Quick Playlist for week (Oct.7,2009)

Here's a quick recommendation!

1. Churches under the stairs - Brendan Canning

2. Aveern - Most Serene Republic

3. A Nightmare to Remember - Dream Theater

4. Winter Windows - Sea Wolf

5. Piano Concerto in g minor op.16 - Sergei Prokofiev

Photo Source: http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/8487327/Broken+Social+Scene+Presents+Brendan+Canning+Something+For+All+of+Us.jpg

Catboners The Movie

CatBoners from TC andtheTobbus on Vimeo.

Someone on this website was in this n 2008. Enjoy!

Washed Out- Life of Leisure EP

This album really should've came out 3 months ago. Life of Lesiure, the new EP from the band Washed Out is probably the best 4 dollars I've spent on music period. The slow bass lines and melodies truly bring disco to the seashore. Definitely check out "Feel It All Around" and "You'll See It"- both were recently featured in Pitchfork's "Best New Music" section.

Chromeo teaches us how to wash our hands.

This video makes me wish I was 8 years old again. Enjoy one of my favorite bands, Chromeo, as they teach us the importance of washing our hands before we use the synthesizer.

A Few Things To Cover

Since everyone else won't post, I'm gonna cover a few things in brief that you could be looking for:

+ Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 dropped the other day and it was ... ok. Hova is still a great lyricist but I have to say he's losing steam. "On To The Next One" sampling Justice was a decent track but I didn't really find any mind blowing tracks this time around.
+ Raekwon's Only Built For Cuban Linx II dropped the same day as Blueprint 3 and it's better. Already praised a lot in advance from this blog, the new album is worthy of its inclusion in the Wu-Tang dynasty. Check out "10 Bricks." It will restore your faith in the Wu after 8 Diagrams' lukewarmness.
+The new HEALTH album, Get Color is my favorite record of the year. Please enlighten yourself.
+The xx are a pretty cool band too. Get their album, and check out "Crystalized."
+And finally by the time you read this it won't matter but Kid Cudi's album Man on the Moon: End of Day leaked. I haven't listened to it in full but the Ratatat produced tracks are pretty tight. Listen to "Pursuit of Happiness (feat. MGMT and Ratatat)." The full album is due on Tuesday.

Hopefully someone else covers these soon, or maybe I'll get more free time and do it.

This very well may be the worst song ever.

As mentioned numerous times in previous posts on this very website, I have an affinity against Steven Aoki of Dim Mak. While I have still tried to maintain respect for him to some degree, his new single "I'm in the House" featuring the worst named rapper of all time, "[[[Zuper Blahq]]]," is deplorable.

The title just screams "douche,' almost as if it were a movie starring Ryan Reynolds. In fact, I'm gonna start this rant by bashing the title alone. Do you get it? He's in the house haha, like house music. HAHAHAHAHA! For Christ's sake, he's amateur.

Let's shift focus here to Mr. Aoki's featured guest "[[[Zuper Blahq]]]." Unfortunately, the amount of brackets he added to his badly misspelled name couldn't make up for his lack of lyrical talent. Verses like "Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo" (That's the whole verse- and it even gets repeated twice in the song), are what transform this track from simply bad to miserably awful. He should've named himself "[[[Really Blah]]]." It would have been more fitting.

Here's the video if you really want to see it:


Funniest thing about this track, [[[Zuper Blahq]]] is actually will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas in disguise. Probably changed his name out of the sheer embarrassment of being involved with the creation of this song. Hope I didn't ruin your interest in music after letting you know that this track exists.

Too Many DJs? Revisit 2manyDJs

I'm getting sick and tired of all these mash-up DJs claiming to be better than other mash-up DJs. I was listening to Girl Talk before Feed The Animals and I'm sick of the same samples put to different songs, sometimes simply for novelty purposes and not to make better combinations. Super Mash Bros? Milkman? E-603? It's all the same! Enjoyable sometimes but still the same. This frustration made me want to revisit the classic album As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part 2 by 2manyDJs.


As you can figure out from the title, 2manyDJs and Soulwax are the same people. Great record, never heard a more danceable version of Lou Reed or The Stooges anywhere else. The samples may be a little older as this dropped in 2003 but the record has aged very well in the last 6 years. Definitely a great change of pace from those who are sick of 2008's mainstream hits, "re-imagined." Check it out!

And here's a funny Lil' Jon Mash-up:

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Peace of Mind

Lazy Friday- here are a couple songs that you can sit back and just chill to on a nice afternoon.

1) Major Lazer- Can't Stop Now
2) Marcy Playground- Sex and Candy
3) Mos Def- Auditorium
4) Kanye West- Everything I Am
5) Diamond Rings- All Yr Songs

1) For some reason, everytime I listen to this song I feel like I'm sailing in the Florida Keys. This song evokes the feeling of being on a boat significantly more that that famous Lonely Island song (titled "I'm on a Boat") from last January.

2) A 90s classic. Great early morning, feeling drowsy song.

3) New jam off of Mos Def's The Ecstatic and easily his best track since Black on Both Sides. Hip-hop legend Slick Rick joins master-producer Madlib and Def to produce the best hip-hop jam of the year (Well at least until Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II hits this fall...)

4) Kanye West is a douchebag and this is his solemn reflection on that.

5) This song is the opening and closing credits to my life. So simple yet if you don't sing along with it, you clearly must be the most pessimistic person alive. This has been my jam all week honestly. Here's the video below:

5 "I CAN'T THINK OF A FREAKING TITLE" Playlist

1) Polar Opposite - Her Space Holiday
2) This Is Twice Now - Lydia
3) Dream Sequence - Arab Strap
4) Where Does The Good Go - Tegan And Sara
5) Little Motel - Modest Mouse

New Artist To Check Out: YACHT

YACHT is an indie pop duo recently signed on to DFA records and boy are they catchy. Think very simple music with non-complex bass lines and very structured sounds going to the beat. This all comes together to produce a simple sound that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Check out their song "Psychic City" below:

100 Posts

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Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue

This is the musician Sondre Lerche. He is also one of my personal favorites, and I put this song in one of my playlists earlier. But I saw this music video and his live stuff and thought I should post it. He's really got some great stuff. His acoustic sound is really unique, energetic and overall - fun. He did the soundtrack for the movie - Dan in Real Life, a great movie. Steve Carrell was in it. Overall, some great music.

Here is his music video, it's like his music, very unique, and also fun.



This is the song live and its just as good.



Enjoy.

5 Ladies Rocking Out Playlist

1) Edge Of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks
2) Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
3) Take It Off - The Donnas
4) Kool Thing - Sonic Youth
5) Call Me - Blondie

Here is the essential women rocking out playlist. Women with attitude, people you do not want to fuck with. Basically some of the coolest people on the planet. Enjoy.

More Than Just "Temporary Pleasure"

Simian Mobile Disco are back with a new record that will rock your socks off. Hitting shelves last week, their new record Temporary Pleasure has just eased it's way in to my pick for favorite record of 2009. The duo, formed from the ashes of rock group Simian which was most famous for the hit "Never Be Alone", released the album Attack Decay Sustain Release to much acclaim in 2007 and has been touring ever since. I must say that this is a well worthy follow-up to Attack... and it's too early to say this but, it might even be better!

