LISTEN: The New Zealand Soul of Ladi6

New Zealand's critically-acclaimed Ladi6 recently released their third album, Automatic, and it's one of the best modern R&B/hip-hop infused albums I've heard all year. With an underlying ethereal chill that's as striking as the snowcapped Alps that rise high into the New Zealand skyline, this trio conjures up the perfect amount of soul to lift their mix of seductive '90s R&B and groove-heavy hip-hop above many of their contemporaries -- and the pop hooks don't hurt either. In the crack between summer heat and winter's bite, you'll find the vibe of Ladi6.

Check out two standout tracks from Automatic below.

The Get Up Kids' "Automatic" Available Now, Grab the 7" Before It's Released

Just last week, I shared "Pararelevant" from The Get Up Kids new album, There Are Rules, their first LP of all new material since 2004's Guilt Show. The band released another new song from the album entitled "Automatic" for download on iTunes yesterday. Hear the song below.

While the iTunes single includes only "Automatic," the 7" features B-side "Past is Past." The 7" will be officially released on January 11th, leading up to the January 25th release of There Are Rules. However, for those interested in grabbing the "Automatic" 7" right now, there's no need to wait until the official release date. You can pick up a copy through a special pre-order by visiting The Get Up Kids online merch store (link below).

BUY: Pick it up digitally on iTunes. The 7" is available now here.