Ulysses

Song: Ulysses
Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Album: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand




With only two albums under their belt I was quick to call Franz Ferdinand one of my favorite bands. I’ve been eager for a follow-up to their 2005 sophomore album “You Could Have it So Much Better,” which I absolutely loved, so I have been absorbing their latest, “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” for the last couple days. Several months ago when they first announced the new record a song, “Lucid Dreams” was leaked to the internet and played on their site. I liked the song enough, but thought it might be album filler… certainly not a first single. Then a couple weeks ago official first single “Ulysses” was released. If I’m honest I was a little underwhelmed. But look at their track record… “Take me Out” from their self titled debut kick-started them onto the scene and is one of my favorite songs of all time. I have never gotten tired of it. And “Do You Want To” from “YCHISMB” was, in my opinion the most perfect of pop songs. It wasn’t as big a hit, but I have no shame in letting you know that its play count on my iTunes is upward of 200+. Yeah… a fan here.

Now that I have been listening to “Tonight,” I get that they may have given up on writing the perfect single. And the album does not suffer in the least. “Ulysses” is actually a pretty killer song, its hooks, catchiness, and mysterious lyrics that draw from a poem by Homer, open slowly. Now when it opens the album I see why it’s the first single, but it’s certainly not the best thing on the album.

It was rumored that the album would take the band in a much more dance direction which is partially true, but it’s all Franz. Ironically, it’s a return to Franz’s more loose songs, at times messy and gritty and not as produced as their sophomore album. That said they play with electronic beats and synths like they never have before, including the now eight plus minute long “Lucid Dreams,” which has an electro breakdown in the middle. I like it better than the linked version quite a bit. I’m still listening, but I already get the feeling that it could turn out to be one of my favorite records of 2009.

Enjoy.

Ulysses

This video is so gritty

Slap a Bitch

Song: Slap a Bitch
Artist: Macy Gray
Album: Slap a Bitch (single)



When Macy Gray first came out I really dug her first record. While I got tired of her mega-hit “I Try,” I really thought her debut, “On How Life Is” was a neo-funk marvel, albeit with Adult Contemporary leanings. In retrospect, Gray might have been frustrated with the soccer mom fans she got from “I Try,” because on her sophomore record she really let her freak flag fly. (Well, admittedly the first single, the Erykah Badu duet “Sweet Baby” was very “I Try” as well) I liked “The Id,” but it didn’t register with audiences the way her debut did.

Since then, I haven’t followed her music, despite her releasing two albums and a greatest hits album. Apparently, (according to Wikipedia) the albums were well received. Does anyone remember these? How are they?

Regardless, Macy Gray is returning to the stage for a new album this year. It is reportedly titled “The Gray Life” and for some reason she’s going by an alias… “Nemesis Jaxon.” And she recently released this statement about it...

“ladies and gentlemen. boys and girls. pimps and hos. my name is macy gray. i have decided to re-enter the real world and make my fifth album. it will be the biggest comeback you've ever seen. bigger than the big lies the american government has been telling us for eight years. not for the money and not for the fame, but friendship. yes. i miss my fairweather friends and the only chance i have of being in their company again is to write more hit songs and start getting my picture taken in trendy restaurants with other people who believe themselves to be stars. my very first contribution to my up and coming super success is a biographical ditty called: "SLAP A BITCH," written by Myself, Jared Gosselin and Phillip White - also known as Jared and Whitey. They are also the producers of this song. The great Dave Pensada, mixed and mastered. A quote from the song: "when i was 13, i slapped a bitch." for those of you who download songs for free, i've done you one better. i've made a video. for free and it is one of the most entertaining works of art that you will ever see. A Vma winner for sure. If I don't get an award for this video I'm gonna sue. Someone should sue mtv anyway for false and misleading network name. Anyway. Obama says...yes we can. I say... Boom shaka laka baby. Ladies and gentlemen Men and women Winners and losers, SLAP A BITCH. BY MACY GRAY. COMING SOON. VERY SOON.”

Umm… okay.

Well, my interest has been seriously tweaked because the first single, “Slap a Bitch” is bat-shit crazy and TOTALLY catchy. Subversive, brash, and a party starter. Not sure if this will re-spark her career, and I am certain it will NOT grab the soccer mom’s back… but it might pull in a new funk-hipster crowd that has either forgotten or never knew “I Try.”

What do you think?

Enjoy.

I don’t know if this is the actual video but it’s as koo-koo-kaarazy as the lady that sings the song…

The Fame

Best of 2008

Song: The Fame
Artist: Lady GaGa
Album: The Fame



Here’s a slow burner for me. I had been hearing about this Lady GaGa here and there and then finally heard her overseas hit “Just Dance” which has only recently hit the airwaves and clubs here in the States. Then I started to see her advertize on Logo and I was interested enough to get the record and see what she’s about. Besides, I love good electro-pop. But initially I wasn’t sold. I sort of wrote her off as a very light flash in the pan, but as I began to listen to the record the hooks started to take hold, and then lyrically, I thought some of it was rather interesting.

“Just Dance” is the most mainstream of the tracks, but I found myself getting into some of the other sunny club jams like “Summerboy,” “Eh, Eh,” and “Poker Face.” Even the one slow jam, “Brown Eyes” had a cute semi-epic charm, with a great hook. But further listens revealed that the album was taking the essence of our celebrity culture, and using them as love metaphors. The more I heard, I thought about how perfect it was for songs of this type to be produced as pop club music. The themes of the record being what Britney SHOULD be singing about right now. “Paparazzi” uses that “job” as stalker metaphor (“I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me, papa-paparazzi”) and “The Fame” uses our culture’s glitz obsession to marry lyrics that glamorize that life, and then debase it.

If you have a taste for sunny pop with a techno-lite vibe, you’ll really like “The Fame.” And give it the time to grow on you.

She’s also currently feuding with Christina Aguilera if that does anything for you.

Enjoy.

Poker Face


Beautiful, Dirty, Rich

Made in the Dark

Best of 2008

Song: Made in the Dark
Artist: Hot Chip
Album: Made in the Dark



Hot Chip has been a slow build for me. I thought their debut was so-so, a little too dorky and jokey to take very seriously. The follow up, “The Warning” was a HUGE improvement… and while the jokey-ness was still there, there was also a new sense of depth, showcased best by “And I Was a Boy From School,” a beautiful mid-tempo electro track that was lyrically strong and emotionally evocative. I was excited for the follow up, and “Made in the Dark” delivered. First single “Ready for the Floor” became my favorite single of theirs ever and I think it’s one of the best songs of the year. The album itself was a marvel, and I actually think their best. It’s a good mix of upbeat and fun jams mixed with a surprising amount of ballads. And good ones.

My favorite hands down is the downbeat title track which I just loved. It’s a beautiful break-up ballad that was certainly unexpected from the kings of dork techno. It belongs in a movie, very cinematic and emotional.

Enjoy.

Ready for the Floor


One Pure Thought

1,000,000

Best of 2008

Song: 1,000,000
Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: The Slip



I used to be a HUGE Nine Inch Nails head. Starting with the EP “Broken” from 1992, I fell in love with Trent Reznor’s brand of techno-goth rock music that was equal parts nihilistic, cathartic, and also… dancy. After digging “Broken” I got the debut album “Pretty Hate Machine” which was more pop and more dance-industrial oriented. I wasn’t sure it could get any better, and then he released “The Downward Spiral,” which sent him into the musical stratosphere.

Unfortunately, the good fortune in record buying seemed to cripple Reznor, or it could be argued… freed him. Because next came 1999’s “The Fragile,” a double-disc set that let the only sprinkled slow, ambient instrumentals from “Spiral” take center stage. Aside from a track or two, including the amazing first single “We’re in this Together,” I felt that the album fell short and was of all things, boring. I wanted to like it a lot and still take it out to listen to it as while it was a commercial disappointment, it has since become a fan favorite with some considering it his best work. I still don’t hear it.

His post “The Fragile” work has been a mix of all of these previous elements but never seeming as concise or fluid as that early work. Both the “Fragile” follow-up “With Teeth” and the sci-fi concept record/game “Year Zero” mixed his love of straight to the point death-pop and airy, atmospheric drones that were prevalent on “The Fragile.” I liked both records, but certainly not as much as I liked his previous work.

