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THEESatisfaction // QueenS (Our Sunday Best)

Shabazz Palaces protégés THEESatisfaction (Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White bka Cat and Stas) are the antithesis to the music industry cash cow, ala Nicki Minaj (No disrespect, just a fact). So the chances of hearing these cool and positively energetic dames on American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest anytime soon? HA! Forget about it. And, I’m fairly certain they’re alright with not ripping Victoria Secret’s runway or culling a brutish male altar-ego too. Mainly because these young hip hop heads aren’t interested in artifice, nope not even a lil’ bit. And, you can best believe both like nothing better than to shake it up a bit and bust out pop culture and put its fickleness on front street, if you catch my drift. According to various sources, the duo met at college and discovered not a few mutual interests, ranging from classic, circa 70’s R&B to Funk and Jazz influences, an affinity for William the Shakespeare, and not surprisingly the sounds and ethos of 80’s and 90’s hip hop. Together, their sound is heavily steeped in, not only R&B and the like, but thought-provoking observations on a world not seen through rose-colored lenses. Peep the newly minted single “Queens” to understand where they’re coming from. THEESatisfaction are releasing their debut LP awE naturalE via Sub Pop on March 27th. You can also cop the free download of the single QueenS here. Peace. Continue reading “THEESatisfaction // QueenS (Our Sunday Best)”

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Bowerbirds // Watch The Mini Documentary // The Clearing (Video)

You can’t get a lot more ethereal and folkishly organic than the music being born out the hearts and heads of the Bowerbirds. At the core, and I suspect it will always be, this band is Phil Moore and Beth Tacular. And although there has been a revolving door of line-up changes, it is the constant ebb and flow of shared human emotion played out between both Phil and Beth, that act as the catalyst for their songs and music. When you watch the mini documentary, you’ll see the surface of a relationship. But, you’ll also suspect, and come away with the sense that these two people; this man and woman, are not only making their way in the world, but keeping a journal and writing upon its brittle pages with the red ink of lovesong. You hear their love, their fear and every other crazy human emotion in-between. Maybe nowadays love is corny, or at least talking about is, but one cannot simply listen to their songs as something two people just created for the sake of creating. Yes, one purpose is to share and entertain, but in the end these are songs two people crafted out of necessity, as something tangible to hold onto to buoy them across time, and predicaments known and not known. Yes, it is a public journal, but with private and secret meaning. The forthcoming album, due to drop February 21st, is titled The Clearing. Perchance The Clearing is metaphor for the space two people need to clear, to rid a marked territory of everyone else, and all other aspects of the known world, in order to make room enough for two to grow miraculously as one. Peace. Continue reading “Bowerbirds // Watch The Mini Documentary // The Clearing (Video)”

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Scolla // Tell Me If You Down



“When love is not madness, it is not love.” — Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Yes, it is Week 5 of The ScollasWebTour Series and someone is in a romantic mood (You?). And with the young up and coming Detroit R&B crooner Scolla playing softly in the background the energy is pure seduction. But this isn’t puppy love nor is it trite infatuation. This is a bonafide grown-ups scenario. You know, where a man has been checking out a woman (or vice versa) and decides it’s the perfect time make a move. Words will be spoken, digits will be exchanged, and time will be spent lavishly. In the end, if all goes well, some slow and smouldering lovemaking will ensue. And it’s no coincidence that this song drops just in time for Valentine’s Day (Mark your calendar Bro), so make your next move your best move: clean up the crib, get some new sheets, purchase some new cologne (I suggest Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris), make reservations at no less than a 3 star restaurant, and most importantly, introduce your would-be lover to the wet and warm vocals of Scolla. Peace. Continue reading “Scolla // Tell Me If You Down”

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Snowden // Between The Rent And Me

In 2oo3, a lone would be apprentice of music-making (Jordan Jeffares) sat in his chambre à coucher constructing and conjuring songs from his frenetic mind, (think Dumbledore using a Legilimency spell to extract memories, yep I’m a HP geek too). The results eventually manifested what we know of today as the four-piece band Snowden. Several EPs followed: Snowden EP (2005), Black Eyes 7″ (2005), Licorice EP (2005), Fuel Of The Celebration (2007), and Slow Soft Syrup (2010). And yes, there was the counter-culture indie music scene favorite Anti-Anti in 2006. Jordan Jeffares, Chandler Rentz, Corinne Lee and David Payne are the real deal, and there is the most excellent scuttlebutt, that Snowden will return to the airwaves with release of a new album via (Kings of Leon) Serpents & Snakes imprint. Me, excited! Peace. Continue reading “Snowden // Between The Rent And Me”

