Monday, September 28, 2009

Birdman, Lil Wayne & .....

So, this new video is out featuring someone we haven't heard from in a loooooooong time: Mr. Drake-man himself. I was wondering where he went. To be honest, I was slightly concerned that he fell off the side of the earth, not having a video out the past few weeks. This time he takes the stage with Birdman and his discover-er, Lil Wayne. I am also glad to report that following his "Successful' video, Drake now has 'Money To Blow'. Atta boy.

On a complete side note, I just mistyped 'Wayne' as 'Wanye'. Imagine his name was Lil Wanye....like Kanye, but Wanye! Ah, okay I'll stop now.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Sounds

Friday playlist this week is a throw back to the 90s in honor of the 90s dance party I’ll be rocking out to Saturday night. I especially remember tearing my brain trying to figure out how they did the Virtual Insanity video….but over my years I have become much wiser and have learned the tricks of the trades: the room was on rollers. Making for magic, pure magic.

Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity
Montell – This is How We Do It
Monifah – Touch It
K7 – Come Baby Come
Blackstreet – No Diggity
Daft Punk – Around the World
La Bouche - Sweet Dreams
Notorious BIG – Mo Money Mo Problems

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Editors

The latest from the Editors from their 3rd album that’s coming your way next month, titled ‘In This Light And On This Evening’. The guys have said you can look forward to inspiration by ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Terminator’ and have described it as “synthetic, raw and anthemic’. All these promises deem true in their first single, Papillon, where the guys ditch the geee-tahs and pick up a synth.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Black Cab Sessions

Oh you know, just a casual cab ride through London-town, with musicians and their instruments. Black Cab Sessions is this online series that invites artists to play an acoustic set in the backseat of a cab car. It is hilarious to see them crammed into the backseat with their guitars/keyboards, having a little jam session.

I love how BCS aren’t particular about how famous the artist is, the only two rules are that they must be live and they must be fabulous. Simply put: its a great time with great music. Honestly I am a bit overwhelmed with what videos to feature because there are so many to choose from with 150 sessions just from London, featuring artists like Grizzly Bear, Jens Lekman, Lykke Li, The Cool K ids, Peter Bjorn and John, Little Boots, Bombay Bicycle Club, Maccabees, Noah & the Whale, to name a few. For more video, check it out here


Kooks


Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.



Fleet Foxes

Friday, September 18, 2009

Juan's Basement

Who is this Juan and how do I get into his basement? Seriously. Pitchfork.tv does this super cool series which is exactly as it seems: a party in Juan’s basement, but with super cool[did I just say 'super cool' twice? Super cool.] bands playing sets, making for one of the sweatiest, wildest, best-est house parties ever. Its raw and makes it feel like you’re crashing in on one of their jam sessions. Check out some of my favorite visits to the basement.

Passion Pit: Sleepyhead


M83: Kim & Jessie


Walkmen: In the New Year

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Handsome Furs

The husband and wife Montreal-based duo, Handsome Furs, released their second album back in February - Face Control - and I was just reading how the album got its name and thought I'd share. While traveling in Eastern Europe, in particular in Moscow, they learned that people cash up a lot of dough to pre-book entrance into a club; however, even though they reserve the bouncer has ultimate viteo power and can turn you away based on whether or not they think you're hot enough to enter...and thus, we come to the term 'Face Control'.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Your House

Meet the love child of Sublime and the Flobots: Your House. The seven member band certainly has an unique sound with a merge of reggae/ hip hop, and they have the vibe down. Jump on over to their myspace to check what I’m talking about, turn up the volume and dare I say bring out supplies? Because as you’ll see they have some great jamming tunes…and on top of it all they are Canadian. Need I even say that they are from the west coast?

Your Band Myspace

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Covers

I love me a good cover, and with it being Tuesday and all I thought we'd venture down that road. How cool is it when you hear a different band singing a hit and it sounds like a completely different song? Well here's a few diddies that I've rounded up since my last post about the BBC Radio 1 series of covers.


This one is a continuation from the BBC series - Paramore Use Somebody

I found this one from Lady Gaga's recommendations off her twitter account for a cover of her own Let's Dance by Gary Go

A little UGC never hurt no-one...and how cute are they? Here's a mishmash of Plain White T's 1234 and Drake's Best I Ever had, on the....wait for it...ukele.

Kanye

Oh Kanye, what is one to do with you really? I'm sure you've all been following his latest antics from the stage rushing of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the VMAs, to his apology on Jay Leno last night...what a piece of work that one is. This site was passed along to me today and I thought I'd share, even though it might be a bit too soon for some of the jokes. Anywhoo, stay classy Mr. West, stay classy.

