Friday, December 21, 2007
Friday Hotness #29- Christmas Edition
Download: The Waitresses- Christmas Wrapping
(Buy)
Download: Paul McCartney- Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time
(Buy)
Download: Blink 182- I Won't Be Home For Christmas
(Buy)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Best of 2007: Pop
Everything Mark Ronson touched this year turned to gold. He produced tracks for Lily Allen's great debut Alright, Still, and produced and enlisted the Dap Tone horns to give Amy Winehouse's Back To Black a retro feel. Somehow he still found time to drop his own LP of cover songs Version, my favorite album of the year. Just last week he was nominated for a Grammy for "Producer of the Year."
Here are some pop gems from 2007, 3 of which Ronson had a hand in, one of which is just classic JT and Timbaland goodness.
Download: Lily Allen- Smile
From the album Alright, Still
(Buy)
Download: Amy Winehouse- Tears Dry on Their Own
From the album Back to Black
(Buy)
Download: Mark Ronson feat Daniel Merriweather- Stop Me
From the album Version
(Buy)
Download: Justin Timberlake feat TI- My Love
From the album Future Sex/Love Sounds
(Buy)
Labels:
Amy Winehouse,
Daniel Merriweather,
Justin Timberlake,
lily allen,
Mark Ronson,
TI
Friday, December 14, 2007
Friday Hotness #28
Download: Lily Allen- Mr. Blue Sky (ELO Cover)
(Buy)
Download: 4Hero- Les Fleur
(Buy)
Download: The Stranglers- Golden Brown
(Buy)
Download: Fields- If You Fail (Badlands Remix)
(Buy)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Best of 2007: Electronic
We will look back on 2007 as the year that House broke. Straight out of Paris, electro-house duo Justice led the charge with 2 massive hits - "We Are Your Friends" and "D.A.N.C.E." Their style of grimey noise coupled with pulsating bass, reverberated off many a dancefloor in 2007.
Brits Simian Mobile Disco and German group Digitalism also put out very excellent house-inspired albums this year. Veterans of the scene, LCD Soundsystem returned with a vengance with their disc Sound of Silver and an electrifying US Tour.
Download: LCD Soundsystem- All My Friends
From the album Sound of Silver
(Buy)
Download: Simian Mobile Disco- Hustler
From the album Attack Decay Sustain Release
(Buy)
Download: Digitalism- Zdarlight
From the album Idealism
(Buy)
Download: Justice- We Are Your Friends
From the album †
(Buy)
Labels:
Digitalism,
Justice,
LCD Soundsystem,
Simian Mobile Disco
Monday, December 10, 2007
Best of 2007: Hip Hop
2007 was not a stellar year for Hip Hop, but any year that Kanye West puts out an album is a good year for music. His Graduation was a pleasant surprise amid most of the nonsense that clogged up the airwaves of rap radio. I would like to hope that we would hear the last of "Crank Dat Soulja Boy", "Walk It Out" and "Ay Bay Bay" when 2007 draws to a close, but I am afraid we will not be so lucky.
Acts like Wale, The Cool Kids and Kid Sister proved that there may be hope on the horizon by dropping albums that harked back to the glory days of the 80's and 90's. Wale in particular looks to be a prime candidate for Hip Hop's next superstar, some one sign this dude!
Download: Wale- Camp Lo
From the album 100 Miles and Running
(Buy)
Download: Kanye West- Big Brother
From the album Graduation
(Buy)
Download: The Cool Kids- 88
From the EP Totally Flossed Out
(Buy)
Download: UGK feat Outkast- International Players Anthem
From the album Underground Kingz
(Buy)
Download: Kid Sister- Pro Nails Remix ft Kanye West
From the Pro Nails EP
(Buy)
Labels:
Kanye West,
Kid Sister,
Outkast,
The Cool Kids,
UGK,
Wale
Friday, December 7, 2007
Friday Hotness #27
Download: Hot Chip-Ready For The Floor
(Buy)
Download: Peter, Bjorn and John- Up Against The Wall
(Buy)
Download: Bran Van 3000- Call Me (I'll Be Around Medley)
(Buy)
Download: Chromatics- Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush Cover)
(Buy)
Labels:
Bran Van 3000,
Chromatics,
Hot Chip,
Peter Bjorn and John
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Best of 2007: Indie Rock
Albeit very trite, I will be doing a year end "Best Of 2007" list with some of my favorite albums from the past year. In this first installment, I profile songs from five very solid Indie Rock releases from this past year. I'd have to say my favorite disc of the year is definitely Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future, followed closely by Mark Ronson's Version, which I will write more about in the days to come.
