Song: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Artist: Gayla Peevy
Album: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
A novelty song from 1953, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" was written by John Rox and sung by Gayla Peevy, who was just ten years old at the time of the recording. The song peaked at number 24 on the Billboard charts in December of that year.
I was unfamiliar with this little gem until my friend Jeff introduced me. It's cute, obviously novelty, but fun. A good addition to your Holiday playlist.
Song: Midnight City
Artist: M83
Album: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
So I'm playing a little year-end last-minute catch up and supposed I couldn't be a electronic/dance/electro-leaning music blog without mentioning French artist's M83 (Anthony Gonzalez) much talked about 2011 album released in October, "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming."
It got a lot of buzz around it's release but didn't grab me much at all, save for first single "Midnight City." It's a big grand double-album that, like many double-albums, seems to be missing a whole lot of editing. It just goes on and on an on, mixing a bit too much shoegaze and ambient for my tastes... but really, "Midnight City" is must hear. Unfortunately, after a brief intro, it's the first real track... so you have much more to get through to make it to the end.
I've found the album is best enjoyed while doing other things, putting it on in the background, vs. sitting down and really listening. Some of the production is pretty impressive, but unfortunately WeCastMusic adds this album to its ever growing list of 2011 albums that are being raved about, and is just not feeling.
But felt that you should hear this pretty great track...
I really loved UK electropop artist's Little Boots debut album "Hands" from 2009, and loved her first single "New in Town" more than most songs from that year. It was by far the best track on the album, but it was a solid debut, and I've been wondering what new material might sound like.
It's been announced that Little Boots is releasing a new album coming next year, and is going to embark on an International DJ tour to promote the album. She's released a mixtape called "Shake Until Your Heart Breaks" which includes one new track, "Shake," which has been released digitally. It's not getting the first single treatment, so it's really just being used as promo to get a little interest together. And I'll be honest... it certainly didn't grab me at first listen, but as I've had a little more time to have it, it's grown on me.
"Shake" sounds very 90's to me in the best way. It's rather long and seems designed more for DJ sets than the singles chart, but regardless, it's got its own charms.
This song didn't grab me in the way that their hit "Barbara Streisand" did last year, but I now have been seeing that video everywhere, which has elevated it for me. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please take a couple minutes and watch what Billboard called "the most disturbing and frightening video f 2011" below.
I can't say I don't disagree. It's sort of... life changing.
One again... (wink-wink) friend and reader Chris has turned me onto another up-and-coming artist that has quite a lot of potential. London-based nineteen year old Charli XCX creates goth-tinged electro tracks that marry the freak goddess charms of Kate Bush, with the more modern, ummm... freak goddess vibe of Marina and the Diamonds. Other influences include The Knife, The Cure, the Zombies, and Grace Jones.
Charli's working on her debut album, which is expected early next year. Based on first single "Stay Away," and current "Nuclear Seasons," I think there's a lot to look forward to. She's already opened for the likes of Robyn and Peaches... one to watch in 2012.
You can get a free download of "Nuclear Seasons" is you head over to her official website.
Song: Lonely Boy
Artist: The Black Keys
Album: El Camino
So The Black Keys have never grabbed me. The Akron, OH blues-rock band released their sixth and most popular album, "Brothers" last year to much acclaim and interest. It made it on several year-end best lists and I still haven't heard it. But all the talk about that record made me interested enough to check out their latest album, the Danger Mouse produced "El Camino," which came out last week. And I like it.
The album has a bluesy-classic rock sound that's not all together distinct, but certainly well done and effective. I immediately connected with first single and opener "Lonely Boy," and the rest of the album powers through a set of muscled-up rock tracks that roll along with a 70's sense of strut and sleaze. I hear a little Stones, a little Chili Peppers, a little Paul Butterfield Blues Band... but most importantly, I hear some solid, catchy rock tracks.
Jeez. I'm going to have to go back and get "Brothers" after all eh?
I've read that "El Camino" is intentionally "faster" than "Brothers" as they realized faster songs worked better on the road as they played larger venues due to their growing popularity. Fine by me... it's a pretty solid rock and roll train they're powering through with.
