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Must Watch Now: Robyn
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Robyn is back with the first music video off her much anticipated three album release after a five year hiatus following her 2005 self-titled release. And in true Robyn style she shows that good things come to those who wait.
Dancing On My Own includes static special effects to emphasize Robyn’s signature dance moves. As with many of her songs, Dancing On My Own focuses on Robyn’s heartbreak and lost love. In this case, she must endure the pain of watching her former love kiss another woman on the dance floor. But, like Robyn always does, she finds the inner strength to move on. Again, like Robyn always does, she gets us moving as well.
Tags: Dancing On My Own, Robyn
Posted in Reviews, Video | 1 Comment »
First Spins: Crystal Castles
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Crystal Castles is back with the follow up to 2008’s career defining self-titled album. The Canadian duo, made up of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass, have cultivated a following of devout fans comprised of both music lovers and industry professionals alike. Their highly distinctive electronic sound has been compared to everything from Moby to Mario Bros.
With the release of their sophomore album, Crystal Castles II, the duo is showing that they plan on defending their title as one of electronica’s most ground breaking groups.
Glass and Kath will be touring their home country of Canada for the first time this summer as headliners of the 2010 Hard Festival. In 2008, their slot at the Glastonbury Festival was cut short after Glass climbed the stage rigging to repeatedly crowd surf into the thousands of concert-goers. In additional to Glastonbury, Coachella and Bonnaroo, Crystal Castles has opened for Nine Inch Nails and Blur on tour.
The new album is a 14 track compilation of sounds from past and present eras. Crystal Castles’ signature 1980s video game sound effects are contrasted sharply with Glass’s frantic signing on Baptism. What sounds like a VHS tape being rewound over the tranquilly of electronic beats and operatic string instruments makes I Am Made of Chalk sound like the poetic death of the digital era. The track Celestial has the tranquil repetition and slow rise in tempo that will make listeners feel as if their heartbeat is being reset by the band.
Crystal Castles’ album Crystal Castles II is released on May 24 but you can listen to the album in its entirety now by clicking here.
Favourite Tracks: Suffocation, Pap Smear, Not In Love, Doe Deer
Tags: Alice Glass, blur, Crystal Castles, Ethan Kath, first spins, Moby, Nine Inch Nails
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »
First Spins: The National
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
With 2010’s release of High Violet, The National knew that expectations for the album would be high. The New York based bands 2005 release of Alligator was hailed as album of the year by many critics and set the stage for The National to be one of the most buzzed about bands, boasting celebrity fans of the highest musical echelon, such as Joy Division and the boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.
Following up Alligator with 2006’s Boxer, the band proved that they were not a one album wonder. Boxer was rated the best album of the year by Paste Magazine and the group received widespread publicity when songs off the album were used on shows such as One Tree Hill, Southland and Chuck.
Over the years the band has lent their music and their time in support of HIV/AIDS awareness and President Obama’s Presidential Campaign.
High Violet hits stores next week but you can listen to the amazing album in its entirety by clicking here.
Favourite Tracks: Anyone’s Ghost, Runaway, Lemonworld, Conversation 16
Tags: Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck, first spins, Joy Division, One Tree Hill, Southland, The National
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »
First Spins: Kaskade
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Kaskade (pronounced cascade) is an American DJ that has been making a name for himself in the dance community after releasing six albums since 2003. He’s experienced huge success with remixes for pop music’s biggest names. Remixes for Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and Seal have put Kaskade in the #1 spot on the Billboard Dance Charts. In 2008, Kaskade reached a new height in popularity by teaming up with Canadian superstar DJ Deadmau5.
Kaskade’s new album, Dynasty, is his first full length release since 2008’s Strobelite Seduction. Fire In Your New Shoes featuring Dragonette is like a fire in my earbuds. Call Out featuring Mindy Gledhill shows off Kaskade’s skill in giving listeners the ability to chill out and dance hard to the same song. Kaskade’s second collaboration on the album with Mindy Gledhill, All That You Give, is reminiscent of the brilliance that was the now defunct Frou Frou.
Check out Kaskade’s brand new album Dynasty right here before it hits the shelves!
Tags: Deadmau5, Dragonette, Frou Frou, Kaskade, Mindy Gledhill
Posted in Reviews, The New Music | 3 Comments »
First Spins: The New Pornographers
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
After 13 years, eight members, four full length albums and a whole lotta great music, The New Pornographer’s are back with their first album since 2007’s critically acclaimed Challengers.
Over the years The New Pornographer’s have made a solid reputation for having music that is diverse in its sound and lyrical content, fun and risk-taking. Numerous solo endeavors by band members such as Neko Case, A.C. Newman, and Kathryn Calder, have been met with equal praise by critics and fans alike.
In Together, The New Pornographer’s enlist the help of members from The Dap Kings, Beirut and St. Vincent to craft an album that is increasingly exciting with every listen. The band has created a wall of sound that is all their own, with layers of various instruments and voices that work seamlessly together. Each song stands out as a strong contender for release as a single and could easily garner new fans for the ever-growing legion of The New Pornographer’s long-time supporters.
Listen to the entire album by clicking here before it’s released!
Favourite Tracks: Crash Years, Your Hands (Together), Valkeyrie in the Disco Roller, We End Up Together
Tags: Beirut, first spins, St. Vincent, The Dap Kings, The New Pornographers, Together
Posted in Reviews | No Comments »
First Spins: Boats
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Winnipeg’s Boats have taken a break from their relentless touring and stops on the festival circuits for SXSW, NXNE, and Pop Montreal to record their second full length album, Cannonball, Cannonball. The album boasts the fun and energetic feel that the band has become known for and touches on such hard core rock ‘n roll subject matter as summer camp, mustache trees (huh?), and haircuts. The album’s topics may not be serious, but thankfully the same can’t be said for the quality of the music. Lead singer Mat Klachefsky, the only original member of the group, expels vocals that are reminiscent of Wheatus’s Brendan B. Brown. All 12 tracks on the album are diverse musically and lyrically from one another while still flowing together to make a finished product. A fun listen from start to end!
Sounds like: Kimya Dawson, Hellogoodbye, Wheatus, Postal Service
Listen to Boats full length new album, Cannonball, Cannonball, by clicking here.
Tags: Boats, Cannonball Cannonball, Hellogoodbye, Kimya Dawson, Postal Service, Wheatus
Posted in Reviews, The New Music | No Comments »
First Spins: Minus the Bear
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Minus the Bear have combined funk, pop, folk, rock and electronic to form a distinct sound that the band has honed over four full length albums and years of touring. Omni, the Seattle group’s latest release, has a retro 80’s and 90’s funk rock vibe and focuses on such dark subject matter as drugs, prostitution and heartbreak. The album was produced by Joe Chiccarelli who has worked with The Shins and The White Stripes. Chiccarelli’s ability to push musicians out of their comfort zone and explore new sounds and directions is evident in Omni, an album that takes risks and succeeds more often than not.
Sounds like: Mute Math, Passion Pit, Duncan Sheik
Listen to Minus the Bear’s full length new album, Omni, by clicking here.
Tags: first spins, Joe Chiccarelli, Minus the Bear, Omni, The Shins, The White Stripes
Posted in Reviews, The New Music | No Comments »
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