2013 is upon us, my friends. Whether you are planning a wild night on the town, or something chill at home with a few loved ones, I thought you might enjoy a little new music. Here you will find a playlist to help ring in the New Year. It features 3 groups that have caught my eye recently. First, Rhye, the L.A.-based soul duo of Mike Milosh and Robin Hannibal. This mysterious group has released only 3 songs through online leaks, but each one hints at the potential quality of Rhye's debut album, Woman, due for release in the U.S. on March 5th. Then we have a few tracks from the British indie-pop band The XX, whose 2nd album, Coexist was released last September. And finally, Visioneers, a Marc Mac Jazz-meets-hip-hop studio project dedicated to producers like Jay Dee, Pete Rock, and Jazzy Jeff.
Be sure to check out the video for the remix of Rhye's "The Fall". The old-school soul train dance line is not to be missed...
Happy new year, you lovely people! I hope 2012 leaves you with fond memories, and 2013 brings new adventure and happiness.
Last week a good buddy of mine posted "Thrift Shop", by the Seattle-based duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on Facebook. The song is a beyond catchy head-bobber, and the video is hilariously over the top. In the best way possible.
Like, you should really watch it right now.
Then, another friend posted a performance they recently did for NPR's Tiny Desk concert series. It's 15 minutes of great live performance ("Same Love", "Thrift Shop", and "Can't Hold Us"), demonstrating that these two have more to offer than just fun, lighthearted hip-hop.
Not sure what the future holds for this crew, but don't be surprised in a week or two when you can't go anywhere without hearing them. Apparently "Thrift Shop" has already passed the 35 million views mark on youtube...
I must say I am surprised and impressed. This stuff really got me going, especially the anthemic, "Can't Hold Us". You gotta love a group that with one breath is brave enough to address LGBTQ civil rights through hip-hop ("Same Love"), and with another drops rhymes about being a "cold-ass honky" for stealing your grandpa's style ("Thrift Shop"). Excuse me while I play these 3 tracks on repeat for the next month.
Oh, and here are videos for "Can't Hold Us", "Same Love", and an interview where the duo discussing the motivation behind "Same Love". Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' debut album, The Heist, was released this past October.
The world said goodbye to a musical icon yesterday when Dave Brubeck, the legendary jazz pianist and composer, passed away due to heart failure a day before his 92nd birthday. The outpouring of admiration and commemoration going on right now in honor of his life is a profound, worldwide, and appropriate tribute to a man that has consistently revolutionized his art form from the moment he formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 to his recordings and tours as recent as 2011.
With a life of creativity spanning so many years, I am at a bit of a loss to know what to say about this wonderful musician. In truth, when I first heard of Brubecks' death I thought of my father. It was my dad who gave me a CD of Time Out when I was in middle school. It was my dad who took my sister and I to see Brubeck live at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. a few years later. Brubecks' music was a constant in our home. These events had a deep impact on my life. They inspired me to play music, to try and emulate the greatness I was being exposed to. I became obsessed with "Take Five", and as a young saxophonist I went a bit crazy with pride when I finally mastered Paul Desmonds' iconic melody from that track. Like many people I interpret this loss through my personal experience, which brings floods of memories, sadness, and joy. I hear this music and it makes me smile. It's so mysterious, captivating, and above all, beautiful.
Below you will find 6 videos of my favorite Brubeck songs from performances in the 60's, 90's, and 2000's. I also posted a few brief interviews with Brubeck from over the years. I love hearing the man talk about his art, and his motivations behind it. I hope those of you that are familiar with Brubeck, and those of you who are not, can take a minute to check these out. Rest in peace, and thank you.
Well, I have been a bit behind in this AudioIn-AudioOut thing lately. I returned today to find the site where I host my playlists (mixpod.com) has been taken down. Crap! So I figured what better way to learn a new process for creating video playlists than to create a new Top 10!
This edition features some baby-makin' music from the likes of Miguel, The Weeknd, and Frank Ocean, as well as the best song Bruno Mars ever made, the banging new track from M.I.A., and a wonderful remix of a Passion Pit song. Check 'em out below.
