Dan Black

Upandcoming electro-pop artist from the UK, Dan Black, is not shy about showing his quirky side.  Black was spotted photobombing fans at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Not sure what photoboming is?  This was the most simple definition I found (thank you urban dictionary).

Dan Black gained attention when he sampled lyrics from "Hypnotize" by Notorious B.I.G. for his song "HYPNTZ" and stirred up some controversy with the late rapper's estate.  "HYPNTZ" was supposed to be Black's first single, but was unable to be released until he wrote his own lyrics (which became "Symphonies").

Dan Black's debut album, ((UN)), was released in July 2009 in the UK and February 2010 here in the states.  The album's first single "Symphonies" samples the drum riff of Rihanna's hit song from Good Girl Gone Bad, "Umbrella".  The video takes on a movie trailer theme with a wide array of film genres.  "Symphonies" was remixed later on with hip hop artist Kid Cudi and this track is available on the U.S. version of UN.  Hands down my favorite track has to be "Yours", an anthem to saying goodbye and breaking up with a simple hook, "I don't wanna be yours no more".  "U + Me =" is another standout track which I heard while investigating Lollapalooza's lineup this year.  "Pump My Pumps" is a song I hear at work all the time, but never made the connection that it was Dan Black until I picked up the cd about 2 weeks ago.  "Pump My Pumps" was also used in Lacoste's Momentum campaign.  Since I got the cd, ((UN)) is constantly playing on my iPod.

It's been a busy year for Dan Black.  He's been touring most of the year and had the opportunity to perform at some of the biggest music festivals of the year including SXSW in Austin, TX back in March, Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL during the first weekend in August, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in early October.  Dan returned to Chicago in late October to perform at the Lasalle Power Company.

Dan Black's latest single is "Alone". The video was featured the episode of the MTV reality show The Buried Life where Dave gets hitched in Vegas.  "Let Go", "Wonder", "Pump My Pumps" and "Symphonies" were also featured on Dave's wedding soundtrack.  Check out the video for "Alone"

((UN)) track listing:
1. Symphonies
2. U + Me =
3. Ecstasy
4. Alone
5. Cocoon
6. Yours
7. Pump My Pumps
8. Wonder
9. Cigarette Pack
10. Life Slash Dreams
11. I Love Life
12. Let Go
(U.S. bonus tracks)
13. Symphonies featuring Kid Cudi
14. Poet
15. Karate Kid

Visit Dan Black's official website

Pete Yorn

Pete Yorn is another one of my favorite artists. He is a singer/songwriter who’s sensitive, but a rocker at heart.  His melodies are perfect for a laid back summer evening or on a road trip with friends. 

Yorn got his big break when he wrote the original score for the Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger, film Me, Myself and Irene.  His song “Strange Condition” was featured on the soundtrack.  The song was also heard in the Josh Hartnett flick, 40 Days and 40 Nights.  More of Yorn’s songs can be heard in films such as, Shrek 2, Orange County, Hellboy, Open Season, Just Like Heaven, and Spider-Man, as well as TV shows including, Six Feet Under, Smallville, CSI, Veronica Mars, House, and Dawson’s Creek, and The Vampire Diaries.


Yorn has been very busy over the last year or so.  Last June, he released his fourth studio album, Back & Fourth.  The album was recorded in Omaha with producer Mike Mogis, a member of Bright Eyes, who has produced albums in the past for Cursive, The Faint, and Rilo Kiley.  Last September, he released a very different kind of project. He teamed up with actress Scarlett Johansson to create a duet album titled Break Up.  Serge Gainsbourg 1967 and ‘68 albums with Brigitte Bardot inspired the album.  Break Up gained popularity in France reaching the #18 spot of the album charts with the lead single "Relator".  On top of constant touring and writing Yorn had a lot of material and started recording his next album.


Pete Yorn released his self titled sixth album in September. Produced by Frank Black of the Pixies, the album was recorded in only five days.  The two set up a studio in Salem, OR and essentially just rocked out.  The album's lead single "Precious Stone" definitely holds true to that sound.  With songs about the simple joys of being a kid like, "Velcro Shoes",  how time passes when not performing on "Rock Crowd", and a rerecording of "Paradise Cove" from Back & Fourth simply titled "Paradise Cove I", Yorn has done a excellent job of defining his sound on his latest work. 


