The lead single off his new album LASERS, Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On
Lupe Fiasco stands up to "say hip-hop only destroy Tell em’ look at me, boy!"
Yeah man, look at you.
Special Focus on Verse 3:
...
So no matter what you been through
No matter what you into
No matter what you see when you look outside your window
Brown grass or green grass
Picket fence or barbed wire
Never ever put them down
You just lift your arms higher
Raise em till’ your arms tired
Let em’ know you’re there
That you struggling and survivin’ that you gonna persevere
...
This video is too good not to share, it's Radiohead's song Creep. With a creepier cover done by the Scala and Kolancy Brothers Choir, which was originally used in The Social Network. Now add some serious stop motion photography (over 1500 pictures) and you now have the video below. It's haunting, breathtaking, and tells a sad tale that leaves you speechless.
Jenny and Johnny, what a feel good name for a duo. And aptly fitting, Jenny Lewis and her long time boyfriend Jonathan Rice create the floaty pop vibe here. Jenny Lewis has many credits to her name including fronting Rilo Kiley and touring with the Postal Service. She has a fledgling solo career that can only be bolstered by this album. Rice is no slouch either, having put out 3 albums of as own, as well as playing Roy Orbison in Walk The Line. They complement each other perfectly and their knowledge of each other really comes out in the record.
This record is just so solid. The vocals are bright and the melodies are catchy, it is completely rejuvenating. Heavy on acoustic guitar and light synth work, it's a refreshing sound that leaves you satisfied. That isn't to say all the lyrics are sunshine, you do have a love song or two, but you also have songs of spoiled love and stately demise. The overall tone leans toward pop but there's hints of beach rock, which gives this album a someone unique feel. Lewis' country song roots bleed through a few of the tracks, most notably Just Like Zeus. This is in no way a bad thing as I think it adds to the overall airy appeal of the record. A solid recommendation from me should be enough to give this album the time of day! Check after the track list for a video they made and listen to their whole album out of a tape deck!
Track List
Scissor Runner My Pet Snakes
Switchblade Big Wave
While Men Are Dreaming
Animal
Just Like Zeus New Yorker Cartoon
Straight Edge Of The Blade Slavedriver Committed
LOVE these guys! These indie rockers hail from SoCal and the sound sure sells it. This song has all the calm and cool to be that perfect song for a day at the beach or out at the park. Take a listen and let us know what you think!
"She's so clean, Body so mean, I never met a girl like this before. Sure I could be a player, Have any girl anywhere, But every time I see her feels like i'm walkin' on air"
This airy chorus flows with the tracks main sentiment, that one girl you just cannot get enough of! A smooth and wavy synth backdrop invokes that floating feeling. Flanked by genuine rap verses and just a bit of beatbox bass to round it out makes this track absolutely mesmerizing!
Familiar with the band Thriving Ivory? How 'bout their lead singer, Clayton Stroope, who manages to have a rough and crooning voice at the same time? Take the roughness down to a slight gravel, and you have Mike Posner. Oh yeah, add in a slight raspy, breathy tone reminiscent of Pharrell Williams while we're at it. The Detroit, Michigan native was signed to a record deal after he released his first mixtape while attending Duke University. After the deal he finished out his college years while touring on the weekends. Yes, that's right, the man's only 23 years old, how's that for some young, not-shit-like-justin-boober-girly, music?
31 Minutes To Takeoff is the first full album by the young newcomer. The main support of his album is the synth-like tones of almost every song, giving it an automatic dance feel. I wouldn't call any of it "club banger" but it has that strong, steady beat to give it the groove, even while dealing with topics of cheating and lovers lost. Speaking of which, let me say right now that most of the songs have that "love and lost" attitude, which is slightly sappy, but never really overpowering. The album as a whole seems to waiver between R&B and Dance Pop, which makes it a great mix of chill and up tempo. The final verdict is, while not for everyone, I see this as a solid album for a first release, deserving of at least a play through. I only expect better things from this kid on his sophmore release.
Track List
31 Minutes To Takeoff
Please Don't Go
Bow Chicka Wow Wow Cooler Than Me
Deja Vu Do U Wanna? Cheated
Gone In September
Save Your Goodbye
Synthesizer
Delta 1406
Falling
After a weeks worth of rumors and speculation, we finally have an answer. Former Fugees member and Haitian-American Wyclef Jean confirmed early this morning via radio interview that he is running for Haitian president. Due to this move, he is leaving Yele Haiti, a foundation he started in 2005 to help the Haitian people. Can he make a better president? Who knows, but if his time at Yele Haiti is any indication, the future looks bright for the rubble-reduced nation.