I know I have posted this song by Danny Brown before as part of a playlist, but I just heard it again and was bobbing my head so much I figured it deserved its own attention. This dude from Detroit is definitely a bit out there, chipped teeth, crazy laugh, cracked voice and all. His skills can't be denied, though, and the catchy beat and clever flow in this song is proof. Plus, the little mini-Danny in the video is dope.
Heard this jam last week and was hooked from beat one. Kendrick Lamar has featured in a few earlier posts and playlists, and this recently released single is his latest in a growing list of great tracks. Check it out.
The days are getting shorter, my friends. Lets celebrate the end of a glorious Summer with a few great songs. Volume 7 features the multi-gendered wonder Mykki Blanco, that song from Portlandia, the band my wife hung out with at Pitchfork (Purity Ring), and some hard-rockin' Sleigh Bells.
A lot has been said about Frank Ocean this year. Maybe you have heard that some consider his debut album, Channel Orange, a musical masterpiece. Maybe you were onto him early, and saw the promise of the 2011 mix-tape Nostalgia/Ultra. Or maybe, like most folks, you heard about Ocean's sexuality before you heard his music, thanks to all the press attention given to the open letter Ocean posted on Tumblr revealing his experience with unrequited love after falling in love with a man as a teenager.
I'm here today to say that there is something special about Frank Ocean that, in my mind, is bordering on genius status. I could write about this dude for days. I could write about the courage it takes for a man to talk about loving another man in the hetero-centric R&B/Hip Hop universe . I could write about how Ocean's vulnerable and emotive music is a refreshing step away from the peakcocking flash of R Kels/Usher-style R&B. I could write about how I hear Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye in Ocean's voice and compositions.
Instead of going into greater depth on all that stuff, suffice it to say that Ocean is one major reason why R&B is great again, and worth a good listen. I figured I would put a couple of Ocean's best tracks and an interview here for you to check out for yourself. Below you will find 8 songs (and free downloads!!) from Channel Orange and Nostalgia/Ultra, including "Bad Religion", "Pilot Jones", "Novacaine", "Forrest Gump", "Swim Good", "Strawberry Swing", "Thinkin 'bout You", "Pyramids"
Personally, I think Bad Religion is one of the best songs I've heard in a decade. Make sure to check out the live performance of the song above. Poignant. Just wish there was a better quality video...
Okay, so I know I have featured Lykke Li on a couple playlists (#4 & #5 ) already, but I just realized I haven't devoted a post to her yet. Soooo here you go.
Lykke Li is one of the best examples of Sweden's recent outpouring of musical talent. Her live persona is a stunning mash-up of rebelliousness, strength, and sensuality. Kinda similar to what might have happened if Janis Joplin and Debbie Harry ever had a love-child. Like a lot of great music coming out nowadays, Lykke's pop/indie/electronica fusion is hard to categorize. Regardless of what you call it, it is clear that this lady has talent and charisma to spare.
The 26 year-old singer/songwriter popped on the scene with 2008's Youth Novels, a critically acclaimed album produced by Björn Yttling, of Peter Bjorn and John fame. She followed up her debut with killer sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza in 2009. Her sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, was released in 2011.
Below you will find a 9 song playlist featuring tracks from Youth Novels and Wounded Rhymes . Most of the videos below are fantastic live performances, but I highly recommend getting both albums for yourself. The studio versions of these songs are great. Enjoy!
I heard "High Priestess" for the first time last week and was blown away by the fusion of canonical music with electro-pop. The song is by Active Child (a.k.a Pat Grossi) a 28 year-old choir-trained singer operating out of Los Angeles. His work blends layers of soaring falsetto, beautiful harp runs, and a wide variety of synths, sounds, and vocal effects, to create unusual and emotive pop tracks. You can definitely hear the choir influences on this track, not to mention a distinct New Wave feel reminiscent of Tears for Fears. Check out the first single from his debut album, You Are All I See, as well as fantastic live version of the song.
