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This week features albums by The Kills, Tegan & Sara, Ladyhawke and more.

This week, the sounds range from flirty pop melodies to headbanging rock music. The Kills are back with their latest, Ash & Ice, while Minor Victories make their debut with their self-titled album. Tegan & Sara's Love You to Death and Ladyhawke's Wild Things will make you dance around your bedroom. And finally, The Lonely Island are back with some tongue-in-cheek yet catchy turn up tuneage with the soundtrack for their new film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, which also hits theaters today (June 3)!

'Ash & Ice' - The Kills

While it's been ages since Blood Pressures released, The Kills finally return with their new record, Ash & Ice. The 13-track record is filled with buzzing guitar riffs, mid-tempo drum rhythms and some dark lyrics delivered by Alison Mosshart. As you move from track to track, you feel every lyric that leaves her lips and every gasp and grunt she delivers onto the mic. Meanwhile Jamie Hince—who had to go undergo five hand surgeries and a period of learning how to play guitar with a damaged finger—is nothing short of a master on the electric guitar with soundscapes that sweep you off your feet. Literally.

Songs like "Hard Habit to Break," "Siberian Nights" and "Doing It to Death" remind us that sometimes going into the musical dark side isn't such a bad thing. However, The Kills show us a softer side of themselves on "Echo Home" and the riffed out "Hum for Your Buzz." Ash & Ice is just enough rock and blues to seduce you and make you forget about everything else.

 

'Love You to Death' - Tegan & Sara

Tegan & Sara are back with their latest, Love You to Death. And after seven studio records, the Quin sisters have grown up—not just as people but with how they view love. First, there's the lead single, "Boyfriend," which not only looks at a love triangle but centers on a woman who has to choose between the man and woman who she's simultaneously dating. Then on tracks like  "Stop Desire" and "Faint of Heart," they show their strength in holding their ground when it comes to taking chances on love or just letting go. But even though they what it's like to be mature in relationships, sometimes you can't help but make mistakes, which they lay out in the piano-driven ballad "100x."

Love You to Death looks at the many facets of love. And although some of the lyrics can be heavy, the pop melodies and their effortless harmonies soften any of the heartbreaking moments and make you enjoy the happy times on this record.

 

'Wild Things' - Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke does away with the dark and mysterious vibes that we got from her 2012 album, Anxiety. And now the New Zealand artist is celebrating her happiness with her latest effort, Wild Things. Filled with dancey hooks and bouncey beats, she celebrates being in love, life and just about everything in between.

Working with Tommy English, the 10-track LP will make you feel light as a feather while still being strong enough to take on the world. "A Love Song" takes us into the world of a girl who's overflowing with the good feels while "Dangerous," the album closer, delves into more saucy territory as she brings on the sexy talk. The synths on "Sweet Fascination" will catapult you into Studio 54, and then there's the overtly poppy "Hillside Avenue" that will make you feel like you're floating above the clouds. If you're looking for a little pick-me-up today, Ladyhawke's Wild Things will be the best remedy for that.

 

'Minor Victories' - Minor Victories

What do you get when you put members from Mogwai, Slowdive and Editors? A pretty fucking amazing collaboration in the form of Minor Victories. Comprised of Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), Justin Lockey (Editors) and his brother, James Lockey, the band explores the idea of putting together heavy laden guitar-driven instrumentals with the delicacy of Rachel's vocals. The best example of this is "A Hundred Ropes." Between the looping guitar and synthy rhythm and the breathy vocals, we're taken into some dark world that seems scary at first but is something that you can easily adapt to as the song progresses. You get the same feeling with the longer intros on tracks like "Folk Arp" and "Out to Sea." But then you gain your indie rock footing with "Scattered Ashes" and "Thief." Minor Victories have a special thing in their hands, and we can't wait to see how they'll bring it to life onstage.

'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping' Original Movie Soundtrack - Various Artists

Leave it to The Lonely Island to not only make a movie mocking outlandish chart-topping pop artists but also make a soundtrack that everyone will want to put on repeat. Along with the opening of the comedic trio's Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping today, the music from the film will also drop. And if you're planning to see Andy Samburg as Conner4Real on the big screen, you'll definitely want this album on your playlist.

The Lonely Island literally put it all out there with explicit yet hilarious tracks like "Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)," where Conner4Real sings about how the love of his life wants him to fuck her the way America has fucked Bin Laden. Aside from the uncensored tracks, The Lonely Island included a hefty lot of featured voices including P!nk, Adam Levine and Seal (Yes, the dude who sang "Kiss From a Rose"). With all the profanity and numerous crude jokes, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping isn't for the faint of heart or the sensitive types. But if you're looking for a good LOL while bumping to some catchy tunes, this is the record for you. 

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