If you have yet to hear of Santigold you’ve missed out on up-beat, intriguing music from yet another Brooklyn-based artist. She will fuel your house parties late into the night and guide your guests’ way to the dance floor, or that spot in the living room with the 9x12’ shag capet to figuratively cut a rug. Santigold remains woefully underrated. Please, help spread the good word.
Me Rehuso - Danny Ocean
Looking like the southern California sibling of Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood, Venezuelan-born Danny Ocean has several people in my house doing their very best to speak Spanish. However poor our Spanish, our feelings for this work remain strong and enduring. A friend mentioned it had to do with saving the love for one lover and spending it on another. Sad, not terribly romantic, and maybe snarky, the song will stir something in your heart and maybe bring you close to tears. Danny Ocean’s work here is both incomprehensible and stirring.
It's the Light - Gavin Turek
The disco-esque rhythm of L.A.-based Gavin Turek comes as a welcome reprieve from the auditory assaults of Taylor Swift and Mylie Cyrus. When I heard the groove in PDX’s Stacked Sandwich Shop, I just HAD to know who was responsible. As it turns it, it was the cashier, whose taste in music has proven worth its weight in Ruben gold. As for Gavin - I LOVE the hair.
Some - Steve Lacy
A renaissance of funk and soul stirs in parts of contemporary music. When first heard, this rebirth of funk sounds whisked my back to a time when I first heard early 70’s Bay Area Funk (a la Ebony - coming soon!). Skating rinks and vinyl stores (according to my father, funk aficionado) were much better places then and there. It’s a beautiful happening that with the right amount of encouragement and hype will continue to grow and tempt the talented to imitate. One such talent, Steve Lacy, has given at least some of himself to the rebirth of funk. You’ll be as appreciative as I am, no doubt.
Diamond Day - Vashti Bunyan
If you like folk music, as I am sometimes want, then you’ll enjoy this gem from the 1970’s folk artist, Vashti Bunyan. A teacher of my son made him a CD, and this song appeared alongside theme songs from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Beatles and Queen - a good teacher indeed. The song is charming and cute but not without a sense of adventure. I imagine it captures what so many wispy-voiced indie females long to capture but cannot, striking as they do, an annoying and cliched chord that betrays too much effort.
Here’s to the long-lost art of folk music.
Vashti Bunyan
Golden Hour - Prince Innocence
Besides the catchy beat and soothing vocals (and a very attractive female vocalist), I’d say there’s a lot more to learn about Prince Innocence.. They seem unlikely to reach stardom or to garner more than the half-a-million listens their Spotify songs have already done. None of that of course should stop you, faithful listener, from letting this jam rock at your next house party.
Prince Innocence
Balloons - Foals
Foals came to my knowledge in 2008, year of the iPod, when for the first time music was available at my fingertips and songs available for a dollar. The version of Balloons cannot be found anywhere else (the official one is all I’ve been able to find since), but fret not - attached below is a far superior version than the official. Quirkier and more abrasive, and much cooler, by my exacting standards of cool.
Since their first album, Antidotes, Foals has taken on a more mainstream sound, with predictable results in growing popularity and a few choice appearances on TV soundtracks. Foals and their fans have been reticent about Antidotes; but ignoring or moving on from a first is commonplace for most bands, particularly when subsequent works prove more popular than debuts. For fans of Foals who haven’t heard, let alone knew that Foals created something called Antidotes, going back in time to the primordial sound should prove fun, if no other reason than smirking as one would at a pic of a supermodel’s awkward 8th grade yearbook photo.
Foals’ debut album, Antidotes
Gotti - Takeshi 6ix9ine and the fall of Daniel Hernandez
Rapper Takeshi 6ix9ine has placed himself in the unenviable position of being hounded by both grave federal charges and former gang associates. Federal authorities detained the 21-year old for indulging (and dutifully recording) in gangster villainy. Not poser stuff, but the real stuff violent movies are made of. 6ix9ine’s former associates were unlike the rap artist in that they perpetrated serious crimes, including drug dealing, robbery and attempted murder. While they no doubt enjoyed the credibility that accompanied gang-life and the fear such membership struck in the minds of rivals, they don’t seem to have been in the game to supplement their rap game. The New York Times indicates that Takeshi 6ix9ine approached the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods in a bid to augment his hip-hop bona fides.
6ix9ine is cooperating with authorities, no doubt to reduce the chance of a life sentence. As is to be expected, talking to the feds may earn leniency in sentencing, but whatever he gains in reduced jail-time, he'll lose by way of street cred, and more precariously, good-standing among those who stand to lose at 6ix9ine’s cooperation. From all accounts, little distinction is made by gangs between a former member’s cooperating and a former member’s snitching, which means that for the former member, the end result is the same. It’s ironic that the very gang membership 6ix9ine courted, attained and used to enhance his stardom may cripple his fame by threatening his freedom, or worse.
The New York Times has written several articles on Takeshi 6ix9ine; here’s a link to one.
