Saturday, October 31, 2015

"Break Up the Sound, Now Blow Up the Bass"


Creating rowdy electronic music seems like a relatively easy thing to do these days. All you need is a catchy chord progression and a bass heavy drop to do the trick. Not so fast! There's another level of organized madness that AutoErotique and Major Lazer just came through that will make you question those preconceived notions. While The Sound does share a lot of the cookie cutter characteristics outlined above, the ghetto blaster grittiness and tribal rhythms are what set it apart. Yes, it definitely goes hard in the paint like your boy Waka Flocka would say. It's rave quality and sure to get the attention of any listener within a block radius. That's the type of power you hope for when two heavyweights like AutoErotique and Major Lazer team up on a track. Chalk one up for the good guys, this one delivered the mail...#TheSound

AutoErotique feat Major Lazer - The Sound

Friday, October 30, 2015

Videos of the Week October 30


If you're looking for interesting and novel, this week is going to be right up your alley. Led by the broken leg, turn doggy-voyeur video from The Chainsmokers, this week was marked by stuff you just don't usually see. The dog/human fist bump at the 1:03 mark is pretty much all you need to see to understand the personalities of Alex and Drew. If gender roles and sexuality are more your flavor, then you'll find Tosh.0's parody of Selena Gomez's Good For You video an interesting watch. Not sure if Carrot Top was needed to drive his point home, but it is interesting that we find women gyrating in no clothes interesting, yet Tosh looks pretty absurd.

Last week if you would have told me that there would be a video with Skrillex playing acoustic guitar while Bieber sings vocals in this week's top five, I would have laughed in your face. Touche Biebs, touche! If Terry Crews going ham on stage dancing with Kendrick Lamar is more your pace, then fast forward to the three minute mark of the These Walls video. That video has enough content in it for a short movie, so make sure the popcorn is ready before you hit play. And last, but definitely not least, there was a used car dealer in Wichita, Kansas that officially put an end to all this Nae Nae dance business. You know a dance move has jumped the shark when an old white dude in the middle of Kansas starts mixing your dance move with the Stanky Legg in an attempt to sell cars...#WhipDance
The Chainsmokers - Waterbed (Video)

Tosh.0 Parodies Selena Gomez's Good For You Video

Justin Bieber, Skrillex & BLOOD Perform Sorry (Acoustic)

Kendrick Lamar - These Walls (Video)

What Happens When a Car Dealer Tries to Sell Whips Doing the Nae Nae

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Rivers Gets a Vocal Upgrade From Nico & Vinz


Prior to hearing the new version of Thomas Jack's Rivers, you would have been hard pressed trying to convince me that the song could be made better. Lucky for us, the original didn't get an entire makeover, just a vocal upgrade from Nico & Vinz. I say upgrade because somehow, some way, the new vocals managed to make the already stellar track just a little bit better. For one, the spoken words are much easier to understand, but they're delivered in the same easy-going, perfect for Trop House fashion. This begs the same question I had when the original dropped - when is the debut album coming? I know a full length EP is asking for a lot, but I'm crossing my fingers that another single will be revealed by the time I see Thomas in perform at the Regency Ballroom in about a month...#ImFeelingLucky

Thomas Jack feat Nico & Vinz - Rivers

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

"In Zone, Blowin' Strong, Money Long, Limousine"


Bang it out the deck GTA! You wanna talk about going hard and not looking back, give this three and a half minute assault on your eardrums a quick listen. Admittedly, I'm not up on a lot of the new Hip Hop and that includes K Camp's recent single Lil Bit, but thanks to GTA I'm catching up. The beat on the original version of the track is as heavy as it is bouncy, giving K Camp plenty of room to weave in and out of a few stellar verses. But the real story here is the snappy Trap upgrade from GTA. Making the pace of the vocals a bit faster and adding a few speaker shattering drops makes a world of difference. If you need a loud, party starter to get you through your hump day malaise, look no further y'all...#LilBit

