I’m Back…Kinda
May 9, 2010
I’m back with more of my picks of the week. I have some good news and bad news though. The good news: I’m trying to pick new songs to upload everyday. The (kinda) bads news: It won’t be on this blog. I’m officially addicted to Tumblr. The features and style of it are awesome.
Without further ado, the new place to check out my musical selections:
http://jeeeffreeey.tumblr.com
So if you have Tumblr, follow me. If you don’t have Tumblr, check it out.
Check Me Out@Glee
April 24, 2010
p.s. new entries to come
Best of 2008
December 8, 2008
Best New Artists of 2008
Adele
Amazing, amazing voice. Please go download her Grammy-nominated debut album, 19. The title? Her age. Take a listen and you won’t believe it.
Recommended songs: (Honestly, the whole album.) Tired, Hometown Glory, Chasing Pavements
No Kids
You can check out my post about these guys.
Recommended songs: For Halloween, The Beaches Are Closed, Bluster in the Air
Santogold
She’s been writing for years, and her debut album definitely shows that. Mixing R&B, hip-hop, and electronic, Santogold is a less pop-y M.I.A. (“Paper Planes“). I can’t wait to hear the next album.
Recommended songs: (Honestly, her whole self-titled album is amazing.) Creator, Starstruck, I’m A Lady
Laura Marling
Pretty voice, truthful lyrics. She is also part of another band by the name of Noah & The Whale, but she can do much better all on her own. Check out her amazing album, Alas I Cannot Swim.
Recommended songs: Ghosts, My Manic And I, New Romantic
Lykke Li
Unique voice/style meets unique pop. There’s no way of defining her music really. You either like it, or you don’t. I, for one, cannot stop listening to her song “Everybody But Me.”
Recommended songs: Everybody But Me, Tonight, Breaking It Up
Best Albums of 2008
1.) Sia: some people have REAL problems
I cannot rave enough about Sia. Great lyrics, great music, and one amazing voice. Unfortunately, she was snubbed by the Grammy’s, but she is making her impression on the music scene pretty well on her own.
2.) Hot Chip: Made in the Dark
Indie-pop electronic-misfits who are closeted romancers…go take a listen.
3.) Dr. Dog: Fate
You can check out my post about these guys.
4.) Gnarls Barkley: The Odd Couple
Nothing can top their debut album, St. Elsewhere, but the duo, aka DJ Dangermouse and Cee-Lo, decided to take it to another level with their sophomore album. It’s good enough to listen to while we wait for their next album, which they are supposedly working on. Can’t wait.
5.) TV on the Radio: Dear Science
Their previous album, Return to Cookie Mountain, received critical acclaim from everyone, and their recently released album is building up buzz once again. A great alternative-rock band that experiments with R&B-pop. Crazy variety, amazing album.
Best Songs of 2008
Ratatat: Mirando [LP3]
I am a die-hard Ratatat fan after listening to their albums Ratatat, Classics, and LP3. All great albums from these electronic-rock players.
Beck: Volcano/Youthless [Modern Guilt]
Dangermouse (from Gnarls Barkley) teams up with Beck to make a pretty decent album. These two songs are the best.
She & Him: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? [Volume One]
You may know lead singer, Zooey Deschanel, from the Will Ferrell movie “Elf.” She teams up with other indie musician M. Ward to make one pretty song with a great ending.
Sam Sparro: Black & Gold [Sam Sparro]
It seems like the only good music we get is derived from overseas…ooh America. Sam gives pop-electronica a new spin. This song is just too hard to get out of your head. Oh…and what a voice!
MGMT: The Youth/Electric Feel [Oracular Spectacular]
You can find these songs on TV, in movies, and now all over the net. Critics rave about the album, but I find it to be for those with an acquired taste. Although, these two songs are definite stand-outs.
