Blue Scholars

Eloquent hip-hop from a DJ named Sabzi and an emcee named Geologic. Sabzi makes great beats using things like short vocal samples over a piano or violin with a thick drum beat. Geologic raps with very clear speech and delivers clever, persuasive and thought-provoking lyrics. So Blue Scholars have everything I love in a hip-hop artist. Have a listen.

Currently, there's a free download including "No Rest For The Weary" and 3 more songs at www.bluescholars.com. Click Download Now below.

Official | Myspace

Research Turtles

From Lake Charles, Louis., Research Turtles are bringing their A-game with the first full-length album featuring 11 solid tracks and no fillers.

Research Turtles is an indie rock band that will remind you of everything from the Beatles to Weezer, AND have everything power pop lovers want: superb recording quality and production, well-written pop song structures, catchy melodies, tight harmonies, and an array of different instrument sounds and guitar tones throughout the record.

The album starts off with "Let's Get Carried Away", a mid-tempo song with a perfect blend of driving guitar riffs and catchy verses. Next is "Damn", which sounds like the song OK Go meant to write instead of "Here It Goes Again"...and its the song that made me want to hear the rest of the album immediately. "Mission" and "Cement Floor" have crunchy guitars with steady punk-like riffs, but the many influences quickly come into the mix.

"Kiss Her Goodbye" slows it down and adds some great synth hooks and guitar leads. It's hard to skip this song and you'll be singing along with the chorus before it's over.

"Tomorrow" is probably my favorite on the album. It opens with a beautiful guitar melody, has positive lyrics, and the verses are very happy sounding with reggae influences.

Get the album now and follow Research Turtles at the links below and watch out for upcoming live shows!



Resarch Turtles . Facebook
Amazon . CD Baby . Dig Station

(500) Days Of Summer - OST

What makes a superb movie soundtrack? Could be anything...depending on personal music tastes. Music can make a film, but not break a film. There's been:

1. Bad movies with great (and best-selling) soundtracks (The Bodygaurd),

2. Epic films with epic soundtracks (Forrest Gump, Grease, Titanic),

3. Then there's the best: great movies with great soundtracks. In this category is where I place the films and soundtracks of 10 Things I Hate About You, Garden State, and (500 Days Of Summer).

Zooey Deschanel stars in the new romantic comedy that is receiving great reviews, and the soundtrck, which also features Zooey as part of indie music duo She & Him, won't be getting anything less. The quality of this OST can be related to the Garden State soundtrack, given the nature and time periods of the films and the collection of new and classic artists on the soundtracks. The 500 Days OST even includes a Simon & Garfunkel tune, just like the Garden State OST.

It's packed with 2 classics from The Smiths, including "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", which She & Him cover on the soundtrack as well, and a cover of the legendary Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" by Meaghan Smith. Also modern tracks from Regina Spektor, Wolfmother, Black Lips, and The Temper Trap make for a nice contrast when listening. A surprise came when I saw they included French singer/songwriter Carla Bruni's "Quelqu’un M’a Dit", a fairly unknown, great song that I first heard a year ago.

Preview all the tracks in the video below or at Amazon.com.

1. "A Story of Boy Meets Girl" - Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
2. "Us" - Regina Spektor
3. "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" - The Smiths
4. "Bad Kids" - Black Lips
5. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths
6. "There Goes The Fear" - Doves
7. "You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates
8. "Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap
9. "Quelqu’un M’a Dit" - Carla Bruni
10. "Mushaboom" - Feist
11. "Hero" - Regina Spektor
12. "Bookends" - Simon & Garfunkel
13. "Vagabond" - Wolfmother
14. "She’s Got You High" - Mumm-Ra
15. "Here Comes Your Man" - Meaghan Smith
16. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - She & Him

Amazon | IMDb

Discovery - "LP"

A great new electronic/indie fusion project from Vampire Weekend's keyboardist/producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's lead singer Wes Miles. Taking an interesting turn from their indie rock bands, Discovery's album cleverly titled "LP" includes all of the modern production, synths, and auto-tuned vocals that you've heard throughout 90's and 00's pop music. Discovery makes awesome beats and adds a unique approach on vocals with this type of music, and that qualifies them for a thorough listening to. They even sample and remake The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" which scores them a throwback + tribute.

