illumiNATION

A Hot Crustacean Band

2011-07-22T07:42:00.005-05:00

100 degree+ weather working at summer camp calls for cool, indoor movie time. That's when I was reminded of how fun and clever this tune is from the Disney classic A Little Mermaid. It depicts an underwater world in which mermaids have coveted singing voices and every sea critter is a talented musician. Nowadays, at least we got squids on clarinets.

The newt play the flute
The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass
And they soundin' sharp!
The bass play the brass
The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul!

The ray he can play
The lings on the strings
The trout rockin' out
The blackfish, she sings.
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it's at,
And oh that blowfish blooooooowwwww!

Beantown Bliss

2011-07-16T06:22:00.004-05:00

Now that I'm on a Boston streak, I may as well go ahead and commemorate how much I miss this city with a video that BU friend Misha recently re-sent me. Created by members of BU's Howard Thurman Center for tolerance & diversity, set to the lively sounds of popular french indie band Phoenix, and modeled after the trend-setting video of compiled dancing scenes from the Breakfast Club, this video really gets to me. When I think "Boston", I picture young people dancing on rooftops in the sun-- no joke. It perfectly captures the feeling we have of being young and free in the best city in the world. BU kids will understand completely.

Whatup Rhett.

Some Snow Would Be Nice

2011-07-15T19:49:00.003-05:00

You may recognize this song from hearing it play in the A&P as you picked out the lowest-calorie orange juice (as was the case with me). I got to see up-and-comers Augustana play this and other ballads at 107.1 The Peak's annual Pleasantville Music Festival, Sat July 9th. I also had the pleasure of meeting Jared, the bassist, after hanging around sidestage like a misplaced groupie at the super kid-friendly, outdoor concert. Dan's voice sounded older and more raw during the performance, which grounded the sappy hit a bit. And the breeze blowing through the boys' hair really complimented the music. I was feeling it, swaying alongside my good friend and fellow BU student Leora and mouthing along to the lyrics, "I think I'll go to Boston". Forget NYC... Looks like Beantown's the latest runaway destination.

Guitar Sex.
My fav.

Gilad Shalit: 5 Songs for 5 Years in Captivity

2011-06-25T12:19:00.009-05:00

At 19 years old, I'm free to enjoy summer with my family and friends. The sun in shining, music blasting, life is good. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to be Gilad Shalit, who at age 19 was kidnapped by terrorist group Hamas and has since been held hostage in an unknown location, denied contact with the outside world since 2006. Who knows what kind of mental and physical abuse he's been facing?

Today marks Gilad's 5th year of torture. In his honor, I've put together 5 songs that try to help us understand the idea of captivity, desperation, and descent into darkness. Please keep Gilad in your mind and heart as you listen to these lyrics.

Amazon - M.I.A.
Stockholm Syndrome - Blink 182
One - Metallica
Climbing up the Walls - Radiohead
I Was a Lover - TV on the Radio

FREE GILAD

I'm sure there are so many songs out there that would better fit this list. Please comment with a song that's explicitly about being held prisoner or makes a good attempt at explaining the feeling.

Can You Discover?

2010-06-27T21:02:00.014-05:00

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

2010-06-09T15:30:00.032-05:00

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

2010-05-24T00:34:00.032-05:00

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

2010-05-17T20:35:00.014-05:00

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

2010-04-12T22:55:00.020-05:00

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)

RAPPERS WHO DON'T SUCK: NYLE

2009-08-19T21:00:00.004-05:00

This is Nyle. He may look like "a light-skinned Weezy", as he acknowledges in the rap below. And he could easily become as big as Lil' Wayne, considering he's ill and innovative, and has already made a name for himself throughout the NYC underground. Check out his MySpace to hear the NYU student's Frosh album and the new Capstone EP.

This video for "Let The Beat Build" was shot in one take.

For more Nyle, get up on his website.

I actually found Nyle through the best comedy group on the planet, DERRICK Comedy. If you don't know them, stop whatever you're doing and go laugh.

RAPPERS WHO DON'T SUCK: CHARLES HAMILTON

2009-08-18T20:52:00.001-05:00

"Hip-hop aint dead; it just turned 20." - CH

Do you like Incubus? Modest Mouse? TV on the Radio? Then you have something in common with Charles Hamilton, an emerging rapper from Brooklyn. The artists mentioned are a few of the many who the rock fan has sampled in his tracks, featured all over the internet and on dozens of mixtapes.
What else defines CH? Video games. He's taken Sonic the Hedgehog as a logo and works sound effects from the game into his beats. He's got a sense of humor, sampling from TV shows like Family Guy in C Food and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood in The N Word. One last thing: this dude adores the color pink. And will kick your a** if you have a problem with that.
Look out for an official album this summer. For now, there's the digitally-released Pink Lavalamp.

"Brooklyn Girls" - The Single

"Starchasers" - My personal favorite, samples Lykke Li

Get to know Charles: CharlesHamilton.blogspot.com

"November 10th":

IT'S SUMMERTIME!

2009-08-18T00:35:00.013-05:00

..... but I'm back on my game. More or less. Some quick summer loves of mine:

Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
THE summer song. Love these guys; just saw them Saturday night.

