ALBUM
It’s been almost three years since fans of Syracuse, N.Y.-based pop rockers Ra Ra Riot had any new ear candy to enjoy, but fans were generously rewarded for their patience when the upbeat, dance-y Beta Love was released in mid-January. The group’s third studio album showcases more of a synth-pop sound than the baroque pop the band was known for on past records. The overall sound is laden with heavy synth drops and dance-worthy bass beats. Songs like “Dance with Me” and “Binary Mind” will have you getting out of your chair to shake it. Catch your breath during slower-paced songs interspersed among faster-tempo tracks.
WEBSITE
If you’ve ever wondered what a day in the life of your favorite actor, artist, musician or viral internet star is like, well, there’s a website for that.
Ditlo.com (get it, Day-In-The-Life-Of?) is an image-centric project that seeks to capture one day of a noteworthy person’s life in action photographs. The names of people who’ve been profiled aren’t all immediately recognizable, but the site does a good job of introducing you to each person/subject. There’s something new to look every day, along with Ditlo’s archives. Check out its profiles on Lil Bub (the Internet’s cutest famous dwarf cat, duh), the guys behind the hilarious “Shit Girls Say” videos, triple-threat Stephen Lynch and lots of other fascinating folks.
SONG
There’s another amazing band getting ready to release a new album after a 2½-year hiatus. Long Beach, Calif., rockers Cold War Kids will release their fourth studio album
Dear Miss Lonelyhearts next month, (maybe even this week, rumors hint) but to hold fans over until then, the band already released the album’s first single “
Miracle Mile,” which you can stream on Spotify and SoundCloud on repeat for the next week or so until the record is out. It’s a fast-paced, loud-chorused song with plenty of pounding drums and catchy guitar hooks that will make you want to stomp your foot and shake your head.
