Music

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Stefani! Girl, You Crazy!

March 11, 2010 in Art, Icons, Music, books by TPreston | No comments

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Right now many of you are probably wetting yourself in anticipation for tonight’s long awaited premier of Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s “Telephone” video, (not to be confused with their other collaboration “Videophone”).  If you’re a super fan you have already had an exciting week with the release of the next great American classic “Lady Gaga: Behind The Fame” by Emily Herbert. Yes, after only a few short years of public awareness and on the cusp of her 24th birthday, Lady Gaga born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta already has a tell all biography.

Review: Joanna Newsom | ‘Have One On Me’
(Drag City)

March 1, 2010 in Music by Mister Zan | No comments

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Music Review | There is very possibly some remote corner of the world where wordy young women with feral-creature voices routinely pick up harps and write meandering folk tales set to music but in this motherland we have but one Joanna Newsom.  The singer’s sizable cult following swoons to her every precious pluck and squeak, but to the uninitiated her various charms can be, to put it kindly, cloying in the extreme.  Newsom played McCarren Pool around the time her last record “Ys” was released and I was dumbfounded by how just one girl and one harp could keep such a large crowd rapt.  By the second of her (multiple) seven-minute-plus ditties I was rather impatiently waiting for the rest of the band to come out.  No such band ever did and no one else seemed to notice.  Think what you will about the lady’s music, but all on her own against the backdrop of a wide-open sky she had clearly cast a spell on everyone present.  Looking around for someone with whom to roll my eyes I found that no one else could take their peepers off her.  That’s voodoo.

Flight of the Bumblebee | iamamiwhoami

February 11, 2010 in Music by Antonio Cerna | No comments

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Who is this already!?!? And what’s with all those numbers? Is that a code? Are you trying to communicate with us? Do you espeek the Engleeesh? Are you an illegal? Our money is on Fever Ray (not Gaga or Xtina or whatever some other blogs are saying). Why do we suspect that when we finally figure this puzzle out we’ll be slightly disappointed? Are we to assume the bumble bee references are sexual in nature? And why do we feel like we’re in a deleted scene from “Silence of the Lambs?” ….Precious is that you?

We want more V V Brown

January 20, 2010 in Music by Antonio Cerna | No comments

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Gentlemen, let me introduce you to V V Brown. Her debut album “Travelling Like the Light” (two LL’s) is coming out in the States on February 9th. The soulful singer is already garnering major buzz overseas (She’s #1 today on the iTunes French chart). What else can we tell you about her? Well, she’s a singer songwriter with a growing gay following. Think: Bette Midler meets Tina Turner meets Amy Winehouse.

Vampire Weekend | Contra (XL Recordings)

January 18, 2010 in Music by Mister Zan | 1 comment

REVIEW | A Google search of the phrase “Vampire Weekend sucks” will return nearly 800,000 results.

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While pop music audiences are not conditioned to consider matters of authenticity, the poison arrow arsenal of the indie rock community is rivaled only by the hip hop cognoscenti. Like Foxy Brown being mocked for growing up in not-terribly-gangsta Park Slope, Vampire Weekend’s main crime would seem to be having formed while its members attended Columbia University. The Ivy League cannot rawk! And mostly, to be sure, Vampire Weekend does not. What they do do, and very well, is create a warm, bright atmosphere for lead cutie-pie Ezra Koenig to drop his well-sweatered science on. Koenig’s voice is a fey sort of instrument that, when wapping itself around phrases like “In September drinking horchata/I’d look psychotic in a balaclava” should be irritating as hell. Trouble is once you get past the occasionally smartypants lyrical conceits, there is a lot to love here. While his words can grate, Koenig’s delivery is unfailingly sincere and assuring, recalling a latter-day Paul Simon. The band’s embrace of Afrobeat rhythms and textures is generally regarded as Crime #2 on their rap sheet. Simon also famously mined the continent on his albums “Graceland” and “Rhythm of the Saints”, the former having been recorded during a vision quest to South Africa. Cultural appropriation by people of white privilege is intensely problematic for some. More problematic for this listener, however, is worrying about things like white privilege and cultural appropriation when the end results are as dreamy as this. Also, lead single “Cousins” rawks quite handily.

Music Review: Ke$ha | ‘Animal’

January 11, 2010 in Music by Mister Zan | 3 comments

How much you enjoy Ke$ha’s debut album, “Animal,” may depend somewhat on how much you miss Lindsay Lohan’s pre-meltdown movie career.

