Nas - Daughters (Official Video)
How good is this new track from one of my all-time favorite MCs?
Really fucking good.
Nas dropped his adorable love letter to his "Daughters" - and all the other daddies out there.
Diggin that a whole lot.
Family Of The Year - Diversity (Official Video)
Family of the Year put out this song and tour video that I just can't seem to get enough of.
The video for "Diversity [On The Road Again]" is fun, cute, and ends with a whole lotta nakedness.
I have loved this band for a while now and am so proud to watch their success continue.
Scoundrels - Bon Temps Rouler (Official Video)
Ok, first off, how in the fucking world has the name "Scoundrels" never been used by a band?
Secondly, for those of you (like me) who didn't know that "Bon Temps Rouler" is Cajun French for "Good Times Roll" - how cool is that for a song name?
Or how cool is that for basically anything? Seriously, that is a rhetorical question. So shut up.
These UK boys ROCK and I can't wait until they play New York City...
Robert Schwartzman - Second Chances (Official Video)
Outstanding new single from Robert Schwartzman dropped this month called "Second Chances"
This is his first solo record after fronting Rooney for quite some time.
Killer single, reminds me of recent Brit Pop bands.
Brother Jason Schwartzman cameo is rad.
Kidd Russell - Are We Having Fun Yet (Official Video)
Kidd Russell is my kinda dude and makes the kinda music we need in the summertime.
"Are We Having Fun Yet" is a smash and will be playing at parties and BBQs all summer long, just wait.
Kick back with a cold drink and some loud tunes, because you deserve it. x
Gossip - Move In The Right Direction (Official Video)
The second single from the new Gossip record is a straight up dance party.
"Move In The Right Direction" is so damn good it hurts, but so does every song off A Joyful Noise.
If you have not heard this record, you need to stop whatever you're doing and give it a spin.
A Place To Bury Strangers - You Are The One (Official Video) NSFW
Scorching new video (NSFW) from Brooklyn-based A Place To Bury Strangers.
"You Are The One" is dark and twisted and sexual, which is why I fucking love it.
Retribution Gospel Choir - Maharisha (Official Video)
I am absolutely bonkers about this Minnesota rock band.
Retribution Gospel Choir is a straight up, no-nonsense rock n roll act.
"Maharisha" has an 80s vibe to it that just makes you want to drop everything and dance.
Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage (Official Video)
This song is so fucking badass I can literally feel the testosterone levels growing inside of my body.
French metal act, Gojira, dropped this intense video for their latest rocker, "L'Enfant Sauvage"
Turn up those speakers, let your hair down, and throw up the horns \,,/
Lupe Fiasco - Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)
Hot new track from Lupe Fiasco.
"Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" reminds me of old-school Digable Planets.
Really diggin on that jazzy beat.
Kendra Morris - Spitting Teeth (Official Video)
Yet another smash from my favorite New York City vocalist, Miss Kendra Morris.
"Spitting Teeth" has a groove that your body just can not avoid moving right along with.
The piano bits add a perfect accent and allow that hot drum beat to guide you forward almost cosmically.
Third spin in and I'm totally hooked...
SOKO - We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow (Official Video)
Beautiful video to accompany a very pretty tune...
LA songstress SoKo has a breathy singing voice that soothes the soul.
"We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow" is absolutely perfect.
Foo Fighters + Kristen Wiig - I Love Rock n Roll feat. Sudeikis & Samberg
The after-party for last week's SNL must have been the place to be in New York City...
The Foo Fighters brought the luscious Kristen Wiig onstage for Joan Jett's "I Love Rock N Roll"
Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg were side stage handling backup vocals.
Grace Potter - Ooh La La (Live From Daryl's House)
The brilliantly talented Grace Potter and the Nocturnals join Daryl Hall to record her smash, "Ooh La La"
Live from Daryl's House, of course...
Will Smith Performs Fresh Prince Theme Song
On the Graham Norton show last week, Will Smith performed the Fresh Prince theme.
Joining him on keys is Gary Barlow of Take That, with Tom Jones sitting there awkwardly.
I saw Smith and Jazzy Jeff perform the theme at Philadelphia's Live 8 Concert.
It was one of the greatest moments of my entire life.
The Hives - Go Right Ahead (Official Video)
Brand new single from The Hives and it is most awesome.
"Go Right Ahead" is another killer fuzzy garage rock song from the Swedish rockers.
Mick Jagger & Arcade Fire - The Last Time (SNL)
This weekend's SNL was hands-down the best show of the 2011-2012 season.
And this season was quite possibly the best in nearly five or six years.
Mick Jagger & Arcade Fire absolutely killed on the Stones' classic "The Last Time"
DJ Kronic & Bombs Away - Looking for Some Girls (Official Video)
This just might be my new favorite music video of all time...
DJ Kronic & Bombs Away dropped this NSFW clip for their single "Looking For Some Girls"
I don't think that I need to explain any further at this point, so draw your own conclusions.
Elro feat. JME & Manga - Scrabble (Official Video)
Welsh rapper Elro just dropped this killer track off his upcoming mixtape, Porcelain Corpse.