Sauce It Up - Lil Uzi Vert
A constant on my “new rap jams” playlist; a mainstay among my most recommended hip-hop artists; a bona-fide legend. Lil Uzi Vert is witty, playful, acute and, even though in the throes of hip-hop stardom, nonchalant. He rarely using the platform to threaten rivals or otherwise establish dominance in chest-pumping way common to too many artists. He is somehow, almost always, concerned with being fun (and funny). Most people will never know the world Vert occupies; but he brings listeners as close as possible to that world of “Lambos” and “Rarri’s”. Listeners also get a sense of the musician himself through heart-felt lyrics. His image remains as intriguing as his music. Buyers should take caution before listening: after a listen or two, you won’t be the only dad shamelessly bumping Vert down the block.
Lil Uzi Vert
Feel It In My Bones - Blackbird Blackbird
Dreamy and soporific, Blackbird Blackbird’s Feel It in My Bones has enjoyed steady repetition in my car and house. It’s worth noting that Mikey Maramag - the man behind Blackbird Blackbird - has a background in heavy metal and hardcore, eventhough such an influence is hard, if not impossible, to guess from this melodic offering. The wonderful thing about music, at least as it is composed now, is that few musicians work within the confines or are influenced by a single genre.
Mikey Maramag Blackbird Blackbird
Yam Yam - No Vacation
San Francisco's No Vacation may have the most beautiful song floating around chez Swanson. Dreamy, understated and heartfelt, the song brings to mind lazy, sensual mornings with your lover. We had the pleasure of seeing them open for Sales. We had no idea at the time they were so good.
Danger Incorporated - Online
Atlanta-based duo Danger Incorporated - besides their song being great, not much else to say.
Various Songs - Broadcast
The year of the MacBook and iPod was also the year I dove headlong into new music. During that time I found a number of bands who would've otherwise remained under the radar, lost to me and my friends.
Broadcast is a mid-2000 band led by the late Trish Keenan. Their music has graced many an iPod night at both the Red Room (a skateboard-inspired dive bar) and The Pike (also a dive, just not as seedy and much better lit than the Red Room) - both in Long Beach, CA. It was common for people to inquire about the music they heard; it was prior to the creation of Shazam, and I was happy to oblige. On a side note, iPod nights inspired me to DJ.
I've posted two originals and a cover (Tears in the Typing Pool). I hope you'll help spread the word about this under appreciated band.
Running - Computer Magic
Had the pleasure to see Computer Magic in concert last year. She's a near-solo act who you've probably heard on a Lexus commercial (that's where I first heard of her). She's extremely friendly and approachable, thus, it's that much easier to wish her all the best. Enjoy.
Computer Magic (Danielle Johnson/Danz)
See Me - Rich Brian
A nice flow and respectable beats spell the beginnings of greatness. Rich Brian sounds thuggish even if he looks anything but. His sound is threatening and raw, and if it weren't for this pic you'd have no idea this guy was born Indonesia and is of Chinese descent (not from L.A., and not Korean, as I thought). Hip-hop has long transcended ethnicity; it's about time we celebrated the music more than the image of the singer. Nice work, Rich Brian.
Aahhyeahh - Oliver Francis
As part of the effort to promote unknown musicians, I give to you, faithful reader, Oliver Francis. Hopefully we'll hear more from him. Until then, enjoy.
Tennis - Yours Conditionally
It's not easy to write about Tennis. Their music isn't dominated by a single instrument or sound; there's no amazing guitar or synth; no flamboyant drumming or bass guitarist. A drummer, a guitarist, and a superb vocalist and keyboardist, make up the band. If they didn't compose fantastic music, I'd say they're plain - but they show that plain can also be remarkable. Easy to listen to and a delight to show off at parties, Tennis has succeeded in sounding better over the decade I've listened to them. Their latest album may be their best, as a complete work.
The first song listed below is a sample of from their latest work; Origins, the song below that, is a classic.
Still Corners - Berlin Lovers
In a music world dominated by female vocalists and a reliance on synths and drum machines, Still Corners stands out among a stellar cast of accomplished musicians. The band hails from London, a city just as dreary and rain-drenched as Seattle, home of the band's iconic record label, Sub-Pop.
Kinds - Hands
By Spotify standards, a small band has no bio, less than 100K followers, and the best song, fewer than 50K plays. Such is the case with Kinds, a band without a bio and, therefore, hails from somewhere I haven't a clue. In an effort to bring attention to a band (whose others songs I can't speak positively about because there's only one other song besides the one in this post), I've posted this groovy jam.
You can be the only person in the crowd who knows about these guys; you'll have the cool kids asking questions; you will be cool.
You're welcome.
Grizzly Bear - Three Rings
As a good baseball mitt, Grizzly Bear's latest work requires some getting used to. But just as that glove, it eventually yields to the contours of the wearer's hand. Listeners will come to appreciate the technical genius and work of restraint that makes up much of this album. Patient listeners will in time develop an enduring affinity for one of Brooklyn’s finest.
I'm in love with three or four songs and haven't even read the lyrics, which I’m sure are stalwart. The album has given rise to praise from respectable news outlets, most notably, the Atlantic to the Wall Street Journal. Someone, please, add curious coven to Grizzly Bear’s list of laudatory, utterly respectable, outlets.
Well done, gents.