Listen to some tracks streaming below.

Myspace | Official Site | XL Recordings

Plej

Plej is an electronic music duo comprising of two brothers in Sweden. The style is chill; soft dance beats and great bass lines with beautiful vocals sampled over the mix, often categorized into the genres chillout, downtempo, deep house, and lounge. Signed to Exceptional Records, Plej has recently released a second album "Home Is Where Your Heart Was", the first album "Electronic Music from the Swedish Leftcoast" was released in 2003.

Check out the links to listen, find similar chillout artists, learn more, and buy the albums.

Listen here: Plej radio | Myspace

Exceptional Records | Official Blog | Facebook | Youtube

Moby - "Wait For Me"

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Cadence Weapon - New Mix Tape "Separation Anxiety"

Canadian hip-hop artist Cadence Weapon's new mix tape Separation Anxiety is now available for a "name-your-price" download on his official site. He delivered his debut studio album (Breaking Kayfabe) and mixtape (Cadence Weapon Is The Black Hand) in 2005 and his sophomore release Afterparty Babies followed in 2008. This will be his second mixtape which includes "a collection of exclusive new Cadence Weapon tracks, remixes, and collaborations". Cadence Weapon is unique because of his distinctive beats, sounds, remixing, and clever lyrics.

Download "Separation Anxiety" for any price at the Official Site.

Check out some music videos and live performances on Youtube.

Record labels: Epitaph | Anti- | Upper Class

Track List | Myspace | Facebook

Treasure Fingers - "40 Minutes In The Champagne Room"

Treasure Fingers is a very talented DJ from Atlanta who's music I've been introduced to and have become quite intrigued by. Now signed to Fools Gold Records, he DJ's his funk/disco/house music across the U.S. The first mix I heard from Treasure Fingers was 40 Minutes In The Champagne Room, a mix that takes the listener on a journey that begins by being dropped off outside of a club and entering into the Champagne Room. Hearing these types of mixes is a great way to find great songs that Treasure Fingers has sampled from, remixed, and compiled. "40 Minutes" is full of remixes of recognizable hits and gems from bands you may not have heard of before.

On Treasure Finger's Official website there are lists of song remixes he's done, some of which show up in 40 Minutes, and all his other DJ mixes and releases. Also, hes put up a "drop box" for anyone to drag and drop an mp3 of their song to potentially be used in a mix.

There's a streaming mp3 of "40 Minutes In The Champagne Room" is available in this post as well as on the bottom half of the official site home page with his other DJ Mixes, remixes, releases, and tour dates. You can find a track listing for "40 Minutes In The Champagne Room" here.

Here's a music video for "We Are Rockstars" by Does It Offend You, Yeah?, one of the first songs you hear mixed into "40 Minutes In The Champagne Room".

mp3 + track listing - "40 Minutes In The Champagne Room"

Myspace | Youtube| Official Site | Fools Gold Records

El Ten Eleven

This post-rock genius duo from California includes a drummer and a bassist who usually plays using a ton of effects and loops pedals, and sometimes a double-neck guitar/bass (guitar on top, bass on bottom). With those unique factors, El Ten Eleven creates great instrumental rock without any laptops, keyboards, or tracks...its all done live. They've put out a few albums and toured extensively throughout the U.S. If you don't like the music, the videos of them playing live are very interesting.

