Most blogged artists: MGMT, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Dr. Dog

MGMT, the Brooklyn indie duo whose second album, Congratulations, is due out in April, is the most blogged musical act of the moment on March 15. Still in second and third places since last Friday, according to The Hype Machine, are French electro-house artist Kavinsky and Austin, Texas chillwave band Neon Indian. Among new acts in the top ten are Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and Dr. Dog.

Ariel Pink is a Los Angeles-based avant-garde musician who, in 2003, became the first artist to be signed to the record label of experimental band Animal Collective, an association that gained him a cult following. Known for his lo-fi sound, Pink formed the band Haunted Graffiti in 2008 to support his act and, a year later, signed to the larger label 4AD. The act's first album on 4AD is being readied for release, and bloggers are passing around its first single, "Round and Round," agreeing that it has a decidedly more polished sound than Pink's previous DIY offerings.

Dr. Dog is a psychedelic rock band from Philadelphia whose sound is often compared to vintage acts such as The Beatles and The Band and to classic American rock such as Bruce Springsteen. The band has released five albums since forming in 1999; the sixth, Shame, Shame, is due out April 6. Several tracks have already been released from the album, which Guilt Free Pleasures (guiltfreepleasure.blogspot.com) calls "an album built on fears, doubt, confusion and unanswered questions, all the while being packed with upbeat melodies, euphoric harmonies and granulated guitar riffs."


The 10 most blogged artists on The Hype Machine on March 15 at 10:00 AM GMT:

• MGMT (unchanged)
• Kavinsky (unchanged)
• Neon Indian (unchanged)
• Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (new)
• Gorillaz (+2)
• Cults (unchanged)
• Dr. Dog (new)
• The Morning Benders (-3)
• Broken Bells (new)
• Oh No Ono (new)


Launched in 2005, The Hype Machine aggregates information from more than 1,000 music blogs worldwide. Known for identifying up-and-coming artists, the site enables music fans to easily find out what music is hot in the blogosphere and to instantly hear and buy MP3s.

http://hypem.com