On November 3rd, Pete Yorn announced dates for his next tour.  Of course I plan to make time to see him perform.  I saw Yorn perform with my best friend Kristina when he was promoting the album Nightcrawler.  We were so lucky to be literally right in front of Pete Yorn during the show and we both left the show that night with a sense of awe in the way he connects with an audience.  He will be in Chicago on February 23rd at The Vic Theatre, but last week, Kristina and I decided that we would go together to see him perform in Saint Louis on February 27th at The Pageant. Visit Pete Yorn's official website for more dates.


Check out Pete Yorn's latest video for "Sans Fear".  See if you can spot actress Darryl Hannah and Rami Jaffee of The Wallflowers.





Pete Yorn track listing:
1. Precious Stone
2. Rock Crowd
3. Velcro Shoes
4. Paradise Cove I
5. Badman
6. The Chase
7. Sans Fear
8. Always
9. Stronger Than
10. Future Life
11. Wheels

Song/Video of the Day!

"Self Machine (Chew Fu Robotix Fix)" by I Blame Coco








I heard this song at work recently and I can't get enough of it. I've lost count on how many times I've listened to it just today. I guess I've been on a bit of a electro/techno kind of kick recently. I can never resist music that makes me want to dance. 


I Blame Coco (Eliot Sumner) is Sting's 20 year old daughter. She has worked closely with other up and coming artists from the UK such as La Roux, Miike Snow, and Robyn (of course I've linked my favorite song of each artist).  Her album The Constant was released earlier this month in the UK.  It features 13 tracks and 1 bonus iTunes download track.  On The Constant, Coco even covers a Neil Young song, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".


Check out the video for "Self Machine"




I Blame Coco official website:
http://www.iblamecoco.co.uk/

Song of the Day!

"It Don't Move Me" by Peter Bjorn and John


This Swedish band found its way into my iPod last year when I was investigating last year's lineup for Lollapalooza.  Peter Bjorn and John was one of the bands I knew nothing about.  They were promoting their most recent album Living Thing and "It Don't Move Me" was the song I enjoyed the most.  Recently, it popped back into my musical rotation.  Take a listen to this song about shedding the excess, moving on, and not letting anything or anyone get in the way. The video is a little strange but you've got to appreciate the Michael Jackson dancing.





Peter Bjorn and John website

Featuring...

In 2002, my Mom brought home a cd called Come Away With Me.  I knew very little about Norah Jones at the time.  I had no idea that her music would grow on me to the capacity it has today.  Norah is easily in the top 10 of my favorite musicians now.  


Norah Jones has kept very busy since her debut album.  Recording three more albums, Feels Like Home, Not Too Late, and The Fall.  She has also done some acting.  She had a leading role in the 2007 independent film My Blueberry Nights.  Norah had her work cut out for her starring alongside some very talented actors including, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Rachel Weisz.  Norah wrote "The Story" specifically for the films soundtrack (it's one of my favorite Norah Jones songs).


This Tuesday, Norah Jones releases her new album Featuring...  It is a compilation of a few of the collaborations that Norah has been a part of.  The album has great range including Jazz, Country and even Hip Hop songs.  She has also had the opportunity to collaborate with music legends Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, and the late Ray Charles.


Check out the album trailer for Featuring...

I highly recommend "Ruler Of My Heart" with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  As well as "Soon The New Day" with Talib Kweli, and "Life Is Better" with Q-Tip (formerly part of A Tribe Called Quest)


Check the video for "Life Is Better"






Featuring... track listing:
1. Love Me- The Little Willies
2. Virginia Moon- The Foo Fighters Featuring Norah Jones
3. Turn Them- Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones
4. Baby It's Cold Outside- Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones
5. Bull Rider- Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson
6. Ruler Of My Heart- Dirty Dozen Brass Band featuring Norah Jones
7. The Best Part- El Madmo
8. Take Off Your Cool- OutKast featuring Norah Jones
9. Life Is Better- Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones
10. Soon The New Day- Talib Kweli featuring Norah Jones
11. Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John- Belle & Sebastian featuring Norah Jones
12. Here We Go Again- Ray Charles featuring Norah Jones
13. Loretta- Norah Jones featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
14. Dear John- Ryan Adams featuring Norah Jones
15. Creepin' In- Norah Jones featuring Dolly Parton
16. Court & Spark- Herbie Hancock featuring Norah Jones
17. More Than This- Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones
18. Blue Bayou- Norah Jones featuring M. Ward




Norah Jones official website

Le Chanson/Vidéo du Jour!