K Camp - Lil Bit (GTA Remix)

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Big K.R.I.T. and 9th Wonder Work the Guillotine


Whenever I think of a guillotine, I think of a violent and swift result. As a result, the title Guillotine Flow came with it expectations of harsh lyricist that would leave the listener thinking that the artist "killed it." While I'm not denying that K.R.I.T. and Rapsody brought their A game, they delivered their bars in methodical, mellow fashion, which was a bit of surprise. The subtly heavy, chill beat cooked up by 9th Wonder was by far my favorite part of the track. The beats he's able to create lend credence to the thought that simplicity is beautiful. You may not leave thinking it's the flashiest instrumental you've heard, but it paves the way for those two artists on the mic to tell a compelling story. That's what a producer is supposed to do and exactly why this 9th Wonder and K.R.I.T. collabo is special despite lacking pizazz...#GuillotineFlow

Big K.R.I.T. & Rapsody - Guillotine Flow (prod by 9th Wonder)

Monday, October 26, 2015

"Now When You Close Your Eyes Breathe, Just Breathe"


At first glance, when two artists with different styles collaborate, it can seem like an oil and water type of mix. That was my first reaction when seeing that Knife Party/Pendulum's Rob Swire and Eric Prydz were getting together on a track. Sure, epic collaboration, but Swire's edgy and rowdy sound matched with Prydz who is known for mellow EDM seem like an odd mix.

But that's why you don't judge a book by it's cover kids. Holy crap Breathe is awesome! It's the type of melodic Dubstep that I've grown to love thanks in large part of artists like Sub Focus. Rob's vocals were a nice addition to the track, but the steady bass mixing with ethereal chord progression just wins on all levels. All I have to offer is the Radio 1 rip, but that's more than enough to get me excited for the full version to trickle out...#Breathe

Sunday, October 25, 2015

"New York City Please Go Easy on Me Tonight"


If you're like me, you've been anxiously waiting for The Chainsmokers to release some sort of multi-song EP. The remixes have been awesome and have continued to ramp up expectations for what the talented duo is capable of creating. It seems the wait is over because their five song Bouquet EP finally landed on iTunes this week as they prepare to embark on 40 city US tour.

On the EP you can expect recent favorites Roses, Waterbed, and Until You Were Gone, as well as their mellow new one below. There's a calmness in Olivia Zaro's vocals that resurrected a lot of memories I've created in the city that never sleeps. I know Alex and Drew don't want listeners to get hung up on the fact that the song is about New York City, but the song was nostalgic for me and I've only visited New York a hand full of times. I feel like anyone who visits NYC leaves with a story and while some have better endings than others, they're all memorable. I'm not from New York, but if I was, I've got a feeling that this track would end up being a go-to track for transporting mentally to that feeling of home. Tip of the cap to The Chainsmokers for seemingly working this track to death by producing over 100 versions and finding a way to land on an impactful result...#NewYorkCity

The Chainsmokers - New York City

Saturday, October 24, 2015

There's No Bass Like Wombass


I'm not sure if Tiesto has a bucket list of artists he's trying to knock out collaborations with, but here's yet another new and novel addition to his discography. This time he teamed up with Dutch producer Oliver Heldens to put together a crisp and melodic assault on our eardrums. Sticking true to the song title, it's filled with plenty of bass that blends well with the bubbly chord progression. There are enough tempo changes throughout the track to prevent the synth arrangement from feeling too repetitive. It may be a simple track, but it bangs and has enough fuel to ignite any dance floor. Unfortunately, you impatient listeners will have to wait until November 9th to cop this one, so enjoy the Soundcloud player in the mean time...#Wombass

Tiesto & Oliver Heldens – Wombass

Friday, October 23, 2015

Videos of the Week October 23rd


This week's top five was centered around actual music videos for change. Leading the way was a lot of music touched by Skrillex. His new one with Dillon Francis was as jittery and trappy as you'd expect from the duo. In somewhat of a surprise, he also came to the rescue of Justin Bieber by setting the tone on Sorry. Man, you better get used to hearing that track because it's going to be lighting up top 40 radio for the foreseeable future.