Beirut
November 24, 2008
Beirut: This 22 year-old has been catching buzz since his release of Gulag Orkestar in 2006. Zach Condon started making music at the age of 15. Starting out with electronic lo-fi music, he slowly worked his way into melodies and orchestral elements. A high school drop-out, Zach decided to travel to Europe with his brother. This was when he was exposed to gypsy music, and he instantly fell in love. He recruited others to help him out with a release through his label, Ba Da Bing. Doing this, he added an assortment of instruments to the mix: accordions, ukulele (which he learned how to play), mandolin, trumpet, (something called a) glockenspiel, and (another unique item) a euphonium. [Curious? Wikipedia is your best friend.]
After releasing a number of EPs and his debut (Gulag Orkestar), his last release The Flying Cup Club received a lot of positive reviews from critics and fans from all over. Once you step into Beirut’s world, you will find yourself in an indie-bohemian-pop wonderland. With Zach’s rich, deep voice, he gives a unique approach to the music world that typical artists could never attempt.
LA BLOGOTHEQUE (good luck reading it) has a plethora of artists perform live in the most interesting places. Check out youtube for performances by others. Here is Beirut walking through the streets singing “Nantes” (The Flying Cup Club), which is one of my favorites:
Unfortunately, Beirut had to cancel his upcoming tour. It was later confirmed he was briefly admitted to an hospital due to extreme exhaustion. Thankfully, he is back to normal and working on his next album, which I am dying to hear. Zach will be releasing a double-EP in February on his own record label, Pompeii records.
Other songs to check out:
1.) Elephant Gun
2.) Cliquot
New fact I just discovered: Cliquot is actually not sung by Zach on the album. It is sung by another unique artist by the name of Final Fantasy (not related to the game at all). In this video, it is the lead singer for Grizzly Bear.
3.) In The Mausoleum (amazing performance)
4.) Scenic World
5.) The Penalty
Have a great Thanksgiving ya’ll.
No Kids
November 8, 2008
No Kids: It seems like a lot of good music comes from Canada nowadays. No Kids hail from Vancouver, British Columbia. The band is 3/4th of another critically acclaimed indie group, P:ano. Justin Kellam plays the lead singer while Julia Chirka and Nick Krgovich back him up with electronic pianos and drums. I would label them under indie-pop-R&B, which is so unique in many ways. Justin’s vocals are either smooth, falsetto, or low key. This also gives them a lounge/chill out kind of sound.
Their debut album, Come Into My House, was released in February of this year. Just like another singer-songwriter by the name of Feist, No Kids received a grant from the Canadian government to finance the recording of their first album. Apparently the name of the album is derived from a 1989 Queen Latifah song. I would definitely pick up this album if you want a change from the usual music out there. Their opening track “Great Escape” gives the feeling of an unreleased Ben Folds song. TAKE A LISTEN
Currently they are still touring with The Rosebuds:
11/19- Vancouver, British Columbia
11/20- Seattle, Washington
11/21- Anacortes, Washington
11/22- Portland, Washington
I had the chance to see them perform in Buffalo a couple weeks ago. (More about that at the end of the post.)
Other songs to check out:
2.) Listen for It/Courtyard Music
4.) Bluster in the Air
5.) Dancing In the Stacks
No Kids actually opened for another great female indie singer-songwriter Mirah. It was my first time hearing them ever so I was excited.
I was kind of captivated when they started playing honestly. It was a mixture of pop-R&B but with an indie twist. And the lead singer had a unique voice that seemed to compliment their sound even more.
The show did start off at a sour note:
1.) the event organizer was an hour late
2.) originally doors opened at 8 but we had to stand outside and wait for another two hours
3.) finally we went to a bar to grab a drink and came back to find that they let people in but the show STILL did not start
4.) the show didn’t start till about 10:30
5.) Mirah actually dropped a drum on her foot, so she had to sit to perform with this seriously gigantic swollen foot
In the end, the performances were really, really good. Mirah’s voice is just too pretty. She played a couple of songs and then went to the hospital right after.
