Albert Kim: Managing Editor
Lloyd Lee: Senior Editor
I’ve been MIA, sure, but I’m coming back full force.
Meanwhile, it’s here. Electro, indie, pop, whatever — I have a special place in my heart for John Mayer. And it’s fucking here.
- Lloyd
(Does anyone else think this is the most ridiculous album art ever?)
Owl City - Fireflies on Vimeo.
Song was released awhile ago, but I’m still giving it a listen every now and then. I can’t get over how similar it sounds to The Postal Service. The synth, the upbeat happy tone, and even the guy’s voice. He’s like Ben Gibbard Lite. Can’t miss out on the awesome nostalgia-induced music video filled with all sorts of toys and gadgets that I remember playing with.
- Albert
The Strokes helped me ease into indie music back in the day and I thought it was only fair to give his solo album a shot. I fell in love with Julian Casablanca’s voice the moment I heard it back in the day. Now the frontman is releasing his solo album, Phrazes For The Young, on November 3rd (Amazon Link). It pretty much sounds like The Strokes, so there really isn’t much missing… which means I’m lovin’ it.
Julian Casablancas - Out of the Blue.mp3
Julian Casablancas - Left & Right in the Dark.mp3
- Albert
I’m sincerely surprised that this song from Major Lazer (Diplo and Switch collab) has not found its way to the airwaves. I don’t listen to the radio much, but when I do, it’s all repetitive garbage. This song however is accessibly mainstream, danceable, fun, and billions times better than the multiple plays that Jay Sean’s “Down” (vomit) gets. Personally, I like the original better than the Diplo remix. This song needs more praise.
Major Lazer - Keep It Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze).mp3
Major Lazer - Keep it Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) (Diplo Remix).mp3
- Albert
PS. Swear I just turned on the radio to hear Jay Sean’s “Down”. (vomit again)
(courtesy of Kamarola)
I’m taking a break from my endless script coverage to finally blog about something. I look off my balcony to finally the see the sun shining once again in Los Angeles, a sight that has been especially shy for the past few days. Rain, clouds, winds? In the beginning of Fall, something was off in Southern California. A freak incident?
It’s nice to hear the sound of my neighbor’s happy children screaming with joy outside, as they play in their mini playground in their backyard. A time to be happy and enjoy the fresh air. I feel like I’ve found a song that is cheesily fitting. The Very Best has just released an incredibly merry album that captures the cultural music of Africa. And you can’t go wrong with Ezra Koenig (which everyone seems to have a huge boner for, but rightfully so) who provides guest vocals for this celebratory song.
The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Feat. Ezra Koenig).mp3
Bonus: Just to remind us of the past few days in LA.
The Very Best - Rain Dance (Feat. M.I.A.).mp3
- Albert
The Swell Season - The Rain
I’ve been especially swamped with work as of late, but that’s really no excuse not to blog. And speak of swamped, it seems like the whole world was caught in a downpour yesterday. Not entirely too encouraging that the rainy season is starting in mid-freaking-October. Hopefully the rain lets up at least for the remainder of this day so I can go to work unscathed…
The Frames frontman Glen Hasard has been teaming up with Czech pianist Marketa Irglova since 2006. Taking on the name The Swell Season, this duo brings some of the most heartwarming folk-pop music to the table. The two also co-starred in the movie Once back in 2007(an excellent movie that you should watch ) and were even once romantically linked.
The duo’s third album, Strict Joy, is due for release on October 27. While the two are both incredibly talented singers in their own right, they are at their best when they allow their voices to perfectly intertwine and complement each other. Hasard has his trademark “slightly accented, gruffy, raspy-but-not-as-bad-as-Ray Lamontagne’s” voice which is in turn offset by Irglova’s own soothing and ethereal vocals. The result is an incredibly poised album that knows exactly which emotional heart strings it wants to pull.
Instead of trying to fruitlessly trying to dissect the duo’s sound, I thought I’d let last.fm do it for me: (note the very descriptive Tags)
The album is superb and you should cop it by any means necessary, although if you can’t exactly wait for another two weeks, NPR is streaming it at their website:
But for those who can’t wait, a few teasers: [my favorite tracks, per usual (:]
- Lloyd
P.S. Entirely too many references to water today: Rain? Swell? Stream? Jeez….
The things people do to hype their albums these days… Vampire Weekend had a Girl Talk-esque moment earlier today, displaying a four hour countdown period on http://www.ithinkuracontra.com/, whereupon expiration, redirected you to their main website http://www.vampireweekend.com to the download of their new single for their upcoming album, Contra.
The band’s usual catchy guitar lines are abandoned in favor of the kalimba and the marimba to give the single a more traditional Mexican/Afrian feel…and the result ends up being rather catchy. Different, sure, but Ezra Koening’s smooth voice is there to remind you that you’re still listening to VW.
Contra drops mid January. Start getting excited because this means Vampire Weekend finally has new material for their set!
- Lloyd
Air - Sing Sang Sung
In continuation with Phoenix’s effort to bring Parisian Pop back to the top, Air drops their sixth studio album, Love 2, on October 6.
Hop on over to their myspace to get a full listen to the whole album before you decide if it’s purchase-worthy. Something interesting to note: it’s the first album produced entirely by the duo themselves. It’s mild and mellow, but kind of boring — certainly better than their previous two albums though. Butttttt, I’m in love with the CD’s first (proper) single.
Trop romantique. C’est magnifique, non ?
Bonus:
Air - African Velvet <— Music for horny, French lovers who are DTF anytime.
- Lloyd
Classixx - I’ll Get You ft. Jeppe
A week late, but whatever. I’ve been busy and depressed over my god damn Golden Bears.
The Bang Gang 12 label is doing a promotional deal where they’re releasing one mini-mix each week from their artists in anticipation for the label’s upcoming compilation CD releasing in October. Cassian’s was dropped last week, and boy is it funky. Perhaps the only thing that’s been helping me get over the travesty of Bay Area sports that was this past weekend. Australia is taking over the pop-electro scene.
Tracklist:
1. intro - ohmega watts
2. techno power - joe chile
3. jump to it - pat hughes
4. destination (cassian remix) - damn arms
5. african chant - scottie b
6. afro nuts (dcup remix) - yolanda be cool
7. i’ll get you - classixx <— <3
8. in your eyes (tensnake remix) - toby tobias
9. zuesapella - the eternals
10.down in la (shazam instrumental remix) - munk
11.i can do it - final destination
12.aNYway - duck sauce
13.make you mine (cassian remix) - miami horror
14.grow up (cassian remix) - swick
15.best party ever (jimmy2sox & air jordan remix) - toecutter
16.heartbreaker (discodeine remix) - metronomy
17.friday night - cassian
18.final round acapella - cassian
Cassian Round 1 Mini-mix: Download
- Lloyd
It’s rare to find an electro song that’s both bangin’ AND mesmerizingly beautiful at the same time. Kudos Boys Noize.
- Albert
