A Gen-Yer's Journey Through Life, Liberty and Social Media
My favorite artist of the week award goes to stylish Swedish star, Lykke Li.
Everything about her is unique: voice, sound and style. No two songs sound the same, and yet they all come together to create the perfect ensemble in her diverse collection of music that ranges from cutting-edge indie electro to rock&roll and even pop.
Check it: Breaking It Up; I’m Good, I’m Gone; Dance Dance Dance; and the mix of The Kings of Leon’s Knocked Up
What does falling in love sound like? Below is a list of the top 3 artists who supply the music featured in the movie that is my life. Hopefully, it will help provide a lovely background to your personal love story too.
I know, my love story sounds like a Spanish love-affair. I would love to hear back from you – what makes up your perfect soundtrack to falling in love? What does your list look like? What should I add to my list?
Let me know!
New
Brazilian Sub-Pop group Cansei de Ser Sexy(CSS) just released their new album Donkey. It is more refined and pop-ish than their last album, a self-titled raw and artistic masterpiece. Their overall sound, however, remains the same: pop art, Warhol, turned into music. Bright, brilliant and genuinely different.
I first heard of this group last summer, rocking out to Lets Make Love and Listen to Death From Above. They were one of the first bands which lured me into the Indie Electro scene. Soon, Music is My Hot, Hot Sex played back up to an Ipod commercial and the whole world had discovered my little secret known as CSS. Life was ruined.
Top tracks off Donkey are as follows:
Top tracks off CSS:
Revived
Best of Radiohead was released last month and I was excited to get more from the creators of Creep. I must preceed the next statement with a reminder that I’m an ‘86er so you must forgive me, but I actually didn’t realize how many songs I love were created by this band. Kind of like Theory of a Deadman, you think you have never heard of them but you can sing along to all their songs (*ah-hem* rethink your PR).
In addition to all the songs I already loved, I have found new favourite tracks from this time capsule.
There have been so many great remixes and reconstructions of Radiohead tracks also worth mentioning. I remember first hearing Everything In Its Right Place on a CD about 4 years ago – it was the opening song to a set preformed by Paul Oakenfold. I also can’t forget to mention Mark Ronson’s rendition of Just on the album Versions. Mark Ronson is a music god.
Others worth checking out
Chromeo
The dynamic duo known as Chromeo were just in Toronto this past weekend for the music event “Rogers Picnic” and followed with a special set at Social. I witnessed this MTL/NYC group first-hand at Shared Lofts a few months ago, and their awesomely cool parties show that these two guys are wildly growing in popularity within Toronto.
The Electrofunk music they create is unique, sexy and utterly addictive. Their DJing is a beautiful accompaniment to their musical creations and highlights their insanely gifted ear for cutting-edge sounds.
Their 2007 album Fancy Footwork shares the name of one of the best tracks on it. This hugely popular song boasts a funky fresh beat and lyrics that are hilariously awesome: “But if you let her see that fancy footwork, show her that you’re not that shy. Let her see that fancy footwork, show her you’re that type of guy.”
Think you haven’t heard it? try the Thomas Barfod remix, every club (worth being in) is spinning it.
Tenderoni – (Noun) ten*der*o*ni – an object of desire that happens to be too young: think Lolita or Jail Bait. It is also a fresh, young and tight song by Chromeo, of course.
Tenderoni is today’s equivalent of what Micheal Jackson’s PYT (Pretty Young Thing) once was. If the catchy beats don’t sell that idea, then the lyrics will. “Tenderoni” is actually used in MJ’s PYT lyrics, as follows:
Where Did You Come From Lady And Ooh Won’t You Take Me There?
Right Away, Won’t You Baby? Tendoroni You’ve Got To Be.
Spark My Nature, Sugar Fly With Me
Artists worth checking out if you love Chromeo are as follows:
The Age Of The Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets
“Affection to rent the age of the understatement
Before this attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart”
Decided
To sneak up away from your stomach
And try your pulse
And captured
What seemed all unknowing and candid
But they suspected it was false
She’s playful
The boring would warn you be careful
Of her brigade
In order to tame this relentless marauder
Move away from the parade
And she was walking on the tables in the glass house, Endearingly bedraggled in the wind
Subtle in her method of seduction. The twenty little tragedies begin
And she would throw a feather boa in the road If she thought that it would set the scene
Unfittingly dipped into your companions Enlighten them to make you see
And there’s affection to rent
The age of the understatement
Before the attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
Affection to rent the age of the understatement
Before this attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
And my fingers scratch at my hair Before my mind can get too reckless
The idea of seeing you here Is enough to make the sweat grow cold
Last shadow puppets
My favorite bands and songs of the week are a mish-mash of rock, alternative and old fashioned “indie.”
If you were a shape, what shape would you be? Me and My Friend John by The fratellis off the album Here We Stand. It is a sexy guitar riff with some yelling, catchy vocals: perfect for any party this summer. The “ahhh..ahh..ahh..’s” will have you singing along like no other.
The Last Shadow Puppets, The Age Of Understatement. The song by the same name as the album is a favourite along with the song My Mistakes Were Made For You. The songs have a subtle nostalgia to them as they remind me of a sound I have heard in a past life. The sound haunts you and takes over your your senses: back to another time, another life. Perfection.
“Lets Stay Friends” is easier said than done. Les Savy Fav make it sound effortless with their album by the same name. My favourite songs off the album are What Would Wolves Do and Kiss Kiss Is Getting Old. The latter offering a very interesting sound I would best describe as a full-pouted yet vacant voice in the verses, meet American rock (dare I say, Foo Fighters) in the chorus.
New York is offering Bishop Allen’s Folk yet upbeat sound of Rain. Think of it as the male version of Tegan and Sarah, yeah – that good. You’ll fall in love, I promise.
