JayeL Audio

15. The National – Terrible Love
Sometimes, the best songs are the sad ones. Matt Berringer and company crafted an epic jam about a deeply troubled man. “It takes an ocean not to break” could be interpreted a lot of ways, but sounds a lot like alcoholism to me.
14. Tennis – Marathon
Tennis is an indie pop duo that had one of those stories that seems too good to be true. Pretty much all of their leaks from their upcoming album are too. “Marathon” is a fantastic example of retro pop that Camera Obscura would be proud of.
13. El Guincho – Bombay
I have no idea what the hell El Guincho is saying (need to brush up on my Spanish I guess), but this track is infectious. Mix tropical pop with electro and you have “Bombay”.
12. Radio Dept – Heaven’s On Fire
A genius premise for a song. I interpret the lyrics as all about the evils of the music industry, but the beat is about as pop-py as can be. Is it ironic that its also a major sample as part of my favorite mash-up of the year? I never understood irony.
11. Kanye West – Lost In The World ft Justin Vernon of Bon Iver
It only took the words “featuring Bon Iver” to know I was going to love this song. Great sample choice, great tribal rhythms and great rhymes. Bravo Mr. West and Mr. Vernon.
10. Cee Lo – What Part of Forever
I am truly shocked at how this song got swept under the rug, especially after being featured in Eclipse. Cee Lo may have left the swears at home this time, but his soaring vocals are on great display on this tale of confused love.
9. Lord Huron – Son Of A Gun
I’ve already explained my love of Lord Huron and the act’s two recent EP’s. “Son Of A Gun” is one standout of what I expect will be many to come.
Lord Huron – Son Of A Gun
8. Big Boi – Shutterbugg
Big Boi just destroyed one of the most innovative beats of the year courtesy of Scott Storch. DJ’s everywhere should be slapped for not giving it more play, but then again, I guess thats why I don’t listen to radio. I’m pretty sure this beat circulated Laura’s dreams when I got my hands on it in April.
7. LCD Soundsystem – Dance Yrself Clean
Ah, the song that I couldn’t get past on This Is Happening. Definitely has to be top 15 album openers I can think of. Its just too damn good not to listen to multiple times. When that drum and synth kick in at the chorus, it really makes me realize I need to see these guys in concert.
6. Lettercamp – Call It Off
Lettercamp was by far my favorite act to come out of Detroit in 2010. “Call It Off” (free mp3) has indie anthem potential punctuated by Liz Whitman’s inescapable voice and a glittering synth hook that is damn near addictive.

The posting around here hasn’t been as active as I would like it to be, at least I’m increasing my mixtape output. Three in one month isn’t too shabby, right? The latest mixtape is a little more reserved than October’s effort, but its still filled with quality hip-hop, dance, folk and indie. Cee-Lo Green continues to impress with two features (“Bright Lights Big City”, “Old Fashioned”) from his highly anticipated album, Lady Killer. Lovely imports, Lykke Li and Duffy return from brief breaks and pick up where they left off with upbeat jams. I have been enamored with two covers this month: one from Mumford and Sons, who take on Old Crow Medicine Show’s forgotten gem “Wagon Wheel” and another from Shakira, which might not best the original, but will hopefully turn more listeners on to Mercury Award winners, the xx. Lastly, Kanye (with some help from new BFF Justin Vernon) and Lupe show the entire industry how to utilize an indie record and turn it into hip-hop gold. Let me know how many times you have “Lost In The World” and “The Show Goes On” on repeat.
JayeL Audio 11-02-10: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On
2. Lykke Li – Get Some
3. The Go! Team – T.O.R.N.A.D.O.
4. Cee-Lo Green – Bright Lights, Big City
5. Robyn – Indestructible
6. Duffy – Well, Well, Well ft The Root
7. Josh Ritter – Long Shadows
8. Kanye West – Lost In The World ft Bon Iver
9. Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks
10. Shakira – Islands (the xx cover)
11. Lord Huron – Mighty
12. Foals – Blue Blood
13. Fyfe Dangerfield – Call the Shots (Live on BBC 2)
14. The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You
15. California Wives – Blood Red Youth
16. The Wombats – Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
17. Florrie – Give Me Your Love (Fred Falke Club Edit)
18. Stepdad – My Leather, My Fur, My Nails
19. Mumford and Sons – Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover)
20. Freelance Whales – Enzymes
21. Cee-Lo Green – Old Fashioned

Artwork by LJG, of course. Leave comments on your favorite tracks below.

