Rave - Blondie

Song: Rave

Artist: Blondie
Album: Ghosts of Download




It had seemed like longer, but now that Blondie's 10th album Ghosts of Download is out, I realize that it's a couple months shy of a year since they released the first single to the long-awaited album, the Beth Ditto duet "A Rose By Any Name" back in September of last year.  I liked that track, and love the band, and have had this record for almost a month but was really trying to figure out what I thought of it.  Funny enough, I sat down for a full listen through this AM, began grooving to a couple of the tracks which finally were taking hold, and noded along as I knew how I wanted to approach my "review."

Except I just went back and re-read my write up of their last album, 2011's Panic of Girls and... realized I feel the same about this record.  Yet in hindsight, I think of Panic as being largely forgettable, but in my words it had also just "clicked" with me, which is what I was about to write of Ghosts.

I'll just save all that and say that after repeated listens it's a pretty good record with some really nice standouts ("Rave," "I Want to Drag You Around," & "Make a Way") an ill advised  cover (Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax") and a whole second disc of their re-recorded hits due to the fact that they don't own any of the music that made them famous.  The album has a semi-throughline of island-kissed electronica, Debbie still sounds great, and this is Blondie's 10th album, it's a touch too long.  There.



And I will always note in any mention of new Blondie music just how great and overlooked their 2003 album Curse of Blondie is.  Go listen to that record, it's great.  I'd link it... but it's not on Spotify.  Why?!?!

Enjoy.

Rave

I Want to Drag You Around

Make a Way

Frontin' (Disclosure Re-Work) - Pharrell (feat. Jay-Z)

Song: Frontin' (Disclosure Re-Work)

Artist: Pharrell (feat. Jay-Z)
Album: Frontin'




U.K. House upstarts Disclosure rework the Pharrell Williams/Neptunes 2003 single "Frontin'" featuring Jay-Z.  The brothers give the track their killer, trademark House makeover, and it's rather amazing.  Given Pharrell's past eighteen months, it's amazing to think back to this track and just how long the man's been in the game.

This track makes a nice pairing with Disclosure's 2012 Bootleg remix of the Janet Jackson track "Call on Me" featuring Nelly from the largely forgettable album 20 Y.O.  I've only recently heard that one as well, it's pretty amazing.  Take a listen below.

Disclosure have been rumored to be working with Madonna on her new album.  No word on any work following-up last years amazing Settle.

Enjoy.

Frontin' (Disclosure Re-Work)

Call on Me (Disclosure Bootleg)

Crazy Stupid Love - Cheryl Cole

Song: Crazy Stupid Love

Artist: Cheryl Cole
Album: Crazy Stupid Love




It's a dreary, rainy day here in NYC... here's a dumb little pop song to make it a bit brighter.

Cheryl Cole is a singer-performer best known being one of the five reality-contestants-turned popstars of Girls Aloud, a UK phenomenon that I never could get into.  I did however love one of her fellow Girls Aloud mates' Nicola Roberts' debut album.  Cheryl is working on her fourth solo album which is due in November, "Crazy Stupid Love" is the first single feat. Tinie Tempah.

With Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty," Ariana's "Problem," and now this, the sax is really making a comeback isn't it?  Some say it sounds out of tune in this song, I don't hear it.  The track is light, inoffensive, and respectfully infectious.  (Recommend a bit.)

I can't speak much in terms of Cheryl's single history as I don't know it very well, but I do proffer her last first-from-an-album single, "Call My Name" a Calvin Harris track.  The rest of the album didn't do much for me.

Enjoy.

Crazy Stupid Love

Restart - Sam Smith

Song: Restart

Artist: Sam Smith
Album: In the Lonely Hour




Sam Smith is a British singer-songwriter who has taken the U.K. by storm and recently released his debut album In the Lonely Hour just last month.  He is probably best known as the soulful voice on U.K. House duo Disclosure's hit "Latch."  But he's doing quite well on his own, seeing both his second single "Money on My Mind" and third "Stay With Me" go straight to #1 on the U.K. charts.  The later has recently been remixed by Darkchild with Mary J. Blige, who is getting a nice resurgence with these young British Boys!