I was just reminded how great this song is when Pandora hit me up with the Cee-Lo version. I love it when an artist is able to put something unique on an already fantastic song. Check it out below, along with a haunting live version by the orignal creators of the song, Band of Horses.
While catching up on my buddy Blockhead's blog, Phat Friend, I came upon the two video gems you see below. If you haven't heard of rappers A$AP Rocky or Danny Brown yet this will be quite an introduction (see playlist below to get familiar with their tunes). Conversation topics include the duo debating their favorite type of woman, the merits of Twitter vs. Facebook, and benefits of dating someone older. Warning: The following contains strong language, and may not be suitable for some viewers. Enjoy!
I put 2 of 5 below. Youtube has the rest if you want them.
And here is a little A$AP and Danny playlist for all you music lovers out there. The video for "Grown Up" is pretty awesome.
The sun set behind the First Midwestern Bank Amphitheater in Chicago last night as Radiohead took the stage to begin an action packed 3 hour set that hit everything from "Creep" to "Lotus Flower". Thom Yorke's signature wail warmed and improved as the night went on, demonstrating its dynamic extremes particularly well during a crowd-pleasing spastic rendition of "Idioteque" and the hauntingly beautiful "Giving Up the Ghost". And in case all that wasn't enough, the band delighted the crowd by debuting an eerie new song, "Full Stop". Check it out for yourself below as well as a couple other of Radiohead's greatest tunes.
The show was an absolutely fantastic end to a action packed weekend here in Chicago. I can't think of many better ways to spend a summer night than sitting on the lawn of a gigantic amphitheater, summer breeze blowing, with the great combination of friends, cheese, whiskey, and watermelon. To all of you out there that have yet to come to the Chi during its glorious early summer weeks, you are missing out. Come over, hang out, and enjoy a city full of great food, wonderful live music, and friendly people.
In the 6th installment we feature a collaboration between Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu, & Mos Def, the best cover of "No Diggity" you will ever hear, and that awesome song from the AT&T 4G commercial.
Its Summertime, people, so these tracks should be played at high volume. Preferably in a residential area.
My buddy David recently suggested I check out Michael Kiwanuka, an emerging Soul artist from England. Kiwanuka has had a whirlwind couple of years, going from session guitarist, to playing with Adele in her 2011 tour, to now breaking through as a solo artist. He released two EP's in 2011, Tell Me A Tale and I'm Getting Ready, and released his debut full-length album, Home Again, earlier this year. His music is near-perfectly arranged into crisp songs that serve as a vehicle for Kiwanuka's beautifully poignant voice. Kiwanuka's music has that great musical quality, like an Aretha Franklin or Bill Withers, to draw any listener in and put smiles on faces. I think the only complaint I have is that, like those other artists, a number of his songs seem about a minute too short.
If you have heard of Temper Trap, it is likely because of the breakthrough success of their 2009 hit single, "Sweet Disposition". The song featured in the movie (500) Days of Summer, and seems to have been in the background for every car/drink/sport commercial between 2009-2010. The success brought international attention to the Australian indie rock band (Dougy Mandagi on vocals, Jonathon Aherne on bass, Toby Dundas on drums, Lorenzo Sillitto on guitar, and Joseph Greer on keyboard/guitar) and added to acclaim for the group's debut album, Conditions. Their self-titled second album is scheduled for release later this year, and promises to build on the successful fusion of Mandagi's powerfully eerie wail-of-a-falsetto with U2-like instrumentation that makes Conditions such an impressive first effort.
Yes, "Sweet Disposition" is a fantastic song, but make sure you check out a couple of Temper Trap's other great tunes . I am particularly fond of the the videos for "Love Lost", and the acoustic SXSW session of "Fader" provided below. You can download these tracks for yourself by clicking on the blue text above. Also, for anyone who loved the80's, and Karate Kid movies, I'm sure you will get a kick out of the video for "I Need Your Love", the pre-released first single from the upcoming album, "Temper Trap" .
In 1995, when I was 14 years old, four friends and I somehow convinced our parents that it was a great idea for us to go, unsupervised, to a Beastie Boys concert. Ill Communication had recently come out, and we were so pumped to see Ad-Rock, Mike D, and MCA live that we got to the show hours early just to make sure we could get a good spot right in the front of general admission. We had no idea what was in store for us.