Whatcha Say - Jason DeRulo
Guilty pleasure. Samples Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek"! Pleasant surprise from some auto-tune singer.

Sweet Dreams - Beyonce
Beyonce. Owns. Always.

Infinity - Guru Josh Project
This master dance track is finally taking over the U.S.

She Wolf (Loba) - Shakira
New direction for Shakira. Liking it. Video's a little much though...

Throw it in the Bag Remix - Fabolous and Drake
Tight beat. Drake's blowin' up everything.

Pogo - Digitalism
Perfect blend of indie and dance styles. Summer anthem.

BAM!...BOOZLE

2009-05-07T22:49:00.004-05:00

Energy with Class. No Doubt.

Kill Mo' Time!

2009-05-05T17:30:00.005-05:00

Song's been stuck in my head. Video's sick. Dirty, sexy... hella good.

Kill Some Time...

2009-05-04T19:25:00.004-05:00

Until I get up some pics of No Doubt from Bamboozle last night, here's a funny little video from Taking Back Sunday, who performed right before them.

Old School Vid - I Love to Singa!

2009-04-27T00:50:00.023-05:00

I Love to Singa
Uploaded by ktophe9

This 1936 cartoon tells the story of "Owl" Jolson, who pursues his passion for Jazz against the wishes of his strict, traditional parents. It's based off the life story of Al Jolson, a Jewish-Lithuanian immigrant to the US who became a vaudeville and Broadway legend and starred in the first ever full-length sound movie The Jazz Singer in 1927.

Check him out: Jolson - "Toot Toot Tootsie"

The first ever episode of South Park references the cartoon! I could only get the clip in German - hilarious.
Watch the full episode here.

I <3 A'ccapella

2009-04-25T18:06:00.002-05:00

What's My Age Again - Blink 182

The Chill Playlist

2009-04-24T22:31:00.016-05:00

Here's the playlist for a Spring mix I made my friend recently. Inspired by the old WFUV 90.7, Satan, and Sara Hope. My favs are starred.

*Summer Skin - Death Cab for Cutie, off Plans ~ so beautiful.
32 Flavors – Ani DiFranco, off Living in Clip [Live] ~ gotta love Ani.
Sexual Healing (cover) – Ben Harper, off Live at the Hollywood Bowl [EP] ~ Ben Harper kept the soul but brought down the cheese factor.
Sung with the Birds – Ramona Cordova, off The Boy Who Floated Freely ~ pretty finger-picking.
*You’s a Bird – Broken Parachutes (Ezra Tenenbaum) ~ very fresh style.
*Hey Ya (cover) – Matt Weddle (of Obadiah Parker) ~ only OutKast song that makes me teary.
Honey I Been Thinking About You – Jackie Greene ~ kinda funny. still sweet.
When in Rome – Nickel Creek, off Why Should the Fire Die? ~ so poignant.
Children of December – The Slip, off Eisenhower
Freeway – Aimee Mann, off Smilers
The Man (with Natalie Maines) – Pete Yorn, off Westerns EP ~ nice Yorn. so spring-y.
Sunrise – Norah Jones, off Feels Like Home
Rain – Patty Griffin, off 1000 Kisses ~ this makes me cry. Patty is amazing.
While You Were Sleeping – Elvis Perkins, off Ash Wednesday ~ simple chord progression, amazing lyrics.
Lake Michigan – Rogue Wave, off Asleep At Heaven’s Gate ~ cool feel.
After Tonight – Justin Nozuka, off Holly ~ great tune, great voice. Justin's a cutie.
One Of These Things First – Nick Drake, off “Garden State” Soundtrack ~ pretty cool and unique.
*High And Dry – Radiohead, off The Bends ~ a classic. one of the most 'normal' Radiohead songs. still great.

KUTIMAN: Visual DJ

2009-04-19T23:18:00.014-05:00

This is the Age of Mash Ups.

We're antsy for beats that catch the attention and keep it. Luckily, music is becoming more and more interactive and accessible, and there are some musical geniuses out there with plenty of skill and a whole lot of creativity. Underground mash-up mogul Girl Talk blew up this year with his seamless (and illegal) mixes of songs from the most conflicting genres and eras. It's prime time for DJ's... but what about the visual aspect?

Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel) is redefining media editing. The 24 year old Israeli multi-talented musician, who started out in Jazz, moved on to reggae, and later created a self-titled, funky, afro-beat album, embarked last month on an innovative project dubbed ThruYOU. The project is similar to the album Endtroducing... by the extraordinary DJ Shadow, who assembled killer tracks using only samples of other artists' previously released music. Kutiman's effort is a collection of 7 mash-up songs, constructed only from bits and pieces of unrelated, original YouTube videos. Kutiman's master mixing and editing of material from everyday musicians, singers, and rappers gained over 1 million views within its first week on the web.

Be sure to check out Kuti's MySpace for more music, photos, and fun.

Soon after Kutiman was featured on YouTube, the owners caught on to this mash-up craze! Check out YouTube's "Internet Symphony" Global Mash Up, a mash-up vid of musicians performing a piece by Chinese composer Tan Dun.