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Any of these songs would fit comfortably on the soundtrack to, say, 2004’s “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” or perhaps a Wet Seal shopping spree. Things start off innocently enough, “Your Love is My Drug” and #1 single “TiK ToK” providing a pleasant-enough girl’s night out vibe but by track three the wheels are already starting to come off this carnival ride. “Take It Off”, describing a “place downtown… where we go hardcore and there’s glitter on the floor” contains a brief melodic reference to The Jacksons’s “Can You Feel It” which is perhaps the album’s only evidence that Ke$ha has any interest in music made before the turn of the 21st century.

The singer’s constantly Auto Tuned vocals coupled with the music’s synthesized assault recall a robot Kelly Clarkson who fancies herself a rapper (her over-enunciated rhymes are the record’s biggest liability). Any singing ability Ke$ha may in fact possess is effectively obliterated by the constant compression and modulation. “Party At a Rich Dude’s House,” her only unadorned vocal on the record, doesn’t offer much in the way of a rebuttal. “Backstabber,” “Dinosaur,” and “Boots & Boys” provide intermittent pleasures, but by the title track’s finale one is squarely back in Contempo Casual territory—more than a bit worse for the wear. To use a metaphor the mistress of ceremonies should be very comfortable with, Ke$ha’s party may not be a complete waste of time, but the hangover won’t be worth it.

What ever happened to Brandy?
Just ask Timbaland in ‘Shockvalue II’

December 23, 2009 in Music by TPreston | 10 comments

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For many the release of Timbaland’s “Shock Value II” came and went without a second thought. Which is a shame because the man has brought us some great music over the years. Where would we be without Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River,” Missy Elliot’s “The Rain,” and our dearly departed Aaliyah? I mean, airbrushed t-shirts haven’t been the same since.

Maluca | El Tigeraso

December 10, 2009 in Music by Antonio Cerna | 1 comment

Every once in a while, a dude will chat me up and tell me how much he likes Latin Music and then he’ll go into a Christina Aguilera meets Gloria Estefan medley. I smile and I roll with the punches. Beyond Shakira, there are a slate of young Latin women who are breaking new ground in the music business. One of those women is New York native Maluca. I met Maluca this summer at the Latin Alternative Music Conference, and I can attest that she is as breathtakingly gorgeous as she is talented. “I’m wearing my Lanvin’s,” she gushed as she twirled me her ensemble–a mix of vintage and high-end labels. “It’s very Maluca,” she confessed. The Domincan beauty calls her music “a hodge podge of everything I like about New York City” — translation a mix of tropical Latin music (think Merengue or Reggaeton) house and ghettotech. Yes. Ghettotech. Her debut single, “El Tigeraso” was produced by DJ Diplo (Santogold, M.I.A). Check out her music video, directed by Booklyn’s own Lazlo. I mean, grrrl is sporting cans of Miller High Life rolled into her hurrr. Respect.

$3.99 | iTunes | MySpace | Twitter

‘I Want to Know What Love is’ (The Remixes)

October 28, 2009 in Music by Craig Seymour | 3 comments

REVIEW | I created Mariah Carey. Seriously. I mean this, not in a Tommy Mottola Svengali way, but in the sense of one’s deepest desires becoming physically manifest.

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(Yes, I’ve read “The Secret,” and totally believe that shit.) See, for most of her nearly 20-year career, Mariah has made music that has helped me reconcile two diametrically opposed parts of my musical personality—the hip-hop head who pumps Biggie, Jay-Z, and Young Jeezy at top volume and the disco kid who storms the dancefloor whenever a dj plays a club remix of a current pop hit. Mariah, through various album tracks and remixes, consistently offers up an authentic mix of hip-hop inflected R&B (often featuring the hottest rappers o’ the day) and ass-shakin’, hand-wavin’ club music. She makes me feel less alone in my musical tastes. That’s why, in my head, I feel like I invented her in the same way that a child makes up an imaginary friend.

Mariah continues her genre-mixing ways with her current project, “Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel.” The album itself is a love letter to ‘90s R&B—the kind that knocked your boots; freaked you up and down; did you any time, any place; and kept it on the down low. (I can’t wait to make out with a guy to the bass-heavy “More Than Just Friends” and then bone him to the slinky slow jam “The Impossible.”) Perhaps because “Memoirs” is so laidback, it has already spawned a flurry of tempo-raising remixes. The Eminem-dissing first single “Obsessed” comes with several dance mixes and a hip-hop version with mixtape king, Gucci Mane. And, if you do some google-ing, you can find a T-Pain mix of the nostalgic “Candy Bling,” and two mixes of the breakup ballad “H.A.T.E.U.”—one samples the Ghost Town DJs ’96 bass jam, “My Boo,” and the other is a dancefloor-friendly whirl by the Jump Smokers.

