No mention of a new album, but Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) has teamed up with Andre 3000 and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem for a one-off single called "DoYaThing" under the Gorillaz moniker.
It'll bring an immediate smile to your face. It reminded me how much I love the cartoon future-funk of the Gorillaz... how much I'm going to miss LCD Soudsystem, AND how much I wish we'd either get a new Outkast album OR a new Andre 3000 solo record. (i.e. The Love Below.)
This seems to be a good indication that we'll get a new Gorillaz record at some point. Fingers crossed.
Theres an odd mostly-Andre 13 + minute version as well. Listen below.
Song: Happiness
Artist: Sam Sparro
Album: Return to Paradise
It's been a long time, 2008 to be precise, since the release of Sam Sparro's self-titled debut album was released, but we're finally getting some new music from the Australian-born soul singer. His sophomore album, "Return to Paradise" doesn't have a solid release date yet, but is set for sometime this year. (Spring)
Sparro released a new tune, "The Shallow End" with an in-the-studio video at the end of January, and has just released what is rumored to be the first single off the new album... "Happiness." It's a slick piece of future-soul that grabbed me right away. It's not the slow burn of the stellar "Black & Gold," but a nicely effervescent tune with punchy piano, a nice beat, and Sparro's trademark smooth vocals. Nice.
Song: Paddling Out
Artist: Miike Snow
Album: Happy to You
It's been three long years since the release of Miike Snow's debut album, but next month we'll see "Happy to You," their sophomore set. I'm excited... I think.
I LOVED the debut, a crazy surprise from the Bloodshot & Avant (Britney's best songs) boys of pitch-perfect Swedish electro-pop that was on of my favorite records from that year. They released a couple deluxe edition singles that didn't totally grab me... and unfortunately I'm feeling that way about this new material. We got album track/promo single "Devil's Work" in December which was, okay... and now we have the official first single "Paddling Out" which is better I suppose. Maybe it's a grower. I'm still listening.
Song: Tomorrow
Artist: The Cranberries
Album: Roses
Wow, The Cranberries are back with their first album since 2001's "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee." (11 years!)
I used to be a pretty big fan of this band... at least initially. I even gave a good listen to lead singer Delores O'Riordan debut solo album... but didn't even realize she'd done a second. But the band reformed and now have a new record.
"Roses" harkens back to the pretty and polished feel of their sophomore album, "No Need to Argue," vs. the more aggressive rock of their subsequent albums. It's a little too early in my listening to hear if it comes close to "Argue," but it doesn't seem to contain the same strong sense of melody.
It's still a kick to hear O'Riordan's voice again, which takes me right back... and does sound fantastic. Take a listen to current single "Tomorrow," it's rather nice.
Song: Tongue Tied
Artist: Grouplove
Album: Never Trust a Happy Song
Grouplove are an indie band based in Los Angeles that formed back in 2009. Their debut album, "Never Trust a Happy Song" was released in September of last year.
"Tongue Tied" was apparently used in an iPod commercial though I never saw it. But upon one listen you'll see why, it's immediate, fun... you'll like it.
Song: Starships
Artist: Nicki Minage
Album: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
This chick is seriously growing on me.
First official single from her sophomore record, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, due at the beginning of April.
Starts a little "Raise Your Glass," then vaguely Caribbean... then totally Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" meets the Black Eyed Peas. So you're totally sure you hate it... then you hear.. that... drop.
Song: Video Games
Artist: The Young Professionals
Album: Video Games
I've been more than a little amused by all the hoopla surrounding the release of Lana Del Rey's debut album, the SNL performance, the twitter wars, everything. And for further proof that no publicity is bad publicity, "Born to Die" had a #2 Billboard entry. Crazy.
I have actually been enjoying the record, and recently discovered this amazing cover of her debut song, "Video Games" by a young Tel-Aviv-based duo The Young Professionals (a.k.a. "T.Y.P.") They turn the woozy ballad into an electro-emo stomper that is crazy infectious and fun. I've had it on repeat all week.
I wasn't familiar with the band, but they've just released their debut album late last year entitled "9-00 To 17-00, 17-00 To Whenever." Yeah, terrible title... but I just listened to their single "D.I.S.C.O." and totally loved it... this band might be more than a one-trick pony. I got the album and I'll report back if it's worth your time.
But in the meantime... happy Friday and enjoy this great cover of a song you might hate, or you might love. Regardless, I think I'll let the Lana Del Rey thing go for now.
I've been listening to a good amount of disco, as in 70's disco, lately so yesterday upon seeing Ladyhawke's new video inspired by the Faye Dunaway film it immediately reminded me of a great track used in the film... "Let's All Chant" by the Michael Zager Band.