The album is mostly downtempo and really highlights Smith's impressive soulful voice.  I wish it had a couple more upbeat tracks, but it sounds very classic and will hit the spot for the right mood.  I'm sure it's been said before but male Adele and all that...

Oddly, and possibly to keep that mood for the album, Smith relegates a real corker, "Restart" as a bonus track on the album.  Reader Sean introduced me to the track and I absolutely love it.  Would really like him to go in this direction more.

Regardless, Smith is one to watch, take a listen.

On a personal note, I happened to run into Smith in a restroom a month ago while he was shooting in a studio that's on the floor I work on.  He gave me the once over twice and I wondered about him... and he just had a low key coming out via a recent interview.  Ha!  I knew it.  (Though I can't believe he's only 22.)



Enjoy.

Restart

Stay With Me

Money on My Mind

Grande Finale - Studio Killers

Song: Grande Finale

Artist: Studio Killers
Album: Grande Finale




Danish/Finish/English electro-pop "virtual" band Studio Killers took over two years to release a debut album after their 10x killer first singer "Ode to a Bouncer" appeared in 2011.  The self-titled debut came out in the Summer of last year and now just a year later they're releasing a new single, "Grande Finale."

There's no word if this is the first single from an upcoming record, given the title it might appear to be a swan song.  But the band have just launched a Kickstarter campaign to get funding to put on two live festival shows, so it seems they are not throwing in the towel just yet.

"Grande Finale" is another corker from the group, and I'm re-listening to their debut and wondering why they didn't get more exposure.  Maybe because they've never played live!  Check them out.



Enjoy.

Grande Finale

Just One of the Guys - Jenny Lewis

Song: Just One of the Guys

Artist: Jenny Lewis
Album: The Voyager





Singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis returns with her first album since 2010's I'm Having Fun Now with boyfriend Johnathan Rice under the name Jenny and Johnny, and her first solo album since 2008's Acid Tongue.  The Voyager, her third, will be released in July on Warner Brothers.

The album is preceded by the Jangle Pop/Girl Group-ish "Just One of the Guys."  It's a peppy, cute track that's deceptively sunny and "girlie" yet has some pointed lines about being female and identity in general.  Intrigued... and it's produced by Beck!

Enjoy.

Just One of the Guys

Completely Not Me

Johnny and Mary (feat. Bryan Ferry) - Todd Terje

Song: Johnny and Mary (feat. Bryan Ferry)

Artist: Todd Terje
Album: It's Album Time




I'm a couple months late for this one, but y'all should check this one out...

Todd Terje is a Norwegian DJ, songwriter, and record producer that has slowly made a name for himself with growing number of remixes in a particular style that mixes house-y disco with a slow-growing head-trippin' climax.  I honestly thought I had written about his amazing remix of Chic's "I Want Your Love" which is a must listen, and he's also done amazing things with classic tracks by M, Paul Simon, and Roxy Music, as well as recent work with Franz Ferdinand from their new album.  I didn't know this until just now but he also co-wrote Robbie Williams' single "Candy" from 2012.  Huh.

In April Terje released his eagerly awaited debut album It's Album Time, and it's really amazing.  It's a retro-yet-modern aural trip that could also be described as really hip elevator music.  That sounds awful, but you'll just have to take a listen to understand.

I listen to It's Album Time a lot at work.  It's mostly instrumental, and has the perfect amount of groove and laid back cool perfect for a Summer's day, early evening cocktail, tropical-set espionage, or yeah... work.

While it is mostly instrumental, Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry does make an appearance (most likely after his killer edit of "Love is the Drug") on "Johnny and Mary."  Impossibly cool.



Enjoy.

Johnny and Mary

Delorean Dynamite

Strandbar

DTF - Adore Delano

Song: DTF

Artist: Adore Delano
Album: Till Death Do Us Party




RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 runner-up Adore Delano is making a go at becoming a true drag queen "superstar" and going for a pop music career.  She wasn't crowned the winner, but in the finale build up Adore has released her first single "DTF" from her upcoming album Till Death Do Us Party will be released on June 3rd.

"DTF" is a Trap-Pop track that's abrasive, filthy, and... a real grower.  I didn't care for it initially, but there's something about it that's worked it's way under my skin.  Very odd.  She's tapped video director Michael Serrato for "DTF" (see below) who has done  videos for fellow Drag Race alum Willem.

