Blowin' up in '09

Passion Pit

Who: After a couple showcase-stealing sets at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon in New York, these Boston electro-poppers ended up profiled on MTV and in the pages of Spin and the New York Times.

What: Frontman Michael Angelakos originally wrote the band’s EP “Chunk of Change” as a Valentine’s Day present for his girlfriend. So the slim collection is pretty raw—the best is tiny-sounding opener “I’ve Got Your Number,” with Angelakos’ soaring falsetto, and the Walkmen-meets-Dan Deacon track “Cuddle Fuddle.”

Most likely to blow up: The packed layers and thudding bass makes “Sleepyhead” the album’s most danceable track; the Rentals-like synth explosion makes our hearts melt. A Jack Kerouac vocal sample makes us curious about an LP in the works, which drops later this year.—Matt Rodbard

Read Metromix's interview with Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos