Recently, MGMT has been getting a whole lot of attention. While I think they have some good stuff, this past week I have been obsessed with a band that is simply better than MGMT. Meet Passion Pit.
There is no doubt in my mind that this relatively new electro-pop band out of Boston is going to blow up soon. They are already starting to get a lot of recognition in the Boston area, as they have opened up for Girl Talk, and were awarded the best local act of 2008 by WFNX & Boston Phoenix, which gave them the opportunity to open for Death Cab For Cutie.
Michael Angelakos (lead vocals, keys, piano, synth) was the original brains behind Passion Pit, but his friends Ian Hultquist (synth, voice) and Adam Lavinsky (drums, samples) quickly joined to form the band. Thom Plasse (bass, synth) and Ayad Al Adhamy (synth, sample, voice) were added to the mix soon after. Passion Pit literally just signed to Frenchkiss Records (The Hold Steady, the Apes, the Fatal Flying Guiloteens) who will be re-releasing their EP, Chunk Change, September, 16th.
Ian Hultquist has been featured on “Indie Muse” before for his solo work, which I also highly recommend you check out. He has a great cover of Wilco’s “Sunken Treasure” and currently does compositions for films. He is a student at The Berklee College of Music.
Fun Fact (via the Boston Herald): Angelakos was taking a class in American fashion at Emerson College and stumbled upon the term passion pit: slang for drive-in movie theaters where kids would make out.
So now you know what passion pit means…
Chunk Of Change (September, 2008):
Passion Pit -Â Sleepy Head (on EP, Pretty Penny, but will be released on Chunk of Change.)
Passion Pit – I’ve Got Your Number
Ian Hultquist:
i dunno if i’d go so far as to say these guys are ‘simply better’ than mgmt.. they are okay, the second song is lacking, the first is pretty solid
hey derek,
i probably should have refrained from using the word “simply,” but i personally think they are better than mgmt. they have more songs that i wouldn’t have had any reservations posting instead of “i’ve got your number.” overall, if you liked “sleepy head” they have more songs that you are going to like.
like i said, while i do like some of mgmt’s music, i think they are a bit overrated. also, i was underwhelmed by their bonnaroo performance…it was a pretty big letdown following the hype.
thanks for the message, i really appreciate the feedback.
david
fuck yeah
mike is dreamy.
good luck to these guys, they deserve it.
David,
I totaly am pumped to be getting this album SEP 16. I live in Japan and I’m friends with a guy who own a little trance bar. He lets me do a electro pop/ indie show on Thursdays thats has gotten pretty popular. Long story short I think the crowd is getting bored with me playing MGMT’s electric feel/ kids every night. I burned sleepy head to my ipod and played it last week OH my GOD. They loved it! I love it! This is most excited I’ve been since MGMT even the other stuff I’ve heard is good.
I discovered Passion Pit a few months ago and I loved them. I just couldn’t get enough… although, I have to admit it happened through another Boston based DJ duo that go by the name of Pirate Stereo.
Without further due… i thought you’d like to check out their Sleepyhead remix. http://www.myspace.com/piratestereo
I definetley agree they are AMAZING!