Best Songs of 2011
One of the best parts of a year ending is the numerous year end countdowns. So without further adieu, here is our countdown of the top 21 songs of 2011. 21. The Joy Formidable- Austere Think of a Tegan & Sara voice and a chunkier guitar and you get this great track from The Joy...
Wu (Hu) Lyf – a Band that Thrives on Being Strange
When I discovered the mysterious group known as Wu LYF, I immediately thought this was the missing bridge for post-rock: adding vocals to driven instrumentals with a contemplative tone. It’s not really post-rock, but the guitar spells echo-orchestration-galore. And its nice and layery that gives it a complete and powerful motion that bands like Saxon...
Ragtime: A Century Ahead
Ragtime and hot jazz is finally making a comeback. The 1910s-1930s has often been an ignored era for American music. Oldies radio skips right past the roaring period of flappers, prohibition, and the dust bowl era- instead playing an 80s song plays on the “good times” station. Recently, shows like Boardwalk Empire have started to...
Madeon – “Pop Culture” (Dance Video)
Madeon’s song “Pop Culture” is a dancy number that reminds me of Ratatat’s “Wildcat” with the roar sample. Plus, its got a mashup vibe with all the sampling of vocals and whatnot. I am pretty picky with my electronic-inspired selections, so this one doesn’t disappoint. Check out the goofy dance moves from a tall and...
Active Child in Female Form?
As we get further away from the 80s, we get more music that draws from it. And it’s usually hit or miss. So I will cut to the chase and let you know that Zola Jesus’ Sea Talk is quite the synthed ballad of pure retro-electro chamber pop. And why does Active Child get mentioned...
Music Crush: Alex Winston
Lately we can’t get enough of Alex Winston. From her incredible Take Away Show to the many remixes of her catchy tunes, it seems like Alex is everywhere, and we like it. You can download the Star Slinger remix of Sister Wife here. Feel free to check out some of our favorite Alex Winston videos...
Spotify is now American! Get it Free in the US.
After getting a passport to travel internationally into the states by the way of sizable financial backing, Spotify is going public for its hyped music services in the USA. As of the 2nd week of July, 2011, it requires an invitation, a good Klout score, or a purchase of the non-free accounts. Spotify seems quite...
Top 15 Sources for Live Indie Sessions (mp3s + Videos)
It’s a pleasure when artists give new treatments to their compositions, or a new setting reveals surprising twist in a song. That’s the charm of following a band- admiring their writing as well as their performances. Besides concerts, that’s where ephemeral sessions come to play. You’ve come here because you need to download the best...
Hooray For Free Downloads from Hooray For Earth
I’m really loving Hooray For Earth, so I was very excited to find some legal and free downloads of the band. Just click on the links below to get the downloads: Hooray For Earth- No Love Hooray For Earth- True Loves (The Wild Honey Pie Buzzsessions) This is the video for The Wild Honey Pie...
Marvin Gaye and Pixies Collab.
What happens when Soul fuses with 90s alternative? You get Marvin Gaye supported by the Pixies in this fitting mashup…
Thao & Mirah Cover “Love is a Battlefield”
I’m typically not a fan of cover songs–why try to outdo an already fantastic song? But sometimes a cover comes along that is so unique, so creative, I forget it’s a cover. Thao & Mirah’s take on Pat Benatar’s classic “Love is a Battlefield” is a perfect example of this. Their rendition gives the original...
February Love Jams
These are the songs that filled our musical hearts with love. Bon Iver & St. Vincent- Roslyn Ever wondered what a Bon Iver & St. Vincent collaboration would sound like? Well, this song provides an answer–it sounds like Bon Iver, with a little extra reverb, but mostly it just sounds like classic Bon Iver. It...
