Archive for May 2010
Robyn Music Video: Dancing On My Own
I can’t stay away from electro-pop for too long especially if it’s coming from someone as rad as Robyn. As previously mentioned, her self-titled album (which was re-released in the US) was one of my favorite records of 2008. Not only was the pop music stellar that time around but the videos that went along to hits such as “Konichiwa Bitches,” “Cobrastyle,” “Handle Me,” “With Every Heartbeat ft. Kleerup” and plenty more were just as entertaining.
The song “Dancing On My Own” should sound familiar to you since it’s only been on my front page for three weeks during Wild Tonic’s mini-hiatus (and it was on last month’s mixtape). It turns out the track which I totally obsessed with is the first to get a video from her latest album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (the first of a trilogy) and it’s classic Robyn. I have to admit that it’s not as fun to watch as her other videos but it definitely gets the point across when it comes to heartbreak – and she looks fabulous dancing to it with her fist pumps in the air and hair pushed out of her face this time.
Check it! A mash-up of her song, “Fembot” and Salt N Peppa’s “Push It” is also available after the jump.
The Steelwells: This Dance Is Out Of Your Hands, El Capitan
The Steelwells have become one of my recent obsessions within the last few weeks. After we featured them in our BeatCrave Fav series, I got so hooked I am now probably responsible for at least 50 plays on their MySpace page. That’s also saying a lot since I completely loathe the process of MySpace as it has to load and make any network I’m on run slower than normal. If any band has a MySpace I’m willing to keep open as a tab in one of my many windows during my constant laptop-life, they earn big points in my book.
Their most recent EP, “Shallow On The Draft,” is chock-full of songs I adore such as “This Dance Is Out Of Your Hands” and perhaps the most well-known “Boxes.” I plan on posting music from many more Orange County artists in the near future (as that area is currently spilling over with great talent), but The Steelwells have definitely grabbed my heart first with their soaring melodies and infectious textured rhythms which paint lyrical murals I enjoy getting lost in.
Take a listen below!
The Growlers: Something Somone Jr.
If you are an indie loving music freak like me and love to support the hard working local bands in the Los Angeles community, you were most likely at the Silver Lake Jubilee this past weekend. For its first year, it came off as a huge success with their location and lineup of food trucks trumping certain aspects of Sunset Junction.
Although they didn’t have national headliners, later acts such as The Growlers from Costa Mesa got us dancing (and some moshing) for the first time on Saturday. I dig the psychedelic roots vibe they have going with bits of surf elements inserted in here and there but what I love most is Brooks Nielson’s vocals which have such an appealing authority.
“Old Cold River” has great lyrics such as “They drug me down to the old cold river/They’re gonna throw me in/Cuz I’ve been caught sleeping with the daughter/Of the only man in town who can swim” but “Something Somone Jr.” below is a prime example of what Nielson can do with his vocals as he ironically growls a bit during the chorus.
Miike Snow: The Rabbit
After having such a huge success with their self-titled album last year, Miike Snow returns with a new track titled “The Rabbit.” It’s one of their more upbeat songs and has that signature hook the three-piece band is so good at writing.
Starting out with carnival sounds, the song goes right into the electronica goodness that backs Andrew Wyatt’s distinctive lead vocals. They’ll be playing the first day of Sasquatch Festival but will be returning for a couple of more shows in Los Angeles as they had to add another date based on demand.
Check their new track out below!
The Black Keys Music Video: Tighten Up
The Black Keys released their new album, Brothers, a few days ago and although I was shocked at how different it sounded from Attack and Release, the heavy soul and almost r&B vibe has definitely grown on me. To be honest, if Dan Auerbach’s vocals are there, they can never really lose me.
The video for their first official single, “Tighten Up” comes along with a new approach in regards to visuals accompanying their lyrics. Even though most believed this was the video, the one below is real and it’s also better.
We get to see Auerbach and Patrick Carney act as nonchalant dads while their two fictional sons play together. After a little girl causes havoc between the two sons, the fathers reluctantly break the fight up but soon find themselves in the same predicament they were just trying to resolve. Check the hilarious video out below!
Teen Inc.: Fountains, Friend of the Night
A few months ago, I discovered Los Angeles duo, Teen Inc. and automatically fell hard for them despite the fact that they only have two songs available to the public right now. After a day of playing these two songs on repeat all day, I had forgotten their name (with frustration following immediately afterward) and kept trying to search LA Youth or LA Teens for some reason. I’m not exactly sure why I thought they had “LA” in their name.
