Top 10 Playlist Vol. 11

It has been a while, kids, but I am happy to be back on AudioIn-AudioOut with a new Top 10 list. Just in time to get your summer off on the right foot. Highlights include the first single off of Little Dragon's new album, the latest from the Roots, a not to be missed "Clueless" themed video from the guilty pleasure that is Iggy Azalea, and an amazing stripped-down live take from Broken Bells. There is so much good stuff out there to listen to! I hope to have time to break down some of these artists in a bit more depth in coming weeks. Until then, be sure to roll down the windows and turn up the volume while checking out this list.  Enjoy!

New Year's Playlist!

Well, we made it to 2014. Here are a bunch of tracks/videos to ring in the new year. I hope you all have a wonderful year and find some time to listen to great tunes. Love to all.

Need happy? Listen to Lake Street Dive.

If you haven't yet heard of the awesome jazz-indie-pop group, Lake Street Dive, I am happy to be the one to bring them to your attention. This crew has some serious skill mixing a bunch of styles and influences into infectious, awesome new music. The covers have a perfect mix of nostalgia, innovation, and musical talent, and Rachael Price's voice makes my knees weak. In the first series of videos you will find a few of the group's best recorded live sessions. The second video is Lake Street Dive's entire debut album, Fun Machine, for those of you who want to check out the studio recordings.

Arcade Fire, 'Reflektor': New Album Alert

As many of you may know, Arcade Fire recently released their 4th album, 'Reflektor'. The album is excellent. Each track is complex, interesting, and beautifully constructed. In usual Arcade Fire fashion, how the group released this album is almost as creative as the music itself. They posted the wonderful 22 minute mini-movie you see below, "Here Comes the Night Time", showcasing songs from the album and a ridiculous group of A-list celebrity cameos(love the Aziz Ansari short, and Michael Cera being soooo Michael Cera). As they did with their last album, Arcade Fire also has an awesome interactive video for the album title track. Check it out.

And as an added treat, check out Arcade Fire's recent performance on Saturday Night Live.

Top 10 Playlist, Vol. 10

I don't know about you folks, but for me, this Summer has been absolutely filled with kick-ass music. I haven't posted much here at AudioIn-AudioOut lately, so I thought I would catch you all up on a few great tracks with a new playlist. This installment is a mix of treats ranging from A$AP Rocky to Fats Waller. Highlights include my latest obsession (Little Dragon), the wonder that is Laura Mvula, and the best cover of 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' you will ever hear. Many of these artists will be featured in upcoming posts, but here is a sneak peak to get your dancing feet movin'. Enjoy!



And if you are looking to waste a bit more time on the internets today, I thought you might get a kick out of these three awesome videos. The first is a great musical montage of Stephen Colbert as he dances his way through Daft Punk's song of the summer with an amazing array of A-list celebs (Henry Kissinger?! What is going on here, and why do I love it so much?).  This whole thing was done as a F* you to Viacom who disallowed Daft Punk from performing at StePhest Corbchella. The second features Fik Shun, a born performer and street dancer from Las Vegas throwing down the best audition from this season of So You Think You Can Dance. And the third is Robin Thicke, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots Crew, playing "Blurred Lines" using music classroom instruments. Yes please.  Summer is awesome.

Rhye: The Best Band You Have Never Seen

When I first heard Rhye I was instantly won over by their sensual yet understated R&B. I wanted more. More of the slinky bass lines. More sighing beauty of the Sade-like voice. More of the minimalist perfection of the musical arrangements. But the interwebs provided nothing but confirmation that the band was shrouded in mystery. Rhye's first single, "Open", was released anonymously in 2012. Months later a hauntingly beautiful video for their EP "The Fall" appeared online. No credits. Then their first full album, Woman, was released without the names of the artists included in the liner notes. They started doing shows, but insisted on being shown only in silhouette, faces obscured.



Then, to blow my mind even further, it was revealed that Rhye is an international duo consisting of American composer/singer Mike Milosh and Danish producer Robin Hannibal. That's right, the lead singer is a dude. A dude who sings in a beautifully adrogenous contralto falsetto.

The mystery behind the group would hold little relevance if the music weren't absolutely stunning. Rhye clearly want us to experience and absorb their music without superficial influences getting in the way. It's an unusual approach in today's music, but it certainly appears to be working. Everything on Woman somehow manages to simmer with white hot intensity. Even without a face for the group, each track conveys a vulnerable intimacy, drawing listeners in. The simple arrangements seem to be an almost perfect counterpoint to the overly-produced style of most contemporary R&B.



In this post you will find a bunch of Rhye videos (and free downloads!).
The first set has the official videos for "Open" (absolutely beautiful), "The Fall", and "3 Days". The second set has two great live KCRW performances ("3 Days" and "Open"). Then there is an awesome 23 min concert from NPR Live. And Finally, commentary from the KCRW crew on what it was like to work with Rhye, and why the duo is causing such a stir in the music industry. Somebody, somewhere, is making babies to this music...

Jeff Buckley is Still Amazing (6 Free Downloads!)

While up late one night a few weeks ago, insomnia and my cable provider came together and gifted me this gem. A Jeff Buckley live performance of "Last Goodbye", recorded here in Chicago back in 1995. It was a great reminder of just what an incomparable talent Buckley was. The man could sing 3.5- 4 octaves without going into falsetto. Ridiculous! Hearing that ability combine with the passion of his performances can raise the hair on the back of your neck.

It seems so strange to me that it has been 16 years since his death, and nearly 20 years since his only studio album, Grace, was released. It was also crazy to learn that Buckley didn't die from an overdose, as was so widely rumored back in the day. As it turns out, he drowned in Wolf River Harbor, a channel of the Mississippi, on May 29th, 1997. He was last seen swimming in the channel, wearing boots, all of his clothing, and singing the chorus to "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. His body was found two days later. He had gone swimming there many times before, and an autopsy showed no signs of drugs or alcohol. He was only 30 years old. A tragic ending for such a young and promising artist.

So, as a bit of a trip down memory lane I thought I would see what other great Buckley performances I could find out there in the electronic ether. Here you will find a playlist of six live performances: "Last Goodbye"; "Hallelujah"; "Lover, You Should've Come Over"; "Sweet Thing" ; "I Shall Be Released"; and "Grace". All of these are worth a full listen, but I am particularly fond of the recordings of "Hallelujah" (listen for the sound engineer's reaction at the end) and "I Shall be Released" (a strange live radio interview followed by a stunning over-the-phone performance).

Song of the Month :: "Hold On" by SBTRKT (FREE DOWNLOAD!)

This track comes from the U.K. based SBTRKT, a musical project from front-man Aaron Jerome and collaborator Sampha that combines elements of two-step, dub-step, R&B and Chicago House.   Here you will find 3 videos (and a free download!) of "Hold On".  The first includes the song with some great choreogrophy from Anthony Lee, leader of the dance crew, KINJAZ (taught and filmed in just a few hours).  Second is a live 2012 SBTRKT performance from Sheppard's Bush Empire. And finally, the eerie official video for the song.  Check 'em out.  

                              

Top 10 Playlist, Vol. 9

Spring break is upon us, and I am more than excited about the potential for sun and warm. Bring it on. I thought I would share a playlist of 10 tracks I'll be listening to as the days get longer, in case any of you all wanted some music to usher in the new season. Enjoy!

Song of the Month: "It's Not Over" by Panama

A new track from the Australian electro-pop group, Panama. "It's Not Over" is rich with 80's throw-back style, and though only released last month, the song has already inspired hundreds of YouTube remixes. I still like the original the best, mostly because of the beautiful Bonnie & Clyde themed video. Check it out.