Starting with “Year Zero,” Reznor started playing with the internet and technology as a way to release and market his music. Always a vocal critic of record label interference, Reznor official broke from that format this year by releasing a new album this May with less than a week’s notice on his website. Not tricky Radiohead-like payment system a-la his instrumental four disc album released earlier in the year in the same fashion (which I haven’t heard) no Reznor decided his seventh studio effort should be free. As in… “this one is on me.” As he noted in his website post the day the album was “released.” “The Slip” is a loud and quiet, typically brash with equal parts propulsive, ten-song set that find the man at a cross-roads… and yet it’s his most concise record since… well, “Broken.”

It’s a record that certainly grew on me, starting with the killer first single, the death-funk pop track “Discipline,” and then the equally catchy second track “1,000,000.” Upon a couple spins I got to hear just how much he was going back to the “Pretty Hate Machine” style, but coupled with his new love of dark atmospherics. Its length (i.e. short) is a big help, going back to his more pointed short and simple work. The album has subsequently been released on CD, and it’s one of my favorites of the year.

Enjoy.

1,000,000 (Live Studio Rehearsal)

Lights Out (David Rubato Remix)

Best of 2008

Song: Lights Out (David Rubato Remix)
Artist: Santogold
Album: Lights Out




One of the most enjoyable albums from 2008 for me was the debut of Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Santogold. Initially, the M.I.A. comparisons were rapt and seemingly fitting. Initial leaked songs months before the album came out were also produced by Switch, M.I.A.’s right hand man, and were very sound-a-like… though they were very good. But upon hearing her full self-titled debut, it was clear her influences were vast and eclectic. The more I heard the album I began to think of her more as a female Beck, with a kitchen-sink approach to album creating that just happens to include some spot-on songwriting and singing. Like “Mellow Gold” it’s filled with junk-yard rhymes and moments of production perfection. Could she have an “Odelay” on the way?

Aside from the more attention grabbing tracks like “Find a Way,” “Creator,” and “L.E.S. Artistes,” Santogold’s record is filled with dub tracks, folk-songs, and in the case of the Bud-Lite Lime hocking “Lights Out,” a true pop masterpiece. A song that has really grown on me and one of my favorites of the year. It’s recently been released as a single with a hand-full of remixes. I am currently going bonkers for David Rubato’s mix, that gives it a house/club vibe yet keeps the vocals up and the hook intact. Awesome.

I hate that I even have to mention M.I.A. again while discussing Santogold as many have… but it seems that truly mind-blowing non-mainstream hip-hop by female musicians just needs to be grouped together. Whatever. “Santogold” is one of the best records of the year and one all should check out.

Enjoy.

Lights Out (album version) Video


L.E.S. Artistes

Athene

BEST OF 2008

Song: Athene
Artist: Hercules & Love Affair
Album: Hercules & Love Affair




This weekend I turned over a new leaf. I had realized I’d been being a bit of a Grinch since the holidays got into full swing, but I let it spill over to music… something I never do! I was talking to my good friend Brian who was eager to dish about the favorite music of the year and I was being all bah humbug. So after pouring over my iTunes library of this years music I did realize that there has been a bunch of stuff I’ve dug over the year. So, over the next few (probably sporadic) last days of September as well as into January I will in fact go on and on about the records and/or songs I dug this year…

I don’t know why but I thought the Hercules & Love Affair album came out last year, but I had forgotten it was one of my favorites, an odd-ball indie-disco record that worked as a great mood record. While “Blind,” one of my top ten tracks of the year, was the out-of-the-ballpark highlight, the rest of the album works more as a great vibe record that series of singles. So yes, while “Blind” is super catchy and fun, there are great tracks like “Hercules Theme” and “Athene” that are more ethereal in their disco-soaked beauty. Sound odd? It is… but also remarkably unpretentious.

Enjoy.

Blind


You Belong

Be the One (Bimbo Jones Club Remix)

Song: Be the One (Bimbo Jones Club Remix)
Artist: The Ting Tings
Album: Be the One (single)




Depend on who you talk to, the Ting Tings released one of the best indie dance-rock records of the year, or the most annoying. I’ve found that opinions are pretty split on the group… but regardless, they did their part to make 2008 their own. I am of the mind that while I really liked a lot of the bands singles from this year, I thought their album, “We Started Nothing,” was just okay. But with three killer singles like “Great DJ,” “That’s Not My Name,” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go,” I certainly saw it as a win ultimately.

Recently the band released the more downbeat “Be the One” as a single. The album version is nice if unremarkable. I always thought it was okay… but not one I went back to. For the single they got the amazing Bimbo Jones, whom have done some of my favorite club remixes of the year, to mix it for the dancefloor. I think it breathes new life into the track, making it rather exciting.

Enjoy.

Be the One (Bimbo Jones Remix)


Great DJ

Echo

Song: Echo
Artist: Cyndi Lauper
Album: Bring Ya to the Brink




Maybe it’s me… but I think this year has been a pretty low point for music releases. There hasn’t been that much that has grabbed me over the year as amazing or particularly noteworthy. At this time of year I am usually pouring through the year’s music and picking my favorite tracks and albums. I’m not feeling it this year… so it HAS to be me.

But I must say that when asked about my favorite records of the year, Cyndi Lauper’s “Bring Ya to the Brink” always sticks in my head. A real return to the dancefloor has given Ms. Lauper a kick in creativity, producing her best album in years. “Into the Nightlife” was my favorite track of the year, and it’s only one of many killer songs she wrote and recorded for the album. She worked with a who’s who of current electro-dance pop for the album, from Kleerup to Rich Morel to Dragonette.

The same team that co-wrote and produced “Into the Nightlife” also gave the album “Echo,” a bubbling mid-tempo electro number that features Cyndi’s amazing soaring vocals. Really good stuff. I highly recommend this album, you won’t be disappointed!

Enjoy.

If This is Love

Song: If This is Love
Artist: The Saturdays
Album: Chasing Lights




Here is a fun slice of British pop, The Saturdays are a five-piece girl group that are very reminiscent to The Sugarbabes and Girls Aloud, also UK female fronted dance artists. I gave the whole album a couple listens and it’s pretty good as these things go. But by far, the best track is lead single “If This is Love” which samples Yaz’s “Situation.” It’s a very fun pop-dance song that reminds me a little bit of Spiller’s “Grovejet (If This Ain’t Love).” The chorus reminds me of the chorus of that track.

Enjoy.

If This is Love


Up

Make My Day

Song: Make My Day
Artist: Common
Album: Universal Mind Control




Since I was discussing the better hip-hop records of the year, I have to highlight a release by one of the most important figures in the genre today. Chicago’s Common has been at the forefront of the socially conscious rap movement for years. He, along with the likes of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, have been spouting rhymes on issues within the African-American community versus say… “Can I Buy You a Drank.” (ugh) But in my humble opinion, there forward thinking lyrics are often lost in unremarkable beats. Is it a song, or is it just an essay?

I have liked Common’s last to albums, which mix his standard mindful lyrics with a more jazzy style, but again… the words got in the way. But with the release of “Universal Mind Control,” Common has teamed mostly with the Neptunes to add a catchy beat behind his smarty-pants lyrics. To be honest, he’s eased up a little and is having some fun here, which is garnering him some mixed reviews. I don’t know… I’m digging it.

Check out “Make My Day” with Cee-Lo of Gnarles Barkley, as well as single “Universal Mind Control,” and the club banger “What a World” with Chester French.

Enjoy.

Universal Mind Control

Life is Better (feat. Norah Jones)

Song: Life Is Better (feat. Norah Jones)
Artist: Q-Tip
Album: The Renaissance





Despite the low point hip-hop is currently in, I must say that three of my favorite records of 2008 have been from hip-hoppers. Kanye knocked it out of the park with an interesting left-of-center album earlier this month, and I am also digging the new Common album, and all last month I was hooked on the not so prolific Q-Tip’s latest, “The Renaissance.” I was always a huge Tribe Called Quest fan, and always thought his lazy-ish flow was some of the best in the game. But aside form “Vibrant Thing,” I haven’t really followed his solo work.

Well on a lark I got “The Renaissance” and really really have been spinning it quite a bit. His amazing flow is intact, and at this point, his old school jazz leaning music sounds practically classic. Which leads me to this… if hip-hop has finally dried up all the hot and futuristic beats, isn’t the natural progression to look backward and make some classic sounding new music? Regardless… “The Renaissance” does just that.