Download: Klaxons- Two Receivers
From the album Myths of the Near Future
(Buy)
Download: Band of Horses- No One's Gonna Love You
From the album Cease To Begin
(Buy)
Download: The National- Mistaken For Strangers
From the album Boxer
(Buy)
Download: Panda Bear- Bros (edit)
From the album Person Pitch
(Buy)
Download: Interpol- Rest My Chemsitry
From the album Interpol
(Buy)
Labels:
Band of Horses,
Interpol,
Klaxons,
Panda Bear,
The National
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday Hotness #26
Download: Booka Shade and Plastic Operator- Night Falls/Won't Back Down
(Buy)
Download: Outkast- The Art of Storytelling Part 4
(Buy)
Download: Tegan & Sara- Back In You Head (Tyler Fedchuk Remix)
(Buy)
Download: Lily Allen- Absolutely Nothing
(Buy)
Labels:
Booka Shade,
lily allen,
Outkast,
Plastic Operator,
Tegan and Sara
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday Hotness #25
Download: The Budos Band & Wale- Chicago Falcon (Remix)
(Buy)
Download: Sam Sparro- Black & Gold
(Buy)
Download: Russ Chimes- Push The Feeling On
(Buy)
Download: Anthony and the Johnsons- Knockin on Heavens Door
(Buy)
Labels:
Anthony and The Johnsons,
Russ Chimes,
Sam Sparro,
The Budos Band,
Wale
Friday, November 9, 2007
Friday Hotness #24
Download: The Outrunners- Cool Feeling
(Buy)
Download: The Cool Kids- Black Mags
(Buy)
Download: Mintel Rose- Valerie Cote Ouest
(Buy)
Download: Battles- Tras
(Buy)
Labels:
Battles,
Minitel Rose,
The Cool Kids,
The Outrunners
Friday, November 2, 2007
Friday Hotness #23
Download: Weekend Players- Jericho
(Buy)
Download: Oh Astro- Hello Fuji Boy
(Buy)
Download: Cam'ron- Just Us
(Buy)
Download: Zoot Woman- Nobody Knows (Part 1)
(Buy)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Friday Hotness #22
Download: Kanye West- A Million and One Questions
(Buy)
Download: Band of Horses- Islands on the Coast
(Buy)
Download: Wu Tang Clan- The Heart Gently Weeps
(Buy)
Download: DJ Blaqstarr- Feel It In The Air
(Buy)
Labels:
Band of Horses,
DJ Blaqstarr,
Kanye West,
Wu Tang Clan
Friday, October 12, 2007
Friday Hotness #21
Download: Amy Winehouse- Cupid (Jonny Nash Cover)
(Buy)
Download: Eddie Vedder- Hard Sun
(Buy)
Download: Jay Z- Roc Boys
(Buy)
Download: Band of Horses- No One's Gonna Love You
(Buy)
Labels:
Amy Winehouse,
Band of Horses,
Eddie Vedder,
Jay Z
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday Hotness #20
Download: Iron and Wine- Resurrection Fern
(Buy)
Download: The Freelance Hellraiser- We Don't Belong
(Buy)
Download: MuteMath- Typical
(Buy)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday Hotness #19
Download: Kanye West ft T-Pain- Good Life
(Buy)
Download: Band of Horses- Is There a Ghost?
(Buy)
Download: Vans She- Kelly
(Buy)
Friday, August 10, 2007
Friday Hotness #18
Download: Calvin Harris- Acceptable in the 80's
(Buy)
Download: Ryan Adams- Two
(Buy)
Download: Jose Gonzalez- Down The Line
(Buy)
Friday, August 3, 2007
Friday Hotness #17
Download: M.I.A. - Paper Planes
(Buy)
Download: Blitzen Trapper- Wild Mountain Nation
(Buy)
Download: Silverchair- Straight Lines
(Buy)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wale
It has taken something momentous to drag me out of my non-blogging, working too hard schedule of the last few weeks. The occasion is the arrival of Wale. Hailing from Washington DC, the only way I can describe the dude is a mix of Kanye, A Tribe Called Quest and Spank Rock. His lyrics are poignant and humorous and he is fortunate to have Mark Ronson, Nick Catchdubs, Daniel Merriweather, Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse in his corner.
