Nameless - Angelina
Electro pop out of Paris does the body some good. This has your unbridled weekend night covered. This song kind of takes back to the 80’s while it’s pushing you into tomorrow, huh? You can’t hate the clever name either.
Hugo Kant - Searching London
Tight French trip-hop just oozes with style when it’s done right, and this dude’s tracks have kept me company non-stop for about a week now. His release last year was called i don’t want to be an emperor and it’s got SO MUCH STYLE. Sexy as hell.
// http://hugokant.bandcamp.com/album/i-dont-want-to-be-an-emperor
// http://soundcloud.com/hugo-kant/searching-london [download this track]
Kenton Dunson - Count On It
Been a while since I’ve heard a decent Pointer Sisters sample, but Dunson kills it here. Dunson’s a former investment banker turned solo artist that’s getting more and more attention for production and lyrics. He’s got an upcoming release called the The Investment I’m looking forward to hearing.
// http://kentondunson.tumblr.com/
// http://soundcloud.com/kentondunson/count-on-it [free download]
Philco Fiction - Portrait of Silence
No surprises when I found out this is from another band in Norway; the Icelandic region is always reliable for beautiful music from emerging bands. They seem to just get pop music on a deeper level over there. If you’re headed to Austin for SXSW, word is they’ll be there so make this a show you don’t miss.
Sticky Fingaz - Bad Guy (feat. Quan)
You remember ONYX. That point in your life when you still weren’t comfortable with loving gangsta rap, but you knew SLAM, DUH DUH DAH DUH DUH DAH..SLAM! like it was your ringtone. Sticky Fingaz is Kirk Jones is that crazy motherfucker in those videos on MTV who also became a recurring rap character in The Shield who you keep seeing and sort of can’t place. Thing is: dude is talented. Should have made it as a rapper, but couldn’t survive the stretch that rap’s experienced in which talent has absolutely nothing to do with success.
I used to work hard,robbing niggaz dat work hard, so if you’re slanging keys, or slanging cds, the more you sell, the more jealousy you’re gonna see.
Beyoncé & Jay Z - Crazy In Love
Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you’re all with loved ones:)
ZZ Ward - Got It Bad
File this under “holyshitthatvoice” or “holyshitthatattitude” - whatever floats your boat. No matter where you fall it’s hard not to appreciate this girl, who just dropped a free album you should go pick up right now. I don’t know much about ZZ Ward but I get the feeling there’s a lot more to know.
// http://zzward.com/ [free download]
Rhye - Open
Literally no idea who this duo is, but I really dig the tune. Apparently an LA-based crew from Europe, this duo’s keeping their identities pretty quiet, which seems to be very vogue right now. Honestly, fuck that, but whatever…this is a seductive and addictive tune and I’ll pay attention when they release (via Innovative Leisure) in the undisclosed near term.
CocoRosie - Fairy Paradise (Live on KEXP)
CocoRosie, a duo of sisters who spent years without any real contact with one another, have always put out music I’ve enjoyed, including their latest release via Sub Pop Records called Grey Ocean. This is a live performance of a tune from that release, from KEXP, a Seattle radio station with a killer reputation.
Leonard Cohen - Different Sides
I have no doubt that the fact that this album, Old Ideas, is being released after I turned 30 (two years ago, yikes) has a lot to do with how much I love it. A younger man might not feel the depth of this album, but I am complete and absolutely slayed by it. I’ve listened to it non-stop since I got my hands on it. Reviews are mixed, and per usual it’s really not a collection of earth shattering musical inventions, but I’m in the camp of Cohen fans that finds his lyrical mastery sufficient to pick up the slack.