The album opens up with "Cream Dream", a track that is almost reminiscent of The Who's "Baba O'Reilly" in it's epic electronic orchestration getting louder and louder in order to prepare you for what's in store. The album then goes into the already released "Audacity of Huge" which I wasn't crazy about when I first heard it but takes awhile to get into. The presentation of it on the album really did it for me as guest vocalist Chris Keating lists all the cool things he has (And I mean it, they are cool things). My favorite on the album so far is "Off The Map." The vocals are slow and stoic over a beat that is so fast but so chill at the same time.

Overall though, the album starts off high and ends that way, there are no points where you'd want to skip tracks. Definitely, my favorite of 2009 thus far. Check it out- it's Simian Mobile Disco's Temporary Pleasure.

This Is The Thing - Fink

Here's a British artist who's got some pretty somber music. His name is Fin Greenall, but he goes under the name Fink. He's got a nice variety, check out "Pretty Little Thing" and "Biscuits" by him.

Playlist for the Week(Aug.26) By: Anonymously Rach

1. Bubble Reputation - Most Serene Republic

2. Don't Hold Back, Feel a Little Longer - Most Serene Republic

3. Constant Motion - Dream Theater

4. Toccata in d minor op.11 - Sergei Prokofiev

5. There's No Secrets this Year - Silversun Pickups

1. The first track of The Most Serene Republics latest album, ...And the Ever Expanding Universe, they hit it off with a vibrant opener full of wonderful chord progressions and unique time meters.

2. This is currently my favorite album at the moment and thought I would just put another of the songs into the list. This song is just as good and has a dance feel to it.

3. This song is from the Dream Theater album, Systematic Chaos, which is their second to last album. I will hopefully be doing a review on their newest album "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" in the near future.

4. I figured I would put a classical piece into the mix. This Toccata by Prokofiev is one of the most difficult pieces to perform in the piano repetoire. Even Prokofiev had difficulty performing it! Recommended Recordings: Martha Argerich, Vladimir Horowitz. It has very rigid structure and many difficult parts.

5. This is from the "Silversun Pickups" latest album "Swoon". Good song, fun to listen to, has a bit of a grunge feel to it.

Enjoy!

Pic Source: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/1328003372_58f5934895.jpg?v=0

Don't Mess With Canada Playlist

While South Park may rag on Canada, the country has produced some mighty fine musicians. This is a playlist of some of my favorite bands, enjoy.

1) Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Stars
2) 1,2,3,4 - Feist
3) 7/4 (Shoreline) - Broken Social Scene
4) Combat Baby - Metric
5) Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire

Check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bands_from_Canada

It's quite surprising what names you'll find on there.

Jake Shimabukuro - While My Ukulele Gently Weeps

This is one of the more popular Youtube musicians, and he is one of the rare people who play ukulele as their main instrument. I also recommend checking out his song, "Orange World."

5 Artists of the Week (8/25-9/1/09 by: InfektedIncubus)

Hey everyone! It's been a while since my last post, but here's some classic and hard rock for ya.

1. Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home
I would say that this is perhaps one of the most moving rock ballads I've heard in my entire life. It's very powerful and really just hits home.

2. Dropkick Murphies - Flannigan's Ball
This song definitely puts anyone in a partying mood. I really find the drums in this song to be a centerpiece of this song. I find the way the Murphys incorporate so many instruments into their music fascinating.

3. The Mars Volta - Teflon
The Mars Volta did it again with their newest album, Octahedron. This is one of my favorites from the album. Very weird, yet soo good.

4. Blue Oyster Cult - I'm Burning for You
This is pretty mainstream, and I'm sure everyone knows Don't Fear the Reaper from the game, Rock Band, but this has got to be one of the better songs from Blue Oyster Cult.

5. Alter Bridge - Rise Today
You might remember the vocalist from this band he used to be in Creed... "Can you taake meeee higheerrrr" Haha. I'd definitely say that he's come around since then. Alter Bridge combines some aspects of Creed and makes them better by adding a harder rock element to them.

That's it for today, enjoy!

2 Very Original Live Performances

These are two artists who are have a really new and fresh sound. Their live stuff is just as good as their studio recorded material. They really are worth a listen.

This is Owen Pallett. He was recommended to me by a friend. He usually performs under the name Final Fantasy. I love this song, "Peach Plum Pear" and how relaxed he is with the crowd. I also recommend his song "Lewis' Dream". By the way, the artist he is covering, Joanna Newsom, has the scariest voice I have ever heard, so his commentary is warranted.



Horse Feathers is a personal favorite. This video is off of NPR Tiny Desk Concerts on Youtube, which are fantastic for finding other less known artists. This is a set playlist of two of their songs, but my favorite is probably one off of the CD, Words Are Dead, the song, "Finch on Saturday."



It's always the best when live stuff meets or surpasses expectations. This is some phenomenal music. Happy listening.

5 Random Rock Playlist By Accident

1) Helicopter - Bloc Party
2) Tesselate - Toyko Police Club
3) An Honest Mistake - The Bravery
4) In The Morning - Razorlight
5) The Picture - Son Volt

1) Starting off with a good one. Bloc Party can get trashed at times cause they are so popular, but they have a unique sound, and their songs are so diverse. They range from fast and upbeat to chill and relaxing. I personally love them, because all their songs leave an impact. This song is no exception. It starts off furiously, and never lets up. Great song to rock out to.

2) This is a lesser known band out of Canada. The Canadian rock scene is amazing, producing great bands like Stars, Broken Social Scene, Feist among others. Toyko Police Club is another fantastic band. Their song, Tesselate, immediately catches your attention. It has a distinct piano groove throughout the chorus, wicked bass, and great vocals. They are quite a good listen.

3) One of the more mainstream bands, and this is a radio song. However, this does not make it a bad song by any means, nor does it make them a bad band. I consider them a far less earsplitting version of The Killers, (still they both look very strange). Most people just know them for this single, which is a great standalone song. It has a killer catchy chorus, it's instantly recognizable, and simply put, it's a great song to listen to after - well just about anytime you fuck up. Fun times.

4) Razorlight is another great British band like Bloc Party. They have that great signature British sound, with a certain finesse, smooth beats and funk that's unique to that genre. Their song, "In the Morning", is loads of fun to dance to in a towel. It's a party. But it's also fairly relaxed, and it's catchy too. Check out the College Humor video http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1910517 if you don't believe me that this a great dance song.

5) The last song is good song to end on. It's by Son Volt, a band out of Missouri. They have do a southern sound, with deep harmonic vocals, diverse instruments including trumpets. The band is really quite pleasant to listen to, and yet they do have some faster rock songs like "The Picture."



Bottom Image from http://mos.musicradar.com/images/Guitarist/Issue%20309/gibson/gibson-les-paul-2008-460-80.jpg

Tarantino Friday

In honor of Tarantino's new movie Inglourious Basterds which opens today- I decided to do a playlist composed entirely of songs from his movies. As a director, Tarantino does a terrific job at picking the right soundtrack for a film and this proves to create scenes that are memorable for years on end. Note: I decided to omit some of the more popular ones so that is why Dick Dale's "Misirlou" is not included.