J'ai entendu cette chanson au travail....
I heard this song last night while I was at work.  In the first 10 seconds of hearing it I asked, "What is this?"  There was something about the way this song just...grooved, it was undenaible.  I knew it was a cover of "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, but I had to know who the singer was.  After a little searching, I found out it is a french artist called Ben L'Oncle Soul. He is on the Motown label in France.


Ben L'Oncle Soul (real name Benjamin Duterde) self titled debut album was released in May. It includes tracks recorded in english as well as en françias. Unfortunately the album is not available in the states just yet, so we'll just have to wait awhile for the whole album. Until then, you must to listen to this amazing cover of "Seven Nation Army" by Ben L'Oncle Soul






And.......this isn't the first time an R&B/soul artist has covered a song by The White Stripes.  One of my favorite artists, Joss Stone, recorded a cover of "Fell in Love with a Girl" in 2005. Check out the sultry  "Fell in Love with a Boy" by Joss Stone too!

Song/Video of the day (Throwback)

A little while ago, I had conversation with my friend Temi about how important it is to appreciate songs from our past. This music influences the things we listen to today and beyond. So today's song of the day is "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest.  This song was released in 1991 from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. The group had several other memorable hits including, "Can I Kick It?" and "Jazz (We've Got)"


This was hip hop at its finest. I love hip hop that is actually about something, not just bitches, hoes, and money. Take a second and kick back to what is now considered a classic. 
This one's for you Temi!

Song/Video of the Day

"Taller Children" by Elizabeth & The Catapult


Sometimes I don't even know what's on my iPod, but it's songs like this one when I really appreciate the days I just hit shuffle. "Taller Children" just seemed to make a lot of sense to me yesterday. 


The album, Taller Children, was produced by Mike Mogis who has produced for several artists you may know including:
The Faint, Cursive, Bright Eyes, She and Him [Volume One], Rilo Kiley [More Adventurous], and (one of my favorites) Pete Yorn [Back and Fourth].


Elizabeth & The Catapult also have an album due to be released on October 25th titled, The Other Side of Zero.  The band is currently on tour and will be performing at Schubas Tavern in Chicago on October 13th.
Check out the song and video for "Taller Children"



Elizabeth & The Catapult's Official Website:
http://www.elizabethandthecatapult.com/
Schubas Tavern music page:
http://www.schubas.com/Music/Music

Song of the Day

"Orange Sky" by Alexi Murdoch

I woke up this morning and this song was playing in my head.  Almost like I had a dream I was listening to "Orange Sky" and it just kind of stuck.  Some of you know this song from the film Garden State, though it was not featured on the soundtrack.  Others may remember this song from a little show called The O.C.  "Orange Sky" was featured on the shows 1st soundtrack, Music from The O.C.: Mix 1.  "Orange Sky" was also heard on: Ugly Betty, Prison Break, Brothers & Sisters, and House.


Take a listen. I promise you won't regret it.

Song/Video of the day!

"White Knuckles" by OK Go from their album that was released early this year Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
How do they keep coming up with stuff like this?
OK Go will be performing at the House of Blues on October 10th. 









OK Go Official Site

Upcoming Live Shows!!!!

Live shows expose the raw (or lacking) talent of musicians. So I've always got an eye out for what's coming up next, even when I know I can't make it or simply can't afford it. So here is a list of shows in Chicago I would love to see (October looks pretty amazing....just saying)

September 

25th- Of Montreal with special guest Janelle Monaé at the Riviera Theatre

28th and 29th- M.I.A with special guest Rye Rye at the Vic Theatre

October 

2nd- Mike Posner at the House of Blues

8th and 9th- Citizen Cope

10th- Ok Go at the House of Blues

11th- Miike Snow

14th- The New Pornographers at the Riviera Theatre

15th- Massive Attack

20th- Ingrid Michaelson at the Vic Theatre

22nd- Deadmau5 and N.E.R.D. at the Congress Theatre

23rd- The Script at the Riviera Theatre

25th- LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip at the Aragon Ballroom