"Scrabble" features JME and Manga, but the video is what really blew me away.
Tight flows, chill beats, and one hell of an animated clip.
Produced by smokin hot engineer, Preditah.
JB and the Moonshine Band - Whiskey Days (Official Video)
You will rarely see a country and western band on this blog, but this is just too damn good.
JB and the Moonshine Band have summed up a few too many of my nights back in the day with their raw and unadulterated classic country twang on "Whiskey Days"
This is why most of America loves this type of music, because it comes from the heart.
zerobridge - All Places From Here
My business partner just turned me onto this killer New York City rock band.
Zerobridge melts together a plethora of sounds, vibes, and influences into their music.
"All Places From Here" starts with an old Cranberries feel, but halfway through the song grows into an Arcade Fire crescendo that Win Butler wishes he had written.
Really, really diggin this band and can't wait for their Rockwood gig next Friday.
Swim Deep - King City (Official Video)
Birmingham, UK act Swim Deep has a dark, infectious shoegaze-y vibe that I really dig.
"King City" is an outstanding radio-friendly rock song (if we had rock radio in the US)
Listen up, kids, and enjoy the soothing harmonies that back this great track.
Tenacious D - Rize Of The Fenix (Official Video)
Tenacious D dropped the video for their new single, "Rize of the Fenix"
I really dig the low-fi (and low-brow) video filmed out in Joshua Tree National Park.
Great stuff, as always.
Kanye West - Lost in the World feat. Bon Iver
Filmmaker Ruth Hogben collaborates with Kanye West to create a film for "Lost in the World"
The song, which features Bon Iver, is taken from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
We have come to expect top-notch mini films from Kanye and this is outstanding.
Coldplay - Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Tribute to MCA
Coldplay covered the Beastie Boys classic, "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" last night.
A touching tribute to MCA, who sadly passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA. May 4th, 2012.
Maps & Atlases - Remote & Dark Years (Official Video)
On my second listen of Maps & Atlases' "Remote & Dark Years" and I think I finally get it.
The first spin left me wishing they had taken it to another level in the chorus.
But, this time around I find it interesting that it stays where it does.
Give it a listen, because I think you'll dig it too. x
Moones - Better Energy (Official Video)
London-based Moones are a killer new rock band that you need to know about.
"Better Energy" has it all; electro dance beats, big riffs, hard drums, and catchy hooks.
I will be following this band for sure and can't wait til they play New York.
Come across the pond, boys. Please and thank you.
Album Jacket - Redefining The Digital Album
No matter what medium it came in, from vinyl to cassettes to CDs – and now back to vinyl – the Album Jacket has
played a special role in the hearts and minds of music fans for
generations all across the globe. It was an extension of the record, an
invitation into the world of the artist and their community, or just a
way to learn the lyrics during the first few listening sessions. It was
the first thing we reached for after putting that new cassette, CD, or
vinyl into the player. We wanted to know everything we possibly could
about what we were listening to, including; lyrics, production credits,
artwork, guest musicians, studio locations, record labels, and thank you
notes from the act. We wanted to consume all of it immediately and then
we studied it like a textbook until we had memorized all of its
content.
That’s why I am involved in Album Jacket.
When I first began my insane and oftentimes unpredictable career in the music industry back in 2003, every one I know thought I was mad. And every veteran I met in the business told me to find another line of work. An entire global media giant had been turned upside down by a couple of college students in a matter of months and it was terrifying. Or exhilarating, whichever side of the fence you found yourself. To me, it was still rock n roll. Yes, technology was advancing faster than we could wrap our heads around it, but it was absolutely thrilling to be riding the wave. I remember my first cel phone, my first email account, and the first instant messaging conversation I ever had. Now look at us.
Accessibility to music is what the world gained from technology. But what we lost was immeasurable and incomparable. We lost the soul, the emotion, the connection, and the intimacy of those moments from yesteryear when we sat in our rooms, on the floor, with the speakers turned way up, thumbing through the liner notes of that new record. We’re here to change that for the first time in over a decade of MP3s and thumbnail-size album covers. We want to recreate that ecstatic feeling you had back then, but include the bounties of technology to create the perfect album companion.
What the public wants is content. And what we want to do is offer all of that content in one location, for fans to gorge themselves on when they purchase that new album from their favorite act. What if your digital purchase came with a behind-the-scenes studio documentary? Or a guitar lesson from your favorite axe man? How about a tour diary, with the band dishing out how they spend their time on the road? Could you imagine if all the music videos from that album were right there at your fingertips? Would you enjoy an interview with the album’s producer/s about their experience in the studio? What about paintings by the drummer? Or how fun would it be to learn the bassist’s favorite recipe?
The possibilities of Album Jacket are infinite and exciting. We can not wait to share our passion and creation with music lovers of all ages and tastes around the world. Stay tuned for the digital music experience that you have been waiting for…
Robal Johnson
Content Relations Mgr
That’s why I am involved in Album Jacket.