1. The George Baker Selection- Little Green Bag from the film, Reservoir Dogs
2. Bernard Hermann- Twisted Nerve, from the film, Kill Bill Vol. 1
3. The Statler Brothers- Flowers on the Wall from the film, Pulp Fiction
4. Steeler's Wheel- Stuck In The Middle With You, from the film, Reservoir Dogs
5. The Lively Ones- Surf Rider, from the film, Pulp Fiction

Premium Blends

Soulhopper back again....sorry for the delay in posts I had to take some time to snap out of vacation mode. Now that I've come back down to earth it's time to put you guys on to some premium blends (not that kind though, I don't smoke). I came across this real cool remix of Jay-Z's song 'Never Change' called 'Never Chasing Pavements' which was mixed with Adele's song 'Chasing Pavements'. Now I like both these songs and when they're blended together the result is dope. Here are some other remixes to check out:

1) Peter Bjorn and John- Stay This Way (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix) ft. Big Pooh, Chaundon and Phil Nash

2)  Nas- The Cross (9th Wonder Remix) 

3) Jay-Z+Daft Punk- Song Cry TKRMX

4) Lupe Fiasco+Tetrisphere- I Gotcha TKRMX

This is the Lupe Fiasco Remix posted above via youtube, link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvHi2WjZXyU&feature=player_profilepage

New Radiohead: Or is it?

No one really knows if this is Radiohead or not but it sure sounds like them (significantly more so than that song they released a couple weeks ago, "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)"). It's also pretty good too. Check out "These Are My Twisted Words" by Radiohead(?) again courtesy of RCRDLBL_.

________________

Cheer Up Playlist

I'm in a good mood today, so I'm posting a playlist that always makes me laugh.

1. Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Monty Python
2. Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenoceros - Flight of the Conchords
3. The Real Slim Shady - Eminem
4. Bad Touch - Bloodhound Gang
5. Colt 45- Afro Man

And this is one of my favorite comics off of questionablecontent.net by Jeph Jacques, and will cheer up any bad day. It is the ultimate sport, drunken sledding.



Taken off of topatoco.com and http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1387

AutoErotique - Gladiator (Steve Aoki and DJ AM Remix)

Two of the most overrated DJs on the scene today collaborate to produce a track that's worthy of an addition to your end-of-summer party playlist. Plenty of AM scratching against Aoki's emulation of that Beetroots noise that you just can't get out of your head- check out this remix of AutoErotique's "Gladiator" by DJ AM and Steve Aoki. Download it for free courtesy of RCRDLBL_.

Classical Guitar

I personally love classical guitar, so I will show you some of my favorite musicians I found on youtube.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Tommy Emmanuel



If you are an aspiring musician yourself and you want to learn how to play classical guitar, this is a great instructional video, to one of my favorite songs.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Edgar Cruz



I also recommend Stairway To Heaven - Rodrigo y Gabriela, as another amazing classical guitar cover, to possibly one of the greatest songs of all time.

Enjoy.

Cops don't know who Bob Dylan is.

After all these eulogies, I decided to post some lighter news. Check out the article, http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090815/D9A30C6G1.html, it is ridiculous. Basically, two cops had no idea who Bob Dylan was, a rather sad testament to our generation's ignorance of such a musical giant. It may be an overgeneralization, however I have personally encountered many people ignorant of Dylan, Mellencamp, Petty, Springsteen. All the landmark musicians of days past. Without these people, bands like the Decemberists or Blitzen Trapper wouldn't exist.

In tribute to this amazing man, I will post this playlist.

1) Woke Up New - The Mountain Goats
2) The King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1 - Neutral Milk Hotel
3) Chinese Translation - M. Ward
4) When The Night Feels My Song - Bedouin Soundclash
5) Bullet And A Target - Citizen Cope

6) Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan



Picture from http://www.new-pony.com/timeline.html

Conical valves concert review

I do have a concert review today, but before I get to that, a moment of eulogizing for Les Paul. For those who were unaware, Les Paul died this past Thursday of pneumonia, at the age of 94. While many people have heard of the guitars named after him, few are aware that he pretty much invented the solid-body electric guitar. Also, he was a major figure in the development of multitrack recording, which was a revolutionary event in the history of rock music. So R.I.P. Les Paul.

On a lighter note, I recently saw Crosby, Stills, and Nash perform at Jones Beach. Admittedly some of the band members looked as though they were about to collapse on stage, but all in all it was a decent show. They played two sets and had no opening band. The first set was the softer, acoustic tunes and the second featured more of an electric sound and some jamming. They sprinkled the entire show with covers, which I enjoyed immensely. The first set was not the best for the venue, as the sound dispersed too much before reaching the cheap seats (aka where I was located) leaving the atmosphere more coffee shop-esque than concert. Some notable moments from the first set include a cover of "Ruby Tuesday," by the Rolling Stones, and a performance of their song "Our House." The band segued between songs with some witty repartee including such bon mots as "If I'd known that song was going to be such a hit, I would've written a better one" (in regards to "Our House") and "Well, you know Crosby writes all the weird shit" (following a performance of "Wooden Ships" that included an extended jam session.) The second set reminded everyone that they were in fact at a concert as they brought out the heavier material. The back-to-back jam sessions were a bit much for me, as I tend to believe that there should be a limit of one jam session per concert. These were also marred by the fact that much of the jamming was done by the various band members who were not Crosby, Stills, or Nash, and as such were never introduced. The high point of the second set definitely came in the form of the aformentioned performance of "Wooden Ships." All in all, not one of the best concerts I've seen, but definitely worthwhile and highly interesting.

Image from http://www.recordstore.co.uk/homeSearch.jsp?Artist=Crosby,%20Stills%20&%20Nash&Title=&Label=&whereFrom=home

DwyTown Mix Weekly (8/14)

1. Major Lazer- Baby (Switch Remix feat. M.I.A.)
2. Passion Pit- Sleepyhead (Wallpaper. Remix)
3. Crystal Castles- Vanished
4. La Roux- Bulletproof (Fred Falke Remix)
5. Simple Minds- (Don't You) Forget About Me

1. To kick off the mix I decided to highlight the new release by Major Lazer featuring M.I.A. on vocals. This was a logical move, the two DJs responsible for M.I.A.'s mainstream success reunited with her once again. The result is a track similar to her other work with Diplo and Switch and lyrics reflecting her recent personal experiences as a mother.

2. This remix of the group's most popular song adds a saxophone line that is entirely too infectious. If this remix had the same bridge as the original, I'd probably remove the original from my iTunes entirely. Also check out Wallpaper.'s remix of Das Racist's Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

3. This track I can't get enough of for some reason. A quieter jam.

4. La Roux are the next big thing in electronic music and this remix of "Bulletproof" incorporates the masterful French House production of Fred Falke into an already great song. Standard Falke fare.

5. To close, a classic from The Breakfast Club. RIP John Hughes.

5 Random Playlist of the Week (8/13-8/20)

1) Incinerate - Sonic Youth
2) Two Way Monologue - Sondre Lerche
3) Plainclothes Man - Heatmiser
4) Thinking, Drinking, Sinking, Feeling - Slow Club
5) O Valencia! - The Decemberists

John Hughes RIP

For those of you who may not know, John Hughes, the filmmaker who may have defined our generation passed away on August 6. He directed and produced famous movies such as Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Breakfast Club.

In tribute, I am posting the epic Ferris Bueller parade scene, with the Beatles' song, Twist and Shout.




