Pete Yorn’s new album will be out tomorrow! I already have the pleasure of owning it, (I’m a huge fan!) and Back and Fourth is just another great addition to his previous albums.
Tonight, he’ll be performing his song “Don’t Wanna Cry” on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Check it out, it’s a great song!
Filed under new albums
Brothers Brad and Matt Shultz along with three of their friends make up Cage The Elephant, are here with their self-titled debut album, which was released last month. After much success with their single, “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” they are ready for everyone to have a listen to “Tiny Little Robots”.
The Shultz bros, drummer Jared Champion, guitarist Lincoln Parish, and Daniel Tichenor on bass, are hitting up all the cool festivals this summer, too. Check out their tour schedule:
06/14: Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
08/01: Jersey City, NJ @ All Points West Festival
08/09: Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
(Check their website (which is v. cool and colorful btw) for more info.)
-terrorizing, amp-jumping, accidental vomiting and shambolic, Southern-fried riffs — like if the Kings of Leon loved Iggy Pop and didn’t care about their hair.”
Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly, April 2009
Click here to have a listen to “Tiny Little Robots”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Events, new albums
Say Hi, formerly named Say Hi to Your Mom, came out with their 6th album in March this year. Yet, Oohs & Aahs is their first album with Barsuk Records, who they signed with last year.
Say Hi is mostly the work of one man, though. Eric Elbogen started the project in Brooklyn back in 2002. Usually his songs are recorded at home on his Mac.
From Wikipedia:
On tour, friends accompany Elbogen as a band but occasionally he performs solo with the help of synthesizers and drum machines, which he refers to as “his robots”.
In 2005 Elbogen enlisted Chris Egan III as drummer and Jeff Sheinkopf as keyboardist. Say Hi’s record company Euphobia Records was created for the band to start to produce its own records.
With the release of their fifth album The Wishes and the Glitch, the band shortened their name to “Say Hi”. This was done because the earlier name reflected an aesthetic that no longer matched the band’s tastes.
Anyways, my favorite song from his latest album is “Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh”. I can listen to it non-stop…that’s why I thought I’d tell ya about it. I haven’t checked out the rest of the album yet…but it’s on my list. If anyone’s diggin’ it, or not, let me know.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, new albums
I found k-os’ music to be fresh and uplifting when I first heard it. “Crucial” was a great jam, and so was “Sunday Morning”.
When I signed on to Amie Street today to try to find some new songs, I was excited to see the front page telling about his new album, Yes! I didn’t even know to keep a look out for a new album, and yet there it was!
From Wikipedia:
His music incorporates a wide variety of music genres including but not limited to rap, funk, rock, and reggae. The lyrics frequently focus on promoting a “positive message” while at times expressing criticism of mainstream hip hop culture’s obsession with money, fame and glorification of violence.
The new album has some gems, including a track featuring Nelly Furtado that’s set to the melody of Phantom Planet’s “California”.
Check out the video for another song off Yes!, called “4, 3, 2, 1“.
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Eight years ago, Miss Kittin & The Hacker electrified with their track, “Frank Sinatra” which had fans ranging from Marilyn Manson to Elton John! After one album they both moved along in separate directions pursuing solo careers. But, now they are back with a new album called TWO that’s set to come out next month.
This collaboration is said to be more mature electronica with a poppiness glint to it. The video for their new single “1000 Dreams” is posted on Perez Hilton’s site, which you can watch by clicking here. Though Perez likes it, it seems that a lot of his readers would rather go with out. But, you of course are your own judge. So “dream on”!
The new album also features a cover of Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds”*. You can check out that video on YouTube by clicking here.
Even if it seems like something you’re not into, check them out anyways. I mean, Miss Kittin & The Hacker ARE predicted to be one of THE great electronic music events of 2009. You’ll want to know what everyone’s talking about.
*Might I mention that “Suspicious Minds” seems to be hot on the cover list again as of late. Rusted Root has their version on their new album Stereo Rodeo, too.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, new albums
If you were at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, hopefully you got a chance to catch Melissa McClelland. Her third album Victoria Day is being released this month.
From her website:
Melissa and husband/producer Luke Doucet masterfully deliver us rebel-rouser guitars in 1950s Hollywood- style infused with a southern-country twang.
The songs capture all of the beauty and charm of the girl next door while lacing the punch at the sock hop with home-made moonshine.
We know you’ll be fall down drunk in love with it and can’t wait for you to see Melissa perform these songs live — check out her shows in Ontario with Justin Rutledge and shows out west with Jason Plumb.
