"Let's Get Lonely Together, A Little Less Lonely Together"

For the life of me, I can't figure out why more EDM artists don't make acoustic covers of their music. They all collaborate with really talented vocalists that can at times get drowned out by the energy of the synths. A perfect illustration of the potential lies in the comparison below. Before we get into the acoustic version of Avicii's Lonely Together, check out the video for the original version of the track...



Pretty dope song where Rita Ora shines vocally, but at times takes a back seat to the fun, engaging drops crafted by Avicii. Now listen to the remix and appreciate how the star roles flip. Instead of competing with wobbly synths and energetic drops, Rita takes the lead from the start over gentle guitar riffs. It's the same music, just with different people stepping into the limelight. The upside is that it creates the feel of two different song that have the potential to appeal to two different audiences. Hoping more EDM artists take note and grasp the clear opportunity of stripping out the synths to make two versions of singles...#LonelyTogether

Avicii feat Rita Ora - Lonely Together (Acoustic)

Videos of the Week June 24th

It was a very rare week where actual music videos dominated this week's top five. Led by the visuals from twenty one pilots' new track off the Suicide Squad Soundtrack and PARTYNEXTDOOR's slow jam Come and See Me, the music touched a wide variety of genres. Those two videos were cool, but my favorite music video was by far What So Not and George Maple's Buried. The slow motion action mixed with the melodic trap was an awesome combo.

In the land of non-traditional videos, Anderson .Paak showed everyone who he's the toast of 2016's XXL Freshman class. Such a charismatic dude with an abundance of talent oozing from his pores. And last but most definitely not least, we all got a firsthand look at how awesome of a vocalist Josef Salvat is. Led by some ivory tickling from Gryffin, the in-studio acoustic rendition of Heading Home gets the nod for top video this week...#HeadingHome
twenty one pilots - Heathens (Video)

PARTYNEXTDOOR feat Drake - Come and See Me (Video)

What So Not x George Maple feat. Rome Fortune - Buried (Video)

Anderson .Paak Freestyle - XXL Freshman 2016

Gryffin - Heading Home (Acoustic) (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

"I Realized I Need You Here as Desperate as That Sounds"

Another week, another stellar acoustic version of a Jon Bellion track. This time he took to the studio to put together a magical, piano driven rendition of Woke the F*** Up. Although the profanity in the song title might catch your attention like a sexy advertisement, there's plenty of depth to the sorrowful lyrics. If there are any doubts as to whether or not Jon excels as a performer of live music, I think he's more than put those concerns to rest with his recent string of in-studio performances. Even though he's becoming known for ballads, All Time Low is still my favorite of his. So I'll ask the question again, when is the tour kicking off???...#WokeTheFUp

"I'm Just So Sick of Being Human"

Last week Jon Bellion was just another name in my world. Then, I saw his in-studio acoustic, acapella performance of All Time Low and was blown away. If you've heard the studio version of All Time Low, it doesn't even begin to compare with the in-studio version. Matter of fact, it's safe to say the "1 Take" versions of his songs being performed in studio do a much better job of showing his vast amounts of talent. Need another example? Look no further than his latest video for Human. Where All Time Low was more of a acapella, group effort, Human is just Jon and the piano. It's a more more somber, low-key ballad compared to his aforementioned release last week. After watching his latest performance, the only question that remains is when is the tour coming?...#JonBellion

Jon Bellion - Human (Acoustic)

Jon Bellion At His Best on Acoustic Version of All Time Low

Even though EDM is the usual subject in this hood of the internet, there's always room for multi-talented artists who simply make great music. When I think of said multi-talented artists, I think of the Ryan Tedders and Bruno Mars of the world. Those artists who are known for being amazing vocalists, but can also write and produce with the best of them.

In that vane, it might be time to start giving some love to Jon Bellion. Jack of all trades is a colloquialism that gets thrown around too much, but it's fitting for what Jon brings to the table. Yes, he's also the guy who has writing credits for the likes of Eminem, Jason Derulo, Zedd, B.O.B. and Cee Lo. Last year, he released The Definition to rave reviews and this week he's promising an "avalanche of new content" on the horizon. His song, All Time Low, isn't new, but it's one of his more noteworthy tracks of the past year. Check the original for reference...

