JayeL Audio

photo via Joakim Johnson and available for purchase at Threadless.

New music time. It may only be July, but this edition may have one of my favorite tracks of the year in Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know”. Go ahead and try to ignore the chemistry with Kimbra and the chorus that will somehow inch into your mind multiple times a day. Aside from that bombshell, Wilco, Mumford & Sons, The Drums and Real Estate show off wares from their next efforts. Tennis and She & Him showcase female driven throwback covers and Fair Ohs continue on their threat to own summer of 2011. Later, Heavy Roc artist Samuel gets his Postal Service on in honorable fashion and The Knux come up with a summer anthem with the help of Scott Mescudi. Last but not least, GA’s own Turf War comes up with their most potent offering yet in “Cheers To The Years.” Ask Laura, I haven’t stopped listening to it for two weeks.

JayeL Audio 7-26-11 – DOWNLOAD (.rar)

1. Wilco – I Might
2. She & Him – Oh Boy (Buddy Holly cover)
3. Turf War – Cheers to the Years
4. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know ft Kimbra
5. Mumford & Sons – Home (live on KBCO)
6. me&LP – La Belle Tocade
7. Jonquil – Get Up
8. Swimsuit – Sunlight (.mp3)
9. Acid House Kings – Under water
10. My Morning Jacket – Holdin On To Black Metal
11. Real Estate – Its Real
12. Fair Ohs – Everything is Dancing
13. Sean Bones – If You Hear A Knock
14. The Knux – Run ft Kid Cudi
15. Fitz & the Tantrums – Dear Mr. President
16. The Drums – Money
17. Samuel – Say Goodbye (.mp3)
18. Atlas Genius – Trojans (.mp3)
19. Theophilus London – I Stand Alone
20. Radical Something – Long Hair Don’t Care
21. Chromeo – When The Night Falls ft Solange (Breakbot Remix)
22. Tennis – Is It True (Brenda Lee Cover)
23. Trails – Animal (Miike Snow cover)

Let me know your favorites in the comments. Seriously.

I don’t know what part of my upbringing made me love 1960s inspired pop songs so much, but I certainly do. Hear Tennis‘ take on Brenda Lee’s “Is It True?”. Free download w/e-mail at the band’s site(via Cos). These guys killed it at The Earl last March btw.

photo via John Ruby

Oh hey there.
Plenty of established acts and lots of new artists on this edition. Reptar wins for best new band name though. You wouldn’t know it if you get hypnotized by the pulsing synth of “The Dauphin”, but Young Digerati gets sadistic about women flocking from his “valley” to Southern California. Oh Land more than aptly takes over for Lily Allen’s absence in indie-pop land. Chromeo and Ezra from Vampire Weekend emulate Hall & Oates in the best way possible on “I Could Be Wrong”. Friendly Fires (“Blue Cassette”), Foster the People (“Call It What You Want”), and Strange Talk (“Eskimo Boy”) hold things down on the indie/electro dance front. Digitalism returns with “2 Hearts” and Beastie Boys get together with my girl Santigold. Lastly, Outasight’s Figure 8 EP is chock full of hits, but I’m loving “Life or Something Like It” most right now.

Happy Summertime….
Oh and wish Laura HAPPY BIRTHDAY while you’re at it.

JayeL Audio 6-9-11: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. Beastie Boys – Don’t Play No Games That I Can’t Win ft Santigold
2. Friendly Fires – Blue Cassette
3. Bon Iver – Towers
4. Foster the People – Call It What You Want
5. Oh Land – Sun of a Gun
6. Black Lips – New Direction
7. Strange Talk – Eskimo Boy
8. The Wooden Birds – Two Matchsticks
9. Yeasayer – Phoenix Wind
10. The Black Keys – Dearest (Buddy Holly cover)
11. Sondre Lerche – Private Caller
12. Cults – Abducted
13. Bahamas – Already Yours
14. Airlines – Neon Moon
15. Fitz and the Tantrums – Don’t Gotta Work It Out
16. Purity Ring – Lofticries
17. Reptar – Houseboat Babies
18. New Villager – Lighthouse
19. Young Digerati – The Dauphin
20. Digitalism – 2 Hearts
21. Outasight – Life or Something Like It
22. Chromeo – I Could Be Wrong ft Ezra Koenig
23. The National – Exile Vilify
Bonus Track:
Almost Free – Really Don’t Know About You (free .mp3)

Liverpool native Delta Maid offers us a charming take on one of my favorite Strokes’ songs of this spring. Her enchanting voice and the track’s slowed tempo gives you a chance to actually think about what Mr. Casablancas and company are actually singing about. Delta Maid – Under Cover of Darkness – Strokes Cover by Delta Maid
Also check out the tap-worthy original, “On My Own” below: Delta Maid – Of My Own (Single Edit) by Delta Maid
Hear more Delta Maid here.