For you Hip Hop heads out there, Logic is still dropping weekly videos to cover his recent hits. The kid can spit, there's no getting around that. If you're up for a little nostalgia, then you'll appreciate Hov bringing back a classic on Kimmel this week. Sure the track isn't the same without Alicia's vocals live, but Jiggaman has enough stage presence to carry a concert. And last, but certainly not least, the most meemed video of the past week, Drake's video for Hotline Bling. If you're one of those who love to poke fun at his expressive expressions, this one made your entire year...#HotlineBling
Skirllex & Dillon Francis - Bun Up the Dance (Video)

Justin Bieber - Sorry (prod by Skrillex) (Video)

Logic feat Big Lenbo - Young Jesus (Video)

Jay Z Performs Empire State of Mine on Kimmel

Drake - Hotline Bling (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Big Grams Debuts at Treasure Island Music Festival


You'd be hard pressed to convince me that there was a better one day ticket than last weekend's Saturday lineup for Treasure Island Music Festival. The likes of Gorgon City, Cashmere Cat, Run the Jewels, Hudson Mohawke, Big Grams and Deadmau5 all spaced out nicely without overlap seemed like a gift from God in hindsight. Rather than a full concert review, here are a few quick tidbits about each...
  • Gorgon City - seeing a live performance rather than a DJ set was cool because there were live vocals in the mix. It allowed their set that was riddled with Deep House favorites to sound unique amongst the other DJ sets.
  • Cashmere Cat - was surprisingly awesome. Maybe I just wasn't familiar enough with the type of music he creates, but it reminded me a lot of Odesza's melodic trap style. His set was the most pleasant surprise.
  • Run the Jewels - you wanna talk about the South's version of the Beastie Boys. EL-P and Killer Mike go in and don't hold back one ounce of energy the entire set. There's no pause, it's just non-stop, in your face Hip Hop and rocking the mic old school style. There's a much deeper message behind a lot of their lyrics, but when it comes to going hard bar after bar, nobody can touch RTJ.
  • Hudson Mohawke - man what can I say, HudMo brought his A game. His set has evolved a lot since I saw him at the Rickshaw Stop a year ago, but adding a drummer and keyboardist made a difference. It was the set I was most looking forward to and it did not disappoint one bit
  • Big Grams - how many times can you say that you saw a group perform for the first time together? Such a cool vibe and their set was incredibly well executed for a first performance. They don't have a ton of music yet, but the crowd got pretty rowdy when they brought Killer Mike on stage. Their set was something I won't soon forget.
  • Deadmau5 - last but certainly not least Joel came through with a show stopping headline set. The production value of his set was insane, as he slowly emerged from an egg looking pod that gradually shape shifted as the set continued. The most interesting part of the set was when he came out from behind the mask and rocked the crowd without his trademark mouse mask. I admire how his sets are always crisp, well-thought out and fluid. I'll admit to loosing it when he broke out the original version of Strobe...might be one of my favorite tracks played live by anyone.
Now on to the highlights from the Big Grams set. I included my two favorite snippets from the concert, which was tough because they set it off with Goldmine Junkie, Drum Machine and the Run the Jewels assisted Born to Shine. The lead verse from Fell in the Sun is such a classic Big Boi verse that I hope it doesn't take us years to appreciate how incredibly dope his swagger filled bars sound.
Big Grams - Fell in the Sun

The biggest surprise of the set was when they mashed up Outkast favorite Ms. Jackson with Phantogram favorite Mouthful of Diamonds. I can't say I was that familiar with the Phantogram favorite, but the audience energy from hearing the Ms. Jackson beat was palpable.
Big Grams - Ms. Jackson/Mouthful of Diamonds Mash Up
Other than the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in March, Big Grams doesn't have any official tour dates announced. I'm guessing that's going to change and when it does, I'd suggest scooping up some tickets because they put on a great show...#BigGrams

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Baauer Booms and Clangs His Ways Into Our Hearts


There are a select few artists in EDM who can create the feeling of surprise every time you press play on a new track of theirs. For me, Baauer sits atop that list because of the wide variety of samples he uses to make music. Whether it's a boom, clang, echo or slap, Baauer throws the kitchen sink at you with every single.