Like it was said on the show, Delano is a born star.  And while it didn't work on American Idol, it's obvious that Danny Noriega has been trying to find his niche, and watching the season of Drag Race it was fun to watch his character of Adore Delano evolve into something truly tangible.  But can it be stretched over a full album?

There's a chance you might hate this.

Enjoy.

DTF

I Adore U

Dancing on My Own

American Interior - Gruff Rhys

Song: American Interior

Artist: Gruff Rhys
Album: American Interior




Welsh singer-songwriter Gruff Rhys returns with his fourth solo album American Interior after following up Neon Neon's '08 masterpiece Stainless Style with last year's Praxis Makes Perfect.  Rhys' last solo album was the rather fun Hotel Shampoo from 2011.  For this album, Rhys takes a page out of his Neon Neon playbook and selects a historical figure to base an album around.  (After John Delorean for Stainless Style, and Giangiacomo Feltrinelli for Praxis.)

American Interior follows the life of fellow Welsh John Evans, an explorer who came to America in search of a Welsh-speaking tribe, and produced an early map of the Missouri River around 1797 that was subsequently used in the Lewis and Clark expedition. The album is accompanied by a hardcover book, a film co-directed by Dylan Goch, and an app for mobile devices.  They proceed a mini-tour-meets-Powerpoint presentation that followed Evans' path in his search in which Rhys played some of the new songs accompanied by a puppet in Evans likeness that appears on the cover of the album as well as the video for the title-track. (below)

Rhys is apparently a descendant of Evans, and he paints his story with a folk-country-meets-70s keyboard and guitar-rock brush.  You might find it odd (it is) but it's hard not to find love in the catchy hooks, even when on tracks like "100 Unread Messages" he brings a little hoedown when telling Evans travel journey's, by-way of another character who repeatedly tries to email Evans, but gets no reply.  (Yes that is all happening in one song.)

Despite his love of the past and it's stories, Rhys frames it with a modern mind.  Fascinating.

Enjoy.

American Interior

Trailer

100 Unread Messages

World Peace is None of Your Business - Morrissey

Song: World Peace is None of Your Business

Artist: Morrissey
Album: World Peace is None of Your Business




After taking a long break from recording following the so-so Maladjusted in 1997, Morrissey roared back on the scene with the amazing You Are the Quarry in '04 followed by the even-better Ringleader of the Tormentors on '06.  Just three years later came the announcement of Years of Refusal and it seemed the man was back in full swing and could not be stopped.  That was '09 and the album, once again, was so-so.  Now it's five-years later and Morrissey is back once again with his 10th solo studio album World Peace is None of Your Business.  It's the first of a two-record deal contract he's signed with Capitol Music.

Title track and first single "World Peace is None of Your Business" is his first album-leading ballad, and if the title didn't give it away, it is straight-up Morrissey.  Second single "Istanbul" is a bit punchier and has a slick, sexy, almost classic rock feel.

The album comes out on July 15th and is produced by Joe Chiccarelli (Mika, The Killers, The Strokes, Frank Zappa, The White Stripes.)

Enjoy.

World Peace is None of Your Business

Istanbul

Unicorn - Basement Jaxx

Song: Unicorn

Artist: Basement Jaxx
Album: Junto




It's been five years since late 90s British electronic duo Basement Jaxx released the one-two punch of Scars and Zephyr in 2009.  They've released a couple singles though, including "Back 2 the Wild" early last year, when their 7th album was initially expected under the title Music, and "What a Difference Your Love Makes" in September of last year.  They have just released another new track, "Unicorn" and officially announced their new album as Junto, which will be released August 25th.

"Unicorn" sounds more like straight-up 90s House than their actual 90s House work.  It's almost a bit unlike the Basement Jaxx we know, but it's pretty amazing, relying less on big hooks and more on a consistent beat and strong vocals.

Aside from "Unicorn," the only other previously released track on Junto is "Mermaid of Salinas," which was released as part of the "What s Difference Your Love Makes" single and remixes.

Enjoy.