I’m still most partial to Tom Thumb’s moving rendition of the real Boss’ “Atlantic City”, but Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s take is admiral as well. BFL shines with ghostly vocals on the spectral interpretation of this classic. Stream below and get it here for the small price of an e-mail address.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Atlantic City by dirty hit
Also, take a listen to slow burner “Pictures” below and pick up the EP here:

BFL just got out of the lab and will release his debut album Last Smoke Before The Snow Storm in late June. Look for the 1st single “Box of Stones” out on June 6th.

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!

Return me to this place. No. Seriously.
I’ve been staring at spreadsheets and flowcharts all week so forgive the math correlation. If I had to classify this mixtapes into 4 quadrants it would be:
Harmonies – the Local Natives/Fleet Foxes charm has spread to U.S. Royalty, Yeasayer, and Wolf Gang
Covers – this month was especially rich in artists’ take on their favorite artists like MJ, Beirut and Seal
Veterans – TV On The Radio, Adele, Cut Copy, Death Cab and The Strokes all stormed back onto the music scene with work from solid new albums
That New New – Up and comers like Young the Giant, Oh Land, Airlines and Theophilus London all represent current blog favorites that could end up as your next favorite act. BTW, is it just me or does Theophilus sounds a little like Cudder on “Flying Overseas”?

JayeL Audio 3-31-11: DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. U.S. Royalty – Equestrian
2. Smokey Robotic – Forever My Love (Single mix)
3. Young the Giant – My Body
4. City and Colour – The Girl
5. Yeasayer – Crazy (Seal cover)
6. Toro Y Moi – Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover)
7. TV On The Radio – Caffeinated Consciousness
8. The Strokes – Gratisfaction
9. The Milk – (All I Wanted Was) Danger
10. Oh Land – We Turn It Up
11. Cut Copy – Need You Now
12. Adele – Rolling In The Deep
13. Airlines – Burial Grounds
14. Wolf Gang – Dancing With The Devil
15. Architecture in Helsinki – Contact High
16. Florence & the Machine – Postcards From Italy (Beirut Cover)
17. Death Cab For Cutie – You Are A Tourist
18. Bag Raiders – Way Back Home
19. Theophilus London – Flying Overseas ft Solange & Devonte’ Hynes

Check back tomorrow for more goods…

Another solid cover via The Knocks from their cover/remix EP, Same Old Songs. On their take on The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” they let bubbling songstress Alex Winston handle vocal duties. This one is a much better example of what I expect from the Knocks. I’m pretty much a sucker for anything featuring the lovely Ms. Winston though.
The Knocks ft Alex Winston – You Can’ Hurry Love (The Supremes cover)

Also check out an acoustic version of “Dancing With the DJ”.
The Knocks – Dancing With The DJ (Acoustic Campfire Version)

If you’re at SXSW this week, make sure you catch Alex and The Knocks at these gigs!

Speaking of bands with the word “royal” in it, The Last Royals have been churning solid material lately. Their lead single “Crystal Vases” is as catchy as indie rock comes, full of jangly guitar amid a melancholy tale of being left behind by a lover. Crystal Vases by TheLastRoyals
You might recognize their addictive cover below from your middle school dance circa 1990. Nothing Compares 2 U by TheLastRoyals

Its been a minute since we’ve heard from the Knocks, but rest assured they’ve been busy. Their latest project is an EP of Motown/Oldies covers and remixes called Same Old Songs. The first release is relatively tame cover of the Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud Too Beg”. The mildly synthy cut sung by Jpatt of The Knocks is naturally catchy given the source material, but only bubbles at what could potentially be a breakout for the duo. If they decide to turn up the last minute of the cover with The Knock’s trademark dance spin on a remix, sign me up for more.
The Knocks – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg (The Temptations cover)

The next release is supposed to feature JayeL Audio favorite Alex Winston, so you know thats gonna be amazing….