His newest creation, appropriately titled GoGo!, is every bit as new and novel as you'd expect. The back and forth synths inspire intrigue as he takes you up the mountain, only to push you off the ledge with a monumental drop that booms and clangs, giving way to an edgy synth repetition. I guess you could say that it's an expected deviation from the mean since Baauer takes so much pride in blazing his own trail. Tip of the cap for continuing to question and push the limits what us listeners have grown accustomed to hearing...#GOGO

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

DJ Snake Gets in the Middle With Bipolar Sunshine


Many successful singles have an earworm element that you can't escape. Whether it be sugary vocals, a bubbly chord progression or a sample that you can't get out of your head, there's something about the track that keeps you whistling the beat or singing the hook. In DJ Snake's case, he chopped up vocal samples into an uptempo cacophony of jubilation. Middle is a great example of how you don't necessarily need a hook for a track to be addictive. A choppy, unique sample can be all that it takes. True, the verses from Bipolar Sunshine do an excellent job of filling the space between the beat breakdowns, but there's something about that alarming sound on the sample that will reel you in. Listen at your own risk because this one has the ability to embed itself deep...#Middle

Monday, October 19, 2015

Kanye Gets a Soundcloud Account, the Internet Takes Note


It's not everyday Kanye opens up a Soundcloud account and lets loose two new ones. I say two new ones loosely because one is a new version of one of his old songs and another heavily samples The Weeknd's Tell Your Friends. I chose to highlight Say You Will because the original has always been one of my favorite Kanye tracks and not just because Drake sampled it to perfection on Say What's Real...

Before you start thinking Ye's new version of Say You Will with Caroline Shaw is going to be appreciably different than the original, check your expectations. It's quite a bit more ethereal, but the lyrics and harmony of the track are a lot like the original. Despite it being eerily similar to the original, I can't hate on it one bit since it's one of my favorites. Now if Kanye would only start posting new tracks on his Soundcloud rather than b-sides and lost verses, then we'd really be talking...#SayYouWill

Kanye West feat Caroline Shaw - Say You Will

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Caspa & Rusko Will Knock Off Ya Blouse an Skirt


After seeing HudMo step his live set up to another level last night, I'm starting to understand just how much I appreciate loud horns in Dubstep and Trap songs. Tracks like Chimes and 100hm come to mind if you're looking for some horny examples. I preface this post about Caspa and Rusko's new one with that because it deserves to be in the same loud horns discussion. If you remember back to 2007 when the dynamic duo released the FabricLive.37 and showed us the type of music they're capable of piecing together as CaspaRusko. Now they're back at it again with another loud and bouncy beat that will make your eyebrows raise a bit if you turn up the volume in your headphones. The provocative video below does justice to the song title and is edited in a way that puts to use wobbly transitions that emphasizes the mix of horns and bass. Tip of the cap to the two Dubstep legends and here's to hoping they have more than just this single up their sleeve...#BlouseAnSkirt

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Kygo Continues to Dazzle on the Keys


It's as if Kygo tapped into a long lost art that a whole generation of music listeners hasn't been given exposure to. If anybody other than him would have made the decision to release piano compositions without vocals, you can bet nobody would care. But now, since Kygo has lit a fire under this new incredible thing called Tropical House, we're all listening with baited breath. I can't in good faith say that five years ago I would be listening and appreciating the intricacies of piano compositions, but that's what makes life so interesting.