She’s worked with Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen, and she used to be backup for Sarah MacLaughlin.
I was really entertained and liked what Uptown Magazine had to say:
This is what Jewel might have become if she hadn’t gone to pop-radio hell. Melissa McClelland is a singer-songwriter at heart – she’s been doing it since she was four years old – but she also isn’t afraid to kick in a little distortion, play with drum loops or experiment with her sound. The result is a mixture of slow, woman-with-guitar tunes and uptempo plugged-in tracks that push the folk/guitar-pop envelope.
Have a listen to one of the song’s from her new album, “Glen Rio” here.
Filed under new albums
When I first read a short description of Chase Pagan’s music, I wasn’t sure if this Arkansas guy would be anything I’d want to listen to very much. But, after hearing his single “Gun and the Sword” from Bells & Whistles, I realized I judged too quickly.
The beginning of the song is great! It really captures your attention. All of Pagan’s songs tell a story, and from listening to “Gun and the Sword” you can hear that these songs intrigue the listener. He changes up the tunes in the middle, almost making all the critical points stand out musically like plots do in a book. Not only that, but he plays all kinds of instruments. There’s the piano, which is definitely one of my favorites. Then, there’s also guitar, drums, a banjo, an accordion, and…wouldn’tyaknowit, bells & whistles!
Have a listen by clicking here, and enjoy a 3 minute and 47 second long vacation.
Chase Pagan’s newest album Bells & Whistles will be out June 9th, you’ll be able to get the rest of it then!
Filed under Check 'em Out!, new albums
I got really excited because Thunderheist’s self-titled debut album is out today. But…um…I don’t really like it. The 13-track album is available from Amie Street so I went to preview it…and I’m not impressed. The only song I like enough to download is #3 “Jerk It”. I like the electro beats, but there’s something about the lady rapper’s voice that just isn’t cool.
Very saddening. You can check it out if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Lower those expectations unless you want to be put in a funk the rest of the day like me.
Filed under new albums
MSTRKRFT can definitely kick out the remixes, but many wondered if they have the goods to produce their own sounds. Well folks, they do have the goods. This week MSTRKRFT released their album Fist of God. Yes, they do sound a lot like Daft Punk, but they love Daft Punk…so I think of it as a form of flattery. Besides, MSTRKRFT chooses to add in much more vocals than Daft Punk.
I got the album the day it came out. I’d heard their single “Bounce” featuring N.O.R.E. many months ago and loved it! The rest of the album isn’t disappointing, either. The first track “It Ain’t Love” features Lil’ Mo. This track is something I’d expect to hear a little more about, since it could attract some mainstreamers.
Second, is “1,000 Cigarettes”, it’s all beats, no vocals, so I could see where this one might remind most of Daft Punk. It’s fun though, and there’s what sounds like a cow bell involved. And who doesn’t love cow bells?!
Next, is popular track “Bounce”. It’s definitely a fun song, and it’s definitely a party song. ‘Nuff said.
Now, I’m just going to touch on my favorites from the album. Track 5 features John Legend. It starts out with the piano, and then the beats come in. They make a wonderful blend that’s finalized when John’s voice enters. It’s called “Heartbreaker” and it’s divine.
“You’re in my mind/You’re in my heart/I wish I knew/right from the start/All my friends say/you break my heart/a heartbreaker/right from the start”
My other favorite is track 10, “Breakaway”. Actually, it might be my No. 1 fave on Fist of God. It’s a great song to dance around to. The whole 11 tracks on the album make up only around 38 minutes, but it’s a pretty fun-filled 38 minutes. Go ahead and preview it on Amazon if you’re not sure.
Filed under new albums
After waiting a few years, Tortured Soul is set for their sophomore album release on the 24th. Their debut Introducing had lots of people talking, amazed with the new aspect of LIVE house music.
Now, Did You Miss Me is a 13 track continuation of Introducing. It’s being released on their own new label, TSTC Records.
Here’s a couple things that have been said about Tortured Soul:
“The future of house music…you have to see them live.” – Gilles Peterson, Radio 1
“Tortured Soul create blissed-out tracks that curl around your head like cigarette smoke.” – XLR8R
Incorporating soul with pop and dance, Tortured Soul has dance-able tracks with jazz elements. They’re hitting up some awesome cities this spring, including Pittsburgh, so I’m definitely going to try to make this show.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, new albums
Musically Amusing 