Watch one of the best SNL skits from last night's episode below. A brainchild of Fred Armisen, The Blue Jean Committee is a faux band from Western Massachusetts that harnesses the glory of AM soft rock. Simple, but clever stuff:
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Blue Jean Committee - 'Massachusetts Afternoon'
"Do you have one of those afternoons you wish would never end?"
Watch one of the best SNL skits from last night's episode below. A brainchild of Fred Armisen, The Blue Jean Committee is a faux band from Western Massachusetts that harnesses the glory of AM soft rock. Simple, but clever stuff:
Watch one of the best SNL skits from last night's episode below. A brainchild of Fred Armisen, The Blue Jean Committee is a faux band from Western Massachusetts that harnesses the glory of AM soft rock. Simple, but clever stuff:
Monday, November 07, 2011
Portico Quartet - 'Ruins'
If you've never listened to Portico Quartet before, do yourself the favor.
My little sister got me hooked on this modern ethnic jazz-fusion quartet after seeing them perform in Paris several years ago.
The London-based group brings a level of chilled out intricacy and creativity to their sound that is exciting and refreshingly current.
The contemporary combo of soprano saxophone, acoustic bass and drums is taken to new sonic heights through the use of digital drum effects and an instrument called the hang. The hang is a style of lap drum, with a shell-like appearance that sounds similar to a steel drum and metallaphone.
That rhythm combo sets a deep and unique groove to Portico Quartet's cinematically-noir experimentalism.
Smoldering squelches of exotic sax sweep over the foundation in heartbreaking waves.
Portico Quartet are set to release their third full-length album in early 2012.
The first song released from the upcoming self-titled effort is called "Ruins" and it sounds as strong as anything I've heard from the band to-date.
The track is currently available as a FREE download at www.PorticoQuartet.com
Watch the video to "Ruins" below to see the band creating their unique sound:
My little sister got me hooked on this modern ethnic jazz-fusion quartet after seeing them perform in Paris several years ago.
The London-based group brings a level of chilled out intricacy and creativity to their sound that is exciting and refreshingly current.
The contemporary combo of soprano saxophone, acoustic bass and drums is taken to new sonic heights through the use of digital drum effects and an instrument called the hang. The hang is a style of lap drum, with a shell-like appearance that sounds similar to a steel drum and metallaphone.
That rhythm combo sets a deep and unique groove to Portico Quartet's cinematically-noir experimentalism.
Smoldering squelches of exotic sax sweep over the foundation in heartbreaking waves.
Portico Quartet are set to release their third full-length album in early 2012.
The first song released from the upcoming self-titled effort is called "Ruins" and it sounds as strong as anything I've heard from the band to-date.
The track is currently available as a FREE download at www.PorticoQuartet.com
Watch the video to "Ruins" below to see the band creating their unique sound:
Marley v. Marley
I had the strangest conversation this past weekend.
While attending an old college friend's wedding reception on Saturday, I met a middle-aged gentleman and struck up some conversation.
He pointed to a young lady's arm tattoo, of a sunset with poetry beneath it. The man asked me what I assumed it meant and the woman overheard and chimed in that the words were lyrics to a Bob Marley song.
The man gave her a rather puzzled look, then turned to me and asked, "Who the hell is Bob Marley? You mean the comedian?"
I returned the puzzled look and replied, "The singer. There's a comedian named Bob Marley??"
We both looked at one another as if we were communicating from separate planets.
He further tried to convince me that Bob Marley was a comedian and I tried to explain that Marley was one of the most famous reggae singers of all time. Neither of us seemed to comprehend how the other didn't know what we were talking about.
The conversation ended with both of us utterly confused.
So, for any of you who somehow still have no idea who Bob Marley the musician was, allow me to clear this up with the video below:
...and for those of you like me who didn't realize Bob Marley is also a comedian, visit his official website at www.bmarley.com
While attending an old college friend's wedding reception on Saturday, I met a middle-aged gentleman and struck up some conversation.
He pointed to a young lady's arm tattoo, of a sunset with poetry beneath it. The man asked me what I assumed it meant and the woman overheard and chimed in that the words were lyrics to a Bob Marley song.
