Think you’re done with “Intro”? Think you’ve heard this song dressed up and down every possible way? Think you’re peaced out with it? Well, you may have been yesterday, but you ain’t today, ’cause this new Minnesota remix of The xx is OFFICIAL. So legit.
The xx/Sander Van Doorn – XX Booty (Minnesota Remix)
Minnesota: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.3
Beards up. Hoes down. Sick to hear Freeway rhyming like he gives a shit again.
Freeway/Statik Selektah – The FlowFreeway: (Facebook) (Myspace)
Statik Selektah: (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 7.7
This new Star Slinger remix of The Morning Benders’ track “Cold War” is part of a just released benefit EP put together by the band raise dough to help the relief effort in Japan. 100% of the proceeds from the Benders’ “Japan Echo” EP will go toward helping the victims of the recent Japan catastrophes. The EP also includes unreleased Morning Benders tracks and additional remixes from Twin Sister and Wild Nothing. Again, all proceeds go to Japan relief, donate as much as you’re able.
DONATE The Morning Benders – DONATE Cold War (Star Slinger Remix) DONATE
Other Ways You Can Help: (Red Cross) (Global Giving) (Doctors Without Borders)
Another killer entry from Saadiq’s upcoming Stone Rollin’ LP. “Moving Down the Line” is maybe the new record’s “Big Easy”, the minor key, the shuffle rhythms, the percussive melodies. Keeping with Stone Rollin’s more ’70’s-inspired sound, “Moving Down the Line” is more cinematic, more layered, more dramatic in its arrangement. The strings build and break with the tenor of the tune. Stone Rollin’ is due May 10th on Columbia.
Raphael Saadiq – Moving Down the LineRaphael Saadiq: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 9.0
Another day, another Pusha feature. This time Mr. Thornton spits a few bars over new R&B artist John West’s “Lovely”. This is that sweet R&B, that candy sweet, honey smooth R&B, the kind of R&B you listen to when you’re kickin’ it with your girl on a Friday or in the crib with your Moms on a Sunday. The rhythm patterns in the drums remind a bit of another, kinda famous, Mr. West, with that sort of trailing kick pattern. Sure, this shit sounds like Robin Thicke, but in a GOOD (G.O.O.D.) way. “Lovely” is mint. Get into it.
John West – Lovely (Feat. Pusha T)John West: (Myspace) (Official)
Rating: 8.3
Wow. More crazy good production from K.R.I.T., like who’s the last MC that could create that sort of emotional connect with his music. (The rhymes are fucking sick too.) Return of 4EVA is (now) due next week. We couldn’t be more psyched. K.R.I.T. is/will be a major star. Mark it down.
Big K.R.I.T. – Dreamin’Big K.R.I.T.: (Myspace) (Twitter) (Blogspot)
Rating: 8.3
Berlin-based producer Cuetec serves up here a cooled out version of Toro y Moi’s blog smash. Into it.
Toro y Moi – Still Sound (Cuetec Remix)Toro y Moi: (Myspace) (Blogspot) (Facebook)
Cuetec: (Myspace) (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
“Rolling in the Deep” continues to just keep giving, whether Jamie XX or Villa or now via John Legend. The song’s melody is so strong, so soulful, it’s able to translate itself to just about any genre, arrangement, or instrumentation. Here, our man John Legend takes a song that already had strong blues and gospel influence and propells it straight into spirituals territory. Using a purely a cappella arrangement; a chorus of joyful voices frame the song’s verses and uplift it’s choruses making for a sound that altogether is very powerful. Witness.
John Legend – Rolling in the Deep (Adele Cover)John Legend: (Official) (Twitter) (Amazon)
Rating: 9.0
One of the best things about SXSW is that you can just walk down a street and your ears can bring you to something you’ve never heard before. In preparing some post-festival coverage I recalled one of those bands that drew me in. If you’re a fan of Noel Gallagher and his guitar playing, then you can’t resist listening to this. Lydia Des Dolles lead vocals add a fresh compliment to the British sound. Into it.
Sweet Jane – Close Your Eyes (Single Version)Rating: 8.3
This smoothed out stunner from Glasgow’s Koreless has been on repeat all day here. Koreless cooks up a perfect blend of beats that still hit, beats that can still sync with your own internal rhythms, but also have a quality of atmosphere that is transportive, that takes you elsewhere, vibes you out, cleanses your head.
Koreless – Maria via XLR8RKoreless: (Myspace) (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.2
Soul music. We got to catch Quadron at SXSW on Friday. Mindblown. Coco’s voice is the sort of shit you write love poetry about, or dedicate statuary to. Well here’s our dedication.
Quadron – Average Fruit (fLako Remix)Quadron: (Myspace) (Facebook)
fLako: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.2
Soulful piano, warm synths, that buttery smooth feel good boom boom bap. Yeah we can totally rock to this. XV grabs Push for this remix to “Awesome”. Two of our fav rappers doing it linking up on the same track. Winner!
XV – Awesome (Remix) (Feat. Pusha T)Rating: 8.1