Myspace | Official Site

Anchor In The Valley

Pure and honest indie folk music and lyrics that comes straight from the heart and soul of Kelsey Waldon. A girl and her guitar. Kelsey soaks in a broad range of influences from classic rock artists to country singer/songwriters, modern rock bands, and countless others. She's been playing and writing music for years, and started performing under the name Anchor In The Valley. Kelsey released an album of demos she recorded in her basement, called "Songs From A Basement" which is available on iTunes, and is constantly working on writing and recording new material. She's also touring during the month of July this year, starting the 9th in Kansas with indie artist Ghostbeard. Listening to Anchor In The Valley and watching these songs performed live is relaxing, inspiring, and kind to your ears.

Check out my favorite tune on her Myspace, "untitled" and her latest addition "Mississippi Ride".

Myspace

She & Him - Volume One

She & Him is an indie pop duo made up of guitarist, singer/songwriter M. Ward and singer/songwriter, indie darling Zooey Deschanel, popularly known as a successful actress. They released their first album, Volume One in 2008 on Merge Records. Although it has been over a year since the album was released, this band is worth listening to and keeping an eye on for new material. Catchy vocal melodies sung by Zooey's loveable, cute voice on top of great guitar and piano riffs and chord progressions. They reflect an array of influences of classic power pop and rock bands and singer/songwriters. Listen to selected track from their album on their myspace. I wish I would have known about this band sooner!

Myspace | Offical Site |Merge Records | allmusic

Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison

This is the 3rd compilation of George Harrison's original music, but the first to span his entire career. Let It Roll contains 19 digitally remastered tracks, including all of his #1 hits and live versions of songs written for the Beatles.

The release date is tomorrow, June 16, 2009 and will be available for download and on CD.

allmusic | Amazon

Diane Birch - "Bible Belt"

Some say she's the new Joss Stone, Duffy, or a better, sober version of Amy Winehouse. While her music may paint with some of the same colors as those artists, Diane Birch has diversified and created her own unique style within retro-pop. With great piano playing and a superb, beautifully strong voice belting timeless melodies that stay with you, Diane Birch's debut album Bible Belt is definitely worth more than one listen. Steve Greenberg quickly signed Diane Birch to his record label S-Curve Records after hearing her music. Steve Greenberg also produced Bible Belt along with the same team that produced Joss Stone's first two albums.

This album shows so many influences from 60's and 70's soul, R&B, and singer/songwriter to gospel, pop, and more. You'll hear classic familiarity along with a fresh, new contemporary sound. "Ariel" echoes Elton John's classic piano driven verses. "Rise Up" is a gospel sounding soul ballad. "Valentino" is a fun clap along soul tune with modern pop tones that will have you humming along after listening. "Rewind" is another great Eltonesque piano part but with unique modern vocal melodies that mesh perfectly.

Official Site | Myspace | iTunes

Yet Another Faith No More Greatest Hits Collection

This will be the sixth greatest hits collection since Faith No More broke up in 1998. The new collection titled The Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection was released yesterday to coincide with their reunion tour that begins June 10 in London. There are no U.S. tour dates currently posted. The members on the reunion tour will be the lineup that played on 1997's Album Of The Year. The members have separately been involved in numerous music projects during the past ten years. Now Faith No More is reuniting for the first tour they have performed in many years.

Amazon | Tour Dates

Incubus - Monuments and Melodies

Incubus is releasing a 2-disc greatest hits album June 16, 2009. The compilation will feature 26 songs total including 2 brand new singles. The first single, "Black Heart Inertia" has already been released and you can watch the music video posted below.

UPDATE: I received an email from an Incubus promoter giving me this new information:

"In addition to this sweet, 26-track collection, inside each case of the album will be a card that contains a code. Fans will be able to use this code on Incubus' site, enjoyincubus.com, to gain access into their "Vault." "The Vault" contains 500+ streamable rare tracks, videos, and photos; many hand-picked and taken by the band members themselves--some of which are downloadable."

Incubus is also going on tour!!!!!! Starting July 9, 2009 in San Diego, California, the band will tour throughout July and August in the U.S.

