Francis and The Lights Comes Through on Just For Us

In my old age, I feel myself gravitating more toward this mellow, electropop sound that Francis and The Lights are known for. There's a distinctness of Francis Farewell Starlite's vocals reel me in with every new track. Like for example Francis's new one, Just For Us. That 80s style synth backdrop with quiet, marching tempo isn't anything that will get you out of your seat, but it's a perfect canvas for the throwback pop vocals of FFS.

Their new one is the title track off their recent surprise release on December 28th. I can't say I'm a big enough fan of Francis that I immediately ran to Spotify to comb through the new release, but their new one below did everything it could to steer me that direction. If you're as curious as I was after listening to their new one, check it out on iTunes or Spotify...#JustForUs



Francis and The Lights - Just For Us (prod by Cashmere Cat, Benny Blanco, & Bon Iver)

"Cause You Know the Truth Hurts, But Secrets Kill"

Picture this for a minute...Halsey's vocals over one of Cashmere Cat's experimental instrumentals. Buried deep on Halsey's new hopeless fountain kingdom album is a gem in Hopeless. It's a quiet, subtly electronic slow jam that feels like what a ballad in 2017 should sound like. It has all the quirks you'd expect from a Cashmere beat with a healthy dose of electronically altered vocals. It's not that Halsey's vocals need to be tweaked at all, it's the intrigue of matching the synths with the vocals that stands out. Anyone who has been in a toxic relationship should be able to appreciate the emotional depth the track offers. If this and her new one with Quavo is any indication of the quality of her new album, you should be starting to realize how much you're missing out about now...#Hopeless

Halsey - Hopeless (prod by Benny Blanco & Cashmere Cat)

"Could Be Looking' At You From a Freeway Trailer"

I haven't been able to put my finger on it, but there's something special about Francis and The Lights' new single Friends. It's definitely not the flashiest sounding tracks you'll encounter, but the star power behind this track is awe inspiring. First you've got Francis and The Lights featuring two legends, Bon Iver and Kanye West. Then, you dig a little further and find Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat and Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend) in the mix. Wowsa that's a collection of talent right there!

I'd characterize it as an eclectic Indie ballad? That's the best I got, but what I do know is that despite it's perceived simplicity, it has a timeless, feel good vibe to it. The quiet snappiness, slight autotune and steady ebb and flow of synths do an amazing job at managing the emotions of the track. It's hard not to resonate with the heartfelt lyrics too, which give it an added level of awesomeness. I'm not sure how this mess of awesomeness of a song came to be, but I dig every bit of it...#Friends

"Everyone Falls in Love Sometime"

There are only a handful of R&B artists that I consider automatic posts whenever they release a new track. At this point, I'd put Tory Lanez in that category because of his recent streak of great releases. I still haven't stopped listening to In For It and Initiation, but Luv might be his best track yet. With the help of production superstars Cashmere Cat and Benny Blanco who crafted an addictive Soca riddim, there's a lot to like about the track before Tory even begins singing. There's an easygoing, relaxing vibe to it, which will surely contribute to its Top 40 appeal. Pop music hasn't formally met Tory Lanez yet, but with tracks like the one below, it's only a matter of time...#Luv

Tory Lanez - Luv (prod by Cashmere Cat & Benny Blanco)

We've Been Waiting for BenZel

Once in a blue moon I come across a new artist that I have a really hard time coming up with a comparison for. Tonight was one of those nights when I heard BenZel's new track Waiting featuring the vocals of Ben Abraham. For those of you who have no idea who BenZel is, they're a dynamic duo of Two Inch Punch (Ben Ash) and Benny Blanco. Even though they're not household names, I've featured productions by both over the years and, as a result, immediately got excited when I first heard they were going to make music together.

The closest characterization I have for the sound of the track is Love Trap or R&B flavored Trap. The chipmunk samples might remind you a bit of Keys N Krates, but it's such a cool blend of melodic vocals and heavy bass. It's not an easy task to make mellow music that packs intensity, but the two Ben's pulled it off with easy on Waiting.... I don't want to go overboard with praise, but you'd be hard pressed to find me another Indie electronic duo that I'm as excited about...#BenZel

BenZel feat Ben Abraham - Waiting......