Over the next couple hours so many awesome things happened. I was introduced to a then-little-know band, The Roots, who opened the show and blew everyone away. I was front-row-center to see classics like "Sabatoge" and "So What cha' Want", performed live. I bought my first concert T-shirt. I was picked up by the crowd and forcibly crowd-surfed. I experienced my first mosh-pit. And I watched a friends nose explode in front of me, thanks to somebody jumping from the stadium seating onto us in the pit.
I remember the energy of the crowd, the haze of funny smelling smoke, and the smiles on everyone's faces. I remember the feeling of the afterglow when we met up for the ride home. We compared stories and constantly repeated to each other how amazing the night had been, as if each of us hadn't just experienced the same event. And best of all, I remember the horrified look on my parents faces when I returned home in a blood-drenched $50 T-shirt with the biggest shit-eating-grin they had ever seen plastered across my face. This was my first true concert experience. I loved it, and will never forget it.
When I first heard Adam Yauch (MCA) died today I was surprised at how sad it made me feel. It just sucks to lose such a creative and thoughtful person at just 47 years old. But now, memories of all the fun of that nights concert, and all the fun I have had since accompanied by Beastie Boy music, I feel mostly thankful. Life is short and cancer fucking sucks. But Yauch, as an individual and with his band-mates, created a lot of happiness in this world, and that is something I'm sure many of us appreciate and will always remember.
In tribute to Yauch's passing, I put together a playlist of my Top-5 favorite Beastie Boy videos. Hope you enjoy them.
Mark July 17th on your calendars, people. Thats the day Nas' new album, Life is Good, will hit the streets. A couple tracks from this work have been leaked online over the past year, drumming up considerable excitement about the 10th studio album from this hip-hop legend. The buzz hasn't all been positive, though. The release of "Daughters" this week sparked Nas' ex, Carmen Bryan, to take to the internet in criticism of both the song and Nas' parenting of their teenage daughter, Destiny. Personal issues aside, these tracks are quality, exhibiting crisp, driving production and lyrical talent reminiscent of the early albums that showed Nas to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Definitely worth checking out.
"The Don" and "Daughters", are included below. I also threw in a couple Nas classics, "Memory Lane", "It Ain't Hard to Tell", and "Black Girl Lost", for your listening/downloading/comparing pleasure.
Heard this song the other day on Pandora. Never knew of Jaime Lidell before, but I love the Motown'ish sound he goes for on this track. He seems like an English version of Mayer Hawthorne, though Lidell has been putting out albums longer and apparently now lives in Nashville. His latest album, Compass, was released back in 2010, and was produced by friend and occasional collaborator, Beck.
Check out the studio version of 'Another Day' below, from the 2008 album, Jim , followed by an acoustic live version.
My friend Alex suggested a while back that I put together some tracks particularly awesome at stress-blasting. I put the word out last week, and got a ton of great recommendations for just this purpose. So, I present to you a sick-ass stress killing playlist generated by you, the AudioIn-AudioOut community. What better day than Wednesday to take a few minutes to seriously spazz out a bit?
Since you all have great (and varied) music tastes, these 16 tracks include a bit of everything from classic rock, to hip-hop, to electronica. It starts with a Muppet/LCD-Soundsystem dance party, revisits the greatness of Black Sabbath, and finishes with the blissful ambiance of Stars of the Lid. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Behold, the latest edition to the AudioIn-AudioOut Top 10 Playlists!
Volume 5 highlights tracks from our updated Top 10 Albums list, and a couple new and old school artists that will be featured in upcoming posts. Check 'em out, and keep the recommendations coming.
Over the past week I got a ton ton of messages recommending I watch and post the clip above. It is from "Alive Inside", a documentary that demonstrates the profound connections between music and memory by showing the experiences of a group of older adults living with dementia who are given iPods filled with their favorite music.