“I hit the Jamaican spot at the bar take a seat/I ordered ya jerk/She said you are what you eat”
So Kanye is really sticking with the G.O.O.D. Music Fridays drops? I’m thoroughly impressed. Below are the new Mr. West tracks from the last two weeks (in case you aren’t keeping up). “Monster” is like a who’s who of hip-hop’s current A-list and brings to life one of the collaborations Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver mentioned to Pitchfork. The militant, yet spiritual backdrop allows each emcee to verbally spar in classic posse cut fashion. I actually enjoyed Nicki’s ferocious verse as well, which doesn’t happen often. “Devil In A New Dress” is back on that Blueprint/The College Dropout narrative tip with a Bink-laced soul-sampled beat. Its also my favorite leak of the impending album.
Kanye West – Monster ft Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver
Kanye West – Devil In A New Dress (produced by Bink)

Kanye is also having a Twitter venting session here. Its pretty interesting (compares his story the witch from “Wicked”?) and an honest look at his emotional state since the Taylor Swift incident. I know a lot of people disagree with me on this subject, but the man made an arrogant mistake and has apologized and paid for it. Let it go. Everything song I’ve heard off his next album seems to show how he has bounced back and will be good for music (not just hip-hop).

What do you think? Will you be picking up the new album?

A) Ra Ra Riot’s highly anticipated sophomore album, The Orchard is streaming on NPR. Obviously, RAC made a remix to the first single “Boy” and its obviously great. Pick up Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard on August 24th.
Ra Ra Riot – Boy (RAC Mix) (free mp3 courtesy of PMA)
B) How amazing would it be to see Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) rolling one up with Rick Ross? Almost amazing as Vernon and Kanye West on the same track. Check the great Pitchfork interview that will get you dizzy with potential hip-hop features for Vernon.
C) Mr. Shawn Carter really knew what he was doing when we signed J. Cole to Roc Nation. Take a listen to his latest offering, “Blow Up”. Also, check out J. Cole recently performing on the top of a parking garage in Flinttown. Why weren’t acts like Cole coming to town when I was there? Blow Up by J. Cole
D) A band that you should hear and (I just found out about) is Detroit-based rock/alt country band Deadstring Brothers. Their music drifts from early Rolling Stones (“The River Song”) to Drive-By Truckers (“Sao Paulo”) and should be coming to a smoky bar near you. Great find Carter. I should really be discovering about bands from my own state on my own, but I like the help. Pick up Deadstring Brothers – Sao Paulo here.
Deadstring Brothers – Sao Paulo (free mp3)
Deadstring Brothers – The River Song (free mp3)
E) Finally, I just wanted to thank Logan (aka official designer of JayeL Audio), Jenny (aka Detroit Happens) and Kelly (aka Ms. Mountain Love) for the recent donations to keep the site going. I’m halfway to the goal to get all of the hosting/domain renewal purchased and it really means a lot. If you are interested in helping the cause, click the donate button on the right for easy donations thru Paypal. Thanks again.

11. Jack Penate – Pull My Heart Away
Penate’s crooning seriously sounds like his heart it being physically ripped out on this track. This pained approach is even more appropriate given the nostalgic guitar riffs and heartbeat-like drums. I don’t know what the guitar technique is thats used on this song, but it would sound perfect in a darkly-lit, smoky bar. It also made me hit replay at least 50 times in the past month.

10. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
I’ve heard Grizzly Bear get plenty of Beach Boys comparisons, but “Two Weeks” is where I was sold. The layered harmonies, the melodic chorus and the rising and falling tempo all equal pop song perfection a la Pet Sounds. “While You Wait For Others” could have easily been in this spot as well.

9. Phoenix – 1901
Again, how hard is it to choose just one song from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix? “1901″ stood out way before some ad director for Cadillac chose it for a recent ad, but its easy to see why they did. The chorus is instantly catchy mixed with crisp guitar and sly synth.

8. Basement Jaxx – Raindrops
I’ve never been a fan of “Where’s Your Head At?”, but I knew I loved this song from the first note. Pounding bass, giddy electronic sounds and a danceable beat are all infused to near perfection. There isn’t a chance you can listen to this song and not have a smile on your face.

7. Or, The Whale – Call and Response
You know this list wouldn’t be complete with some alt country. “Call and Response” is more foot-tapping, southern flavored goodness (I can’t get enough of pedal steel guitar) via Or, The Whale. I couldn’t find the lyrics, but it seems to be about the hopeful rebuilding New Orleans.

6. Mayer Hawthorne – Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’
I was a fan of A Strange Arrangement, but this track was the cut that reeled me in. Hawthorne’s appeals to a lady are puncuated by a bouncy tamborine and sax worthy of a snap-off. “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” could have easily been produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland (thats some History of Rock & Roll 101 knowledge for ya, thanks U of M-Flint!).

5. Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You
It was tough to select just one of the many gems from Middle Cylclone. So I went with the song that I caught myself singing the most. “This Tornado Loves You” has that alt country bounce that I’m enamored with and Case’s enchanting voice. She might be using the tornado as a metaphor for her love life, or she might talking about a cyclone with issues. You tell me.