Now this is a tribute parade that happened on October 31st, 2008. It was called Project Bueller. You can visit their site, http://projectbueller.tumblr.com for more information.



To memories.

Romborama Leak: Prepare For Glory.

If I must say, I cover The Bloody Beetroots entirely too much which is ok because they are probably the hottest thing on the house scene this year. Just wanted to clear that up before I start. Anyway, a couple days ago I got to hear their new album Romborama which drops August 24th and I must say that it is quite tasty. Here's my favorite track the album so far, "Better DJ on 2 Turntables." Think "Warp 1.9" taken to a new level of insanity. Enjoy!

The Bloody Beetroots- It's A Better DJ On Two Turntables


By the way, don't you love the cover art?

5 Pieces of Classical Music, for week of, (8/2-8/8)

1. Johann Sebastian Bach, Suite #2 in a minor BMV 807

2. Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita in c minor BMV 826

3. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Piano Sonata #8 in c minor, op.13 "Pathetique"

4. Frederic Chopin, Ballade in g minor, op.23

5. Alberto Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas, op.2

Here are some picks that I feel are must listens for classical lovers.

1. This suite in a minor by Bach is a wonderful to listen to in my opinion. The prelude is in a moderate speed with a little subject and wonderful counterpoint to accompany it. The allemande is slow and wonderfully calming. The rest is just as charming.

2. The Bach Partita in c minor has a riveting beginning with it's grave start and diminished chords throughout, leading to a very pleasing little counterpoint, then leading to a miniature fugue. The rest is set of bar form pieces all written in beautiful counterpoint. Sorry but I'm trying to keep short. These pieces could take up pages.

3. A classic Beethoven sonata that must be listened to. This piece is essentially Beethoven's first in which he ventures farther from the bounds of typical classical music in his time.

4. Frederic Chopin wrote 4 beautiful ballades, all with lush harmonies and riveting codas. This is his first, and will give you a good sense of what Chopin sounds like.

5. This piece is a modern spanish piece by the Argentinean composer Ginastera. It is a set of 3 short pieces all very different in sound and idea. The first movement is played with black keys in the left hand and white keys in the right hand, leading to a very different sound, and then ending with a chord, (E-A-D-G-B-E-) which are the open strings of a guitar. The second movement is slow with a beautiful spanish melody to start and a heavy middle part, ending with heavy dissonance, which leads to the third movement which is very heavy and chaotic.

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/piano.jpg

5 Foreign Artists of the Week (8/3-8/10)

1) Kom Igen Lena! - Hakan Hellstrom
2) Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
3) Ca Plane Pour Moi (Original 1977 Version - Plastic Bertrand
4) Cavale - Plume
5) Airtap! - Erik Mongrain

1) This is my current favorite rock song. It catches your attention immediately and never lets go. The lyrics may be incomprehensible, but the song is nonetheless catchy, groovy, bit funky and distinct. (German)

2) Sigur Ros. Relaxing music that just sends chills down my spine, especially this song. Some of their other stuff is a bit soft for me, although I'm a bit hypocritical since I love stuff like the Liars. (Icelandic)

3) This song has been in many movie soundtracks and is easily recognized. I love this song for its vocals, its jamming beats, and its overall catchy tune - which is why its still featured even after thirty years in American movies. (French

4) Fun French song. Has a beautiful french vocalist, with a upbeat rhythm that varies throughout the song - which I often don't hear in other songs. It doesn't have that same monotony, but it flows. It also has this rebelling sound - an attitude derived from the French language's rasp.

5) Instrumental guitar song, but its a great one to end on. Spanish guitarist, so it has that classic amazing technical skill. The song washes over you like water - notes striking down creating beautiful harmonies like nothing I've ever heard, great unique song.

Justice Has Come.

In honor of this, all Justice Friday.

1. MGMT- Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
2. Justice- D.A.N.C.E. (Live)
3. Justice- Tthhee Ppaarrttyy
4. Justice- Phantom Part II (Boys Noize Remix)
5. Simian- Never Be Alone (Justice Remix)

1. Great way to open up the floor. The bassline is slow and warms you up for what's in store.
2. Justice's hit song gets redone on their live album A Cross The Universe. More intense and up in your grill.
3. I love Uffie. Such innocent vocals provide a song that will get you excited to go out for the first night of the weekend.
4. Here is probably the best remix of any Justice song. Boys Noize redoes the already mind blowing song Phantom Part Deux to make it even more intense. You'll never listen to the original the same way again!
5. And yes, I'm ending it with the one that started it all. It's been 5 years and it's still not old yet. Great way to close an already stellar tracklisting.

New Bloody Beetroots Single "Awesome (feat. The Cool Kids)"

When the Bloody Beetroots dropped "Warp 1.9" earlier this year I was ready for it. Downloaded it immediately the minute it was available and stuck that track on repeat for the 24 hours afterward. After listing listening, playing it at parties and seeing it live, it's safe to say that it gets better every time I hear it. The song has become the hottest song in the Beetroots' repertoire and is a staple in any DJs live set today. The day that single dropped was hands-down one of the most important days for house music in 2009.

Since then the Beetroots have been on the 'Til Death Tour and working on their new album Romborama which will release later this summer. Today they have released the first single from the album, entitled "Awesome" and it features alternative hip-hop group, The Cool Kids.

Though I got a preview of this track when the Beetroots released a mix of their newest stuff on their Twitter a couple weeks ago, I still feel some ambivalence about the song. First off, it's another venture into the hip-hop electro crossover that's been popular lately. It's reminiscent of the U-God remix I mentioned last post but it's one of the better tracks that crosses the two genres. Secondly, the track is really rich in sound. Lots of depth to the different synths and basses going on with the vocals. After awhile though, It's not nearly as intense as Warp and that is what I love about the Beetroots. That aside though, this is definitely a track worth checking out.


The Bloody Beetroots- Awesome (feat. The Cool Kids)

Disaster Averted!

Our blog was almost shut down by Google and Blogger this past weekend! They mistakenly thought that because we were linking all our songs and youtube videos, we were an evil spam site and were going to delete our site. Sigh, that would have sucked SO hard.

Well, to celebrate the fact that we won't be destroyed, I put together a playlist of a couple less-well known artists I found out about this weekend, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1) Settler - Balmorhea
2) Threnody - Goldmund
3) Pauvre Simon - Sylvain Chauveau
4) Yuki - Vessels
5) Narita - Lymbyc Systym

Promised Concert Review by Conical Valves

As promised, I have a concert review for you all. This past Thursday I went to see Ted Leo and the Pharmacists play a free outdoor show. They do this annually and have had to deal with some kind of natural disaster for the majority of the shows. This show was no exception, as I waited three hours in pouring rain prior to the concert beginning. Due to the rain neither of the opening bands were able to play so Ted Leo played an extra-long set.

The crowd was rather small and the band was so impressed by the devotion of those who were there that they played any and all requests. This was also aided by the fact that they informed us that they hadn't actually created a setlist for the show. Their impromptu set consisted of many classics, such as "Me and Mia," "Counting Down the Hours," "The Ballad of the Sin Eater," and many more, mixed in with some new ones off of the upcoming album. Despite the small crowd, the show still managed to be a very high-energy show and neither the band nor audience let the rain dampen their spirits.