Piano Jam 3 is the most mellow of the three and takes a solid two minutes to start gaining some steam. Out of the three Piano Jams, my favorite by far is the first one, but there are parts of each I'm growing to love. For example, the crescendo on #3 around the two minute and 45 sec mark is really cool and the second Piano Jam has a decidedly Gavin DeGraw-esque ebb and flow to it. I'm sure this new one will grow on me more, but I'm more interested in the meta implications of the PJs as a whole tonight. Here's to hoping there are more developed versions of each track like this one and this one...#PianoJam3

Kygo - Piano Jam #3

Friday, October 16, 2015

Videos of the Week October 16th


There were a few live performances that stood out in this week's top five. The first two having to do with The Weeknd's visit to SNL. He's been one act that has alluded me in a live setting, so seeing him on SNL was pretty cool. I'm really digging both of his remixes for The Hills and seeing Nicki's dramatic performance was icing on the cake.

In other live performances, Pharrell got everyone and their mom singing along with his performance of Freedom on the Ellen Show, which was cool to see. The mystical ZHU also released some shocking new visuals for Automatic. I won't spoil the plot, but let's just say, I definitely did not see it ending the way it did. And last, but definitely not least, the fake Barack Obama spoof of Trump using Drake's Back to Back beat delivered a nice climax to an eventful week of videos. Much love to the authentic Barack delivery and on point lyrics...#BacktoBack
The Weeknd feat Nicki Minaj - The Hills (Live on SNL)

The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face (Live on SNL)

ZHU feat AlunaGeorge - Automatic (Video)

Pharrell Performs Freedom on Ellen

Barack Obama Back to Back (Drake Spoof)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 15, 2015

"I'ma Get it Like Whoa"


Despite my on again, off again relationship with Hip Hop there will always be a few notable exceptions. One of them being Logic who always seems to spit on the mic like his next meal depends on his success. What makes him so special you ask? It's the effortless gymnastics he's able to execute as he rolls from one bar to the next. Despite being quick on the lyrical trigger, his delivery doesn't prevent the listener from understanding his message. That's not an easy thing to do without sounding forced, which is why I'm always like bug looking into a lit up light bulb when his music comes on. Shout out to 6ix on the low key production that set the table ever so nicely for Logic to put in work. We're about a month away from The Incredible True Story, which means you have the green light to start ramping up your expectations...#LikeWhoa

Logic - Like Whoa (prod by 6ix)

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Cashmere Cat Tickles the Ivory on HudMo's Forever 1


Having been to hundreds of live shows, I can't tell you how much of a difference it makes when an artist plays/performs something unique to start a set. When I say unique, something that you couldn't be easily purchased or listen to via usual channels like Spotify/Pandora. Something like what you hear below from Cashmere Cat who always opens his set with his version of Hudson Mohawke's Forever 1. Before listening to the remix, check the original below that surfaced on HudMo's Slow Jams VII...

While the original has soft R&B vocals to go along with the harmonic chord progression, the remix is 100% piano driven. It's not what you'd expect from Cashmere Cat, which is why I like it so much. Most of the Cashmere tracks I've heard until today have been bouncy and melodic, so hearing a track with a lullaby vibe was cool. This track couldn't have come at a better time for me since I'll be seeing both of them perform at Treasure Island Music Festival this weekend. Such a stacked lineup and now I'm even more excited to see Cashmere's set...#Forever1

HudMo - Forever 1 (Cashmere Cat Edit)

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

"Til the Sunrise Pull an All Nightah"


Last week Kill the Noise dropped a fresh new album that has been the talk of the EDM world. To be blunt, Occult Classic is a ten song musical assault on the eardrums. The most hype of the bunch is without a doubt the Tommy Trash and R. City assisted Louder. You could convince me it's a bit repetitive, but the post-drop madness is worth the price of admission.