The film, produced and directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett, follows Dan Cohen (a social worker) as he exposes patients living in nursing homes to music to try and spark their memory. The transformative effects are instantaneous and heartwarming, as previously unresponsive patients reawaken, filled with memory, wanting to sing and dance. Cohen is the director of a non-profit organization called Music and Memory , which donates iPods to patients in nursing homes.
"Alive Inside" will be screened next week at the Ruben Museum of Art in New York City. If you are in that city I highly recommend attending. Warm fuzzies guaranteed. The clip has been flying around like crazy on Facebook and Twitter over the last couple of days. If you dig it, pass it along. It looks like a great movie. But more importantly, the project and its mission deserves tons of attention. The more people that hear about this and start to think about dementia the better, in my opinion.
Listening to Henry describe music makes me happy, especially when he scats like Cab Calloway. Music is an amazing thing.
The synth-pop of Claire Boucher (A.K.A. Grimes) is spreading like an eerie sonic wave across the internet. Her music has been featured in Rolling Stone, and popular music blogs like RCRD LBL, and Gorilla Vs. Bear , and she has toured with AudioIn-AudioOut favorite Lykke Li . Only 2 years into her musical career the Canadian musical sensation, who looks and dances like an awkward 15 year old (she is actually 23), is about to complete her 4th full-length album, "Visions". So many albums in such little time is a serious feat, especially because in addition to writing and recording her own music she also frequently directs her own videos and designs her own album covers. Apparently what she has accomplished thus far is just the beginning, considering she claims to have about 1,200 songs lying in wait on her hard drive. It took me a couple of listens to get into her work, but her impossible cuteness coupled with her ephemeral wisp of a voice certainly has something to it. Download "Oblivion" for your collection, and check out the videos for "Oblivion", "Genesis", and "Vanessa" below.
This song hits all the right notes, especially when the harmonies kick in. Simplistically beautiful "cuddle-and-cry" music, as my wife calls it. I included both the studio version of the song and a live version below because I actually think Lee's voice live has a greater resonance and gritty soul to it. Lee's music can definitely pull on the heartstrings. Hope y'all are having a great week, and keep the recommendations coming.
It's official. I have a major crush on Kimbra. Give her music a couple seconds and I bet you will feel the same way. You have likely heard her voice before on Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know", but maybe you haven't yet heard the name to go along with this up-and-coming 21 year old . My bet is that is all about to change. Her reputation just took a big step forward after having killed at South by Southwest in Austin, putting together 8 sets over four days, all filled to the brim with buzz-inducing spastic energy. The New Zealand-born singer/songwriter is just getting started, but already exhibits a talent and musical maturity hinting there is much more to come. Her first album Vows, released in 2011, exhibits a smokey soulful voice layered within a fantastic collection of jazz-influenced theatrical pop tracks. Her music manages to be both retro-chic and excitingly unique and creative at the same time, and there is no denying the powerhouse pipes fueling this young lady's talent.
While going through her music I was particularly impressed with the live on-air Grizzly Bear/Tears for Fears mash-up Kimbra did of "Two Weeks" and "Head Over Heels." When you watch the performance above, pay attention to how she begins by recording a few musical phrases, layers them over one another, and then plays back her own voice to serve as an added rhythm instrument and backup vocals throughout the song. I think I ovulated when I first figured out what she was doing. So. Hot.
I put together a 8 song Kimbra playlist above so you could check out a few tunes. You can also download the live radio performance of "Two Weeks/Head Over Heels" here and also a great song by Miami Horror called "I Look To You" featuring Kimbra. So, sit back, hit play, and enjoy a promising new talent.
Alex Ebert, best known as the frontman for the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,released a solo effort entitled Alexander in 2011. The album has some real bright moments, but never generated that much attention despite generally positive reviews. The brightest spot on the album is the whimsically haunting "Truth". This track has started popping up on the radar a lot more recently thanks to a remix that features the addition of a few verses from the Wu-Tang mastermind, Rza, for my money one of the most creative and intelligent forces in hip-hop today. Check out both versions of the song below, and be sure to download the remix.
