JayeL Audio

A combination of moving, late nights at work and a fried motherboard means we have a lot of music to talk about. Luckily, I was able to scoop up a new MacBook Pro and get relatively caught up on the plethora of new music unleashed in the last month or so. I’m somewhat glad I waited as long as I did though, otherwise the new mixtape wouldn’t have included new joints from the likes of Edward Sharpe, Dragonette and Jai Paul. Get after it. I’m pretty sure I’m more addicted to Tennis’ bluesy “Petition” than I was when I reviewed it.

JayeL Audio 4-3-12 (link)
1. Tennis – Petition
2. Lana Del Ray – Blue Jeans (RAC mix)
3. Vacationer – Dreamlike
4. Miike Snow – The Wave
5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes – Thats Whats Up
6. Sydney Wayser – La Di Da
7. Jack Penate – No One Lied
8. Beat Connection – Think-Feel ft Chelsey Scheffe
9. Dragonette – Let It Go
10. Bahamas – Caught Me Thinking
11. Best Coast – The Only Place
12. Wild Child – Pillow Talk
13. Alex Winston – Fire Ant
14. Cultfever – Collector
15. Release the Sunbird – I Will Walk
16. Mariee Sioux – Swimming Through Stone
17. KO KO – Float
18. Deportees – Islands and Shores
19. Dante – Won’t Go
20. Gossip – Perfect World
21. Plants and Animals – Lightshow
22. Jai Paul – Jasmine

Next mixtape is coming sooner than you think. Props to CoS, All Things Go, PMA and Hype Machine.

Make your week 1000x better by streaming two albums by Heavy Roc affiliates, Alex Winston and St. Lucia.

If you have visited this site before, its likely you already know all about Alex Winston. King Con has many of the songs you’ve previously heard, but listening to them one after another really showcases Winston’s hit-making potential. Stream the debut album King Con here and purchase here.

St. Lucia is a little more mysterious, but the self-titled EP easily charms with ’80s new wave and tropical pop elements. If you like what you hear, pick-up St. Lucia EP here.

Influence is largely the theme of the majority of mixtape number two for this week. Teen Daze kicks things off with an Earth, Wind & Fire sampling dance party. Speaking of influence, does the piano fueled opening of Miike Snow’s “Devil’s Work” remind anyone else of Van Halen’s “Right Now”? I swear I just flashbacked to middle school. Charming female songstresses Alex Winston and Oh Land cover The Black Keys and The National, respectively. Even Mayer Hawthorne and Electric Guest offer up soul and Motown related gems. Elsewhere, The National demo a new track that sounds, well, like The National. We welcome back The Shins, which sound like the old Shins, but aren’t really the old Shins. Lastly, I have to say, I’m really enjoying the blues rock inspired sound of Cold War Kids new demos. I’m certainly intrigued by the addition of a new lead guitarist in Modest Mouse’s Dann Gallucci.

JayeL Audio 1-27-12: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. Teen Gaze – Let’s Groove
2. Electric Guest – This Head I Hold
3. Johnny Headband – Over There
4. The Shins – Simple Song
5. The Concept – Gimme Twice
6. Gospel Music – Apartment
7. Midi Matilda – Day Dreams
8. Ed Vallance – Crystlalline
9. Mayer Hawthorne – Stick Around
10. The National – Rylan (Live on Q)
11. Miike Snow – Devil’s Work
12. Meg Myers – Adelaide
13. The Big Pink – Hit the Ground (Superman)
14. The Oh Hellos – Hello My Old Heart
15. Alex Winston – Everlasting Light (The Black Keys cover)
16. Dana Falconberry – Petoskey Stone
17. Cold War Kids – Minimum Day
18. Kishi Bashi – Bright Whites
19. Diagrams – Tall Buildings
20. Water Town Bucket Boys – Meet Me Where The Crow Don’t Fly
21. Boxer Rebellion – Losing You
22. Oh Land – Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National cover)
Thanks to CoS, All Things Go, Mixtape Maestro, PMA, Largehearted Boy and the interwebs.