Preorder | The Vault | Tour Dates | Incubus TV

Incubus |MTV Music

Franz Ferdinand "Blood"

Franz Ferdinand released their third studio album Tonight in January and here is a remix album to follow up. Blood features 9 dub versions of tracks from Tonight. Some limited edition deluxe packages of Tonight included the dub cd when it was first released, but was only available in Europe. Now Franz Ferdinand's label Domino Records has released Blood internationally as a stand alone album.

The producer of Tonight had a lot to do with the conception of the dub remix record. According to an interview with Billboard, Franz Ferdinand vocalist Alex Kapranos spoke of the producer of their latest album saying, "He's coming from that Jamaican perspective - there's much more space; the bass guitar leads a lot more on this record than anything else."

CD Universe | Domino | Myspace

Sugar Ray's New Single "Boardwalk", new album due 7/21

Sugar Ray is releasing their first full length studio album since 2003's In The Pursuit Of Leisure. The new album is titled Music For Cougars and the first single "Boardwalk" is now available on iTunes and can be heard on their Myspace.

Favorite Female-Fronted Bands Part 2

1. Garbage

Garbage's music is not garbage. With 7 grammy nominations and numerous hit singles such as "Special" and "Stupid Girl", the band is fronted by Shirley Manson and includes drummer/producer Butch Vig, who produced Nirvana's Nevermind and Smashing Pumpkin's Siamese Dream. They peaked shortly after their debut and kept the hit albums flowing throughout the 90s, and after a hiatus and greatest hits compilation entitled Beautiful Garbage, the band is back together.

2. Blondie

This band was probably an influence to many of the others on my lists of female-fronted bands. Fronted by Debbie Harry, Blondie reached fame and success in the late 70's with the 1978 album Parallel Lines that was driven by the hit single "Heart Of Glass". Parallel Lines was declared platinum and Blondie went on to have many more hit singles and 2 more platinum albums in the U.S.


3. Sixpence None The Richer

You have to love the late 90s sensation that performed the unforgettable hits "Kiss Me", and the covers "There She Goes" and in 2002, "Don't Dream Its Over." They play music that makes you smile, and their songs have receieved plenty of movie and television synchronization because of it. They released a greatest hits compilation in 2004.


4. The Cranberries

Wonderful band from Ireland fronted by Dolores O'Riordan. They produced many great hits, though they are mostly known for the single "Zombie". The Cranberries have been on hiatus since 2003.

Favorite Female-Fronted Bands Part 1

(in no particular order)

1. Letters To Cleo

One of my favorite 90s female-fronted rock/punk bands, also somewhat unheard of and underrated. Fronted by Kay Hanley, they appeared in the film 10 Things I Hate About You as Kat's favorite band. They performed at the high school prom and during the end credits atop of a building on campus covering Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me", which is on the soundtrack.

Original drummer for Letters To Cleo, Stacy Jones, has gone on to form American Hi-Fi as lead vocalist/guitarist. They scored a hit single in 2001 called "Flavor Of The Weak".

2. No Doubt

No Doubt is just a classic. With multiple hit-bearing albums such as Tragic Kingdom and Return Of Saturn, No Doubt is probably one of the most popular female-fronted rock bands of all time. Singer Gwen Stefani is a world class front woman and has the best look and style a band could wish for. Progressing with the band through new styles of music and going solo into the pop world has proven her to be a one-of-a-kind artist.

3. Noisettes

This is a sweet rock/punk/pop-rock group from London fronted by Shingai Shoniwa. Check out my review of the band and their newest album, Wild Young Hearts.

4. The Primitives

Take it back to the 80s for this classic underrated pop-rock group fronted by Tracy Tracy. Check out my Retro Review of the band here.


5. The Sounds

A great modern synth rock/new wave band from Sweden fronted by vocalist Maja Ivarsson. Check out my review of their newest album, Crossing The Rubicon.

The Wallflowers Announce Summer Tour

The Wallflowers played a few shows off and on for the past few years and last year hit up a few festivals over summer, but now they are going out on a full summer tour with 25 dates listed on their site. Check it out.