Other incredible musical artists out of Israel, gaining press in the U.S.: Balkan Beat Box, Idan Raichel, HaDag Nachash

The Radio These Days...

2009-04-19T15:37:00.016-05:00

I turn up the radio in the car, and what do I hear? Kid Cudi's "Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix)" ruling the airwaves. I chose it for a Video of the Week in January.

Congrats, Kid! Too bad NY's #1 Hit Music Station is gonna over-play, exhaust, and murder your hit within a few days.

Who else is playing Cudi? The new 92.3, NOW. If you haven't already heard the devastating news, K-Rock is no longer available on FM radio. We've got a Z100 clone instead. But you can listen to New York's Only Alternative in HD and online here.

HAPPY RECORD STORE DAY! (every 3rd Saturday of April)

2009-04-18T22:47:00.029-05:00

GO OUT AND BUY SOME VINYLS!!!

Video of the Week: Micachu & The Shapes

2009-04-02T20:51:00.005-05:00

"SHUT THAT TRAP; YOUR DRIBBLE IS DRY"

Meet Mica Levi, AKA Micachu. The 21 year old Brit began as a violin and viola prodigy and now produces some of the most innovative material out there, which sometimes includes the use of homemade instruments. "Lips" is from her (yes, her) first album, Jewellery, released last month. This short, intimate video just leaves you wanting more Micachu. Check out my favorite track by her, "Turn Me Weller", in which Mica uses a vacuum cleaner for sound effects and to manipulate her voice.

More Risks in the Rap World...

2009-04-01T18:59:00.022-05:00

IF RAP GETS JEALOUS by K'NAAN - Emerging rapper-musician K'naan, originally from Somalia, isn't shy about his distinguishable style. The former refugee arrives with a little auto-bio and a message to the haters in this catchy, rock-based track. Get a better feel for his fresh sound at his MySpace.

PROM QUEEN by LIL' WAYNE - The accomplished rapper is testing himself and the masses by releasing a new, entirely rock album called "Rebirth". "Prom Queen" is the emo-tinged first single. Weezy follows the T-Pain-stamped autotune trend in order to forge a tolerable singing voice. The lyrics lack substance in comparison to Wayne's chart-topping rhymes. But you'll still hear the loyal fans and rap-rock rebels blasting this song's basic riff from their cars.

WELCOME TO HEARTBREAK by KANYE WEST FT. KID CUDI - The title says it all. A humbled Ye complains about alienating himself with money and missing out on the true valuables of life, like love. You basically get to hear the ego-tripper cry on this track: "OOooh-oOOoh" - heartbreaking..... or hilarious?

Video of the Week: Higher by Theophilus London

2009-03-15T02:21:00.019-05:00

"WHO'S THE MESSIAH? AINT READY FOR LIES"

Allow me to formally introduce you to the new face of hip hop. Indie culture has infiltrated the hip hop scene, and artists like Mr. Theophilus here are gradually stealing the spotlight from the Jim Jones gangsta types. This video, featured on YouTube, highlights the urban art of NYC, instead of gang violence. This song, whether you're feeling it or not, is spiritual, and not materialistic. This kid, in the nerdy skater spirit of Pharell, Lupe, and Kid Cudi, is changing the game. He may lack the street cred, but he's got something that today's hip hop is losing: purpose. And passion. And effort. Better get used to those dork-glasses, skinny jeans, and purple sweatshirts! You won't find many half-naked women around here.

*Didn't like the song? Play the track below... it epitomizes Theo's electro-dance style.

{Kanye warned us with "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless"... hip hop's going emo!}

Growing Love for Animal Collective

2009-03-01T21:29:00.008-06:00

Animal Collective makes me so giddy inside. In a weird, messy kind of way. The new album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, released last month, is the perfect next-step in the art-rock band's experimental musical journey. Listening to the single "My Girls" feels kinda like falling through a portal... echoing, harmonic voices, scratchy background samples, and an enduring, rhythmic beat. The simple lyrics reveal that this psychedelic song is really just about craving a simple life with the people you care about most. Nothing too far out. It's blatantly trippy, yet startlingly familiar. This goes for the entire album. Animal lovers and curious newbies alike will enjoy.

*Click here to experience Animal Collective.*

Older favorites:
"Fireworks"
"Purple Bottle"

Best Musical Moment of the Oscars: AR Rahman & John Legend

2009-02-23T19:05:00.034-06:00

Forget the ode-to-Musicals theme and performances from last night's Oscars: The true history-making musical moment of the night was when AR Rahman became the first Indian to receive 2 Oscars, procuring a double win for Best Original Score and Song. The performance of the nominees for Best Original Song was the highlight of the night, as 3 very beautiful numbers were up for the win: "O Saya" featuring MIA, and "Jai Ho", both by AR Rahman, written for Slumdog Millionaire, and "Down to Earth" by Peter Gabriel, from Wall*E. Rahman and singer John Legend, in place of Gabriel, delivered remarkable performances together.

