pick for a drive out on a summer day. Tegan and Sara are identical twin … (read more).

It may only be the beginning of the week, but this Music Monday we’re bringing you the forward-thinking tunes of synthpop band Class Actress’ “Weekend.” The Brooklyn group consisting of singer-songwriter Elizabeth Harper and producers Scott Rosenthal and Mark Richardson formed in 2009, and this track is from their critically-acclaimed full debut 2011 album, “Rapprocher.” This is the perfect song to throw on when you’re getting ready to go out Friday night–or when you need a pick-me-up reminder that the weekend isn’t too far away! With fun synths, cool drum pads, and hypnotizing vocals, soon enough you’ll crooning along “Bring … (read more).

Is this rainy week making it hard for you to feel celebratory about summer’s arrival? True, the actual summer solstice isn’t for another month, but we definitely don’t need to wait that long to usher in some seasonal spirit. Here to help is CassaStyle’s latest Music Monday installment, featuring American band Grouplove’s single “Colours,” remixed by popular DJ/performer Xaphoon Jones. While the original song is great as well, the Xaphoon Jones remix kicks it up a notch (or ten), making it near impossible to not nod your head or tap your foot along with the beat. Grouplove started gaining traction … (read more).

SXSW has come and gone again, and although we couldn’t attend this year, it didn’t stop us from sifting through the thousands of artists showcasing this year. From hip-hop to heavy metal, folk and indie pop, the festival always brings a vast range of musical acts to help in the search for new and often surprising sounds. One of our favorite new listens comes from fellow NYCers, Hospitality. As the latest addition to Merge Records, the band was generating buzz even before hitting the stage, landing them on a slew of must-see lists. We were taken by their catchy tune … (read more).

The latest interactive music video is here, and no, this time it’s not from Arcade Fire. It’s instead from Brooklyn indie-pop duo Chairlift, who have creatively outdone themselves for the release of their single, “Met Before,” off of their third, and arguably most successful album, Something.  The video is a wonderfully executed choose-your-own-adventure style story, directed by Jordan Fish, who managed to create seemingly endless possibilities for viewers. We had fun clicking the arrows to discover various stories, but by the fifth scenario I was most content with the first choice that led to a scientific explanation for déjà vu. … (read more).

Today’s Music Monday features the song “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which has been popping up on my various playlists for a few weeks now. Released on the latest album from Gotye, pronounced Go-tee-yay, the artist teamed up with New Zealand star Kimbra to create this striped down, slow building song, that makes for a generally unexpected international chart topper. But managing to hit #1 in his native Australia, Gotye also climbed up the charts in a slew of European countries. And now gaining more coverage  in the U.S., with appearances on various television soundtracks, he proves once again … (read more).