And then like crazed fans, we approached her to take a picture and talk. I tried not to keep her long on behalf of her foot, but she was very cool about it.
All in all, the ticket only cost me $10. It was definitely well worth the money. Try to check these peeps out if they are ever near you. Enjoy this amazing Mirah song…
(What a victory on November 4th, eh?)
Angus & Julia Stone
October 27, 2008
Angus & Julia Stone: This sibling duo hail from Sydney, Australia. Along with their amazing accents, they also give us amazing folk-pop music. At first, their vocals are a little hard to grasp. Angus’ voice reminds me a little of Damien Rice, while Julia’s voice reminds me slightly of another eccentric singer, Joanna Newsom. The two say they derive their music from listening to the 60’s and 70’s music of their parents. Their song “Paper Aeroplane” was a pretty silent hit but left its impression. It also is one of my favorite songs by them.
Unfortunately, their full length album, A Book Like This, was not released in the U.S. yet. Although, iTunes finally features their EP, Just A Boy. Apparently, the track “What You Wanted” was recently featured on the NBC series Lipstick Jungle. This will hopefully prompt them to release their amazing debut album.
Currently, they are touring the UK but are heading for the States in November.
11/17- San Diego, CA
11/18- Hollywood, CA
11/19- San Francisco, CA
11/22- New York, NY
I’m hoping to get to the New York show. I mean for $8 I am willing to take the trip to see them perform.
Songs to check out:
1.) The Beast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ap5qvVhchY
2.) Wasted
3.) Jewels & Gold: http://www.imeem.com/cybernetiko/music/wwDjJ0d1/angus_julia_stone_jewels_and_gold/
4.) Private Lawns
5.) Just a Boy
In unrelated news:
Vote. Please.
Dr. Dog
October 11, 2008
Dr. Dog [doctor-dawg]: Dr. Dog are Philadelphia-natives bringing us psychedelic-pop/rock. It is quite a mix of everything really. Even a bit of doo-wop moments if you ask me. They recently released (a summer favorite of mine) their third-LP, Fate.
With songs ranging from “The Breeze,” where you can reminisce about those cool summer nights, to “The Beach,” a hard rocking thump party, there is no telling what this band has in store for you. They’re live performances are always filled with energy, melodic hard rock, and the idea that home-grown music will never die.
Unfortunately, during their summer tour, the lead singer (Toby Leaman) was punched in the throat accidently during a performance. They had to postpone for nearly a month for the singer to recuperate. Starting in November, the band is touring overseas but will be back in the States on November 28th in Philadelphia (a rescheduled performance from the summer). Then Dec. 2, you can find them at Webster Hall in NYC. Originally, I was going to attend the New York show on my birthday (July 24th), but the singer was still unable to perform.
If you happen to be in San Francisco on October 30th, check them out with another amazing band, the Black Keys.
I leave you with some of my personal favorites by Dr. Dog.
Heart it Races – Originally by Architecture In Helsinki
Sia
September 14, 2008
There’s a lot of music I am discovering that I would like to share with you. Right now I am getting used to WordPress. Lots of reading. And lots of cleaning.
For now, take a listen to one of my favorite artists: Sia. Her album “some people have REAL problems” came out at the beginning of the year. She garnered attention for her (overplayed yet still musically beautiful) song “Breathe Me.” Take a look at her recent videos…
She just performed her third single, “Soon We’ll Be Found,” on David Letterman. It is classic Sia. And very beautiful.
Her second single, “The Girl You Lost to Cocaine.”
Her first single, “Day Too Soon.” The acoustic version is too good to ignore honestly.
Originally her record company said no to the song “Buttons,” but after it became a viral hit within weeks, it became a hidden track for “some people have REAL problems.” Here she is on Jimmy Kimmel doing it…
Enjoy. And I’ll be back with more.
Welcome.
Your Mix(Tape) 