Song: Between the Cheats
Artist: Amy Winehouse
Album: Lioness: Hidden Treasures
I was almost a little surprised at just how much I was personally effected by Amy Winehouse's passing earlier this year. Sure, I was a big fan of her breakthrough record "Back in Black," played it constantly, and thought she had a bright musical future ahead of her... as long as she could get her life together. Alas that didn't happen, and sessions for a follow-up fell through. But I really was taken aback at just how much I continued to think about Amy, listen to her music, and truly mourn a tortured soul.
Last week saw the release of "Lioness: Hidden Treasures," a compilation put together by her two closest producers, Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson. It's certainly not the holy grail of Winehouse... it's no "Back in Black"and actually... it's not much original Amy. Mostly covers and alternate versions of past Winehouse releases. ("Tears Dry," "Valerie ('68 Version.) But I can't stop listening to it, marveling at her voice (apparently some of these tracks were built using scratch vocals) and how casually she could be jaw-droppingly mesmerising.
I've been obsessed with "Between the Cheats" which I thought was a cover of a classic song I didn't know... but it's an original, and shows just how classic she was as a songwriter.
If you were a fan I think that this collection is necessary, even if it doesn't hold up to her past material. It's wildly listenable, and yet the air of sadness that this is in fact IT that we'll get from Amy, is thick. Tragedy.
Artist: The Sound of Arrows
Song: Wonders
Album: Voyage
I'd first discovered Swedish electropop band The Sound of Arrows back in 2009 when they put out the single "M.A.G.I.C." I loved the sunny upbeat sound and 80's movie aesthetic the band went for. And since then we've all been waiting for the release of their debut album. Well, "Voyage" finally came out in November, and while it didn't quite meet my expectations... it's worth checking out.
But I'll also own up to taking a long time to connect with latest single "Wonders," but it recently fell into place for me. It's a slower track than I expected for a single, but the album also falls into that line... and therefore possibly responsible for my shifted expectations. The song is ultimately pretty soaring and wonderful.
I did enjoy the album, just wasn't the home run (on my terms) that I was expecting. But I could be totally wrong. Regardless, you should check out "Wonders," and the rest of the album if this moves you...
Song: Somebody That I Used to Know
Artist: Gotye
Album: Making Mirrors
Friend and reader Chris introduced me to this song a while back and I've been slowly getting into the album as a whole, which is an odd mix of psychedelic rock, electronica twinged soul, and folky atmospherics. "Somebody I Used to Know," a duet with New Zealand's Kimbra, falls into the latter category... a haunting song that really gets under your skin. It's quite beautiful.
Gotye (pronounced, I believe, like the designer, Gaultier) is a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Bruges, Belgium. He's released three studio albums and a remix record. His latest, "Making Mirrors" was released back in August of this year.
I've really like this record, a hard one to pin down but worth the time to check out. "Somebody I Used to Know" doesn't really typify the sound of the record, as it jumps from the psychedelic ("Easy Way Out," "Smoke & Mirrors") to straight up soul ("I Feel Better") to electro-pop ("Eyes Wide Open") and everywhere in between. Very cool.
Enjoy.
Somebody I Used to Know
Eyes Wide Open
I Feel Better
Song: Unzip Me
Artist: Cazwell + Peaches
Album: Unzip Me
Well here's a little something to get this short holiday week and your Monday off to a swinging start.
NYC producer/rapper Cazwell and Canadian electro-sleaze goddess Peaches have teamed up for a hard-hitting electro-house track that properly showcases both of their outrageous persona's and proves they are a match made in electro-skank heaven. With a beat either sampled from, or very reminiscent of, Martin Solveig's recent smash single "Hello." and versus that remind me of Britney's "Do Somethin'," "Unzip Me" is a balls-to-the-wall dance track with characteristic humor from Caz and dirty-fun posturing from Peaches. Heaven.
This one grabbed me immediately and seems tailor made for inclusion at Blowoff.
Song: Don't Want to Fall in Love
Artist: Jane Child
Album: Jane Child
I wanted to re-cap 90's week with one of my favorites, and since this turned into an unplanned female artists of the 90's week, I thought I'd keep the trend going...
Jane Child is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter and producer who released her self-titled debut album in 1989. After her first single, "Welcome to the Real World" failed to chart well, she released her second song, "Don't Want to Fall in Love" in 1990. The song connected with pop radio where it peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks. Teddy Riley did a "New Jack Swing" remix of the song, which won a Juno Award in 1991 for "Dance Recording of the Year."