The 3 nominated songs were combined into a brief medley and were performed by the unlikely but talented pair of Rahman, a renown Bollywood composer, and Legend, a young American R&B singer and pianist. (MIA couldn't be there to accompany Rahman since she gave birth to her first baby boy last week!) The performance erupted in a swirl of fuchsia as dancers clad in Indian-inspired costume swarmed the stage to the beat of Rahman's outstanding song, "O Saya". As the many drummers supplied the foundation for the beat-based song, the humble super-producer demonstrated his passionate vocals. The mood then simmered down as Legend emerged to sing the beautiful lyrics of "Down to Earth", written for the surprisingly deep and masterfully sound-edited animated film Wall*E. The audience was hit with another blast of culture as Legend's backing vocalists from the Soweto Gospel Choir appeared, dressed in colorful, traditional African garb. The Indian ensemble then recaptured the stage for Rahman's lively "Jai Ho", and the performance ended with Rahman and Legend singing simultanneously, mash-up style.

Afterward, when Rahman accepted the award for "Jai Ho", he remarked:
"All my life I've had a choice of hate and love. I chose love, and I'm here. God bless."

Official hero? You bet.

To see Rahman and Legend's performance yourself, click here.

Rahman's wins both celebrated Slumdog Millionaire's great success (8 Oscars total) as well as represented a victory for the entire nation of India. Check out the people's reaction here.

~CLICK HERE to read my post from last month about the Slumdog Millionaire film & soundtrack!~

Don't forget to download "O Saya", "Jai Ho", and "Down to Earth"!

Video of the Week: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive

2009-02-16T19:22:00.019-06:00

"I COULD TRACE YOUR PRIVATE NUMBER, BABY"

So I know this video isn't exactly up-to-date. But I couldn't resist. It's just so 80's.. hilarious.. slightly disturbing.
See, I wanted to post the video for rapper Flo Rida's new single "Right Round", off his sophomore album R.O.O.T.S., but it's not out yet. What really caught my attention about the club hit was its chorus, sung by newbie Kesha, a dance-pop party girl whose bound to blow up any day now (give "Backstabber" a listen below). Since the chorus of "Right Round" was inspired by this hit from British New Wave band DOA (would you ever have guessed?), I thought I'd share the love with you. Lead singer Peter Burns' dance moves just kill me. [Click here to see what he looks like now, after millions of $$ worth of cosmetic surgery.] Let's see Flo Rida try and live up to this.

Right Round (Album Version) - Flo Rida

Backstabber - Kesha
For more on the singer, song-writer, and backing vocalist, go to her myspace page HERE.

KAKI KING: Queen of Experimental Guitar

2009-02-11T19:53:00.032-06:00

I can't believe I haven't gotten into Kaki King until this year. Her guitar-playing style, that she describes as "eclectic and unorthodox", is too intriguing to miss, and impeccably executed. The 29 year-old song-writer and NYU graduate, identified by her Hilary Swank-like cheek bones and thick eyebrows, has been highly endorsed by Foo Fighter's frontman Dave Grohl since she guested on the song "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners" off the Foo's latest album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Recently, King has opened for gypsy-music reviver Beirut. She's also covered pop poster boy Justin Timberlake's "LoveStoned". You may recognize Kaki's sound from the 2007 film August Rush, about a kid from the streets who rises as a guitar prodigy. King is the heart & soul and even the hands (literally) behind the songs that the main character "plays" in the movie. KK also contributed songs to the multi-award-winning film Into the Wild.

Now the thing about Kaki King is that she doesn't just play guitar. She takes full advantage of the instrument, utilizing the body to create percussive beats, and the lower strings as a bass substitute- no need for a band. KK also uses unconventional techniques such as fret-tapping and slapping to create specialized sounds. Her graceful right hand, adorned with superlong nails, crawls along the neck of the guitar, tapping at notes that reverberate on her electric-acoustic, while her dexterous left hand presses at the strings from above. The Right retreats to finger-picking at the mouth while Left slides along up the road. The way in which she uses both hands to create melodies is reminiscent of piano playing, and the result is a layered and complex sound that King has coined since her premiere album Everybody Loves You.

Here's "Bone Chaos in the Castle" off her latest album Dreaming of Revenge:

note: Kaki is not the first to experiment this way with the guitar. Michael Hedges established his slap-tap sound in the '80's and is considered instrumental in the history of American guitar playing. King covered his exceptional single "Ritual Dance" for August Rush. Preston Reed is another incredibly talented slap-tapper with a more blues-y edge. Check out "Slap Funk". And Justin King's skills are absolutely astounding - definitely check him out if you're liking this style.

Here's more innovation by King, "Gay Sons of Lesbian Mothers", off ...Until We Felt Red. Don't get excited, there's no lyrics. Just loops of lap steel guitar:

Prefer a more traditional style? Kaki's mastered that too. Check out "Neanderthal": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-getNkpZeI

And don't forget her breakout single "Playing with Pink Noise": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRttF8yL77A

BLINK IS BACK!

2009-02-08T21:50:00.016-06:00

[photo by Kevin Winter]

Glory Halleluyah. Somebody up there loves me. First No Doubt, and now Blink? Is this actually happening? And is it a coincidence that my two favorite bands that I last saw in concert together are reuniting in the same year? The same, previously sucky year? Does Obama have something to do with this?? Life just got so much brighter...