Unicorn

Mermaid of Salinas

What a Difference Your Love Makes

Pills N Potions - Nicki Minaj

Song: Pills N Potions

Artist: Nicki Minaj
Album: The Pinkprint




The first single off Nicki Minaj's upcoming third album The Pinkprint is a bit of a surprise... a down-to-midtempo track that ends with a soaring ode to love.  It's not exactly the return to pure hip-hop she promised, nor is it the big dumb pop of "Starships" (which is still certifiably amazing.)

The track is co-written by Ester Dean ("Super Bass") and produced by Dr. Luke. ("Va Va Voom")  Upon a third listen I can image it blaring from cars this Summer.  Smash?

I like Nicki Minaj more than I really want to.

Enjoy.

Pills N Potions

Yasss Bitch

Lookin' Ass

Love Never Felt So Good - Michael Jackson

Song: Love Never Felt So Good (feat. justin Timberlake)

Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Xscape




Not only is this the best Michael Jackson song that's been released since the superstar died, I think it's his best track in fifteen-twenty years.

I haven't given the entire record a listen yet but it already seems miles ahead of the last posthumous album Michael from 2010.



Enjoy.

Love Never Felt So Good

Let Me Down Gently - La Roux

Song: Let Me Down Gently

Artist: La Roux
Album: Trouble in Paradise




Five years is a long time to wait to follow up a record, especially for your debut... but here we are in 2014 and English synthpop duo La Roux have completed the follow up to their Grammy-winning debut album from 2009.

Trouble in Paradise will be released July 7th.  The band has revealed the album art, but no official word on a lead single, though a new slow-build track was accidentally put up for sale on a Polish website, and is now everywhere.

"Let Me Down Gently" is moody, synthy track that has lead singer Elly Jackson sounding quite gorgeous and emotive, avoiding the at-times screechiness that could be found on the debut.  It's an expansive track that's sexy and a bit mysterious.  It's got a dramatic pause that sets things up to explode... and yet it remains restrained in it's mood.  It's a bit 80's, and quite gorgeous... and then that sax!

It might not have the bounce of previous hits "Bulletproof" and "I'm Not Your Toy," but really digging this.

Enjoy.

Take a listen here.

Opulence - Brooke Candy

Song: Opulence

Artist: Brooke Candy
Album: Opulence EP




I'm not sure I'm actually recommending this...

I've only recently become aware of pop-star/rapper Brooke Candy, daughter of the CFO of Hustler magazine and CEO of the Hustler Casino.  Brooke worked for the brand briefly after contacting Larry Flint wanting to be a photographer but was hired as a mannequin stylist for their storefronts.  She did work as a dancer briefly, reportedly with Azealia Banks at the same club.  She began working on music finding a bit of a following online via Tumblr and the like.

Candy was introduced to Charli XCX via Banks, and featured on the British singer-songwriter's track "Cloud Aura" on her debut True Romance.  She is gearing up to release her debut EP Opulence, which features the single of the same name and features some production work by Diplo as well as some co-writing from Sia.

The "Opulence" video is getting a lot of internet chatter and has to be seen to believed.  (below) It's directed by Steven Klein and features his standard dark/terrifying imagery.  Candy is quite the presence, but... do I enjoy it?

The EP is pretty in-your-face.  She's a bit Gwen Stefani, a bit Lil' Kim, a little Lady Gaga, Natalia Kills... etc.  But she's interesting personally.  Maybe one to watch.

Enjoy.

Opulence

Pop Rock

Das Me

Walk it Out - Jennifer Hudson

Song: Walk it Out (feat. Timbaland)

Artist: Jennifer Hudson
Album: Walk it Out




I've always really liked Jennifer Hudson.  She's certainly "made it" but where are her hit songs?

Jennifer is gearing up to release her as-yet-untitled third album sometime this year.  Thus far she's released two singles from the project, the disco-ish "I Can't Describe the Way I Feel (feat. T.I.)" and the more hip-hop leaning "Walk it Out" with Timbaland.  I really dig both, and apparently she's specifically going for an upbeat, dance-leaning sound on the album.

Enjoy.

Walk it Out

I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)

Jealous (I Ain't With It) - Chromeo

Song: Jealous (I Ain't With It)

Artist: Chromeo
Album: White Woman




Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo are gearing up to release their fourth album White Woman next week.  It's been preceded by a handful of singles including "Jealous (I Ain't With It)" which I've been bopping to for a couple weeks now.

