Brand New: Phantogram – “Fall In Love”
Phantogram have set February 18, 2014 as the release date for their forthcoming new album, Voices.
This is the critically acclaimed New York duo’s first major-label full-length, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated albums of the new year. The pre-order for Voices went live yesterday
Moreover, fans who pre-order from iTunes will receive an instant download of the band’s brand new single “Fall In Love”, which is also available at other digital retailers today, and as the A-side of a limited-edition 7″ vinyl single at physical retailers in early 2014.
Before the official radio add date, “Fall In Love” is already captivating radio gatekeepers and fans alike. Its effect proved so powerful that multiple stations in major markets added the song into early rotation. Over the past week “Fall In Love” has become the most-added track at Alternative Radio, and it continues to rise. Feedback has been just as astounding.
The song itself sees duo Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter craft a cerebral and charismatic gateway into the record’s lush landscapes and entrancing lyricism. It’s elegant electronic alternative pop fortified by hip-hop futurism and electro soul. You’ll instantly fall for it.
Phantogram will be performing on the West Coast during the week of the record’s release, making the following stops:
02.20.14 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre
02.22.14 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
02.23.14 Ventura, CA Ventura Theatre
Voices follows up the group’s celebrated self-titled EP, which spawned the track “Black Out Days”. Phantogram performed the song on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in the midst of a triumphant fall tour that saw the pair and their live band headline numerous sold-out houses as well as an unforgettable performance at the historic Hollywood Bowl supporting M83.
Recorded in Los Angeles with co-producer John Hill (Santigold, MIA), Voices resounds immortally. Phantogram‘s full-length debut Eyelid Movies [2010, Barsuk] and Nightlife EP [2011, Barsuk] established them as one of music’s most intriguing indie outfits. Soon, the likes of The Flaming Lips and Big Boi [Outkast] began seeking them out for studio collaborations. Republic Records also recognized their spirit and joined forces with them in 2013.
Filed under Awesome, Highly Anticipated, listen, new albums
Listen: Dr. Dog – Oh My Christmas Tree EP
Today, Dr. Dog will release a collection of four delightfully weird and heartfelt original Christmas songs. The EP is entitled Oh My Christmas Tree and was initially intended as a gift to the band’s family and friends. Fortunately for the rest of us, the group has decided to make the songs public.
In keeping with the holiday spirit, 100% of artist proceeds from this digital only benefit EP will be donated to Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks that feeds more than 37 million people, including nearly 14 million children, and leads the nation in the fight against hunger.
As Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken explains “Last year, in 2012, I wrote these songs and recorded them in two different kitchens over the course of the two weeks leading up to Christmas. I made them with the intent to mail them to some of my friends and family as a christmas present. It wound up being a great gift to myself! The experience definitely showed me once again that stopping to pay closer attention to what things mean, even seemingly familiar things, always brings an added depth and beauty to life. And always in a surprising way. Christmas music can be so playful and fantastical but it can also be very melancholy and foreboding. To me thats the best. The spirit can guide you to balance and the spirit can be found anywhere you choose to look. In the cartoons and in the cold blood. In the wild imagination and in the strictest tradition. These four songs will ultimately live as that reminder for me and hopefully they serve you in some way too. You, the child of wonder. You, of age and grace. Peace be with ye.”
Dr. Dog, whose high energy live shows the New York Times Magazine recently described as “feeling as if you’re at the best house party ever” will begin a North American headline tour this January in support of their soulful new album B- Room, which Magnet proclaimed “Dr. Dog’s career-defining work” and All Music called “a beautifully crafted slice of psych-pop goodness.”
Dr. Dog Tour Dates:
1/24/14 – University Theatre – New York, NY
1/25/14 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY
1/27/13 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
1/28/14 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
1/29/14 – Cabaret Mile-End – Montreal
1/31/14 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
2/01/14 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
2/03/14 – Madison Theatre – Cincinnati, OH
2/05/14 – Turner Hall – Milwaukee, WI
2/06/14 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
2/07/14 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
2/08/14 – Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
2/19/14 – Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA
2/20/14 – Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
2/21/14 – Stubb’s – Austin, TX
2/22/14 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
2/24/14 – Crescent – Phoenix, AZ
2/25/14 – Crescent – Phoenix, AZ
2/26/14 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
2/27/14 – Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
2/28/14 – The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
3/1/14 – Warfield Theatre – San Francisco, CA
3/3/14 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
3/4/14 – The Venue, Vancouver, BC
3/5/14 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA
3/7/14 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
3/8/14 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
3/10/14 – Liberty Hall – Lawrence, KS
3/11/14 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
3/12/14 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
3/14/14 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Meiko – “Wonderful Christmastime”
L.A.-based singer-songwriter MEIKO has recorded a remake of the Paul McCartney holiday classic, “Wonderful Christmastime”, and has made the track available as a free download on her website, http://www.meikomusic.com
Meiko will perform an online concert, viewable worldwide, via Stageit.com on Sunday, December 15 at 2PM (PST). A portion of the proceeds from this ‘pay what you can’ performance will be donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The New Royales Cover “Fell In Love With A Girl”
The New Royales have a background as interesting as the music they create together. The band will release Freedom’s For The Brave: The Mixtape on January 14th – an album of covers featuring some of their various influences, including tracks by Depeche Mode, The Zombies, Jefferson Airplane & more.