If you check this site, you already know all about songstress Alex Winston and one of her early tracks “Choice Notes”. In preparation for Winston’s debut album King Con on March 5th, the track was updated and a video was just released. The video features Charlie Brown-style ghosts, historic Cafe D’Mongos and some interesting parts of Detroit. Slightly less creepy than the “Sister Wife” video. Check it.
Alex Winston – Choice Notes by Black Math Music
Like Alex Winston on Facebook

Whittling down the best songs of the year is much tougher than the albums list. Anyone can release a great song, but a fluid, cohesive album is much harder to find. Over the next few posts, I’ll breakdown my top tracks of the year (followed by a two disc mixtape).
As Laura correctly informed me, this list was a little on the “downer” side (what can I say? sometimes slow songs have the best narratives), so these songs all fall under a few attributes:
A) A song I listened to most this year. Even if I’m sick of it now
B) A song that was particularly well written
C) A song that you couldn’t escape because the production was so great

40. Givers – Up Up Up
“Up Up Up” shines with afro pop elements with a slice of calypso before breaking into a head nodding finale. The thumping drum and thrashing guitar that close the record could easily satisfy a variety of crowds and has earned raves on the festival circuit.

39. Iron & Wine – Walking Far From Home
Much of Kiss Each Other Clean has religious overtones, but “Walking Far From Home” might be the most intriguing. In what seems like a stream of consciousness flow, Sam Beam outlines what could either be interpreted as a man on his way to the afterlife or an observation of a post apocalyptic event. The vocal effects give a particularly ethereal hue to the emotional track.

38. U.S. Royalty – Equestrian
Local Natives. Fleet Foxes. Bon Iver. We all know I enjoy layered harmonies and “Equestrian” falls right in that category.

37. Alex Winston – Sister Wife
Alex Winston had quite the string of singles and covers in 2011 that makes next year ripe for a major breakthrough. “Sister Wife” showcased her storytelling and pop capabilities with a subject not often heard in popular song, polygamy. The hook was probably caught in my head for 10 months straight and the Star Slinger remix isn’t too shabby either.

36. Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise
From the hum of the bass to the give and go flow of the gents of Beastie Boys, “Make Some Noise” was a classic and a perfect summertime anthem. The star studded video was one of the more memorable music videos of 2011 as well.

35. Jessica Lea Mayfield – Our Hearts Are Wrong
Jessica Lea Mayfield had my favorite track of 2008 with slow burner “Kiss Me Again”. On her latest charming ode, Mayfield doesn’t pine for easy love, but maturely ends a relationship that wasn’t meant to succeed. The hushed vocals give the track a reluctant feel while the garage guitar acts as the antagonist in this break-up tale.

34. Foster the People – Houdini
The only thing I’ve shouted more than “ball so hard” in 2011 was “focus on your abilities”. You could insert any of the hits Marc Foster crafted this year in this position, but I couldn’t justify four FTP joints in such a short list.

33. Foo Fighters – Arlandria
Whether you like Dave Grohl or not, you have to admit the man can cook up some of the catchiest hooks without toeing into cheesy modern rock territory. “Arlandria” ingeniously uses an old childhood saying to justifies striking out on his own path no matter the expectations.

32. Childish Gambino – Freaks and Geeks
“Alright Gambino is a mastermind..” goes the first line of what would be the year of Childish Gambino for me (and anyone around me). “Freaks and Geeks” was a tidal wave of punchlines that admittedly got better each of the 1000x I listened to it this year. With a flow like Weezy and clever pop references and jokes, how could you not love it? My choice line is “Swag out tha a**, I’m the man, f*** chico/Took the G out ya waffle, all you got left is your ego”.

31. Phantogram – Don’t Move
Phantogram certainly knows their way around glitchy, electronic samples. “Don’t Move” was and continues to be an addiction highlighting Sarah Barthel’s muted vocals over an airy electro beat mixed with off the wall sample.

I vote that Ms. Winston should do an entire Black Keys cover project called “Sister Keys”. Anyone in opposition? This should tide us over until Alex Winston releases her official debut album King Con on March 5th.

Click hear to stream Alex’s cover of “Everlasting Light” and head to Neon Gold for a free DL.

