Passion Pit

Formed in 2007, Passion Pit is an American electropop band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The band consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals & keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards & guitar), Xander Singh (synthesizer & samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass & synth bass), and Nate Donmoyer (drums). The band's debut EP, Chunk of Change, was released in September 2008. This same year, the band was chosen as "Best New Local Act in 2008" in the WFNX/Boston Phoenix best music poll. The first and only single to be released from Chunk of Change was "Sleepyhead" and it received a good deal of exposure through its use in numerous media campaigns and advertisements, while the video for the song, directed by The Wilderness, was included on Pitchfork's Top 40 Music Videos of 2008 list. The band's first full-length studio album, Manners, was released in May 2009. Their latest album, Gossamer, was released on July 24th. The first track out from the album was "Talk a Walk" out on May 7th.

On "Take a Walk" frontman Michael Angelakos and the gang have added narrative texture to their sugary electropop: while still largely the musical equivalent of a Fun Dip. The verses of "Take a Walk" sketch the lives of recession-era characters, from an immigrant selling "red and white carnations outside of Penn Station" to a retiree learning that his pension's gone, to an adult son asking his family for money. These characters are all affected by forces beyond their control, and, throwing their hands up at the situation, they head out to "take a walk," stepping out into a chorus full of fuzzy-keyed determination. Passion Pit are aiming for a record that's more innovative and honest. "Take a Walk," with its near-military march and snarl-filtered chorus, is a departure for a band that was once easily written-off as indie pop flotsam. There's a new strength to Passion Pit - and they still make you want to dance.

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