“Folk” and “glam” are not often used in the same sentence, but after hearing the debut single from The Kolars, maybe they should be. The self-described folk/glam duo, comprised of Rob and Lauren Kolar (from He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister), are recording new material and gigging up and down the west coast all month in support of The Revivalists.
Check out the accompanying video to their single above, featuring some very cool snapshot-graffiti animation courtesy of BLU. You can also hear He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister’s “How’m I Gonna Get Back Home” at the end of the Lincoln episode of “Crossroads of History!”
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In this month’s edition of #thinkbeforeyoutweet, Meek Mills’ allegations of Drake using ghostwriters for his guest verse on “R.I.C.O.” thankfully does nothing to diminish the quality of the song. While the unusual trap-meets-classical production and Drake’s punchlines steal the show, Meek still brings the energy, making this a contender for hip-hop song of the summer.
The mix also features some rich blues and soul musings (Leon Bridges, Melody Gardot), synth-y smash hits from Galantis and Major Lazer, bouncy indie-pop hooks (Cayucas, Ryn Weaver), and a plethora of indie rock jams that’ll be sure to you get moving!
We’re big fans of how garage pop’s lo-fi production balances out otherwise sugary hooks, crafting a fun and fuzzy brew. Sick Sad World’s debut LP “Fear & Lies,” the brainchild of Olympia native Jake Jones, is a great summer record with plenty of west coast vibe, at times recalling early Beach Boys records (albeit sung by weed-smoking skaters born of the mp3 age).
This month’s mix also features plenty of hip-hop (Curren$y, Raekwon), a killer country tune from Nicki Bluhm, synth sounds from Phantogram and Passion Pit, a bevy of singer/songwriters, indie rockers, roots rockers, and more!
BONUS
Speaking of Beach Boys, check out “Love & Mercy,” an exploration of Brian Wilson’s mad genius, in theaters now:
Our latest mix of tunes includes tracks from Courtney Barnett’s stellar sophomore release, which sounds like the best record Liz Phair never made (albeit with a nonchalant Aussie accent). Her keen eye, clever wordplay, and relaxed delivery are definitely worth a listen.
Speaking of flow, there’s also a lot of great hip-hop thanks in part to contributions from the two young bucks Kendrick Lamar & Tyler, the Creator. There’s also a bunch of cool blues, indie folk, and a few bouncy tracks to get yer head bobbin’.
BONUS:
If you haven’t yet caught a screening of the Kurt Cobain documentary “Montage of Heck,” it’s airing on HBO tonight, May 4th. Chock full of animated sequences taken from his diary, it’s a very unique and revealing take on the singer’s brief life produced by his daughter Frances Bean.
Last week was a wild one in Austin, as it tends to be during SXSW. This month’s mix includes some discoveries from the festival, like the Malian desert blues troupe Songhoy Blues, who had to flee their homes due to militant extremists’ ban on music (I guess proving that the world did need a “Footloose” remake after all).
Songhoy’s debut LP was produced by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner, who also guests on a few tracks. If you want to hear more about the unlikely odyssey of SB and their fellow musicians in exile, check out the trailer for the doc “They Will Have to Kill Us First” at bottom, which also premiered at the festival.
The playlist also features some great hip-hop from Ghostface Killah (continuing his run of live-band-backed albums); beautiful acoustic tunes from Andy Shauf, Iron & Wine, and the always engaging Jose Gonzales; plus plenty of indie rock, and some seriously heavy sludge from Torche.
Around this time last year, Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox was celebrating his contribution to Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning album Random Access Memories (the amazing “Doin’ It Right”). Now he’s dropped his latest LP under his solo moniker Panda Bear, whose hypnotic single “Boys Latin” is part of our first mix of 2015.
Side note: I totally want to start a band inspired by the nickname for China’s hacker collective, Deep Panda. Who’s with me?
Other bands featured in the mix are Purity Ring, Dengue Fever, some serious flow from Lupe Fiasco, and even new material from Modest Mouse (remember the 2000s)?
Seems like we’re finally having a sorely needed rainy season here in LA, which is fitting given that the short film I music supervised, “Wet Dream: A Skateboard Tale,” debuts next Tuesday on iTunes (trailer above).
This month’s mix features a lot of great hip-hop from the likes of Serengeti (in his Ditka-lovin’ Kenny Dennis mode), the Premier & Royce Da 5’9 combo PRhyme, and another live band-backed record from Wu’s Ghostface Killah. Also some great electronic tunes from UK producer Clark, Chromatics, and Royksopp, plus a track from Dylan’s New(found) Basement Tapes.
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BONUS:
LA Rain = SNOW in the mountains! Check out this lil ditty we did with Abstract Rude for Mammoth Mountain’s new season.
The Bots are like a 21st century version of Bad Brains — they don’t care what other people expect them to sound like. I’ve included their track “Blinded” in this month’s mix, and I’m looking forward to seeing the duo live at the Bootleg a week from this Saturday. Considering one brother turns all of 18 that night, and the other only recently threw away his fake ID, I’d say these droids just may be a new hope for a brighter future after all.
Another band hitting its stride is the once-side project Run The Jewels, who’s RTJ2 backhands the sophomore slump with the incendiary single “Close Your Eyes (and Count to Fuck)”, featuring none other than Rage’s Zack de la Rocha on guest vocals. Download the whole album FREE off their website.
Rounding out your new gym playlist are singles from Joey Bada$$’s ($’?) highly delayed/anticipated album, afrobeat legend Tony Allen, Canadian alliterati Keys N Krates, Mystery Skulls, and the Tings Tings (remember them?) “Do It Again.”
Really liking the new solo record from Yeasayer’s Sinkane. On singles like “How We Be” his falsetto recalls a 21st century Curtis Mayfield. Should make for a good show at The Echo next Tuesday.
Other notables in this month’s mix are tracks from the Preatures long-awaited LP (produced by Spoon’s Jim Eno), Karen O’s heartfelt acoustic affair, rollicking baritone blues from Sean Rowe (like the lovechild of Tom Waits and Morphine’s Mark Sandman), and a rare pro-government rap from Homeboy Sandman. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
BONUS:
The artwork above is by French artist Thierry Noir, the 1st graffiti artist to paint the Berlin Wall 30 years ago. I had the pleasure of DJ’ing a party at Caviar last weekend in honor of Thierry’s LA exhibition, which is going on now through Nov. 9 at the Howard Griffin Gallery.
This month’s mix features one of my favorite jams of the summer, “Attak” ft. Danny Brown, officially out now on Scottish producer Rustie’s album “Green Language.” You’ll also hear Major Lazer remixing Soca star Bunji Garlin’s hit “Differentology,” an acoustic duet with Cat Power and indie guitar god J Mascis, Frightened Rabbit side project Owl John’s take on LA, and much more.
