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Archive for August, 2012

Listen: Tearjerker – Hiding EP


Tearjerker recently released their new EP, Hiding. This Toronto based dream-pop/indie-rock band is full of dreamy guitars, soft vocals and easy listening lo-fi vibes. This past summer I fell in love with their older LP Rare, which carries the same, smooth flow as Hiding. I wish it was longer only because it has such an easy feel to it and he tracks flow so nicely in all of their albums. It’s one of my favorite releases of the year and I’m loving the band more and more.

The EP is currently available for free on their Bandcamp, or can be streamed below. There are also limited copies of the EP available in cassette form on their Bandcamp.

Listen: Bob Marley – Jammin’ (Benny Benassi Remix)

Benny Benassi remixing Bob Marley? I know it sounds bizarre, but Benny Benassi, one of the biggest producers in the last decade who made the club-hit “Satisfaction”, creates one of the smoothest house tracks I’ve heard in a while. The build up containing Bob Marley‘s classic vocals perfectly coincide with the steady rising house sound, then the drop contains a firm but relaxing beat. I am impressed with Benny Benassi in this song, remixing Bob Marley is a huge risk considering how hard it is to put reggae sound into a house track. Enjoy an outstanding remix from Benny Benassi below.

Download: http://www.sharebeast.com/2dvusfmt4auq

Listen: Madeon – “The City”

Madeon, the extremely skillful 18 year old producer from France, has been blowing up with his music recently. “Finale” was featured in an Olympic commercial and his remix to “Raise Your Weapon” by Deadmau5 when he was just 16 years old was acclaimed by Deadmau5 himself. Now, Madeon releases a new track featuring singing from Zak Waters (if you haven’t heard him before listen to “Skinny Dipping in the Deep End” because he’s a talented artist as well). Madeon’s new track “The City” has his signature style to it — ever since I found him 2 years ago, I have not once been disappointed by one of his tracks. This is definitely going to become one of Madeon’s breakthrough songs, with both passionate singing and stellar production from the maestro.

DOWNLOAD MADEON – “THE CITY” ON ITUNES

Download: A$AP Mob – Lords Never Die

The A$AP Mob drop off their new mixtape Lords Never Die to tide us over until Rocky‘s highly anticipated debut album drops on Halloween. Not only is the album artwork completely awesome, but we get a chance to sample more music from the lesser known members of the extremely talented group. The best part though? They all take turns over fantastic production from the likes of AraabMuzik and Clams Casino, while also bringing along Danny Brown and Gunplay for the ride.

DOWNLOAD: A$AP Mob – Lords Never Die

Lords Never Die Tracklisting:
01 Thuggin’ Noise [prod. Silky Johnson]
02 Full Metal Jacket [prod. 183rd]
03 Bangin On Waxx [prod. A$AP Ty Beats]
04 Coke & White Bitches: Chapter 2 [ft. Danny Brown, Fat Trel, Gunplay; prod. P on the Boards]
05 Bath Salt [ft. Flatbush Zombies; prod. P on the Boards]
06 Persian Wine [prod. Electro Beats]
07 Black Man [prod. Electro Beats]
08 Dope, Money, and Hoes [prod. AraabMuzik]
09 Work [prod. Chinza & Fly]
10 Y.N.R.E. [prod. AraabMuzik]
11 Purple Kisses [prod. VERYRVRE]
12 The Way It Go [prod. Milo]
13 Freeze [ft. Jim Jones; prod. Clams Casino]
14 Told Ya [ft. Bodega Bamz; prod. DJ Carnage]
15 Underground Killa$ [ft. Raekwon; prod. Simon]
16 Jay Reed [prod. P on the Boards]
17 Gotham City [prod. A$AP Ty Beats]
18 Choppas On Deck [prod. E-Smitty]

Back to School Mix

It’s a new school year for me and that normally means a lot of new music. I like to try and switch it up every year, always exploring different stuff. While there are some favorites, like Coma Cinema, that I’ll probably never stop listening to, there are other bands that I have grown out and thus they must be replaced.

I’m quite awful at stringing a bunch of songs together that flow well, or that even correlate with genre. In my mind it’s all about being open minded and just experiencing different music, the flow of the mix shouldn’t really matter.