15 years ago today the Notorious B.I.G. (May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997) was killed in a drive-by shooting in L.A. I can't believe its been so long. The music world was still reeling from the loss of Tupac 6 months earlier, Bill Clinton was just two months into his second term as President, The English Patient was about to win an Oscar for Best Picture, and we were only a few months from watching the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, unfold on our T.V. screens. I was a sophomore in a suburban Maryland high school, and suddenly the frustration, violence, and beauty in the hard-core rap I loved but didn't wholly understand seemed a lot more real and tragic.
The world lost a lot of talent that day, cutting off an artistic life that had not yet reached its prime. When I listen to Biggie now I am amazed at how his music somehow manages to be both completely dated, and timeless at the same time.
In honor of the body of work Biggie left behind you will find two tracks below, Super Cat's "Dolly My Baby" featuring a razor sharp, relatively unknown B.I.G., and my favorite Biggie track "Sky's the Limit" off the tragically titled Life After Death album released shortly after his death. These two songs are basically bookends to his career, showcasing both raw talent and a legendary polished professional. I also have a clip below of news from the day biggie died. Its a bit surreal watching it today.
I heard Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" last week and was singing the tune to myself for days before I caught it again on the radio and Soundhound-ed the hell out of it. Who is Gyote, you ask? I have no idea. But Wikipedia does! "Wouter "Wally" De Backer (born 21 May 1980), also known professionally by his stage name Gotye, (pronounced Go-te-yae), is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter. The name "Gotye" is derived from "Gaultier" (or "Gautier" or "Gauthier",) the French equivalent of "Wouter" ("Walter" in English.) Gotye's voice has been compared to Sting and Peter Gabriel". Thanks Wikipedia!
This cover of the song by the band Walk Off the Earth is also worth a good look. It has been all over the interweb, thanks to its clever presentation and some serious talent.
Gotye has produced three albums, Boardface (2003), Like Drawing Blood(2004); and Making Mirrors (2011). I've only heard a few songs, but thus far I'm pretty impressed. Not quite sure why, but a number of his songs are on youtube accompanied by some amazing animated shorts. Check out three tracks, "Learnalilgivinanlovin", "Save Me", and "Bronte" from his latest album.
One of the strangest looking dudes ever also happens to be one of the best music journalist alive. His name is Nardwuar, and he a Canadian celebrity interviewer and musician. Most of you probably are unfamiliar with the guy, but its time that all changed. I guarantee if you fancy yourself a fan of music you are gonna love his interviews.
He is the like the Billy Hoyle (think Woody Harrelson in White Men Can't Jump) of musical knowledge. He comes into every interview looking like a joke. Then, within seconds, he perplexes, surprises, and seriously impresses his targets with unprecedented musical knowledge. Nardwuar's guerilla style interviews follow a format intended to flabbergast targets by presenting meticulously researched gifts designed to bring up little-known tidbits of a musicians personal and professional past. There really is no better way to explain this than to watch it happen, so I put 4 of his interviews below. The artist's reactions to the unexpected interviewer are priceless. The best part of each is how Nardwuar ends each interview. Awkward, hilarious, and brilliant. Make sure to watch these all the way through.
If you haven't heard of Kendrick Lamar yet, I'm happy to be the first to put him on your radar. Lamar is one of the latest hip-hop prodigies from the City of Angels, with a style more like the chilled out strangeness of Pharcyde or Souls of Mischief than the gangsta-funk of Dre or Snoop. The Compton-based artist popped onto the scene in 2010, with the release of his mixtape O(verly) D(edicated), and kept the buzz around his skills going with the 2011 album Section. 80, recently released exclusively on iTunes. My buddy Evan put me onto this album a few weeks ago and it keeps on surprising me.