We let you down before but we promise to make it up to you. For our first post back we thought we'd spice up your summer a bit, It's already August, less than a month until going back to school. These last few days are filled with late summer nights and late night flings but what do you play during those nights? You need something to keep the feelings going strong and for that, we're here to help. Spin It Again Sam presents Summer Heat, an hour long playlist full of songs to keep the party going and keep the sparks flying!
What do those names have in common? They are all signed under the EMI label! Well...were. See, Here's the thing. First, EMI didn't want Ok Go's music videos being embedded into blogs and the internet. Who doesn't remember their first video "Here It Goes Again" with the best use of exercise equipment ever! People theorize that at least 40% of their fan base came from that viral video. Now their big brother label took the "viral" out of the video. Ok Go wasn't having it, and after a very public fight, EMI backed off and let the superstar group's videos be posted where ever people damn well pleased!
Now, a judge ruled last Thursday that EMI selling songs individually via digital mediums was a breech of the contract signed with Pink Floyd about not letting their music be sold in a way that takes away from its original format. They told to stop it and pay for Pink Floyd's legal fees. Their troubles with Ok Go resurfaced when the band decided to cut ties with EMI/Capitol the day before this judges ruling. Citing lack of creative control as the reason for their departure, they are in the process of forming their own label, Paracadute* Recordings. Here's to Ok Go and sending a warning out to all labels who try to control their artists! And if anyone was wondering,based on the new videos they're coming out with, I think they'll be just fine
*I believe this translates to "Suck It EMI". Don't quote me on that tho.
About a month ago, I was sitting on the computer poking around RCRDLBL (like I do almost every day of my life) when I stumbled upon a song called "This Fucking Job". A single off Drive-By Truckers upcoming album The Big To-Do, the song is about exactly what you think it's about, an anthem for those who hate their job. Let's face it, even if you do love your job, you have days when you just go home thinking that sucked. They managed to channel this frustration into 298 seconds of upbeat rockabilly bliss.
"Drag The Lake Charlie" is a great song about a couple friends who are dragging a lake to find their friends body. They hope they find him drown otherwise his girlfriend is going to kill everyone. It's another great example of the hillbilly in this record. The Lead vocals has a rasp and strain reminiscent of Tom Petty, and the whole album is light rock sprinkled with hillbilly lyrics creating almost a comedic album. The record comes out this Tuesday (March 16) so be sure to have that pocket change ready, because you're going to want to pick it up!
Full Track List: (Bold indicated the best of the best)
Upbeat, sometimes trippy, and definitely infectious, The Good Things writes solid music. The B-side to the newest (and from what I can tell, first) single first caught my attention when a friend handed me a CD and said "so my friend has this band, and I listened to it, I really like it." The simply titled "My Wife" starts out as a very upbeat bright tempo, so much so, it reminds me of early Beatles. This tempo stays throughout the song, with the addition of lyrics that will contradict the cheer (without saying too much, he's not a fan of his wife) of the music. It's a brilliant rendition of the "happily sad" category of songs that are starting to make their way mainstream. I strongly encourage you to go to their website where you can download their single for free.
With pop overtones and a Motown soul, The Good Things delivers.
I just recently went to a pop/punk/hardcore show with a few friends looking for some fun. What I came to find, was not only fun, but one of the best shows I, myself have been to in a while. Thrown in the mix of the lineup was my good friend Jesse Vadala's band With The Punches (if you don't know who they are, you should really look up them on iTunes!!) When I was first told by Jesse they were playing a show with Four Year Strong, I was speechless, and ecstatic! I couldn't wait to grab my tickets, and go! They put on an amazing show, but what else is new? With The Punches is full of catchy beats, sweet breakdowns, and verses that everyone can sing a long to. Not only do they have fun on the stage, but the fans themselves prove every show that this is where the passion lies.
In the music business, the real bands are picked out from the chumps in the sense of the crowd. If a band is not passionate about what they do, the fans sense this. They are like wild conniving animals, waiting for a band to throw them something catchy...something they can relate to...or sing a long to. With The Punches delivers this, plus so much more. They have definitely given back to their fans, in a sense not many other bands have done. If you'd like to check them out, feel free to look at their Myspace: With The Punches
This blog is representative of the authors and their collective taste for great music. We want to cover everything and shockingly, we mean it. Vinyl, digital singles, radio edits, remixes, live tracks. absolutely everything. Okay, great, but you're probably wondering who is Sam? The title is derived from the famous Casablanca movie misquote, "Play it again, Sam". Sam, in our case is the club DJ. the local radio station. that guy at your favorite bar who keeps putting money in the jukebox. Sam is even your iPod. The point is Sam is everywhere, and from the local unsigned to the industry legends, we want to introduce you to the best music so you can keep telling Sam to spin it again!
