Category Archives: Check ’em Out!

Highly Anticipated: Free Energy

Be on the lookout for the upcoming debut album from Free Energy. Produced by DFA’s electronic musician James Murphy of LCD Soundsytem, Free Energy’s release Stuck on Nothing will hopefully please. From what I’ve heard so far, I know I am pleased.

From the press release:

As an early treat, the band released a digital EP in September featuring two album tracks and a B-side, Something In Common.  Free Energy’s debut full-length album, Stuck On Nothing, will be released digitally on March 9 and physically on May 4 via Astralwerks/DFA Records. The band is embarking on a national tour throughout February and March with Foreign Born. For a preview of the album, check out the Hope Child MP3 on Pitchfork here!

Free Energy Tour Dates

* = with Foreign Born

02/22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
02/23: Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
02/24: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Shop *
02/25: San Francisco, CA @ Popscene
02/26: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
02/28: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
03/03: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
03/04: Madison, WI @ The Frequency *
03/05: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
03/06: Bloomington, IN @ Video Saloon *
03/08: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern *
03/09: Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo *
03/10: Buffalo, NY @ Big Orbit’s Soundlab *
03/11: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge *
03/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory *
03/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Marathon Lounge *
03/14: Washington, DC @ DC9 *

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The Music Tee

Why hasn’t this been thought of before?

A joint venture between Girlie Action and L.A.-based innovator Invisible DJ, The Music Tee is a new and unique way for musicians to sell their music while creating a new outlet for fans to experience music and album art together again. It’s a shirt that has ‘cover art’ on the front and a track list on the back. Each shirt comes with a hang tag with a unique URL to download the music from TheMusicTee.com. The Music Tee is registered with Nielsen SoundScan, so each download counts as an album sale. The point is to help artists find a new platform to actually sell their music again while combining fashion and music. Past artist tees that are still available include The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Kid Sister,  The Dim Mak Dance Compilation #1, Monsters of Folk, Mos Def and more!

“As fashionistas everywhere know, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys are two of the best places in New York to update your closet, but now they are also two of the best places to load your iPod. Thanks to the Music Tee…” 

– New York Times

Here’s my personal favorite:

The Magic Wands

Magic Love & Dreams EP

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Highly Anticipated: Broken Bells


The Shins’ frontman James Mercer has teamed up with Danger Mouse to form Broken Bells.

As soon as I heard a sentence similar to that, I immediately had to check out the video for their first single “The High Road.”

You can listen to the song through YouTube above, or you can click here to check out the actual video.

(Album comes out March 9th. Mark your calendars and begin the countdown!)

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NEW ALBUMS released TODAY!

Here are 2 albums that you should look into getting immediately:

Four Tet There Is Love In You

 

AND Citay Dream Get Together

 

 

You’re welcome.

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COMING SOON: NEW Groove Armada!

 

March 2nd is the lucky day! Click here to check out AND DOWNLOAD (for free!) their new track “Shameless” featuring Bryan Ferry!

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On the Lookout: Cold Cave

Cold Cave – Life Magazine

UK magazine Clash, is probably my #1 favorite music magazine. So, naturally I was excited to see Cold Cave on their list of “2010 One’s to Watch”. Here’s Cold Caves’ track “Life Magazine”.

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Hooray For Earth

HOORAY FOR EARTH – Surrounded By Your Friends

I’m loving this song…but watch out, this video is for sure to bring some nightmares.

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Upcoming: US Album Debut

The Uncomfortable Truth

With two albums out since 2007, Nneka is already an established singer, songwriter and rapper…in the UK. But, this powerful woman with roots in Nigeria and Germany is ready for the States to hear her roar.

Nneka has been compared to Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Lauryn Hill. She’s played with The Roots, and toured with Lenny Kravitz. Her US album debut, Concrete Jungle, is set for release February 2, 2010. The album is full of soulful, meaningful and catchy songs that can’t be ignored. Her voice is “located between a place of yearning and rage.” Nneka addresses important issues through her music, and still manages to keep her audience entertained. To me, she’s the breakthrough voice we need for the new generation.