As a quick side note, about five years ago I posted quite a few Rock City tracks and was always quick to serve them up dap for their writing and vocal abilities. It's cool to seem them crossing over and dabbling into the world of synthesizers. Head on over to Soundcloud to stream the entire album and if you feel so inclined to drop KTN a few dimes, iTunes has your back...#OccultClassic

Kill the Noise and Tommy Trash feat R. City - Louder

Monday, October 12, 2015

Eminem Cruises Over The Hills


In hindsight, I thought The Weeknd had a lot of talent, but I can't say I anticipated him reaching the level of stardom he's at now. It seems like every couple weeks he's had another single reach the top of the charts to a point where everyone seems to have taken a liking to his edgy R&B sound. Speaking of edgy, it doesn't get much more rough around the edges than Slim Shady who blessed The Weeknd's latest chart topper with two white hot verses. Like only he can, Eminem tells his own vivid tale peppered with drama, drugs and fluctuating emotion. Unless you're used to his choppy, cliffhanger bars and stop and go diction, it's always a challenge to follow along. But for those that are used to it dissect it, there's always more than a little brilliance in the mix. It only happens two or three times a year, so enjoy this gift that seemingly dropped out of the sky this week...#TheHillsRmx

The Weeknd feat Eminem - The Hills (Remix)

Sunday, October 11, 2015

"We Keep it 200 Like the Hits From Altuve"


If you would have told me the Houston Astros would be in the playoffs before the MLB season started I would have laughed at you. Fast forward 166 games later and here we are with the 'stros a game away from the American League Championship. Now if only they had a Hip Hop anthem to carry them to the finish line...cue the music...and play...

Yep, you better believe Houston legend Bun B came through with a Houston anthem that showed everyone just how much of a hardcore fan of the team he is. He damn near name dropped their entire 40 man roster while lacing his verses with Astros team-isms. For example, Dallas Keuchel being unstoppable at home and Evan Gattis not wearing batting gloves. It underscores Trill OG's ability to pen quality bars and motivate a fan base that has seemingly been awoken from the dead. Not sure about y'all, but I'll be tuning in tomorrow for game four with the hopes of H-Town moving on in the playoffs...#HustleTown

Saturday, October 10, 2015

What TIme is It? Hoody Time!


Cincinnati STAND UUUUPPP! Those of you hailing from the glorious state of OH-IO now have a new rising stock on the West Coast to watch. Hoody Time, an up and comer who now calls LA home, just went IN on Marshmello's Home. The feel good beat finally met it's perfect match as Hoody found a way to leverage his massive Instagram following and overall knack for showing people what fun looks like in the video...

The word Home engenders a sense of pride and that's the feeling you get when watching the video. The city horizons sprinkled in throughout the constant stream of imagery work well with the theme of the video. It doesn't hurt that the rapid fire lyrics pour gasoline all over the already hype beat. Consider this an intriguing debut with the hope of much more greatness to come...#HoodyTime
Photo Credit: YouTube

Friday, October 09, 2015

Videos of the Week October 9th


This week was a downright exciting mix of videos. There was no rhyme, reason or discernible pattern to the top five, but on the flip side that created an awesome variety. Leading the way was Sam Smith's new video for the upcoming James Bond Spectre theme. The mix of clips from the movie, orchestral instrumentation and of course, Sam's stellar vocals created a dramatic aesthetic. Along similar lines was Kygo and Ella Henderson's BBC Radio 1 live cover of Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams. Love Kygo on the piano live and you'd be hard pressed to convince me that the original is much better than the cover.

