Category Archives: Music

Esperanza has shown so much versatility, AND she’s pushing a positive message?!  Dig that.  How can Bieber fans hate?

Esperanza Spaulding’s “Radio Music Society” is scheduled for release on March 20th.

I really dig this band.  Great compositions and super cool lyrics.  I ran into Noah Arroyo, the bassist for The Truffles, at Beat Swapmeet this past Sunday, and he gave me a copy.  It’s been in my car since.  Can’t stop playing it.  New school psych soul sounds, combined with quirky vocals, from the Inland Empire.  I love it.  Dig the guitar work by Carlos Arevalo.

Support the band directly through Bandcamp, or ask your local record stores to pick this up!

This one caught me off guard, and I’m lovin it!  Shogun Orchestra is based out of New Zealand, and their debut album will be released on German based Jakarta Records on March 31st.  Afro-Jazz goodness.  I wasn’t sure what was going on with the intro baseline.  Sounded like a Ray Charles remix at first, but then the horns came in…Nuff said.

Super Sleeper! I can’t believe this came out A YEAR AGO. I hate myself for missing that. Been a fan of Nikko since her Love Seen album came out in 2010. Gorgeous vocals over quite simple, but very intoxicating, production.

“Picture” can be found on Nikko’s “Love Letters From: Yellow” album.

A year later and this song still haunts me.  Shouts to my man Dan Damage aka Samurai for putting me on to this.

An original music video of this cover came out quite a long time ago, and everyone was excited about it, but I really like this particular live video of Coco’s performance.  Luckily, the sound is pretty good, and it’s in black and white.

Coco is one half of the duo known as Quadron.  Check out their self-titled album.  It WILL change you.

I feel truly blessed to be alive while music like this is being created.  Not only is Quantic one of the most consistent producers, and musicians, in the world, but teaming up with Alice Russell makes for an unstoppable force. Their new album, Look Around The Corner, is available stateside in April on Tru Thoughts.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/39095114″ iframe=”true” /]

Peep the mini-documentary about this project, put together by Mochilla.

While normally I don’t seek out Eric Roberson tracks, this one really caught my ears.  I heard this on a hotel room music channel a few months back, and it was just background noise for much of the song.  It wasn’t until near the very end of the track that I had to stop my conversation with my girl, ask “What IS this?!,” and Shazam it.  I believe it’s due to the fresh drum programming.   Reminded me of a more Bugz in the Attic kind of broken beat soul track, which really attracted me.  The entire concept is cool, though, and I like the photo negative idea for this video.

Actually, now that I think of it, this is EXACTLY what it reminded me of…Jneiro Jarel.

Calling all vinyl junkies!  If you do not buy this box set, you are stupid, dumb, and lame.  10 7inch singles, plus downloads, plus a bonus CD, plus a BOOK?!  At a freakishly low price of $50?!  This was released in November 2011, and I’m completely baffled as to why they are not sold out already.  “Wheedle’s Groove” is an extremely well told story of the Seattle funk scene of the 1970’s.  Thanks to Mr. Supreme aka Supreme La Rock for doing the digging, and Light in The Attic for putting this out.  Again, for $50, you get the following:

• Only 2,000 hand-numbered copies worldwide
• Ten 45rpm singles featuring original label art and housed in a gorgeous custom made magnetic flip-top box
• 96 page book with new liner notes interviewing the musicians and key players, unseen photos, endless ephemera, replica Seattle SuperSonics trading card, countless photos, and loads of other archival gems
• CD of “lost” Robbie Hill’s Family Affair session, circa 1975
• Meticulously remastered
• Free Download Card for all songs

Stumbled on this group, killin the reggae covers.  Not only do they have their 45’s selling for SUPER CHEAP, but they also have a free download of their steppers version of Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here.”  You can’t go wrong with a reggae version of anything, and it’s good to see Redbud putting this out.

Peep their cover of Nu Shooz’s “I Can’t Wait,” featuring one of my favorite vocalists, Cecilia Stalin.