Lamar is a lyrical talent, alternating between a staccato rapid-fire flow reminiscent of Bone Thugs and a smoothed out style with the poetic depth of someone who clearly spent a lot of time listening to Tupac. Lamar actually credits a visit he had with Shakur in a dream with the inspiration and motivation for Section.80 . Layered over a mix of old-school jazzy horn/keyboard riffs and modern electronic sounds, the tracks on this album emphasize introspective exploration of themes like self-hate, oppression, and revolution in a mellow chilled-out way that never seems overbearing. These themes certainly have been tackled in hip-hop before, but a good listen reveals something unique in Lamar's work. The music is anything but formulaic, each track deserving time to explore the layers of the complex muted production, and thoughtful lyrical construction. The dude has a lot to say, and does so in a way that is not gonna find its way onto your radio. The good news is that by continuing without a major record contract, his future work is not likely to be constrained by a need for mass public appeal. Hopefully this encourages Lamar to keep producing the slightly strange, high quality work that has already made him a great example of fantastic modern hip-hop.
Shout out again to Evan, for always having something awesome to listen to.
And now for the latest addition to the Top 10 Playlists! The tracks below are all winners. Some are from artists already included in this blog, and some are artists you will see posts about in the future. So, click 'play' below and add some fantastic music to your weekend.
1. The award for "Best Dance Recording" Nominees: Raise Your Weapon -Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech; Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce; Sunshine - David Guetta & Avicii;Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn; Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites - Skrillex; Save The World - Swedish House Mafia
It has been a particularly awesome year for dance music. The Grammy's seem to have noticed, and are responding with a performance mash-up of David Guetta, Deadmau5, Lil' Wayne, & Chris Brown in a tribute to the genre. I have serious doubts about this particular line-up. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I'm predicting a train wreck.
What is actually awesome is the field for the award for "Best Dance Recording". The competition in this category is fierce! Yes, dance-pop is a simple and indulgent approach to music. And I certainly question my new-found love for it, as I am a grown-ass man and all. But I'll be damned if this electricity-fueled-dance-meth doesn't get asses out on the dance floor. All the nominees are pretty great songs, but all my money is on Robyn. She is the sauce. Three of the nominees have absolutely awesome videos that you should check out below.
You gotta see the heroic pooches of Save the World by Swedish House Mafia.
Duck Sauce's video for Barbra Streisand, an unabashed love-letter to New York, is also fun.
You can see it here
And of course Robyn's original Call Your Girlfriend I posted about earlier. Here is a hilarious rendition by Taran Killam of SNL, caught behind the scenes at 4:00 a.m. the week Robyn was the musical guest.
2. Adele is scheduled to perform
This is, for me, the most anticipated moment of the coming show. At first look, 2011 certainly seemed like the year of Adele. She followed the huge breakout success of her first album with a strong sophemore effort, "21". The album earned her six Grammy nominations, her music is played on all kinds of radio stations, and is topping charts across the world. And then came the news that she ruptured a vocal cord. Think of that. Seriously. Ruptured vocal cord. She underwent serious throat surgery, and the future of her singing career has been in doubt ever since. The Grammy appearance marks her first public performance since surgery and 8 weeks of doctor-ordered silence. Here is to hoping her recovery allows her to still sing like this.
3. Grammy Drama: Cutting the Awards Categories
There is usually a juicy story or two attached to the Grammy's. This year one of the most interesting things about the Grammy's is something that may not even get mentioned in the show itself. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences who run the event streamlined the award categories, cutting the number to 78 from 109. The once male/female categories in Pop, Rock, R&B, and Rap are no longer separated by gender. A bunch of categories were eliminated all together, including Latin jazz, zydeco, traditional blues, American Indian and gospel music. These changes have a lot of artists and fans pissed off, with the argument being that these moves further degenerate an awards event already overly-focused on popularity and record sales versus quality music. The anger around this has sparked enough frustration that there is going to be a protest against the alterations outside the Staples Center, followed by a concert called, "The Not Those Awards All-Star Latin Jazz Jam". I doubt any of this will get airtime, but I am curious to see if any award winners take a minute onstage to call out the controversial changes.