Expect big things from Wale in the year to come and check out a few tracks from his just released mixtape, 100 Miles and Running:
Download: Wale- Daytona Squared
(Buy)
Download: Wale- W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E
(Buy)
Download: Wale-Camp Lo
(Buy)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Friday Hotness #16
Download: Wale- W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E
(Buy)
Download: John Vanderslice- Trance Manual
(Buy)
Download: Pinback- Syracuse
(Buy)
Friday, June 29, 2007
Friday Hotness #15
Sorry I have been out of the loop for a minute, had family in town and was sick for a few days, but I am back with the hotness.
Download: Menomena- Rotten Hell
(Buy)
Download: Nina Sky ft Daytona- Clothes Off
(Buy)
Download: The White Stripes- 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
(Buy)
Download: UGK ft Outkast- International Players Anthem
(Buy)
Friday, June 15, 2007
Friday Hotness #14
Download: Social Distortion- Far Behind
(Buy)
Download: Diplo- Work is Never Over
(Buy)
Download: Tony Lucca- Devil Town
(Buy)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Baltimore Bands
Much to many people's suprise, my hometown of Baltimore, MD actually has a pretty vibrant music scene. Growing up there in the 90's I was fortunate enough to go to shows at places Fletchers and the Boh Dome and see bands that never really made it on a national level, but had a damn good time rocking Baltimore every weekend. The Kelly Bell Band is a blues rock outfit led by overweight songman and Baltimore legend, Mr. Kelly Bell. Lake Trout, a pioneer in the electronic-jam genre paved the way for acts like The Disco Biscuits and The New Deal. Colouring Lesson brought reggae/ska beats to make the Charm City summers feel like Kingston.
Download: Kelly Bell Band- Homegrown (Live)
(Buy)
Download: Lake Trout- Another Day
(Buy)
Download: Colouring Lesson- Head
(Buy)
Friday, June 8, 2007
Friday Hotness #13
Download: Pase Rock- So Fuckin Disco
(Buy)
Download: B.O.B.- Use Your Love
(Buy)
Download: The National - Fake Empire
(Buy)
Download: Skeet Skeet- Party Like a Rockstar (Spacehog Mix)
(Buy)
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Cornershop
A few tracks from everyone's favorite British-Indian reggae, blues, funk, elctro-rock band, Cornershop.
Download: Cornershop-Brimful of Asha
(Buy)
Download: Cornershop-Sleep on the Left Side
(Buy)
Download: Cornershop-Staging the Plaguing of the Raised Platform
(Buy)
Download: Cornershop-Lessons Learned From Rocky 1 to Rocky 3
(Buy)
Friday, June 1, 2007
Friday Hotness #12
Download: Kings of Leon- Ragoo
(Buy)
Download: Kanye West- Young Folks
(Buy)
Download: Dizzee Rascal ft Lily Allen- Wanna Be
(Buy)
Labels:
Dizzee Rascal,
Kanye West,
Kings of Leon,
lily allen
Monday, May 28, 2007
Lupe Fiasco
Chicago's Lupe Fiasco has been passed the torch for the backpack/skateboard rap crowd, a genre started by Skateboard P himself and Lupe's label chief Mr. Kanye West. His raps are a breath of fresh air, mainly because he is not trying to be something he's not. His highly slept-on debut Food & Liquor featured beats by Kanye and others and was the perfect showcase for young Lupe to showcase his laid back flow.
Download: Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell- Kick Push (Remix)
(Buy)
Download: Lupe Fiasco ft Jill Scott- Daydreamin'
(Buy)
Download: Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West & Pharrell- US Placers
(Buy)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Barbeque Songs
I know there will be a lot of grilling out this Memorial Day weekend, as the summer has officially kicked off. Here are some of my favorite Barbeque songs (yes, I have favorite songs about BBQ's).
Download: 2 Skinnee J's- BBQ
(Buy)
Download: Animal Liberation Orchestra- Barbeque
(Buy)
Download: Outkast feat Raekwon- Skew it on the Bar-B
(Buy)
Download: Tim McGraw- BBQ Stain
(Buy)
Friday, May 25, 2007
Friday Hotness #11
Download: Menomena- Wet and Rusting
(Buy)
Download: Chemical Brothers- All Rights Reserved feat Klaxons
(Buy)
Download: Sea Wolf- You're a Wolf
(Buy)
Monday, May 21, 2007
Interpol
I didn't know what to expect when I went to see Interpol on Saturday for the first time at the annual KROQ Weenie Roast, a ritual gathering-grounds for fat, drunk, tattooed Orange County dudes. Although they were probably burning up in their all black hipster suits, they ripped through their "hits," including their new single "The Heinrich Maneuver," and really won the crowd over. I have been a late comer to this band, but as I go back through their albums I am continually impressed by their fast-guitar driven rock songs and their downtempo jams alike.
