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2.27.2011

Après Ski

Sorry about the late post this time guys, I was up at Whistler all weekend for some fantastic skiing(very cold, but good) and some Olympic memories. And while I was up there I was listening alot to of the Swedish punk-rock band Neverstore.

So Neverstore really hits me in the right spot, bring me back to punk-rock bands that were the soundtrack of my childhood. Blink-182 and Neverstore producers(and Canadians) Sum-41. Oddly enough, Neverstore, a Swedish band that sings in English, spends most of it's tour time in Japan. Now, I know that the market there is huge due to it's population but it just seems strange to me. But anyways, they make very good music. They've release three albums, Sevenhundred Sudays, Heroes Wanted and Age Of Hysteria which came out early 2010. Consequently, I have three songs, each from a different album in order of years because that's how OCD I am.

Their musical style changes from album to album, even song to song. They show signs of a more upbeat style in some of their songs(much like Sum 41), but melodramatic teenage anthems in others(blink-182). But always, there is good 4-chord style of music and chilling vocals delivered by Jacob Widén. Again I'm impressed by the ability of people to speak in languages that aren't their native ones, especially with such power.

So after a weekend of skiing and "remembering", I'll finally get to put up some music for you guys, and I'm out!


Live Your Dreams(L.Y.D)-Neverstore
Rockthefool-Neverstore
Pouring Down-Neverstore

2.23.2011

Overseas Obsessions

Any frequent reader of my long-winded rants will be aware that I most definitely have a thing for music stemming from places not of my own. Britain seems to be at the top of the list, perhaps followed by Japan and Sweden,although the former has not yet come to light on this blog. So, this obsession I've got really started with my (limited) exposure to Hadouken! during my (brief) stop over in London a few summers ago. Turns out they actually had some acclaim and the hoodlums weren't lying to me, but most importantly, they dressed in bright colors, sampled gorgeously from retro-gaming and had accents that were music, literally, to my ears.

This small, seemingly simple, addiction festered into full on musical devotion. Now, this wasn't the first time this had happened, it also happened with J-Pop and their damn catchy songs, but it was the first time that I had some remote sort of musical knowledge. And, as such, I had better internet scouring skills which I used to find more delicious sounding voices and music. Rest assured, it wasn't "high brow" music, lots of it dealing with the same teenage angst(Hadouken!) and obsession with thuggery(N-Dubz) that my musical pallet was well accustomed to. But it was not a futile exercise, it did expose to me the beautiful-beyond-words-voice(& the physical being attached) that is Ellie Goulding. Note, to European readers, she isn't known over here in North America Land. And to you fellow floating rock residents, check her out, and her remixed stuff.

Ultimately, what I'm trying to work myself to, is the infiltration of Example into my obsession with my cross pond musicians. Now, he is slightly, and I say very slightly, known over here, but not the pop/dance/electronica superstar he is in Europe. Now, I'll get around to posting more of his stuff, that everyone from the UK will dismiss as mainstream and overplayed, much how I do with R&B artists, perhaps those unaware of his dance fun will share my sentiments. In this track he teamed up with current tour mate Skream, just incase you didn't get enough of trendsetters. Skream made waves in the Drum n' Bass arena before setting his sights on dubstep and absolutely hammering it so hard. So yes, I like this song, and yes, I wish I could go see them live.

In conclusion, good song, banging artists, I have OCD(CDO is much better, it's in order!!) and download this song when it assaults your eardrums. I'm out!

Shot Yourself In The Foot Again-Example&Skream

EDIT:song fixed

2.21.2011

Hot Like Snow

So today on this turbulently weathered day, we have a gem which is,for a change on this blog, rather new. Late Night Alumni is an interesting mix of dance,trance and the artists affliction to strings that blossom into an myriad of musical soothing. American based Ryan Raddon, aka Kaskade had the idea of combining downtempo music and angelic vocals, and it worked.