Chromeo have always brought a healthy sense of wink-wink humour to their throwback R&B/Electro/Funk, and the tracks we've heard are no exception.

Fun stuff.

Enjoy.

Jealous (I Ain't With It)

Come Alive (feat. Toro y Moi)

Over Your Shoulder

Problem - Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea

Song: Problem

Artist: Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
Album: Problem




Big little pop song right here.

Nickelodeon-star turned pop-star Ariana Grande is coming back with her sophomore album this year and has released a track with rising Australian hip-pop artist Iggy Azalea; "Problem," the first track off her as-yet untitled follow up to her debut; Yours Truly.

"Problem" is a Max Martin co-write/production, and it's a 90s-inspired R&B, effervescent bop buoyed by Grande's Mariah-esque vocals and irresistible charm.

I didn't really connect with her debut but this is pretty irresistible.  There's a chance you won't be able to escape this one this Summer.

Enjoy.

Problem

Klapp Klapp - Little Dragon

Song: Klapp Klapp

Artist: Little Dragon
Album: Nabuma Rubberband




Little Dragon, the Swedish synthpop/indietronica/trip-hop band are gearing up to release their fourth album Nabuma Rubberland this year.  This follows their 2011 release Ritual Union.

They're a band I've been recommended to several times and have not properly given them time.  But they've released two killer tracks from the new album that have really gotten my attention, the buzz release "Paris" and first single "Klapp Klapp," which I've become mesmerized with.  I'm hearing some Prince influence, some general 80s with a modern twist, and a sort of ambient/downtempo R&B.  Lead singer Yukimi Nagano's voice is super, super sexy.  The synths in "Klapp Klapp" are BIG.  It's all just really sublime.

I really have some work to do in getting into this band's back catalogue.  I think I've been missing out.  No longer!



Enjoy.

Klapp Klapp

Paris

Let Go

Lazaretto - Jack White

Song: Lazaretto

Artist: Jack White
Album: Lazaretto




Jack White returns with the first single off his sophomore solo outing of the same name, Lazaretto.  The album will be released on his Third Man Records on June 10th.

"Lazaretto" the track is big, blistering blast with a killer groove.  Pure Jack White.

His first solo record seemed to be a return to form after several other musical projects, though I didn't connect with it in the same way I did prior White Stripes albums.  I like "Lazaretto" though and look forward to the album.

Enjoy.

Lazaretto

High Ball Stepper (Instrumental)

I Will Never Let You Down - Rita Ora

Song: I Will Never Let You Down
Artist: Rita Ora
Album: I Will Never Let You Down




Big Pop Song alert...

Rita Ora is a British singer-songwriter and actress who released her debut album Ora in 2012.  "I Will Never Let You Down" is the first single from her as-yet untitled sophomore album which is expected sometime this year.  The song is written and produced solely by Calvin Harris, whom Ora is currently dating.

Ora's early singles never really grabbed me, and her success was pretty limited to the U.K. and Europe.  Things may change with this record, which is quite the grower, coupled with a profile-raising role in the Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation.

The track itself reminds me of Jessie J's "Domino" and the Harris-penned/produced smash for Rihanna; "We Found Love."  Not sure just how big this track will get, but it's a perfectly catchy and summery track that will sound good blaring out of cars in the sun.  I'm a big Calvin fan, but both this and his own recent single "Summer," don't really push things forward all that much.  Does it matter?  Maybe not now... Mr. Harris, as evidence from his last album which spawned no-less than eight successful singles, knows what radio wants right now.



Enjoy.

I Will Never Let You Down

How We Do (Party)

R.I.P.

Supernova - Ray LaMontagne

Song: Supernova

Artist: Ray LaMontagne
Album: Supernova




I've known about singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne for years but for whatever reason, never took the time to get to know his work.  I've really become obsessed with Lana Del Rey's new song, and the 60s psychedelic vibe she's switched to.  So when I read that LaMontagne's new album Supernova was also produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and was a bit of departure in sound for him, I was intrigued.

LaMontagne's sound over his first four albums has been grounded in an Otis Redding meets Stephen Stills soulful folk feel, and with Supernova he shifts slightly to yes, a little 60s psychedelia, which you feel from the start.  Given Auerbach has fully produced both records, is Supernova an indication of what Ultraviolence will sound like?  Like a female flip of it?  While she may have helped me get here... I'm not thinking about Lana all that much because Supernova is simply amazing in it's own right.  What has taken me so long to give this guy a shot?!?!