Tracklist:
01. “Something Soon” – Car Seat Headrest
02. “Twenty Seven” – Why?
03. “Strangers” – Car Seat Headrest
04. “Frequency II” – Unouomedude
05. “Sometime” – Diiv
06. “How To Cook Everything” – Those Lavender Whales
07. “White Trash VHS” – Coma Cinema
08. “Grim Reaper” – Teen Suicide
09. “Sidewalk” – Tearjerker
10. “Rare” – Tearjerker

Goblin Problems from fanfare909 on 8tracks Radio.

 

Stream: Animal Collective – Centipede Hz

It was revealed earlier last week that Animal Collective would premier Centipede Hz today during Geology’s radio mix. Geology’s set featured songs supposedly given to Ben Allen as a reference during the mixing process of the album. After the hour-long set, fans were treated to the eleven tracks they were promised. For those of you that missed the monumental stream of Animal Collective’s 10th LP earlier today, you can still catch the stream of the here. Centipede Hz will be out September 4th; watch band member Geologist talk about the radio show and album below.

Review: The Smith Street Band – Sunshine & Technology

The Smith Street Band – Sunshine & Technology

Released: August 24, 2012
Label: Poison City Records
Purchase: Poison City Records

In the past year, I have become very fond of the wave of bands coming from Australia, with a folk-punk aesthetic. In particular, The Smith Street Band, a five piece band from Melbourne whom I interviewed earlier this year which can be found here.

Their sophomore record, Sunshine & Technology, released on August 24th, has had high expectations after their first LP No One Gets Lost Anymore which didn’t have a single track that disappointed. Self-described as “Folk Party Punk” with the most honest lyrics I have ever heard, Wil Wagner, does not take the same approach to his songwriting as many current day bands do. Instead of arrogantly trying to make his lyrics appeal to every listener, he writes very personally about emotions, mishaps, parties, and his views of society. In “I Want Friends”, he howls out social commentary and a way to live life through “exist[ing] between the margins, not between the lines.”

Sunshine & Technology is more band orientated than their debut album, as opposed to solo songs With added guitars and drums, each song now is much fuller and definitely written with the entire band in mind. The beloved, distinct Smith Street Band sound with their addictive folk melodies, backed up by punk-esque sounding guitars and a rhythmic drum beat is present in this release. My personal favorites alongside “I Want Friends” which I mentioned previously, are “Tom Busby” and “Don’t Mention The War” for their sound and Wagner’s lyrical genius. “The things you loved started gathering dust years ago. You know more than anyone would give you credit for, we’re killing ourselves to live the best life possible.” (Tom Busby). The final song that allows the album to end with a bang, “Don’t Mention The War” escalates to a cohesive masterpiece with each instrument playing loudly as Wagner cries out above everything.

The Smith Street Band are first doing a national tour of Australia which has already commenced, followed by a nine day stop over in China for six shows and then a month in the U.S. Tour details can be found on their Facebook page, and the Poison City Records website.

This album, alongside their debut album, are my version of the 90’s generation’s Nevermind by Nirvana. Sunshine & Technology is an album not to be ignored, and is sure to receive critical acclaim. It can be purchased in mp3 format from iTunes and in CD and vinyl record from the Poison City Records website. You can also listen to a free stream of the album here.

9.0

Standout Tracks: “I Want Friends”, “Tom Busby”, “Don’t Mention The War”

Tracklisting:
1. Sunshine & Technology
2. I Can’t Feel My Face
3. I Want Friends
4. Why I Can’t Draw
5. Stay Young
6. What’s Changed
7. Tom Busby
8. Young Drunk
9. When I Said Us I Meant Them
10. Don’t Mention The War

Watch: Kill The Noise – Kill the Noise Pt. 1

The dubstep monster, Kill The Noise, gives his fans a new music video for his latest EP named Kill Kill Kill. His EP Kill Kill Kill has a variety of tracks from original mixes to remixes by Alvin Risk, and Dillon Francis. The music video is a bloody Tron clip, which starts off with a smooth melody, but then drops to classic Kill The Noise dubstep wubs. The music video is similar to a movie in which it has a plot and stunning visuals. Expect to be surprised from what Kill The Noise makes out of this video. Watch the new music video below.