Kaskade is famous in his own right, hailing from the Windy City, he helped the advancement of North American electronic music with 4AM, collabs I Remember and Move For Me with frequenter of aT deadmau5. Most recently, he's been moving to the mainstream with Fire In Your New Shoes with Canadian Dragonette. All of this, and he's still going strong. And this project of his is much more chillwave, almost moving into a folktronica kind of flow with the latest album Haunted which just dropped on the 8th. I encourage you guys to check it out.

And I do that because it has gems like this one. Becky Jean Williams does the vocals for the band and her voice is one that resonates through every fiber in these songs. Perfectly fit for these tunes, it really brings to life the already becalming melody. The band is most known for their single Empty Streets. It got underground and club support, despite Ministry of Sound not showing backing for a full album. A remix of it got featured on Tiesto's legendary In Search Of Sunrise compilation. If you're into Trance, check those out, they are amazing. Anyways, what it led to was the lift-off as Late Night Alumni as a full band, not just a short lived project. And I for one an glad of this.

So, download the tune, relax on this Monday night, although it will be at least tomorrow by the time most of you read this, enjoy the song(s). I'm out!

Late Night Alumni - It's Not Happening (Kaskade Mix) by Kaskade

2.18.2011

F.Y.I.F! Vol.3

So today we have 2AM Club, the electro-rock/made-up-genre band hailing from Mill Valley Cali. Not really a banging place but hey, whatever spawns good music. Although, actually it's the remix that makes me love this song. Even further confusing the genre of this song. Which,while bothering my OCD part,making fun time for my ears!

Right, so remix is done by half of Chiddy Bang, another odd genre'd hip-hop-ish group from PA. Xaphoon Jones is actually Noah Berisin. They're story makes me love blogs, through them, Chiddy Bang got a record deal with EMI due to an online following. It makes me smile. Then, they left EMI, cause the man is bad or something. That's always what I get out of "creative differences". Butttt they still released this song which is good cause it's pretty much a party anthem.

Listen to the words, they don't require much thought, but that's the beauty of it, it's still enjoyable. And the washing X's off hands is something most people have experienced, yes, even me. But, to the song...again, the thumping bass, upbeat melody and lyrics you can sing along to without any kind of pitch makes it great to listen to when the mood is right. And if not, always good for summer driving. So enjoy the night and I'm out!


Nobody In Love(Xaphoon Jones Remix)-2AM Club

2.16.2011

Glancin' The Review

So today, I've got a song for you, that does not fit the weather that's pouring down outside as I talk. Yes, talk, not type. That's how I roll. I don't why, but this song has always reminded me of summer days, maybe cause Cali makes me thinks about hot weather...

Right, Sugarcult is a punk rock band hailing from the aforementioned California, Santa Barbara to be specific. But that's unimportant. Sugarcult was formed in high school while leading singer Time Pagnotta met then drummer Ben Davis. He later left the band, but hey, he helped spawn this little gem. Punk rock music is one of my favorite genres, a guilty pleasure kind, songs about teenage angst and mischanced love over repetitive rhythm guitar always has been enjoyable to me. Sadly, it is starting to lose steam, perhaps for the best, making the bands that do get known good. The days of Canadian Sum 41 and punk rock giant Blink-182 are over. It seems that the mainstream music industry is being dominated by R&B, electronic influenced dance and pop tracks and the occasional hip-hop song. Not saying that's bad, I love me some upbeat basslines and party lyrics, but diversity is a gem.

For example,The Black Eyed Peas were alot more original when they were the only one pumping out dance pop tunes. Now we have Katy Perry, Kesha(I refuse to accept using $ as an 's') and the Far East Movement. But, I digress, the music industry is constantly changing so perhaps in 3 months I'll be complaining that there isn't enough electronica getting airtime. But, I've always got the internet to find music on! So with that, have a good one, I'm out!