However, a few months later and I am just back at square one playing their songs, “Fountains” and “Friend of the Night” on constant repeat. A fellow fan once described their sound as “Balaeric SADE daysounds” which is fairly accurate but what I also hear in their sound is a little bit of Steely Dan and who doesn’t love some Steely Dan? Running around in the same crowd as Ariel Pink and Nite Jewel and combining sounds from the past and the present is completely slaying me right now.
Take a listen to the two songs below. It’s a lot of funk for a band whose name sounds so young.
Evan Voytas: Sad, Like Hearts Can Be
Evan Voytas is one of those many musicians in Los Angeles who can go with the flow of just about anything. He’s constantly releasing his own material – which is electro-pop done right (ie. “Astro” and “Getting Higher”) – but he’s played with a ton of musicians as a backing band member as well. One of his most recent gigs had him playing in Flying Lotus’ second show ever. This Wednesday, he’ll be opening up for the sweet Dragonette at The Echo and you can bet your ass I’ll be there covering it for BeatCrave. So look out for a review soon after.
For now, take a listen to his latest – “Sad, Like Hearts Can Be” below!
White Hinterland: No Logic (Alan Wilkis Remix)
White Hinterland (aka Casey Dienel) writes songs that have lush soundscapes with her sultry voice and her out of the box arrangements with her band. There is a very natural grace to the way she lays those piano riffs around her unconventional vocal melodies and that is why Dienel is still relevant to the music scene no matter which moniker she may be performing under.
Another artist who likes to take things out of the ordinary scope is Alan Wilkis, who is building a pretty decent reputation with his remixes of indie songs alongside his own work. Sure, there are tons of musicians who spit out new remixes every day but Wilkis, who is consistent with the quality of his work, stands out among the newer generation of artists remixing other artists. He recently had the genius idea of reworking White Hinterland’s “No Logic” and it’s a great listen considering the fact that he keeps the heaviness of her vocals but brightens and lightens it up with his delicate tweaks. I’ve had this track on repeat for a month or so now and I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t end up doing the same.
Grab it below!
Vanaprasta: All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem cover)
Although I’ve gotten to know the boys of Vanaprasta pretty well after spending 2 days in a van (which they call Scream 3) on the way to and back from SXSW this year, nothing really stops me from wanting to constantly cover these guys when they have so much credibility.
Their EP, Forming the Shapes, was a nice little teaser but since the release of that collection of songs I’ve been able to hear a few more enticing tunes such as “G Minus” and see them completely rock the Troubadour just last week. Every single member in this band is pivotal to their adrenaline-pumping arena-worthy sound and it’s completely obvious when they play a show. Lead vocalist Steven Wilkin may have grown a massive beard within the last few months but at least he’s got the vocal chops to back that Jim Morrison aesthetic up.
They recently contributed a cover of LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends” to an APLA Benefit album titled Uncovering A Cure with other artists such as Robotanists. Although I’m a fan of LCD Soundsystem’s electronica fusion with indie rock, Vanaprasta’s rendition is a solid and refreshing rock and roll spin on the well-known tune.
Check it out and grab the mp3 from the widget below!
Mixtape: A Blogwave Summer
Hi, friends. I apologize for the mini-hiatus we have here but I’ve decided today is the day to make a strong comeback. Since I feel a bit guilty about being gone for so long, you get an extra special present on Wild Tonic today! I usually provide mixtapes at the end of every month to let you know what I’ve been especially digging but, today, you get a mixtape of a different kind. To celebrate our buddy’s success over at DailyBeatz, 20 music blogs have collaborated with Chris to put together a soundtrack for the upcoming summer season.
There are both old and new songs in the mix and overall, a must-have for your iPod to get pumped up for the change in weather. Wild Tonic’s contribution is the classic Telepopmusik song, “Breathe,” because it has the pulsating beats which sound like that warm heat, but it also has cool breezy vocals from the talented Angela McCluskey.
The tracklist is below the jump and includes all the blogs who have contributed a song. Every single one of them is worth following as we’re all just a bunch of freaks who love music and write about it for you. Most importantly, make sure you head on over to original post at DailyBeatz and wish the site a happy first birthday!
