Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Cover: Sondre Lerche, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, jj
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (Ramones)
jj - Troublemaker (Akon)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Four Year Strong? Yes indeed.
So glad they have something to follow up after an awesome cover album.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Leak:Owen Pallett - Heartland
Owen Pallett - Tryst With Mephistopheles
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Hi De Hos
This talented band from Stockholm, Sweden proved that with their unique sound and smooth vocals, you can sound just as good as any other band out their today. They have stayed true to their sound, and an all around great sounding group. The arrangements of each track they release are straight forward and tells a story.
I actually had the chance to talk to these wonderful fellas over the world wide web. I was able to ask some core questions and get to know where they all came to be. I was told that it all started in 2006 with members coming and going, just as any other band would experience. It was when Toby and Thomas both decided to start a duo when they were noticed at a pub one night.
They had told me a few influences over the years were narrowed down to the big five. The Beatles, The Band, Faces, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Playing For Change: AP top 10 albums of the year & Blakroc on Fallon tonight 12/10/09
Playing For Change, the global phenomenon has been featured in Alternative Press. Not only for their great accomplishments, but to recognize them for claiming the #8 spot in the AP Top 10 Albums of The Year. It was quite the melting pot of artist including The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Maxwell, and several other artist.
Tune in tonight at 12:35/11:35c on NBC to see a great collaboration band perform. They will be performing twice this evening. The tracks in which that will be featured are "Dollaz & Sense" and "Telling Me Things" both off the album.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Smashing Pumpkins - Song For A Son
New Smashing Pumpkins single, taken off of Corgan's 44 song magnum opus, broken up into 11 - 4 song EP's. Honestly, I enjoyed this track better than their last album in its entirety.
The track listening for the first EP is listed below:
1 "A Song for a Son"
2 "Astral Planes"
3 "A Stitch in Time"
4 "Widow Wake My Mind
The Smashing Pumkins - Song For A Son
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Say Anything - Say Anything
I think Max Bemis more than proved himself with Say Anything's latest album self titled “Say Anything”. It's the classic Say Anything album that everyone wants to hear. It's one of those albums that's more than likely going to get stuck in your head and tapping to all day. I wouldn't say it's the best album, nor is it what I expected from them. It's definitely a safe solid record for 2009.
Max Bemis told AbsolutePunk that the upcoming album would be “More concise and would be a bit more original, I want to say, and sort of pop out like ...Is a Real Boy did.” Bemis mentioned that this record wasn't just another album, but rather an album proving “what the point of all of it was.” In all actuality, the album was supposed to be released October 13, 2009. It wasn't until October 29, 2009 when Say Anything uploaded the entire album to their Myspace.
The popular single off the album is “Hate Everyone”. I personally can not stand the song. It's possibly the worst track off the record. I find the strongest tracks off the album are “Cemetery”, “Mara and Me”, and “Eloise”. Another great track “Do Better” features a string section. Overall I give this album 7 out of 10 stars. It's a great album that you listen to over and over, but I expected more quite honestly. It received a 25 on the Billboard 200, and it was well deserved.
You can listen to the entire album for free here.
Austen H.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Blakroc
Blakroc is by far the most genius thing any artist has done in 2009. Over the last couple years Youtube has been overflowed with people covering hip-hip artist with only an acoustic guitar and catchy melodies. I believe “Blakroc” was created based off of the same idea, but The Black Keys took it 10 steps further with this project. I remember watching the video updates along with the project and I was in awe of what was to come of this album.
Blakroc is basically a Hip-Hop/Rock collaboration album. It was based off of a band from Akron, Ohio named “The Black Keys” who wanted to collaborate with several other Hip-Hip artist. Some artist to name are Raekwon, RZA and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan; Jim Jones, formerly of The Diplomats, and NOE, formerly a DipSet affiliate; Mos Def; singer Nicole Wray; Pharoahe Monch; Southern rapper Ludacris; Billy Danze, one half of M.O.P.; and Q-Tip, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest.
The album contains 11 free flowing tracks. The funnest part about listening to this album is hearing The Black Keys roots mashed in with Hip-Hip style rhythms. The strongest track off the album is called “Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)”. The track features Mos Def and Jim Jones. Overall this album is a great collaboration album. It's something I want to hear more from in later years. Having the soul Rock n' Roll meshing with some of Mos Def lyrics isn't something anyone pictured, but that is where the music industry is going today.
You can also check out a free listening session of the whole album at this link.
Blakroc Listening Session.
-Austen H.
Who is Entertainment Weekly?
09 Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
08 Beyoncé - I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008)
07 The Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
06 The Dixie Chicks - Home (2002)
05 Bob Dylan - Love And Theft (2001)
04 OutKast - Stankonia (2000)
03 Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
02 Jay-Z - The Blueprint (2001)
01 Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Going Solo: Final Fantasy, Jonsi
Final Fantasy - Lewis Take Action (Arcade Fire Violinist)
Jonsi - Lilikoi Boy (Sigur Ros)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Three Songs: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Lupe Fiasco, Vampire Weekend
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have To Die