Her 1993 follow-up "Here Not There" didn't match the success of her debut, possibly due to a change in musical direction. (It's way more Alanis, before Alanis was Alanis.) She went on a hiatus for a couple years working as a session player before releasing her third and final album "Surge" in 2002.
I have fond memories of "Don't Want to Fall in Love" from High School where Ms. Child's nose-ring to earring look got a lot of talk. As a DJ I've found this is the type of song that everyone seems to know but hasn't listened to, or thought about, in some time. It's a great piece of nostalgia and one that will either start or keep a retro dance floor moving. Excellent.
This week has been a reminder how varied the 90's were, as my female-lead, mostly dance-pop week is such a small subset of what was going on in the 90's. While looking at Jane, and other R&B/New Jack Swing artists at the time I was reminded of the urban sound invading the 90's charts and making an undeniable stamp on the decade. Not to mention the entire "Alternative" era, as well as the Lilith Fair set of female acts that really flourished during that time. Where is our next Alanis? When will female-fronted music have it's day again? Or are we in it? It's just a more dance-pop, Gaga, Katy, Rihanna era? But does it have the same impact?
The 90' were an interesting decade, and while musically it isn't looked at with the same winning nostalgia the 80's might have, I think it'll change in time. There was too much going on and too much that was really popular, married with the pre-millennium tension... to ignore. Thom York may have insisted "I wish it was the 60's" in 1995, but I think time will be kinder to the 90's as things march on.
Enjoy.
Don't Want to Fall in Love
Don't Want to Fall in Love (New Jack Swing Remix)
Welcome to the Real World
Song: Ring My Bell
Artist: Collette
Album: Raze the Roof
Oh dear.
Well, friend and reader Antony from Sydney introduces me to Collette, a fellow Aussie that released two albums in the late 80's and early 90's. Her biggest and most well-known hit is a cover of the Anita Ward classic "Ring My Bell," which went top 5 in Australia, at the time rare for a local act apparently. Now, I think it's a little debatable if Collette can in fact sing or not, but there is an infectiousness to this entire enterprise. And take a look at her videos below... wow, 90's!
In truth, her debut album "Raze the Roof" (yes, that's the title) was released in 1989, but did get most of its attention at the very start of the 90's, but again... taking a look at the video, it's what I think of when I think of the 90's, bright colorful outfits, acid-washed jeans, and lots of lycra. Like... a lot of lycra.
I'll admit that my knowledge of acid house is limited... so I am unsure how revolutionary, at the time, "Raze the Roof" was, but it's beyond dated. Though, the obvious touchstone is Kylie, and honestly, it's only slightly more ridiculous than "I Should Be So Lucky." With song titles such as "Party Time," "Only You Can Do It," "All I Wanna Do Is Dance," and "Victim Of The Groove," you sort of get where this is going.
Collette released one other album in the 90's. She ditched the acid house and lycra for a new sleek R&B sound, trying to mimic Janet apparently. Frankly... I'm not ready for all that! But if you can't get enough, you can find out more about Collette here.
Thank you Antony for introducing Collette to the world of WeCastMusic. I think it's safe to say we will never be the same.
Enjoy!
Ring My Bell
All I Wanna Do is Dance
That's What I Like About You
Song: Hunny Hunny
Artist: Book of Love
Album: Lovebubble
Friend and reader Harley has always been a strong advocate for Philadelphia-based synth-pop band Book of Love from the 80's and 90's. So when suggesting a track for 90's week, he went to his go-to and suggested something from their last album, 1993's "Lovebubble."
The band formed in 1984 and were together just shy of a decade. They were signed to Sire and label mates with Depeche Mode and Erasure. They got their very first exposure opening for Depeche Mode on their Black Celebration tour and are best known for their single "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls" from their sophomore album "Lullaby," which was their only charting song on the Hot 100, where it peaked at #90. They have had songs featured in the films The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and Naked in New York.
"Lovebubble" was their final album, and continued their 80's synth-pop sound. The album cover was produced by David Byrne and spawned two singles, "Hunny Hunny" and "Boy Bop." "Hunny" has a nice tranc-y vibe to it that I rather like. It's a very sunny, happy track built for frolicking. Though I must admit, lead singer Susan Ottaviano's voice gets a bit cloying to me over the course of the full album. But I did quite like their out-of-nowhere cover of Bowie's "Sound and Vision," which is a personal favorite.
