Top shelf beat here from the Megatron Don; The seemingly perpetually addled with label problems Saigon pitching in with some choice rhymes. The feel Just Blaze has for the rhythm, cadence, & diction in the flows of the rappers he works with (particularly Saigon) really sets his production work apart.
Saigon – Strength (Prod. Just Blaze)Rating: 8.2
The Swedish bodytalker paused her worldbeating tour of nonstop jams just long enough to cut this cover of the classic Prince track for the UK’s Channel 4 TV.
Robyn – When Doves CryRating: 8.1
A big step up here from the Kentucky-based band. “Shake Me Down” is the sound of a band at a defining point of creative realization. The band’s second LP Thank You, Happy Birthday is due Jan. 11.
Cage the Elephant – Shake Me DownRating: 8.5
Photo by Carrie Day
We’ve been fans of singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow for a minute now. His penchant for soulful melody and tuneful lyricism makes him one to keep eyes peeled to in 2011. Already a success in his native Ireland (#1 album, sold-out national tour), McMorrow is set to release his debut LP Early in the Morning in the States in January. We can’t wait. Check out some of these quotes about his development as an artist and writer. (Man, would we love to just hang out and talk music with this guy.)
James Vincent McMorrow – Sparrow and The Wolf“I started listening to older music from the 50’s-70’s, and learning guitar, piano. Then I heard a Donny Hathaway song called ‘I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know’ and it made me want to start singing.“ (YES!) “I’ve been a huge fan of female singers, probably because of the way I sing. I can understand the way they construct melody almost better than I can the way male singers write.” (YES!) “That’s how I started learning how to record myself,” remembers James, “by listening to people like The Neptunes and Timbaland, and trying to figure out how they did what they did.” (YES!)
rating: 8.3
Here goes our new fav track off Cudder’s Mr. Rager stinkbomb. Mr. Mescudi trades verses with GLC (This beat fits his flow like glove. Think “Drive Slow”.) and fellow 216’er and world’s coolest human Chip Tha Rip. Nicole Wray (BlakRoc) adds a sultry vocal hook. Smooth.
Kid Cudi – The End (feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, Nicole Wray)rating: 8.3
“We blazin’. Nicki what you think?” Well, Kanye, man, we’re not Nicki but this track is fire, hot, smokin’, it’s fucking BLAZIN’! “Blazin'” is produced by rising beatmaker Drew Money. Kanye and Nicki both totally smash this. Best Nicki track we’ve heard by about a mil. Nicki haters can totally take a hatecation on this one. We are.
Nicki Minaj – Blazin’ (Feat. Kanye West) Nicki Minaj – Your Love (Small Black Remix) via Gorilla vs. BearRating: 8.2
“Bigger Than Us” is new from former UK it girls White Lies. “Bigger Than Us” sounds, well, big, but is it big in that sort of self consciously big way? Is the band trying to hard? Are they overreaching on this new material? Is it just too much? No.
White Lies – Bigger Than UsRating: 8.2
Kanye makes records cause he absolutely has to. He has to do this. Any truly great singular artist, regardless of medium, is driven by that quality of will. He makes records cause he has absolutely has to. “Lost in the World” feels in ways nothing on the self-styled self-conscious 808s and Heartbreak ever could. The track for “Lost in the World” sounds, feels, bleeds like the work of an artist who absolutely had to create it.
Kanye West – Lost in the World (Feat. Alicia Keys & Bon Iver)rating: 8.8
UK producer Star Slinger crafts a fucking monster here, melding the 1990 Cocteau Twins tune Heaven or Las Vegas into one of the coolest space jams yet heard on this planet or any other. Star Slinger’s rhythmic intelligence is really top shelf. The way he uses the Manny Fresh-esque snare drags to compliment the repetitions in the bits of voice and melody and shards of synth is just phenomenal.
Star Slinger – Elisabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins Rework)rating: 8.2
The transgalactic visuals for Kenton Slash Demon’s Matter totally knocked us out. (The song’s pretty sick too). Check it below.
Kenton Slash Demon – MatterRating: 8.3
Somebody out in the streets better call out Savoy cause he fucking murders this. The first 45 seconds of the track with its spaciousness (the use of space in the cut is next level), its subterranean claps and dub echoes, is the sort of shit you’d want scrawled across your tombstone (If tombstones had audio function.) And then the drop. And we’re finished. Murder.
Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock (Savoy Remix)Rating: 8.6
Ok, so prob the most crotch grabbing reference since MJ (RIP) but the vocal/song are so fucking good we can forgive. As featured by Mistajam as his Jam Hot on Sat Nite, this live acoustic version of the UK songstress’ electrorock track is about 1000 miles ahead of the original.
Jessie J – Do It Like a Dude (Acoustic)Rating: 8.3