The man gave her a rather puzzled look, then turned to me and asked, "Who the hell is Bob Marley? You mean the comedian?"
I returned the puzzled look and replied, "The singer. There's a comedian named Bob Marley??"
We both looked at one another as if we were communicating from separate planets.
He further tried to convince me that Bob Marley was a comedian and I tried to explain that Marley was one of the most famous reggae singers of all time. Neither of us seemed to comprehend how the other didn't know what we were talking about.
The conversation ended with both of us utterly confused.
So, for any of you who somehow still have no idea who Bob Marley the musician was, allow me to clear this up with the video below:
...and for those of you like me who didn't realize Bob Marley is also a comedian, visit his official website at www.bmarley.com
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Real Estate - 'It's Real'
Stream 'It's Real' below:
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Sunday, October 30, 2011
Caveman - 'Old Friend'
Caveman strikes indie pop gold with 'Old Friend.' For those who enjoy Portugal. The Man and Local Natives, Caveman is the band just for you.
Stream 'Old Friend' below:
Caveman "Old Friend" MP3 by The FADER
Stream 'Old Friend' below:
Caveman "Old Friend" MP3 by The FADER
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Waters - 'Take Me Out to the Coast'
Fuzz rock marches forward with 'Take Me Out to the Coast' by The Waters. This track is simply excellent. Imagine Wayne Coyne blended with Shannon Hoon blended with the subtle country sensibility of Boz Skaggs and you have 'Take Me Out to the Coast.' The chorus is the best part!
You can stream the song by way of the video player below:
You can stream the song by way of the video player below:
[Sponsored Post] Gillette - Sweat for Greatness: Joe
We are pleased to feature a sponsored post by Gillette. Sweat for Greatness features men who have faced great adversity but nevertheless are doing extraordinary things. While this post isn't technically music-related, the story featured below is too important to ignore.
Watch the video below featuring Joe, a wounded Iraq War vet and his journey to become a competitive hand-cyclist.
Watch the video below featuring Joe, a wounded Iraq War vet and his journey to become a competitive hand-cyclist.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Atlas Sound - 'Terra Incognita'
Stream 'Terra Incognita' below:
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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Forgotten Gem: Souls of Mischief - '93 'Til Infinity'
"This is how we chill from '93 'til..."
Truer words couldn't have described this laid back West Coast hip-hop track by Souls of Mischief. Eighteen years later, that chillness lives on.
Acclaimed as one of the seminal classics of the West Coast underground rap movement, the album 93 'Til Infinity is considered somewhat of a forgotten masterpiece. Music critic Steve Huey even referred to it as "...one of the most slept-on records of the '90s"
The album's title track gained S.O.M. some attention upon its release, sampling Billy Cobham's "Heather" and incorporating smoothed out jazz and funk aethetics and breaks. Souls of Mischief's lyrical complexity, charisma and tight group dynamic are evident on this underappreciated release.
Watch the video to Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity" below:
Truer words couldn't have described this laid back West Coast hip-hop track by Souls of Mischief. Eighteen years later, that chillness lives on.
Acclaimed as one of the seminal classics of the West Coast underground rap movement, the album 93 'Til Infinity is considered somewhat of a forgotten masterpiece. Music critic Steve Huey even referred to it as "...one of the most slept-on records of the '90s"
The album's title track gained S.O.M. some attention upon its release, sampling Billy Cobham's "Heather" and incorporating smoothed out jazz and funk aethetics and breaks. Souls of Mischief's lyrical complexity, charisma and tight group dynamic are evident on this underappreciated release.
Watch the video to Souls of Mischief's "93 'Til Infinity" below:
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Bass Drum of Death - 'GB City'
'GB City' is a stripped down, punk infused romp through a vast garage rock universe.
Stream the single by Bass Drum of Death via the video player below:
Stream the single by Bass Drum of Death via the video player below:
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Girls - 'Vomit'
Girls is a strum-and-thrash duo from San Francisco that is actually composed of just one singular girl.
