Happy Halloween! Here’s a quick little mix of tracks I was listening to last night.
31
Oct 09
The Antlers: Daytrotter Session
Breathtaking and beautiful were the Antlers on the session Daytrotter posted yesterday. Chiefly singing tunes off their devastatingly raw album Hospice, the Antlers added depth to tracks through their live session — “Kettering,” Hospice’s heartbreaking first track, for example, carries a punch heavier than that found on the album.
When performing “Two,” ringleader Peter Silberman sings with surprising eagerness vis-à-vis the biting lyrical tension and the overwhelming sense of surrender and hopelessness. That, I believe, is a defining moment for the Antlers.
The Antlers: Daytrotter Session 10/30/09
1. Welcome To Daytrotter
2. Shiva (from Hospice)
3. Cold War (from Cold War EP)
4. Kettering (from Hospice)
5. Two (from Hospice)
Get the full session @ Daytrotter.
30
Oct 09
Air – African Velvet
The thing about AIR is that you never have a “Oh, That’s definitely AIR” moment. Their albums aren’t filled with indecisive tracks but when played as a single they’re eclectic nonetheless. Even if it’s a track that is reminiscent of a previous AIR song, I always find it forgivable because each track always seems to be brimming with soul. I haven’t had a track come my way where it just went unnoticed or didn’t ignite some sort of emotion.
For their song “African Velvet” any sort of resemblance to electronica is gone and you are presented with guitar riff that charms you instantly and then the bass line that has you flying from there on. When the song is becoming repetitive the Sax breezes in with nothing flashy but just as a smooth compliment to the melody.
“African Velvet” is the album closer for their album Love 2 and doesn’t appear to be your average closer to an album but more of a humble exit. It’s reserved and just a nice finishing touch to an album, your day, your drive or your playlist. Continue reading →
30
Oct 09
Cool Kids x Hey Champ – (We Are) Champions
It’s very refreshing to see the versatility of a young group like Hey Champ. Though their roots lie more in indie-electro music, they don’t limit themselves to a singular label or genre. With the newly released single, (We are) Champions, they’re dabbling in hip-hop for the first time, and the result is straight dopeness.
The Cool Kids version of Champions that came out earlier this year was great- in an NBA Live/ ESPN kind of way (I think it was actually used for a commercial or video game?) Hey Champ has made it their own now, completely changing everything but Mikey and Chuck’s signature freestyles. You can’t even recognize this joint as being anything close to the original.
This track will definitely appeal to a wider and more diverse group. Hey Champ has created a smooth ballad-like joint fusing the Cool Kids’ rhythmic freestyles with their own very fresh instrumentals and vocals.
It’s nice to see two genres of music co-exist like this, and actually enhance each other. Big ups to Hey Champ for this remix, it might be the best thing I’ve heard all week. Continue reading →
30
Oct 09
Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment
Atrocious album cover aside (why couldn’t he just gone with the single cover pictured above?), Adam Lambert still stands as one of the most talented people to ever walk off the American Idol stage.
His whole Sasha Fierce meets Lady GaGa meets post-Chris-Brown Rihanna look really irks me, but his album’s first single and titular track, “For Your Entertainment” has hit potential. It sounds like Queen, it sounds like Bowie, it sounds like Goldfrapp — a male Lady GaGa without the killer hooks.
The hook on “For Your Entertainment” is fine, but nothing that will stand out or keep it relevant for more than 2-3 months. After listening to it a few times (in not-so-great quality), I’ll admit that it’s a decent tune. I think it’s about time American Idol fashioned out an electro-pop star. Listen to it here: Continue reading →
29
Oct 09
You, You’re Awesome
In case you haven’t been tuned in to your music blogs of late, New York’s well-known CMJ music festival took place last week, allowing the current buzz bands their time to shine and make their names known. The wonderful blog I Guess I’m Floating has taken a liking to CMJ up-and-comers You, You’re Awesome, and PMA thinks you might like them too.
Primarily an instrumental band, You, You’re Awesome has two electronic jams that might be your thing, or might not.
The first, “I’m Deaf and You’re Boring,” basically takes Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart” jam into an alternate universe where it’s even weirder and cooler. With a calm, psychedelic guitar and drum backdrop overshadowed by beeps and blips galore, it builds to a steady, catchy keyboard hook that loops and hypnotizes. Unfortunately, it loops some french numbers in there as well, recalling some very bad high school french class memories for me (pour moi).
You, You’re Awesome – I’m Deaf and You’re Boring
The second, “International Fan Club of the World,” has more of the same, fuzzy, computer sounds repeated over a building drum roll that sounds like it could be the perfect soundtrack for a très-cool car commercial (there I go again with the stupid French). Not quite as poppy or fun as “Deaf,” but still a jam, “International Fan Club” could easily be bangin’ on some club dance floor’s by year’s end. And if You, You’re Awesome’s live show is as good as IGIF says it is, this buzz band will most likely keep on buzzing, and keep on gaining steam in this world we call the blogosphere.
29
Oct 09
Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed / (Jakwob Remix)
We recently posted Ellie Goulding’s official debut single, titled, “Under the Sheets,” along with some stand out covers she produced before getting picked up by Neon Gold. The London electronic pop musician shows off her power as an artist (backed by producer Starsmith) with another track off her upcoming/currently in progress debut album.
“Starry Eyed” gives better sense of the talent she has than “Under the Sheets.” The track displays the power of her voice, as well as, unique pop hooks and catchy/memorable synths. She has an extremely intriguing voice that reminds us somewhat of Little Boots. But she’s not just any cliché UK electronic pop princess wannabe. Expect great things from her in the near future as more of her music begins to surface (we’re just saying, we love her for a reason)!
The track also gets remix attention from Jakwob. The dubstep remix illuminates Goulding’s brilliant voice and adds to the already existent danceable beat. Continue reading →
29
Oct 09
Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour
When the list of contributing artists for The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack was published there was a collective “What the..?” and conflicting emotions for everyone. Should we be happy that there’s new material from our favorite artists? Is this considered as “selling out?” I understand the frustration, this is a saga about werewolves and vampires that teenagers are obsessed (understatement) with and so we have become a little hesitant to give anything a listen in an act of defiance. These are exclusive tracks made specifically for the soundtrack with today’s most respected and influential artists so I can understand the inner turmoil for most fans. I’m actually pretty excited that some of our Indie favorites contributed and that die hard fans of the saga who haven’t been exposed to these artists will discover them and intrigued to expand their musical taste.
Once you’ve come to terms with the soundtrack and are willing to give it a chance, you must check out Sea Wolf “The Violet Hour”. Alex Church’s voice is romantic and paints a scenic picture of his interest that’s poetic and melancholy at the same time. I can’t picture where they might use this in the film but I do feel as though it does capture the theme for the second installment of the franchise. Regardless if you’re keen to the idea of Sea Wolf being apart of the soundtrack or not you’re still getting one solid track. Continue reading →
