I was pretty late to the retro-pop Dutchess and Duke party when they debuted last July. I didn’t check out She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke until February, but it was in constant rotation after that.
The Dutchess and Duke are readying their next effort, due Sunset/Sunrise, on Hardly Art. Be sure to check out the lead single, “Hands”, below. Its more lo-fi, 60′s pop goodness with even more substance this go-round.
Get ready to catch round 3 of the Jukebox Junkies at Bourbon Jakes in Rochester, MI this Friday. I heard that the last show was even better than the first (if thats possible), so I can’t imagine how amazing this cover extravaganza will be.
See below for pictures and video from the June show:
If anyone gets footage of this spectacle, please send it my way. Someone should definitely let me know how a certain Blackstreet song goes over. I’m sure it will be much better than the rendition I’ll be doin at 3am in my apartment.
Jukebox Junkies – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon cover)
-You can’t see it, but still sounds good. Is it weird that I’d rather pay Andrew & company $40 to play all the Kings’ songs, rather than KoL?
Some rough cut Jukebox Junkies demos:
Jukebox Junkies – Santeria (Sublime cover)
Jukebox Junkies – The Middle (Jimmy Eat World cover)
Jukebox Junkies – Just Like Heaven (The Who cover)
Jukebox Junkies – My Generation (The Cure cover)
I could probably wait 2 or 3 weeks to review the actual albums, but I can’t stand to wait much longer. Lets take a look at the tracklistings of 2 of my most anticipated albums of the year.
Jay-Z The Blueprint 3
1. What We Talkin’ About f. Luke Steele (prod. Kanye West & No. I.D.)
2. Thank You (prod. Kanye West & No I.D.)
3. D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune) (prod. No I.D.)
4. Run This Town f. Kanye West & Rihanna (prod. Kanye West & No I.D.)
5. Empire State of Mind f. Alicia Keys (prod. Al Shux)
6. Real as It Gets f. Young Jeezy (prod. The Incredibles)
7. On to the Next One f. Swizz Beatz (prod. Swizz Beatz)
8. Off That f. Drake (prod. Timbaland)
9. A Star is Born f. J. Cole (prod. Kanye West & No I.D.)
10. Venus vs. Mars (prod. Timbaland)
11. Already Home f. KiD CuDi (prod. Kanye West)
12. Hate f. Kanye West (prod. Kanye West)
13. Reminder (prod. Timbaland)
14. So Ambitious f. Pharrell (prod. The Neptunes)
15. Young Forever f. Mr Hudson (prod. Kanye West)
Young Hova‘s last opus, American Gangster, showed Jay-Z’s artistic growth as a concept album and was one of the best albums of the year. The Blueprint 3 gets Mr. Carter back where he’s comfortable (or so it seems). “D.O.A.” and “Run This Town” both started the buzz train, but not as fervent as past albums. However, this is Jay-Z we’re talking about. Not only does he have all A-list production lined up (as promised), the guests are stunning as well. I’m glad to see he said eff you to the purists by enlisting Mr. Hudson, KiD CuDi and Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun (yup, you read that right). Apparently, Luke flipped the chorus on “Standing On the Shore” based on Jay’s hearing it on an “Entourage” episode. I’m probably most excited to see what Jay can do on his own on “Reminder”. When is the last time you heard Shawn Carter go solo on a Timbo track?
KiD CuDi: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
ACT 1 – THE END OF DAY
1. In My Dreams (Cudder Anthem)
2. Soundtrack 2 My Life
3. Simple As…
ACT 2 – RISE OF THE NIGHT TERRORS
4. Solo Dolo (nightmare)
5. Heart of A Lion (KiD CuDi Theme Music)
6. My World Feat. Billy Craven
ACT 3 – TAKING A TRIP
7. Day N Nite (nightmare)
8. Sky Might Fall
9. Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part 1)
ACT 4 – STUCK
10. Alive (nightmare) Feat. RATATAT
11. CuDi Zone
12. Make Her Say Feat. Kanye West & Common
13. Pursuit of Happiness (nightmare) Feat. MGMT & RATATAT
ACT 5 – A NEW BEGINNING
14. Hyyerr Feat. Chip Tha Rapper
15. Up Up & Away (The Wake & Bake Song)
If its possible, I’m almost more amped for KiD CuDi‘s official debut to drop (the concert certainly helped). Instead of a tracklisting, CuDi went for a “scene-listing”, in what looks to be an epic concept album. Most of the mixtape tracks were scratched (many were indie/classic tracks CuDi damn near stole anyway), but the indie vibe is still present. It certainly shows with production from Ratatat and MGMT’s slot on the next single.
