Because Sometimes I'm Late: The Steets -- "Trust Me"

I honestly had no clue who The Streets was before this morning. I guess I am just not "cool" enough to like it, but HA! I found him! Take that British rap fans... Yeah.. I am not funny sometimes. Anyway, Mike Skinner, a.k.a. The Streets, is a British rapper who I just got to hear for the first time this morning and I can say that I am already in love. His flow along with his fantastic, fun, but never cheesy production makes for some serious eargasms. I have been listening to his new album, Computers and Blues, all day and I can't get enough of it. The first single from the album, which dropped in late 2010 (hence the title of this post), "Trust Me," is a clear highlight for me. It's the perfect combination of jovial production and super sprightly rapping. Just great. Seriously, if you don't like this song you don't know anything... or you just don't like Brits rapping. The latter makes much more sense to me.

-- Greg

Local Natives -- "Who Knows Who Cares" (Take Away Show)

Local Natives was easily one of, if not the, best new band of 2010. So, what better to do with your career than play a Take Away Show? This is easily going up there with one of my all time favorite Take Away Shows. This is a gorgeous rendition of a fantastic song. Enjoy!


Local Natives | Who Knows Who Cares | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

-- Greg

VIDEO: Cloud Nothings -- "Forget You All The Time"

Cloud Nothings, a young power-pop outfit out of Cleveland, OH, have been my musical crush as of recent. Their self-titled debut immediatly had me asking for more. Without a doubt a record that is one of the most memorable and innocent of the year. Furthermore, the quintessential gem of this record for me is, "Forget You All The Time." There is an absolute timeless angst to this song. It reminds me a great deal of The Replacements, Let It Be era; another album that I love dearly. Anyway, this song has totally dominated my iTunes as of recent and I hope it does for you as well. Enjoy!


Cloud Nothings - Forget You All the Time (Live) from Nick Dierl on Vimeo.

-- Greg

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: The Mummers

Remember the carousels you used to ride as a little kid? I do. Every summer, Long Beach Island, New Jersey was my playground, and Fantasy Island amusement park my jungle gym. At six years old, the only ride you were big enough to go on was the carousel in the center of the park. Being at only 4'', the carousel made you feel like the shit. Your imagination ran wild when riding that thing; the sights of gold laurel trim, the celebratory music playing in the background, the feeling of being above everyone else on top of your plastic horse, bear, or dragon (everyone raced for the dragon seat)...it was all there and it was enough to make you feel like a God for a mere three minutes.

England's The Mummers creates music that instantly takes you back to those childhood memories, where it actually felt good to be a kid and you didn't have to worry about last minute papers, deadlines, or the one potato you have left at the bottom of your dormitory fridge (my current situation  ah thank you). The Mummers are blissfully romantic, orchestral, composite, and charming. Blending the big band, Baroque orchestration with contemporary pop arrangements, The Mummers breathe new life into a form of music that should be heard and appreciated more. Singer Raissa Khan-Panni sounds like a more competent, understandable Bjork, soaring high and below some of the nicest singing I've heard in awhile. String and horn arrangements remind you of another not-so-distant band, Beirut. In fact, they could be cousins. The Mummers follow a strong lineage of Old World European arrangements (their name refers to the medieval traveling musicians and actors that traveled from house to house), with boisterous, humorous horns and strings that lure you into a Wonderland of sorts with the Mad Hatter as the conductor.

Recently, The Mummers covered the Black Keys' "Everlasting Light" off of Brothers. I've had consistent eargasms ever since.

The Black Keys -- "Everlasting Night" (The Mummers Remix)

They also sound pretty damn good live.




--Mike

Woodsman -- "Insects"

While on my morning (1:00 PM) adventure around the blogosphere I stumbled on a band that really smacked my inner ear with a sound and timbre that I haven't heard in a quite some time. As many of you could assume by the musical selections on the blog, Mike and I are massive My Morning Jacket fans. Unfortunately, it has been too long since their last record and I am starting to get antsy without any new material coming out. However, Woodsman's Rare Forms and the lead track, "Insects," has really stepped up in the last week in terms of filling the hole in my iTunes library for MMJ loveliness. Woodsman, a Colorado-based band, could be MMJ's more rootsy and more experimental younger step brother. I say step because I don't want people listening to the album and saying, "well, that was weird... that didn't sound like MMJ." Rare Forms is certainly an "experimental" record, but the MMJ similarities are without a doubt there. Woodsman's Rare Forms is, to me at least, a record I could have heard MMJ putting out 7 to 8 years ago had they taken a slightly different direction with their music. I don't even know why I defending this comparison. Me comparing a band to MMJ is like saying they shit gold. Also, big ups to I Guess I'm Floating for the mp3 and band suggestion. Good stuff!

Woodsman -- "Insects"

-- Greg