"Let's Make the Most of Tonight Like We're Gonna Die Young"

Every now and then I allow myself to indulge in the sugary delight of a soon to be #1 and extremely over-played single. In this case it's @keshasuxx's new lead single Die Young off her upcoming album Warrior. The proof is in the ingredients too with the usual suspects @THEDOCTORLUKE and @ItsBennyBlanco behind the boards. It's getting a little ridiculous how many top singles Dr. Luke has had his name attached to the past few years.

If this isn't catchy, I'm not sure what is. Good luck trying to get this one out of your head after you listen a few times. You'll be singing along too, don't even trip...#DieYoung

Ke$ha - Die Young (prod by Dr Luke & Benny Blanco)
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"The Bigger the Bill, the Harder You Ball"

It may seem like @realwizkhalifa just released Rolling Papers, but surprisingly, it's been a whole year since his big time studio debut dropped. It should come as no surprise that Wiz is continuing to strike while the iron is hot with a follow up album titled O.N.I.F.C (Only N****a in First Class). I'll put it this way, if your brand of music was so well liked last year that you ended up making 11 million dollars in 2011, why not set a goal to make $100 million this year? Even better, why not push it to the limit and collaborate with @drdre while you're at it?

The track below, Work Hard, Play Hard is Wiz's very radio friendly lead single off his upcoming album due out August 28th. It's got the production pedigree with Stargate (who produced Black and Yellow and Roll Up) and @itsbennyblanco (produced Stereo Hearts and Payphone) cooking up the beat. The verses go harder than most Wiz tracks, but the hook is a sugary, 360 windmill dunk. You can bet the Taylor's will be coming out of the woodwork in support for his new single that is cut from the same cloth as his previous Rolling Paper singles. Me, I've got no problem at all with that since I was such a big fan of his last album...#NoSophomoreSlump

Wiz Khalifa - Work Hard, Play Hard (prod by Stargate & Benny Blanco)
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"If Happy Ever After Did Exist, I Would Still Be Holding You Like This"

Tonight viewers of NBC's The Voice got a treat in the form of @maroon5's new single Payphone featuring @realwizkhalifa. Shoot Wiz even appeared out of thin air around the 2:34 mark to deliver his cameo verse on the track. Check the video hot off the press...

It's good to see @ADAMLEVINE leveraging his position as a judge on the show to get the new single some exposure. You'd be kidding yourself if you thought Maroon's lead single off their upcoming album Overexposed would be anything short of ridiculously catchy. I'd assess the track as an upbeat, uplifting track that steadily marches to the ebb and flow of excitement brought to a crescendo at the chorus. Credit is in order for the producers Shellback and @itsbennyblanco for seamlessly weaving in Hip Hop a sounding beatbox for Wiz to go in on toward the end of the track.

It's pretty rare that the full tracklist is already posted for Overexposed since the album is due out in two months on June 26th. Hey, more power to them if they can sell that many copies in advance, besides it's not a Hip Hop album, so the likelihood of it leaking already decreases by at least 50%. My guess is you have a solid week or two before this becomes all your friends favorite track. Don't sleep on it, be the opinion leader this time around...#LeadersDontFollow

Maroon 5 feat Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (prod by Shellback & Benny Blanco)
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"My Heart's a Stereo, It Beats For You So Listen Close"

There have been some fierce, potential chart topping tracks that have surfaced this week and all things considered my iPod has been busy, which has made my time at the gym productive. Y'all know what's up, and when I say this one made it to the top the past two days amonngst the stiff competition brought on by the likes of Drake, Skylar Gray, Coldplay and Bad Meets Evil, you know it's serious. Sure this one is soaked in candy and will ultimately rival @TRAVIEMCCOY's Billionaire single last year that had everyone repeating the hook. I know I know, that'd make it a top 5 Billboard hit, but still, I stand by my audacious prediction because this is every bit as repeatable, fun loving and upbeat.

Ask yourself too, when was the last time you were like man @ADAMLEVINE killed that hook!! I'd say other than Misery last year, probably back in 07 with Makes Me Wonder? Either way ya boy Travie has a knack for recruiting hooks and that's a great talent because it's keeping his solo career afloat merely with the strength of these mammoth singles he's been dropping. Shouts out to @itsbennyblanco on the form fitting backdrop that allowed both Travie and Adamn to drop what will be regarded as one of the most overplayed singles this summer...#SpoilerAlert

Cop it now before the masses start that whole "nah man I was rockin' that song like a couple weeks ago" garbage... #FThatNoise + #KennyPowersVoice ...

Travie McCoy feat Adam Levine - Stereo Hearts (prod by Benny Blanco)

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