4. Camera Obscura – French Navy
There might not have been a more catchy indie pop track in ’09 than “French Navy”. The chorus is so simple, but is relatable for so many people:

I wanted to control it
But love I couldn’t hold it
I wanted to control it
But love I couldn’t hold it

3. MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker ft John Legend
The first time I heard this song: A)I had no idea who MSTRKRFT was B)I was certain John Legend’s crooning was via a sample, but had no idea what song. Turns out it ended up as one of my favorite tracks of the year. Legend’s vocals of course sound well over the keys, but who knew how perfect his voice compliments booming electro effects.

2. Kid Cudi – The Pursuit of Happiness
When I saw “featuring MGMT and Ratatat” on the tracklisting for Man On The Moon: End of Day, I knew what would be one of my fav. songs of the year. Cudi party anthem lyrics sound celebratory on a first listen, but there is also anxious and leery words that most likely mirror his true worries about solitude with new fame. Ratatat’s moody production and brooding guitar punctuate the emotional tension of the track.

1. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
He had my favorite song of 2007 and had a few that would have made my top 50 list, (“Brackett, WI”, “Beach Baby” and “Roslyn”) if I had enough time. “Blood Bank” plays up all Justin Vernon’s strengths to near-perfection: a great narrative, emotion-filled singing and bare-bones instrumentation. Now if someone can just tell me what he and some lady are doing at the blood bank? Sounds like winter-time love story or pregnancy discovery to me.

JayeL Audio’s Top Tracks of ’09 Mixtape (.rar)
If you need help downloading the mixtape, please don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Also, comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if you agree, disagree and what I missed in my top 21.

Always a tough list to craft. I think my use of the Hype Machine, combined with the growing number of blogs I check daily and Amazon’s mp3 album deals, have nearly doubled my music listening from last year. Here are the top 21 tracks I loved in 2009.

21. The Babies – Meet Me In The City
Clocking in at 2:49, The Babies waste no time in trying to build a formulaic pop song. In true ’60′s lo-fi fashion, “Meet Me In The City” features thrashing cymbals, loud guitars that almost drown out the lead singer’s nonsensical wailing. These are all good things and whoever this lady is, she should definitely just meet him downtown.

20. Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel
I usually don’t get into songs that aren’t spoken in English, but I couldn’t get enough of “Surprise Hotel”. Partly instrumental and part Hebrew, Fool’s Gold crafts a funky track that doesn’t slow down long enough for you to order another beachside Mai Tai. Besides, Afro-pop has been big the past few years (see Vampire Weekend).

19. Yeasayer – Tightrope
Most people are probably more partial to “Ambling Amp” in its trippy, upbeat glory, but “Tightrope” was in heavy rotation for most of ’09. The meaning seems pretty simple: if you want something, quit wishing and go get it. Did I already mention how good Dark Was The Night is? I think I did.

18. Miike Snow – Cult Logic
The glistening electro beat for “Cult Logic” is so catchy, its hard to believe the lyrics are actually meaningful. Who knew eight bars could so adequately describe feeling lost and discovery so well? It also made for an excellent mash-up with Drake’s “Forever” via The Hood Internet.

17. Volcano Choir – Island, IS
There are so many sounds in this frenetic collabo from Justin Vernon and Collection of Bees, you might mistake it for a Dan Deacon track. With all the action surrounding Mr. Bon Iver’s haunting voice, you hardly get a chance to hear him sing in what all I can assume is stream of consciousness. It isn’t really saying anything, but its like his voice is another instrument in this wonderful sound collage.

16. The Big Pink – Dominos
The word “shoegaze” was thrown around a lot in 2009 and while I don’t support much from the genre, The Big Pink drifted in to pop territory with “Dominos”. Lyrically, things don’t get very deep and the chorus sums the protagonist’s struggles. He simply can’t handle long term relationships. No big deal, the song is catchy as can be.

15. Just Jack – Embers
This track has three qualities that I love in a song: handclaps, symphony strings and a slow-building beat. Just Jack uses all of these elements in a chant about how the little things people worry about, aren’t necessarily that important. “We are all embers in the same fire.”

14. Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings
Another instance where it was near impossible to select one song from a stellar album. “Moth’s Wings” initially stood out with the opening harpsichord and epic piano work. When I finally listened to the lyrics, it sounded like a therapy session for someone who lost their way. I don’t know why, but I like the comparison to moth’s wings.

13. Matt and Kim – Lessons Learned
Forget about the amazing video for one second. How can you make a song with so much emotion and still sound so damn happy doing it? I really should have seen this duo when they were at the Masquerade.

