MENUDO, SANTOGOLD, AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT FEEL THE VIBE

This week, our fearless editorial staff pick a pair of newcomers and a veteran group in its latest incarnation to click, including Menudo, Santogold and the Airborne Toxic Event.

Menudo, the legendary Puerto Rican boy band with a rotating line-up, return under the aegis of mega-manager Johnny Wright, to enter the Vibe-Raters chart at #14, thanks to their fast-breaking hit single, “Lost.” The song is hitting hard at Top 40 and Radio Disney with stations like KIIS, WITH, WIOQ, WBLI, WPRO and WKSS banging it. Nickelodeon premiered the video on June 21, and tour ongoing tour dates include Nick’s “Slime Across America” and Six Flags Concerts. There’s also a huge SayNow promotion with the phone community builder, as the band makes over 600 personal calls to fans. Album hits Sept. 30.

Highly touted Brooklyn via Philly songstress Santogold, recently tapped by MTV as Artist of the Week, is breaking at PoMo and Triple A radio, with her track, “L.E.S. Artistes.” The artist is currently opening for Coldplay live dates in late July and early August followed by a Euro swing with the band. Rolling Stone, Spin and New York Times have also raved about the act, which is being co-managed by Coldplay’s Dave Holmes. The self-titled Downtown album is out and selling, with more than 60k shipped.

Finally, red-hot SoCal newcomers the Airborne Toxic Event are receiving critical kudos for their self-titled debut on Major Domo/Shout! Factory, while the single, “Sometime Around Midnight,” is seeing huge, multi-format action, including Sirius Alternative Nation, XM and Yahoo’s Who’s Next. There are appearances scheduled for Conan O’Brien (8/1), NPR World Café (8.4) and KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic (8/5). The band’s self-titled debut album is slated for release August 5.