AWmusic

It’s funny, cause I think when I first started reading stuff about Asher Roth I felt a little offended about all the Eminem comparisons. Asher, like Em, is white, and after only hearing the “I Love College” remix ft. Ludacris I got a little indignant thinking, he’s white, that doesn’t mean he’s like Em. Then, after getting through both The Greenhouse Effect Mixtape and his debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle I’m definitely not offended, in fact, I think the comparison is dead on.

Don’t get me wrong, Roth is not an Eminem clone, but the biting pop culture references, his flow, and his whole persona wreak of Em’s influence. He is his own man though. Asher Roth grew up in Morrisville, PA and has no delusions about being anything other than a suburban white kid. He doesn’t front (in the rap lingo that means that he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not). He raps about stuff that he knows about: weed, partying, girls, and he does it all with some pretty spectacular word play and rhyming.

Although, if Roth was just weed/booze/girls I’m not sure I’d be so into him, because those things are fun, but its not something I’d feel particularly strong about endorsing. There are flashes, and they are just flashes, where he gets a little introspective “I am Em” (re: the comparisons to Eminem) or “The Lounge” (where he quizzes the listener about their stereotypes about rappers). On the whole though, Asher Roth is just a whole lot of fun and clever lines, and it looks like he’s gonna be around for a while. Oh yeah, you can download the whole Greenhouse Effect Mixtape at theDailyKush.com fo free.

[mp3] Asher Roth – The Lounge
[mp3] Asher Roth – CANNON!!!

Video: “Lark on My Go-Kart” (awesome!)
Video: “Be By Myself” ft. Cee-lo

“Roth Boys”

“Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas Cover)

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Whoever said electro is dead clearly hasn’t heard of Nujax. I don’t know about you guys, but when I’m out, I GO OUT, and these guys play hard electro and know how to throw a good party. The Montreal based duo made up of Justin Adler and Alan Brinsmead are certainitly on the up and up, with bookings everywhere from Montreal to Mexico and after listening in on one of their sets I can see what all the buzz is about. Now if only Toronto bars got wind of them, because I’m sure it’s not just me who is tried of the same djs playing the same sets every night.

I had the pleasure of meeting the guys while I was in Montreal at this party my friend was throwing, and to set things straight I’m not just saying they are awesome because I’ve met them, I’m saying they are awesome because they are awesome. I think to be a good DJ, you have to be a cool person, after all who wants to go see some annoying guido play a set. So back to the story on how I met them, they were playing some songs on my friends mac and it was really good, so I asked what they were playing. As it happens they were playing some of their tracks that they had just finished, yada yada yada, and to top it off they are pretty cool guys.

The thing I hate most about djs, is that they go in knowing exactly what they are going to play and don’t switch it up depending on how the crowd is going. Nujax just knew what to play and when to play it, other than their amazing music selection and talent for remixing, they put on a good show. They are high energy and you can tell they aren’t too cool for school and are just genuinely enjoying what they are doing.

If you happen to live in Montreal check them out, they host Friday nights at blue dogs, you better hurry though, I’m sure they will be touring the world anytime now.

Official Myspace

On it! (Nujax remix) – Morten Breum

Back In Black (Nujax remix) – ACDC

With the Beatles remastered catalogue out this week, I figure hey why not. It would be really futile in trying to figure the top album by the Beatles (I’d go with the White Album because it’s two discs) or really convincing you what the top 10 Beatles songs are. It’s more personal which Beatles songs you like so while there’s no scientific formula to the list…be sure to share your own!

I Need You off Help!
While My Guitar Gently Weeps off The White Album Disc 1
I Want To Hold Your Hand Off The White Album Disc 1
Funny story with this song. Friend was PISSED when I was unable to recall this song for a game of Cranium and hum it for him (like he would’ve gotten it had I been able to get a correct tune going anyway).
Love Me Do off Please Please Me
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da off The White Album Disc 1
Yellow Submarine off Yellow Submarine (guilty pleasure)
Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey off The White Album Disc 2
Helter Skelter Off The White Album Disc 2
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Off Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club
Hey Jude on Past Masters disc 2

It’s a breakthrough in indie music, definitely, when the next album you anticipate is a soundtrack. I absolutely love movie previews before the actual movie starts in the theatres. But really, if there’s a good music backing behind the preview, that’s what catches my attention. I will see a movie just because the anticipated soundtrack is going to blow my mind.