This week couldn’t possibly be longer, but at least it has been quite fantastic musically. Triumphant guitar, horn and drum accompany Alex Winston‘s unique pipes on her new single “Velvet Elvis”. What it means? According to Alex’s website, it deals with the idea of “objectum sexuality: where people have fallen in love with objects(!), often humansing them.” I’ll just take their word for it, but you’ve gotta love Winston’s unconventional song topics (see “Sister Wife”).
Alex Winston – Velvet Elvis by AlexWinstonOfficial

The Velvet Elvis EP drops on September 5th. Cop it!

Now these are the types of mixtapes I can have a little more fun with. Its not all necessarily brand new music, but hopefully plenty of music to keep you parting into the night. There are new tracks from the likes of Martin Solveig, Asher Roth and Beyonce, but also remixes of favorites like Beastie Boys, Alex Winston, The Police and Daft Punk. Oh, and I still can’t get the new Rapture song out of my idea. Let me know when you do. See you at the campfire, next to the dancefloor…

JayeL Audio – 4th of July 2011 Mixtape – NITE: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. Wiz Khalifa – Fly Solo
2. Asher Roth – Last Man Standing ft Akon
3. Beastie Boys – Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win ft Santigold (Major Lazer Remix)
4. Martin Solveig – The Night Out
5. LehtMoJoe – Machu Picchu Goes On (The Strokes vs. Lupe Fiasco)
6. Alex Winston – Sister Wife (Star Slinger Remix)
7. Foster The People – Houdini (RAC Mix)
8. TV on the Radio – Will Do (XXXChange Dancehall Mix)
9. The Police – Roxanne (DiscoTech Remix)
10. Avicii – ID (Levels) (Original Mix)
11. Outasight – Figure 8 (Gigamesh of DiscoTech remix)
12. Adele – Rolling In The Deep ft Childish Gambino (Jamie xx Remix)
13. Swedish House Mafia – Save the World ft John Martin
14. Kelly Rowland – Lay It On Me ft Big Sean
15. Pitbull – Give Me Everything (Tonight) ft Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
16. Martin Solveig – Ready 2 Go ft Kele of Bloc Party
17. The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love
18. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)
19. Beyonce – Party ft Andre 3000
20. Daft Punk – Derezzed (Avicii Remix)
21. The Hood Internet – All Of The Lights (Ellie Goulding x Portland Cello Project x Kanye West)

Kinda like “Carrie”, “The Shining”, “Wizard of Oz” and “Pet Cemetary” all in one. No wonder I have beef with cats.

Alex Winston – Sister Wife (Star Slinger Remix) (free .mp3)

Its a little less overwhelming if I don’t name them “Disc One” and “Disc Two”, right? March was a big travel month for me so here is the rest of what I’ve been catching up on. Alex Winston, Cut Copy, The Strokes, Smokey Robotic and The Dodos all had great releases in the last two months (as witnessed by appearances on both mixtapes). The same can’t be said for Lupe’s latest, but at least “Stereo Sun” shows a glimpse of his capability. Toro Y Moi and Alex Clare might be two of the most intriguing new artists in 2011, but I’m pretty sure Justice is going to own it when their album drops.

JayeL Audio 4-01-11: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. The Strokes – Taken For A Fool
2. The Dodos – Don’t Try and Hide It
3. Hercules and Love Affair – Shelter (the xx cover)
4. Miami Horror – Holidays
5. Justice – Civilization
6. Alex Winston – Sweet James
7. Toro Y Moi – New Beat
8. Smokey Robotic – Outside the Lines (Uptown)
9. Cut Copy – Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat
10. TV On The Radio – Will Do
11. Lykke Li – Youth Knows No Pain
12. Wolf Gang – Lions In Cages
13. Ben Harper – Rock N Roll Is Free
14. Lupe Fiasco – Stereo Sun
15. Maritime – Paraphernalia
16. Alex Clare – Too Close
17. MSTRKRFT – Beards Again
18. The National – Think You Can Wait
19. Robin Pecknold – I’m Losing Myself ft Ed Droste

Patience rap fans. The Narks are on the way!