Even though the "blackest purse" isn't the greatest summer accessory...we tell you the Why? now...

P&C usually declares summer as the time in which the ladies steer clear of the blackest purse, and opt for something lighter, more fun, and ultimately more colorful.

But when it comes to the Why?'s, we don't really feel it's necessary to get into it. What's that you say?

The brilliant outfit Why?, fronted by the glorious Yoni Wolf, has just announced details of their fourth studio release on one of this here blog's favorite labels, Anticon; Eskimo Snow, which is a meaningful follow-up (so far) to last year's Alopecia, features the excellent melodic tune "The Blackest Purse", which will have all you followers forgetting that whole summer baggage mantra, alright.

And you will ask the Why?'s, of course. The answers will come in the form of psychelic folk with a decidedly pop sensibility--and what can be more fun than that in this not-so-summery summer weather?

I can predit this record won't just last in these weather-worn days of July; in fact, Eskimo Snow was apparently written at the same time as Alopecia, and meant as a double disc, but was turned into two seperate bodies of work after a wintery revelation over hot toddys. Brills!

Eskimo Snow will drop, officially, on September 18. In the meantime, get ready by whipping out "The Blackest Purse". You've never been so cool in summer....

Enjoy.

[Why? - The Blackest Purse.]

I'll "treat you like your mother" any day...

Leave it to Jack White to always be working, creating, and inventing new ideas. Welcome The Dead Weather, which P&C wrote about quite awhile back before the indie "super group" was getting the kind of traction and talk of late.

The Dead Weather, which features Jack White (The White Stripes and The Raconteurs) opting to hit the kit instead of guitar (and contributing vocals), Alison Mosshart of The Kills (who exudes sexxx) as front woman, Dead Fertita of Queens of the Stoneage on guitars, and bassist extraodinaire and P&C love Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes), is creating some pretty heavy, gritty alt rock and P&C is just gushes over the latest White project.

The group, which formed in 2009, will be out all summer in support of their debut The Horehounds, which dropped yesterday in the states. The record, whose lead off single "Hang You From the Heavens" was released in March, has a whole bunch of bangers on it, with Jack White's presence behind the kit predominent to say the least.

Their latest offering, "Treat Me Like Your Mother", features Jack heavy on the vocals, which never hurt a soul, really.

So, in honor of The Dead Weather hitting Boston's House of Blues on Saturday, July 18 (of which P&C will be out in full force), gobble up the band's second single...and throw your body around, because you'll want to do just that.

Will P&C see you at the gig?

[The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother.]

Artist(s) to Watch: Coeur de Pirate!

Having time of late to really take to new artists, and looking for something that not only goes swell alongside the bang of thunder and the spatter of rain, but something that soothes the drenched spirit, P&C has found it: 19 year old Canadian songwriter Beatrice Martin, stage name Coeur de Pirate.

Light and airy, Martin has been playing the piano since she was a little girl; and her debut full-length record, Coeur de Pirate, features little effort to produce some soft sentiment; it's a remarkable trip through songwriting, french lyrics, and a splash of French folk with the introduction to instruments like banjo, accordian, and various other strings on a number of the album's tracks.

Meanduring through bits of bedroom inspired indie pop and the aforementioned folk, Beatrice delivers complex, playful piano-driven tunes that feel far more mature than her 19 years. Favorite tracks include the melodic "Commes des Enfants" and "C'etait Salement Romantique", which will have you at its opening piano elements and have you waltzing around the room wishing you had a partner to waltz along with. It's sentimental but exudes nothing short of sweet happiness.

It's no wonder this young Quebec-based songwriter is up for a Polaris prize this year; her debut puts her a cut above a lot of the rest.

Enjoy.

[Coeur de Pirate - Commes Des Enfants.]
[Coeur de Pirate - C'etait Salement Romantique.]

I have "No Intention" of not projecting this dirtily on you...of course!

This is the only record getting me through the rain, really.

Thank you Bitte Orca, and Dave Longstreth--with rain, or without--I would love you nonetheless.

There is nothing better than some experimental tunes when the weather, in summer, is trying to flex its own depressing experiment on Bostonites who pleasure in getting a few months of legit. sun every year.

When will it stop? The rain, that is, not the Dirty Projectors. Stillness if the move, no?

