Audio Absinthe - Music » News

Danger Mouse and James Mercer are Broken Bells

Spencer — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:34:44 +0000

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) Broken Bells (March 2010)

Flaming Lips – Dark Side of the Moon

Spencer — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:19:07 +0000

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” [See post to listen to audio] MP3: The Flaming Lips featuring Henry Rollins & Peaches – “Great Gig In The Sky” [See post to listen to audio] Dark Side of the Moon (December 2009)

Spoon – “Written In Reverse”

Spencer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:49:31 +0000

Spoon’s upcoming album, Transference, is scheduled to be released in January 2010. The single is called “Written In Reverse” and it was released on iTunes today. It’s slowly growing on me but I can’t say that it’s anything special. Based on what I’ve seen online about the song, it seems like their fans are more excited about the release of a new Spoon track than they are about the track itself, but it’s definitely worth checking out… MP3: Spoon – “Written In Reverse” [See post to listen to audio] Written In Reverse – Single (December 2009)

Common and John Legend – “Strange Fruit”

Spencer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:51:08 +0000

Thanks to Eric B for this one… “Strange Fruit” was originally intended for Common’s album, Finding Forever, but the song didn’t appear on that album when it was released back in 2007. The beat, which is produced by Devo Springsteen, ended up on Cassidy’s album, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007) and still features John Legend singing the hook. Nina Simone’s version of the Billie Holiday classic (“Strange Fruit”) was sampled in creating the song and the version below with Common was just leaked online last week. MP3: Common and John Legend – “Strange Fruit” (Download) [See post to listen to audio]

BlakRoc is near…

Spencer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:52:21 +0000

I can’t wait for the BlakRoc album (The Black Keys hip hop project featuring songs with artists such as Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Ludacris, Jim Jones, Pharoah Monch, and more). I posted a little about the project not too long ago (here) and recently came across the two tracks below. I love the Raekwon track and even though RZA isn’t great on the track with Pharoah Monch, the music speaks for itself. This is some serious blending of hip hop and rock. To all other projects which have attempted to blend the two genres, prepare to be blown away… BlakRoc will be released on iTunes and independent music stores on black Friday, November 27th. You can preorder the album here. MP3: The Black Keys featuring Raekwon - “Stay Off the F*%$#n’ Flowers” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: The Black Keys featuring RZA and Pharoah Monch - “Dollaz & Sense” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] BlakRoc (November 2009)

Track Listing: 1. Coochie (featuring Ludacris & Ol Dirty Bastard) 2. On The Vista (featuring Mos Def) 3. Hard Times (featuring NOE) 4. Dollaz & Sense (featuring RZA & Pharoah Monch) 5. Why Can’t I Forget Him (featuring Nicole Wray) 6. Stay Off The F*%$#n’ Flowers (featuring Raekwon) 7. Aint Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) (featuring Jim Jones and Mos Def) 8. Hope You’re Happy (featuring Billy Danze, Nikki Wray & Q-Tip) 9. Tellin’ Me Things (featuring RZA) 10. What You Do To Me (featuring Billy Danze, Jim Jones & Nicole Wray) 11. Done Did It (featuring Nicole Wray and NOE)

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck – “Heaven Can Wait”

Spencer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:50:49 +0000

“Heaven Can Wait” is the new single from Charlotte Gainsbourg’s forthcoming album, IRM, which is scheduled to be released in January 2010. The song features backup vocals from Beck, who wrote and produced the entire album for the singer/actress. In fact, IRM really just sounds like a new Beck album. CharlotteGainsbourg.com is also offering a free download of the title track from the album. The below MP3 of “Heaven Can Wait” is available on Beck.com, Pitchfork, and Stereogum. MP3: Charlotte Gainsbourg – “Heaven Can Wait” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] IRM (January 2010)

*UPDATE (11/18): The music video was just released. Check it out below…

Julian Casablancas – debut solo album and Friday nights in LA

Spencer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:26:41 +0000

Julian Casablancas, lead singer for The Strokes, will be playing a special series of shows every Friday night this month at the Downtown Palace Theatre in Los Angeles to promote his debut solo album, Phrazes for the Young, released last week. The single is called “11th Dimension” but I would recommend checking out the whole album. One of my favorite tracks from the album, “Tourist” is below… MP3: Julian Casablancas – “Tourist” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] Phrazes for the Young (November 2009)

People Under The Stairs – Carried Away and Remix Contest

Spencer — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:10:48 +0000

People Under the Stairs released their 7th album, Carried Away, on Om Records earlier this month. The Los Angeles duo are known for creating west coast style party hip hop with distinctively chill, sample heavy beats. The sound of the new album is just as fun and cool as PUTS has ever been. Tracks like “80 Blocks from Silverlake” and “Come On, Let’s Get High” are instant PUTS classics. These guys really know how to get head bobbing.