Download: Interpol- Evil
(Buy)
Download: Interpol- NYC
(Buy)
Download: Interpol- Slow Hands
(Buy)
Download: Interpol- The Heinrich Maneuver
(Buy)
Download: Interpol- Untitled
(Buy)
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Friday Hotness #10
Download: Amy Winehouse feat Jay Z - Rehab (Remix)
(Buy)
Download: Teddybears feat Neneh Cherry- Yours to Keep
(Buy)
Download: The Go Team- Grip Like a Vice
(Buy)
Labels:
Amy Winehouse,
Jay Z,
Neneh Cherry,
Teddybears,
The Go Team
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
New Beastie Boys
Here's the new single The Rat Cage from their upcoming instrumental album, and these old dudes can still rock it. Also some older instrumental jazz tracks from their excellent 1996 compilation The In Sound From Way Out.
Download: Beastie Boys- The Rat Cage
(Buy)
Download: Beastie Boys- Son of Neckbone
(Buy)
Download: Beastie Boys- Groove Holmes
(Buy)
Friday, May 11, 2007
Friday Hotness #9
Download: Chromeo- Bonafide Lovin'
(Do these guys do anything but make heat-rocks?)
(Buy)
Download: Embee feat Jose Gonzalez- Send Someone Away
(Buy)
Download: Say Anything- Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
(Buy)
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Project Pat
It's a shame how the producers of MTV's Adventures in Hollyhood have shown Project Pat as a background figure in the whole Three 6 Mafia world. This dude has been around since the beginning, he is the brother of Three 6 member and just damn funny guy, Juicy J.
The reason I like Project Pat so much is because of his cadence, it’s so different than what anyone else's flow, and he doesn’t give a shit. This dude rides the beats like he was driving his low-rider through the streets of Memphis on a Saturday night. Granted it’s different, but throw some of his shit on, put the top down and coast into summer:
Download: Project Pat- Ballers
(Buy)
Download: Project Pat- Good Googly Moogly
(Buy)
Download: Three 6 Mafia ft Project Pat- Poppin' My Collar
(Buy)
Monday, May 7, 2007
El Ten Eleven
LA's own El Ten Eleven are The White Stripes of instrumental music, as they continue to amaze me with how full of a sound they can squeeze out of a two-man band. One guy plays drums and the other rips a double neck guitar, one with a 6 guitar strings, the other neck a fully operational bass. He uses a sampler to record guitar parts, then layers over them to create a sound that is complex and transcending. It’s easier to watch then for my musically challenged self to explain:
El Ten Eleven- Live Video
And some songs for you to check out:
Download: El Ten Eleven-Sorry About Your Irony
(Buy)
Download: El Ten Eleven-My Only Swerving
(Buy)
Download: El Ten Eleven-Lorge
(Buy)
Friday, May 4, 2007
Friday Hotness #8
Download: Interpol- The Heinrich Maneuver
(Buy)
Download: Simian Mobile Disco- I Believe
(Buy)
Download: Matt + Kim- Yea Yeah (Flosstradamus Remix)
(Buy)
Download: Dntel ft Mia Doi Todd- Rock My Boat
(Buy)
Labels:
Dntel,
Flosstradamus,
Interpol,
Matt + Kim,
Simian Mobile Disco
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Chromeo
Chromeo has been charged with a tough duty these days - Not fakin' the funk. In fact the disco/funk tradition is alive and well when Chromeo takes the stage, with Roger Troutman-esque vocoder lyrics and pulsating dancefloor grooves. Popular with both the funk crowd the the hip/hop dance community because of their relation to Kanye West's DJ A Trak, Chromeo are just trying to make you move your ass. Here are some of my favorite joints of theirs plus their brand new remix of Feist's Sea Lions, which is bound to put a smile on your face and a dip in yo' hip.
Download: Chromeo- Needy Girl
(Buy)
Download: Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
(Buy)
Download: Chromeo- Tenderoni
(Buy)
Download: Chromeo- You're So Gangsta
(Buy)
Download: Feist- Sea Lion (Chromeo Remix)
(Buy)
Friday, April 27, 2007
Coachella Preview: Sunday 4/29
I will be out there on Sunday, so holla at a play when you see him in the desert.