It’s more of a mood record, a bit down-tempo (no real club bangers) and the special guests really don’t distract from the overall vibe like they can on a lot of hip-hop records. It’s more like Q-Tip’s party that special guests come to throw down a verse or two. My favorite being the seemingly odd pairing with Nora Jones. I’ve never been a huge fan of hers, but I do like her voice, and it totally works for “Life is Better.” I HIGHLY recommend this release if you’re a fan of Tribe or Q-Tip.

Enjoy.

Even the video is old school…
Move


Getting’ Up

Amnesia

Song: Amnesia
Artist: Britney Spears
Album: Circus




Just a little over a year ago I was deeply surprised as something that occurred that I never thought possible… I liked a Britney Spears record. Last years “Blackout” was what I always thought the girl might have in her, a killer dance-pop record. Sure I’d liked singles from Britney before, but making it through a whole album was a hard pill to swallow. But “Blackout” was refreshingly ballad-free, and contained some of the best tracks she’d ever laid down. But of course as we know homegirl went a little crazy, barely promoted it, and its pop brilliance was lost under the clutter of tabloid garbage.

So in just over a years time we saw America’s (sort of) Sweetheart go from bat-shit crazy to the comeback, and this is the album to do it. I don’t really know if she’s ready for all this, as made evident in the MTV documentary “Britney: For the Record,” but she’s making good videos again, getting ready to tour, and is actually out on the road doing work for the album. So how is it? And is this a new Britney?

For one, “Circus” is a pretty good record, with some of the tracks being new favorites of mine. But it also shows the return of the ballad, which honestly was part of Britney’s bread and butter early in her career, but it didn’t work then (for me) and it doesn’t work now. But there is a better “Circus” out there… you just need to sort of make it yourself…

“Circus” does continue, in part, Britney’s formal move from hip-hop inspired tracks to more electro-pop, which I think is excellent. First single “Womanizer” is a bouncy gem, and the Danja produced “Kill the Lights” sounds like it could have been on “Blackout.” “Shattered Glass” and “Mannequin” are sleek bubbling electronica, and the return of hit maker Max Martin gives us “If U Seek Amy,” a song that I just don’t think is ever going to be made a single given its chorus, despite being super catchy. (It reads: “Love me, hate me, say what you what about me, but all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy.” It doesn’t make sense written out, but say it fast.) I also really liked the Prince inspired “Lace and Leather” which has a killer base lick and a goofy vibe to it that reminds me of the “Blackout” track “Hot as Ice.” They don’t sound the same, they’re just goofy and totally fun.

The biggest surprise of the album for me is “Unusual You,” a slow electro track that isn’t a ballad, but is rather beautiful. THIS is what Britney should be doing when she slows things down. “Unusual You” was written by Britney’s secret weapon, Bloodshy & Avant along with The Clutch. They produced last years “Piece of Me” and “Radar,” which was my favorite track off “Blackout” and was never made a single, yet it is tacked onto “Circus” as a bonus track, odd. Also on the slow side but rather good is the Danja produced “Blur” which sounds like something Britney’s actually lived through. A morning after, what the fuck happened last night, kind of slow burning electro ballad.

So where does “Circus” fall apart? Well, “Out From Under” track three, finds Britney returning to overwrought ballad territory. It’s a planned single, and despite the presence of Robbie Williams and Kylie songwriter Guy Sigsworth, it’s a snore. But he also helps her continue the embarrassing last track tradition with “My Baby,” an absolutely dreadful ode to her children. Of course it’s not the sentiment that’s cringe inducing, it’s just not very musical, and lyrically it’s like a long greeting card. The big upbeat misstep is “Mmm Papi,” which is goofy in a bad way and not entirely convincing. Ugh.

But what is the biggest surprise is what’s NOT on the album. There are six tracks that are being used as bonus material for iTunes and elsewhere, two of which should have, in my opinion, been on the record. But thanks to the iPod, you can build a better “Circus” yourself. So take out “Out From Under” and in its place put the throbbing “Trouble,” which seems to sample Madonna’s “Get Together,” though is it’s own thing. Once again, Bloodshy & Avant produce a killer track for Brit, and one that really seems fit for her. They also do the so-so “Phonography” which sounds like Kylie. It’s not great… but pretty good. “Quicksand,” written by Lady Gaga is an okay ballad and a good album closer. So replace “My Baby” with that one. In “Mmm Papi’s” place you can put in the poptastic “Amnesia.” I really really love this song, despite an awkward start, its very Gwen Stefani, and one of the new tracks I’ve listened to the most, even though it’s not on the album.

So while I don’t love “Circus” as much as I did “Blackout,” there are still some killer tracks on the album (and off it.)

Enjoy.

Amnesia

Trouble

Quicksand

Missing Cleveland

Song: Missing Cleveland
Artist: Scott Weiland
Album: “Happy” in Galoshes




I was only a so-so Stone Temple Pilots fan, and didn’t listen to Velvet Revolver at all. Well… I did listen, but realized I had no interest in continuing to listen. But I do recognize Scott Weiland as an interesting guy, a great front man, and a keep songwriter. I have been enjoying his new solo album “’Happy’ in Galoshes” quite a bit. It’s eccentric, but so is the man… and free of the confines of a band, Weiland really shines.

“Missing Cleveland,” the album opener, makes it seem like the early 90’s never ended. It’s catchy, and if the state of rock was different, could have been a hit. Elsewhere on the album he takes on jangle rock (“Tangle With You Mind”), Elvis Costello style rave-rock (“Blind Confusion”), an even Beatlesque psychedelia (“Beautiful Day.”) I also really liked “Paralysis” which is also a touch psychedelic, and “Killing Me Sweetly,” a ballad that reminded me that this was the guy that wrote the excellent “Interstate Love Song.”

He flirts with electronica on a few tracks which is more interesting than successful. “Arch Angel” is an electro-ish ballad, and his cover of Bowie’s “Fame” is well… maybe trying too hard. It feels out of place on the album for sure. Though I don’t hate it.

I feel like this record is coming out with very little fanfare which is unfortunate, it’s very good.

Enjoy.

Paralysis


Missing Cleveland – Live on Jimmy Kimmel

Let Me Borrow That Top

Song: Let Me Borrow That Top
Artist: Kelly
Album: Shoes





Warning… internet sensation: If you haven’t been introduced to Kelly yet, you should read this post.

I was first introduced to “Kelly” this summer by my good friend Harley. I honestly have a low tolerance for user-generated web videos but it was cute enough. I have since found out that it’s been kind of a sensation… and “Shoes” went as far as winning the Best User Generated Video in the 2008 People's Choice Awards. Kelly is a fictional character created by actor/performer Liam Sullivan. Liam played the aforementioned “Kelly” as well as her twin brother, father, grandmother, and lesbian aunt.

“Shoes” was cute, but the music behind the video was a little grating. I felt it would certainly lose something without the visuals. But for what it is, it’s pretty hysterical. Check it out:

22 Million views and counting!

More recently, my very good friend Kent (who I met while vacationing with Harley come to think of it… coincidence? Totally) showed me a new Kelly video, “Let Me Borrow That Top,” which is truly hysterical. I actually watched it four times. It has a long intro with the family… but I still think it’s funny. The song kicks in at about three minutes in:


So, as bare bones Peaches-style electro goes, this is pretty fantastic. I loved it enough to go to iTunes and buy the song, which I am hooked on. I watched a bunch of videos and they are really really funny. You can check them out on the Kelly MySpace page. Liam is quite a entrepreneur, selling t-shirts that are worn in the videos, etc. Fun stuff. He’s caused SUCH a sensation, he even has Kelly impersonators:



Kelly even made a cameo in the super cool Weezer “Pork & Beans” music video which was made from YouTube sensations. Check it out here.

Betch.

Paranoid

Song: Paranoid
Artist: Kanye West
Album: 808’s and Heartbreak



After first hearing the building, emotional, “Love Lockdown,” the fist single from Kanye West’s amazing new album “808’s & Heartbreak” I was very intrigued at what the man was going to be doing for this full album. It was a departure from West’s already left of center hip hop and he has continued that with the full album. And this could arguably be his most consistent set of songs yet, and possibly one of the top albums of the year.

