Next Men

JD Samson & MEN have been so consistently good since their inception I really feel like they've eclipsed Le Tigre as a band. Their debut album was in my Top 25 for 2011 and they've continually issued material that's just as good if not better than that album. Their latest single, Next EP, is no different.

While not quite as bangertastic as their album, the Next EP still packs a danceable punch. JD clearly has the knack for writing indie punk dance anthems and the three songs that make this record up are all instant hits. They might be a bit rough around the edges and a bit raw but they are driving electro beasts with devilish beats that more than make up for any lo-fidelity or tarnished edged found here. Next EP is three songs of sweaty fun that have a message with regards to the economy, apathy, protest, and hope; that’s a lot in under 15 minutes. You get all this action and a message? Why yes you do! It's as if it's fashionable and functional and that's awesome.

Four years in and a heap of records later MEN have truly made a name for themselves and stepped out from the shadow of Le Tigre. That's fantastic. And speaking of fantastic the Next EP is good synthy punk pop that probably will wind up again in my Top 25 this year.

Men Get In Touch With Their Girly Side

Men are composed of women. Get it? See the irony? Who cares...what really matters is what these Men do, and let's just say that these guys (so to speak) rock the house. Featuring members of Le Tigre, these Men create synth pop that is rumptacular, bouncey, and absolutely addictive. Their album, Talk About Body, is a brilliant punky synth pop record that would probably make Le Tigre front woman Kathleen Hannah blush.

Talk About Body's spiky angst ridden dance jams hit you over the head with its feminine pop wiles and has its way with you on the dance floor. Men do a fantastic job at creating massive hooks and even bigger grooves that are nigh impossible to ignore. This record is easily one of my favorites of the year thus far for its staggeringly great dance floor and pop sensibility. While this might be a politically influenced record, you would never know it because Men seem to be having too much fun and are determined to never let those feelings get in the way of creating booty shaking jams.

Talk About Body is such a good record it may indeed be better than most of the Le Tigre back catalog. When Le Tigre asked the question, "Who took the bomp from the bompalompalomp?" I think we now know it was Men and they stole it all for themselves.