Her first released single from Concrete Jungle is “The Uncomfortable Truth.” Have a listen, you might hear something you didn’t expect and have a new favorite female vocalist.

MP3: The Uncomfortable Truth

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It Starts with Alex Metric

New (as of just yesterday) is an EP from Alex Metric. It Starts is composed of 4 tracks, the last being the title track remix by Evil Nine. You can buy the mp3’s at Amazon or Amie Street. (If you’re a member at Amie Street, then obviously you’ll wanna buy it there because it’s cheaper!!! Right now it’s under a dollar, but that probably won’t last too long!)

I am not sure why it’s been classified as house, though. Clearly, it’s electronica and I have a hard time hearing any house in the songs. Regardless, it’s some good stuff; I especially am likin’ the title track.

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For the Love of…Jump Clubb

JumpClubb

When you look up any information about Jump Clubb, you’ll find the same press release posted everywhere. Why no other pertinent details? Because Jump Clubb, based in Beverly Hills, wants to remain anonymous. Amazingly, they (whoever ‘they’ are) don’t want to become famous, despite coming from the Hills. Their twitter bio reads: “We make music. That is all you will know.”

So, given that’s all we’ll know, all that’s left to talk about is their music. Their new album The Love of No Dance dropped last month. Comprised of 7 tracks, right now the only place to get it is iTunes. BUT, JC has made a mixtape for us and this mixtape has 5 out of the 7 tracks from the album on it. For the Love of…Mixtape is available through their website for free. It’s about 14 different snippets of tracks and full length Jump Clubb songs all put together in a mix, all coming in a teensy bit shy of a half hour. It’s fantastic.

At first listen, the beginning of the mix failed to intrigue me. The intro and Beat Happening’s “Indian Summer” portion didn’t seem to mesh very well. But, once we got into the Friendly Fires remix, I got into it and stayed into it…almost to the end. Twenty minutes in when the mix hits “Sunlight” by Eric’s Trip, I wondered ‘what the hell’ it was doing in there. Whoever Jump Clubb is must really like that song and wanted to throw it in the mix somewhere. That’s my only conclusion. In between there’s a lot of good stuff, though. I particularly enjoy Peter Bjorn and John’s “It Don’t Move Me” remix by one of the latest phenomenon’s Miike Snow. As far as Jump Clubb’s tracks themselves, I like them all. At least there seems to be something for everyone somewhere in the mix. Here’s a complete listing to For the Love of…Mixtape.

1. Intro
2. Flo Rida – Jump ft. Nelly Furtado (Designer Drugs remix)
3. Beat Happening – Indian Summer
4. Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool (Thin White Duke remix)
5. Jump Clubb – I’d Rather Be Played
6. Peter Bjorn and John – It Don’t Move Me (Miike Snow remix)
7. Jump Clubb – The Love of No Dance
8.  Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (Wake Up! Remix)
9. Jump Clubb – Green Light
10. Major Lazer – Hold The Line (The Unik & Tambour Battant Remix)
11. Jump Clubb – Lets Crush This Party
12. Eric’s Trip – Sunlight
13.  Wolfmother – New Moon Rising (Yacht Remix)
14. Jump Clubb – A Frozen Hug

Oh wait, you wanted to read that press release everyone’s put out there for the world to see? Okay, here it is:

“Meet Jump Clubb. A band from Beverly Hills whose music combines dance, disco, and electronic styles with indie mentalities and vocals straight from the height of the lo-fi era.  Think LCD Soundsystem meets Beat Happening.  Or Hot Chip meets Eric’s Trip.  The juxtaposition melds an interesting style of music that Jump Clubb has coined “No Dance”.  On one hand you have the upbeat soul and funk influence that aims at getting anyone and everyone up and dancing. This mixed with lo-fi and low energy vocals which describe tales of heartbreak and Jump Clubb’s own view of their insecure and superficial hometown creates a wonderful style that urges you to rethink your next trip to the dance floor.  “No Dance” is a musical statement that transcends their city’s physical and mental boundaries and questions the current state of the music listener from LA celebrity to Brooklyn hipster.”

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