MP3: People Under the Stairs – “80 Blocks from Silverlake” (Download) [See post to listen to audio]

Carried Away (October 2009)

Their sense of humor really comes through in their music and especially in the video for the single, “Trippin’ at the Disco.” According to Thes One, Double K paid $654 “to have award winning Afro Stylist Cheryll Teegans do his hair for the video.” Check it out here:

MP3: People Under the Stairs – “Trippin at the Disco” (Download) [See post to listen to audio]

Carried Away (October 2009)

In an effort to promote Carried Away, People Under the Stairs have teamed up with Vans to hold a remix contest for the track “Hit The Top.” The contest ends November 10th and the winner gets a pretty cool care package. You can enter your email below to get the acapella, create your own remix, and then upload it to SoundCloud.com/PeopleUnderTheStairs. Check out some of the entries below…

People Under the Stairs – ‘Hit The Top’ (Milky Williams Remix) by peopleunderthestairs

People Under the Stairs – Hit the Top (Jazzual Suspects Remix) by peopleunderthestairs

Thom Yorke’s new band – Echoplex (10/2/09)

Spencer — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:19:46 +0000

Thom Yorke announced on Thursday that his new band with Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, long time Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker (Beck, REM), and percussionist Mauro Refosco would be playing a show at the Echoplex on Friday night. I got lucky and I was able to go. The band played songs from Yorke’s solo album The Eraser and new Yorke solo material. It was an amazing show, one of my favorites, and they’re playing again tonight and tomorrow night at the Orpheum. Check out videos, mp3′s, and photos from the Echoplex show after the jump…

MP3: Thom Yorke – “Open The Floodgates (Live at the Echoplex, 10/2/09)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: Thom Yorke – “Skirting on the Surface (Live at the Echoplex, 10/2/09)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: Thom Yorke – “Judge, Jury, & Executioner (Live at the Echoplex, 10/2/09)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] MP3: Thom Yorke – “Lotus Flower (Live at the Echoplex, 10/2/09)” (Download) [See post to listen to audio]

Photo by Scott Goldberg

7 Worlds Collide – The Sun Came Out

Spencer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:45:28 +0000

Eight years after the original 7 Worlds Collide collaboration, The Sun Came Out, a new double album of original material recorded in New Zealand is being released. ”Neil Finn & Friends” created the 7 Years Collide project which started out as live album comprised of music from 5 performances in April 2001. Proceeds from the sales of the album and dvd went to the Doctors Without Borders organization. Proceeds from The Sun Came Out will go to the Oxfam organization. The new album features songs written and performed by Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien of Radiohead, Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Modest Mouse, KT Tunstall, and Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone. The album was released outside of the US on August 31 and will be released on September 29th in the US. Tracklist after the jump… MP3: 7 Worlds Collide – “Learn To Crawl” (Download) [See post to listen to audio] The Sun Came Out (September 2009) Tracklist: Disc One: 1) “Too Blue” (Johnny Marr/Jeff Tweedy), vocals Neil Finn and Johnny Marr, featuring Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway (Radiohead) & Glenn Kotche 2) “You Never Know” (Jeff Tweedy), vocals Jeff Tweedy 3) “Little by Little” (Sharon Finn/Neil Finn), vocals Sharon Finn and Neil Finn 4) “Learn to Crawl” (Ed O’Brien/Jonny Marr/Neil Finn/Liam Finn), vocals Neil Finn 5) “Black Silk Ribbon” (KT Tunstall/Bic Runga), vocals KT Tunstall and Bic Runga 6) “Girl, Make Your Own Mind Up” (Don McGlashan), vocals Don McGlashan, featuring Glenn Kotche, Ed O’Brien & Jeff Tweedy 7) “Run in the Dust” (Johnny Marr), vocals Johnny Marr “Red Wine Bottle” (Liam Finn/Chris Garland/Johnny Marr), vocals Liam Finn 9) “The Ties That Bind Us” (Phil Selway), vocals Phil Selway 10) “Reptile” (Lisa Germano), vocals Lisa Germano, featuring featuring Glenn Kotche & Neil Finn 11) “Bodhisattva Blues” (Ed O’Brien/Liam Finn), vocals Ed O’Brien and Neil Finn 12) “What Could Have Been” (Jeff Tweedy), vocals Jeff Tweedy Disc Two: 1) “All Comedians Suffer” (Neil Finn), vocals Neil Finn “2) Duxton Blues” (Glenn Richards), vocals Glenn Richards featuring Johnny Marr & Neil Finn 3) “Hazel Black” (KT Tunstall/Neil Finn), vocals KT Tunstall 4) “Riding the Wave” (Tim Finn), vocals Tim Finn 5) “The Witching Hour” (Phil Selway), vocals Phil Selway 6) “Over and Done” (John Stirratt), vocals John Stirrat featuring Glenn Kotche 7) “Change of Heart” (Bic Runga/Dan Wilson), vocals Bic Runga featuring Glenn Kotche & Neil Finn “Don’t Forget Me” (Pat Sansone), vocals Pat Sansone, featuring Glenn Kotche & Johnny Marr 9) “Long Time Gone” (Don McGlashan), vocals Don McGlashan featuring Johnny Marr, Phil Selway & Ed O’Brien 10) “The Cobbler” (Elroy Finn), vocals Elroy Finn 11) “3 Worlds Collide” (Glenn Kotche/Phil Selway/Neil Baldock), drums & percussion Glenn Kotche & Phil Selway 12) “The Water” (Sebastian Steinberg), vocals Sebastian Steinberg featuring Neil Finn, Glenn Kotche & Johnny Marr