Music Recommendations Week 24-01-05

Every week we do Music Recommendations of what we're listening to (old, new, fresh, promo), what we're loving or what upcoming releases we've previewed and loved.

This week I am all for dance rock, cool sounds and a Weezer flashback.


!!! - Louden Up Now
Don't let the confusing band name fool you. !!! are an amazing seven-piece dance rock group that infuses sleek techno beats with a punk rock vibe. Louden Up Now is an album not to be messed with, it just oozes a party atmosphere and makes the indie hipsters "just wanna dance". One of the catchiest albums of 2004, if you're going to host a party this week, make sure this album is in the playlist.
Official Website
Download Track #5: Hello? Is This Thing On? (mp3)


Pinback - Blue Screen Life
Pinback make music that just cools a room. Its beautiful guitar and consistent beats could make you calm in an instant and puts a smile in your face at the same time. If you enjoy the more melodical soft side of Death Cab For Cutie, you're going to love the Blue Screen Life album from Pinback's 2003 releases. Their current album Summer in Abandon is worth the listen as well.
Official Website
Download Track #2: Concrete Sounds (mp3)


Weezer - Pinkerton
Call me shallow what-not, but I used to judge people on their opinion on Weezer. I honestly thought that people who hated Weezer had huge character flaws. Sure, that was mean, but if you have never heard of Weezer before (how could you not? Unless you're 5 or something, then you shouldn't be surfing this site!), you better get into them now. The band are currently working on their next album (the new single, Beverly Hills, dropping in March), which means singer Rivers Cuomo is not updating his MySpace account/blog anytime soon. Pinkerton is easily one of the most influential rock albums of all time. Trust me, you'll adore it.
Official Website


The Academy Is... - Almost Here
One of the latest additions to Vinnie from Less Than Jake's indie record label, Fueled By Ramen, The Academy Is... make fresh pop punk rock that is as catchy as hell. The classy fashionable (and extremely fine-looking) five-piece are going to take the emo scene world by storm and this album will be their ticket to that.
Official Website
Download Track #8: Checkmarks (mp3)


Panic At The Disco - Unsigned / No Releases Yet
They WILL be signed to Fueled By Ramen this year, no doubt, as this Las Vegas dance rock outfit managed to steal the label's attention and won a fan in Pete Wentz, bassiest of popular pop punk outfit, Fall Out Boy, and owner of Decaydance, an imprint label of Fueled by Ramen. They sound like an emo version of The Killers with all that glitter dance rock sound but maybe more inspired by The Postal Service. Get your dancing shoes on, punkers!
Official Website
Check out their demos on their PureVolume.com website.