'Vomit' is no departure from the strum-and-thrash theme. And it's at the 4:30 mark where the track takes a turn for the best and really delivers.
Stream 'Vomit' below:
Girls, "Vomit" by The FADER
'Vomit' is no departure from the strum-and-thrash theme. And it's at the 4:30 mark where the track takes a turn for the best and really delivers.
Stream 'Vomit' below:
Girls, "Vomit" by The FADER
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Class Actress - 'Keep You'
'Keep You,' like the other wonderful chillwave tracks before it, utilizes a perfect formula of dependable computer beats alongside siren vocals. It's great stuff.
Stream 'Keep You' via the video player below:
Stream 'Keep You' via the video player below:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Times New Viking - 'F*** Her Tears'
Stream 'F*** Her Tears' below:
Monday, July 25, 2011
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'How Can U Luv Me?'
Stream 'How Can U Luve Me?' below:
Monday, July 18, 2011
Behind the Sample: Club Nouveau's 'Why You Treat Me So Bad?'
Remember the 1987 R&B dance single "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" by Club Nouveau?
The single charted #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the merit of the melodic hook and signature keyboard and rhythmic arrangement.
If the name still doesn't ring a bell, perhaps it would be best to put the song into context with the numerous artists who have sampled it on their own hit singles.
First, you should listen to Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" right here.
Maybe you'd be more familiar with "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz. The rap duo scored their biggest hit single in 1995, selling over a million copies of the song. Notably, the song sampled heavily from the Club Nouveau synthline, as well as from Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie". The result is a now-classic staple of '90s hip hop.
Watch the video for Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" below:
1999 was a simpler time - a time when Sean Combs still called himself "Puff Daddy" and R. Kelly wasn't relieving himself on underage girls. The two megastars combined forces for the #1 hit single, "Satisfy You". Back then, it was hard to go anywhere without hearing this smooth track on the radio. Oh, by the way, it implements the same beat and synth track as some song called "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz, which apparently sampled some song by Club Nouveau...
Watch the video to "Satisfy You" by Puff Daddy & R. Kelly:
In 2001, Jennifer Lopez released her second album, J.Lo. She followed it up the next year with a remix album, titled, J to tha L-O!: The Remixes. That album had a reworked version of her song, "I'm Gonna Be Alright" by the Track Masters and Nas which went on to outshine the previous version, hitting the #10 spot on the Billboard charts. That remix also contained a reworked instrumental sample of "I Got 5 on It".
You can see what I mean by watching the video to "I'm Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)":
During the first few years of the aughts, it seemed like Ashanti was singing on just about every rap song on the radio. Her third solo album, Concrete Rose, was released in 2004 and the Gold-selling single "Only U" gained considerable airtime. The song briefly, but prominently uses the same samples as the aforementioned artists. You can click here to watch the video.
By now, you can tell that quite a few pop artists have had big success sampling and reworking the simple catchiness of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
But we're not quite done.
Club Nouveau's Jay King was previously involved in another group, Timex Social Club - best known for their hit, "Rumors".
Timex Social Club penned another single, "Thinkin' About Ya" in 1986 and then shortly after disbanded.
King went on to form a "new" group, called Club Nouveau and used his own "Thinkin' About Ya" as the basis for a new single... called, "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
No, seriously.
Listen to Timex Social Club's "Thinkin' About Ya" right here, then go back and compare the two.
Did I mention that Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" features guest vocals from Michael Marshall, the former lead singer of Timex Social Club?
And that's the story... behind the sample.
The single charted #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the merit of the melodic hook and signature keyboard and rhythmic arrangement.
If the name still doesn't ring a bell, perhaps it would be best to put the song into context with the numerous artists who have sampled it on their own hit singles.
First, you should listen to Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" right here.
Maybe you'd be more familiar with "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz. The rap duo scored their biggest hit single in 1995, selling over a million copies of the song. Notably, the song sampled heavily from the Club Nouveau synthline, as well as from Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie". The result is a now-classic staple of '90s hip hop.
