I definitely didn’t expect to see this today, the newest leak from MGMT’s upcoming album, Congratulations. This song is all over the place, showing flashes of pop, funk and psychedelic influences, all the while coming together to create that signature MGMT sound. And you can definitely hear Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips producer) at work on this one, giving it a slightly more raw feel than what we might be used to from the Brooklyn boys. Congratulations will be available April 13th via Sony/Columbia.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: MGMT – Flash Delirium

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Damon Albarn has taken fans many places on his almost twenty years of musicianship.  I can also say that as a musician myself, he frustrates me to no end, because I can hardly begin to imagine how a person can possess the same amount of creativity and direction he does.  From Blur to “The Good, The Bad, and The Queen”, and his solo work, Albarn likes to switch up his musical and conceptual direction, and the project, Gorillaz, might be the single most important part of his career in that respect.  But this isn’t about that, it’s about the newest release under the Gorillaz name, “Plastic Beach”.

Ride out the album review with one of the tracks from the album:

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: Gorillaz – Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (feat. Snoop Dogg and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)

For ten years now, Gorillaz has been a huge part of musical innovation with only three main studio releases.  The direction and style is created and laid out by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett and is carried out through a massive group effort with as many musical guests you can imagine until your ears melt.  To me personally, their releases have each carried a unique, underlying taste to them which has always been perfectly timed.  Their first, self-titled release in 2001 had a very relaxed, acid-hop/trip-hop, and dark tone to it and was extremely refreshing.  Then, in 2005 Demon Days was released taking a more refined and produced touch to their important hip-hop and rap elements, adding a more eclectic range of instrumentation and lyrical content.  Now, in 2010, Gorillaz almost does a 180 and is very pop and electronically driven.

After listening to Plastic Beach, it’s obvious where Albarn is directing us.  The previously released single, “Stylo” perfectly resembles the album in its pop and electronic roots.  But there are many surprises along the way.

The hip-hop musical guests in Plastic Beach are fantastic.  Artists such as Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Kano and Bashy are heard in the album, each giving their own flair and style to the overall concept.  To no one’s surprise, Mos Def shines through incredibly in his performances.  His rapping in the song “Sweepstakes” is superb and should not be missed.

Along with the usual slew of hip-hop guests, the fantastic Hypnotic Brass Ensemble makes frequent appearances as well as Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, and Lou Reed.  These guests make key contributions to the album and give it depth and emotion.  It’s nice to see Albarn and Hewlett thinking outside the box collaboratively, but I would have loved to see more returning artists from previous releases. (MF Doom, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.)

Plastic Beach shouldn’t be missed.  Gorillaz have always taken the current trend of music and have innovated and raised the bar through experimentation and collaboration.  In this current trend of electronica and synthpop, it is great to see it being manipulated and rearranged to make an amazing concept album that makes you actually think about what you are hearing.

I see it as a modern day concept album full of catchy tunes and flowing melodic arrangements, but still putting a vivid picture in the listeners head.  I’m sure this will keep me listening to Plastic Beach for a long time and trying to find my own interpretation of what the “Plastic Beach” really is.

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Nearly three years since the release of the acclaimed Challengers, The New Pornographers give us a taste of their highly anticipated project, Together. If this powerful yet catchy track is at all an indicator of what is to come, it would be safe to say that the Vancouver-based supergroup has done it again. And it looks like we are getting the full roster back for the LP, as A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins, Kurt Dahle, Todd Fancey and Blaine Thurier all join the ranks. Together will be in stores May 4th, via Matador Records. Pre-order now!

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together)

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This is your Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve. We will try to bring you one “chill” track every day. This is for when you get home and you are trying to unwind. You reach for that glass of wine or that unlit Black & Mild or maybe you reach for something more herbal. This track is for those times. We will try to bring you at least one a day. We are just your milkmen and I’m here to make a delivery. Chill…..

Today’s delivery is brought to you by Easy Star All-Stars. A lot of people were introduced to this group back in 2006 when they dropped the Radiohead cover album entitled Radiodread. The album was a filled with dubbed/reggae versions of classic Radiohead tracks and these guys really are able to keep the essence of the original song yet make the song their own. The track i’m bringing to you today is “Within You Without You” which features Matisyahu and its from their latest album entitled Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band which is a tribute album to The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The track is very trance-y and melodic but it is these qualities that make it worthy of a Daily 2%. You may be reminded of groups like Thievery Corporation when listening. Check out the track and chill….