I grew up on 60s psychedelia thanks to my Dad, and I can't help but be transported back a bit when listening to Supernova.  The album has it's folky moments, but also has that rollicking, tripped out sound on songs like "Julia" and the title track.  The Summer of Love vibe is felt straight off the top with album lead "Lavender" and it's whispered "chick-ahs!" that remind me of some classic track that I can't place.  Grrr... what is it? (Edit: it came to me on the way to work, it's "Time of the Season" by The Zombies.  Man... that's get's a big "duh!")

Supernova, despite it's pointed look back doesn't sound dated... it sounds classic.  LaMontagne has written some great songs for this record... I feel like I'm only just starting to understand how good it is.  I'm sharing this with everyone.  I'm highlighting the title track because it's upbeat, catchy, and sounds like yes, a long-lost classic.  But listen to this whole record.



Enjoy.

Supernova

Lavender

Airwaves

Do it Again - Röyksopp & Robyn

Song: Do it Again

Artist: Röyksopp & Robyn
Album: Do it Again




On may 26th Robyn will return (sort of) with a mini album collaboration with Röyksopp, whom have also been quiet musically since 2010 when they released their follow-up/companion album Senior to '09's Junior, which contained a killer track with Robyn called "The Girl and the Robot."  Prior to that Robyn worked with the duo on her own track "None of Dem" which was on her last triumphant release Body Talk.

They are also hitting the road together for a joint tour this year.

Suffice to say we've all been eagerly awaiting new material from both, so "Do it Again," the mini-album and first single from the project come with a heavy dose of expectation.  I remember when Body Talk Pt. 1 was released and it seemed impossible that she'd be able to top her gargantuan single "With Every Heartbeat" from her '05 album Robyn, but then "Dancing on My Own" happened.

 That track took on a life of it's own, boosted by several killer addition songs from Body Talk, so it's hard not to come at "Do it Again" without unrealistic expectations...

But the track is really a corker, and fits within Robyn's heartache-on-the-dancefloor wheelhouse.  Sonically it's pretty hard-hitting, peppy, and catchy... and repeated listens reveal a now-typical deeper lyrical content of cyclical bad decisions.  Get ready some (more) life-changing personal transcendence on the dancefloor!  (How does she do this so effortlessly?!?!)

There's a couple tracks that pass the eight-minute mark, and a low-quality stream of some of the other songs reveal an experimental edge to the project.

Color us excited.

Enjoy.

Do it Again

West Coast - Lana Del Rey

Song: West Coast

Artist: Lana Del Rey
Album: Ultraviolence




Lana Del Rey returns with the first single from her upcoming sophomore album Ultraviolence called "West Coast."  It's a woozy, druggy, sexy track that has a bit of a sinister, psychedelic 60s vibe to it and an odd tempo change in the chorus.  Perfect for slowly spinning on a hot Summer night in... well I suppose the pale moonlight.

"West Coast" doesn't get an official release until May 18th with no word when to expect the album.  Producer of the track hasn't been confirmed, but Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys is producing part, or possibly all of the new album.

While it's less pop than her previous work, I like this.  She creates a mood in her songs so effortlessly, and this is like the transition out of the faux-50s feel of Blue Velvet into a darker, drug-addled freak-out 60s.

Enjoy.

West Coast

In Your Shoes - Sarah McLachlan

Song: In Your Shoes

Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Album: Shine On




I listened to a bit of Tori after yesterday's post, as well as some Spotify Radio under a Tori Amos channel and it was like a Lilith Fair, 90-Alt Rock girl reunion... Poe, Paula Cole, Jewel, and... Sarah McLachlan, the Mother of Lilith Fair, who incidentally is releasing her eighth album next month...

Shine On will be the singer-songwriter's first release in four years after 2010's Laws of Illusion.  After being a pretty big fan for her first four albums, I.. like man, fell out of interest.  Call it consistency, her just more-of-the-same approach, or the frankly downbeat nature of her recent work... I just haven't been here for Ms. McLachlan.

