This Week in Music

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So I gotta admit this weeks playlist is a combo of past ideas that I never got around to posting because life just got in the way. In the first half you will hear all jams Diplo. The second half are bands I would’ve suggested to see at SXSW. Ummm…yeah that was a month ago. I suck…better late than never?

  1. Major Lazer feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors “Get Free” Diplo’s dancehall side project releases a reggae-chil jam with the flawless vocals of Amber. I can already tell you this will be on my “Best of 2012″ list.
  2. Usher & Diplo “Cimax” I heard about this collabo and thought “LAME”!  I heard the song and instantly fell in love. This song is sexxxxyyyy!
  3. Heems “Coca Cola” Heems one part of trio Das Racist releases a single. It’s short and sweet like an ice cold Coca Cola.
  4. Das Racist “You Outta Know” Speaking of Das Racist…Never heard of them? Have a taste of their tongue-in-cheek, we don’t give a fuck style of hip-hop. Oh, and Diplo has produced several of their tracks.
  5. Electric Guest “American Daydream” I dig the androgynous vocals of lead singer, Asa Taccone. Did you know his brother is a part of The Lonely Island. As in Andy Samburg, as in SNL, as in “Dick in the Box”. Pretty awesome and random.
  6. Grimes “Oblivion” I didn’t want to like this song. “Oblivion” is basically the hipster anthem of spring but i just can’t help myself.
  7. CHAPPO “Come Home” I round out the playlist with a splash of pop rock                    http://playlists.kittenmusic.com/playlists.php?id=5

Casserole of Sounds

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I’ve baked a fresh steaming casserole of music this week. Some new, some newer. A mishmash of flavors for your listening pleasure!

  1. Chase and Status feat. Liam Bailey “Blind Faith” British duo does uplifting dub step, at least the kind I like.
  2. WZRD “Teleport 2 me, Jaime” Aka: Kid Cudi and Dot Da Genius borrow the score from Desire’s “Under Your Spell” and make it their own. Recognize the tune? It’s on the Drive soundtrack.
  3. M.I.A. “Bad Girls”: She’s so Sri Lankan gangsta. M.I.A’s first single from her anticipated album due out this summer.
  4. Phantogram “When I’m Small” This is my favorite Phantogram song and I pretty much listen to this track all the time.
  5. TV on the Radio “Staring at the Sun” Again, another stand by track that I could listen to every single day.
  6. Sharon Van Etten “Serpents” The National’s Aaron Dessner produced this singer-songwriter’s album, Tramp. Pretty awesome for a semi newcomer .The record is good but I’d only recommend for those who actually dig folksy indie chicks.
  7. The National “Fake Empire” Speaking of The National…What the hell! I’ll include my fav song from these guys too.
  8. Andrew Bird “Desperation Breeds” Andrew Bird released Break It Yourself this past Tuesday and overall, I am pleasantly surprised. I was worried Bird would abandon his kooky violin plucking and tongue twisting lyrics. Lucky for us he didn’t.

Lana del Rey: Indie Darling or Indie Antichrist?

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Let me tell you I have been counting down the days till Born to Die dropped…And now that the day has come I kind of feel like someone has peed on my parade.  Since Lana del Rey has hit the scene she’s created quite the controversy in the blogosphere. Intially I was team Lana. I could give a shit about her plastic plumped lips and her rich daddy. What singles were available I loved. Then there was the SNL performance…That was a prime example of too much too soon. I don’t know who to blame the record execs or her PR firm, maybe both. She was sooooo nervous! She forgot lyrics, sung pitchy and don’t get me started on the self petting. But I knew she could perform better and would.

I have listened several times to Lana’s debut record and here are my thoughts. Lana del Rey a polarizing figure herself has created quite the polarizing album. The good songs are fucking amazing; the bad songs are fucking terrible! Overall the album it a bit too poppy & immature for my taste. I appreciate the retro americana theme to her lyrics but I do not appreciate recycled lyrics. Where’s the imagination and creativity? In the same breath she uses the same sample in almost every song. Not cool. The songs I do like have a maturity to them. If she can hone in that and maybe pick up an instrument I think she can capture longevity. I assume indie teens will gobble up this album. They’re a little more forgiving when it comes to juvenile lyrics like “Kissing in the D-A-R-K, do it my way”. I admit my expectations were too high for such a new artist so taking that into consideration I give Born to Die 3 paws out of 5.

Listen: “Video Games”, “Blue Jeans”, “Born to Die”, “This is What Makes Us Girls”

Skip: “Lolita”, “National Anthem”

Flavor of the Week: Azealia Banks

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Watch out Nicki Minaj! World meet the baddest bitch from the 212: Azealia Banks! Ok I gotta warn you, this video is NOT suitable for work or kids. Speaking of vulgarity–I love the reactions I get after I tell someone to check this video out. A few viewers/listeners are shocked and bit outraged by the lyrics. You know a man can rap the filthiest lyrics and that’s cool but when a chick does it…”How dare she?!” I distinctly remember prude sorority girls belting out “To the sweat drip down my balls. To all these bitches crawl. To all ski skit motherfucker” etc. Or let’s not forget Eazy E’s “Gimme That Nut”. Man, midwest girls love that song! Ok, I’ll get off my soap box now. There’s no doubt Azealia is a badass lyricist but she has some tone too. Match that with Lazy Jay’s house beats and you have “212″.  I can’t get enough of this jam!!! It’s seems Azealia has a little indie to her as I discovered she covered Interpol’s “Slow Hands”. Azealia hasn’t released an album yet but she’s slated to play Coachella so I assume it’s coming…Until then.