All in all, an excellent concert and a band I hope to see live again one day. (Though maybe inside next time.)

I got to speak briefly with guitarist James Canty after the show and he informed us that they began recording the new album this past Saturday (July 25th) and "It'll be released when it's done." 

Picture taken by Laurel Kalman.

Colin Munroe

Some of you guys might recognize this guy from his remake of Kanye's  song Flashing Lights. His unofficial remix to the song became very popular all over youtube and led to him collaborating with more hip-hop artists such as Wale ('Will I Stay'), Joell Ortiz ('Piano Lessons'), and the now widely known Drake ('Cannonball'). His songs are pretty dope, his mixtape Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero is available for download and includes the three tracks previously listed. He also has an album in the works titled Don't Think Less of Me and has a new song out called 'Get Even', which was produced by The Kickdrums. Oh, and he's Canadian, just wanted to throw that in there. Maybe South Park was wrong, Canada isn't so bad after all.

In case you didn't see it, here's Colin's video for the Flashing Lights Remix: 

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40G8sbl6o9c&feature=player_embedded

U-God: The Remixes

Even as a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, rapper U-God hasn't been given a lot of mainstream attention. It's understandable though, being incarcerated for the majority of the time Enter the 36 Chambers was being produced led him to have minimal input onto that record. (I don't remember much from him other than a 4 line verse in their magnum opus "Protect Ya Neck.") The rapper's latest solo album Dopium however, has proven his lyrical talent and truly shown why he was so important as a founding member of the Clan.

Two of the songs off Dopium have been recently remixed by French house legend Yuksek and Italian Fidget DJs, The Bloody Beetroots. The remixes display his lyrical prowess proudly while giving the songs a spin that defines the artist who mixed them.

U-God- Dopium (Yuksek Remix)
U-God- Stomp Da Roach (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)


Link: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/Dopium.jpg

My apologies

Sorry for the lack in post last week and last night. I promise I have a concert review for you coming soon. (I was at this concert last night, hence the lack of post.)

Random Playlist for the Week of 7/21/09 - 7/28/09 (By Accident)

1. Reckoner - Radiohead
2. Rapture (Reprise) - Marbury
3. Les Yeux Ouverts (Dream a Little Dream of Mine) - Emilie Claire Bardow
4. Please Don't Go - Barcelona
5. Karma Police - Radiohead

Very somber mix, for what has been one of the tougher weeks of the summer.

Beastie Boys x Nas

Nas joins the Beastie Boys for a performance on stage. They're performing a song called 'Too Many Rappers' and it's off their new album Hot Sauce Commitee pt. 1 which is scheduled to hit stores September 12. Also Look out for Nas and Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley's album titled Distant Relatives which drops sometime in August. 

Video cited from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dva012Gwy1M&feature=player_embedded

Satudayplayalisticadillacmuzik

Here we have: some plain straight up random songs!

It's saturday night and I am tired and frustrated from work. Maybe you are too. Maybe you have parites to go to. Maybe you, like me, don't. If you are the latter; take a listen.

1. On A Saturday - Jacob Golden

2. Little Bit Of Feel Good (Mochipet Remix) - Jamie Lidell

3. Come on Closer - Jem

4. Dreamy Smiles - Dining Rooms

And finally, one of my favorite ridiculous songs, ever...

5. Get Yr Shit Together - Friendly Foes

Now, I am going biking. If you're in Boston, look for a Red, Green and Blue bicycle with white tires flying by. PEACE.

Ting Ting Kick

I've recently been on a Ting Ting kick. I really like this band, I first heard their single "Shut Up and Let Me Go" on the local radio station but I really loved it. I got their album "We Started Nothing" and listened to the whole thing on a train ride back from Manhattan. They're into the driving 4/4 beat that has kind of gotten lost (I think) in recent music trends. Percussive is their word. Everything, even the guitar strums, are short staccato emphasizers to the beat. Another trend on the CD is the tendency to build on simple rhythms. There may be two chords in an entire Ting Tings song, but it's what they put around the two chords that is so interesting. They really are geniuses at production.

The Ting Tings have a pretty interesting story. You can check out their bio at their website here: http://www.thetingtings.com/us/the-band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-E8UlrF_9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r23cm7bL9E&feature=channel_page

DwyTownDown- "I Need Equipment" Mix Preview

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather today, it's finally humid enough to ruin my new, product-enhanced haircut. Today also marks the 10th year that Spongebob Squarepants is on the air. How can they keep making episodes? There is only so much you can do with a talking sponge! The plot of today's episode: SpongeBob decides to wear ROUND pants. Compelling.

I've been working on a mixtape over the past week and wanted to post it here today but it's not finished yet. I'm still working on it and will post it here when it is completely done. Here is a 12 minute preview I've released to show you what's to come.

DwyTownDown- The "I Need Equipment" Mix

Enjoy!

5 Covers Playlist

There is a certain, modern phenomenon in music, something that makes my blood boil, my eyes bulge, and my voice hoarse with long, coarse derogatory rants. It is shoddily made cover songs of my favorite songs. Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses - EPIC SONG. Sheryl Crow, Big Daddy Soundtrack, OmgWtf. Not quite the same panache. But covers like that aren't so bad, Sheryl Crow has a fantastic voice, and for some, it is a really good song on its own. I am talking about motherfucking covers by motherfucking bands like the motherfucking Jonas Brothers, butchering the timeless Beatles, OMG WTF GTFO. Now that is ice-pick directly to the ears. Jonas Brothers... ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH HATE RANT.

This is five legit covers of already good songs.

1) Float On - Goldspot
2) 99 Red Balloons - Goldfinger
3) Time After Time - Quietdrive
4) I Try - Ben Taylor
5) Wonderwall - Ryan Adams

Listen to the originals as well.

1) Float On - Modest Mouse
2) 99 Luft Balloons - Nena
3) Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
4) I Try - Macy Gray
5) Wonderwall - Oasis

Enjoy!

Saints of Los Angeles album Review (InfektedIncubus)

Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles review

Track Listing -
1. Motherfucker of the Year
2. L.A.M.F
3. Face Down in the Dirt
4. What's it Gonna Take
5. Down at the Whiskey
6. Saints of Los Angeles
7. The Animal in Me
8. Welcome to the Machine
9. Just Another Psycho
10. Chicks = Trouble
11. This Ain't a Love Song
12. White Trash Circus
13. Goin' Out Swingin'

I once heard a commentator on the radio say that all AC/DC songs are about sex and all Motley Crue songs are about drugs. While humorous, this might hold true for AC/DC, but certainly not Motley Crue. They have definitely adapted to the times and proved it with their newest album, The Saints of Los Angeles. With this album, Motley Crue has managed to retain a lot of what originally made them famous and add even more to that stature simultaneously. I would even go as far as to classify this album as hard rock. I would consider a lot of their older material classic rock sounding, but this new album is definitely heavy, hard, loud, rough, and in your face. That's the kind of attitude that I expect from the likes of Motley Crue and Tommy Lee, and I love every second of it. For anyone who isn't too familiar with the band, the original lineup consisted of founders Nikki Sixx (bass) and Tommy Lee (drums). The two were later joined by Mick Mars (lead guitar) and Vince Neil (rhythm guitar, vocals).

