Mike James & DJ Kriegs

Reading Pitchfork reviews is both infuriating and enlightening. However much I want to shun their pretentions, I can’t help but find logic in words of their reviewers and an insightful truth to their grasp of music trends. I was looking through the site for a soundbite on Ellie Goulding (well, and hopefully a free download—which I didn’t find), who’s song “The Writer” is a subtly stunning ballad that’s easy to like if not appreciate. It’s hard to pick apart the argument in Pitchfork’s review of Lights, Ellie Goulding’s debut album, except to quote the conclusion: “at its best Lights feels remarkably uncontrived, cantering across genres, following personal whims and visions rather than marketing agendas. Unusually for a British pop debut album, it doesn't seem desperate for the immediate approval of chart success.” This is high praise from the site, and the album is definitely worth a listen. “The Writer” has made quite an impression on me, and I hope Goulding has a lot more up her sleeve.

Listen to "The Writer" here:

MGMT’s next album, Congratulations, is still a month away (April 13, 2010) but they’ve been generous enough to give fans a free download—”Flash Delirium.” Now, I can’t say that it’s the track I’ve been waiting for these long, cold, dark winter evenings—hopefully they’ll be on the album—but it’s worth a listen. So download it! Then you can start forming opinions about MGMT so in a month, when Congratulations drops, you’ll be ahead of the curb. Stupid curb.

Download “Flash Delirium” here: http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/mp3/MGMT%20-%20Flash%20Delirium.mp3.