Jon Bellion - All Time Low


The original was cool and all, but his group acapella style acoustic version truly showcases the limitless potential he brings as an artist. Honestly, the original version of the track is now sounding pretty mundane compared to his new, live version below. It's a fun watch, especially if you appreciate groups like Straight No Chaser. Even though this is the starting point for Jon's presence on this blog, you can expect to see a lot more of him in the future...#AllTimeLow

Photo Credit: YouTube

"I'm Ridin' Round With My System Pumpin' LSD"

If you would have told someone did an acoustic cover an A$AP Rocky's track, it may have been difficult to hold back laughter. That being said, if the lyrics are interesting enough on any track and the artist covering it doesn't butcher the chords, it won't take a lot to transform anything into an acoustic cover. Before you rush to judgment, give a listen to the original version of A$AP's LSD...
Pretty trippy track and not as Hip Hop as you expected, right? Hence why Raury was able to get his foot in the door on the acoustic cover. If you haven't heard of Raury, he hails from the ATL and was on the highly acclaimed XXL Freshman class of 2015. Watching the live cover of the track will give you everything you need to understand why he's generating so much hype. He's got that Bobby Ray versatility and is very comfortable singing, rapping and rocking the guitar if you let him. At the ripe age of 19, there's no traffic on his highway to success...#Raury

Photo Credit: YouTube

Nobody Can Do it Like Aaliyah...but BANKS Came Close

Every time an artist covers a famous Aaliyah track I get an immediate urge to go back and cycle through my favorites from her. It all began with Back & Forth and then she hooked up with Timbaland to make tracks like We Need a Resolution and Are You That Somebody?. She will always be tightly associated with my mental model of what 1990s R&B sounded like. If you need a refresher, check the original video for Are You That Somebody? (below)...

Since Aaliyah had such a distinct style, artists have been reluctant to cover her music over the years. This week, BANKS took on the tall task of tackling one of her most well know tracks. The smartest decision she made was choosing to go the acoustic route with the cover. It proves that in order to equal great, you have to be great in your own right. That's exactly what BANKS showed as she went toe to toe with the original vocally. Especially if you were an Aaliyah fan, give this one a listen because BANKS in the real deal Holyfield...#BANKS

BANKS - Are You That Somebody (Acoustic Aaliyah cover)

Amba Shepherd Shows the Potential of Acoustic EDM

Almost exactly a year ago, I posted the original version of Hardwell and Amba Shepherd's Apollo. At the time, I wrote off the track as just another house anthem, but over time it became one of those go to songs that everyone could vibe with. A big part of that is Amba Shepherd's role in the track. Her angelic vocals mesh so well with the memorable chord progress.

I'm not sure if it's going to be a passing fad or if it will be a trend that has staying power, but the stripped down versions of memorable EDM tracks are just awesome. The differences in tempo and extraction of synths offer such a different experience that it allows the listener to find a new way to enjoy the track all over again. No disrespect to Hardwell, but Amba gets the nod for driving the acoustic version home. It's like going get ice cream and finding out they not only have chocolate, they have fudge brownie. It tastes sorta like chocolate, but in a much different and awesomer sort of way...#IceCreamAnalogy

Aloe Blacc Wakes the World Up

Even though Avicii has gotten all of the credit for his genre bending marriage of bluegrass and electronic music on Wake Me Up, Aloe Blacc is the one who deserves the lion's share of that pie. Not only did he do his thing vocally with his ever so soulful vocals, he also wrote the track, creating the foundation for its success. Long story short, he's got an 4 song Wake Me Up EP that just hit iTunes yesterday. On it you can expect a toned down, more bluegrass-y version of Wake Me Up (bottom of the post) that gets at the roots of what made the one you hear on the radio awesome. There's some fiddle and a touch more piano on his version, producing a reduction of the electronically driven radio version you're familiar with.

For icing on the cake, he went in studio this week and did an acoustic version of Wake Me Up, which does a great job of showcasing his talents in a live setting...