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Sabotoge // Beastie Boys (Clockwork 2012 Bootleg) Remix

Pulling away from the pack of up and coming DJ/Producers is City of Angels native Clockwork (aka Henry Steinway). And when one deigns to approach a classic like the Beastie Boys‘ “Sabotoge” you better go big or stay the hell home. Well, Clockwork chose the former and transforms a classic into an off-planet recreation equipped with enough high energy propulsion to propel listeners to the outer reaches of the universe between two ears. And because he’s cool peeps (and he recently turned the big 2-1) Clockwork is giving the remixed Sabotoge away, just visit his www.facebook.com/clockworkmusic. Enjoy and let your backbone slip. Peace. Continue reading “Sabotoge // Beastie Boys (Clockwork 2012 Bootleg) Remix”

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Goldroom // Citizens! Reptile (Goldroom Remix)

As you tell by the last few post I’m in the mood for dance music, so it’s only natural that I progress to Los Angeles-based DJ/Producer Goldroom (Josh Legg). Fill your current space with an earful of his dance inducing remixes. Up first, is Citizens! “Reptile” remix, then there is the Pat Lok’s “No Shame” and after your heels have cooled, let the dreamy track “Angeles” take you out there among the colorful rings of Saturn. Peace. Continue reading “Goldroom // Citizens! Reptile (Goldroom Remix)”

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Erasure // Fill Us With Fire (Video)

Long before electro-pop had much of an audience, or was even considered cool, there was Andy Bell and Vince Clarke taking a step into the unknown with, if not bravado, then youthful naïveté, and an ocean worth of enthusiasm and talent galore. Since 1985 the duo have been busy creating hit after hit, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide. So, if you’re thinking these gentlemen are new to the scene, well think again. Long before there was: MGMT, Passion Pit, Cut Copy or Hot Chip, and a slew of other bands with similar sonic ties, there was Erasure (Factoid: Vince Clarke was a founding member of Depeche Mode). I applaud them for being true originals and visionaries, whose music has really become the soundtrack to so many lives across the globe. I also want to salute Andy Bell for his courage, for being one of the first openly gay music icons to come out, which was no mean feat in the 80’s. Erasure will release Fill Us With Fire as the third single from their Tomorrow’s World album on March 12th 2012. I’ve been a fan, I’m still a fan. Peace. Continue reading “Erasure // Fill Us With Fire (Video)”

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Starfucker // Bury Us Alive

Although I am posting the latest visuals for “Bury Us Alive” know this, the mega-acid drop that is Starfucker is so much more than meets the ear. I’ve been addicted to these guys for a few years now and they never disappoint. And just case you haven’t had the good fortune to listen to them before I got both the March 2011 release Reptilians and the November 2011 Jupiter. So, get ready to become an instant fan, and make sure to check out Starfucker‘s bandcamp for more. Peace. Continue reading “Starfucker // Bury Us Alive”

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imperial teen // runaway

Perennial favorites of the Indie power-pop scene the music making ménage à trois + 1 Imperial Teen is sounding as sweet as ever. With the release of their fifth studio album Feel The Sound the San Fransisco-based band is all set to win over a slew of additional fans in 2012. Check out the first release “Runaway” and you’ll not only “feel the sound” but it’ll feel you right back, as it weaves its soothing sonic tendrils all up in your head space. But what about the rest of the album you may ask? Don’t worry, I got audible proof positive that’ll obliterate any lagging doubts (Damn naysayers!). Go to Merge Records and stream the entire album ’till the cows come home. You’re gonna want to sing along too, so check out the lyrics here. See, I got you covered. But, Roddy Bottum, Lynn Perko Truell, Will Schwartz, and Jone Stebbins, well, they got the music, and isn’t that the reason you’re here? Peace. Continue reading “imperial teen // runaway”