Los Angeles-Sugarcult

2.14.2011

Move Slow

It's Valentines day, oh so sweet and fuzzy feeling inside. Not really, but I figured I'd roll out this song cause it's a nice touch and a good song. Also, I had to hand in my grad write up today, ahhhhh my so freaking that I'm outta high school in a few months. For those of you that didn't know, now you know. Don't creep me

So Talib Kweli is born NY I'm guessing, cause as I originally knew him was The Prince Of Brooklyn. He is one of the first rap artists that I really liked most of their stuff. Tossin' out the gangster rap and wandering into the weird sub-genre known as alternative hip-hop which is something we have previously talked about in my post featuring Sage Francis. He also hails from NY so maybe there's a trend there,but that's irrelevant. Early on Kweli did alot of work with Mos Def and got recognition from him,and ultimately the community for his lyricism. It was a kind of music that was flourishing at that point, before the turn of the century and everyone deciding that slinging bullets was more impressive that verses.

Talib Kweli has worked with alot of arists, forming improntu groups as well as things set out the be groups, and most of it works. Alot of his music has been compared to Common for on occasion, similar song messages. But this song, and why I thought it fitting, is because Valentines day is when people decide it's a good idea to look for love. In my young and inexperienced opinion, looking for something meaningful usually doesn't end very well for anyone involved. But, I'll stop that cynicism about love and tell you to "share it with your loved one(s)". And for those going to the heroic V-Day singles parties, party hard, for other singles and couples alike, enjoy all the chocolate, I'm out!


Never Been In Love-Talib Kweli

2.11.2011

F.Y.I.F! Vol.2

Yet another party anthem post. This one features remix duo The White Panda. With mash-ups becoming more popular, as previously stated, these two put out some club bangers, and they're getting some recognition for it. They even made Waka Flocka's terrible song enjoyable to listen to by mashing it with Romanian dance epic Stereo Love by Edward Maya. But, on to this song.

I've never really been a fan of Kid Cudi's breakthrough song but it gave him a career so good on him. I've heard the bassline sped up and used in a few other mash-ups, most notably Mochi Beat's version. Tiesto's hit is less known cause,well, it's club music. And no one remembers the name of those songs. Except people like me, who love club music even with all their trashy thumps and bad dance moves. The White Panda are Procrast and DJ Griffi, and as far as I can tell, both from LA. They have two albums,Versus and Rematch, both downloadable for free. That makes them awesome. They perform with Panda masks on,no idea why but maybe next post about them, and there most likely will be, I'll have found out. But for now, all I know is their music, and damn is it good!

These two make an odd marriage of two very different songs, and it makes for a great dance track, even during the day as a "pick-me-up". So finish listening to the song, download it, call up some people and celebrate the end of the week! Have a good one guys, I'm out!

Escape Day N' Nite(Kid Cudi//Tiesto)-The White Panda

2.09.2011

Introducing...

...DUBSTEP! Not to you guys of course, I've posted it plenty(a few) times here before. Speaking of which, this blog is REALLY not that representative of my musical choices, while all the songs I post here I like, the distribution of genre's is really not that accurate. Not that it matters I suppose, just as I scrolled through my iTunes for a song to post, I noticed the oddity. Right so, dubstep, this was the song that gateway'd(?) me to the genre of big drops and heavy sounds.

M'Black is UK based Matt Schwartz, the audio engineer, DJ,composer, song writer and musician. He's pretty much everything music rolled into one person. Honestly, I didn't even know he existed until this song, some of his other tracks, also dance like the original of this is, are likable enough, but nothing outstanding in my limited exposure. Born in Israel, which honestly, I've never stumbled across another musician from there, he has most of his vocals done by "Nicole". Yes, that's all I can find out through my cursory search, lemme know if anyone knows more because the vocals are very well done.

The remix is through the mastery of Bare Noize, the London born and based duo of Daniel Brown and Oliver Pile. The English duo are rather well known on the Dubstep scene, as I found out soon after my exposure to the hammers the deliver. Songs with Skrillex and deals with mau5trap and The Ministry Of Sound. Through this touring with big names, as well as residency at some clubs in London and the Ibiza club scene during the summer. This duo of dubstep danger(oh yes) have made an impression with this song that made me embrace a whole new culture, so to me, they are my godfathers of the genre.

I've got both the vocal edit and regualar mix, so enjoy them, pick or your favorite or love them both, I'm out!

