Neu The Neighbourhood

: The Neighbourhood
Based: California, U.S.
Listen: Soundcloud.com/theneighbourhood
Similar to: The Weeknd, Cold War Kids

Three distinct chords sent through a compressor, a sample-driven machine, attached to a memorable beat - what are we left with? One of the best pop songs of the year, hands down. To have two of these within the space of a month is invitation for a hype machine to go into overdrive.

The Neighbourhood have announced themselves, arriving upon a bloodthirsty gang of bloggers who ceaselessly throw Lana Del Rey comparisons like nearby pebbles. There is very little that this California group lacks: Mystery? Check. A glossy, after-party, Weeknd style of production? Check. A substantial amount of hooks? Check Check Check. Add to this a set of ‘tumblrized’ music videos, containing classic film imagery, and you’ve got yourself a buzz band.

Beneath soul vocals capable of stealing the show in an X Factor final, there’s grit, a hatefulness even that turns a standard, well-written pop song into something enigmatic. ‘Female Robbery’’s closing chant of “we’re gonna die, die, die” is hardly kid’s birthday party fun-fest, but all the same it’s a surefire certainty for non-stop daytime radio airtime.

Sweater Weather by theneighbourhood

Female Robbery by theneighbourhood