MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Copyright holders: if you would like your song removed, please email us here, and we'll honor your request promptly.

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Mp3 Monday is keeping it real this week. After a weekend of watching drunk foreigners making complete asses of themselves we need some decent music to balance the universe. First up on the block is indie pop darling Kikuyu who is playing Lune on Saturday.

Comprising Aussie lady Sez Wilks singing on top of vintage organs and synths, her stuff is straight from the heart. Unfortunately my heart is black and my veins are filled with ice, but after listening to around eight songs I was won over by simple melodies and endearing vocals. Too bad she is playing Lune, which has one of the worst sound setups in town. I love you Taibei, but invest in at least one speaker that works, for god’s sake.

Shanghai-based French producers The Horses, aka Acid Pony Club, aka those guys who probably owe you money, did their remix magic on one of Kikuyu’s tracks titled Infodome. Here’s that remix with a couple other of my favorites, enjoy…







Lock up your daughters, Italian garage rockers The Oops are playing Yuyintang (also on Saturday). In the world of punk / garage rock, these guys are as real as it gets. I suggest getting all your best mosh pit dance moves ready before the show. I’m going mostly with the Gorilla, the Windmill and, of course, the classic pit style of Picking Up Change. Listen to a few of these The Oops tracks. It will take you back to the days of your Mom dropping you off to the all-ages club, throwing a big old X on your hand at the door, and getting that creepy old guy at the show to buy you beer from the bar. Now I am that old creepy guy and I take two kuai off the top per beer, kids. Stop on by.







Ahhhh, nu metal, my eternal foe. From the early days of pioneers, like rap-infused metalers Limp Bisquick, to the stage antics of Insane Clown Posse and their legions of wrestling fans, you’re a pox on society, nu metal, and I refuse to let you win. Ahhhh… who am I kidding? You already won, so we all might as well give in. This Sunday, one of Beijing’s biggest nu metal players Sick Pupa are in town on their China tour. These guys got big in the early 2000s, were signed to Warner Music and played various festivals. However, after a hiatus they are back with a nu line up. The stuff is actually not bad, not really rap-rock, mostly just rock, some electro, then a little bit of Chinese knowledge dropped on top. But you go ahead and be the judge of that...





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