Can You Discover?

Discovery, the new project by Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot, capitalizes on music editing software and the electro sound that is the shifting focus of current music. The LP features catchy electro-pop songs with clean, often 80's reminiscent beats and quietly love-torn lyrics sung by the boys' sweet voices. The duo proves to be fond of cutting vocals and making use of vocal tuners, but only in the best possible way, in the spirit of this electro revolution.

Examples of Electronic Fails:

1) Many rappers opt for the digitalized effects of auto-tune in order to stay relevant. I suspect that some also use it so that they can sing their own choruses and take credit for all vocals of the song... but maybe they shouldn't. Ex: Best I Ever Had - Drake
2) Singers who regularly use auto-tune are accused of having no talent. Ex: Blah Blah Blah - Kesha
3) The U.S. is finally catching on to the electro-dance genre that's already taken over Europe and Australia. Ex: Love is Gone - David Guetta. But Pop in general is totally going electro, trying to keep up. Unfortunately, combining digital music, auto-tune, and simple lyrics makes for the dumbest pop music yet. Ex: In My Head - Jason DeRulo

Electronic Wins:

1) Pop sensation Lady Gaga's music is electro themed, but her vocals are generally untouched by tuners.
2) Electro Dub, a new love of mine, is a new spin on dub that replaces traditional up-stroke guitar chords with MIDI notes and manipulates vocal samples that contribute to the overall feel of the music. Ex: Elders - Clouds
3) MIA sometimes uses auto-tune in more digitalized songs, such as my favorite, 20 Dollar.
4) Animal Collective, a band that marks the age of the New Psychedelic, and is arguably one of the most creative and incredible bands of our time, relies on samples and synthesizers without compromising the sophistication of the structure and lyrics of songs.

Covers Done Right

Covering a song, especially a popular one, is all about making it your own. Covers allow different artists to put their special spin on a song and bring out emotions in it that you didn't even know were there. Here's a comprehensive list of creative covers that pay homage to the original song while giving it a whole new feel.


I Want You Back (Jackson 5) - Discovery
From soul-pop to electro-pop.

Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye) - Ben Harper
Motown to acoustic.

Hey Ya (OutKast) - Matt Weddle
Hip hop -> acoustic

Rock the Casbah (The Clash) - Solar Twins
English punk -> electronica

What You Waiting For (Gwen Stefani) - Franz Ferdinand
Pop -> rock

LoveStoned (Justin Timberlake) - Kaki King
Pop -> solo-artist rock

Mister Grieves (Pixies) - TV on the Radio
Punk -> a'capella

I'm Real (Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule) - The Starting Line
Hip hop -> punk

Hurt (Nine Inch Nails) - Johnny Cash
Rock -> acoustic

Across The Universe (Beatles) - Fiona Apple
Classic rock -> solo-artist alternative

Frontin' (Pharell Williams) - Jamie Cullum
Hip hop -> jazz piano

Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns & Roses) - Vitamin String Quartet
Classic rock -> classical strings

Chop Suey! (System of a Down) - Richard Cheese
Metal -> comedic lounge

Toxic (Britney Spears) - A Static Lullaby
Pop -> hard rock

Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Motown -> funk-metal

Karma Police (Radiohead) - Easy Star All-Stars and Citizen Cope
Alt-rock -> reggae

Such Great Heights (Postal Service) - Iron & Wine
Electronic -> acoustic
.... Too soft for you? Try the screamo version


YouNique YouTubers!:



Paparrazi (Lady Gaga) - Greyson Chance
Pop -> piano

Pop (*NSYNC) - Cobus
Pop -> crazy drums

Baby Got Back (Sir Mix-a-Lot) - Jaw Knee
Hip hop -> acoustic hilarity

Anonymous (Bobby Valentino and Timbaland) - David Sides
Hip hop -> classical piano

Forever (Chris Brown) - Boyce Avenue
Pop -> acoustic

Hate That I Love You (Ne-Yo and Rihanna) - JussJef
Pop -> acoustic

Sweet Dreams (Beyonce) - Tiffyiffyiffy
Pop -> piano



Did I miss any??! Lemme know what your favorite covers are.

DAWES

I got to see an intimate performance by the very talented Dawes in a recording studio last Friday. I ended up taking them to lunch afterwards and they are really nice guys. Although they deny it, these LA hipsters' tunes have a bit of a country vibe. Their music is marked by vocal harmonies and chill beats.

One song that resonates with me is "Love is All I Am", with it's catchy bassline and poetic lyrics. Check out the video, which shows many faces of Love, against a sunny Cali backdrop:



Click here for their "Peak Performance" photos
and here for Myspace

Music Is My Drug

I got 2 wisdom teeth taken out today, and it went smoothly as a dream, thanks in part to this chilled-out playlist! Who needs laughing gas and valium when you can listen to your iPod?

Open Road - Slightly Stoopid
Rivers of Bablyon (Acoustic)- Brad Nowell of Sublime
Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
Queen Bee - Taj Mahal
Love Language - Talib Kweli & Hi Tek


We got some folky-reggae, classical-pop, blues, and smooth hip hop. What do you listen to to set your mind and body at ease?

OK GO

Wait! OK Go is actually kinda cool! Best known for their nerdy treadmill dance routine in the video for pop-rock single "Here It Goes Again", OK Go recently released a new, more mature-sounding album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky. I heard this song through NEXT, a new radio show, hosted by The Peak's Chris Bro, that promises to find you your new favorite song. Well, it worked for me! Give "White Knuckles" a listen, below. It's super funky and has a sick guitar solo towards the middle.



Now check out the trippy video for the single WTF?, which also exhibits that heavily distorted bass, funky riff, and crazy solo, but with a steadier, more yearning overall feel. You can see the band has retained their love of creative videos as well as their goofy sense of humor.


OK GO GET THE NEW ALBUM! (pun unintended)