I couldn’t find much info on Breakbot. I think he’s French, but some people say he’s Australian. All I know for sure is, I like the music this man makes. From his own mellow, funky material to his high-energy dance floor remixes, all of Breakbot’s productions have given him a name in the blogosphere. His debut EP on Ed Banger Records is set to be released on Valentine’s Day.
MP3: Breakbot – “Make You Mine”
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MP3: Pnau – “Baby (Breakbot Remix)”
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MP3: Data – “Aerius Light (Breakbot Remix)”
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If you’re in New York and you like what you’re hearing, you can check out Breakbot at Terminal 5 on Friday, February 12th. Better bring your dancing shoes.
Fyfe Dangerfieldis the front man of Guillemots. His debut solo album is called Fly Yellow Moonand it was released on January 18th in the UK. I’ve only heard two of the tracks off the album. “She Needs Me” perfectly embodies all of the soft, pop qualities that were already bothering me with “When You Walk In The Room” which is otherwise fun and avoidably catchy. I’m suspicious that the album’s overall sound is closer to “She Needs Me” which I didn’t really enjoy. There’s something about “When You Walk In The Room” that I do like a lot but I can’t really put my finger on it. Since those are the only two songs I’ve heard from the album, I guess I’ll have to wait until it’s released in the US to really check it all out.
MP3: Fyfe Dangerfield – “When You Walk In The Room”
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At the end of 2009, Florence and the Machine released a special 4-disc deluxe edition of their debut album, Lungs. The bonus tracks include acoustic versions, remixes, and live performances of the songs from the debut album. Florence’s powerful voice shines on these acoustic tracks. ”Hurricane Drunk” is the 6th single from the album and will be released on March 22, 2010 with the acoustic version included. Not included in the deluxe re-release was Florence’s cover of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love.” It’s a pretty amazing version of the hit song from ‘86 and certainly not what I was expecting when I first learned of it. These are truly great, beautiful songs.
MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Hurricane Drunk (Acoustic Version)”
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MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Acoustic Version)”
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MP3: Florence and the Machine – “Addicted To Love (Robert Palmer)”
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It was with little fanfare this past fall that singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart released his seventh album, What Will We Be. Not surprisingly, the public shrugged at the latest release from a guy better known for his early 70’s Morrison beard and a tabloid tryst with Natalie Portman than his music.
By many accounts, Banhart has been more shtick than star – a five tool player who can’t seem to crack a starting lineup. But something funny happened on the way to disappointment…a beardless Banhart dropped the album we’ve been waiting for.
Calling Devendra Banhart interesting is like calling Paul McCartney merely well-to-do. Banhart’s bio reads like a Dos Equis commercial: Born in Houston, raised in Caracas, and educated at the San Francisco Art Institute while living in the Castro neighborhood of Harvey Milk fame. He opened for indie rock bands in Paris, wrote songs in Morocco and sold demos outside of shows in LA, before being “discovered” prior to his 21st birthday. His first name comes from Indra, the Hindu God of Rain and Thunder; his middle name, Obi, pays homage to a certain saber wielding Jedi. (No wonder Portman was impressed).
Yet while all these fun facts make for a terrific VH1 Pop-Up video, Barnhart had never written a song worthy of one (not necessarily a criticism by the way). While I always found his music to be intriguing, I never found it to be particularly fun. His previous album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon, showed flashes of brilliance (check out “Lover,” or the hilarious “Shabop Shalom”) amidst stretches of mediocrity.
That trend changes on What Will We Be, which plays as an album, rather than just a compilation of singles (minus a few snoozers at the end). His latest effort is a road trip of versatility, channeling Paul Simon (”Goin’ Back”), Jack Johnson (”Baby”), The Doors (”Rats”), Beach Boys (”Maria Lionza”) and Peter Tosh (”Foolin’”), and featuring a schizophrenic folk/singers & standards mash up (”Chin Chin & Muck Muck”) that personifies Banhart’s originality.
WWWB is worth diving into for the right reasons this time. Finally, Banhart has focused his eccentricity into songs that can be appreciated by more than festival heads, new age hippies and tabloid hounds hunting the next indie rock stud.