November

3rd- Sara Bareilles with Cary Brothers and Holly Conlan at the House of Blues

5th- Ben Folds at the Tiviera Theatre

9th- Kate Nash at the Vic Theatre

18th- Donavon Frankenreiter and Ximena Sariana at Double Door

21st- KT Tunstall at the Vic Theatre

24th- Joshua Radin at the Vic Theatre

December

1st- Wicked (that's right, the musical) at the Cadaillac Palace *returning to Chicago until January 23rd*

4th- The Roots at the House of Blues

17th- John Legend at the Horseshoe Casino

31st- The Black Keys with special guest The Greenhornes at the Aragon Ballroom

February

28th- Lady Gaga with special guest Scissor Sisters at the United Center

Riviera Theatre

Congress Theatre

Vic Theatre

Aragon Ballroom

House of Blues

Double Door

Broadway in Chicago

ticketmaster

F**K You...

...is the new single from Cee Lo Green. This former member of Goodie Mob and the more recent Gnarls Barkley, is releasing his 3rd solo album.  The album, The Lady Killer, is due out December 7th. 


In 2006, Cee Lo Green had the biggest song of the year with the debut single "Crazy" from Gnarls Barkley's album St. Elsewhere. From then, Cee Lo has always kept busy by releasing another Gnarls Barkley album with band member Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse and also collaborating with various other musicians including: Common, Diddy, Outkast, The Black Eyed Peas, Amerie, T-Pain, Estelle, T.I., Asher Roth and Bruno Mars. (The linked ones are my favorites)

When asked if there would be another Gnarls Barkley album in a recent Rolling Stone interview, Cee Lo was quoted saying: "We’ll definitely do one more. And that’s so crazy, because we were only supposed to do one. I feel so young. I feel like I can do anything right now. I feel like people are hearing me for the first time and I’ve been around for seventeen years, for god’s sake!"


So for all you Gnarls Barkley fans, (myself included) don't worry there hopefully will be one more album. Even terrible movies get trilogies, why shouldn't a brilliant collaboration like Cee Lo and Danger Mouse get one too?


Cee Lo even has a song featured on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack. The song "What Part of Forever" is an appropriate addition to the film's soundtrack. 


Thanks to my dear friend Cassie(crease!) I found out about this song and video, so I'm passing it along so we can all belt out this song in the shower/car/at work/in class/in church/whatever


Check out the video for Cee Lo Green's new single "Fuck You"





Cee Lo Green's Official Website:
http://www.ceelogreen.com/
Rolling Stone interview:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/198422

My Song of the Day

Yup. It's 3:30am and I've already got a song for my day. It's "Vaporize" by Broken Bells. I can't sleep so I'm shuffling through music and this one came up. I've listened to this song several times since I bought the cd back in July, but I think this may be the first time I really paid close attention to the lyrics.

Stay tuned for a more detailed post on Broken Bells.

Florence + the Machine

So a couple of months ago I was up late checking out random videos and I stumbled across something unlike anything I had seen in a very long time.  It was like modern day kabuki theatre (white makeup included) mashed up with tribal style costumes and little bit of a 60’s beehive backup singer feel (except the ladies were blue).

The video was for "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + the Machine.  Instantly, I was smitten.  Florence + the Machine are based out of the UK and it’s difficult to pin this band into just one genre.  The lead singer, Florence Welch, has so much power behind her voice and in the debut album Lungs, she utilizes it on every single track.  Combined with the bands mass of instruments, Lungs is an album that I usually listen to cranked as loud as possible so I can hear every single detail in the songs.  Great songs for that include: "Dog Days Are Over", "Howl", "Drumming Song", "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)", and "Cosmic Love".  Another stand out track is "Kiss With a Fist".  It’s got a gritty, garage rock feel and has actually been the cause of some controversy due to the lyrical content.

