I apologize for not submitting a new edition of the blog sooner, afterall summer is THE music season. Alas medical and family issues took precedent. We’ll attempt to make it up to you with some great music and lots of it……enjoy!
Beach: “Ibuprofen”.
A fitting song to start the blog, as I have consumed enough of it’s medicinal relatives of late. This is from the album “In Us We Trust” which drops July 16. It’s hip-hop mixed with electro-rock, though I have a feeling the album draws on a lot of different influences. Here’s a SoundClound download link and a YouTube video.
———-
Deafheaven: “Dream House”
This is from the just released “Sunbather” album which got a MetaCritic score of 97!!!!! The San Francisco trio plays a mix of black metal, post-rock and emo (not my description). Here’s the YouTube streaming video and a link to the download at SoundCloud. Just play it loud!
———-
Herbie Hancock: “The Spook Who Sat By The Door”
A cut from the 1973 politically charged movie soundtrack that featured Herbie’s score and his band that included Eddie Henderson and Bennie Maupin. You will find the download plus two others at Destination Out, one of our favorite sites for jazz. Here is the link.
———-
Bomboclat: A Vintage Reggae/Dub Mixtape
This is a download from Aquarium Drunkard featuring Black Uhuru, Wailing Souls, Burning Spear and lots more. There are two Rocksteady mixtapes also available. Here’s the link. Good stuff.
———-
The Wake Up Suzzys: “Wake Up Suzzy”
The band is from Tel Aviv and “love playing fast rock and roll influenced by old American movies, Fender guitar and big money; it’s all about fun, fun, fun”. I’m impressed and will be looking for more from this band. The downloads are from the June 5 post of Indie Rock Cafe. While on the post I’d recommend also downloading My Empire of Sound’s “For The Lovers You Left Behind” and Ka Tet’s “Bob ‘n’ Charlie”. Here’s the link.
———-
James Hunter: “Don’t Come Back” and “No Smoke Without Fire”
Another gem from Aquarium Drunkard. James is from the UK and plays music reminiscent of 50s and 60s R&B. Van Morrison has had James open for him. His latest album “People Gonna Talk” came out in February. Here’s the link.
———-
La Santa Cecilia: “La Negra”
A friend sent me the link to this LA based Mex-Am band. They got a Latin Grammy nomination for the song. If you like Quetzal and Ozomatli check them out…..even if you don’t. Here’s the link to the KCRW download.
———-
The Flame: “See The Light” and “Get Your Mind Made Up”
The Flame were a South African rock band and the first non-Beach Boy album for Brother Records. It was produced by Carl Wilson and had a Beatles influence that was almost too obvious. The album came out in 1970 to critical acclaim but poor sales. By 1972 the band was over with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar joining the Beach Boys (they played on the 1973 live album). Here’s the link to Raven Sings The Blues.
———-
Shad+Skratch Bastid: “Outta My Head”
I am not a big rap fan but every once in a while I have to amend my opinion. This samples Shuggie Otis’ “Outta My Head” from his “Inspiration Information” album. It’s a great song with a great sample and “thank you” to the group for letting us post it. Here’s Outta My Head and a streaming video at YouTube. And check out their 5-track “Spring Up” album at Bandcamp.
———-
Ora Cogan: “Black Swells”
Ora is a Canadian “folk singer”. I have that in quotes because she doesn’t really fit the profile. She plays guitar, violin, piano and dulcimer; and (according to a bio) likes Neil Young and David Bowie. She is not for the casual listener. The song is from her latest album “Ribbon Vine”. You need to hear this. Here’s Black Swells.
———-
Sensual Harassment: “Make Me Human Again”
This seems like a good spot for some high-energy, “put on your dancin’ shoes” music. This comes from the disco-pop duo’s latest “Escape From Alpha Draconis”. Believe it or not their backgrounds are in punk-rock and metal. Then again, as they put it, “it’s all about the energy”. Here’s the download link to SoundCloud.
———-
Andreas Kummert: “Autism”
I have no idea what this is about or the background. I do know that Andreas is a German singer-songwriter with a bright future if this song is any indication. Here is the download link to SoundCloud.
———-
Picture Day: “Madoline”
This St. Louis foursome has new ep “Every Day Is A Picture Day”. They say the chorus was inspired by Frankie Valli and Del Shannon….whatever. Here is the download link and their “homemade” video at YouTube.
———-
Stone Temple Pilots: “Out Of Time”
I have never been a huge fan so the fact that Chester Bennington of Linkin Park has replaced the ever-(un)dependable Scott Weiland as lead singer is no big deal. The only thing I care about is the quality of the music and this song I like. The link is to the band’s website and you will have to give them an email address (you can opt out at anytime). Here’s a link to a stream of the song at YouTube and a link to the band’s website
———-
The Beastles: “ILL SUBMARINE”
And finally for this edition, something I came across the other day and haven’t had time to really explore. However, any “mashup project” of the Beatles and The Beastie Boys is definitely worth exploring. There are a number of free albums to download on the site, the brainchild of dj BC. Here’s the link to the site and a Vimeo video