I'll let you finish, but this site is the most hilarious site ever.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Sounds

Here is your weekend playlist. At first I'm sure it just looks like a jumble of mix and match songs, but these vids are actually all nominated for a MTV VMA this year (it airs tomorrow Live from RadioCity Music Hall!) for Best Video that Should Have Took Home A MoonMan. Can you believe that these vids didn't get to take home the hardware? Common, some of these are just too classic to have never been recognized ...but I guess thats the nature of this category.

Beastie Boys -Sabotage
Bjork - Human Behavior
David Lee Roth - California Girls
Dr Dre - Nothing But A G Thang
Foo Fighers - Everlong
George Michael - Freedom
Ok Go - Here It Goes Again
Radiohead - Karma Police
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Into the Great Wide Open
U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Kid Cudi

A new Kid Cudi video was just released for his old song Day N Night Crooker Remix. Apparently the video only cost $250 to shoot and was done all before the Kid was signed.(an old-new video. Me likes) How do you like it compared to the official video? I think its pretty damn good for 250 bucks. I think I spent my most recent 250 on a pair of jeans, who knew it could get you a music video?

Old-New:

Kid Cudi - Day 'N' Nite [Crookers remix] (Directed by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.



Old-Old:

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Beatles

So all the talk today is the Beatles. (Pssst - their Rock Band game is being released today, but I will pretend that you already knew why) So, in light of that, I stumbled upon this article on NME for the Greatest Beatles track of all time. Think about that: The Greatest Beatles songs of all time. Thats a tough one, eh? So many hits, So many different associations in life:I truly believe there is a different Beatles song for any mood you could possibly be in. Certainly some are better than others, but I don't think I could ever rate them....or if I did the list would constantly change depending on how I felt.

But the votes are in. Agree with them or not, NME readers have decided their top 20 songs of all. So lets just count 'em down with how they stand now (voting is still open if you disagree) and, oh yeah, you have to put up with my little Beatles antics as you read. Sucka.

20. Get Back: Their first release in true stereo. RE: reproduction for sound using two or more independent audio channels through a symmetrical configuration of loudspeakers in such a way as to create the impression of sound heard from various directions, as in natural hearing. [Clearly I'm not that smart and quoted that directly from Wikipedia.]
19. Hard Days Night: The Grade 8 French camp [insert joke here] I went to reworked the song to be our theme - in French of course. Yes, I still know the lyrics.
18. In My Life: Grade 12 Graduation Song - I performed piano and sang for the ceremony. Who in their right mind would give me a microphone?
17. Penny Lane: Forever in my ear and in my eyes. I wonder how much this song has boosted Penny Lane, Liverpool into iconic fame?
16. Yesterday: Repeat of this song got me through my first heart break - my mom on the other hand wasn't so appreciative of the looping
15. While My Guitar Gently Weeps: Elegantly beautiful. It took Guitar God Eric Clapton to step in for the Beatles to finally believe in George's song and settle on a version that worked for them.
14. Help: Only a true man can ask for it. Especially when it comes to directions.
13. Eleanor Rigby: Leaves me wondering who she was.
12. Let It Be: Originally was not well received by the critics. To me, its so simple and yet so powerful.
11. All You Need Is Love: Will now forever remind me of the epic opening to Love Actually. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic at heart.
10. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds: Is always where I want to be.
9. Something: The first song written by George Harrison to appear on an A-side Beatles track. Now that's something.
8. Revolution: Their first overtly political hit. Also, the chord progressions of this song have been a large influence in heavy metal.
7. Come Together: Beatles...Michael.....Michael....Beatles...
6. Ticket To Ride: I sang it in my high school dinner theatre. Seriously, there is that microphone again...why? I ask why?
5. Here Comes the Sun: da na na na...a perfect wake-up song
4. Hey Jude: I once sat with my friends on a porch watching the sunrise while one played the guitar and we sang our hearts out for hours. Turned out he only knew how to play this song. I know that neighbors loved it, despite the yellings.
3. I am the Walrus: The documentarty I Met the Walrus was filmed by my old roommate's uncle - Jerry Levitan. Far fetched? well I think thats something, huh?
2. A Day In the Life: Doesn't everyone want a Day in the Life of someone else, even just one?
1. Strawberry Fields Forever: Couldn't have said it better myself

Maybe way too commercial for NME, but clearly missing from the list is Imagine, debatably the Beatles song with the most impact. Other notable misses are Love Me Do, The Long and Winding Road, Hold Your Hand, Can't Buy Me Love, Eight Days...ahhh there are too many. But the tribe has spoken.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Jay-Z

A first listen to Hov's latest: Blueprint III

Whatcha think? Although Jay-Z only appears solo in three songs, I'm loving the all star cast: from Luke Steele from Empire of the Sun, to Alicia Keys, Swiss Beatz, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, and of course Drake.

Kayne took the front seat in directing the album, with Timbaland pitching for three.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Simon and Garfunkel Cover

What an amazing Thursday morning pick-me-up



Check Out Local Natives other stuff here.