Jay-Z – Jockin Jay-Z (Travis Barker Remix)
Jackie Chain – Rollin’ remix ft KiD CuDi
Pre-order Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3 (drops 9/11)
Pre-order KiD CuDi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day (drops 9/15)
In another example of random music findings, I’ve found what I think might be my next favorite new artist, Junk Culture. Don’t ask me what I was looking for at Impose, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw a post titled “Junk Culture not a Girl Talk biter“. Half expecting another hack mash-up artist, I still had to check out the post. Turns out Junk Culture is Deepak Mantena, Illegal Art‘s latest signee and a master with sampling.
I can’t say it much better than Blake at Impose, Matena
“creates sound tapestries by mixing fractured vocals with pop hooks and samples, all run through a handheld recorder, giving his constructions a gritty, lo-fi, loop-based sound.”
Exactly my point. I’m still fairly new to glitchy, sample heavy artists (aside from mash-ups), but Girl Talk turned me on to Dan Deacon… Basically, Junk Culture is likely to be an artist I’ll be trying to talk you into listening to on weekends from the hours of 11pm and 3am. If “West Coast” and “City Lights” are any indication of Junk Culture’s work, I’ll be eager to cop the West Coast EP too.
Look for Junk Culture – West Coast EP (drops 10/27 on Illegal Art)
Catch Junk Culture w/Girl Talk on these upcoming dates:
9/18 – Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
9/19 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver
9/19 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver
9/21 – Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
So if you’ve stopped by JayeL Audio over the past 2 weeks, you may have noticed something other than my blog. The RIAA opted to tell WordPress.com they needed to shut down my blog for “copywrite infringement”. Granted, not everything you listen to here is exactly “legal”, but a lot of it is “free and legal” promotional singles or remixes/mash-ups, that artists have deemed okay to send to the masses.
The best part of the RIAA’s complaint was that they singled out this post, from MAY!!! In fact, the Passion Pit post was regarding a deal to get Manners for $4 or less. I linked two previously released songs, but a number of people at least clicked their way to Amazon (hopefully to purchase). Giving away a track from an EP was not going to ruin Passion Pit. In fact, the only reason I found out about the band was finding “Sleepyhead” as a “promo single”. Since then, I’ve bought everything the band has put out and will be glad to see them in concert when they come back to ATL. Free music turned me into a faithfull fan and this blog has turned many others into fans as well. Essentially, I’ll never understand the record industry.
Sorry for the rant, but this lead me to my next decision: I need a new spot for posting new music you need to hear. Help me, help you. I’ve contemplated moving to a self-hosted site with a theme by WordPress.org for quite awhile, but am not sure if its the best route. This involves paying for a domain name, monthly hosting fees, finding a new theme, some code (i think) and more time and effort than I’m currently putting forth. So if any of you faithful readers has any suggestions about hosting, serving, ads, etc, please let me know.
Free and Fair Game Mp3s (courtesy of The Hood Internet, Pitchfork and Largehearted Boy)
The Hood Internet – Wetter & Jeffer (Twista vs Boyz Noize)
Chromeo – I Can’t Tell You Why (Eagles cover)
Black Whales – Books on Tape
Volcano Choir – IS
Ra Ra Riot – Manner to Act (RAC mix)
My own personal music fest continued Friday, when Laura and I headed to the Masquerade for Round 2 of Kyle Lucas and Vonnegutt. There was some confusion as to when the band’s set would take place, but it gave me a chance to check out The Status.
After a great set by The Status, Vonnegutt revved up a decent size “Hell” crowd of friends and loyalists. The festivities started with first single “Here We Go Again” and burned through the Vice Nine EP. Vonnegutt got great responses (and sing-a-longs) from updated editions of cuts like “Bright Eyes” and new track penned by Neil. This was the first show that I saw Taylor on the drums and he played about as hard as you can. The chemistry was pretty obvious with Patrick, Neil and Kyle. Energy reached a fever pitch when Kyle asked the crowd to show their hearts as the band launched into the ever-improving cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless”. All in all, a great night at the Masquerade for only $8. Not too shabby.