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: Easy Star All-Stars – Within You Without You ft. Matisyahu

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Here’s the video of Nneka performing her song “Heartbeat” on Letterman in case you missed it. Nneka is the Nigerian-German singer/songwriter who just recently released her newest album entitled Concrete Jungle. The album just came out on Feb 2nd so you aren’t really behind if you are just now hearing about her. She’s been around for a minute but this is her first US release. The song “Heartbeat” has so much soul and emotion put into it and the heartbeat rhythm just puts you into a little trance. I’ve also included another song from her album just to give you a little sample. Check out the video and the tracks below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: Nneka – Heartbeat

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: Nneka – Showin’ Love

• www.myspace.com/nnekaworld
• 

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RJD2 is a busy man now that his latest album has officially been released. The album, The Colossus, was just released on the 19th so it was a great pleasure for us to be able to speak with him after such a major release even though we only had a chance to ask some rather softball type questions. Check out the interview below and definitely go buy his latest album, especially considering the fact that RJ is  in control of all aspects of his album release with his own label.

Here’s a track, from the new album, to ride on while you read the interview:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]RJD2 – Games You Can Win (Feat. Kenna)

EM: How many records do you have in your collection?

RJD2: Never counted, but probably in the range of 5000. Not a huge collection by any standards, really.

EM: How would you describe the state of hip-hop as it is today?

RJD2: It actually seems like rap music is improving right now. I see the success of acts that are really just doing straight forward, raw music- Jay Electronica, Fashawn, and even all the way up to Wayne it seems like there is a focus on lyricism and just making good music. I mean, it really is hard to make broad assessments of music genres when you are only looking at isolated artists, but for those who care to, it seems like there is promise.

EM: Who’s your favorite super hero and why?

RJD2: Does link count? If so, Link, cause Legend Of Zelda is probably my favorite game franchise of all time. I never cared for comics, I was a game fan since day one.

EM: What was the most fun project you’ve think you’ve done to date and why?

RJD2: I couldn’t pick one, really. Everything is fun-or at least educational-for its own reasons. But I sure am having a fun time watching the release of my new album. Does that count?

EM: What can we as fans expect from you and from RJ’s Electrical Connection in the near future?

RJD2: Obviously, “The Colossus” is the most immediate one. Then, I’m going to do a sort of modified/inverted/instrumental version of the album. I’ve got at least one side project thing I want to put out. I’ve got a record that’s almost done with one of the singers on the album-Aaron Livingston. Who knows what else?

EM: How does it feel to own your own studio and label after being in the industry for 10+ years?

RJD2: Pretty rewarding. It really gives me a sense of freedom; not only in being able to do what I want and release what I want, but also to be sustainable about how im going about music.

EM: You have a wide range of genres that you dabble in but who are some artists you routinely listen to you in your free time?

RJD2: Stevie Wonder, Vangelis, The Impressions, Queen. But I’m usually exploring music I haven’t heard yet, lately.

EM: Do you have any habits you always keep when producing an album or any superstitions?

RJD2: I guess so. I always try to record as much as possible for a record; more songs than necessary, so you can pick and choose. I Don’t ever drink in the studio. I try to keep it clean. I try not to force the process; if its not working, I go do something else.

EM: What’s a typical day for RJ like?

RJD2: Wake up, brush teeth, feed dogs, make coffee, eat, take dogs to the park. Back home and work til about 5pm. Feed dogs, cook dinner, and either relax or work for another 4-5 hours. In bed by 11pm. Unless im on tour, then its rip and run all day.

EM: We know you lost Camu Tao a while back and was wondering if you wanted to possibly share a good memory about him with your fans.

RJD2: Wow, so many. Here’s a funny one: it’s 1998, or maybe 1999. Me, Copy, Camu, Adrian, and Nelson Morales all drive from Ohio out to NYC to do some things for Bobitto Garcia. He gets us a spot at the Nuyorican Café, and we did Fat Beats in Philly as well. Thru the whole trip, Camu was riding shotgun in a minivan. He didn’t want to relinquish that seat, ever. So we are in NYC after the gig, and I get in the shotgun seat after immediately calling it; he doesn’t even have a chance to shove me out of the way. No fight, im already in the seat. I didn’t care that much about sitting shotgun, I just thought it was an opportunity to mess with him. He just explodes, and says “Im not getting in the van, fuck you guys”. He walks off down the street at 2am by himself. Eventually, I got out and gave him the seat, and he came back. But it was hilarious.

