JayeL Audio

The posts have been light due to an amazing trip to East Lansing and moving into a new apartment in ATL. Hopefully, more next week.

For now, check out Mike Posner’s newly dropped mixtape, One Foot Out The Door. I’ve only heard (and saw firsthand) the Gigamesh remix to “Cooler Than Me”, but its sure to be a good one. The remix also happens to be perfect for a “snap-off”, so thats cool.

Mike Posner – One Foot Out The Door Mixtape (link 2)
1. One Foot Out the Door (Produced by Mike Posner and XX)
2. I Don’t Trust Myself (Produced by Mike Posner, Piano by Eric Holljes)
3. Traveling Man (Snippet) (Produced by Mike Posner and Raw Talent)
4. You Don’t Have to Leave (Produced by Miami Horror)
5. Cooler Than Me (Gigamesh Remix) (Produced by Gigamesh, Additional Production by Mike Posner)
6. Don’t Trust Me (Benny Blanco/DJ Benzi Remix) ft. 3OH!3 and Kid CuDi (Produced by Benny Blanco and 3OH!3)
7. Kiss Me Thru the Phone ft. Saigon (Produced by Mike Posner)
8. Red Button (Produced by Mike Posner)
9. Bring Me Down ft. Big Sean & Freddie Gibbs (Produced by Block Beattaz)
10. Mirror’s Edge Benzi Remix ft. Bun B, GLC, and XV (Produced by Seven)
11. Speed of Sound ft. Big Sean (Produced by Block Beattaz)
12. Close the Door ft. Clinton Sparks (Produced by Clinton Sparks)

Its kinda nice when Logan makes the artwork, then I don’t have to think about what the title will be. This round has a more reflective feel than past editions, for the most part (see “In The Ghetto” and “Fear”). I feel like when the cold weather comes, rappers get more lyrical for some reason. A couple of Purple Ribbon Rep’s make an appearance (Big Boi and Kyle Lucas), as well as old favorites (Warren G, Nate Dogg, Raekwon, Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony) and two Wale tracks. Royce eats Busta alive on “Dinner Time”, but I think that type of beat would set him up to destroy anyone. The Chiddy Bang song, “Decline”, is probably the only time you’ll ever hear a rapper sample a Belle and Sebastian song.

Also, I’m not sure how Gucci Mane made it on here twice. Who knows, maybe I’ll change opinions about him like I did Young Jeezy. Doubtful.

UNNARKABLE: http://www.sendspace.com/file/cnfcdg
1. Big Boi – Shine Blockas ft Gucci Mane
2. Donnis – Ticket To The Moon
3. Warren G – 100 Miles & Runnin’ ft Raekwon & Nate Dogg
4. Chris Brown – I Can Transform Ya ft Lil’ Wayne & Swizz Beatz
5. Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony – Wanna Ride
6. Wale – World Tour ft Jazmine Sullivan
7. Brother Ali – Best@it ft Freeway & Joell Ortiz
8. Chiddy Bang – Decline
9. Timbaland – Say Something ft Drake
10. Gucci Mane – Spotlight ft Usher
11. T.I. – King On The Set ft Young Dro
12. Kyle Lucas – Purple Ribbon Representative (DJ Booth Freestyle)
13. Raekwon – Catalina ft Lyfe Jennings (prod. Dr. Dre)
14. Rich Boy – Top Of The World
15. Rakim – Walk These Streets (prod. Needlz)
16. People Under The Stairs – Hit The Top
17. Drake – Fear
18. Big Boi – For Your Sorrows ft George Clinton
19. Royce Da 5’9″ – Dinner Time ft Busta Rhymes
20. Pill – Glass
21. Playaz Circle – In The Ghetto ft Cee-Lo
22. Wale – Bittersweet ft Colin Munroe
Bonus Track:
Project Lionheart – Light Up The Darkness

Justin Vernon has been on a musical whirlwind over the past 2 1/2 years. His band Bon Iver‘s breakout hit “Skinny Love” (my favorite song of ’07) lead to the countless critical praise that followed with the album, For Emma, Forever Ago. He gained even more steam with the Blood Bank EP, churned out one of my favorite tracks on Dark Was The Night, “Brackett Wisconsin” and somehow had time to join Collections of Colonies of Bees to create experimental indie group Volcano Choir.

Its easy to see Vernon might need to put something on hold.

Last week, it was announced that Bon Iver would be taking a break from touring. Not a huge deal though, at a recent Milwaukee show (download below), Vernon calmed worries by saying “This is our last show for an indefinite period– until next year, or something.”