Mika | ‘Blame It On The Girls’ [Video]

October 22, 2009 in Music by Antonio Cerna | 2 comments

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New music video for “Blame It On the Girls” from Mika’s new record “The Boy Who Knew Too Much.” Watch it below the fold. “Rain” is still not embedable, but you can watch it here.

Peaches’ homage to Donna Summer | ‘I Feel Cream’

October 15, 2009 in Music by Antonio Cerna | No comments

ELECTRO COMPLEX | Today, XL released the new video single from Peaches new album “I Feel Cream” on YouTube. This track was produced by Drums of Death, Shapemod, and Peaches herself. Although, Peaches’ sound has evolved from electroclash to electro-pop, her subversive lyrics, in-your-face appearance, and raunchy air remain.

The song “I Feel Cream” specifically gives a nod to Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.” If that sounds like an unlikely comparison, then remember that for many Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” with its all synth back track, robotic base-line, and pre-house rhythms is considered one of the first and biggest electro hits of all time. Peaches definitely knows from whence she came — and at 40, Peaches is in great form.

The music video (I’ll find production credits soon) features Peaches alone, amidst a whirlwind of lights and transitional graphic effects, wearing thigh-high strappy boots and a Susan Sontag-esque swirl of white hair.

Peaches performs @ Terminal 5 in New York City on 11/14. Her track “The Boys Want to Be Her” is on the soundtrack for Drew Barrymore’s new film “Whip It!”

Logos | Atlas Sound

October 10, 2009 in Music by Antonio Cerna | No comments

Vulture | Patrick Wolf

October 2, 2009 in Music by Antonio Cerna | No comments

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IN WOLF’S CLOTHING | Vulture is the first single from 26-year-old Patrick Wolf’s new album, “The Bachelor.” Wolf, who is famously, omni-sexual, is well-known among the London fashion scene. In 2007, he appeared in the ad campaign for Burberry alongside Agyness Deyn. In 2008, he told “W” that his fashion inspirations include “John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld and Vivienne Westwood, who’s been my obsession since I was eleven years old!”

His sound is sort of a combination of Roxy Music-era Bryan Ferry meets Kate Bush meets electro-orchestrations  (or orchestronic music, if you prefer) — all tagged with fascinating visual images and populist lyrics. For tour dates, merch, and other valuables visit Patrick’s website.

HN Man’s Summer Soundtrack

July 21, 2009 in Music by mitchmarr | 2 comments

INDIE SUMMER | Alas. Summer has arrived — and anyone lucky enough to be in New York City this weekend experienced the bliss of light breezes, low pollen, and gorgeous sun. Still, summer is not complete without a soundtrack. Here’s a list tracks to get you started.

1. Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings: After two months, this fluttering track from the indie buzz band’s first full length still stands out.

2. Discovery – Osaka Loop Line: Demi-super-duo freshens up the genre with synth-pop built for summer.

3. Spoon – Got Nuffin: Indie set’s golden boys hit summer on a dark note . . . without losing the shake.

4. The Most Serene Republic – Heavens to Purgatory: “Gadzooks! Gadzooks! Gadzooks!”

5. Camera Obscura – The Sweetest Thing: Belle & Sebastian might be on hiatus, but this Glasgow outfit is just hitting its stride.

6. Asa – Jailer: The one real crossover hit from the worldly singer-songwriter’s solid debut — go ahead, sing along.

7. God Help the Girl – I’ll Have to Dance With Cassie: Because the first three lines (and the rest of the lyrics, really) could be translated into a staple for dandy discoers.

8. Drake – Best I Ever Had: It’s not as annoying when D-list actors try to cross over. And a little sleaze is alright now n’ then.

9. Mos Def – Priority: Mos Def reasserts what a real MC should be. Ecstatic indeed.

10. Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move: This is your art rock on R&B. Who needs Mariah?

11. Love Is All – Last Choice: Can’t get through a sunny road trip with a bouncy punk tune.

12. Sonic Youth – Thunder Clap (For Bobby Pyn): Elder statesmen still got it. In spades.

13. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Wind Phoenix (Proper Name): Most bands can’t muster on an album what these Staten Islanders pack into one song.