I suppose Big Boi is waiting on his solo to drop, but its really about time Vonnegutt’s debut was released. Or at the very least, the band should be getting more promo. I mean, the band seems to be doing everything they can from free interviews, free downloads, ASCAP Showcases and they are available on every social networking tool there is. Obviously, I’m no label head or manager, but it just seems like there should be more buzz around these guys. After seeing Asher Roth’s performance last week, if he can gain fame by running around and shouting into a mic off 1 single, these guys could definitely show him a thing or two about rocking a show.
Vonnegutt – 8/7/09 – The Masquerade
1. Here We Go Again (Repeat Offender)
2. Ex-Girlfriends Are
3. Moving On
4. Shaky Love
5. On My Side
6. Bright Eyes
7. Ode To What’s Left of Hope (new!)
8. Heartless (Kanye West cover)
9. Final Fantasy
Be sure to check out Vonnegutt at these upcoming shows:
8/21 – The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
9/24 – Arlene’s Grocery – New York, NY
9/26 – Northeastern University – Boston, MA
While I tortured and enjoyed myself with the Lollapalooza simulcast on iClips.net, I was able to catch Ben Harper‘s Saturday performance with new outfit, Relentless7. The energy and emotion he put into that set made me rethink my initial judgment of White Lies For Dark Times.
It also reminded me that North Carolina-based artist Chris Bryant contacted me with a cool idea. Bryant is a middle school teacher for 9 months and singer/songwriter in the mean time. When not educating the youth of America, he found time to cover Ben Harper & Relentless7′s White Lies For Dark Times album in its entirety. Bryant’s edition is called Mistake Number One. While many artists are covering the latest pop hits, Bryant chose an album that didn’t get a lot of hype, but spoke to his soul.
Bryant won’t be mistaken for Ben Harper anytime soon, but he doesn’t try to be. Where Harper and company thrive as a blues rock wrecking crew, Bryant soulfully tackles each track in folk rock fashion. Bryant impressively plays every instrument on the effort, from bongos to slide guitar to things I’ve never heard of like darbuka and djembe. His crooning (especially on “Shimmer & Shine”) makes you appreciate the lyrics Harper crafted even more the second time around. Not to mention the budding talent in Chris Bryant.
You can sample every track from the cover album here.
Then pre-order Chris Bryant – Mistake Number One, before its release on September 22.
Chris Bryant – Shimmer & Shine (Ben Harper & Relentless7 cover)
I wasn’t able to attend, but luckily, there are more than enough ways to get an insider’s look at this year’s Lollapalooza. Thanks to iClips.net, I caught partial performances of Henry Clay People, Cold War Kids, Kaiser Chiefs and Bat For Lashes. Besides that, I saw full sets by Ben Harper & Relentless7 (made me rethink my initial thoughts on Ben Harper’s latest venture: amazing), a Snoop Dogg party (how many times can you say his name in 1 concert?) and mad scientist/band leader Dan Deacon. I’m sure it didn’t always get the results Mr. Deacon wanted (multiple sound issues), but the “Ensemble” with the marching band for “Woof Woof” was crazy and Deacon’s crowd particpiation efforts were stunning and hilarious.
When I wasn’t watching the streaming video on Lolla’s simulcast, I read some slick re-caps by Pitchfork writers, caught Twitter updates from Ms. Pop Candy and numerous You Tube and Flickr uploads. Not to mention, the much-appreciated highlights, videos, texts and pictures from my “reporters” in the field, Andrew and Jenny.
If I don’t go to Bonnaroo next year (drive-able, so maybe), I’m going to Lolla ’10 (Aug. 6th – 8th, 2010). End of discussion.
See below for what we missed:
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal – Friday – Playstation Stage
KiD CuDi – Sky High – Saturday – Perry’s Stage
Courtesy of Mr. Barber @ Fake Shore Drive.
Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire – Saturday – Budweiser Stage
Official Lollapaloza Blog
Mp3s courtesy of Fake Shore Drive
KiD CuDi – Day n Nite (Live)
KiD CuDi – Sky High (Live)
Still a little bitter about being too far from Chicago, IL for Lollapalooza, I had my own concert spree with 2 in 1 week.
Sunday, I was able to check out The Great Hangover Tour, when it stopped at The Tabernacle in downtown Atlanta. I didn’t get there in time to see Pac Division or Decatur’s own Bobby Ray aka b.o.b., but I did see the main attractions, KiD CuDi and Asher Roth.