Their official statement:

"Hi. We're Blink-182. This past week there've been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We're back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy. Summer 2009. Thanks and get ready."

At the Grammys tonight, Mark, Travis, and an awkward Tom hit the stage together for the first time in 4 years to present Best Rock Album to Coldplay. Seeing the grown, ex-best friends in their familiar threesome (ha) almost brought tears to my eyes. Look out for the crazy trio in the summer... until then, I'll be tracking their whereabouts like a bloodhound. So check back for updates.

"... and that's why comebacks are having the Best Week Ever!"

TV on the TV

2009-02-07T12:05:00.007-06:00

Tune in to TV on the Radio's performance on Saturday Night Live tonight! I've been waiting for this moment for too long. The band will also appear on The Colbert Report on Monday. And yes, I still have yet to hear their music on the radio.
TV's scheduled to play the Coachella Festival in April and Bonnaroo in June. If you can't wait till then, lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe is now launching his solo project "Fake Male Voice" and will perform under this name for the first time on Tuesday at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn.

Dancing Choose - TV On The Radio

[above photo by Rumi S]

D-Sides: The Hip Hop Pianist

2009-02-04T21:06:00.021-06:00

Have you ever wondered what hip hop would sound like if played by Mozart? Then it's about time you get acquainted with one of YouTube's greatest musical sensations, David Sides. With hundreds of thousands of official fans, Sides is the #8 Most Subscribed Musician on YouTube. He was also the Most-Watched Artist of '08. Once he gained this steady internet fan base, Sides was able to release his albums "The Collection-Volume I" and "II" on iTunes. A self-taught pianist, Sides is lauded for his uncanny ability to translate today's music into classical masterpieces. His smooth renditions of tunes by popular artists like Kanye West exude a power and emotion that surpass the originals'. Just look what he did with T-Pain's seemingly shallow hit "Buy U A Drank":

D-Sides's genius is especially apparent through his cover of Chris Brown's "Kiss Kiss", which sticks close to the original melody, but gives it a kind of dark, unexpected, and powerful feel. The excitement and yearning that underscores Bobby Valentino's song "Anonymous" is amplified by Sides' cover, as though the song was destined to be played on piano. Short on time? Check out "Make it Rain" to easily understand and get a taste of Sides' work. Not into hip hop? Sides also covers alternative songs like Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and OneRepublic's "Apologize", which was his first big hit. To get the full effect, listen to the original songs first, and then play Sides' unique versions.

Sides on MySpace
Sides' Official Site

Video of the Week: Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix) by Kid Cudi

2009-01-31T10:26:00.005-06:00

"THE LONELY STONER SEEMS TO FREE HIS MIND AT NIGHT"

Damn this remix is impossible not to nod your head to. I meant to put it up last week when I heard it on Pulse 87. The original "Day 'N' Nite" got pretty big pretty fast: it was featured in Entourage, and big rappers like Pitbull and Jim Jones have already spit over it (as if Kid Cudi's lyrics weren't already perfect). But this particular remix and video do a really good job of flipping the song's sorrow into something fun. There might be a little too much sexiness in the video, but it's all in Cudi's head anyway.

Slumdog Millionaire: A Paradox Explained Through Picture and Sound

2009-01-27T00:18:00.006-06:00

I've been dying to see "Slumdog" since I heard that MIA contributed generously to the soundtrack. The kick-ass, British-Sri Lankan musical artist, noted for her heavy, sociopolitical lyrics, often juxtaposed with a clubby dance beat, offers an authentic sound and message that is perfectly compatible with the movie's agenda. The film itself is full of juxtapositions and contradictions, as noted in the title. Indian super-producer AR Rahman crafted a brilliant soundtrack, named Best Original Score by the Golden Globes, that juxtaposes new and old by fusing genuine Indian sound with modern influences from the Western world. Hearing the soundtrack is half the experience of absorbing the plot line of the Best Picture of the Year.

Through a series of intense flashbacks, the film tells the painful life-story of an 18-year old from the slums who luckily ends up on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". Young Jamaal Malik's tale, with an interwoven love story, reveals the sharp contrast between the urban and industrialized, Bollywood-deluded India that tourists flock to, and the dirty, crime-riddled life of the poor in the shantytowns. The masterful cinematography captures this contrast by catching brightly colored clothing and fresh produce against dismal piles of debris, and showing warm bursts of light shine in the eyes of struggling children in the darkest of situations.

Though religion, power, and love are other dense topics explored by the movie, the motif of money, and the theme of seemingly justified thievery and deception, are most central to the film. MIA offered her hustler anthem "Paper Planes", as well as the DFA remix of it, to a scene in which 6-year old Jamaal and older brother Salim hop trains selling cheap, stolen goods. The Academy Award-nominated song "O...Saya" also conveys life on the run through MIA's hasty verse and AR Rahman's fast, booming drum beats from the Indian instrument called a tabla. The track mixes a poignant hook in Hindi with electronic manipulations to paint a picture of raw hustler spirit set to the pace of the big city.