What interests me most about this record is what it means for hip hop itself, and where other artists in this genre can go artistically. I won’t pretend to be a hip hop expert, but most seems to fall in three categories; pop hip hop that strives for hit singles and or club play, socially conscious rap that aims to raise the subject matter of hip hop from guns/drugs/money, and then you’re “artsy” hip hop that just goes for anything. (Outkast) Kanye West has tried to balance all three, and his first three albums have been successful commercially and artistically. But he’s always stayed inside the comfortable realm of what is hip hop, despite fusing other genre’s (French House on “Stronger,” etc.) into his pop aesthetic.

With “808’s & Heartbreak,” West doesn’t play anything safe, looking to the cool vibe of 80’s New Wave and not rapping at all, just using the AutoTune devise on his singing voice. Frankly the results are remarkable. Yes “Love Lockdown” is probably the best track, filled with brooding lyrics, drums that will kick your ass and a vibe that is original (for a hip hop artist.) But the album is filled with great tracks, one after another. And the consistent tempo, vibe, and lyrical content (West post massive break up with fiancé) make it his “Blood on the Tracks” or his “Sea Change.”

In many ways the touchstone really is “Sea Change,” Beck’s downbeat folk break up record. “808’s & Heartbreak” is similar as it shows West pairing back his kitchen sink approach to pop hip hop (like Beck) and making a definitive emotional statement. Sure it won’t sell as many records as his more hip hop focused stuff, and it already has garnered some backlash from that community, but it shows a huge step forward artistically for West, and for hip hop in general.

Aside form singles “Love Lockdown” and “Heartless,” check out the very fun “Paranoid” and the Tears for Fears biting album closer “Coldest Winter.” If you thought Jay-Z sampling “Annie” was bananas, see a hip hopper take an obscure 80’s gem and turn it into a from the heart emotional tour de force.

Enjoy.

Love Lockdown


Heartless

Genius: One of Us is Gonna Die Young / Between Us & Them

Genius’d Song: One of Us is Gunna Die Young
Artist: The Ark
Album: Talking Heads: State of the Ark






Selection: Between Us & Them
Artist: Moving Units
Album: Dangerous Dreams

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
One of Us Is Gonna Die Young - The Ark
Living In America - The Sounds
Yours To Keep (Featuring Neneh Cherry) - Teddybears
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer - The Cardigans
Longing for Lullabies (Hunden & Pipan Remix) - Kleerup
Huddle Formation - The Go! Team
Let's Call It Off (Single Mix) - Peter Bjorn & John
The Rat - The Walkmen
Sweet Troubled Soul - Stellastarr*
Oh Yeah - The Cliks
The Worrying Kind - The Ark
Painted By Numbers - The Sounds
I Love You Cause I Have To - Dogs Die In Hot Cars
Overture - Patrick Wolf
Night On Fire - VHS Or Beta
Pop Goes the World - Men Without Hats
Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
With Every Heartbeat (Feat. Robyn) - Kleerup
Awful - Hole
California Girls - The Magnetic Fields
This Piece of Poetry Is Meant to Do Harm - The Ark
Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers
Need More Time - The Epoxies
Love Like Semtex - Infadels
Between Us & Them - Moving Units

The Ark

The Ark is a Swedish glam rock band formed in 1991 by Ola Salo, Mikael Jepson, and Lasse "Leari" Ljungberg, when Ola Salo and Leari were only fourteen years old. Martin Axén officially joined the band in 1997, and Sylvester Schlegel in 1999. In late 2006, Jens Andersson joined The Ark as an official member. He had at that point played live with the band for several years.

Generally written in a collaborative effort by the band, the Ark's lyrics are sometimes controversial. For example, the 2002 single "Father of a Son" is about homosexuals' right to have children. In October 2006, the band and Ola Salo were criticized by members of the U.S. public for some controversial comments referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks that were apparently part of the joking banter between songs as the band performed at the opening festivities for the new Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C. This was unfortunate timing, as the free concert was the kick off for the band's U.S. tour.

The Ark participated in the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2007 with the song "The Worrying Kind", written by Ola Salo. The song won the contest after capturing both the popular vote and the jury's vote. The song was Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest 2007 entry, and is also included in The Ark's fourth album Prayer for the Weekend, released in April 2007. Despite being a bookmaker favorite, they finished in 18th place (out of 24) with only 51 points, compared to winning Serbia's 268 points. "Absolutely No Decorum", the first single from the album, was released in January 2007.

The Ark has collaborated with artists such as The Darkness and The Cardigans.
"One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young" was used in the 2007 snowboarding video, "Picture This" from Mack Dawg Productions for Seth Huot and Andreas Wiig's video part, also was it used for the Sam Blenkinsop and Philip Polc Section of the FOX Racing Shox 2007 Sequel.

State of the Ark

State of The Ark was released on 27 December 2004 and is the third studio album from the Swedish rock band The Ark, and their final as a quintet. In it, the band's sound became more synthesizer-flavoured and keyboard-oriented, a departure from the more organic glam rock sound of the first two albums. Three singles were released from the album: "One of Us Is Gonna Die Young", "Clamour for Glamour" and "Trust Is Shareware", the latter being a new recording specifically made for single release. The song This Piece of Poetry Is Meant to Do Harm can be heard in John Cameron Mitchell's film Shortbus.

Moving Units

The band was formed in 2001 by Chris Hathwell, Blake Miller, and Johan Boegli, when Hathwell's previous band, Festival of Dead Deer, broke up. They released their debut EP, Moving Units, on Three One G in early 2002. Their touring experience includes opening slots for Hot Hot Heat, The Pixies, Blur, and Nine Inch Nails. Their debut full-length album, Dangerous Dreams, was released on October 12, 2004 by Palm Pictures. Moving Units released their second studio album, Hexes For Exes in 2007. The album was released on Metropolis Records (who they signed with in January 2007) and the first single, "Pink Thoughts", was released through the band's MySpace page. So Sweet released a one-off limited edition 7 inch vinyl single "Crash N Burn Victims" in the UK coupled with a remix of the same track by Felix Cartal in November 2007.

Dangerous Dreams

Dangerous Dreams is the Moving Units' 2004 debut album, and their second release, after their 2002 Moving Units EP.

The track "Between Us & Them" was used in Leo Romero's opening part in Foundation's skateboarding video That's Life. The track "Going for Adds" was used in a 2007 commercial for Secret Anti-Perspirant Deodorant.

One of Us is Gonna Die Young


Prayer for the Weekend


Between Us & Them

Genius: Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town / Radio Radio

Genius’d Song: Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
Artist: Talking Heads
Album: Talking Heads: ‘77






Selection: Radio Radio
Artist: Elvis Costello
Album: This Year’s Model

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town - Talking Heads
Sound & Vision - David Bowie
Stop Your Sobbing - The Pretenders
There She Goes Again - The Velvet Underground
Cold Brains - Beck
Quiche Lorraine (S-Express Remix) - The B-52's
X Offender - Blondie
Bone Machine - Pixies
The Big Country - Talking Heads
Don't Talk - 10,000 Maniacs
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
What Goes On - The Velvet Underground
Radio Song - R.E.M.
I Don't Remember - Peter Gabriel
Fashion - David Bowie
Can't Hardly Wait - The Replacements
Spit On A Stranger - Pavement
Local Girls - Graham Parker
The Book I Read - Talking Heads
Message Of Love - The Pretenders
Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash
I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass - Nick Lowe
Pretty persuasion - R.E.M.
Give Me Back My Man (SuperJupiter Remix) - The B-52's
The Kids Are Alright - The Who

Talking Heads: ‘77

Talking Heads: 77 is the debut album by Talking Heads. It peaked at #97 in the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and the single "Psycho Killer" made #92. In 2003, the album was ranked number 290 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In his 1995 book, "The Alternative Music Almanac", Alan Cross placed the album in the #5 spot on the list of '10 Classic Alternative Albums'.

In 2005, it was re-released and remastered by Warner Music Group on their Warner Bros./Sire Records/Rhino Records labels in DualDisc format, with five bonus tracks on the CD side ("Love → Building on Fire," "I Wish You Wouldn't Say That," "Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version)," "I Feel It in My Heart," and "Sugar on My Tongue.") The DVD-Audio side includes both stereo and 5.1 surround high resolution (96 kHz/24bit) mixes, as well as a Dolby Digital version and videos of the band performing "Pulled Up" and "I Feel It in My Heart." In Europe, it was released as a CD+DVDA two disc set rather than a single DualDisc. The reissue was produced by Andy Zax with Talking Heads.