And just in case the first two videos delve too much into real life, Skrillex went all anime with the help of California based visual artist Roboto. I've always loved Ease My Mind, so it's cool to see it finally get a visual story attached to it. If you're a fan for really out-there festivals, you'll enjoy the behind the scenes look at the Gathering of the Juggalos. It was interesting to hear Flosstradamus's take on the gathering as a whole being more communal than they thought it would be. Of course last but not even close to the least, there's the dangerous and underrated-ly beautiful Ronda Rousey. I really hope she and Floyd "Woman beater" Mayweather get a chance to have it out at some point. Until then, I'm going to continue to try and reconcile how someone so physically threatening could be anywhere near that attractive...#Rousey
Sam Smith - Writings on the Wall (Video)

Flosstradamus Visits the Gathering of the Juggalos

Skrillex Ease My Mind (Video)

Kygo & Ella Henderson Cover Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams

Ronda Rousey Speaks on Floyd Mayweather Beef and Dresses Scantily

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Old Skool Hip Hop Meets New School House


Suffice to say, there's a growing thirst for anything ZHU's name is attached to. His brand of funky House music is like none other and has continued to captivate listeners for the better part of a year. This time he hooked up with Trombone Shorty and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony...yes, that same Bone Thugs we all loved back in the 90s. Interesting doesn't begin to scratch the surface when considering how random and awesome a collaboration like this could be.

It's as Deep House as you'd expect from ZHU, yet both Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone felt right at home over the wobbly bassline. I don't know much about Trombone Shorty, but I'm going to assume it was him on horns throughout the track. Hold Up Wait a Minute is the epitome of lounge music and I love that it pulls in a wide range of contributions you wouldn't expect would sound good. If you're like me, you're itching for that Skrillex collabo to drop. Although it's only a seven song EP and we've already heard four tracks, it still feels like we have so much to look forward to...#GenesisSeries

ZHU & Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Trombone Shorty - Hold Up Wait A Minute

Wednesday, October 07, 2015

"I'm Desperately in Need, This Uphill's Hard to Reach"


Sometimes it's better to call a spade a spade and what I know is Stephen (Swartz) is more than your average artist. When it comes to dishing out credit for the success of tracks, I've always swung slightly on the producer side of the fence rather than the artist. The artists that can seamlessly swing back and forth between artist and producer are the true unicorns that probably don't get enough credit for the breadth of their contributions to a track.

All that being said, I'm going to fight my innate urge to categorize the type of music that Stephen is making of late. While most will hone in on his vocal abilities, I'm impressed with his songwriting and production. The progression that the beat goes through moves the track along well and helps tell his story of living up to expectations. The use of samples and guitar riffs throughout make for an overall unique sound. If a slice of different is what you're in the mood for, Fly Down is going to hit the spot...#FlyDown

Stephen - Fly Down

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

"You've Been Metaphysical"


Follow me off the beaten path to a funky world where bubbly synths, quiet strings and subtle piano chords intersect. Simply put, you're not going to hear a song as unique as Metaphysical this week. Led by the awesome vocals delivered by Janelle Kroll, Autograf managed piece together a really interesting concoction of rhythmic and chill. There are beat breakdowns that will leave you in awe at the cavalcade of upbeat instrumentation that is combined together in harmony. If you frequent this property of the internet, you've probably seen a few Autograf remixes I've posted over the past year. If I ever discounted his talents as residing only in the remix world, I certainly apologize for that oversight. Do your music library a favor and add this unique burst of energy so that you can sleep well tonight knowing your collection just got a bit more interesting...#Metaphysical

Autograf feat Janelle Kroll - Metaphysical

Monday, October 05, 2015

Rubble Kings Got Run by the Jewels


To be frank, I'm still amazed at everything having to do with Run the Jewels' come up. Years before Run the Jewels were a thing I took a liking to Killer Mike's unapologetic and brazen flow on the mic. Admittedly, I had less exposure to El-P, but I appreciated that everything track he was associated with, I ended up liking. How they pieced together their under appreciated abilities into something much bigger than both of them combined is something awe inspiring.

And just because they've made it to the top of the mountain does not mean they're about to take a break from making great music. This week they let loose a new heat rock that will serve as the theme song to the recent Rubble Kings documentary. Check the trailer if you aren't up on how gangs and Hip Hop collided in New York during the late 1960s and early 1970s...