New Moon. Oh, the wonders of the Twilight series. Not the biggest fan compared to most, however, I will give its newfound musical taste some credit. The original Twilight movie was a bit on the creeperish side to me, and the Paramore single did not do it for me, at all, although a major Hayley Williams fan. Respectable yes, BUT what’s in store for the sequel creates the certain groveling imitating teenage girls to Edward Cullen. My very own second to favorite band, Death Cab for Cute will be featuring its, very newly and specifically for the movie, song called “Meet Me on the Equinox.” Ben Gibbard says he uses the motifs in the plotline to write this very own song which he was proud to submit. I can’t say I’m not anticipating just a new Death Cab song in general, but my also favorite Thom Yorke is also likely to be on this new soundtrack. Releases on October 20th, but catch Death Cab’s song on the MTV Music Awards on the 13th of September.

Where the Wild Things Are. Not gonna lie, first time I read this book was today, in the book store, in a span of two minutes or less. The first preview I had seen held me in by the spark of imagination the trailer was trying to describe. That, and the Arcade Fire song in the background. But you can’t blame me for that one. Not only do I want to see this movie, I also cannot wait for the soundtrack. All songs are original by Karen O., aka lead singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It seems like a perfect fit especially when hearing their first single, from Karen O. and the Kids, “All Is Love.” It’s a peaceful melody, with the careless whistle and vocals of a young high pitched voice. It certainly gives us a good idea of what she has in store for musically, and shows she will not disappoint. Full soundtrack out on the 29th of September.

Another soundtrack to touch up on, is the one for Jennifer’s Body. The more pop-rock feel is inscribed, but with the track listing it might be worth it.

Karen O. And The Kids – All Is Love
Death Cab For Cutie- Long Division
Thom Yorke – And It Rained All Night

shai erlichman

Recent Clark University graduate Shai Erlichman can stand with his Boston compatriots in that he is earnestly lo-fi and earnestly weird when he wants to be, but whereas the Craters want you to groove and Truman Peyote want you to trip balls, Erlichman is more interested in getting you to empathize with him. He has been distributing his home-made CD-R “Home Recordings 2007″ on request for a while now, a strikingly intimate collection of demos he recorded on a summer spent at home from studying. The collection veers through every style of earnest indie pop one can conceive of, from gauzy drone-folk (”That Was All”), through dirgey electronica (”Broken Tapes”), and headfirst into delightful indie pop (single “Origami”). All the while he displays an uncanny knack for evocative imagery, as well as the unique ability to make his esoteric lyrical sketches perfectly fit the contemplative mood from his music. When he listlessly intones, “Martin was a friend/Who used to watch me pick grapes/Off his father’s plate when he turned his back,” you don’t wonder what he’s talking about, but rather you wonder what it means that you know exactly what he means. His themes range from the abstract (”My Love Lies Under the Yellow Sun”) to the mundane (”Running”) but all the while he maintains his relatability. And his ideas all come together on the brilliantly anthemic modal folk jam “Banking Education You Won’t Suck the Sweet Life Out of Me,” an absolutely glorious appeal to someone for something; it doesn’t matter what, the music is an experience. (This track, of course, is not actually available on the Home Recordings CD-R. I am presenting it to you, the readers, as an exclusive.)

Off the record and on the stage, however, Shai’s music is a completely different beast. With his equally quirky band in tow (most often including multi-instrumentalist Mickey O’Hara) the songs take on a massive, gasping life. Drowned in reverb, the simple patterns of the music echo into infinity against the pulsing hypnosis of the beat, samples and sythesizers inundating the sonic landscape. Unfortunately this live experiences currently exists undocumented, but if you don’t believe my hyperbolic description, then be sure to catch Shai opening for recent indie faves Why? at Clark University. Also be sure to check out Shai’s MySpace page an order a copy of “Home Recordings 2007.”

Shai Erlichman – Tunnel to Light (Live in Chinatown, Boston)

Shai Erlichman – That Was All
Shai Erlichman – Origami!
Shai Erlichman – Banking Education You Won’t Suck the Sweet Life Out of Me

EDIT: Shai asked me to call his brand new better-than-MySpace website for more up-to-date information on his music and general goings on. Tally ho!

Alex Palmer, awhile back did his Top 10 Sex Songs list. Not to offend another writer but the songs just never resonated with my choice of what a good sex song makes. Nonetheless, I’m an off-beat so I’d prefer to have sex with an indie soundtrack rather then trying to get my freak on with Sexy Back or some other song.

I’m more of a fan of background music with rhythm. I don’t like songs taking over the mood but rather one that doesn’t disrupt it yet fits perfectly like peaceful noise. A LOT of indie songs satisfy this, they don’t demand full attention to the song but there’s something subtly added when it plays in the background.