Song: Mouth
Artist: Merril Bainbridge
Album: The Garden
When I asked for suggestions from readers for tracks from the 90's the very first was from an Anonymous reader whom suggested Merril Bainbridge's "Mouth." This was sort of perfect because I remembered the Australian singer-songwriter but didn't know her work, nor her biggest song.
"Mouth" was Bainbridge's first single from her 1995 album "The Garden." It remains her biggest single both here in the States and in Australia where is reached #4 and #1 respectively. She released a sophomore album in 1998, at the height of Lilith Fair and the female singer-songwriter boom of the late 90's. I was really into that scene at the time, and am surprised Merril didn't have more of a presence. Possibly due to her being Australian and not touring or doing much promotion in the US (this is a guess) or just the fact that nothing from her sophomore album got much attention either here or in Australia.
"Mouth" is cutesy, a sing-songy type that wouldn't see the Hot 100 today. I'm sure that I heard this song in college as I remember my friend Pollara had the album, but I don't remember it at all. I was more interested in her version of the Pet Shop Boys "Being Boring," which I remember snagging from Pollara for a mix CD of cover songs I was making. (I had a non-computer CD burner in college which I was obsessed with.)
After hearing the Betty Boo album and wanting to do a semi-random 90's week, I always knew the first track I wanted to highlight was "Love You More" by Essex, England's techno/house band Sunscreem. Friend and reader Chris just introduced this track to me earlier this past summer and I quite love it. True... it does sound rather dated, but you'll find that most 90's music does. And that seems to count double when it comes to the birth of "techno" as a genre. (James Brown is Dead certainly doesn't sound as mind-blowing as it did before eh?)
Sunscreem formed in 1991 and had a handful of hits throughout the decade as well as into the next. "Love You More" was released as a promo single in 1991 and spent two weeks on the top of the US Dance charts. It was one of the first techno songs to hit the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, reaching #36. (their highest charter.)
They released five singles from their debut album "O3," on top of "Love You More," including "Pressure," "Walk On," "Perfect Motion," and "Broken English," a Marianne Faithful cover. The album is pretty consistent... I'm sorry I missed it at the time as this would have been pretty mind-blowing, and might have changed my music interests a bit if I'd heard it at the time.
Song: All Through the Night
Artist: Escort
Album: Escort
HOT TRACK ALERT!!!!
Wow, this one hit me like a ton of bricks. Just last week I was introduced to Brooklyn-based disco band Escort via their self-titled debut album which is coming out next week. It grabbed me immediately with its mix of modern electro and 70's disco. But when I got to the 8th track "All Through the Night," I almost lost it. This is one amazing song.
Escort was founded by Dan Balis and Eugene Cho who met at Vassar College and started making house singles in the early '00's. They became a production duo who "wanted to make records in the spirit of the old ones we were sampling." They released a handful of singles and remixes for the likes of Feist and Tracy Thorn, but are best known for their live act, which features 17 members. The New York Post and Time Out New York described them as "the city's best live band."
I've been pretty blown away by this record and have loved tracks "Cocaine Blues," "Why oh Why," and "Starlight." But it's an amazing record start to finish and hearkens back to a different era in music, but all the while keeping it current.
The only bit of disappointment I have, which I learned this AM, is that most of these songs are actually rather old! "Starlight," despite just getting released on this album was the bands first single... from 2006. (!!!) And, it turns out "All Through the Night," a track that upon hearing I was ready to declare a new electro-disco revolution... is from 2007. Whoops. Pitchfork even declared the video (which is all kinds of amazing, see below) one of the top 50 of that year.
I'm not exactly sure why it's taken five years for this debut to come out but regardless, it is really worth your time. And "All Through the Night" might be one of my favorite tracks of the year... despite being from another year.
You can take a listen to more of the bands music on their MySpace page, and you can give them the thumbs up here.
Summer Camp are London-based duo Elizabeth Sankley & Jeremy Warmsley, their sound is an 80's-influenced mix of rock, synthpop, darkwave, and pop. Many are calling their debut, "Welcome to Condale" the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie that never was. I hear it a bit, but there is also some modern-sounding electronica, not to mention a summer-breeze indie-rock a-la Best Coast feeling to the music.
"Condale" is a fictional California town that Sankley & Warmsley have imagined as a setting for their fictional characters and stories that make up the record. It's not just the music that sounds like a Hughes soundtrack, it's the entire feeling of the record, with story-songs, snippets of dialogue laid over the music (I recognized a "Weird Science" line in the track "Summer Camp") and a sense that the album is a journey, both musically and as a storyline.
