Listen to this track and try not to imagine it’s 1991. Your hair’s a little longer (or maybe not). The recession sucks (still does). And sandwiched between “Souvlaki Space Station” and “Only Shallow” on your latest mixtape is “Leave” by San Francisco band Whirl.
Whirl – Leave via SKOAWhirl: (Bandcamp)
Rating: 8.5
New DISCO Texas signee Zimmer just dropped this new FREE track entitled “Cruisin'”. Vibes up, G’s down for the Parisian producer on “Cruisin'” as cool synth atmospheres float over a pulsing backbeat; that and the best use of vocal chants on a track yet heard in 2011! haha.
Zimmer – Cruisin’Zimmer: (Facebook) (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.0
Anytime Sade drops new music it’s cause to get psyched. “Still in Love With You” is excerpted from Ms. Adu’s upcoming greatest hits package The Ultimate Collection, due May 3. “Still in Love With You” keeps with the smooth organic sounds of last year’s excellent Soldier of Love LP. Killer track, check it below.
Sade – Still In Love With YouSade: (Official) (Myspace) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.4
Chiddy and Mac jump on Xaphoon’s fresh flip of Martha Reeves.
Chiddy Bang – Heatwave (Feat. Mac Miller) via illROOTSChiddy Bang: (Myspace) Official) (Facebook)
Mac Miller: (Myspace) (Official) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.2
We went off like Chris Brown on a morning show on first hearing this new Oblivion VIP of “Look at Me Now”. Mint.
Chris Brown – Look at Me Now (Oblivion Remix)
Oblivion: (Soundcloud) (Facebook)
Rating: 8.0
Nice tune here from LA’s Lady Danville. The verses sort of have a little bit of a “Harvest Moon” feel to them. Dig it.
Lady Danville – Tired MagicianLady Danville: (Myspace) (Facebook) (WordPress)
Rating: 8.0
Mrs. Nathan Followill, the drummer in that Kings of Leon band, gives it to us nice and breezy on “Hurry Hurry”. The lead single on the Nashville-based singer-songwriter’s Jesse Harris-produced (Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe) as of yet untitled third LP, “Hurry Hurry” has the sort of roots, even Jazz influence that’s sorely been absent in the Nashville mainstream for many many years. “Hurry Hurry” is feel good music. It’s soulful music. It’s great music.
Jessie Baylin – Hurry, HurryJessie Baylin: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.0
Nosaj cooks it down extra clean and extra smooth on this of the track “Let ‘Em Fall” by Bristol UK (sound does sort of have that classic Bristol bent to it) artist Malachai. Expect on this remix the ominous synth atmospheres, pitched up polyrhythms, laid back production values that are the Nosaj Thing sound.
Malachai – Let ‘Em Fall (Nosaj Thing Remx) via La 3e heureMalachai: (Myspace) (Label)
Nosaj Thing: (Official) (Myspace) (Twitter)
Rating: 8.2
Winner.
Childish Gambino – Break (AOTL)Childish Gambino: (Blogspot) (Official) (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.3
Billboard #3 in 1974. One of the coolest chorus hooks ever.
Ace – How Long (Has This Been Going On)Buy It: (Amazon)
Pharrell uses a cut from the Tron soundtrack to serve up a reminder that 1) He’s Pharrell 2) He’s still pretty sick and 3) He hasn’t gone anywhere. That said, it’s rad to hear Pharrell rapping with some heat again. Skateboard P. Daft Punk. 2011.
Pharrell Williams – The Game Has ChangedPharrell:(Myspace)
Rating: 8.2
We love Alison Krauss’ voice. “Paper Airplanes” is beautiful. Ignore the stale adult contemporary production and just feel that voice.
Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper AirplaneAlison Krauss & Union Station: (Official)
Rating: 8.0