The song is used in the same scene that's recreated in the video, a photo shoot where Laura is shooting fashion models. This song is pretty infectious and uses what has now become disco cliche... the "ooh ooh" disco call. But I always remembered it by the "My body, your body, everybody, shake your body" bit. Classic.
Song: Black White & Blue
Artist: Ladyhawke
Album: Anxiety
It's been a long while since the release of Ladyhawke's self-titled debut album ('08) but the wait is soon over as her proper sophomore set "Anxiety" is due in mid-March.
Check out the buzzy first single "Black White & Blue." It didn't grab me in the way past singles like "My Delirium" and "Back of the Van" did initially, but the more I listen new layers reveal themselves... and it's winning me over. Very exciting.
On a side note, I just took a look at the video this AM and it was cracking me up. My good friend John JUST a few weeks ago introduced me to the 1978 Faye Dunaway thriller "Eyes of Laura Mars," which the video uses as inspiration. It's crazy accurate and kind of funny if you're familiar with the film, check it out below.
Song: Love Interruption
Artist: Jack White
Album: Blunderbuss
Jack White is set to release his first solo material with "Blunderbuss," set for release at the end of April. It will be released through his own Third Man Records.
Jack states of the album:
"I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas."
I was on quite a high with White's The White Stripes for a while, discovering them as they released four insane amazing albums back-to-back. I didn't love the last Stripes record, nor his other forays with other bands... but I still consider him one of the better songwriters to appear in the last decade, so I'm very interested in this solo album.
Lead single "Love Interruption" is a fairly quiet affair, acoustic guitar, female backing vocals, and... is that an oboe? It's got White's bite though, despite the sweetness.
Like Chairlift whom I highlighted last week, Tennis was a band I discovered a while ago due to their debut album, always meant to feature them on the blog, but never did. And like Chairlift they have their sophomore album coming out... and so here they are.
Tennis are a Denver-based indie-pop duo comprised of husband and wife team of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. They met in college while studying philosophy, formed the band, recorded and released their debut album "Cape Dory" after a seventh-month sailing trip down the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard.
"Young and Old," like "Cape Dory" is filled with Best Coast-esque lo-fi surfer girl pop. Their sound hasn't changed all that much, though it does seem that "Y&O" has a bit clearer production, less distortion, though still a bit lo-fi. But it's well worth the listen.
Check out single "Origins" below, but I also liked the punchy "Petition" where Alaina's voice really shines and has a Beth Ditto of the Gossip vibe. Also love opening track "It All Feels the Same" which is the most "Best Coast" this album gets.
Song: Give Me All Your Luvin'
Artist: Madonna
Album: MDNA
The first single from Her Madgesty's twelfth album "MDNA."
It's a little "Beautiful Stranger" meets Toni Basil's "Mickey" with hot chicks M.I.A. (indie cred) and Nicki Minaj (U.S. ubiquity) added into the mix.
I'm a touch underwhelmed by the song, but am reminded that I never really warmed up to "4 Minutes," but ended up really enjoying "Hard Candy" the album. I do quite like the feel of the new album cover, and that fact that eleven records into her career and I've liked or loved all of them... things look good for "MDNA."
And if you care... no, WeCast does not think she's too old for all of this.
Song: Andrew in Drag
Artist: The Magnetic Fields
Album: Love at the Bottom of the Sea
Is there anyone who doesn't just adore The Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs?" That classic 1999 triple-album was the last record the Fields' did for Merge records and the last time they used synthesizers, as the last three albums comprised their "no synths" trilogy. I was a fan of 2004's "i" as it maintained lead Stephin Merritt's offbeat humor, despite the move away from D.I.Y. electro-pop. The two that follow, "Distortion" and "Realism" didn't grab me much at all... "Distortion" was unlistenable (sorry, I don't care for Jesus and Mary Chain) and "Realism" was a straight-up folk album that was missing a lot of that trademark wit. Snore.
But the Magnetic Fields are back. And I have my fingers crossed that it's in a "69 Love Songs" kind of way. The synthesizers are back and given the punchy, grin-enducing lead single "Andrew in Drag," I'm quite hopeful and excited for the new record.
"Andrew in Drag" is a cheeky love song that reads pure Magnetic Fields; lo-fi production, art-fag goofiness, and winningly melodic. I've been humming it for the last two days.
"The moment he walked on the stage, my tail began to wag. Wag like a little wiener dog for Andrew in drag."
Amazing.
My only complaint is that it just seems to end, though none of the songs on the album cross the three-minute mark. Keeping this pop, pop.
Enjoy.
Andrew in Drag
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side (69 Love Songs)
Nothing Matters When We're Dancing (69 Love Songs)
