Next month Justice is set to unleash it's follow up album to their highly successful debut album '†' released way back in 2007. I can still remember the day that I purchased their CD from the Tower Records in Osaka because that CD had such an effect on me, and completely opened my eyes to a new genre of 'electro-acid-house' as a friend of mine and I called it. 4 years is a long time to wait for another CD so I am very excited to see what the two Frenchmen have to offer us. Below you can check out their first single off the album which has already seen a bit of airplay lately as the backing track to a popular Adidas commercial that has been on high rotation on cable TV here in the states. I don't know really know if I'm entirely impressed with it after the first couple of listens. Here's to hoping that Justice doesn't fall into the 'sophomore slump' category... Enjoy
There's not much to write about these tracks, not even sure how 'new' they are, but I've been listening to the hip hop and R&B channels on satellite radio a fair bit lately, and these tracks have tickled my fancy*... Enjoy
* I understand that this isn't the most 'hip hop' way to say you like something
Fabolous - You Be Killin Em
Haven't heard much from F-A-B-O in a while but I like this one
Miguel feat. J. Cole - All I Want Is You
Nice simple beat on this one, and J. Cole helps it along... a lot
Wiz Khalifa - Roll Up
This kinda reminds me of a Nelly song... but in a good way
Niki Minaj - Did It On Em
I have no idea what she is saying in this song (she just "shitted on em"?) but the instrumental is pretty sweet Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil' Wayne - Look At Me Now
Chris Brown is horrible on this track... I basically posted it for the Busta Rhymes verse. I don't even care if Busta isn't pronouncing a single word, it still sounds insane
Their newest album since their breakthrough into popularity 'Seldom Seen Kid' saw them go from cult following to awards and recognition back in 2008. Elbow set the bar pretty high back then, and it was always going to be a difficult follow up. It seems like they went with the safe option and decided to deliver everything that they became known for in the first place. Lead-man Guy Garvey's vocals are as soothing and uplifting as ever, and these talents are on display in my favourite track from the album: 'Lippy Kids' (check it out below). The track is a reflective on the adventure of growing up, and the potential of youth, punctuated by the great line "do they know those days are golden?"... Enjoy
It's been almost a year (268 days to be exact, but who's counting) since my sister and I started up this blog in the hopes to introduce some good music to our extended group of friends, and I'm starting to think that I'm doing this for my own amusement as much as for you guys out there reading and listening to the posts. It's kind of become some sort of musical diary that I can look back on some time in the future and see what I was listening to back then. I was trying to think of something special for post number 100 and thought that it would be appropriate to dedicate it to some music that I doubt many of you would ever be exposed to; some of my favourite songs from a couple of my favourite Japanese artists.
When you think of music coming out of Japan you could be excused for automatically thinking of something like this... however, I assure you that they have much more to offer than ultra-cute (yet slightly disturbing) girl bands that churn out super bubblegum-pop with no substance. Throughout my time in the land of the rising sun I had the pleasure of being introduced to some of the quality musicians and DJs that Japan has to offer. In light of the current catastrophic events occuring over in Japan it feels appropriate to highlight some of my favourite Japanese musical talents, so here goes:
Nujabes
It was only yesterday when I was searching for my favourite Nujabes track that I stumbled across the news that it has already been a year since Nujabes was killed in a car accident in a car accident in Tokyo. Nujabes is my favourite Japanese DJ, and one of my favourite DJs period, and amongst the sadness of the earthquake and tsunami the news of his passing shocked me. His music has that timeless feel to it, and I have a feeling that his life works will live on well into the future. I was introduced to his music through a friend in Osaka who played me 'Reflection Eternal' and I was instantly hooked. I hope you will be too.
Nujabes - Reflection Eternal
Radwimps
December 2006, I was working at a cafe on a ski resort in Niigata and MTV was playing this Radwimps clip like 5 times a day. I decided to investigate and buy their 4th album and it was my first exposure to good Japanese music. I started introducing the Radwimps to all my Japanese friends and they loved them, especially the lyrics to the track 'Me Me She', one of my friends even started to cry just from reading the lyrics in the album sleeve... plus I always loved the video, and you can check it out below.
Dragon Ash
This track from Dragon Ash became my go-to track when I would enter the karaoke booth. It has great lyrics, a really catchy whistle track, and more importantly it was slow enough for me to be able to sing it in Japanese. Always reminds me of epic karoke nights back in Osaka.
Teriyaki Boyz
Probably the better known group in this post for their involvement in the Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift soundtrack. This Japanese rap supergroup was spearheaded by their DJ (and founder of Bape clothing) Nigo, who created walking, rapping billboards for his clothing brand, creating a cult following like few others in the world today. Through Nigo's connections the Teriyaki Boyz have collaborated with some of raps biggest names including: Kanye West, Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier, and DJ Shadow. Check out they're collaboration with DJ Premier below, one of my favourite Teriyaki Boyz tracks.
Teriyaki Boyz - You Know What Time Is It
I hope that I have had the opportunity to introduce you to some music that you wouldn't usually hear on a day-to-day basis, and despite the fact that you may not be able to understand the lyrics I hope you can appreciate the music in one way or another. Japan has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons and I hope that you all keep this beautiful country and it's people in your thoughts and prayers (if you are religously inclined). I hold a special place in my heart for Japan and hope that the nation can bounce back from this tragedy and look forward to the future...
These guys are a pop group out of Denmark who released the EP 'Fail Forever' back in January this year. My sister, and fellow blogger, sent me a link to a remix of their single (see below) by none other than, a man that I wrote about back in February, Nicolas Jaar. Turns out the original of 'Fail Forever' is a great track too, and both have had equal time in my earphones lately. You can check them both out below, and make sure you watch the video for Nicolas Jaar's remix too, it's a great collaboration of images from what appears to be a party that your parents were rocking back in the 60s and it gives the track a slightly ominous and melancholy feel (and the guy with the beard looks a fair bit like Ray LaMontagne)... Enjoy
When Saints Go Machine - Fail Forever
When Saints Go Machine - Fail Forever (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
Chuck and Mikey released a mixtape last year that flew right underneath my radar. I've always been a big fan of The Cool Kids ever since I saw them live a couple of months before they had released their debut EP 'Bake Sale', and this offering is more of what you have come to love from these guys; simple, heavy beats, intelligent wordplay, lots of fun. Their newest mixtape is called 'Tacklebox' and you can check out one of my favourite tracks below... Enjoy
Cousin Rory is currently living over in Phnom Penh and has popped up in little musical adventures from the backseat of a Tuk-Tuk in downtown Cambodia. Both videos are covers of popular songs and are complemented perfectly by the chaos and scenery that surrounds them as they strum their guitars. You can check them out at the website here, and you can sample Rory (the bearded one on the left) and his friend Al's cover of a great track from The National below... Enjoy