In short, it is the album that has finally made Devendra Banhart as entertaining to listen to as he is to read about. And it is one of my favorites of 2009.
MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Rats”
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MP3: Devendra Banhart – “Angelika”
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On January 1st, The Knux announced via twitter the release of a new 5 song EP. The Fuck You EP can’t strictly be called hip hop. It’s a blend of many genres and styles which is what gives The Knux they’re distinctive gritty, alternative electro-hop sound. ”Floozy” and “Fuck You” are classic Knux style skateboard hip hop tracks while the rest are a little more experimental. The EP isn’t too impressive but it seems like that’s kind of the point. That’s also not to say you won’t enjoy it. The name of the EP says it all, clearly these guys aren’t trying to impress anyone. They’re making music for fun, and it shows. To anyone who’s not into it, I think they named the new EP for you.
MP3: The Knux – “Floozy”
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MP3: The Knux – “Fuck You”
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Danger Mouse and James Mercer of The Shins teamed up to create Broken Bells. Danger Mouse was a big fan of The Shins and the duo first met on the Dark Night of the Soul collaboration album. Their self-titled debut will officially be made available in March of 2010 but the album has been leaked online and it’s very impressive to say the least. The single and first track officially released is called “The High Road” which will also be the first track off the forthcoming album. Right off the bat, you can tell you’re listening to quality, experimental indie-pop music. Warm, electronic sounds are set to a melodic and beautiful layering of guitars and strings over 60’s pop style drums. The songs have cool and smooth, steady builds that result in an album that leaves you feeling like you’re on a real musical journey. Similar to the beginning of “The High Road,” the end of “Your Head Is On Fire” sounds like it could have been a Zero 7 track. The end of “Sailing to Nowhere” sounds like a film score and made me wonder when Danger Mouse might start scoring movies since he’s clearly capable. The album as a whole is truly artistic and a great piece of work. Nearly every song is capable of being someone else’s favorite track. Check out the songs below and the official website at BrokenBells.com.
Broken Bells – “The High Road” (removed by request)
The Flaming Lips just released a cover album of Dark Side of the Moon. Theirs is a very cool take on the classic 1973 Pink Floyd album. In addition to the Lips’ hard rock and heavy, psychedelic guitar style that you might expect after Embryonic, the songs feature vocals from Henry Rollins and Peaches. Stardeath and White Dwarfs also join the team to contribute to the cover album as they add their own distinctive sound giving the album even more of a rock edge. Hopefully, this new version will synch up with The Wizard of Oz just like the original…
MP3: The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarfs featuring Henry Rollins – “On The Run”
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MP3: The Flaming Lips featuring Henry Rollins & Peaches – “Great Gig In The Sky”
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If you love hearing Christmas songs around Christmas time, you’ll love AM’s new EP, Holiday Happiness and Cheer. AM’s voice sounds strikingly beautiful over a soft and comforting version of the Charlie Brown Christmas classic, “Christmas Time is Here.” AM’s take on “Home for the Holidays” is irresistibly fun and features playful sounding orchestral strings which complements the cheerful, folky feeling of the original. Aside from being truly beautiful renditions of holiday classics, both songs showcase an impressive talent for song arrangement. Whether you’re just in your car by yourself or DJing a holiday party for your friends, or even if you’re just looking for music to put to your holiday e-cards, now you’ve got something really special. Happy Holidays!
MP3: AM – “Christmas Time is Here”
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Animal Kingdom’s debut album, Signs and Wonders, was released in late September of this year. The British band recorded the critically praised album in Seattle and has been featured on radio shows and blogs all over the world. In addition to being selected as the iTunes best new alternative artist, one song, “Bright Lights,” is featured on the promos for HBO’s Big Love. Attached is my favorite song from the album, “Walls of Jericho.”
MP3: Animal Kingdom – “Walls of Jericho”
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In the video below, Waajeed describes how “Eleanor Rigby” served as the inspiration for his remix of Mayer Hawthorne’s track, “Green Eyed Love.”
MP3: Mayer Hawthorne – “Green Eyed Love (Waajeed Remix)”
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