[Dirty Projectors - The Bride.]
[Dirty Projectors - No Intention.]

Exciting the Fear Control...

If you were a fan of 2007 record Plague Park from Wolf Parade offshoot, Handsome Furs, there's no doubt for the past few months you've done all you can to ensure some Fear Control.

The March release from the husband-wife Montreal-based duo of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry is an absolute banger and a splendid follow up to what was one of my favorite debut records of a few years ago; and damned if P&C can't stop spinning it of late in prep for their Monday, July 6 gig in Great Scott, which we expect all of you Bostonites to be at, clearly.

Fear Control is infinitely catchy--like on "I'm Confused", which will have you dancing about uncontrollably to a solid beat backed by what feels like absolutely unsure and insecure, anxious vocals from the lovely Boeckner. He really does sound confused, as should be.

So as this rain falls, revist albums that have been out a bit; drip yourself in synth-pop glory and you'll forget you're also dripping wet.

Enjoy. See you at the gig hopefully.

[Handsome Furs - I'm Confused.]
[Handsome Furs - Radio Kalininbrad.]

King of Pop becomes King of Digital Music Sales? Yes sir. Obviously.

Rightfully so, the legendary King of Pop--who never had trouble selling records when they were originally released (and years on, quite frankly)--is dominating digital music sales today, namely Thriller, Number Ones, Bad, and Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.

For a man whose music never saw the tastes of a la carte buying and the degeneration of the "concept album" bought as a whole, the fans are flocking to iTunes to scoop up what's most important: his collective catalog of tunes.

Some of the numbers, to boot: 7 out of the top 10 albums on iTunes today belonged to Jackson, including the aforementioned, as well as Off the Wall, The Essential Michael Jackson, and Thriller (25th Anniversary Edition).

For singles, "Thriller", "Man in the Mirror", "The Way You Make Me Feel", and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" were listed in iTunes top 10 singles (followed behind in 12th and 13th spots, respectively, "Billie Jean" and "Black or White"...as well as everything else, for that matter!); for his childhood work with the beyond thrilling Jackson Five, many of those tunes are sitting pretty in the top 50--including "I Want You Back" and "ABC".

At least we know that NYC and Boston weren't the only locales blasting the Michael Jackson from every window last eve; now, all those iPod earbuds will be blasting, too.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

One of the world's greatest entertainers, the king of pop, Michael Jackson, has passed on. He was 50.

Arguably one of music's greatest innovators, he revolutionized the way music is delivered and provided a stage persona like none other, bridging the gap that was, at the time, firmly wedged between traditional rhythm and blues and the pop world. As a young child, my father introduced me to the tunes of a young Michael, the dynamic fireball who got his start fronting family band The Jackson Five...and from the first flick of the needle, I was mesmerized.

Since then, my father and I watched countless bits of footage of his precocious pop sensibility, his slick sliding of the feet, and the remarkable way, at just age 10, he could pull off the pinky ring and brilliant 'fro. From there, my Mum often would detail the exact moments in which she first saw him perform "Billie Jean" live, in 1983, as a solo artist; the night he paused, turned toward side stage, and slid his shoes across what felt like a mile of stage.

And his music comforted me as a young girl. I wore out my Jackson 5 cassette tapes, which I'd play on repeat via a little boom box which sat on the floor of my bedroom, the accompaniment to an afternoon playing Barbies--all of who could dance the moonwalk in their own right.

Now, all I have is a few 45s to spin; the epic single "Billie Jean", off the astounding and epic record Thriller (which garnered 7 out of 9 tracks total as Top 10 hits), released in 1982 and minted beautifully in cherry red vinyl..and the Jackson 5 classics, all on the Motown imprint--some warped from overplay so badly they'll, for ever now, have to remain in sleeve.

So I write this in honor of my Pa, who introduced me to the king of pop's tunes and who died at age 50, just as Michael did, and to the tunes that cemented my love for music as a child. And to those Barbies of mine, who sit in a crate somewhere in my Mum's basement--they are undoubtedly doing a musty moonwalk in honor of the man, tonight, too.

You will be missed.

[The Jackson Five - The Love You Save (live, accapella).]
[The Jackson Five - I Want You Back (live, Goin' Back to Indiana Special).]
[Michael Jackson unveils the moonwalk and "Billie Jean", March 25, 1983, at 25: Motown.]