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This Week's Best Shows and a Spotify Playlist of the Bands

By Ben Fractenberg | September 4, 2013 7:36am
 Empire of the Sun, Depeche Mode and Kendrick Lamar are playing New York Sept. 4 through Sept. 10.
Gigs of the Week, Sept. 4
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Summer is unofficially over. Here is a Spotify playlist of the bands playing this week to help get you in the mood for fall.

Wednesday, Sept. 4

British soul singer Laura Mvula released her debut album Sing to the Moon in March. Her music combines elements of gospel with syncopated rhythms created by layering vocal sounds and percussions. She's at the Music Hall of Williamsburg

Thursday, Sept. 5

Australian electro duo Empire of the Sun may have been unfairly compared to MGMT early in their career. Their second album "Ice on the Dune" has finally come out, five years after their debut. The synths are still there, but the sound is bigger, which is fitting for an outdoor show at Hudson River Park at Pier 26. Their wild, Siegfried-and-Roy-go-to-Burning-Man outfits should also help with the spectacle.

Also playing: AlunaGeorge combine elements of more traditional R&B and progressive electronic music. At The Bowery Ballroom.

Friday, Sept. 6

Depeche Mode has been one of the most influential bands in the electronic music scene since releasing their first album in 1980. Their moody brand of synth-pop has influenced everyone from Pet Shop boys to The Killers. Check them out with Bat for Lashes at the Barclays Center.

Also playing: John Prine has been recording and performing acclaimed folk music since the early '70s. He can write poetic lyrics about suffering and longing with the best of them. Seeing him at the Beacon Theater should only add to the beauty of his songs.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Passion Pit has been one of the bands leading the fight to get the young, self-aware types moving and perhaps displaying some earnest emotion. Their indie pop is balanced by taking on some darker subjects, keeping it from sounding too twee or disposable. They'll play at the Hudson River Park at Pier 26 with Best Coast.

Also playing: Portland's STRFKR has been putting out some of the best danceable indie elctro-pop these past six years. At Terminal 5.

Sunday, Sept. 8

English folk musician Laura Marling's soulful alto voice gives heft to her melodic guitar strumming. She recently released her fourth album "Once I Was An Eagle" to rave reviews. Check her out at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Monday, Sept. 9

King Krule can be seen as one of the new voice representing young, working class British angst. But he's also much more than that. The first single "Easy Easy" from his debut LP "6 Feet Below the Moon" builds tension, ready to explode at any moment into a cacophony of drums and guitar, but it never quite does. "Neptune Estate" layer vocals and horns on Jazz chords. He displays a musical savvy well past his 19 years. You shouldn't be disappointed if you see him at The Bowery Ballroom.

Tuesday, Sept. 10

Goldfrapp is set to release their first studio album in three years when "Tales of Us" drops on Sept. 10. The first single off the album, "Drew," is a haunting, slow building ballad. Hopefully there will be some of their signature electro-glam sound in "Tales of Us" as well. They are at the Beacon Theater.

Also playing: Kendrick Lamar quickly rose to the top of the hip-hop universe with his 2010 release "good kid, m.A.A.d city." The Williamsburg Park show is sold out, but you may still be able to score a ticket from StubHub.