At SPIN.com, we get pitches from aspiring writers all the time, but one we received last fall was quite different. It came from Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, who said he was dying to write a column about his favorite new bands for us – so we hired him! For four months, the bassist-producer-social media maven contributed a weekly piece called Hopp on Pop, profiling acts like Japandroids, Mumford & Sons, Uffie, and dozens more.
But that was just the beginning. Starting this week, Mark is taking his tastemaking talents to the Fuse network with his new show, A Different Spin, which airs at 7 P.M. EST and finds Hoppus talking about all things music with co-host Amy Schumer. Get more info and behind-the-scenes video attrustmeiminaband.com.
To help celebrate the launch of A Different Spin, Mark is back on SPIN.com for one week only, sharing five of his favorite acts of the moment (one per day), culled from his incessant pursuit of all that rocks. (Click here to discover Mark’s previous picks, and come back to SPIN.com every day this week for Mark’s latest discovery.)
And be sure to follow more of Mark’s opinions and exploits via Twitter and on his blog!
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Stream Wolf Parade’s Cry Cry Cry
HANDSOME FURS
HOMETOWN:
Montreal
THE BASICS:
Dan Boeckner – who, like Sunset Rubdown’s Spencer Krug, plays with Wolf Parade – and his wife Alexei Perry front this Canadian synth-pop act. The duo’s second album, Face Control, is an awesomely dark collection of tunes about Eastern European club culture, delivered with a gritty, snarling punk rock edge.
WHERE HOPP HEARD THEM FIRST:
“It was recommended to be by the guy who cuts my hair.He’s one of my main go-tos when it comes to new music.And again, he didn’t disappoint.”
WHY THEY ROCK:
“The music is synthy, with choppy guitars and gritty vocals.This band definitely makes music on its own terms, and it rocks.”
HOPP’S TOP TRACK:
“Talking Hotel Arbat Blues” is aggressive, catchy, and beautiful all at the same time.
LISTEN: Handsome Furs, “Talking Hotel Arbat Blues” (DOWNLOAD MP3)