From just looking at the names of some of the songs on this album, you might think that Motley Crue are just a bunch of derelicts out of Los Angeles who happened to make it big and get out of all the drugs, alcohol, and other pleasantries associated with hard rock music stars. This is absolutely not the case. The band even brings this to attention in the second track, LAMF. The lyrics towards the end of the song really highlight just how fake a lot of people/bands out of LA can be. "This city, full of plastic angels will seduce you." Motley Crue strove to set themselves apart from the Los Angeles standard, and they've certainly succeeded in doing so. This song has a really dark feel to it, which is accomplished most likey by Mick and vince using a drop D tuning on their guitars and various synthesized effects on Vince's voice and other elements of the song.

Another notable song that generally characterizes the album as a whole is "Down at the Whiskey." "Down at the Whiskey" is a nostalgic song about remembering the good times of your life that you've shared with your friends and how you should really live the life you have left to the fullest. It's put in the perspective of the band, mentioning how they "got drunk on sunset strip" and "were on the run, got loaded like a shotgun. Living out our dreams down at the whiskey." While maybe the partying scene isn't your favorite choice, (it can be a hell of a good time in moderation) the band had many good times doing this and it is portrayed throughout the song. Tommy Lee really pounds the hell out of the drums in this song with lots of energetic rolls and intense beats. Mick has an intricate and melodic guitar solo that lasts through the better part of the song, and Nikki Sixx's bass can be heard as loud and powerful as always. The song even ends in a fade out to reinforce the nostalgic element of it after the band tears it up. This would arguably be one of their best songs played live.

A similar song, "Saints of Los Angeles" you may have heard on the radio, as it is a single from the album and is probably the most mainstream song off of it. This track is also on rock band as downloadable content and features a hip-hop element to it as well, as the lyrics seem like more of a rap almost the way that vince sings them. Mick, Nikki, and Tommy throw their two cents in (of course, duh) to make one of the most popular singles of the last couple of years.

The final song on the album "Goin' Out Swingin'" is literally a song about fighting, but I prefer to think of it as a song about going out with a bang. If you're going to make your presence known, you might as well have everyone know it, and not just a few people. One of the faster paced songs on the album, Tommy and Nikki keep a very imperssive rhythm that's reinforced by Vince and Mick. However, it seems that Mick has the dominating presence in this track. It's just an awesome song that's one of my favorites on the record as well. It can really pump you up.

So that's just a glimpse of Saints of Los Angeles. This album really does kick some serious ass, and that's what I love about Motley Crue. They're always right up there in your face, they're loud, and they're pretty metal. They're definitely one of my favorite bands, and I'm looking forward to hearing new material from them in the future. I've also always wanted to see them live, and I suggest that you go if you have the chance. That's all for now, I hope you've enjoyed this review. If you're interested, I suggest buying the album. It is definitely worth it.



http://www.zrock965.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ole1.bmp

And now for some beats from overseas....

So there's this hip-hop producer who goes by the name Nujabes. He's Japanese, which is probably the reason why I never heard of him before but this guy is DOPE. I kid you not though the first time I heard a song from him was when my sister was myspace surfing and his song 'Lady Brown' was on someones page. I loved the song and right away did my research on him. I found out that he also produced almost the whole soundtrack for the anime show 'Samurai Champloo' (I loved that show as well). Nujabes blends real instruments such as pianos, guitars, trumpets, and clarinets with heavy hip hop beats and the combo is pure bliss. It's not too hardcore rap, but it's not entirely smooth R&B, it's just right. Perfect vibe music. Take some hip-hop, sprinkle it with a little bit of soul and jazz and you have Nujabes' sound. I like many of his songs but I'll just list a few that I really like and you should check out:

1) Sky is Falling (ft. C.L. Smooth)

2) Moon Strut

3) Messing with my head (Nujabes Remix) by Phase Rock and L Universe

4) Luv(sic) Pt. 1

5)Luv(sic) Pt. 2

6)Ordinary Joe

7)Another Reflection

8) Song of Four Seasons (Shiki No Uta) by MINMI

Also you should check out his songs from the 'Samurai Champloo' soundtracks. The last song I listed plays during the ending credits of the show. This guy is definitely one of my favorite hip-hop producers. I suggest that you check this guy out, you won't be dissapointed.

Picture Citation: http://blog.roodo.com/ddrbb/01bc731a.jpg

New Bloc Party "One More Chance"

One of the best bands in the world right now, Bloc Party has become increasingly more dance-friendly with every new release. Last year's Intimacy drew most of its influence from club tracks, while still maintaining it's rock and roll roots. I had the pleasure of catching Bloc Party in concert last March, during the opening week of Boston's new House of Blues. While it was quite overcrowded, the only way to cool off was through a nearly-perfect set list to dance to.

This release shows the band moving even further towards a house sound, but just hanging on to a few elements of rock. The song wasn't even supposed to be released until August 10th but the music video is out so I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt. Here's Bloc Party's "One More Chance."


Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOm5z2KIDJg

5 Indie Love Songs (by conical valves)

For some reason a lot of the songs I've been listening to lately are love songs, so I thought I'd share.

1) Wasted - Angus & Julia Stone

2) Say Yes - Elliott Smith

3) Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn, and John

4) Parentheses - The Blow

5) The Fear You Won't Fall - Joshua Radin

1) She has a really unique voice and I really enjoy it in this song.

2) I love Elliott Smith. I especially love this song. All his songs have darker sides to them, and this is no exception, but it's nice and sweet nonetheless.

3) I think anyone who's ever been in love with anyone can appreciate the sentiment of "hours seem[ing] to disappear" while talking to the one you love.

4) The image of people making a pair of parentheses is just always adorable to me.

5) I love the use of strings in this song, especially combined with his voice.

Picture from http://spotifyplaylists.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/653/indieLove_logo_v1_comp.jpg

Album Review: Guns Don't Kill People..Lazers do

Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Major Lazer


I was actually smoking a lot of crack when I first heard about this album. Defiantly a booster to my mood. Diplo and Switch, the DeeJays of the album connect with their inner rasta, by heading down to Jamaica. They recoreded real street and local artists, did some careful editing, and put together this album: Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do. I feel like it is not enough for me to describe, in words, the sounds and rhythms experienced via this album, so I urge you to illegally download it and listen carefully. The club-style undertones and heavily-focused rasta omit a funky aurora. Trust me.



picture courtesy amazon.com

5 Indie Artists for the week (By Anonymously Rach)

1. The Skin of My Country Yellow Teeth- Clap Your Hands say Yea!

2. Nobody Move, Nobody gets Hurt- We Are Scientists

3. The Vowels, pt.2 - Why?

4. I'll Believe in Anything- Wolf Parade

5. Set Yourself on Fire - Stars

In a bit of a rush, but posted regardless!

1. So the first song has been in my head for about 3 weeks now and it is very catchy. I highly recommend it. The singing is high and sounds like cracking almost, but it grows on you, which is strange enough.

2. Great indie rock band from Britain, this is from the

ir debut album, and will have you jumping around in no time.

3. The Vowels, pt. 2 is an amazing song from an amazing al

bum, Alopecia. Why? is a indie urban hip hop kind of deal in California. It's really good to listen to on a summer day (like today) and just relax with some good beats.