Ths Year’s Model

This Year's Model was Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music). It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios in West London.

It was voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. In 2000, Q magazine placed This Year's Model at number 82 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 1987, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 11 on its list of the best albums of the period 1967-1987. In 2003, the album was ranked number 98 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.. In his 1995 book, The Alternative Music Almanac, Alan Cross placed the album in the #7 spot on the list of '10 Classic Alternative Albums'.

Early issues of the album have an apparently misprinted sleeve, which cuts off the left side of the front cover (including the letters 'E' from 'Elvis' and 'T' from 'This') and shows a printers' color bar along the right side (see cover right). This was a deliberate mistake (a favourite technique of cover designer Barney Bubbles), as was pressing "Special pressing No. 003. Ring 434 32 32. Ask for Moira for your prize" between the holding spirals on Side A.

Uh Oh Love Comes To Town (1978-05-10)


Radio Radio (Top of the Pops)

Genius: NYC Beat / Rock Your Body, Rock

Genius’d Song: NYC Beat
Artist: Armand Van Helden
Album: Ghettoblaster






Selection: Rock Your Body, Rock
Artist: Ferry Corsten
Album: Right of Way

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
NYC Beat - Armand Van Helden
The Girls - Calvin Harris
Destination Calabria (Original) - Alex Gaudino
Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control) - Groove Armada
Flex (Dave Spoon Remix) - Dizzee Rascal
When You Touch Me - Freemasons
Take Me Back To Your House - Basement Jaxx
Around the World - Daft Punk
Falling Stars (Club Mix ) - Sunset Strippers
Drop The Pressure - Mylo
You Gonna Want Me - Tiga
It's The Beat - Simian Mobile Disco
Acceptable In The 80's - Calvin Harris
What Else is There? (Thin White Duke Remix) - Royksopp
Rock Your Body, Rock (Extended Mix) - Ferry Corsten
Bombs (Galaxy 21 Mix) - Faithless
Laura (City Hi-Fi Vocal Mix) - Scissor Sisters
Jump - Madonna
Weapon Of Choice - Fatboy Slim
Something Good '08 (Ian Carey Remix) - Utah Saints
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? - Moby
Let Me Think About It (Club Mix) - Ida Corr Vs. Fedde Le Grand
PATT (Party All The Time) - Sharam
No Tomorrow - Orson
Jacques Your Body [Make Me Sweat] - les rythmes digitales

NYC Beat

"NYC Beat" is the second single to be lifted off Armand Van Helden's seventh studio album, called Ghettoblaster.

At the beginning of the video clip (see below) the date circled is Wednesday, 10th June. The next time these dates fall into the calendar is in 2009.
The clip stars Daisy Lowe (brunette) and two other unidentified blond models partaking in a variety of apple-related activities.

Armand Van Helden

Armand Van Helden (born 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a record producer and remixer whose biggest commercial successes came from his remixes of the 1996 Tori Amos song "Professional Widow," which reached the top of the UK Singles Chart, and his own track "U Don't Know Me," which was Number 1 in the United Kingdom in January 1999.

Biography
Van Helden was born in Boston in 1970 to an Indo (Dutch-Indonesian) father and a French-Lebanese mother but traveled around the world as a child, spending time in the Netherlands, Latvia, Turkey, and Italy as his father was a member of the U.S. Air Force. At the age of 13, he bought a drum machine and started DJing two years later.

He returned to Boston in 1988 but also moonlighted as a DJ in Boston clubs. He attended college in Boston. He quit his legal-review job in 1991 to work as a remixer under the management of Neil Petricone and X-Mix. He took up a DJ residency at the Loft, a top Boston nightclub at the time. He released his first official single, a mix of Deep Creed's "Stay On My Mind" through Nervous Records.

He released "Move It To the Left" (credited to Sultans of Swing) in 1992 on the Strictly Rhythm label, which became a moderate club hit and led to a string of singles released under several monikers for that label. His first track to make the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart was "Witch Doktor," which made the top 5 in 1994, and led to opportunities to remix acts such as New Order, Deep Forest, Jimmy Somerville, Deee-Lite, and Faithless.

However, it was the "Professional Widow" remix that established him and became a dance hit around the world as well as a number-one hit in the UK. Unfortunately, Van Helden did not receive a penny for this remix because he presented it non-commissioned and, thus, was not entitled to compensation. However, it led to work remixing the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and Puff Daddy, as well as Daft Punk and Sneaker Pimps, adding to his reputation as one of the world's top house-music musicians.

"Cha Cha" was another top-ten dance hit from his first album, Old School Junkies, which was released in 1996, along with "The Funk Phenomena." A greatest-hits album appeared the next year, followed by a breakbeat album later in 1997. "U Don't Know Me" was a number-two hit on the Billboard dance chart, a number one in the UK, and a top-20 single on the pop charts in Australia and Canada. The song was the breakout track from his 2Future4U album, which was released stateside on Armand's own label, Armed Records.

Van Helden released the Killing Puritans album in 2000 (also on Armed Records), which contained the hit "Koochy." His single "Why Can't You Free Some Time" made it to number 34 in the UK in 2001. His New York: A Mix Odyssey album released in 2004 produced two hits: "Hear My Name," a collaboration with Spalding Rockwell that reached number 7 on the Billboard dance chart, number 34 in the UK, and the top 40 in Australia; and "My My My", which reached number 4 on the world internet charts, number 5 in the Belgian and Dutch charts, number 6 in Australia, number 15 in the UK, and top 30 in the world dance charts.

In 2005, he released the album Nympho, featuring the singles "Into Your Eyes," "My My My," "Hear My Name," and "When the Lights Go Down." The album reached the top 30 in Australia, and number 48 in the UK. "When The Lights Go Down" reached #52 on the ARIA Singles Charted in Australia, and was a Dance and club hit.

Van Helden was the featured DJ in the Southern Fried tent at Get Loaded in the Park at Clapham Common on the August bank holiday in 2005. He treated concertgoers with an incredible mash-up set that is still spoken about today about being one of his best performances.

In 2006, Armand re-released "My My My" featuring extra vocals from Tara Mcdonald, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Charts.

In 2007, Armand Van Helden released his new album, Ghettoblaster, from which he released the singles "NYC Beat," which reached number 22 on the UK chart, and "I Want Your Soul," which reached number 19.

In 2008, Van Helden gained enormous commercial success by remixing INSPIRE, a #1-hit song by Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki. This remix was released on the album Ayu-mi-x 6 -GOLD-. Also, in 2008, Van Helden is set to release two albums, a best-of album titled You Don't Know Me and a mix album titled New York: a Mix Odyssey 2.


Ferry Corsten

Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, (born December 4, 1973 in Rotterdam, Netherlands) is a pioneer and producer of trance, in addition to being a world-renowned DJ and remixer. He is consistently voted as one of the top DJs and is currently ranked number 6 in the official DJ Magazine poll. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands.

History
1989–1999: Early years
Ferry Corsten produced and remixed under many aliases since the release of his first record at the age of sixteen, but he officially started to work as a musician when he was 27 years old. As a teenager he would listen to his father's record player and he would save money to buy his first keyboard by washing cars, and selling mixed tapes to kids in his neighborhood. He later began to perform live performances with a friend and won his first award "De Grote Prijs van Nederland" at Holland in 1989. He eventually released a record with a couple of friends when he was just sixteen years old and later began releasing self-made productions while he grew up in Rotterdam in the 1990s, producing underground hardcore Gabber tracks, later expanding into club-house and trance music. His first single to reach a chart position was "Don't Be Afraid" under his alias Moonman which was only the start for becoming a composer as well. In 1997 Corsten and his partner Robert Smit established a dance label named Tsunami with the Dutch based dance company Purple Eye Entertainment b.v., this junction made the creation of another label possible; Polar State. Ferry Corsten was studying to become an Electrical Engineer, so he went to the Technical Training School and after that Higher Technical Education.

1999–2002: Rise to fame
In February 1999 Corsten's second solo project, System F, was released on the Tsunami imprint along an album named "Out of the Blue", a melodic tune that became a hit on dance floors all over the world which achieved a top twenty position in the United Kingdom single chart. The follow up single was "Cry", produced together with Robert Smit which reached the UK Top 20.