Dynamite is as in your face as you'd expect and it does a great job of setting the tone for the movie. Best part about it, you can head on over to Adult Swim and cop the single for free if you're quick enough...#RubbleKings

Run The Jewels - Rubble Kings Theme (Dynamite)

Sunday, October 04, 2015

Sam Smith's Record Breaking James Bond Theme Song


It's hard to believe, but until this week there has never been a James Bond theme song that reached #1 on the UK single chart. I say UK because Bond has always been British character and there are countless songs that people understand to be "Bond songs." Everyone will point to the 1964 Goldfinger theme as the most recognizable, but my favorite is Adele's Skyfall.

Enter Sam Smith who pays no mind to prior tracks because he's armed with a voice that is beyond comparison. Sam's new James Bond Spectre theme, Writings on the Wall, is everything you'd ever want in a Bond theme. It is driven by the timeless orchestra sound and accentuated with Sam's incredible vocal range. The emotion dripped song will tug on your heart strings and not apologize for the drama it's able to foreshadow. It won't end up being my favorite Bond track, but Sam Smith deserves all the accolades that go along with having the only #1 Bond single...#WritingsOnTheWall

Saturday, October 03, 2015

Steve Aoki Takes Us on a 28 Song Odyssey


While I wouldn't call Steve Aoki my favorite EDM artist, I can't help but respect his ability to keep churning out great albums. I don't think anyone would question how stacked from front to back both Neon Future and Neon Future II ended up being and now we're lucky enough to get a 28 track compilation of new tracks and the best of the first two discs.

Neon Future Odyssey is like getting to watch all three Hunger Games at once with bonus scenes added. And here's one of the best bonus scenes featuring the uber talented Borgore. Phenomena is a fun progressive house track with a bubbly chord progression that will suck you right in. Even though it follows the formulaic build up, drop, rinse and repeat, the jubilant synths are what you'll end up remembering. If you're interested in hearing the massive compilation in its entirety, head on over to Soundcloud and turn up the volume...#NeonFutureOdyssey

Steve Aoki & Borgore - Phenomena

Friday, October 02, 2015

Videos of the Week October 2nd


There is absolutely no rhyme, reason or discernible pattern to this week's top five. Leading off you've got a pretty hilarious documentary by Lil Dicky who take all the stereotypes for creating a rap video and tries to execute them all on no budget. Needles to say, the entertainment level of that is pretty high. I suppose you could loop Disclosure and Kygo's new videos together since they feature types of electronic music. For whatever it's worth, Lorde's performance in the Magnets video was noteworthy and stuck with me after watching it.

It seems like every week there's a new after movie from (fill in the blank) festival, so Ultra took their turn this week. They did manage to stand out by shooting in 4K, which is a step up from the usual HD world we're living in. You have to wonder how many people 1) care 2) notice and 3) have the bandwidth to stream at that quality. If you only have time for one quick, highly entertaining video, give the Muppets doing the Nae Nae a shot. It's a minute and a half and choreographed well enough that it will bring a smile to your face...#NaeNae
How Lil Dickey Made the $ave Dat Money Video (Documentary)

Disclosure feat Lorde - Magnets (Video)

Ultra Music Festival Aftermovie

The Muppets Sing "Watch Me Whip (Nae Nae)"

Kygo feat Ella Henderson - Here For You (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Thursday, October 01, 2015

Avicii Goes Reggae On the Eve of Stories


Very slowly Avicii has given us small tidbits of Stories leading up to its release tomorrow. It would appear he saved the best bite for last in the form of the Reggae/Trop House Gonna Love Ya. When it comes to predicting what genre Avicii is going to weave into his own unique mix of dance music, it's kind of like reaching into a bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans. You know it's going to end up tasting good and there's a decent chance you're going to get a flavor you didn't expect despite thinking you know what it was going to taste like based on the color. The sheer fact that he's able to keep creating songs that sound new and novel is a testament to his creativity. I don't know about you, but if you weren't already excited about Stories, this should push you over the top...#Stories

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