We appreciate the time RJ was able to spend answering our questions and highly recommend that you go pick up his newest album from the store or from iTunes. This album marks the 10th year that RJD2 has really had his footprint on the scene and it also marks his first release under his own label.

• www.rjselectricalconnections.com
• www.myspace.com/rjd2
• 

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This is your Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve. We will try to bring you one “chill” track every day. This is for when you get home and you are trying to unwind. You reach for that glass of wine or that unlit Black & Mild or maybe you reach for something more herbal. This track is for those times. We will try to bring you at least one a day. We are just your milkmen and I’m here to make a delivery. Chill…..

Today’s delivery is brought to you by a group called 10Ft Ganja Plant. That’s right folks that’s their actual name and you couldn’t think of a better name once you have listened to their stuff. They make a lot of great classic dub reggae that’s perfect for a sunny day (regardless of the temperature) to chill out to. These guys hail from New York and have always been quite a mystery to most folks because they are known for not naming their guest artists and just keeping low-key. They have released 4 albums to date and the the song i’m bringing to you today is from their Bass Chalice album and the track is called “Blood Money”. Everybody could use a little more reggae in their life so check out the track and relax….

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: 10 Ft. Ganja Plant – Blood Money

• www.myspace.com/10footganjaplant

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I was recently introduced to a folk-rock band called The Headlocks and i’m so glad for this introduction because these guys make some really amazing music. I’m a huge fan of live/folk music and a lot of the songs made by these guys easily fits that description. These guys have a really amazing layered sound that is missing from a lot of new music nowadays. Many would classify The Headlocks as a “jam band” and you definitely get that vibe in a lot of their songs from their latest album because it just feels like these guys really enjoy jamming out together. They have amazing vocals that are backed with a great group of instrumentalists.

One of the best things about this band is they have such an eclectic choice of music that they play. In one song you may hear rock mixed with folk mixed with a little soul sprinkled with some blues and it all sounds great mixed together. The track that sticks out the most to me right now is “Amen to Good Charles” which is a great lively song that wont disappoint if you are in the right mindset and ready to enjoy some light-hearted music. The Headlocks just recently released their debut album entitled Cuckoo Bird and below are a few of the tracks that stood out to me the most. Check them out and check out the bands website and myspace for more.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: The Headlocks – Made Of Fire

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: The Headlocks – Amen Good Charles

Album Details:

Tracklisting:

1. Me or You
2. Driving In The Dark
3. Shelter
4. Freeze the Frame
5. The Round Up
6. Ways and Means
7. Made of Fire
8. I Freak Out Too
9. Out In The Sun
10. The Watcher (All the World’s At Play)
11. Amen Good Charles
12. Another Flood
13. It’s a Wonderful Life

• www.theheadlocks.com
• www.myspace.com/headlocksmusic

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There has been some buzz going around about The Flaming Lips making a cover for Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album. I think it sounds like a pretty good idea…but it’s just hard for me to understand why they want to do an album pretty much no one on the planet could make better. They do a pretty good cover of “Eclipse” her at KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. They stopped by to talk a little about their recently released album, ‘Embryonic‘.

The band did reveal a few details about the cover album, but no release date. In the meantime, check out the video here! They start rocking on Eclipse towards the end, they play one of their tracks first. So, either listen or skip through.

Enjoy.

The Flaming Lips – “Eclipse” (orig. by Pink Floyd)

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People have been waiting to hear more LCD Soundsystem for almost 3 years. Now, you get to. Their newest track “Bye, Bye, Bayou” is an 7 minute long epic that is a disco flavored remix/cover of Suicide member Alan Vega’s 1980 track. It has a definite sexy feel too, something that kind of reminds me of Brooklyn funk/psychadelic rock band Chk Chk Chk (!!!). I think this is pretty much what we should be hearing from the new album, which is allegedly supposed to come out in March 2010, but I think we all know how these things go. The vinyl for this track drops on November 12, so you DJ’s can go grip it and make some more disco infused crazy shit for us all to listen to. And hey, when you get done, Soundcloud those tracks to us. Maybe we’ll write you up too. I’m hyped on this track right now. I also found this recording of them live in Manchester, and its really good quality, so I’m posting it also.

Enjoy.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Download: LCD Soundsystem – Bye Bye Bayou

Click here to view the embedded video.

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