His growing popularity in the late 1990s led to cooperation with many famous trance DJs and musicians like DJ Tiësto (Gouryella, Vimana), Vincent de Moor (Veracocha), and Robert Smit (Starparty). The track "Gouryella" by the act Gouryella was released in May, the single entered the UK Singles Top 75 at number fifteen and achieved various hit positions throughout the world. The next single was entitled "Walhalla" which entered the UK single chart at number twenty-seven. In 1999 Ferry was elected as producer of the year at the Ericsson Muzik Award in London. In September 2000 the third Gouryella single entitled "Tenshi" was released. In 2000, Corsten also remixed William Orbit's "Adagio for Strings" as well as "New Year's Day" for U2. His remix of Barber's Adagio For Strings was awarded at the Dancestar 2000 awards. The Ministry of Sound dance compilation series entitled Trance Nation became one of the best selling dance compilations in the UK and was awarded the platinum status. In 2000 in his home country Corsten got awarded the prestigious Silver Harp award for his numerous outstanding contributions made to Dutch dance music.

Since then Ferry Corsten is the only electronic dance music artist to achieve the highest amount of dance singles in the UK charts and currently has 10 gold singles in his studio, between those his 1999 remix of "Madagascar", "Out of the Blue" as his alias System F, both "Gouryella" and "Walhalla" in 2000, "Cry" and the "Dance Valley Theme" in 2001 with "Exhale" which is his latest as System F with 2007 number one deejay in the world Armin van Buuren according to DJ Magazine; And his 2003 - 2004 singles "Punk" and "Rock Your Body Rock".

2003–2005: Right of Way
In 2003 Ferry contributed to remix projects of tracks by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. He went on to compose and arrange her heavily trance-based song "Connected," which was released, along with remixes, as a single in Germany which has sold 4 million copies to date. In 2004 he launched his first album as Ferry Corsten in Heineken Musical Hall with 4,500 clubbers at his eight-hour set, which came along with a single known as "Rock Your Body Rock". The music video of the song was nominated in the TMF Dutch MTV Awards in Netherlands.

Right of Way is a Trance / Electronic album by Ferry Corsten. It was released in 2003 and was the first album to be released under his own name. The album spawned three singles, Punk (UK #29) and Rock Your Body, Rock (UK #11), two dance classics, and It's Time (UK #51). Further tracks were released from the album including Whatever, Star Traveler & Right Of Way.

2005–2007: L.E.F.
Ferry Corsten performing at a concert in El Salvador in September 2006
In 2005, Corsten founded his own record label, titled Flashover Recordings and released his album L.E.F. in 2006. His track Fire was nominated in the best trance video category for the Corsten made his Second Life debut on February 27, 2007 performing at the Grand Opening of club Glam Scum on Skyros Island, Second Life.

On April 18, 2007 Corsten was featured in a global satellite radio first when he was live in over 130 countries on WorldSpace Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, AOL and Direct TV. The dance music channel "The System" broadcasts live from Houston’s premiere dance club "Rich’s" to broadcast DJ Zoltar’s Subterranean with an exclusive performance/dance set(s) by Ferry. On July 4, 2007, Corsten debuted his new weekly radio show titled "Corsten's Countdown" which counts down a list of the highest voted trance tracks.

He was dubbed the King of Crossover in an August 2007 interview on UK clubbing website HarderFaster.net, reflecting his recent L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious) style, which some hail as a new direction in dance music. Corsten describes it as "everything from electro house, trance and techno".

2008–present: Twice In A Blue Moon
Ferry's third and newest album, Twice In A Blue Moon, which made is debut at the 2nd edition of the 'Full On Ferry' event at Ahoy in Rotterdam, will be released on November 1, 2008. A first single from the album is “Radio Crash”. It is being played by Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond and many other DJ's globally. The track has been a huge hit across the world in clubs and got Ferry off to a good start with promoting his new album.

NYC Beat


In Your Arms


Rock Your Body Rock


Radio Crash

Genius: Panic On / Hit

Genius’d Song: Panic On
Artist: Madder Rose
Album: Panic On






Selection: Hit
Artist: The Sugarcubes
Album: Stick Around for Joy

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
Panic On - Madder Rose
Feed The Tree - Belly
Gigantic - Pixies
Girlfriend In A Coma - The Smiths
In Between Days - The Cure
Rebellion (Lies) - The Arcade Fire
1979 (Moby remix) - Smashing Pumpkins
All Apologies - Nirvana
Smile - Lily Allen
Feel Good Inc (Single Edit) - Gorillaz
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Supernova - Liz Phair
Bright Yellow Gun - Throwing Muses
Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
Hit - Sugarcubes
Rush - Big Audio Dynamite II
Bizarre Love Triangle (Step Pettibone Extended Mix) - New Order
Everything In Its Right Place(Live-IMBW) - Radiohead
Cannonball - The Breeders
Gepetto - Belly
It's A Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
Where is My Mind? - Pixies
Orange Crush - R.E.M.
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure

Madder Rose

Madder Rose was a New York City-based alternative rock band who recorded in the 1990s. The band was fronted by Mary Lorson, who shared songwriting duties with guitarist Billy Coté. The two singer/songwriters later collaborated again as Jazz Cannon. Their name comes from the herb-based paint rose madder. Several of their songs, including "Panic On" and "Car Song", were featured in John Peel's end-of-year round-up, the Festive Fifty. The band released three albums on Atlantic Records, and one on quasi-independent label Thirsty Ear, before breaking up in 1999.

Description
Their music has been described as suggesting the druggy languor of a heroin high, which inspired the British music press to trumpet Madder Rose as the second coming of the Velvet Underground. A 1994 review in Rolling Stone characterized their sound as an "alloy" of grunge and "the buttercup sighs of The Cranberries. Their sound progressed from indie pop rock, not unlike peers Velocity Girl, Lush, Helium and Juliana Hatfield, to Shoegaze and trip-hop. After the breakup, Lorson founded the alt-folk outfit Saint Low.

The Sugarcubes

The Sugarcubes (Sykurmolarnir in Icelandic) were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.

They first came to notice in the UK when radio DJ John Peel played "Birthday", later voted by his listeners as a single of the year. The band's music was characterized by a psychedelic post-punk sound sometimes reminiscent of The B-52's, whimsical yet heartfelt lyrics, and the imploring, girlish voice of vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who later went on to great success as a solo artist. While not as successful as Björk's solo career would be, the band is still very highly regarded and was the most influential Icelandic group until the rise of Sigur Rós.
The Sugarcubes dissolved in 1992 as different members of the band had realised they all had different ambitions; instead of risking their friendship, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. They remain friends to this day and are all still involved in the management of Smekkleysa/Bad Taste.

On November 17, 2006, the band had a one-off reunion concert at Laugardalshöll sport arena in Reykjavík, Iceland, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut single with all profits going to the non-profit Smekkleysa SM to promote Icelandic music. They were supported by fellow Icelandic groups múm and Rass. Despite this reunion, the group has expressed that it has no intention to play future shows or record new material.

Stick Around for Joy
Stick Around For Joy released in February 1992 was the third and final album released by the Icelandic alternative rock band The Sugarcubes. In terms of quality fans usually rate the album somewhere between the band's acclaimed debut, Life's Too Good and the widely panned follow-up Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week!. The album provided the band's first and only hit, aptly titled "Hit", which reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the U.S. and #17 on the UK Singles Chart.


Panic On


Beautiful John


Hit


Birthday

Genius: We're From Barcelona / Tony the Beat

Genius’d Song: We’re From Barcelona
Artist: I’m From Barcelona
Album: Let Me Introduce My Friends






Selection: Tony the Beat
Artist: The Sounds
Album: Dying To Say This To You

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
We're From Barcelona - I'm From Barcelona
Oh Mandy - The Spinto Band
Get Myself Into It - The Rapture
Four to the Floor(Thin White Duke Remix) - Starsailor
Accident & Emergency - Patrick Wolf
She's Madonna - Robbie Williams
Heart Of Hearts - !!!
Made Up Lovesong #43 - Guillemots
Fa Fa Fa - Datarock
Little Bit (Eke Whaaa Edit) - Lykke Li
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer - The Cardigans
I Feel Just Like A Child - Devendra Banhart
Walk Away (acoustic) - Franz Ferdinand
Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn & John
Tony The Beat - The Sounds
Collection Of Stamps - I'm From Barcelona
22 Grand Job - The Rakes
Overpowered - Roisin Murphy
Down Boy - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Past Is A Grotesque Animal - Of Montreal
Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above - CSS
Britney - I'm from Barcelona
The End Has No End - The Strokes
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
I'm Good, I'm Gone - Lykke Li

I’m From Barcelona

I'm from Barcelona is a pop group from Jönköping, Sweden, best known for its 30 band members and eclectic mix of instruments such as clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, banjos, accordions, kazoos, guitars, drums, and keyboards among others. While most band members provide backing vocals on releases and during live performances, Emanuel Lundgren is founder, principal songwriter and lead singer for the group.