I immediately loved opening track and first single "Better Off Without You," which does sound like a lost classic from a bygone era. It's pretty great. But it doesn't typify the record, which like any story, has emotional ups and downs, and surprises with darker, emotional, songs like the stalker synth-epic "I Want You," and the darkwave of "Nobody Knows You." But just as that dark emotion seems to take the album over, the record picks up again with an effervescent track like "Down" or the impeccably titled "Last American Virgin."
"Welcome to Condale" is an interesting record, one that, based on my handful of spins, has many more layers to discover and get into. It's as intriguing as it is fun, and as dark as it referential. Take some time with this one.
Song: I Don't Want Money Tonight
Artist: Boss in Drama
Album: Pure Gold
Obviously, based on this over-the-top cover art, Boss in Drama doesn't take this all too seriously... or at least is operating with a little tongue-in-cheek. I unfortunately can't find much about the guy, as both his MySpace and Facebook are in Spanish. But it seems he's from Sao Paulo, Brazil, "Pure Gold" is his first album, and... well, he's got some flashy fashion sense.
But "Pure Gold" has been seeping out of my headphones for the past couple weeks. It's a great mix of loungy-house that draws inspiration from 70's disco, 80's pop, 90's house... you name it. It's got its goofy moments (that sax in "Body Rock!") but it all seems to be a bit of a goof on the whole thing. Regardless, this is a rather well produced album of catchy lounge music that I've just eaten up. It's like a less serious Sam Sparro.
After a brief intro, the album opens up with the amazing "I Don't Want Money Tonight," which has a bit of a slow build but then explodes into a killer groove. Amazing. And from there on the album doesn't let up in its global village disco propulsion. This makes a great just-put-it-on album for a cocktail party or even a getting-ready-to-go-out party-starter.
My favorite tracks are "Disco Karma," "Body Rock," "and "Pure Gold," though this is one that's good throughout and pretty consistent. Very fun.
You can listen to the entire album on the Boss in Drama's Soundcloud page where you'll also find some remixes he's done for the likes of Miami Horror and N.E.R.D.
Song: Kissed Her Sister
Artist: Brite Futures
Album: Dark Past
Here's a dance-rock album I came across recently and immediately connected with. Brite Futures are a Seattle-based band that formed while the members were still in High School in 2005. At the time, they were obsessed with the film "V for Vendetta" and originally named the band "Natalie Portman's Shaved Head" or "NPSH" for short. They released their debut album "Glistening Pleasure" in 2008, which subsequently got them signed to Warner Brothers.
Over the course of their time at Warner Brothers they realized how silly their name was, apparently spurred by finding out Natalie Portman really didn't care for it, and they changed their name to Brite Futures, re-releasing an updated version of their debut entitled "Glistening Pleasures 2.0." (A Bieber joke.) I haven't heard this record, but in September of 2010 they split ways with WB, went indie again, and recorded "Dark Past"which was released last week.
I mistook Brite Futures youthful tongue-in-cheek lyrics for elder irony a-la Electric Six... but they're just young kids making party music about partying... that's cute, funny, and way catchy. And with song names like "Too Young to Kill," "Best Party Ever (So Far)," and "Kissed Her Sister," you realize this all shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's a brisk thirty-two minutes of guitar stomp, synths, and beats that's rather winning.
The above mentioned songs were my favorites on the record initially. "Kissed Her Sister" is a rather funny tale of accidentally making out with a girlfriend's twin sister that you didn't know existed, (ha!) and "Best Party Ever (So Far)" does the best at illustrating the vibe I think Brite Futures really have aimed for... a rollicking good time track about having a rollicking good time. It's all very ernest and a bit dorky but rather charming.
I really dig this record and its out-of-nowhere charms. For fans of Franz Ferdinand, VHS or Beta, Scissor Sisters, Electric Six, and The Fertelli's. In a way they're like the kid-brother of those bands. (and yet don't really sound like any of they.) Unfortunately I wasn't able to find much studio material available on YouTube or streaming... but take a listen, if you like them, you should totally buy their new record which you can get on their official website.
You can also hear a little more of their music here.
Fun record, really digging this one. Enjoy!
Kissed Her Sister (live)
Too Young to Kill
Best Party Ever (So Far) - live?
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