Watch the video for Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" below:
1999 was a simpler time - a time when Sean Combs still called himself "Puff Daddy" and R. Kelly wasn't relieving himself on underage girls. The two megastars combined forces for the #1 hit single, "Satisfy You". Back then, it was hard to go anywhere without hearing this smooth track on the radio. Oh, by the way, it implements the same beat and synth track as some song called "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz, which apparently sampled some song by Club Nouveau...
Watch the video to "Satisfy You" by Puff Daddy & R. Kelly:
In 2001, Jennifer Lopez released her second album, J.Lo. She followed it up the next year with a remix album, titled, J to tha L-O!: The Remixes. That album had a reworked version of her song, "I'm Gonna Be Alright" by the Track Masters and Nas which went on to outshine the previous version, hitting the #10 spot on the Billboard charts. That remix also contained a reworked instrumental sample of "I Got 5 on It".
You can see what I mean by watching the video to "I'm Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)":
During the first few years of the aughts, it seemed like Ashanti was singing on just about every rap song on the radio. Her third solo album, Concrete Rose, was released in 2004 and the Gold-selling single "Only U" gained considerable airtime. The song briefly, but prominently uses the same samples as the aforementioned artists. You can click here to watch the video.
By now, you can tell that quite a few pop artists have had big success sampling and reworking the simple catchiness of Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
But we're not quite done.
Club Nouveau's Jay King was previously involved in another group, Timex Social Club - best known for their hit, "Rumors".
Timex Social Club penned another single, "Thinkin' About Ya" in 1986 and then shortly after disbanded.
King went on to form a "new" group, called Club Nouveau and used his own "Thinkin' About Ya" as the basis for a new single... called, "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".
No, seriously.
Listen to Timex Social Club's "Thinkin' About Ya" right here, then go back and compare the two.
Did I mention that Luniz' "I Got 5 on It" features guest vocals from Michael Marshall, the former lead singer of Timex Social Club?
And that's the story... behind the sample.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Heineken Spot: The Date
Heineken, the beer company famous for its iconic green bottles (and also the sponsor of this post), has released an epicly awesome video entitled "The Date."
The video pays homage to the Secret Agent Man dramas of the sixties by featuring mod fashion, torchy jazz, kung fu vegetable chopping, and psychedelic dance-offs --all of which occur against the backdrop of a larger Chinatown theme.
Watch this unique and entertaining spot in the video player below:
The video pays homage to the Secret Agent Man dramas of the sixties by featuring mod fashion, torchy jazz, kung fu vegetable chopping, and psychedelic dance-offs --all of which occur against the backdrop of a larger Chinatown theme.
Watch this unique and entertaining spot in the video player below:
Friday, July 15, 2011
Caught On Tape: Metronomy - 'The Bay'
Metronomy are no strangers to quirky music... or quirky music videos.
'The Bay' is no exception. The latest single from the band's album, The English Riviera, is a white-bread funk voyage for the indie-electro crowd. It's a playful excursion into the salty breezes and sun-kissed cheeks of summery synth rock.
The video hearkens to the beach-loving new wave of '80s Miami Vice culture and is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Strike a pose and enjoy "The Bay" by Metronomy:
'The Bay' is no exception. The latest single from the band's album, The English Riviera, is a white-bread funk voyage for the indie-electro crowd. It's a playful excursion into the salty breezes and sun-kissed cheeks of summery synth rock.
The video hearkens to the beach-loving new wave of '80s Miami Vice culture and is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Strike a pose and enjoy "The Bay" by Metronomy:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Horrors - 'Still Life'
Shoegaze balladeers, The Horrors, present a slightly psychedelic, mostly gothic sonic experience with 'Still Life.'
Watch the corresponding video to 'Still Life' below:
Watch the corresponding video to 'Still Life' below:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mr. Little Jeans - 'The Suburbs'
Stream Birkenes' peculiar interpretation below:
Mr. Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Arcade Fire Cover) by Hypetrak
Monday, July 11, 2011
Halloween, Alaska - 'Dance by Accident'
Prepare to be chilaxed when you listen to this one. Stream 'Dance by Accident' below:
Dance By Accident by ambledown
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