Interview: Blu

A little over five years ago, a still unknown rapper named Blu teamed up with Emanon producer Exile to release his debut album Below the Heavens, a record that captivated the hip-hop world and is still recognized as one of the few modern rap classics. Fueled by his sincere storytelling ability and a certain way with words, the Los Angeles rapper soon became a West Coast legend, landing a spot in XXL’s 2009 Freshman Class, teaming up with esteemed producers like The Alchemist and Madlib, securing a deal with Warner Bros. before defecting back to the more welcoming underground, and delivering two of the most thought-provoking verses on The Roots‘s How I Got Over. Along the way, the mysterious-yet-highly-respected poet and wordsmith also found himself experimenting with a lo-fi and experimental sound, stepping away from the soul-filled boom-bap beats he came up on and tackling work from experimental producers like Flying Lotus.

Despite such a star-studded resumé, Blu has remained much of an enigma for most mainstream audiences, while still becoming one of the most celebrated lyricists of all time, as well as my own all-time favorite rapper. To get a glimpse into his life and his artistry, I spoke to Blu over email and asked him about the many projects he’s currently tackling including the Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them release with Exile due out September 4th, the Bombay-produced solo album Good to be Home, and even reflected on Below the Heavens and j e s u s.

First off, you and Exile will be releasing the remastered Give Me My Flowers very soon. How are the studio dynamics between you two nowadays?

Well, we just cut a great tune last week, so great I wish it made the album but it will most likely be on my upcoming solo record. Right now, we are gearing up to hit the road. It’s been a while since we killed the road last and we are looking forward to a chance to do that again.

Below the Heavens recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. How do you feel about it looking back? Do you ever think of revisiting the Below the Heavens sessions? I know you told Complex you had around 75 songs recorded.

Evil politics behind those sessions, I wish I was the me aster behind those masters!

Bombay will be producing your new solo record Good to be Home and I haven’t been able to find much information about him. Can you give us an idea of how the album will sound production-wise?

Dope, phat, like a phat tape, phat soul, big.

What about lyrically? What themes are you aiming for this time around?

Cali man, so much inspiration there; it’s a record mirror the album I ever made called California Soul, an underground tape.

Are you interested in pursuing another record deal with a major in the future?

Yeah possibly, but right now it’s fun running shit down here!

How about those films you were planning on releasing?

Soon, come June.

Your recent single “Kiss the Sky” had a Lupe vocal sample on it and he once called you “the only emcee in the game that scares me.” Have you kept any contact with him? Will we ever see any new material from All City Chess Club or has that project already been abandoned?

Most likely, we talk every now and then but Lupe is killing the electro-rock sound and we killing that lo-fi soul map, so it’s like whenever we get on the same page, we will be definitely making something special. Jesus!

You, Sene, and ANTHM recently teamed up for “Young Leaders”. You’ve worked with both artists individually, is anything else in the works?

Yeah, we got a group called “RakimKRSOne&Chuck” — of course ANTHM is Chuck.

It sounds like you’re extremely busy with new projects right now. Can we expect a full RælBlz project in the future?

Yes, titled GRO produced under the moniker, GODleeBarnes. SD cassette shit!

You’ve also mentioned a new solo record with The Alchemist. Could you speak about that?

No.

Fair enough, what’s your songwriting process like?

I use a pen.

What happened to the No York band?

They fell off, and Todd finally got a girlfriend.

Your father is a reverend and you talk about your views on religion quite often in your music. From “A Man”, it appears you disagree with the institution of organized religion. What do you think needs to change? Do you and your father agree?

No, but yes. He sees me clearly, better than any fan would, coming from a more divine perspective, respectively, and I respect him to the utmost for upholding some high morals and values in Christianity and his faith.

How does the j e s u s LP play into this? Can you explain the “j e s u s” song?

It’s what I felt like telling “Jesus” in 2011 bro. I may make another song to him next year, GOD willing!

What constitutes success to you?

Respect.

Listen: Enya – “Orinoco Flow (PrototypeRaptor’s Sailing Away Bootleg Remix)”

PrototypeRaptor is a relatively unknown producer who has been making HUGE beats recently. Today, he gives us a free bootleg track; on his Soundcloud he claims it is a quick remix for reaching the 3000 likes milestone on Facebook. Regardless of what he says, this is much more than just a “quick” remix and I am absolutely loving this so far. The song is upbeat and instantly puts you in a happy mood. Enya‘s vocals are catchy and goes perfect with the funky electro sound in the background. If you like Prototype Raptor, be sure to check out his Soundcloud where there are many more songs and also be ready for his new EP that is coming out.