Download: Manu Chao- Merry Blues
(Buy)
Download: Rodrigo y Gabriela- One
(Buy)
Download: CSS- Alala
(Buy)
Download: Except from Spank Rock- Fabric Live:33 Mix
(Buy)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Coachella Preview: Saturday 4/28
Monday, April 23, 2007
Coachella Preview: Friday 4/27
Download: Interpol- Untitled
(Buy)
Download: DJ Shadow- What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 2) (Live)
(Buy)
Download: Silversun Pickups- Kissing Families
(Buy)
Download: Amy Winehouse- Tears Dry On Their Own
(Buy)
Download: Busdriver- Imaginary Places
(Buy)
Labels:
Amy Winehouse,
Busdriver,
DJ Shadow,
Interpol,
Silversun Pickups
Friday, April 20, 2007
Friday Hotness #7
Download: Brand Nubian- Slow Down
(Buy)
Download: Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra- Kiss The Sky
(Buy)
Download: Bright Eyes- Classic Cars
(Buy)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Sufjan Stevens
I don't know how I let this blog go on so long without posting about the muthafuckin' man himself, Sufjan Stevens. This guy, who is currently busy working on the 3rd of his albums devoted to the 50 states (Michigan and Illinois being the first two), is one of the most prolific artists of our time. He doesn't just crank out simple singer/guitar jams either- Sufjan can play the oboe, recorder, banjo, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums, piano and a number of other obscure instruments.
While growing up in a cult in Michigan, the young Sufjan was constantly writing and recording music with his family and friends whenever he could, but it wasn't until his release of Illinois in 2005 that he achieved notoriety in the "indie mainstream." The songs, ranging from the triumphant "Chicago" to the hauntingly melancholy "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." all fit together to tell tales of the state and it's famous sons. His music can move me like none other. I hope you enjoy, and maybe your state will be next to be Sufjan-ified, be on the lookout.
Download: Sufjan Stevens- Chicago
(Buy)
Download: Sufjan Stevens- For The Windows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
(Buy)
Download: Sufjan Stevens- Come On Feel The Illinoise
(Buy)
Download: Sufjan Stevens- Casimir Pulaski Day
(Buy)
Download: Sufjan Stevens- Jacksonville
(Buy)
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saves The Day
I saw the originators of New Jersey emo-pop-punk Saves The Day last week at the House of Blues here in LA. It was a very entertaining show, even if I was the oldest guy there. Their f-ing classic debut Through Being Cool was the blueprint for emotional punk rock that has since been watered down to permeate the world of MTV. Before Pete Wentz even got his first pair of skinny jeans, Saves The Day was writing some of the catchiest rock songs out there.
What I love about them is that they are constantly evolving and refusing to get caught up in that boring emo world. On 2003's In Reverie, Saves the Day showed a much cleaner sound. Most of the songs sound almost like catchy Beach Boys-esque pop-tarts.
And you can't tell me that the singer (2nd from right, red hair) doesn't look like my homie Evan
Download: Saves The Day- At Your Funeral
(Buy)
Download: Saves The Day- Rocks Tonic Juice Magic
(Buy)
Download: Saves The Day- Shoulder To The Wheel
(Buy)
Download: Saves The Day- My Sweet Fracture
(Buy)
Download: Saves The Day- Driving In The Dark
(Buy)
Download: Saves The Day- Anywhere With You
(Buy)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Ugly Duckling
Ugly Duckling is one of my favorite underground hip-hop groups because they bring the fun back to the genre. Their beats, provided by DJ and genuine character Young Einstein, are heaily based on old school breaks. The lyrics range from classic party rhymes to tales of workplace hardships and a fictional fast food chain called "Meatshake."
UD's popularity has somewhat dwindled here in the states over the past few years, but they are massively popular in the UK and Australia. If you can ever catch one of their concerts I highly suggest you check them out, it's an all night party.
Download: Ugly Duckling-Rio De Janeiro
(Buy)
Download: Ugly Duckling-A Little Samba
(Buy)
Download: Ugly Duckling-La Revolucion
(Buy)
Download: Ugly Duckling-Journey to Anywhere
(Buy)
Download: Ugly Duckling-Oasis
(Buy)
Mark Ronson - Version
Superstar New York DJ and producer Mark Ronson's new album Version drops tomorrow in the UK and hopefully soon after here in the states. All the songs are cover songs re-worked by Ronson, and featured some of the best vocalists out there. Here are my 3 favorites joints off Version.
Download: Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse- Valerie
(Buy)
Download: Mark Ronson ft Daniel Merriweather- Stop Me
(Buy)
Download: Mark Ronson ft Lily Allen- Oh My God
(Buy)
Labels:
Amy Winehouse,
Daniel Merriweather,
lily allen,
Mark Ronson
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