4. I'll Believe in Anything is quite a well written song, with the strange synth at the beginning to the high singing throughout. Go buy it now! The album as a whole is amazing.

5. Set Yourself on Fire, as morbid as that sounds, is a very catchy song done none other by Stars. The song, also the title of the album, has great rhythmic contrasts, and a very enticing bass line. The singing is amazing, but expect that from this Indie pop duo!

Image source: http://www.graffiti.org/indie/indie_bronx3.jpg

Hello...

My name is Fawkes, and like many of the other authors, critics and music lovers involved with this blog, I too was cordially invited by my friend "By Accident" to share my interests and tastes as well.

As far as my musical roots are concerned, it's nothing spectacular or even that impressive. I'm not a classical trained musician (or even an amateur at the guitar for that matter), I've never been one to listen to the radio, and not a zealot for one particular band or one particular sound or another; in fact, I didn't even really become that interested in the music scene until the latter days of my grammar school life, up until when I mainly focused on writing, reading, and television as my primary sources of entertainment.

It wasn't until I began to watch my friends and others around me who were beginning to immerse themselves in music, making their instruments and favorite bands a critical theme to their lives, that I realized something about music I had never understood before. It was the emotion, the feeling and the passion that music was able to infuse into a person; the way a rhythm, melody or harmony could toss about your emotions,linger about in your brain for days and days, and find explanations for a feeling in a language as equally confusing but at times infinitely more real in their work and in every other place that song permeates and blends with the senses that was truly inspiring and finally made music both important and beautiful to me.

For that matter, I've never considered myself fettered to one specific sound or genre, as my tastes vary from country to hip-hop, classical to electro, and alternative to blues, and so I don't claim to be an expert on anything I share and or review (so forgive me if all this pomp seems to exaggerate anything I post). All I do claim is that the music I like is the music that can make me move, and more importantly, has moved me in one way or another, and it is my hope that the vibes, beats, ballads and ditties I share here can do the same for you (or at least introduce you to a new artist I suppose).

And without further rambling, here are a few songs that I dig:

1. Impossible Germany - Wilco (peaceful melody/tone with a brilliant guitar solo that embodies the song)

2. Nice to Meet You - The Reign of Kindo (beautiful cohesion between the piano, vocals, and brass for an overall great piece)

3. Easy Plateau - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (in general just an excellent country sound that makes awesome work of the guitar, string and vocal styles attributable to the genre and in my opinion the perfect thing to listen to when your driving out to the wilderness)

4. Saddle Road - Kevin Teves (relaxing and smoothing slack key guitar)

5. Refraction - John Paul Walton (invigorating beat and great rhythm that make for an impressive electronic piece)

Enjoy, and a pleasure to be here.

*Picture citation: http://qa9ed2000.deviantart.com/art/real-emotion-45979992

Maxwell's new album release is tomorrow

Soulhopper here....sorry for the late post, but the July 4th weekend was pretty busy. Have no fear I'm back now. So tomorrow is Tuesday and we all know what that means...new releases! One new release I'm looking forward to hearing is Maxwell's Black Summers' Night. Although he hasn't released an album since 2001, this one is sure to please. Even after such a long hiatus, Maxwell has proved that he's still sticking to what he does best, which is creating smooth soulful love ballads that are easy on the ears. His first single Pretty Wings was already released and its slow soothing melody has proved that Maxwell's still got it. So even if you're not familiar with Maxwell or R&B in general you should listen to this album when it comes out whenever you're relaxing and need some music to mellow out to....not to mention that his lyrics about love are sure to intrigue the romantics, and the ladies (wink wink). So be sure to check out Black Summers' Night, I'll most definitely be doing so.

Picture citation: http://www.maxwellfanforum.com/Images/BSNedit.jpg

Random Playlist for the Week of 7/6/09 - 7/13/09

1) Brother - Murder By Death
2) Half Asleep - School of Seven Bells
3) I Try (Feat Mary J. Blige) - Talib Kweli
4) Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti and Spearhead
5) Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Spamalot

Overlooked mainstream: why you should buy the album, not the single.

There are a lot of really great albums out there, even mainstream music albums, made popular in the public by one or two really great singles. But all too often, I find other really great songs that are easily overlooked.

1. Neighbors - Gnarls Barkley (from The Odd Couple)

2. Pink & Blue - OutKast (from The Love Below)

3. November Has Come - Gorillaz (from Demon Days)

4. She Looks to Me - Red Hot Chili Peppers (from Stadium Arcadium)

5. Holla Holla - Akon ft. T-Pain (from Freedom)

First up: Gnarls. Their second album had two singles: "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)" and "Going On". These are pretty good songs in and of themselves, but if you only heard these two songs, you would probably have a very different idea of Gnarls' style than if you heard the whole album. There's the side that these singles exemplify - a sort of heavier, neo-Beatles sound, thick with extra instruments and backing vocals. The lyrics are interesting, catchy, so who cares what they say. Right? No. Listen to "Neighbors," and you find a melancholy, hurting side of Gnarls, that feels exposed and vulnerable, not the monster in "Run" or the runner in "Going On."

Next, Pink & Blue, from one of the biggest albums of recent times: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Roses, Hey Ya, The Way You Move, Prototype, and Ghetto Musick were the singles; but there are many, many, MANY more songs on this double album. It's hard to narrow down just ONE easily overlooked song, but this one may do it. It's fun, funky, dark, and pretty cool. Crazy falsetto vocals, an interesting beat, and pretty, minimalist instrumentation, and not-too-racy lyrics make it a pretty applicable hip-hop song for any situation.

November, November. November has come, and gone away. November is a popular month to write songs about. Not popular enough, evidently, to find its way to a singles chart. No, Demon Day's glory came and went in the form of "Feel Good Inc." and "Dare," two songs which I initially loved but quickly grew to hate after they were blared out of every car and radio within a mile. However, this song goes alongside "Pink & Blue" in the idea of bleak, washed-out, but with more rap and even less instruments.

She Looks to Me. Fairly much every RHCP fan will tell you this song is AWSEOME. It's a step back, sort of, towards RHCP's older style, circa Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Majik. Light guitar riffs, gorgeous vocals, a love-song theme, but still somehow never made a single.

And finally, Holla Holla. accident is going to kill me for this, but I really like Akon, and T-Pain for that matter. Holla Holla is no different. T-Pain does a great job with harmonies and melodies, emulating, if you will, the barbershop quartet of oldern days with a vocoder and synthesizer. Growly harmonies and screeching, grinding vocoder sounds fill this R&B masterpiece. The lyrics are straight up modern, but if you can get past that, unless you hate Vocoders, this track is sure to please.

Picture courtesy of http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/4/MUSIC/index-02.html

Open up your folding chair (by conical valves)

Sorry for the delay in posting. I hope you weren't all frantically refreshing the page waiting for my post.

Anyway I've got an album review for you today. Regina Spektor's new album, Far, was released last week. Aside from catching half of it when she streamed it early, I pre-ordered it and have been listening to it for the past week and a half.

Personally, I find the album to be a bit of a disappointment coming from her. The album is loaded with superstar producers and studio musicians and as a result, no longer has Spektor's typical quirky air to it. Every track just sounds overproduced and the only thing remaining of Regina is the voice. None of the songs are bad individually, but what I like to refer to as the "curse of The Fray" seems to have befallen her. The songs are all good individually, but they all sound the same. There is a clear formula to all of them: one verse sans studio musicians, then second verse the drums and musicians kick in. In past albums, even though I may not have liked all the songs, they all very much had their own sound.

