Avenue61 is a leading indie music site that specialises in album and gig reviews, breaking new bands, publicising events, and exclusive interviews with the leading cutting edge acts in the alternative music scene. Avenue61 covers a wide range of artists – some you would have heard of, some you won’t. Artists the site has reviewed recently include the Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Noisettes and Ladyhawke. The site is updated regularly so come back to catch up the latest news and reviews from the bleeding edge of the alternative music scene.

Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>

Although the American electro-rockers now have an album full of perfectly formed futuristic pop nuggets, that wasn’t the original intention. Lead vocalist Michael Angelakos wrote Passion Pit’s first four songs on EP ‘Chunk of Change’, with the sole aim to impress his [then] girlfriend for their anniversary, and got his first taste of fame when they became popular around Emerson College, where he studied. Only after being approached by [now] band mate Ian Hultquist, was the idea of forming a band a brought to the table, luckily for us.

The high pitched vocals and magical backdrop of twinkling sounds are what make Passion Pit unique, despite being compared to the more mainstream MGMT who lack the

consistency of hits. However, all of the songs on Passion Pit’s debut ‘Manners’ are not only synth-tastic (minus the laptop and portable microphone this time round) but they are also songs which each have their own sound - the album doesn’t blur into one song, yet manages to keep to the same genre without dipping into other styles of music unsure of it’s final destination and what it is trying to portray. Although the Massachusetts four piece have only been together since late 2007, it is clear they all have the same view and aim of what to get out of their songs and the result is a privilege to listen to and a sugary treat for all.

Their most popular hit has got to be first single ‘Sleepyhead’ originally released with the EP in September 2008. The complex, yet easy to catch, song encompasses a variety of sounds right from the start, yet it fits. Borrowing parts from a song "Óró Mo Bháidín" by Irish singer and harpist Mary O'Hara, with the standard background twinkles, claps are introduce then beats to transcend the song into its pop/electro/dance category. The chorus’ evoke the listener to sing along, a reaction to which they can’t help, with echoes of a children’s choir, which producer Chris Zane found through good old Google.

With their music featuring on many commercials, the bands success has come quick. They did the obligatory rounds of festivals over the summer and their live performances are only getting better, which surprises most as the lead vocals often reach difficult heights to conquer by the average fan, but maybe that’s what makes them so special. Embarking on a UK tour in early March next year, including the HMV Forum in London, Passion Pit are currently working their way through Europe. A definite one to watch for next year, be sure to catch them in March.