In the mean time, check out “Rosyln”, Bon Iver’s collaboration with St. Vincent for the somber, but solid New Moon Soundtrack. This song is more of the campfire-esque guitar amid Vernon’s falsetto and faint vocals from Ms. Clark.

Bon Iver – Live at Riverside Theater, Milwaukee (courtesy of 88Nine)

Pick up Bon Iver – Blood Bank here and New Moon Soundtrack here.

I featured Atlanta based rapper Donnis on Nark Legacy, but odds are you haven’t checked him out further. Similar to Kid Cudi, Kyle Lucas and Drake, Donnis is blasting onto the rap scene with a more than stellar mixtape. Mixed by DJ Benzi and Mick Boogie, Diary Of An Atlanta Brave is a solid effort of banging hip-hop tracks that sound better than most rappers major label debuts. He is also one of the few new rappers able to secure original production from established producers Needlz and 5 beats from Justice League and an appearance by the Underground King himself, Bun B. Those are pretty big co-signs and these aren’t throwaway beats either.

Donnis lyrically holds his own with the young guns rising in the game as well (see “I Am Me”). His voice reminds me of a less brash David Banner with more cross-over appeal. He can easily go from party-rappin’ in Auto-Tune on “Gone” to reflective, yet boastful on songs like “Ticket To The Moon”.

You’ll probably be hearing a lot from Donnis soon. He just signed a deal with DJ A-Trak‘s label Fool’s Gold. To me, this seems like a more appealing situation than going with a major these days. I would assume there are a lot less politics. With all the pr/marketing/viral tools musicians have these days and the buzz hes gaining, it seems like this would be a more attractive situation. Then again, Fool’s Gold has been dragging their feet on the Kid Sister album for a minute now….Let’s hope Donnis won’t have that problem.

Donnis – Gone (produced by Needlz)
Donnis – Ticket To The Moon
Donnis – Diary Of An Atlanta Brave (mixtape)

Check out this freestyle by Kyle Lucas and PH on CDR over one of the best Wu tracks ever, “Triumph”.

There are plenty of bars in this one from both parties, but “I’m the outcast offspring of OutKast and Offspring” is a pretty great line.

Listen to PH & Kyle put their spin on Souls of Mischief’s classic “93 ’til Infinity”

PH – ’09 ’til Infinity ft Kyle Lucas

Whitney over at Pop Candy was calling for reader lists of “10 Albums You Can’t Live Without“. Albums that maybe aren’t critically the best of all time, but records that if you were stranded on a desert island (for some reason, I kept think of the island on “Lost”) you’d have to have.

My list didn’t get picked, but here is the list I did in 10 minutes with 1-2 sentences each. If I thought about it any longer, the task would have been overwhelming.

Girl Talk – The Night Ripper
Its kind of cheating, but this one album has hundreds of party-ready samples. Thats what I call an efficient album.

Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesound
A consistent effort from beginning to end with Timbaland’s production and JT’s growth as an artist.

Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
Corner storytelling, a-list guest stars/samples (Notorious B.I.G., Nas) and a hip-hop legend in the making.

2Pac – All Eyez On Me
2 discs worth of West Coast hits mixed with street poetics that still resonate today.

Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Spacey electro beats with substance make this a must listen and one of my all time favorite albums.

Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Alt country storytelling and head-nodding rhythms that made her my favorite female artist.

OutKast – ATLiens
High school nostalgia and Southern grooves in what remains one of hip-hop’s greatest albums.

Nirvana – Nevermind
One of the few rock albums that broke my eardrums away from the chokehold Dr. Dre and other rappers had on my Discman.

Editors – The Back Room
Brooding brit pop that manages anthem status with Joy Division influence.

Huey Lewis & The News – Sports
My brothers and I wore this out on our Fisher Price record player. Guilty pleasure or not, its always worth revisiting.

I had a similar decade-themed list that I was going to turn into a series. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to finish it before 2010 hits.

What would your ten “desert island” disc list be? Does anyone listen to full albums anymore? Greatest Hits albums are kind of cheating, btw.

A few things:

A) I started a facebook “page” for JayeL Audio. I’m hoping to use it to keep people updated on new posts and hopefully its an easy tool to pass on to new fans. There are already a few people that are “fans” that I never knew existed, so that is very exciting! Thanks to those of you who have already became facebook fans!
JayeL Audio on Facebook

B) I also made a myspace page for JayeL Audio last fall. Myspace is basically as abandoned as Downtown Detroit, but if you’re interested, I’m here: JayeL Audio on Myspace

C) You see that orange button in the top right hand corner of the page titled “RSS“? Use it. I prefer Google Reader, but there are a million and one ways to keep track of your favorite web pages via RSS Feeds. If you do, you’ll be notified every time there is an update on JayeL Audio.