Our party walked up the front steps of The Tabernacle just as CuDi opened the show with OutKast sampled “Down and Out.” Having never been to the Tabernacle, I was immediately impressed by the restored venue and thankful to find a good spot just behind soundboard. KiD CuDi steamrolled thru hits off his only official mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, with backing from the crowd like it was an official album. He teased a couple of new tracks (“Lion’s Jaw”, “Mr Solo Dolo”), but hit his stride with Kickdrums mixtape cut, “Sky High”. The screen behind him glowed with clouds and blue sky as he breezed thru the Kanye-sampled track. After turning the crowd into a frenzy with the closer, “Day n Nite” (and the Crookers remix), he earned chants of “CuDi!”.
Asher Roth followed up with a fun set, but….I left pretty underwhelmed. I mean, anyone following CuDi was pretty much set up to fail. However, it was a semi-homecoming show for Roth, after recording in Atlanta last summer and he was clearly enjoying himself. His set featured an entrance to the “Saved By The Bell” theme, a hype-man that looked like a college buddy, chasing a marijuana plant around stage, a break for a “Candy Rain” tribute and a constant smile.
Asleep In The Bread Aisle is much better than the press it got, so that wasn’t the problem. The drummer was a nice punctuation on my favorite tracks “As I Em” and “Fallen”. My main issue was the constant yelling into the microphone. You really don’t need to scream your raps into a mic, thats why its a mic. I’ve seen plenty of rappers do it (NaS, Xzibit, 50 Cent to name a few), but I was just hoping Asher wouldn’t. I showed Laura the album versions of the tracks he performed and she could’ve sworn they weren’t even the same songs. I guess that why my hip-hop/rap attendance has waned recently. The main highlight of Asher’s show was DJ Recognize’s scratch/mix work from “Say It Ain’t So” into “I Love College”. Still, 2 encores later, and the crowd was asking for more CuDi.
Laura, not having been to a rap concert before, asked if “rappers usually smile that much in concert?” Usually “no”, but when you have as much buzz as these two, there is plenty reason to.
KiD CuDi – Sky High
Back again with what I’ve been listening to lately. I just keep telling myself, if I would have went to Lollapalooza, I wouldn’t have had time to make this mixtape (Yeah, not working). Dance music aplenty with Kid Sister (“Right Hand Hi”), Calvin Harris (“Ready For The Weekend”), Simian Mobile Disco (“Cruel Intentions”) and Yuksek (“Extraball”). Brit pop/rock courtesy of Just Jack (“The Day I Died), Frankmusik (“Confusion Girl”), Mr Hudson (“Everything Is Broken”) and Maximo Park. Making their first mixtape appearances are indie rockers The Dodos (“Fables”), songstress VV Brown (“Shark In The Water”) and alt hip-hoppers The Freshmen (“Hello There”).
Leave comments below. Also, it anyone has any suggestions on turning this blog into a full on website, let me know. After last week’s interruption, I’m ready and willing.
JayeL Audio 8-09-09 http://www.sendspace.com/file/8iuj66
1. Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi
2. Beat Radio – Memoir Of A Lightning Bolt
3. One eskimO – Givin’ Up (Don Diablo remix)
4. The Dodos – Fables
5. Just Jack – The Day I Died
6. Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For Others
7. Calvin Harris – Ready For The Weekend
8. The Freshmen – Hello There ft Nilo Tha Gift
9. Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions ft Beth Ditto of Gossip
10. Portugal. The Man – People Say
11. The Roots – How I Got Over
12. The Big Pink – Dominos
13. Mika – We Are Golden
14. Arctic Monkeys – Crying Lightning
15. Free Energy – Free Energy
16. Camera Obscura – Swans
17. Maximo Park – The Penultimate Clinch
18. VV Brown – Shark In The Water
19. Frankmusik – Confusion Girl
20. Mr Hudson – Everything Is Broken ft KiD CuDi
21. Yuksek – Extraball ft Amanda Blank
22. The Very Best – Rain Dance ft M.I.A.
Bonus Track: Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel
A great song by Fool’s Gold that would have made the cut if it weren’t so long. Much of it is instrumental and when its not, its in a foreign language. Either way, its addictive afro-pop.
Thanks to My Old Kentucky Blog, Fader, Mixtape Maestro, 2dopeboyz and Pretty Much Amazing.