Anyway here are my choices for Top Indie Sex Songs (it’s a bit modern heavy but you can suggest some in the comments):

One With The Freaks by The Notwist
Soft, delicate and fragile, this my favorite song by The Notwist. In a way it’s a perfect song for me because it hits a chord with the vulnerability of sex so simply. “Have you ever?
Have you ever been all messed up?” does it without forcing you to think about it.

Bros by Panda Bear
This song could turn you off with “Hey man what’s your problem, don’t you know that i don’t belong to you” but that’s just the start to an epic 12 minute track. It’s pace is perfect and Panda Bear’s vocal hit home softly. It’s also a song that you could have on repeat by itself and you wouldn’t get bored of it which gets bonus points for being extra long. In the end with all it’s questioning in the track like “When are you going to give it your own go?” it ends with the perfect ending “I do love you and I want to hold on to you for always”.

Agoraphobia by Deerhunter
While it’s probably not cool being Agoraphobia, a deeper a look into the lyrics “Cover me, comfort me” can resonate pretty well with being with a partner in a hidden place. Bradford Cox just comforts you and maybe it’s romantic when he sings “I lose my voice, I know but I’ve nothing left to say”. myspace

Camp Out by An Horse
Enough will have been said if I spit out the line “You just want to camp out and I just want to screw around in the dark” but it has a consistent guitar pop line throughout while a good song that hits a climax without rushing it. myspace

Once And Never Again by The Long Blondes
This song could work as an age of consent reminder. 19! You’re only 19! If anything you may not be 19 but making sure the person you’re with might be helpful . This song is about showing a younger person the ropes and sometimes sex is exactly that. It also helps that this song has a lot of energy and is consistently strong throughout.

Machine Gun by Portishead
The inclusion of this track is due to the fact that it has a POWERFUL intro, yet it remains consistent throughout the song. It’s a badass track but for a sex list? Some would find that questionable but you know what it’s good for? Rough sex. Yep. myspace

Felt Tip by Love Is All
Sometimes you need a perfect starter before diving into it. I really feel like Felt Tip does this with just enough progression to get you into the thick of things. Lyrically: “Going faster than, quick feet in the street, step right on the beat” describes rhythm to a tee. It’s one of my favorite songs in general, indie pop is usually good on any sex playlist to be honest. myspace

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekeend
Is your bed made? Is your sweater off? Do you want to fuck? Like You Know I do? While I’m not sure those lines would work, this song serves perfectly as a pre-sex song with it’s slow rhythm. It’s for just starting but it’s a good sex-anthem nonetheless that gets you in the mood. myspace

Succexy by Metric
Is it any wonder why Emily Haines is so damn sexy? She’s able to give off that sexy vibe in any track really. It’s hard to wonder, where’s the sexy with all the sex on this list. So here you go, and there’s no better band then Metric to give you that feeling. New Wave is probably my limit to getting your feet moving. Because if you’re moving your feet, you’re not getting your hips involved enough.

Dance Dance Dance by Lykke Li
Speaking of sexy, this song is sexy in a fragile matter. Being so cute yet in one’s personal space – sex can get people feeling insecure. In a way you feel Lykke Li’s insecurity and it really resonates well in the act. The pacing on the song is also perfect for sex, in fact I think the song just implies a different type of ritual altogether. I guess Sex, Sex, Sex wouldn’t be as good of a song though.

One of the most fun things about the interweb music era is finding something new, interesting, but also something that you say to yourself, I’m curious where that came from I want to know more (if you’re more smart than me, you’d probably say something eloquent). Anyways, as you may have guessed by my lead in, I’m in that sort of discovery phase with (apparently) Canadian indie music icon, Julie Doiron.

This, to me, is a pretty cool thing, since I don’t really get to ‘discover’ stuff so much anymore. Which is certainly not to say that I know everything, but I feel like its rare for me to find someone who has been this prolific (she has been making records since 1993 on her own, and since 1990 w/ Eric’s Trip) but also someone who is so universally adored by everyone who has written about her. Also, I think being on the Jagjaguwar label (Bon Iver, Besnard Lakes, Pink Mountaintops, etc.) speaks volumes about her street cred, as it were.

I guess all this stuff about how great JD is has led me to wonder why I hadn’t heard her stuff before. I’ve got some theories, one involves her establishing herself in the pre-interweb, digital media era; another involves her un-Jessica Simpson/Jenny Lewis/Santigold sort of look/persona that isn’t marketable, or that; she just may like making music, touring and playing, and isn’t really interested in being rich, famous, or otherwise adored by people like me (and probably you to).