"Liquid Dance" is another great example of Rahman's genius. The track opens with a high-speed Hindi chant and morphs into an electro masterpiece. The suspenseful "Mausam and Escape" begins with a flurry of pleasant notes from the Indian classical instrument the jaltarang, and then suddenly becomes the superior fusion of typical Bollywood string arrangements and steady, hip-hop beats.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is a sensuous combination of color, sound, and emotion. It has an idealist's ending, and leaves us believing that love can prevail, even after a lifetime of struggle. The music will guide you through this tumultuous journey. And at the end, you'll understand how the dark and light of life experience is 100 times more valuable than book smarts.

"O... Saya": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDXiCsP576I

GO-BAMA! GO-BAMA!

2009-01-20T19:39:00.002-06:00

Being an American rocks.
Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in today as the first black President of the US. This calls for some serious celebration.

Did you notice how big a role music played in the Inauguration in DC? There were a few interspersed musical acts that helped set an uplifting and patriotic tone for this revolutionary event. The ceremony opened with performances by the US Marine Band, the San Francisco Boys Chorus, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Legendary Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was appropriately chosen to sing "My Country, 'Tis Of Thee" before Vice President Joe Biden's swearing-in. Afterward, a cheery piece composed by John Williams was performed by a diverse group of famed musicians: Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman, a jovial Yo-Yo Ma on cello, the Venezuelan Gabriela Montero on piano, and black Chicago-native Anthony McGill on clarinet. Once Obama was officially sworn-in, the "Sea Chanters" (US Navy Band) closed the ceremony with the national anthem.

Among the audience of about 2 million were many celebrities, including hip hop tycoon P. Diddy, with his family, and dynamic duo Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Beyonce was among dozens who performed at the "We Are One" concert for Sunday's opening celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. All different kinds of musicians came together to sing out in anticipation of Obama, including Bono, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Shakira, and Stevie Wonder.

The many Inaugural balls beckoned tons of musical artists of all races, ages, and musical genres to DC this MLK weekend, and they just keep on coming. The "Hey America Feels Kinda Cool Again" ball, featuring the Beastie Boys, took place last night. Russel Simmons, TI, and LL Cool J hosted a bash for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, with general admission tickets selling at 1 grand. MTV's hyped up "Be The Change" ball is going on tonight and features Kanye West and Fall Out Boy. It airs tomorrow at 9pm on MTV ONE.

Check out the Obama-rama song craze:

Ratatat's "Shempi" mashed with some words of wisdom from Obama: http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/mp3s?func=alpha&key=O
Click the play button next to Obamatat. Pampelmoose rocks.

"History" by Jay-Z, performed at the Neighborhood Ball
"Black President" by Nas

Video of the Week: I Don't Care by Fall Out Boy

2009-01-16T14:19:00.001-06:00

“I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK AS LONG AS IT'S ABOUT ME”

This is in honor of the upcoming Bamboozle. I’m not the biggest FOB fan, but this video’s pretty fun. The band unleashes their inner badass in this satirical statement about jerky rock stars. Former Blink 182 bassist and current +44 frontman & record producer (and eternal object of my desire) Mark Hoppus makes a surprise cameo at the end, along with a few other stars…

THEY'RE BACK??! - No Doubt.

2009-01-15T19:02:00.001-06:00

WHO IS NO DOUBT?
No Doubt is Gwen Stefani (vocals), Tony Kanal (bass), Tom Dumont (guitar), and Adrian Young (drums). The group started as a Ska band in ’86 in Anaheim, Cali. Since then, they’ve covered a myriad of genres and styles – like punk, rock, reggae, and dancehall. After a 5 year hiatus, they’re reuniting to headline BAMBOOZLE on May 3rd.

The history of No Doubt is a journey of ever-evolving musical styles and images, spanning about 2 decades. With each of their 4 major albums, the band seemed to tackle a new genre of music and take on a unique, new image. There was the original ska period that yielded “The Beacon Street Collection”, then came the massively popular 'new wave-ska' sound of “Tragic Kingdom”, followed by the rock edge of “Return of Saturn”, and finally the dancehall feel of “Rock Steady.” Vocalist Gwen Stefani was not always the dance-pop solo artist, “Hollaback Girl” that we know today. In addition to serving as a rebellious role model for teenage girls in the ‘90’s, Gwen was, and continues to be, an international fashion icon, setting the most risqué and outlandish trends that often involve self-made or self-designed clothing.

The Beginning
No Doubt emerged in 1986 as a fun and crazy ska band, just as the heavy grunge scene was taking over (think Nirvana). Gwen’s older brother Eric started the band as the keyboardist, but he soon left to become a full-time animator on The Simpsons (aw yeah). In ’92, after the release of their first, self-titled album, the band appeared in their first video, for “Trapped in a Box”, a spunky little diddy about being a slave to the television. A petite Gwen was recognized for her “loopy, unpredictable” voice of distinguished vibrato and range, as well as her individualized, self-made style.