Today we celebrate the life and work of Bob Marley, born on this day 67 years ago(6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981). So much has been said about Marley, and his impact on this world. Personally, I'll never forget the day I was walking on a beach in South East Asia, chatting with a local in a little fishing town. This place barely had electricity or paved roads. He didn't speak my language, and I didn't speak his. Within minutes, though, he said the name Bob Marley, and began singing Stir it Up. We both smiled, and shared some time quietly singing lines back and forth to each other. To have a moment of clear communication like that while visiting the other side of the world blew my mind. Marley's legacy is undeniable, as his music is magically capable of simultaneously serving as a celebration of spirit, expression of love, and spark for revolution.
Below you will find a documentary on the making of the album "To Catch A Fire". Its long, but well worth your time. Great footage of The Wailers back in the day, and great dissection of the legendary tracks on this album. Its crazy to me that the album only sold 14k copies in its first year.
Here are a couple of my favorite Marley tracks for your listening/downloading pleasure.
The 54th Grammy's are almost upon us (Jan.12), and for once I can say that I actually think all 5 songs nominated for "Song of the Year" are good songs. In case you have somehow managed to slip through 2011 without hearing them, check below.
Which do you think deserves the prize? Vote for your favorite in the poll to the right.
1. "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele - 21
2. "Holocene" - Bon Iver - Holocene
3. "All of the Lights" - Kanye West - My Dark Twisted Fantasy
I am a huge fan of Florence Welch. The girl can flat out sing. I'm sure most of you are familiar with her recent success, particularly the hit Dog Days, which was all over the place last year. Well, if you have grown a bit weary of everyone overplaying that song but really enjoyed the greatness that is Florence + the Machine, I highly recommend checking out her album "Lungs: The B-sides". Most of these tracks haven't hit radio, despite showcasing Welch's powerhouse of a voice. My personal favorite is the cover she does of the Cold War Kids song Hospital Beds. While imitation is the highest form of flattery (Welch has adamantly expressed her love for Cold War Kids, and performed this song at Coachella last year with lead singer Nathan Willett), she makes the song her own with a unique and powerful interpretation.
(don't forget to download the songs for yourself by clicking the blue titles)
Here is the cover for your listening pleasure.
Hospital Beds- Florence + the Machine
For those of you who haven't heard the original yet, check it out below.
Today the world lost singing legend Etta James, just days before her 74th birthday. James had been in failing health in recent years, having been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2008 and Leukemia and Hepatitis C in 2011. The singer was deemed terminally ill just over a month ago, and has finally succumbed to Leukemia and other illnesses.
With a career that began in the mid 1950's, James is widely regarded as one of the greatest American singers of all time. Her long career showcased an immense talent, and prolific style that fused many musical genres including blues, jazz, rock & roll, soul, and gospel. The breadth of her influence is evident in her accolades. James was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame. In her lifetime she also was awarded 6 Grammy's and 17 Blues Music Awards, and was named as #22 on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Despite her well-known struggle with substance use throughout her life and career, James broke through as a major talent as an artist for Chess Records, during its heyday in the 1960's. James is best known for her work during this period, compiling an impressive string of hits such as I Just Want to Make Love to You, Something's Got a Hold on Me, and her signature song At Last. Though her work in the 1970's-1980's never reached the same level of critical acclaim, the unique gravel-laden voice James produced with every belted note remained constant in her performances and production into the 2000's.
Etta will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm sure many of you share a connection to this singer, as her epic version of At Last has likely served as the soundtrack to as many of your romantic moments as it has mine. I encourage you all to take a few moments today to enjoy her gift. Below you will find a great live performance of her hit Somethings Got a Hold On Me. Her presence will be missed, but her talent will never be forgotten.
To celebrate the beginning of a new year I thought I would share with you some of my all-time favorite music performed by some classic old-school Soul singers. Below you will find a playlist of 12 awesome tracks. I chose ones that featured artists or songs some of you may not yet know, or those that were rare live performances. A few worth particular attention are the Jackie Wilson performance on the TV show, "Shindig" (1965), the rare gem "60 Minute Man" by the Dominoes, and "Cry to Me" by the late Solomon Burke who died just a few months ago. Be expecting a "Soul Women" edition soon!
Here is to wishing you all a year filled with adventure, good health, peace, and a wonderful soundtrack to accompany it all.