If you are looking to buy some individual songs off of the album and not the whole album I recommend: 

1) Folding Chair

2) Blue Lips

3) Laughing With

4) Dance Anthem of the 80s

5) One More Time with Feeling. 

Folding Chair is possibly the only track on the album that benefitted from the many producers. I've heard a live version of this track that doesn't feature the studio musicians or production and I much prefer the album version.

Blue Lips is the second track on the album and is slower and more serious than the two that surround it. I find it to be a delightfully dark track, with incredibly ambiguous lyrics. It seems to discuss greed, religion, and death all in one 3 1/2 minute song. However, it could definitely do without the formulaic creation.

Laughing With is another song with a religious theme. In this case it describes the hypocrisies of religion. She lists a variety of situations in which "No one is laughing at God" but then reminds us that when we're not worried we turn around and make God something trivial again. Again I think this could benefit from not being overproduced, but it's still a beautiful song.

Dance Anthem of the 80s is possibly the song that retains the most of Spektor's normal style. It's also delightfully dark, but very subtly so. At first listen it seems quite sweet, but repeated listening brings out the darker side of the lyrics.

One More Time with Feeling is another slower, more serious song, although this time subtly uplifting instead of subtly dark. I absolutely love her voice in this song and think it's worth a listen for that alone. I very much wish it hadn't ever been touched by the producers though; it could be so much more powerful without their influence.

Picture from http://www.amazon.com/Far-Regina-Spektor/dp/B00204AA0O

Hey Happy 4th!

Hey everyone, lalalalovemachine here. I too am a friend of by accident's. I'm going to be posting on here every so often because I think he's a cool guy and I like what he's doing.

I am a musician and a romantic. The majority of the songs I write are about relationships and love because I think without love we're through. My writing style is a lot of things (anti folk folk pop with a theatrical twist?).

I like good, original beats. I'm also into lyrics. I like creativity better than a song that fits a particular genre like a glove. I am also obsessed with glockenspiels.

That being said, here are some songs that I love:

Trapeze Swinger- Iron and Wine (Lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnGXduu293c

Sillhouettes- Elijah Wyman (I played a show with him in NH and fell in love)
http://www.elijahwyman.com

The Most Trustworthy Tin Cans-Maps and Atlases (awesome guitar riffs and beats..and glockenspiels)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf3uPQQXh6c&feature=related <--I was at this show! It was Me Without You and Maps and Atlases and it rocked.

Thirteen- Ben Kweller (Love and Lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OFWa67ric4

Girl in the War-Josh Ritter (Glockenspiels!! And lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqLssKusGzM

Okay guys, nice to meet ya'll.
Enjoy the 4th!! and please don't blow yourselves up..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzx2cpVbNs0

DwyTown Dance Mix Weekly (7/3/09)

So while this Independence Day I will be working a 9 and a half hour shift (Yeah Capitalism!), I can only imagine the antics you readers might be up to. I'm gonna keep this quick, here are 5 for your parties this weekend:

1. Busy P- To Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix)
2. Major Lazer- Keep It Goin' Louder (feat. Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze)
3. Services- Element of Danger (MSTRKRFT Remix)
4. Machines Don't Care- Afro Jacker
5. Shitdisco- 72 Virgins (The Bloody Beetroots Remix) into Bloody Beetroots- Warp 1.9 (feat Steve Aoki)

1. This track follows the new trend in electro introducing hip hop vocals over traditional house music. While I'd agree with many that this is not the direction I'd like to see the genre take, this remix by the Crookers pretty much outlines how Dim Mak Tuesdays usually ends up. Basically, this is MSTRKRFT's "Bounce" before that track came out.

2. Before I decided to mix it up a bit, this playlist was almost entirely Major Lazer. The whole album is, by far, THE summer 2009 party album. This track is catchy, danceable and one of the few tracks in the industry these days that makes good use of auto-tune. Also check out "Baby" also by the Diplo and Switch duo of mastery to see all the fun things they can do experimenting with auto-tune.

3. Pretty standard MSTRKRFT fare: power-chords droning over a fairly intense bass beat. The lyrics here are fairly simple making this an easy crowd-pleaser. Everything you need in the Fist of God era.

4. This track takes the party down with a smooth jungle beat and then brings it back up with intense fanfare. Never gets old.

5. Watch this below and be astonished as you see THE best transition ever made. Dropped at Webster Hall earlier this year, this is Warp:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0y9oX3FShw

5 Heavy Metal Artists of the Week

1. Day of Justice - All Shall Perish
2. Nothing - Misery Signals
3. Shitstorm - Strapping Young Lad
4. Chrion - All That Remains
5. Pain - Soulfly

No one reads the descriptions as to why each person picked a song. So I'll just write a brief comment on the songs as a whole. These are more modern metal artists I believe. My favorite is Strapping Young Lad. Check them out if you are hardcore enough.

http://www.youtube.com/v/BW9WUCJSK1E

5 Metal Artists of the Week (7/2/09-7/9/09) Posted by: InfektedIncubus

The Poison – Bullet for My Valentine

This is Absolution – Killswitch Engage

Hit the Lights – Metallica

The Downfall of us All – A Day to Remember

Reinventing Your Exit – Underoath

1 – This is one of my favorites by this band and they manage to blend everything together really well. Their vocals and guitar are probably my favorite aspects of the band and the solo and song in its entirety is really almost nostalgic.

2 – Killswitch can be a bit heavy at times, but I really enjoy this track. Their drummer is especially talented and keeps some pretty fast beats.

3 – Metallica has always been a personal favorite band of mine. Hit the Lights has a really fast and heavy main riff and about 3 or 4 intense guitar solos throughout the song. It is basically their first song from their first album and really highlights the band’s talents.

4 – The main riff and sing-songy style of this song is typically not characteristic of most metal, however the way that A Day to Remember does this track makes it very catchy and appealing. It’s almost like a mix of pop and metal, although the heavy guitar riff and vocals makes it a lot more metal.

5 – A song about finding yourself and realizing your full potential, Reinventing your Exit is both inspirational and uplifting at the same time. However, finding an exit from life’s struggles would complete the speaker.

5 Blues Artists

I've been absent for the past few days, been formatting, working on advertisers, and generally busy with life.

So I created a schedule for the writers, which I posted on the bottom of the site, so the readers can look for the writers they like. In spirit of this newly created schedule, as founder and dictator, I decided to make a random post, on a different day then what it says on the the schedule in a complete flair of hypocrisy. This is just once in a while, I miss you guys :)

1. Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn
2. Thrill is Gone - B.B. King
3. Soul Man - Blues Brothers
4. Ten Million Slaves
5. Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker

I'll keep it short. This may be an overgeneralization, but most young people aren't exposed to enough blues. This playlist hits all of the classics. My favorite song is Soul Man - Blues Brothers, easily the best SNL Movie skit adaptation with John Belushi (R.I.P.) and Dan Aykroyd. Expand your horizons, if you don't like it, that's fine, at least be exposed and be familiar with all the genres we put up on this blog.

And first and foremost, enjoy it all!