The Peak
In ’95, the band played in the first ever, now famous Warped Tour, along with revered rock-reggae gods and Cali buds Sublime. Later that year, ND released the soon-to-be platinum record “Tragic Kingdom”, a collection of catchy yet powerful ska-bitten songs, many inspired by the difficult break up of Gwen and bassist Tony Kanal, who’d kept up a passionate relationship for 7 years. The success of “Tragic Kingdom” instantly propelled the lovably awkward and energetic Gwen into the position of feminist role model and symbol of rebellion for teen girls around the world. She debuted her signature look of platinum blonde hair and red lips, contrasted with her abs-bearing shirt and baggy pants, in the video for “Just A Girl”, which became the unofficial anthem of the female teenager.

Coping With Fame
With the growing success of the band, Gwen’s styles became a bigger media focus than the band’s music. (This concern was expressed in the band’s video for hit single “Don’t Speak”). Gwen set many unlikely trends, among which was wearing a bindi, a jewel donned between the eyes, inspired by Tony’s Indian heritage. Gwen then had the guts to show up at the MTV VMA’s of 98 with short and stringy blue hair, and in a matching blue, fuzzy bikini top. In the ultimate display of audacity, Gwen flashed her metal-mouth smile of multi-colored braces at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards ‘99, where she was nominated Most Fashionable Female Artist. Her hair color changed once again, to bright pink, to celebrate the year 2000, when No Doubt became the first band to perform on MTV New Year’s Eve in the new millennium. The new year ushered in the release of the alternative style album “Return to Saturn”, which debuted at #2 on the US charts. The harder, rock energy of the record reflected both Gwen’s growing insecurities and the band’s rough musical evolution. My personal favorite track off the record, “Magic’s in the Makeup”, reveals Gwen’s insecurities about her true identity, suppressed by her use of excessive makeup and her constantly changing and experimental looks.

Going Steady
Despite generally positive reviews, “Return of Saturn” was a financial failure, so No Doubt recruited major producer Pharell Williams of the Neptunes to help with their new album. During the writing process, Gwen began solo collaborations with artists like hip hop diva Eve and legendary DJ Moby. Then in 2001, “Rock Steady” was born. In just a year, No Doubt had matured (somewhat) and entirely reinvented their image, resulting in a commercial comeback. The band reinstated authentic reggae influences into their music, working with Jamaican artists like Bounty Killer and Lady Saw. The record took on an electro-dancehall sound. Tony Kanal commented on the new sound:

“The album has an old-school, early '80s-underground, dance hall-meets-New Wave-pop feel, and for us, 'Rock Steady' captures that universal vibe."

The band’s new style, album cover, and videos (“Hey Baby”, “Hella Good”) were inspired by artist Steven Sprouse’s bold, punky-urban artwork. Gwen’s belly-bearing shirts and baggy pants, that became a staple of her look, now always included touches of Rasta wear and a mature punkiness that emanated a whole new type of sex appeal. Yet Gwen’s constant identity crisis resurfaced in the hit single “Underneath it All.” The song was directed towards her boyfriend Gavin Rossdale, frontman of grunge band Bush, whom she met back in ’95 at the Warped Tour. The next year, Gwen and Gavin married. No Doubt’s decline began with the start of Gwen’s solo career.

Solo Gwen
In ’03, Gwen finally launched her own clothing line called L.A.M.B. (Love, Angel, Music, Baby), as well as a solo dance-pop side project of the same name, produced in part by Tony Kanal. With the release of the album came Gwen’s more obvious (and freaky) obsession with Japanese fashion sub-culture. A group of 4 Japanese-American back up dancers, who represent each letter of L.A.M.B., became Gwen’s personal entourage, called the “Harajuku Girls”. The first single off the album, “What You Waiting For?”, was written by Gwen about dealing with pressure and taking such risks with her music career. The accompanying Alice in Wonderland-themed video featured a shockingly primp, polished, and matured Stefani, dressed up in all kinds of lavish costumes. The more popular, Fiddler on the Roof-inspired “Rich Girl”, featuring Eve, was released next. Then came the simple-minded beat of “Hollaback Girl”. And when “Luxurious” made it’s debut, people wondered how anyone could have the nerve to re-work the signature beat by the Isley Brothers, made famous by Biggie’s playa anthem “Big Poppa”. In ’06, “The Sweet Escape” album was released, featuring newer, pop-y artists like Akon.

Meanwhile...
While Gwen did her thing, the rest of the band had a few of their own professional endeavors going on. Tony continued producing music, like songs from the movie “50 First Dates”, the "Funhouse” album by Pink, and “Together as One”, the album by Jewish reggae singer Elan Atias, who was a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers. Tom worked on a side project called “Invincible Overlord” and produced Matt Costa’s “Songs We Sing”. Adrian, the often naked and mohawked drummer, who was named Sexiest Man in Music by Playgirl (yes it exists), toured with various bands and appeared on Drum Magazine cover with fellow master Travis Barker.