“You hit me once, I hit you back. You gave a kick, I gave a slap. You smashed a plate over my head, then I set fire to our bed…”

With lyrics like that it is understandable how some people think the song is about domestic violence.  Florence says on the blog page of her myspace:

“Kiss with a fist is NOT a song about domestic violence.

it is about two people pushing each other to phsycological extremes because they love each other.  the song is not about one person being attacked, or any actual physical violence, there are no victims in this song. sometimes the love two people have for each other is a destructive force. but they cant have it any other way, because its what holds them together, they enjoy the drama and pushing each others buttons.  the only way to express these extreme emotions is with extreme imagery, all of which is fantasism and nothing in the song is based on reality.

leona lewis's bleeding love isn't actually about her bleeding. this isnt really about punching someone in the face. thank you and goodnight. x”

Florence + the Machine has been active in the UK since Lungs was released in July of 2009 and has recently gained momentum here in the US because some of the songs have been featured in the media.  "Dog Days Are Over" can be heard on the trailer of the film, Eat Pray Love.  Kiss With a Fist can be heard on the Jennifer’s Body soundtrack (I can’t name anyone who actually saw/enjoyed that movie).  "I’m Not Calling You A Liar" can be heard on the commercial for a new fall show on Fox, called Lone Star.  "Cosmic Love", the most recent single (and one of my standout favorites on the album), was heard on several shows like the 6th season of Grey’s Anatomy, the 7th season of one of my guilty pleasures, So You Think You Can Dance, and on the 1st season of the hit show V.  There’s even a song on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, called "Heavy in Your Arms", which is not featured on the album Lungs.

Florence + the Machine has been announced as one the performing acts for one the biggest nights for music of the year, the MTV Video Music Awards next Sunday, September 12th.  Be sure to tune in for what I expect to be a stunning performance. 

Check out Florence + the Machine official site

Random Song of the Day

The Black Keys preformed at Lollapalooza just a couple of weeks ago. I was at Lolla that Friday but sadly, I missed out on their set. I did see DJ Ana Sia, Matt & Kim, Hot Chip and Lady Gaga though. I was hot, sweaty, drunk, dehydrated and made some random friends. Ultimately, the day was a success.

The random song of the day is "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys. Plain and simple, this song rocks. And the video is pretty funny too. 

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.

In 2001 saw a music video for a funky little tune called "Like a Feather"  Instantly, I was hooked and ever since then I’ve been a huge fan of Nikka Costa.  Normally when you listen to a song, you don’t really pay attention to who’s doing the leg work, who’s in the band?  Who is the producer? 

This particular producer/DJ, Mark Ronson has been a huge part of popular and critically acclaimed music since the early part of the decade. Since breaking onto the scene with Costa’s “Like a Feather”, Mark Ronson has kept very busy producing and mixing several albums that you may know including:

Sean Paul- Dutty Rock

Macy Gray-The Trouble with Being Myself

Ol’ Dirty Bastard- Osirus

Lily Allen- Alright Still

Rhymefest- Blue Collar

Christina Aguilera- Back to Basics

Amy Winehouse- Back to Black

Wale-  Attention Deficit

Adele- 19

Estelle- Shine

Nas- Untitled

Solange Knowles- Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams

Daniel Merriweather- Love & War

Mark Ronson wrote all the songs for his first album in 2003, Here Comes The Fuzz. 

It was an eclectic album with guest artists such as, Nikka Costa, Sean Paul, Daniel Merriweather, Mos Def, Nappy Roots, and Nate Dogg.

In 2007 Ronson released his second album, Version, which was full of cover songs.  He put a big band style sound on songs like “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” by Coldplay, “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” By The Smiths, “Toxic” by Britney Spears, and “Just” by Radiohead.  It was an album I constantly listened to on repeat when I first got my hands on it. 

So needless to say, I am ridiculously excited for Ronson’s latest project: Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.  The album Record Collection is due October 5th here in the states (September 27th in the UK).  The first single “Bang Bang Bang” featuring Q-Tip and MNDR was released in early July and a music video came along a few weeks later. The video is a throwback to a 70’s style Japanese talk show with Tron like effects. Check it out here!

At It Again

So this is a 2nd take at blogging. I've got a lot more to time maintain and do research these days and I'm hoping that this time around I can keep it going better. If this reaches more than the 7 or so people who have encouraged me to blog again that is fantastic, if not, then that's fine too. Just sharing another voice out on the vast internet.
Thanks
Stephan