Photo courtesy of Eric Koretz, aka The Imagehunter
It was really hard only picking 1 song to include off the debut album from UK R&B act Jungle. This month’s mix also features music from young artists Alvvays, Majid Jordan, Jonah Tolchin, and Honeyblood, side projects Bleachers (Fun.), Puss ‘n Boots (Norah Jones), and strong returns from Jenny Lewis, La Roux, and Raveonettes.
BONUS:
As a little kid I remember sneaking into the theater to see Prince’s R-Rated “Purple Rain,” a cultural phenomenon whose soundtrack went on to sell 20 million records and an Academy Award. The Artist stars in a story loosely based on his early life and career (akin to Eminem’s portrayal in “8 Mile”). Celebrate it’s 30th Anniversary with an outdoor screening at the Autry in Griffith Park. Tix are $10 (no need to sneak in).
Our old friend El May just released the video for her bouncy new single “I Played A Role,” using impromptu reactions from strangers on the streets of NY, including subway car dancers (another reason we need a real subway in LA)! Check out the video and write up in Entertainment Weekly by clicking here.
Her new record “The other Person Is You” drops August 26th.
This month’s mix includes singles from Alt-J and Grimes upcoming albums, the return of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, J Mascis shredding on a Strand of Oaks tune, and arguably my favorite track ever from longtime soulster Lee Fields.
Btw, the pic above was taken during my friend Jayme’s awesome July 4th party, featuring LA Hootenanny’s distinct spin on live country. When I realized at one point the oddly familiar tune playing was a country cover of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind” (sung in German, no less!) well, my mind was indeed blown. Music will take you to strange, wonderful places, and hopefully this mix will do the same!
BONUS:
Speaking of “bringing ’88 back,” who knew Weird Al was still killin’ it? We’re assuming you’ve seen his “Blurred Lines” parody that took the internet by storm last week, the best track/video off his new album. Here’s another great parody he recently did (spoofing Mr. Thicke’s twerking partner) which you may have missed:
Since all eyes are on Brazil, we wanted to include native son Rodrigo Amarante (remember Little Joy?), whose solo album dropped last month. Other collaborators making a name for themselves on this mix include violinist Kishi Bashi (Of Montreal), M83 vocalist Morgan Kibby (as White Sea), Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman Thomas Fec’s Tobacco, and former Old Crow Medicine Show member Willie Watson’s beautifully back-to-the-basics folk record.
It’s no secret we’re a sucker for some good grooves, but the latest mix offers a wide range of how soul can seep into any style. From the throwback sound of Greyhounds to the 21st century blue-eyed croon of Chet Faker, the dusty samples of Malachai, the swampy folk of the Secret Sisters, to the bliss hop of SZA, the permutations are endless(ly engaging).
Here’s 20 of our favorite new jams, including a great collaboration between Frank Ocean, Diplo, and The Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (yet another eclectic but surprisingly effective pairing courtesy of Converse).
There’s also some good ol’ rock and roll from The Men, hip-hop from Black Milk, indie folk from the likes of Ages and Ages, Afropop from Ibibio Sound Machine, and a dozen others!
While you’re downloading, watch this Bonus Video featuring Native American artist Supaman bringing new meaning to old and new school hip-hop!
Between the music industry about to descend on the Lonestar state for the annual SXSW festival, not to mention the identity crisis in Ukraine, we could smell the secession in the air (or was that bbq)?
If you’re for the status quo, check out some new tunes from the amazing Beck, Broken Bells, and St. Vincent records. If you’re looking to turn over a new leaf, there’s some gorgeous folk from Noah Gundersen, a new hip-hop collaboration featuring Sufjan Stevens (yes, you read that correctly), and if you really want to get riled up, there’s even some awesome Puerto Rican punk from AJ Davila!
Drought? What drought? There’s a deluge of good new music out this month, as always we stick our ear to the firehose for your listening pleasure. Vets like Sharon Jones and Dead Weather put out some of their strongest material to date and are joined by some promising up-and-comers like Peggy Sue, Hospitality, Pontiak, and more. Click the cover art below!
Enjoy our latest selection of tracks from December plus some under-the-radar favorites from the rest of the year. There’s a new single from The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. and a cool remix featuring Danny Brown and Co. rapping over Vampire Weekend.
Special thanks to Lawrence for helping out with the selections and artwork throughout the year!
[Click above image to download]
FAVORITE ALBUMS
(Top 10 per genre, in no particular order)
INDIE ROCK
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Foals – Holy Fire
Local Natives – Hummingbird
Telekinesis – Dormarion
Portugal, The Man – Evil Friends
Arctic Monkeys – AM
Man Man – On Oni Pond
Junip – Junip
Thao & the Get Down Stay Down – We The Common
Cayucas – Bigfoot
ELECTRONIC
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Lorde – Pure Heroine
Toro y Moi – Anything in Return
The Knife – Shaking the Habitual
Jagwar Ma – Howlin’
Zomby – With Love
Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe
Dungeonesse – Dungeonesse
Darkside – Psychic
Alunageorge – Body Music
HIP HOP
Drake – Nothing Was the Same
Pusha T – My Name Is My Name
Oh No – Disrupted Ads Audio Dispensary System, Vol. 1
Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels
RJD2 – More Is Then Isn’t
Ghostface Killah – 12 Reasons to Die
Boldy James & Alchemist – (M.1.C.S.) My 1st Chemistry Set
J. Cole – Born Sinner
7L & Esoteric / Inspectah Deck = CZARFACE
Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap
RETRO/PSYCH/PUNK
(yah, ok apparently we listen to a lot of this so we had to split off from indie rock)
King Khan & The Shrines – Idle No More
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Queens of the Stone Age – ….Like Clock Work
Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Hope your holiday bellys are full but you’re still hungry! Here’s our latest mix of new favorite tunes, feat. tracks from Cut Copy, Broken Bells, Liam Gallagher’s new project Beady Eye, and more!
Photo courtesy of Eric Koretz, aka The Imagehunter 