When I first began my insane and oftentimes unpredictable career in the music industry back in 2003, every one I know thought I was mad. And every veteran I met in the business told me to find another line of work. An entire global media giant had been turned upside down by a couple of college students in a matter of months and it was terrifying. Or exhilarating, whichever side of the fence you found yourself. To me, it was still rock n roll. Yes, technology was advancing faster than we could wrap our heads around it, but it was absolutely thrilling to be riding the wave. I remember my first cel phone, my first email account, and the first instant messaging conversation I ever had. Now look at us.
Accessibility to music is what the world gained from technology. But what we lost was immeasurable and incomparable. We lost the soul, the emotion, the connection, and the intimacy of those moments from yesteryear when we sat in our rooms, on the floor, with the speakers turned way up, thumbing through the liner notes of that new record. We’re here to change that for the first time in over a decade of MP3s and thumbnail-size album covers. We want to recreate that ecstatic feeling you had back then, but include the bounties of technology to create the perfect album companion.
What the public wants is content. And what we want to do is offer all of that content in one location, for fans to gorge themselves on when they purchase that new album from their favorite act. What if your digital purchase came with a behind-the-scenes studio documentary? Or a guitar lesson from your favorite axe man? How about a tour diary, with the band dishing out how they spend their time on the road? Could you imagine if all the music videos from that album were right there at your fingertips? Would you enjoy an interview with the album’s producer/s about their experience in the studio? What about paintings by the drummer? Or how fun would it be to learn the bassist’s favorite recipe?
The possibilities of Album Jacket are infinite and exciting. We can not wait to share our passion and creation with music lovers of all ages and tastes around the world. Stay tuned for the digital music experience that you have been waiting for…
Robal Johnson
Content Relations Mgr
RIP Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys
Today we lost a legend of hip hop, rock, and pop music.
Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys passed away after a long battle with cancer.
I am incredibly saddened by the news.
RIP, brother Adam. x
Zambri - Hundred Hearts (Official Video)
Zambri is absolutely mesmerizing on her new single, "Hundred Hearts"
The sultry vocals and dreamy landscape of sounds are perfect on a rainy day like this.
I can't wait to hear the rest of the album from this New York City songstress.
Simply amazing music, and of course, right in our very own backyard. x
Greg Holden - Hell & Back (Official Music Video)
I've been following Greg Holden's career for some time now and am always impressed.
"Hell & Back" is a beautiful song, full of heartbreak and obstacles that we can all relate to.
But the tour video is the perfect companion, as it shows that perseverance always triumphs.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Oh Susannah (Official Video)
"Oh Susannah" is the first Neil Young & Crazy Horse single in nine years.
It sounds like an old Santana song mashed up with that classic bluegrass standard.
But it works... and it has a really cool Americana vibe with the choral harmonies.
Metric - Youth Without Youth (Official Lyric Video)
I was so stoked on this new Metric single that I nearly doubled over in my chair.
"Youth Without Youth" kicks off with a nasty drum beat and then a gnarly chugging riff.
Once Emily's vocals drop you literally don't ever want this song to stop. Like ever.
Seriously, you need to stop whatever you are doing right now and listen to this.
Aesop Rock - Zero Dark Thirty (Official Video)
Damn, the new track from Aesop Rock is fucking bonkers.
"Zero Dark Thirty" is as dark and dirty as any underground hip hop in recent months.
Been a fan of his for years, but this is definitely his best in recent memory.
BOOM goes the dynamite.
Twin Shadow - Five Seconds
The latest single from Brooklyn's Twin Shadow is absolutely incredible.
"Five Seconds" is so infectious that I'm on the third replay in a row and I'm not done yet.
This song will creep into your brain, shut down your thoughts, and make your body MOVE.
Crank up your speakers, take a breather from work, and enjoy your damn self. x
This is how the band describes the song, and my god, I'm in love with this feeling too...
"One winter I crashed my motorcycle , with a friend on the back. I shouldn't have been riding that day, but I was young and fearless of the black roads, fast and easy in my ways. As the bike slipped from under us my head filled with words. The slow motion moments of calm just after surprise and just before regret are bliss. I remember in that moment I wanted to say everything to him. How could I say everything in a split second? How could I bury my words in his heart?
I got a new bike and went to LA to record what is now called Confess. I took the bike out at 6AM one morning after not having done much riding in the couple years between Forget and Confess. I noticed my head clearing as I came slowly down a hill where the road around a reservoir began. I pulled back slowly on the throttle with my right hand, and felt the bike start to come to life. My head was still crystal clear...nothing. As I kicked the bike into 3rd, I pulled almost all the way back and jumped forward leaning in towards the gas tank, fighting the wind.
I got up to 75 and saw that no one was out but the runners and their four legged friends, the sidewalks became a blur of barking dogs and heads all turning. My mind was empty. I put the bike in 4th and hit 90. The engine jack hammered under my legs. My mind was clear. I inched toward 100 on the speedometer and punch the last five. TON UP! My mind is filled with words. My heart is full of love. This is where i want to be. I want to stay here, and I want to tell you everything."
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