Heart Break(Bare Noize Remix)-M'Black
M'Black - Heartbreak (Bare Noize Vocal Edit) by Bare Noize

2.07.2011

NEVERshoutALWAYS

So I have a song today that I know very little about and it's making me feel a little uncomfortable posting about it but here we go, walking on the wild edge of blogging! Today, we've got See Spaces by Teeth.

This is where I start feeling awkward. I don't know what to say about the musical group comprised of Ximon Tayki,labeled as "Electronics" meaning...I don't know. Veronica So is their singer and Simon Whybray is on drums. I know some are from Dalston, in London and some from Bushwick,that's New York. All of this I gathered from their Facebook page but beyond I really don't know. I've looked around and their "Website", if it can be called that, is just a list of youtube videos and redirects. So, I think I will just end this awkward ramble about a group I know nothing about. However, the song is good.

Speaking of the song, it's remixed by DREAMTRAK DIAMOND SOUND whom I feel just as awkward talking about. He, being Oli Horton, hails again from London, this time Hackney so maybe that's close to Dalston, I'd never heard of either of them before today. I have however, heard of Oli before, and most of his remixes I have taken a liking to such as his remix of Long Amongst Ruin's Home. And he doesa good job again with Teeht's song.

So, I hope you didn't read that mass of awkward that was my post, because it probably was a waste of your time, but the song isn't so enjoy. I'm (awkwardly) out!

See Spaces(DREAMTRAK DIAMOND SOUND remix)-Teeth

2.05.2011

Basslines and Cars

Terribly sorry about the delay in posting, but I've been busy. Most excitingly, I got my N, which in part of BC's graduated licencing program, and it means I can drive by myself, with restrictions. So that's exciting, and now onto the music, which is, I hope, what you're here for. So if you've already started listening to the song, which you should have, you might think it's a miss-type and it's Lady Gaga, but you would be mistaken. Instead it is the talented and creative Natalia Kills from Britain.

Signed to Cherrytree Records, along with some others, Natalia Kills has some stark vocals and interesting artistic choices. Thus, the comparisons to Lady Gaga are more then just their vocal similarity. Hailing from London, she was discovered by will.i.am, a member of dance pop superstars The Black Eyed Peas. She started making music, praised for her homebrew mixtape called Wommaniqune, which commented on Feminist ideals I would imagine from the name. She's on a song with Far East Movement, one of the biggest names in music at the moment, called 2 is Better. Along with that, she is/was on tour with Robyn, an artist that blew up all over...everywhere.

So she's gunna be liked by the mainstream radio stations soon which is good for her, and good for me as it prompts more of her music. With her upbeat basslines and her crisp voice, she does make an impression. However, this song does as well. With a remix by Frankmusik, a fellow Cherrytree record label mate, the two make a good pair. I hope you guys enjoy the song, I'm out!


Mirros(Frankmusik Remix)-Natalia Kills

2.01.2011

More Than Meets The Eye

Three tests this week in not as many days, I dislike this. But, here we go anyways! Bobby Ray Simmons, better known as B.o.B, the Atlanta native responsible for the god forsaken ♪Airplanes in the night skyyyy like shooting stars!♪ Ah! And yet, he redeems himself with his Outkast inspired name from their fantasic song Bombs Over Bagdad(B.O.B). So, without further adieu, press play and I shall flood with my opinion.

B.o.B is,basically, an R&B artist, and this is probably one of the VERY few times that'll you see me praise one. I dislike the genre, but, Mr. Simmons manages to escape the genre, and even attack his "pop" song in some of his verses. He was born in N. Carolina but moved to Georgia at a young age and you can tell from his style, as it is definitively ATL. With an upbeat track and lyrics that sound very much like an attack at many people that labeled him as a throw away backing singer. I will agree, well I did agree, with those accusations, his lyrics in his hits have been, at the time of writing, pretty formula. However, as the reference goes, he does transform into something entirely different.

In summary, one of his better songs off his mix-tape, which is free, get it here. His Cold As Ice sample is not bad, totally different then the original which is good, cause stealing beats is (usually) not cool. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy the song as much as I do, I'm out!


Beast Mode-B.o.B