Having previously unveiled their interpretation of The Monks’ classic, “Drugs In My Pocket“ The New Royales drop their irresistible take on The White Stripes’ “Fell In Love With A Girl”.
Download: The New Royales – “Fell In Love With A Girl”
The New Royales band member Liz Rodrigues recently lent her voice to Eminem’s latest hit, “Survival.” 2-time GRAMMY winning (4-time nominated) producer, DJ Khalil, has worked with the likes of Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Drake, Kendrick Lamar & Aloe Blacc, whose hit “Wake Me Up” is currently #1 on the iTunes R&B chart and featured in a national Beats by Dre campaign with Kevin Garnett & Colin Kapernic. In addition, DJ Khalil and Liz, along with Canadian multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Erik Alcock & Chin Injeti, have co-written with Pink on her 5 million albums sold, The Truth About Love, Pitbull’s Can’t Stop Me Now & Eminem‘s new hit record Marshall Mathers LP 2 (“Survival”), which debuted at #1 on the iTunes album chart.
Hailing from separate parts of the world; Liz (Portuguese), Erik (English Canadian), Chin (East Indian) & DJ Khalil (African American), The New Royales’ diverse makeup lends a hand in the uniqueness of their sound, pushing their own musical boundaries whilst still remaining a cohesive unit.
Their diverse backgrounds and unifying passion and respect for music has led to a sound that is eclectic and futuristic with a twist of the past.
Telepopmusik – “Fever”
“…it’s been a long freaking time since Télépopmusik dropped their last full-length, and we can finally rejoice in their comeback.” – Death and Taxes
“…a calming, warm wash of water that seduces with its surprising showcase of New York-based singer, Betty Black.”– Baeble Music
Télépopmusik posted a video for their new track “Fever”, featuring New York vocalist Betty Black from their upcoming full-length, due in early 2014.
The first “official” video, directed by Lou Chaussalet, captures a near death experience on a beach in the Southwest of France.
On the remix front, Télépopmusik is also releasing a new remix of “Fever” by Tulip. Formerly known as Play Paul and Ryskee, releasing tracks on labels such as Roulé, Kitsune and Gigolo Records, Tulip’s “cold wave” vibe works nicely with the original moody, deep and hypnotic flavor of the original track, adding a bit more tension and dance floor beats.
It’s been over a decade since Télépopmusik’s first release, Genetic World, and more specifically the slinky, Grammy-nominated track “Breathe” featuring Scottish vocalist Angela McCluskey, which nearly defined an era of sophisticated, down-tempo French music (along with compatriots Air, Les Rythmes Digitales and Dimitri from Paris) in the mid 2000s.
Comprised of 2Square and Antipop, French electronic act Télépopmusik revealed the first 2 tracks from their third studio album (due in 2014) this past summer: a 2-song EP remix bundle, Fever/Try Me Anyway, featuring NY-based vocalist Betty Black and remixes from Dirty Channels, Zombie Disco Squad, Populette, Pit Spector & Pino Rastovitch. Télépopmusik’s new album will continue a long-standing collaborative tradition, featuring the vocal talents of New York’s own Betty Black (aka Sylvia Gordon of KUDU) & Swedish singer Johanna Wedin, as well as the return of the now US-based (and ever iconic) Angela McCluskey and some other surprise guests.
Filed under listen, new albums, remixes, video
Video: The Fratellis – “She’s Not Gone Yet But She’s Leaving”
The Fratellis just released their highly anticipated new album, We Need Medicine, through BMG. In celebration, the band embarked on a full US tour, selling out most stops along the way, and peaked at the top ten in alternative radio.
Now, the band reveal their striking, retro-flavored video (by Brendan Kennedy) for deliciously catchy We Need Medicine album cut, “She’s Not Gone Yet But She’s Leaving,” which you can watch below.
