Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

On the Record

By Bill Chenovert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Apr. 6, 2011

Yelle

Safari Disco Club

(V2/Downtown)

Sounds Like: Outstanding batch of disco pop from France’s premier young and arty dance diva; you don’t need to understand what she’s saying to bug out.

Free Association: This IS like a disco safari—those wild animals got some MOVES.

For Fans Of: Uffie x Hot Chip, Peaches + Justice, the French doing things well.

The Weeknd

House of Balloons

(Self-released)

Sounds Like: Everyone’s bugging over this mixtape that Drake tweeted about and Pitchfork jerked off to, and it’s all good—R&B, beats, Toronto, herb, melancholy, ‘nuff said.

Free Association: Ain’t even imitation, collage or homage, it’s just right for the night time.

For Fans Of: jj with Lil’ Wayne, DJ Shadow + the xx, self-released surprises.

Screeching Weasel

First World Manifesto

(Fat Wreck Chords)

Sounds Like: Chicago punks’ first in 11 years is overshadowed by the dickbag behavior of frontman Ben Weasel at SXSW; snarky, fast-paced but tame, and monotonous.

Free Association: Punched two girls, got dragged off by security, band quits—niiiiice.

For Fans Of: Ramones x Blink-182, Rancid + Offspring, punching women in the face.

Chris Brown