Tour Dates | Ticketmaster | Myspace

The Sounds - Crossing The Rubicon

The female-fronted Swedish New Wave/Rock group are back with a wonderful follow up to their successful 2006 release with Crossing The Rubicon, featuring twelve new rocked out synth pop songs that are beautiful and catchy. The album was released today and the first single "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake" music video premiere.

The Sounds got huge with the release of their second album Dying To Say This To You and the hit single "Hurt You". Now with international fame, they tour Europe and the U.S., and this year will be playing a portion of the tour with another female-fronted rock group, No Doubt. What an awesome show that will be. They're playing 4 consecutive dates at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California with 3 of the dates already sold out.

The Sounds bring together so many great worlds of music together that make for a fresh new sound. Amazing female vocalist, synth pop and new wave influences, rock and punk influences. Check out the new cd, but also get the first two releases from The Sounds, they are all great. I'm addicted to this band right now.

No One Sleeps When I’m Awake Video THE SOUNDS

Download the new album! | Myspace

The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules

The Berlin based Indie-Pop Electronic-Dance band (all those describe some aspect of their unique sound) released their sophomore album Rules in March 2009 and its a great follow up to their first entitled Dreams.

Rules has longer and more frequent instrumental sections in its songs, as well as the keyboardist using some more varying and interesting and "dance/house" sounds. The album overall has a more fun, free, and upbeat feel to it. The Whitest Boy Alive has explored new territory with their unique sound without straying completely from the sound of Dreams. Great bass hooks and synth sounds create somewhat of an ethereal landscape upon which clean guitar chords waltz, and the soft, relaxed vocals fill in the rest.

The album starts off with a few mid-tempo tunes with catchy vocal melodies, followed by the bouncy dance-esque "Courage" and "Timebomb". Then they slow it down with the more emotional "Rollercoaster Ride" similar to feel of "Don't Give Up" from Dreams. Then they combine all these elements in "High On The Heels" that sounds like a far too staccato version of a techno track. The guitar on "1517" and "Dead End" reminds me of some 70's funk. The amazing bass lines continue in "Gravity" and "Promise Less Or Do More". The album finishes with the catchy keyboard riff led "Island".

Rules flows so smoothly from one song to the next and doesn't demand any second thought from the listener. Singer Erlend Oye is also parts of the band Kings Of Convenience.

Myspace | Official Site | Bubbles For Sale (online store)

Brendan Benson - The other guy in The Raconteurs

Here's another artist that I first discovered from watching a movie. Benson's song "Tiny Spark" from his 2002 album Lapalco got on the soundtrack for Along Came Polly (2004). I found out it was an artist named Brendan Benson, and that he is awesome.

Brendan Benson is now a guitarist/vocalist in the super group The Raconteurs, but before that journey began he had already released 3 solo albums from 1996-2005. And when you give his stuff a listen you'll instantly discover the flavors that have been mixed with Jack White's (White Stripes, Raconteurs) writing to give The Raconteurs their unique sound.

Benson's first album One Mississippi didn't do so well, but it is just as great as his latter, more successful albums Lapalco and Alternative To Love. Check out all of them. I enjoy all the music equally. Any powerpop lovers should definitely love Benson, as many of the songs from his first two records a co-written by Jason Falkner, who played guitar with Jellyfish for their first album Bellybutton.

Powerpop is a definite influence in Benson's writing as well artists like the Beatles, Paul McCartney, The Who, and Electric Light Orchestra. Hes pop, and hes rock. A Rolling Stones describes very accurately that "Brendan Benson writes pop songs for an alternate universe, one where hits are still forged out of crisp guitars and Beatlesque backing vocals."

There has been announced a fourth solo record due out in 2009 and is being produced by Gil Norton whos produced bands like the Foo Fighters, Pixies, and Counting Crows. "The album is rumored for an August 2009 release." Until the new album, there is some newer material on MySpace from Benson to hear including some songs formed from collaborating with singer Ashley Monroe.