But rather that fleshing out those (half-baked) theories, I thought I would solicit some suggestions on JD’s best work from those who are familiar. I e-mailed Bryan from Herohill and he suggested: the new one, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day [2009]; the Polaris nominated, Woke Myself Up [2007]; or Heart and Crime [2002]. I’m wondering if anyone has any other suggestions….

Here’s what the fuss is about…

[mp3] Julie Doiron – When Brakes Get Wet

“Consolation Prize” from I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day [2009]

Thanks to the good people at Urbnet and the Musebox I was able to get my hands on the Polaris Long List album Let the Children Die by D-Sisive. I, of course, was curious as the prolific reviewers at the Herohill are big fans, but I also feel like I’ve been going through a big hip-hop drought this year. I’m not entirely sure whether Let the Children Die is going to fill that void as I tend to favour hip-hop with that is production heavy (read: like Kanye West does it), and tend to stay away from the more minimalist beats that are featured on D-Sisive’s newest album.

That said, the new video for “Mr. Daydream” has given me something to connect with (I have a visual-spacial learning style). So, who knows, maybe I’ll begin to see what the Polaris Jury saw in Let the Children Die and figure out what the BFD is about, but, as I write this my head is nodding to “Nobody with a Note Pad” and “I See” which are getting iTunesed to my Best of ‘09 playlist. I guess what this means is that its probably not the last time you’ll hear about D-Sisive from me…

[mp3] D-Sisive – Nobody With A Notepad

“Mr. Daydream” dir. Miles Davren

I am here to say: no more.

I’ve been an active proponent of Cogwheel Dogs since I first heard their single “Cress” in the winter of last year – concise bursts of primitive beauty being beaten and thrashed out of acoustic guitars and cellos, the spare arrangements of singer/guitarist Rebecca Mosley’s idiosyncratic songs only highlighting their brilliance. I could compare Cogwheel Dogs to figures like PJ Harvey, but that would be too easy, and anyway I like Cogwheel Dogs much, much more than PJ Harvey. Her voice bears some similarity to Harvey’s, but the music itself is much more subtle than that, recalling at the same time the dark chamber pop flashes of John Cale’s Velvet Underground and other symphonically-bent contemporaries like Final Fantasy or St. Vincent.

The real thrill of Cogwheel Dogs’ music, though, is how purely visceral it is. The songs are terse and the playing is eruptive – the sounds of Mosley’s voice and Tom Parnell’s cello thrusting and slashing across each other, fighting for the little breathing room the songs allow. The delivery is furious in its intensity, and the multisectional songs cover vast amounts of ground in very short spaces. Whomever you compare Cogwheel Dogs too, I can say with confidence that there is not a band around who sounds quiet like them; and hell, even if there was, there aren’t many songwriters active today who can match the singularity of this band. Currently criminally under-recognized, Cogwheel Dogs are poised to explode, and few bands around would be as deserving as they.

The band have already released a single, “Cress,” available for free download on their website (listed below), and are preparing to release a new EP, “Greenhorn,” on September 7th, 2009. Y’all can count on a full review from me when that happens.

Cogwheel Dogs – Anticoagulant

I do take the time to listen to albums of bands- full albums, non-stop, all the way through. The slow moving yet extremely charming melodies I like the best. Nowadays, the rush of these types of indie bands increase weekly and you don’t ever know what actually is something that will stick for weeks to come. Every time I open my music player, I find myself heading back to what I know best- Bright Eyes, Death Cab, or Radiohead. But if you told me you find Miike Snow’s “Faker” a definite song to repeat, I’d say a chance on Malbec is one worth taking. Think the mellow vibe, similar background, but with a touch of something that makes you feel like you want to be in a cozy home.

What’s so heart stealing about this band? Every song on their released free EPs, The Answering Machine, does not disappoint, especially if the listener is looking for some mellow vocals and guitar with a touch of synth. As the band created music, they released at the very same time. The Answering Machine EPs come in a series of 5 downloads, each with a little of the band’s personality shown with the tracks that are simply messages that would be left on, well, an answering machine. The full length album, Dawn of Our Age, does not fail either. Touches of trumpet even appear to semi-liven up the beat while maintaining the relatively slow and relaxing yet foot tapping beat.

These past few weeks I find myself listening to Malbec on the 24/7 basis. In the recent months the song “Summer” has skillfully made its way the top 25 played list on my music player. If there’s anything you get out of this summer, it’s finding enjoyment out of the little things of summer- popsicles, lazy days, or Malbec.

Download The Answering Machine EPs here.
Malbec – Summer
Malbec – Story Of A Broken Heart
Malbec – Tell Me