14. Dan Deacon – Slow With Horns / Run for Your Life: Crown prince of Baltimore heaps depth — and instrumentation — on hype.

15. Choir of Young Believers – Next Summer: ‘Cause it’s not summer without a little bittersweet drama.

Hands | Little Boots

March 13, 2009 in Music by mitchmarr | No comments

Though she hasn’t released a proper album, Little Boots (a.k.a. Victoria Hesketh, a.k.a. Vic Little) is primed to hit it big. Whether the DIY pixie flops or somersaults into stardom, some of her best moments will always be found on her YouTube channel where she takes cover requests and plays piano in her pajamas. Her sparse electropop covers of new wave hits point to her influences. Go find your favorites – Bowie? Human League? Madonna? -– until she starts scoring her own singles. It won’t be long.

myspace.com/littlebootsmusic

Lady Pop v2. | El Perro del Mar

March 13, 2009 in Music by mitchmarr | No comments






The most promising cut so far comes courtesy El Perro del Mar, alter ego of Sarah Assbring. She too shows a stylistic shift, possibly taking cues from fellow Swede Lykki Li (see Homo-Neurotic’s Best of 2008), on lead single “Change of Heart”. Less morose though not quite upbeat, the deliciously titled Love is Not Pop is a natural progression from the two brilliant albums before.

myspace.com/elperrodelmar





“End of the World” | Matt Alber’s Gentlemen Callers

January 30, 2009 in Music by mitchmarr | 3 comments


I love our boys Antony and Rufus alike, but I appreciate that Matt Alber looks a like a guy (or two) that I’ve taken home form the bar. Call me old fashioned; I’m a sucker for puppy-doggish everyguys who know how to wear five o’ clock shadow and a sharp suit.

In this charming clip, bow-tied balladeer Alber serenades us as his character falls in love over a straight-edge shave. The intimate shave, slow dance and barbershop setting hit all the right notes, sweet and sentimental but more winning than gushing.

Kraak & Smaak’s ‘Plastic People’

July 15, 2008 in Music by mitchmarr | No comments

Kraak & Smaak’s Plastic People seems to be picking up some steam, much on the strength of the charming flip-book video for single Squeeze Me. Perez Hilton recently raved about them, describing the duo’s sound as “Amy Winehouse meets Moby“. I don’t know if Perez has been cleaning Amy’s coke mirrors, but that comparison’s way off base. Yet, oddly enough, the band featured the comparison on their own website. Take hype where you can get it, fellas. 

Sticking with a this-sounds-like-this format, it’d a bit more accurate to say Royksopp meets Jamiroquai. And, while K&S offer a fun little collection of songs, it’s not particularly consistent or innovative. I mean, good for Holland. Maybe they’ll be featured on a Heineken commercial. But if you’re searching for this sort of sound, you’d be better served by Royksopp’s The Understanding or even a Fischerspooner album.

myspace.com/kraaksmaak

Grace Jones is ready to eat you alive

July 11, 2008 in Music by Antonio Cerna | 2 comments

more about “Grace Jones – Corporate Cannibal“, posted with vodpod

SAVAGE GRACE - Our fav Conan The Destroyer actor Grace Jones has a new album after an almost 20 year hiatus. “Corporate Cannibal” — the lead single for her upcoming album Hurricane to release in October 2008 — features Jones through the distorted lens of director Nick Hooker. “Cannibal” debuted in London to positive reviews in June during Massive Attack’s Meltdown festival. Collaborators include Sly and Robbie, Brian Eno, and Tricky –Wait. Is this 1997? Are we stoned right now? With lyrics like “Nice to have you on my plate,” you can’t tell me that’s not the munchies talking. Video stills after the jump, for the YouTube challenged.

6 Most Overplayed Songs of NYC Pride

July 2, 2008 in Uncategorized by Antonio Cerna | No comments

NO JUDGMENT — These songs are great and all (mostly), gays love them some Lollipop. but after Leona Lewis’s Bleeding Love Remix plays for the 3rd time at the SAME party, that’s when you know you’ve reached the apex of overplay. And I’m not surprised that more gay men than lesbian women enjoy Katy Perry. The women must see through Perry’s faux girl/girl appeal. Other overplayed nominees include Danity Kane’s Damaged and Rihanna’s Disturbia.

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