Myspace

The Primitives

They emerged in the mid to late 80's from the UK and ended after 1991, most notably leaving behind the top 5 single "Crash", which you've heard if you've seen Dumb and Dumber. "Crash" is a great song, the first one I heard from the band, but it only lead to a passion for most of the Primitives' catalog. I'm a fan of many rock and pop bands with female vocalists, i.e. No Doubt, Letters To Cleo, Blondie. The Primitives vocalist Tracy Tracy has such a nice soft voice that fits perfectly with the guitar chord based structures in the songs. The electric guitar played a lot of arpeggiated guitar leads and chords similar to the style of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, with most of the hooks being in the vocal melodies. Picture light-hearted soft pop/alternative/rock that is catchy, simple, and fun.

They released 4 studio albums during their career, but I suggest starting out with one of their greatest hits compilations if you are into rock bands with female vocalists, 80s music, especially indie 80s.

The Primitives Fan Site | Short interview from 1988 | Buy greatest hits

Lily Allen - "It's Not Me, It's You"

A beautifully smooth and innocent voice singing sassy and honest lyrics create a fun sound in pop music. Lily's not afraid to speak her mind. The British singer/songwriter released her second studio album in February with "The Fear" becoming her second #1 single in the UK. There are many moods to the album including electronica tastes "The Fear" and "Back To The Start" to the jazz loops in "He Wasn't There", all with vocal melodies and lyrics that keep you interested until the songs are over. The contrasting moods of her fun melodies and sometimes bratty lyrics sung by a sweet, soft voice are appealing. "The Fear" contains words which inspire deeper thought, while "Not Fair" somewhat comically speaks of a great boyfriend who's only lacking in one aspect of the relationship. Much respect to a pop artist who is writing their own songs.

Check out Lily's official site where Remixes are available for to listen to that fans have submitted. Buying a copy of her new record allows you to access exclusive mp3 clips of individual tracks from the recordings to encourage remixes. Click here.

Official Site | MySpace | Tour Dates

The Noisettes - "Wild Young Hearts"

Unique. Evolving. Amazing live show. With a single that peaked at #2 in the UK driving the recently released second full length album, "Wild Young Hearts", its a great time to check out a band that can re-invent themselves while keeping their intriguing unique identity. From London and started in 2003, Noisettes are led by Shingai Shoniwa who brings beautiful vocals, solid bass lines, and an awesome energy on stage. Dan Smith's sick guitar solos and catchy riffs with the drumming of Jamie Morrison complete the Noisettes.

The charts prove that the new release is more mainstream friendly than their debut album "What's The Time Mr. Wolf?" that was released in early 2007 and had two singles that only got a small taste of the UK charts. Extensive touring followed their debut album in Europe and in the U.S. with bands such as TV On The Radio and Bloc Party. I got to catch the Noisettes open for TVOTR in August 2007 in at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville and both bands rank high in my favorite live performances that I've ever seen.

"What's The Time Mr. Wolf" has more punk and rock influences with driving bass and sweet rocked out guitar solos, highlighted by songs like "Don't Give Up", "Sister Rosetta (Capture The Spirit)", and "Scratch Your Name". Its a great listen with plenty of parts to head bang to. The new "Wild Young Hearts" strays from that style by being more pop and just showing a different set of influences. The songs "Never Forget You" and "So Complicated" are reminiscent of early Motown hits, while "Beat Of My Heart" remind me of some classic 80s pop rock. Shoniwa has a sensual soultry voice and she's been compared to Billie Holiday, but she'll also belt out a fun and raspy shout at times.

Some great bands like the Noisettes show up on UK charts but not on any in the US, so keep an eye on the UK charts now and then. Here's a favorite from the first album, and links to stream both albums and an EP.

Wild Young Hearts | What's The Time Mr. Wolf? | 3 Moods - Check out "Signs"