First single "In Your Shoes" teams her, once again, with longtime collaborator Pierre Marchand, for a rather upbeat folk-pop song.  It's nice if not remarkable.  The album is apparently about the death of her Father, which sounds... about right for McLachlan.

I was reminded hearing all those girls just how much I was into that folky, "alternative" chick sound back then.  And how much I'm not now.

Enjoy.

In Your Shoes

Trouble's Lament - Tori Amos

Song: Trouble's Lament

Artist: Tori Amos
Album: Unrepentant Geraldines




Singer-songwriter Tori Amos returns from a multi-album and project exploration of classical and orchestral music with a new pop/rock album, Unrepentant Geraldines.  It is her fourteenth (!!) album since the release of her debut album Little Earthquakes in 1992. (If you don't count Y Kant Tori Read.)

First single "Trouble's Lament" is a folky, dark track that's unmistakably Tori and sound-wise close to her Scarlet's Walk/The Beekeeper eras.  The former being one, if not my favorite albums of hers, with the latter being my hands-down least favorite.  We'll see.

The fourteen-track album's concept revolves around the singers relationship with art; each track being inspired by a specific piece of art.

Enjoy.

Trouble's Lament

Making of Unrepentant Geraldines

Stay in Love - Plastic Plates

Song: Stay in Love

Artist: Plastic Plates feat. Sam Sparro
Album: Stay in Love




Plastic Plates is the stage name for Felix Bloxsum, a Sydney-born DJ and music producer who has played and worked with a wide variety of artists from Empire of the Sun, Sneaky Sound System and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros to Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, and Christina Aguilera.  He's been on the Kitsuné label for some time, releasing a handful of singles and a couple EP's.

Plastic Plates sound is best described as disco-infused Electro-House.

"Stay in Love," a brand new single with vocals by Sam Sparro has been on on my iPod since February but has just recently sunk in.  It's quite the slick, catchy track, love Sam's voice and the production.  It's really a winner.

Bloxum and Sparro actually grew up together, going to the same primary school in Sydney, and Felix's father and Sam's Grandfather also played in local jazz bands together.  They've reconnected since both started making music and Bloxum apparently played drums on every track on Sparro's last album, Return to Paradise.  

No word if an album is on the way, though his singles and the very good EP for "Things I Didn't Know" are all on Spotify.

Enjoy.

Stay in Love

Sambinha Bossa Nova - Sergio Mendes

Samba Week!

Song: Sambinha Bossa Nova
Artist: Sergio Mendes
Album: The Swinger from Rio
(1966)




Would Samba Week be complete without a little Sergio Mendes?

Mendes is a Brazilian musician born in '41 with over fifty-five releases under his name.  He's most recently worked with The Blackeyed Peas updating his sound to a modern audience, but his early material at the dawn of the early 60s Bossa Nova craze is very notable.

Mendes went to school to be a classical pianist but got interested in jazz and played with Antonio Carlos Jobin, a key musician and songwriter in the history of Samba/Bossa Nova who became a mentor.  He played piano on Cannonball Adderley's 1962 Samba album Cannonball's Bossa Nova (a discovery this week, check it out) moved to the U.S. and released a couple albums with all Brazilian musicians for Atlantic Records.  He replaced singer Wanda de Se with Chicago singer Lani Hall and switched to Herb Albert's A&M.  The result was a new band called Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66 which recorded three albums in three years starting with Herb Albert Presents: Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66 which spawned the Jorge Ben-penned hit "Mas Que Nada."

This series of albums went a bit more 60s groovy and pop, covering tracks like "Going Out of My Head," the Beatles "Day Tripper," "Night and Day" by Cole Porter, and "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach to name a few.  Brazil 66's lineup changed, but Mendes continued to record through the years.

The Herb Albert Presents album is an important one, and marks the point where Samba's popularity flourished and became a part of culture.  But for where I am in my Samba phase, I'm connecting to the more instrumental early albums including the groovy Dance Moderno from (1960) and 64's The Swinger from Rio, his first album with Atlantic.  They're more in line with the Samba I was initially drawn to.

All of these albums can be found in the WeCastPlaylist Do You Samba? on Spotify.  I've discovered some more killer albums just this week as I researched these artists more and know this playlist will continue to grow as I get into more.  And to ease you back into typical WeCast fair, check out this Mendes remix album.



