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Sunday Soundtracking: The Drones, Robyn Hitchcock, More

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Have you had enough of Valentine's Day? Is there too much chocolate and alcohol still stuck in your head? Let us help you clear out your romantic cobwebs.

From the cathartic noise of The Drones (pictured) to the crunchy hypnotics of Pontiak to the lonely, reissued machine music of Dntel and more, our new playlist takes lethal aim at your post-coital hangover. Don't kill the messenger.

Who: The Drones
What: “The Minotaur"
Where: Havilah, out Feb. 17 (ATP Recordings)
Sounds like: Wire, The Melvins, The Birthday Party
Spiel: This Australian outfit manufactures pyrotechnic sonics perfect for a nation undergoing its worst-ever heatwave, drought and wildfires. The biblical lean of its album title certainly adds to the allure, but one listen to “The Minotaur" is all you need to realize that guitarist/singer Gareth Liddiard and his partner and bassist Fiona Kitschin aren't really in a mellow frame of mind as the world burns around them. In Havilah, its fourth and most explosive release, The Drones has made not just the finest album of its career, but one of the finest albums of the year so far.

Who: Robyn Hitchcock
What: “What You Is"
Where: Goodnight Oslo, out Feb. 17 (Yep Roc)
Sounds like: Syd Barrett, John Lennon, himself
Spiel: This prolific pop icon has come a long way from the '70s and psych-punks The Soft Boys, and you can tell by his expansive solo campaign, still currently under way and featuring more than 20 efforts, including this clever good time. Wired.com will catch up with Hitchcock later this week to discuss that and more, including his collaborations with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, filmmaker Jonathan Demme and many others. For now, kick back and enjoy the turns of phrase and pop of “What You Is," which lumps villains, bees, cops and deadbeat dads into a mass of forgivable winners disguised as losers.

Who: Pontiak
What: “Aestival"
Where: Maker, out April 17 (Thrill Jockey)
Sounds like: Grails, Pink Floyd, Earth
Spiel: It's beyond refreshing to hear guitars unfurl and growl the way do in Pontiak's perfect soundscaping. The digital age has birthed too many wankers, but this Virginia- based riff pusher (pictured above) is having none of it, even though the band usually records mostly live and in one or two takes. Led by Van, Jennings and Lain Carney, three brothers from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pontiak delivers powerful anthems that worm their way into your lobes and lay beautiful, noisy eggs. Take a listen to “Aestival" for what it can do when it's nicely chilled. Looking for louder fare? Catch Pontiak on the road starting Tuesday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

So what ya looking at, we said MORE....so Conitinue

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