And of course, Bitches In Tokyo by the Stars. I really didn’t like this song the first couple of times I heard it. May be because my friend is in Tokyo modelling and hating the actual bitches in Tokyo. It grows on you. The Stars know what they’re doing with this song. Hopefully the radio won’t ruin it like it does everything else.. the way advertising does.
My favourite of the week must be Edu K- if bjork, Bonde De Role and Shinjuku Zulu had an audio baby, it would be Me Bota Pra Dancar. Spicy, loud, exotic, and with bass to knock you on to the dance floor. Its the kind of beauty you only see from the rarest of mixes. Best track of the week.
Other tracks worth checking out this week:
This Week in Music
Every week I try to provide an outline on a favourite artist/album/song of the week, mainly because my picks are new or not-yet-mainstream. This week, however, it is Coldplay and their new album Viva La Vida. I’ve liked them since Rush Of Blood To The Head and officially loved them with X&Y. They are the kind of artists that make each album better and better than the last. And when I thought it couldn’t get better than X&Y, they release Viva La Vida.
Since Coldplay is a band that needs no introduction, I will provide you with an update on all things new, interesting and uninteresting in the music world.
Live
This week, I saw an “interesting” live performance by a band DethKlok. Described as “Virtual Death Metal” they sing lyrics such “Murmaid Murder” and have a cartoon playing in between songs with a story line of evil antagonists who want to kill off Dethklok’s fans and decide to do so by pirating Dethklok’s music, which will make the band go broke and no longer produce music… therefore killing their fans. While they play, cartoon videos go along with their live performance.. cartoon music videos? What bad asses. A lot of it is so ridiculous that it is rather funny: Death metal with cartoons? lyrics such as “knives? check; dagger? check; laser beams? check; Anger? check.” It sounds like something that a four-year-old watching too many cartoons would create. Laserbeams? really? Says a lot about the four-year-olds I know…
Saints Of Los Angeles?
Just when we got bored of Black Velvet and Pour Some Sugar on Me, Motle Cru saves the day by creating a new soundtrack for every strip club in the country. That’s right, one of my favourite 80’s glam rock bands, Motle Cru, is back with a new album: Angles in Los Angeles. With song names like “Chicks = Trouble” you know it will serve as perfect blast from the past, get drunk theme music. Everything from the past is coming to haunt us, including NKOTB and the Spice Girls, and I’m not excited to see grunge make a comeback.
In House Music
This week in house music, Im proud to announce that Joey Seminara’s track Just A Tip is going to be huge this summer. Other tracks building serious steam are as follows:
And we see some tracks returning again this summer. They are as follows:
POP Tracks
The pop tracks of the week that I have already heard too much of, meaning they will be/are big, are as follows:
The perfect lounge playlist is essential for everyone’s music libraries because it is the only music that really sets the stage for drama and romance in fiercely chic way. This playlist is golden for dinners, cocktail parties, pre-drinks and post-drinks, and any other sexy situations you may find yourself in. The sound ranges in genres from electronic to jazz; but to me, its all lounge.
It also varies by tepos: the slower ones are better suited for winding down, the faster tempos are for getting a party started. I have multiple lounge playlists arranged by tempo to suite every situation perfectly.
Just brought someone home at the end of the night? Bitter:sweet. Girlfriends dropped in for pre-party cocktails? Hotel costes. Dinner party? Jazz and 90s/80s.
The best Lounge CD series that make a perfect start to a playlist are as follows:
The best artists for a slower tempo are as follows:
Best Artists for a faster-paced lounge are as follows:
And finally, my favourite lounge songs of all time are as follows:
I’ll stop myself at 20, but let me know if there are any vital lounge tracks on your list that make your top 20 and I missed. If there is one thing I urge you to do, it is to give all of these a quick listen. You may like them all, you may like some, you may like none – but you will open yourself up to new music, which really is the greatest gift of all.
Some people can’t go a day without their cell phones, I can’t go a day without my Ipod. No more wasting money and time on whole albums, instead buying just the songs I like. This means no more clutter and no more disappointment after buying a CD for one song, while the rest of the album sucks. This also means creating playlists to suit every mood and situation in life.
Often I find myself enjoying only a couple of songs on an album; Sometimes I find myself enjoying a whole album; Rarely, I find myself enjoying the artist, wherein I enjoy many of their albums.
The Kooks are one of these rare exceptions. I stumbled upon their song Always Where I Need To Be by chance on ITunes just over a month ago. After playing it numerous times and loving it, I had to find out if their other musical offerings were at par with this gem. They were. This time I downloaded a bunch of songs off their Konk album. After playing it on rotation for a day, I realized I was addicted and needed to know more about them.
The sound is best described as beachy, catchy, singalong rock and is found in the Alternative section of ITunes. This delicious treat reminds me of chocolate, perfect any hour of the day. While its flavours are best used as a pick-me-up, it also serves as the perfect background to surfing, laying by the pool, lounging by the beach, and sunning.
I learned that they were coming to Toronto, and last Wednesday, I went to watch them live at the Koolhaus. I surveyed the crowd of the sold-out concert once inside – trendy, good looking, mid-to-late 20s. This was a good sign. The band played, the crowd sang along. When Love It All was preformed, the crowd may have been louder than the band.
My conclusion: The Kooks offer incredible music both on their albums and in their live performances. They get my five-star rating as my favorite band of the week.
My favourites off their second album Konk are as follows:
My favourites off their first album Inside In/Inside Out are as follows:
Other new/hot bands worth checking out if you love the Kooks are as follows:
Quote from their site:
Gen-Yer approaching my Quarter Life Crisis while embracing the role of Social Media Specialist for a tech company called SoftCom. Join me as I learn and grow - sharing the good, bad and glamorous.
subtlenuances