D) How amazing are the logo’s Logan has been crafting? He has sent me over 20 JayeL Audio headers so far and I would post them all at once if I could. Maybe there is a WordPress plug-in that could rotate them out daily? If anyone knows, holler.

E) The Hood Internet has been on fire, per the usual. Here are some new mash-ups and remixes:
Don Diablo – 99 Fences (Jay-Z vs Phoenix)
Hathbanger – Party & Bullshit In The USA (Notorious B.I.G. vs Miley Cyrus)
Vampire Weekend – Ottoman (Redlight Remix)
The Hood Internet – All About The Islands (Puff Daddy vs Volcano Choir)
The Hood Internet – Cult Logic Forever (Drake vs Miike Snow)
DJ Topcat – Paper Hearts (M.I.A. vs The Knife)

I was lucky enough to get another slick remix delivered to my inbox (jayelaudioblog@gmail.com) via Alan Wilkis. This time he took on Temper Trap‘s “Sweet Disposition”. You may have heard the original multiple times in one of my favorite movies of the year, 500 Days of Summer (great soundtrack, btw).

Mr. Wilkis‘ remix gives “Sweet Disposition” a danceworthy edge. The vocal distortion and upbeat feel give the song a welcome party-feel. The extra handclaps don’t hurt either.

Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Alan Wilkis remix)
The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa (Alan Wilkis Remix)
Alan Wilkis – N.I.C.E.

What do you think? Better than the original?
Have you checked out Pink and Purple yet? You should.
Seen 500 Days of Summer?
Discuss below.

Pick up Alan Wilkis’ EP, Pink and Purple here.

Vonnegutt MC/rapper Kyle Lucas has been keeping busy lately hitting a few tour stops with the band up the East Coast and at the A3C Hip Hop Festival here in Atlanta. Check on this quick interview where Kyle Lucas talks to Adam Gold about Vonnegutt‘s tour, the new album, his EP with Captain Midnite (cop it already), etc.

Aside from working on Vonnegutt’s debut album, Falling Up The Stairs, Kyle has been working on his next mixtape, Its Always Sunny In Marietta. If the track below is whats to come, it should be just as good as Kyle Lucas Is Still My Favorite. Listen as Kyle goes in over his boss Big Boi’s jam, “Royal Flush”. How sweet would it be to say Big Boi is my boss?

Kyle Lucas – Purple Ribbon Representative (DJ Booth Freestyle)

Vonnegutt is prepping for a larger-scale tour soon. Until then, check them out at The Loft in Atlanta with Heavy Mojo and Hollyweerd on 11/6 (buy $15 tickets here).
See below for some videos from Vonnegutt’s show at Northeastern University in Boston w/special guest Jon Hope:

I haven’t had proper time to review Detroit artist Deastro‘s debut album, Moondagger, yet. That shouldn’t be an issue though because:
A) these guys have mentioned it many a time
B) at least 2 tracks, “Parallelogram” and “Greens, Grays and Nordics” have been featured on JayeL Audio mixtapes
C) it will probably adorn numerous “Best of 2009″ lists by December (mine included)
Really, its an amazing album of space-age electro-pop that gets better each time I hear it.

My only beef is with his record label, Ghostly International. How you can charge $6.88 for shipping a cd today is mind boggling and probably b.s. If it wasn’t for the fact that I felt compelled to support a musician from Michigan, I would have laughed and downloaded it from Soulseek.

Earlier this month, its was announced that Deastro’s band quit. However, Randy Chabot and whoever else decides to show up is co-headlining a tour with Max Tundra. I hope to be at the Drunken Unicorn stop in ATL.
See dates and a free EP below:
11-05 Chicago, IL – Schubas
11-07 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
11-08 Toronto, Ontario – The Drake
11-09 Montreal, Quebec – Lambi
11-10 Boston, MA – Great Scott
11-11 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
11-12 Washington, DC – DC9
11-13 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
11-14 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
11-16 Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
11-18 Austin, TX – Mohawk
11-19 Dallas, TX – The Cavern
11-20 Kansas City, MO – Czar Bar
11-21 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
11-22 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
11-24 Los Angeles, CA – Echo
11-25 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
11-27 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
11-28 Seattle, WA – Nectar
11-29 Vancouver, British Columbia – Media Club

Deastro – Dead Kids (free EP) – All instrumentals, but hopefully there will be lyrics on these eventually.
Deastro – Parallelogram (free mp3)