Enjoy!

Agua De Beber - Astrud Gilberto

Samba Week!

Song: Agua De Beber
Artist: Astrud Gilberto
Album: The Astrud Gilberto Album




After the success of Stan Getz Jazz Samba album in 1962, he teamed up with João Gilberto for the album Getz/Gilberto the following year.  João's wife Astrud, despite having never sung outside of their home prior, was used as vocalist on two tracks, "Corcovado" and the opener, "The Girl from Ipanema," which became an international hit, selling over a million copies and single handedly launched her career as a singer.  She collaborated again with Getz in '64 for the more American-leaning Getz Au Go Go, and in 1965 she released her first album, The Astrud Gilberto Album, which highlighted her sweet/fragile voice and returned to the slow, Bossa Nova sound that made "Ipanema" a smash.

The Astrud Gilberto Album is a sweet, vocal Bossa Nova album that sounds like it was tailor made for an audience hungry for an album full of "The Girl from Ipanema"'s.

Astrud divorced João in the mid-sixties and then struck up a romantic relationship with Getz while on tour.  [Scandal!]  She continued to perform throughout the next several decades and notably recorded the Samba classic "Desafinado" with George Michael for the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Rio.  A track I didn't even know existed until friend and reader Geoff tipped me after posting the Getz/Byrd version at the beginning of the week.

An unlikely Bossa Nova/Samba superstar that at the age of 61, co-wrote and recorded the album Jungle in 2001.  She is 74.



Enjoy.

Agua De Beber

Loie - Ike Quebec

Samba Week!

Song: Loie
Artist: Ike Quebec
Album: Soul Samba




Ike Quebec is an American-born jazz tenor saxophonist.  Born in Newark, NJ, he was an accomplished pianist and dancer who switched to the saxophone in his early twenties and quickly gained recognition as an accomplished player.

He recorded and played with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Frankie Newton, and Hot Lips Page to name a few.  Hampered by drug addiction and the decline in popularity of swing music, Quebec didn't record much in the 50s, but did play regularly.  In 1959 he started a comeback with several releases on Blue Note.  Soul Samba, from 1962 would be his last recording.  Released in October of '62, he would be dead from lung cancer in January of '63.

Soul Samba was released at the height of the Samba/Bossa Nova craze and is notable in that none of the musicians on the album were known for Brazilian jazz prior, and not one of the tracks was written by Tom Jobin.  (Who wrote "Desafinado.")

This is the first Samba album I got and the one that started the kick for me.  It's a warm, sexy blend, of guitar, sax, and Bossa Nova groove that I really fell for.  Really just gorgeous.

Soul Samba was the third album Quebec released in 1962, the other two are also highly recommended, but are not Samba.  Blue and Sentimental is probably his best known and regarded, but Easy Living is pretty amazing as well.  What a year!

This might be my favorite of the Samba records I've heard... but you never forget your first right?



Enjoy.

Loie

Blue Samba

Goin' Home

Águas de Março - João Gilberto

Samba Week!

Song: Águas de Março
Artist: João Gilberto
Album: João Gilberto (Águas de Março)




João Gilberto is a Brazilian singer and guitarist whom is one of the first names in Samba & Bossa Nova, releasing his debut album Chega De Saudade in 1959.  He recorded the title track in '58 after creating the minimal, guitar-based offshoot of Bossa Nova, and it became a hit, starting the craze for the Samba sub-genre.

Gilberto later teamed up with Getz for the '64 album Getz/Gilberto, which became one of the best selling jazz albums of all time, helped by the runaway success of the track "The Girl from Ipanema," sung by Gilberto's wife Astrid, that became a worldwide pop music standard.

I really gravitated to the much later self-titled 1973 album sometimes referred to as "The White Album" as a play off The Beatles.  João Gilberto, also known from the first track "Águas de Março," is a beautiful, stripped-down affair containing Gilberto, his guitar, and minimal drumming/percussion from Sonny Carr.  It's quiet, serene, and simply a beautiful listen.

Gilberto has a lot of material, I've only just started to get to know some of it but recommend the debut, Chega De Saudade, this self-titled album, and his work with Getz.  All have been added to the Samba playlist!



Enjoy.

Águas de Março