 

Top 11 of 2011

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It’s been another year of great music. I reflect on the top 11:

  1. Gotye “Somebody that I Used to Know”: I start the list with my favorite track of 2011! Australian import Gotye definetly has the most diverse album of 2011. Making Mirrors has jams that sound like they could be tracks from a Steve Winwood album to a Miike Snow EP. Needless to say, you should check it out!
  2. M83 “Midnight City”: M83′s music is so dreamy so I find it very fitting that they named their 2011 (with a generous 22 tracks) album Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. If you dig “Midnight City” you will dig M83′s past albums. If you find yourself doing some air saxophone don’t be embarrassed, I did too.
  3. tUnE YarDs “Bizness”: The tUnE YarDs’s lead singer is NOT a dude! Instead Merrill Garbus is a multi talented avant garde musician (check out this video–whoa kooky creative at it’s best). Who knew harmonizing, the ukulele, and a bass guitar could produce such an awesome sound?!
  4. Lana Del Rey “Video Games”: Best new artist of 2011, hands down! The blog world is all up in arms claiming Lana is a product of record label execs, lips and all. I could care less. I’m buying what they’re selling!
  5. Lana Del Rey “Blue Jeans”: I’m so into this chick I added 2 songs to my list. I can’t decide which I like more…
  6. Lykke Li “Get Some”: Swedish darling Lykke Li relased a sophomore album that did NOT disappoint! Wounded Rhymes might be my album of the year. Lykke Li also debuted a new look…Lizbeth Salander anyone?
  7. Phantogram “Don’t Move”: Now this is lo-fi I can dig! If you’ve never heard of Phantogram check out “When I’m Small” to hear their signature electronica meets electric guitar sound.
  8. The Joy Formidable “Whirring”: This pop (yet indie rock) Welsh band sound like they are having a good time making music! They kind of remind me of Pretty Girls Make Graves. Remember them?
  9. Little Boots “Shake”: Shake yo ass! I’m not sure if this song merits top 11 BUT I have it on rotation and it makes me ready for New Year’s Eve dancing!
  10. Clams Casino “I’m God”: What?! This kid is from Jersey?! I could die with this song on repeat!
  11. Papa “I am the Lion King”: This may sound crazy but if Bruce Springsteen & David Bowie’s vocals had a baby they’d have the lead singer of Papa. I realize that my list is a bit heavy on the indie electro so I thought I’d include my favorite indie rock song too. Happy New Year!

 

Winter/Holiday Mix

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It’s been a blustery day here in NM so I thought I’d play my favorite winter songs BUT it is that time of year so I compiled my favorite holiday songs as well. This is a two-for-one playlist. Now I recognize the first half of the playlist is a bit melancholy but the holiday half is much more lively, I promise.

  1. Bon Iver “Blood Bank”: This is a great song! It’s winter let’s donate some blood & hook it up? Hmmm…Anyway, congrats to Bon Iver on his Grammy nomination!
  2. Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” Ahhh…harmonizing at its best! This track is a massage for the eardrums.
  3. Bat For Lashes “Circle Song”: Entirely in French I’m not sure why this song conjures up feelings of winter…regardless it’s beautiful! I heart Natasha Khan!
  4. Vanessa Carleton “Hear the Bells”: Vanessa sounds so Suzanne Vega in this song and I dig it.
  5. Fiona Apple “Frosty the Snowman”: A childhood classic done by one of my favorite vocalists. A recipe for awesome.
  6. Leon Redbone & Zoey Deschanel “Baby It’s Cold Outside”: Baby, it is cold outside. Yikes, like wind chill cold.
  7. Vampie Weekend “Holiday”: A fun upbeat diddy for the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
  8. The Hives & Cyndi Lauper “A Christmas Duel”: Who would’ve thought these two would team up for a Christmas tune, not me, but it’s dirty fun!
  9. Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”: This is a CLASSIC! I’ll never get sick of this song. No one does it better!
  10. Barenaked Ladies & Sara Mclachlan “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”: This is my favorite Christmas song, hands down! It’s the perfect balance of vocals & holiday cheer!
  11. She & Him “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”: Zoey Deschanel appears again on my list. This remake has a retro rockabilly vibe as does their entire album (if you’re interested). Me gusta.
  12. Wham “Last Christmas”: Talk about retro…Who doesn’t love when George Michael whispers “Happy Christmas”?!
  13. Dar Williams “The Christians & The Pagans”: Listen to the lyrics of this jam. You will not regret it. Oh Dar you are such a witty singer-songwriter. I heart you too!
  14. The Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”: Joey Ramone just wants to enjoy his holiday so drop it with the Scrooge act!
  15. Matisyahu “Miracle”: And for all my Jewish friends…

DubStep SchmubStep

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Ahhhh…Kids these days and their dubstep. Why has listening to dubstep become such a widespread trend? What am I missing? I have appreciation of its UK drum n bass roots but now that it’s mainstream with Scrillex as it posterboy…I’m just not a fan. Dubstep sounds like robots having violent orgasms. It’s so aggressive; how can anyone dance to this? Not even crump would do this genre justice. Don’t get me wrong I love electronica and I can get down with some modern day dubstep,  just I like it watered down with some good ole fashioned trance:

Nero “Innocence”