Do your boy a solid and support Aloe out by copping his EP for $2.76 on iTunes so that he can finally get the scoop of success he helped Avicii earn through the success of his latest album, True...#WakeMeUp

Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Album Version)

Ellie Rocks Out I Need Your Love Acoustic

Rarely does an EDM track translate seamlessly to an acoustic version, but then they're not all sung by the beautiful and talented Ellie Goulding. You'll probably recognize the track as Calvin Harris's I Need Your Love, but in case you don't check the visuals below...
With a little piano and an acoustic guitar, Ellie's serene vocals shine through like there's not a cloud in sight. Her soft, raspy delivery is so distinct that you'd be hard pressed to find another comparable singer. Even though Hip Hop and Dance music is the capitol I push on a daily basis, I wouldn't hesitate to see Ellie live in concert...#INeedYourLove

Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love (Live Acoustic)

Mikey Posner Takes Us Back Home For the Holidays

Being around family is what it's all about during the holidays. For many that means going back to where they grew up or back home. That being said, it seems like @MikePosner has been Johnny on the spot when it comes to capturing the collective emotions of people of late. Between the Newtown shooting and his new track Back Home featuring @Chip216, he's been there to give us a free slice of perspective, which has been appreciated.

As a quick aside, I appreciate the home-made cover art whenever it is available. The image he provided showing on a boarding pass with Happy Holidays and the track name meshed well with the nostalgic feel of the track. It tells me he values design and get the impact of experience when it comes to music. Even better, rarely do we ever get a stripped down piano driven acoustic R&B/Hip Hop track. Well done Mr. Posner, thank you for sharing and Happy Holidays sir...#MidwestLove

Mike Posner feat King Chip - Back Home (Acoustic)

Javier Colon Covers Adele's Someone Like You (Live)

For the first time in quite a while I attended a concert that wasn't marked by high energy craziness (i.e. deadmau5, volbeat, ratatat, LCD Soundsystem). Instead, it was an intimate, acoustic setting where three talented individuals took the stage with not much more than a guitar and a piano. I'm going to keep my commentary short today because a more long winded review of the concert is going to follow in the next week when I'm able to get all of the media posted. I rarely let the cat out of the bag before doing a thorough review, but when @javstwtr covers @officialadele on stage for the first time and does a solo acoutic rendition of her hit Someone Like You, I'm willing to break protocol.

I'd consider it one of the many highlights of the show and a welcome surprise as part of the three song encore. I don't need to dress it up at all, the only thing I'm really urging you to do is press play below and give it a listen. Absolutely amazing and something that I was fortunate to witness in person...#Speechless

Javier Colon Covers Adele's Someone Like You

Feel free to check out Javier's new album title Come Through For You on iTunes

Buzz Artist: Javier Colon

Making my normal rounds on my nightly RSS route, I was faced again with the usual task of deciding what to check out and what to pass on. Generally I give the inbox a look for submissions first and if it strikes my fancy, I talk about it on here. After that I click the drop downs on all my Top 25 sites on my Live Bookmarks to pick, choose and read valued opinions, as well as form my own.

A week ago, I went outside the normal Hip Hop realm when I saw one of the sites I frequent post a sample from an Acoustic EP by @javstwtr.

After digging a little deeper, I found out that Javier is performing live tonight in the finals of NBC's The Voice. A graduate of The Hartt School at the University, he's clearly more seasoned than that average breakthrough artist. He's been a part of EmcQ, The Derek Trucks Band and has quietly released two full length solo albums (Javier, Left of Center) while with Capitol Records. You may remember his single Crazy back in 2003?

There's little doubt, he's a got a great voice and a very underrated talent, but luckily for him NBC realized that and he's now in the final 4 of The Voice. Check out his most recent performance and pay attention to the reaction from the judges at the end. It speaks volumes with the speakers being turned up...

Listening at the end to @ADAMLEVINE rave about his voice, even going as far as saying it's one of the best he's ever heard period...man that was pretty cool. Not sure why they made such a big deal out of him taking off the hat, maybe he's weird about it, but what does it matter, without dispute, dude has an absolutely amazing voice. If you're wanting your own copy, the folks at NBC were smart and gracious enough to get a studio version of the song above of Fix You.

If you're like me, you've already been to iTunes a few times to check out his most recent live performance covers (like his duet with Adam Levine, covering Man in the Mirror). Below are my two favorites off his latest studio release, The Truth Acoustic EP. If you're like me and don't watch too much American Idol or any live talent competition reality show, consider this a wake up call to one of the more talented, soon to be stars in Javier Colon. Oh and if you want to see Javier and all the other contestants live, check the 6 tour dates they have booked so far for this summer...

Javier Colon - Meant to Be

|iTunes

Javier Colon - Come Through

|iTunes