Category Archives: 2012

2012, music

[hot off the press] Afrobeta

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Miami’s avant-dance duo Afrobeta have been tearing up dance floors for years, and they have made a splash yet again with the release of their latest mix tape,Wig Party. Cuci Amador and Tony “Smurphio” Laurencio formed Afrobeta in 2006 as a way to share their mutual love of songwriting and dancing till 5 a.m.

Wig Party is available to download for free on Afrobeta’s Facebook, as a “thank you” to their much-loved fans. The release features several new singles, remixes of previously released songs, mashups and a new take on Devo’s classic “Whip It!”

Afrobeta’s unique songs transcend genre classifications—Cuci’s rapid-fire delivery, combined with Smurphio’s funky synths and head-bopping bass lines are sure to keep audiences moving for all ten tracks. The duo explains, “Participating in the Identity Festival tour this past summer really influenced the making of Wig Party. We wrote the songs ‘Virtual Life’ and ‘Anthem’ while on the road. We were very fortunate to have DiscoTech remix our song ‘Love is Magic’ and we would also like to thank the Nervo twins for their informal birthday greeting intro on ‘Birthday Situation.'”

Wig Party marks Afrobeta’s first release since their 2011 LP Under the Streets. The band was ready for a change of pace after a busy tour schedule over the past couple of years, playing Glastonbury Festival, Burning Man, New York Fall Fashion Week, Ultra Brazil, Space Ibiza, Camp Bisco and Identity Festival. Afrobeta has rocked alongside  artists including Trentemoller, Booka Shade, Hercules and Love Affair, The Crystal Method, Annie Mac, Holy Ghost!, Nero, Kaskade and The Bloody Beetroots. [source: planetary group]

♩ Afrobeta//Love Is Magic (DiscoTech Extended Remix)

♩ Afrobeta//Whip It (Devo cover)

afrobeta.com // facebook // twitter // soundcloud // iTunes

2012, music

[on repeat] Charli XCX

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If you’re a fan of such artists as Grimes, Class Actress, Robyn, Purity Ring, and Niki & The Dove, you’ll love Charli XCX.  I discovered this British pop vixen just last month (via The Hype Machine Radio Show – March 2012) and I was immediately hooked.  It was her special Valentine’s Day track, aptly titled “Valentine”, that initially caught my ear.  Since then though,  I’ve listened to just about everything I can find and haven’t found a track yet that I don’t love.  She’s got a really cool sound, that she describes as “dark pop”,  and her range keeps you wanting more.  In one track, she could be channeling Siouxsie Sioux with a heavy goth-pop ballad and next thing you know, she’s treating you to some of the catchiest synth-pop you’ve heard all year.  No official word yet on when a debut LP will arrive, but she’s working on a EP, due this summer via IAMSOUND, with a full-length to follow late 2012 or early 2013.  I for one can’t wait for more of the “dark pop” stylings of Charli XCX, so stay tuned for more.

♩Valentine
charlixcxmusic.com
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2012, music, new music

[new music roundup] 4.10.12

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A few of my favorite new releases this week, including the latest from M. Ward and Amadou & Mariam, some standup from the very funny Donald Glover, and the highly anticipated debut LPs from Alabama Shakes and Kishi Bashi (my personal favorite this week).  As always, be sure to check out Largehearted Boy, Amoeba Music, and KEXP for a whole lot more of this week’s musical offerings.

 

Alabama Shakes//Boys & Girls
♩You Ain’t Alone
alabamashakes.com
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Amadou & Mariam//Folila
amadou-mariam.com
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Alex Winston//King Con
♩Choice Notes
alexwinstonofficial.com
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Bassnectar //Vava Voom
♩Vava Voom (ft. Lupe Fiasco) [via soundcloud]
bassnectar.net
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Donald Glover//Weirdo
iamdonald.com
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Emily Wells//Mama
♩Passenger
emilywellsmusic.com
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Hoodie Allen//All American
♩No Interruption [via soundcloud]
hoodieallen.com
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Kishi Bashi//151a
♩Bright Whites
kishibashi.com
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M. Ward//A Wasteland Companion
♩Primitive Girl [via soundcloud]
mwardmusic.com
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What are your favorite new releases this week?

2012, music, Uncategorized

Nine years later…

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This is for my Dad.

He passed away nine years ago today.  I was shocked.  I was despondent.  I was really f’ing angry.  But nine years later, no matter how upset I might get, one particular song always cheers me up — “Rainbow Connection”.

One of my all time favorite memories is Dad strumming along on his guitar and singing “Rainbow Connection” to my sister and I.  I’m certain my love for everything Muppets is because of my Dad.  Come to think of it, my “expert love” for everything music is because of my Dad.  Heck, this here blog may not have come to fruition had my Dad not instilled his love for music in me.

where i get my dashing good looks

My Dad introduced me to the likes of Elton John, Elvis, The Rat Pack (he always said Sammy Davis, Jr. had the best voice), The Big Bopper, Willie Nelson, obviously The Beach Boys (my Dad was a HUGE Beach Boys fans), and not to mention a wide array of show tunes and Disney soundtracks.   More importantly, my Dad was always super cool with letting me listen to basically any music I wanted to.  I know he didn’t care for quite a bit of the music I listened to, but he tolerated it and rarely gave me a hard time.

I tried to “man up” for the funeral, but when “Rainbow Connection” was played during the service, the waterworks came on and I had a hard time listening to it for the next couple of years.  I don’t even really remember what made me listen again, but I discovered the song makes me happy.  I still sometimes tear up when I hear the song, but they’re happy tears now.  So without further ado, let us all enjoy the vocal stylings of Kermit the Frog, as he performs one of my Dad’s favorite songs.