In 2006 the band released an EP entitled Don't Give Up on Your Dreams, Buddy! as well as a full length album, Let Me Introduce My Friends - both of which were well-received critically. Their second full-length album, Who Killed Harry Houdini?, was released in October 2008.

History
Sometime in 2005 Emanuel Lundgren wrote several songs and gathered his friends to record them. Weeks later, a homemade EP was completed and a one-time live show featuring all 29 band members was performed in August 2005.
The end was not near for I'm from Barcelona, however, as the Swedish media and bloggers around the world started buzzing about the band. EMI Sweden signed the band and Dolores Recordings released the EP Don't Give Up On Your Dreams, Buddy! on 15 February 2006 featuring the bands first hit "We’re From Barcelona," named as an homage to Manuel, a character on BBC Television's Fawlty Towers’ (He’s from Barcelona).[1] Their debut full-length, entitled Let Me Introduce My Friends, was released on 26 April 2006 in Sweden, with international releases to follow including an EMI UK release on 11 September 2006.

In July 2008, it was announced that the band would be releasing a new, full-length album in Fall 2008, entitled Who Killed Harry Houdini? The album will feature French singer Soko on the track "Gunhild." The album is due October 14 and they are on tour around the UK finishing at the Scala, London on the 25th November 2008.


The Sounds

The Sounds are a post-punk revival band from Helsingborg, Sweden founded in 1999, not to be confused with the Finnish band The Sounds from the 1960s or the British The Sound.

Their musical style mixes punk and pop/electronica influences. Most songs make integrated use of synthesizers, and Maja Ivarsson provides a spunky vocal lead. The group is often compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons.

Their debut album Living in America was released in 2002, with the follow up Dying to Say This to You on March 21, 2006. They are now working on their third album, but the release date is still unknown.

Lead singer Maja Ivarsson is outspoken in her ambition, claiming "I want to be the best female vocalist around...of at least this century".[1] She was also featured on Cobra Starship's "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)", for the film Snakes on a Plane. In addition to Ivarsson's contribution to the Snakes soundtrack, the entire band is featured as track 6, "Queen of Apology," remixed by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.

Band members Jesper Anderberg and Felix Rodriguez have recently been working as songwriters for other artists, among them the Dutch pop band Krezip and the Swedish punk band Quit Your Dayjob.

For Krezip's latest album (Plug it In), the pair wrote three songs: "All My Life", "Play This Game With Me" and "You're Wrong". "All My Life" has been one of the most played songs of 2008 in Holland. Krezip's Album "Plug It In" was also produced by Adel Dahdal, who produced the The Sounds debut album "Living in America".

History
The Sounds were formed when childhood friends Felix Rodriguez and Johan Bengtsson decided to form a group amongst their high school friends, enlisting Fredrik Nilsson as drummer. Maja Ivarsson, named to Blender Magazine's "Hottest Women of ... Rock" list[2] was invited to join as the lead singer. The group met Jesper Anderberg by chance at the Hultsfred Festival. The band's name was decided months later during a trip to London.

Their debut album Living in America was recorded in Stockholm and Produced by Adel Dahdal who is a songwriter and producer in his own right. It earned them several "best newcomer" awards, a Grammis and a #4 position in the Swedish album charts, as well as establishing the band not only in Sweden but also in the United States. The band has played over 300 gigs since the album's release including participating in the 2004 Warped Tour. In 2006 they played again at Warped Tour but this time on main stage. and have toured with bands such as: the Foo Fighters, The Strokes, Morningwood, Angels & Airwaves, +44, Mando Diao and Panic at the Disco.

In the United States, the band has had several TV appearances and magazine articles and has reputedly built up a celebrity fan base that includes Brittany Burnett, Dave Grohl, Pharrell, Quentin Tarantino, Thomas Johnson and Robin Botten, Bam Margera and his wife Missy, David Desrosiers, Ben Khodadad and Britney Spears. Dave Grohl wore a red Sounds T-shirt in the Foo Fighters' Times Like These video. The band has stated several times that it relies on word of mouth and concerts to promote its music.

The second album, Dying to Say This to You was recorded at Studio 880 in Oakland, California, and produced by Jeff Saltzman (producer of The Killers' Hot Fuss). They started the European leg of their tour in September and in October toured with Panic! at the Disco which included dates in London and several other major European cities. Following this tour, The Sounds made another run of the United States, starting with a Myspace secret show in Miami, Florida on Halloween and then stopping at 10 major cities from coast to coast with supporting act Shiny Toy Guns. All together, The Sounds played over 200 shows in 2006, over half of which were in the United States.
In early October 2007, The Sounds wrapped up their worldwide tour in Western Europe and Australia.

The band has to date sold almost 500,000 records worldwide.
The Sounds are currently working with producer Mark Saunders on their next album
One of the band's songs, "Hurt You", was used in a Geico television commercial that originally aired in September 2008

We’re From Barcelona


Paper Planes


Tony the Beat


Seven Days a Week

Genius: Nude / Kids

Genius’d Song: Nude
Artist: Radiohead
Album: In Rainbows






Selection: MGMT
Artist: Kids
Album: Oracular Spectacular

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
Nude - Radiohead
Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
Harrowdown Hill - Thom Yorke
Run - Gnarls Barkley
Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
Dashboard - Modest Mouse
First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes
Blue Orchid - The White Stripes
Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
Creep (Acoustic) - Radiohead
The Underdog - Spoon
Analyse - Thom Yorke
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Slow Hands - Interpol
Knocked Up - Kings Of Leon
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Stop Me (Feat. Daniel Merriweather) - Mark Ronson
Iluvya - Thom Yorke
Salute Your Solution - The Raconteurs
Supernatural Superserious - R.E.M.
Gold Lion (Nick Remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - The Arcade Fire
The W.A.N.D. - The Flaming Lips
I Want None Of This - Radiohead
Kids - MGMT

Nude

"Nude" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, appearing as the third track on their 2007 album In Rainbows. The song was released as the second single from In Rainbows on 31 March 2008. "Nude" was written in 1997, and the band began to perform it live soon after. However, a recording was not included on any Radiohead album until 10 years later. In April 2008 "Nude" became the first Radiohead song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1995's "High and Dry" and their most successful on the chart since 1992's "Creep".

History

The song has undergone numerous revisions since its origins in 1997. It was originally known as "Big Ideas", with the parenthetical "(Don't Get Any)" often added. Apparently this title was at the suggestion of fans, as the song officially had no title yet, but appeared on some setlists as "Nude" or "Neut". In the 1998 documentary Meeting People is Easy, singer Thom Yorke joked to journalist Matt Pinfield that the full title was actually supposed to be "Your Home Is At Risk If You Do Not Keep Up Repayments". A typical version of the song from this period is heard near the close of that film, in a live performance from Tokyo, with both Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood on keyboards and organ. The song was often performed during the final 1998 leg of the band's tour to promote OK Computer (1997), on which the track did not appear.

After 1998, the band initially planned the track for their next album Kid A (2000), but scrapped efforts to record it; the song did not appear on the band's next two albums, either. During this period, it was performed only rarely, notably on request at a 2002 concert in Salamanca, but usually by Yorke in solo acoustic versions. Band members professed admiration for the song but said they had not figured out the best way to approach it in the studio.

In 2005, the band began new recording sessions with Mark Stent and posted a list of songs they were working on, including the now-officially titled "Nude", on their blog, Dead Air Space. This was confirmed in early 2006, when the band revealed that they had been recording "Nude" with a string quartet, and that a new string arrangement had been written by Jonny Greenwood. In June 2006, Yorke and Greenwood said in interviews that the song was effectively finished and on tape in a version they were very satisfied with, barring minor adjustments. After their tour, the band returned to the studio in autumn 2006 to continue recording sessions, this time without Stent, but with their longtime producer Nigel Godrich. On the band's summer 2006 tour to introduce their new material, the new version of "Nude" was played at nearly every concert. Yet the finished version of the song on In Rainbows differs from any previous version, as although it retains most of its lyrics, it replaces its organ or keyboard-driven state with a dub-influenced bass line and rhythm. The chorus is now picked on electric guitar, and the song features Yorke's vocal of the original Hammond organ melody at the end of the song.