The Fratellis made a triumphant return to the road in the US this fall, making stops in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles & more. The band’s live show was praised as “a good old rock and roll show that was a damn good time” (WAWSTSF) & as sending “everyone’s hands up in the air and feet off the ground” (JUMP Philly). As summarized by Rukkus, “their ability to command the stage and awe their crowds is incomparable.”
The full length We Need Medicine album was preceded by a special digital EP, featuring the studio version of “Seven Nights Seven Days” & two live album tracks- “She’s Not Gone But She’s Leaving” and “Whisky Saga,” recorded at Glasgow Barrowlands.
Filed under new albums, video
New Video: KNTRLR – “Stabs”
Somewhere in-between a less pissed off Death Grips and an electronic drums/synth version The Walkmen is the Brooklyn duo KNTRLR. While certainly more of an electronic production, the combined kinetic energy of Charles Davis and Michael Henry is something that can only come from real-life human beings beating on instruments.
Visual elements are also a defining element of the KNTRLR aesthetic, which is clearly made evident in their new video for “Stabs” a track that came to fruition after the band saw a man get stabbed outside of their practice space. Featuring apocalyptic found footage and the literal stabbing of a heart, you can watch the almost-epileptic video below.
And for those adjacent to the band’s native Brooklyn, KNTRLR will be performing with the Gay Blades at Asbury Lanes this Friday, November 29th.
Related articles
- Check ‘Em Out: KNTRLR (musicallyamusing.com)
Filed under video
Video: Sleepy Sun – “The Lane”
Northern California’s Sleepy Sun– whose music has been described as “a shape-shifting mess of psych-garage slime” (SPIN) and “the darkly foreboding side of garage psych” (Stereogum), has announced their fourth LP, Maui Tears, to be released January 28th via Dine Alone Records. Along with seven brand new songs, the album features both tracks from Sleepy Sun’s recent 7″, “11:32” and “The Lane.” Today, the band shares their video for album opener “The Lane,” which takes us on a tripped-out journey through the clouds, the ocean, the galaxy, and beyond. Maui Tears will be available for pre-order beginning December 10th, and all pre-orders will come with an instant grat of album track “Galaxy Punk.”
Having formed six years ago, Sleepy Sun already has three LPs and a handful of singles & EPs under their belt. Maui Tears finds the band pushing boundaries with their experimental songwriting, exploring new territory and showcasing the diversity of their sound. A combination of catchy, psych-tinged melodies, softer, dreamier tracks, and some of the band’s heaviest material to date, the album is a dynamic collection of songs from a new, bolder version of a band that’s torn down walls and built up confidence.
Known for their incessant touring, Sleepy Sun has toured with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, the Black Angels, and most recently, City and Colour. They have a handful of live dates left on their current tour and will be announcing 2014 dates soon. Maui Tears cover art and track listing, and stay tuned for more new music coming soon!
Maui Tears Track Listing:
- The Lane
- Words
- Everywhere Waltz
- Outside
- 11:32
- Theilbar
- Slowdown
- Galaxy Punk
- Maui Tears
Filed under new albums, video
Video: Akon – “So Blue”
Akon is officially back with the worldwide release of his new single “So Blue”. The multi-platinum superstar, producer, and entrepreneur debuts the music video for “So Blue” exclusively on VEVO. The track serves as a prelude to his forthcoming fourth full-length album set for release early 2014 via Republic Records.
With over 12 million albums sold worldwide, five Grammy Award nominations, and 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt, Akon is simply unstoppable. His soulful voice and addictive lyrics have propelled countless hits across genres—from pop and R&B to hip hop and dance. In addition to his own chart-dominating singles, Akon has made a staggering 300 guest appearances for icons including Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Lil Wayne, R. Kelly, and Eminem.
Never content to rest on his laurels, Akon has recently turned his longtime dream of working in Hollywood into a reality. This summer, he landed his first major movie role and will appear alongside costars Adrien Brody, Hayden Christensen and Jordana Brewster in the upcoming indie action thriller “American Heist”, a remake of the 1959 Steve McQueen movie “The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery.” Akon made his acting debut in Jeta Amata’s stirring motion picture “Rise Up”; a fictionalized account of true events that tells the story of an educated Nigerian girl’s return to her rural community to become the leader of a local movement fighting against the polluting oil company. Akon joined a stellar cast including Mickey Rouke, Kim Bassinger, Anne Heche, and Vivica A. Fox. After a successful introduction on the international film festival circuit in 2012, Akon is currently in the studio scoring the soundtrack for the film’s U.S. theatrical release slated for spring 2014.
Filed under listen, new albums, video, Whoa!
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