They’re Back – No Doubt.
Now, after years in the game, and years out of the game, No Doubt is officially BACK. ND’s last tour (and my first concert) was in summer ’04, and it was co-headlined with Blink 182, who has since disbanded (tears). Now, 5 years later, No Doubt is making an explosive return to headline BAMBOOZLE with Fall Out Boy in East Rutherford, NJ. Tix are just now on sale. Will Doosh be there? Hellzzz yeaaaah. Will I get punched out accidentally by some sweaty, emo kid? Probably. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take to see these guys get back together. After taking a look at all the types of music they’ve explored and images they’ve had, I’m really wondering how the now married professionals will present themselves. The official website shows a black & white image of the boys in suits and Gwen in a dress and heels… hmm… they'll sure stand out that way. ND's apparently working on a *new album* while touring, and I am so excited to see what they come up with. The possibilities are endless.

Melodious Thunk

2009-01-15T18:27:00.002-06:00

Spastic jazz pianist Thelonious Monk came into thought randomly a few days ago when he was playing over the loudspeaker in the halls of my school. (school is weird). He’s mentioned in this track by Lupe Fiasco, who’s quite possibly the best rapper alive, and reminds me there’s a little hope left for hip hop. Lupe’s currently working on his third and final triple-album “LupE.N.D.”, due out in the fall. He’s also working with Kanye West and Pharell Williams on a side project called CRS. (Check out “US Placers”).
“And He Gets the Girl” tells the classic high school story of a nerd’s crush on a cheerleader, except this one’s got a charming outcome. That sick beat is from a song called “Maybe” by Pharell-led band N*E*R*D*. And now here’s some hope for all the dorks out there:

Video of the Week: One More Time to Pretend (Immuzikation Blend)

2009-01-08T17:16:00.001-06:00

"WE'VE GOT THE VISION; NOW LETS HAVE SOME FUN"

"One More Time" by Daft Punk blended with "Time to Pretend" by MGMT

People who will like this mash up:

* mgmt lovers
* daft punk lovers
* ppl who love to dance
* ppl who need a reason to dance
* ppl who can appreciate a good mash-up
* ppl who wanna understand what a good mash-up is
* ppl who dig animated aliens
* ppl who dig beach bonfires
* ppl who dig psychedelic videos
* ppl who are high and in for a trip
* and of course… those of you who have nothing better to do

alright then.. think that covers everyone. Enjoy

and hey.. recognize the little sample at the end? Comment with the name of the song.

TV on the EVERYTHING!!!

2009-01-07T19:19:00.000-06:00

WHAT IS TV ON THE RADIO?
TV on the Radio is a 5-piece band that's pretty hard to categorize. Generally labeled an art-rock group, they take huge risks with their music, including using a'capella, slap-dash raps, heavy distortion, and even opera. Became one of my favorite bands last year (special thanks to Deena). Their music's got elements of rock, funk, hip hop, soul, and much more.

The News....
TV on the Radio, the Brooklyn-based band very dear to my heart, is blowing up everywhere. This has been their biggest year so far since their humble beginning, jamming in shoddy apartments back 7 years ago. The lastest album "Dear Science" has gotten rave reviews from the biggest mags, including Rolling Stone, which awarded them #1 Album of the Year. (The previous album, "Return to Cookie Mountain", AKA soundtrack of my life for 4 months, also received high acclaim and set up well for this big debut). TVOTR graced the cover of Fader for the oct/nov issue, and inside they won a lengthy, analytical write up. SPIN recognized TV's genius back in 2006, and featured them on the cover in December. TV returns to glorify the cover of SPIN this month! So take a nice look at those lovely faces in dork-glasses! And while you're at it, go marvel at frontman Tunde Adebimpe's face in "Rachel Getting Married". He stars in the 4-star film alongside big-name Anne Hathaway [who's not my favorite, but she plays a crazy drug addict so...] During their long and successful US tour '08, TV performed on David Letterman and even hosted "Subterranean" on MTV2. Where will we see them next?

Surprisingly, I feel pretty comfortable witnessing this very experimental and kinda diffident group gain exposure and become more and more mainstream. It's about time they're recognized as the perceptive and revolutionary band they are, though inevitably, media and press attention can do as much harm as help. I doubt the funky gang, led by nerdy vocalist Tunde and unassuming guitarist Kyp Malone, is so into soaking up the spotlight. But that's the great thing about the band: fame is not their ultimate goal - they're truly committed to creating music that gets the public THINKING... and moving! I really feel like they'll hit the people that are worthy of them and they won't lose integrity or get tired out too soon. They've barely even gotten much radioplay yet (ironic?). But so, in general, I'm loving the way TV is being portrayed as a band with a higher knowledge, set against a background of unique alternative-doo-wop-electro-art-rock sounds.
NOW GET IN ON THE HYPE!

TRACKS TO TRY:

Dancing Choose [if you're into alt rock/rap style]
Golden Age [funky alternative]

And don't forget the older stuff!!

Check out singles like "Wolf Like Me" and "Me-I"
(both have awesome videos)
"New Health Rock" and "I Was A Lover" are among my personal favorites.

NEW YEAR, NEW BLOG!

2009-01-05T18:58:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Rock Steady Vibes!

This is a place with a lil something for everyone.

Look forward to seeing:

- news about your favorite artists, familiar & new
- new album + song reviews
- the best soundtracks from current movies and shows
- the awesome monthly MASH UP and REMIX playlists
- Video of the Week
- Lyric of the Week
- Random Ramblings

..get psyched!

original photo.