To promote the release of the single, the band began a competition for fans to create their own remixes of the song, from the individual tracks of guitar, drums, bass, vocals and strings. These were made available to download, via iTunes, on April 1, 2008, with all entries available to listen to at the remix website. A music video for the song, featuring all band members in slow motion, was made by comedian Adam Buxton and director Garth Jennings for their "Scotch Mist" webcast.

Chart performance

Upon its release, "Nude" outperformed its predecessor "Jigsaw Falling into Place" by reaching number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's second-ever top 40 hit after the number 34 placement of "Creep" in 1993. "Nude" also charted higher than the only other Radiohead song since "Creep" to make the Hot 100, 1995's number 78 hit "High and Dry", and "Nude" was the first-ever Radiohead song to make the Pop 100. There is some controversy over the US chart placement, because many of the single's sales can be attributed to purchases of individual stems for the remix competition. "Nude" also charted at number 16 in the United World Chart. This is Radiohead's best single performance ever on the world charts, however, they do not store data from before 1999.


MGMT

History

Goldwasser and VanWyngarden formed the band while attending Wesleyan University during their freshman year. "We weren't trying to start a band," remarked Goldwasser. "We were just hanging out, showing each other music that we liked." They experimented with noise rock and electronica before settling on what David Marchese of Spin magazine calls "their current brand of shape-shifting psychedelic pop." They graduated in 2005 and toured extensively in support of the Time to Pretend EP, opening for indie rock band Of Montreal.

In the fall of 2006 Maureen Kenny signed the band to Columbia Records. The duo recorded with Flaming Lips music producer Dave Fridmann in 2007 for their major label debut, Oracular Spectacular. MGMT opened for Of Montreal on tour in fall 2007 as a five piece touring band including Matthew Asti (bass), James Richardson (drums), and Hank Sullivant (guitar). As of March 2008, the lineup changed to Will Berman (drums), James Richardson (guitar), and Matthew Asti (bass).

MGMT performed the song "Time to Pretend" on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 8, 2008. The song subsequently hit #21 on the Mediabase US Alternative chart. The song also opened the 2008 film 21 and is featured on its soundtrack. MGMT also performed "Time To Pretend" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on May 15, 2008, and the song was played during the last scene and closing credits of the Skins season two finale, first broadcast on 14th April 2008 in the UK on E4. It was also featured during the season finale of Gossip Girl on May 19, 2008, and the premier opener for the new series 90210 on September 2, 2008 (both of the CW). Another of their songs, "Kids", was selected for the soundtrack for the game FIFA 09, released in September 2008. And another of their songs, "Electric Feel", was selected for the soundtrack for the game Midnight Club Los Angeles, released in October 2008. Also the song "Time to Pretend" was featured in one of the driving scenes from the movie "Sex Drive". "Time To Pretend" also features in the game Shaun White Snowboarding, released in November 2008, along with another track "Of Moons Birds Monsters".

The band supported Radiohead on the Manchester date of their world tour[13] and have announced a headline tour of the UK during November 2008.
MGMT performed at both the 2008 SXSW Music Festival and Austin City Limits festivals in Austin, the first day of Bonnaroo 2008, Coachella Music Festival, performed twice at Glastonbury 2008, and also played Roskilde Festival, Reading Festival, partnering Leeds Festival, T in the Park and the Irish Oxegen Festival (where fans and spectators scaled the tent's internal rigging towers causing the gig to be temporarily stopped for 20 minutes.). They also played at Lollapalooza and the Osheaga festival as well as Summersonic (Japan) and Rock Werchter (Belgium) in 2008. August 2008 saw the band play the UK Reading and Leeds Festival, & at Lowlands in Holland, where they played their album integrally live. They also played at the Toronto Virgin Festival in 2008.

MGMT opened for M.I.A. on the Vassar College date of her 2008 tour, and will also be playing several shows with Beck while he tours in 2008 and also touring Australia with a headlining spot on the Meredith Music Festival line-up.

Nude (fan made video)



Kids


The Youth

Genius: Right Back Where We Started From / Rock the Boat

Genius’d Song: Right Back Where We Started From
Artist: Maxine Nightingale
Album: Right Back Where We Started From






Selection: Rock the Boat
Artist: The Hues Corporation
Album: Rock the Boat

Genius Results:

Song - Artist
Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
Rock The Boat - The Hues Corporation
Summer Breeze - Croft & Seals
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Jump (For My Love) - The Pointer Sisters
Vacation - The Go-Go's
Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones
Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
Car Wash - Rose Royce
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round) - Alicia Bridges
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
Magnet & Steel - Walter Egan
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate

Maxine Nightingale

Career
First signed to Pye Records in the early 1970s, she recorded such singles as "Love on Borrowed Time" while appearing in the West End productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Savages. In 1975, she switched labels to United Artists, and with the collaboration of record producers J. Vincent Edwards and Pierre Tubbs, she recorded the album Right Back Where We Started From, which yielded the titular hit single. United Artists took time trying to gain her recognition in the United States (she was only moderately known in the UK), and scheduled her appearances on American Bandstand and The Mike Douglas Show. As a result, "Right Back Where We Started From" rose to #2 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the beginning of May 1976, and peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart.

Other Top 40 hits followed, including the song "Love Hit Me" (which reached #11 in the UK in 1977) and a cover of the Delfonics' song "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", which entered the dance charts. In the U.S., however, Nightingale found it initially difficult to match the success of "Right Back Where We Started From". Then in 1979, Nightingale released the single "Lead Me On", which rose to #5 in the United States and spent seven weeks at number one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart. The follow-up, "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me," was her last entry on the U.S. pop charts. Nightingale released one album a year until 1980, when she decided to retire from regular recordings. While compiling a greatest hits album in 1982, she performed a duet called "Turn to Me" with Jimmy Ruffin which entered the U.S. R&B Top 20.

Nightingale more recently recorded a jazz CD, based on her performances at B.B. King's Club at Universal Studios Hollywood.

She appears in the PBS music special My Music, alongside Patti LaBelle, the Commodores, Heatwave and many more. Her song, "Right Back Where We Started From", has appeared in numerous films including Slap Shot; Yours, Mine and Ours; Starsky and Hutch and most recently The Family Stone.

As of February 2008, Maxine Nightingale is touring to all parts of Australia to perform her 1970s hits.


The Hues Corporation

The Hues Corporation was a pop and soul trio formed at Santa Monica California in 1969. They are best known for their 1974 hit, "Rock the Boat". Before making it big in mainstream music they would be the opening act for some big name stars including Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Nancy Sinatra, and Glen Campbell.

The group's name was a pun on the Hughes Corporation, with the "hue" being the group's African-American heritage. The band's members were St. Clair Lee (born Bernard St. Clair Lee, 24 April 1944 in San Francisco, California, U.S.), Flemming Williams, and Ann Kelley. The original choice for the group's name was The Children of Howard Hughes, which their record label turned down.

The group's first big break came in 1972 when they were invited to appear in the blaxploitation film, Blacula, starring William Marshall. They were also asked to record three songs for the film's soundtrack. There He Is Again, What The World Knows, and I'm Gonna Catch You.

Shortly after, RCA signed the group and their first single, Freedom For The Stallion, from the album of the same name, became a moderate hit, reaching #63 on Billboard's Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Rock the Boat," became a #1 hit on the charts and the group's signature song. The million-seller song is considered one of the earliest disco songs. Some authorities proclaim it to be the first disco song to hit #1, while others grant that distinction to "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra, a chart-topper from earlier in 1974.

After the success of Rock The Boat the Hues Corporation's other charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100 included Rockin' Soul (1974, #18), Love Corporation (1975, #62), and I Caught Your Act (1977, #92).

Despite their initial success, the group was unable to duplicate the success of their earlier hits and disbanded in 1978. But with renewed interest in disco music throughout the 1990s, the group reunited for tour dates and special events, including the PBS special Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion.

Right Back Where We Started From (live)


Rock the Boat