12. The Dodos – Fables
“Fables” was a constant play for me this fall. This folk-tinged jam tells of an alleged criminal and his accomplice standing trial in front of the jury. The chorus echoes repentance and regret:

I don’t want to go in the fire
I just want to stay in my home
I don’t want to hear all the liars
I just want to be with my own

I can’t make out what the crime is, but the hook was stuck in my head for days.

Check back soon for my favorite tracks #11 to #1 and an accompanying mixtape.

A trip back to MSU, moving to a new apartment and working some late hours not only means I don’t get you new music in a reasonable manner. It also means that my RSS feed is filled to the brim with new tunes. I’m crazy enough to think that any one of those links could lead to my favorite new song of the moment, so its hard for me not to check 95% of them out. Overwhelmed, I was finally able to catch up last week.

There were so many good tracks (and many newcomers) released in the last 2-3 months, I soon realized I wouldn’t be able to release one disc that encompassed everything. Hopefully, this isn’t music overload, but here goes:

JayeL Audio – 11-24-09
Disc One http://www.sendspace.com/file/ou2dup
Kings of Convenience show off their side project, The Whitest Boy Alive, by flipping a sample that Daft Punk made legendary (“1517″). Bon Iver & St Vincent turn out the best song off the New Moon soundtrack. Janelle Monae sounds like she’s been watching an excessive amount of the Bride of Frankenstein. One For The Team came up with one of my favorite song titles of ’09 in “Questions and Panthers”. *Disclaimer: Shakira and Kesha appearances are only due to affiliation with Kid Cudi and Fred Falke making another ridiculous remix of a song that I’m not a fan of.
1. Heavy Mojo – Later
2. N.E.R.D. – Soldier ft Santigold
3. The Raveonettes – Bang!
4. The Whitest Boy Alive – 1517
5. Old Canes – Little Bird Courage (mp3)
6. Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Roslyn
7. Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets
8. Janelle Monae – Come Alive (The War of the Roses) (mp3)
9. Tegan & Sara – Alligator
10. Blitzen Trapper – Big Black Bird
11. Kesha – Tik Tok (Fred Falke Remix)
12. Shakira – Did It Again ft Kid Cudi
13. One For The Team – Questions and Panthers
14. Pearl and the Beard – Oh, Death! (mp3)
15. Meeting of Important People – Brittney Lane Don’t Care
16. Mike Posner – You Don’t Have To Leave
17. Amanda Blank – DJ
18. Tahiti 80 – Good Boy
19. Local Natives – Camera Talk
20. Fanfarlo – Ghosts
21. The Very Most – Autumn Air
22. Mr. Hudson – Knew We Were Trouble
23. Camera Obscura – The Blizzard
Check back for Disc Two!

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.

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)

Perry Farell & company announced the schedule for Lolla ’09 last week.  I officially ruled out my attendance for this year’s fest in Chi-town, but I still like to plan I am (Sunday’s overlapping artists would give me a panic attack).  I decided it might be best to those who will be attending, give their thoughts on what looks like a lot of tough choices this year.

Jen of Talkin’ Bout My Jeneration had this to say:

The schedule feels a little unbalanced to me. Most of the bands I wanted to see are the ones that are overlapping, yet there are a few blocks of time that I don’t have anything. I’m VERY pissed that peter bjorn and john are overlapping the decemberists and Andrew bird on friday…

It’s going to throw me off that there are so many to see on Friday and yet Saturday (other than the lykke li/tv on the radio issue) is pretty low key. I’ll probably be able to stick to the north side with santigold, tv on the radio, ben harper, and beasties…

Sunday is pretty horrible/awesome because so many names are stuffed into that day (Kaiser chiefs, neko case, dan auerbach, band of horses, passion pit, cold war kids, vampire weekend) hot damn! I was planning on staying for the whole neko case set because I’ve been so into her NPR live shows lately. But with passion pit, VW, and cold war kids all on the opposite side of the park, I might end up having to catch some solo show of her’s when she comes through Chicago….I think the killers will be an awesome show to close the weekend out with.

So what do you think?  If you’re planning on going, what are the biggest line-up conflicts?  If you’ve seen some of these bands, who would you choose?  Comment Below.

Either way, I’ll be living vicariously through all Lolla ’09 attendees.

Day 1:
The Knux – Bang Bang
Bon Iver – Brackett, WI
Heartless Bastards – Wide Awake
The Decemberists – The Crane Wife 3

Day 2:
Miike Snow – Silvia
Los Campesinos! – Death to Los Campesinos!
Atmosphere – Yesterday
Rise Against – The Dirt Whispered
Arctic Monkeys -Do Me A Favour

Day 3:
Sam Roberts Band – Detroit ’67
Friendly Fires – Paris
Car Stereo (Wars) – Who Like Nick McKenna
Kaiser Chiefs – Heat Dies Down
MSTRKRFT – So Deep ft Colin Munroe
The Killers -Spaceman (Steve Aoki/Bloody Beetroots remix)