Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Soundtrack Of My Life's Top 25 Albums Of 2014


25. Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once
24. Neon Trees - Pop Psychology
23. Haunted Hearts - Initiation
22. Paloma Faith - A Perfect Contradiction
21. Spoon - They Want My Soul
20. 2NE1 - Crush
19. Beck - Morning Phase
18. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
17. The Drums - Encyclopedia
16. Dum Dum Girls - Too True
15. Kiesza - Sound Of A Woman
14. RAC - Strangers
13. Taylor Swift - 1989
12. Lykke Li - I Never Learn
11. Bleachers - Strange Desire

10. Betty Who - Take Me When You Go


9. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence


8. Karen O - Crush Songs 


7. Trust - Joyland


6. La Roux - Trouble In Paradise


5. Imogen Heap - Sparks


4. Banks - Goddess


3. St. Vincent - St. Vincent


2. Tori Amos - Unrepentant Geraldines


1. Beyoncé - Beyoncé

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Grace Jones - Original Beast

Lorde is basically friends with all the cool people.  And by cool people, I mean all the musical legends and icons that you love.  First there was that picture of her casually hanging out with David Bowie and Tilda Swinton and now she's managed to get Grace Jones on the Lorde-curated Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack.  Let's not even talk about the fact that she chose to exclude a new David Lynch track from the album.

The new Grace song is called "Original Beast" and it's this insane electo-tribal attack.  Her vocals are eerie and savage, and it's pretty much the perfect Grace Jones contribution to a highly successful young adult novel-to-film adaptation that you never asked for.  What even is this world that we're living in?

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Tiga - Bugatti

Tiga has created the true earworm sequel to "Shoes".  There's really not much else to say about this new single, since the otherworldly video speaks for itself.  It's like some hypnotic trance that will become imbedded within your brain, and before you know it, you'll be sporadically shouting "BUGATTI" at random intervals throughout the day.  Enjoy your new and improved life.

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Drums - I Can't Pretend

The Drums released their third album Encyclopedia last month, and I'm not quite sure why, but it's received a somewhat mellow response.  They've narrowed down the band lineup to a duo and switched up their sound ever so slightly, but the record is pretty fantastic.  One of the highlights is "I Can't Pretend", a bouncing single that already sounds like a Drums classic.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Kylie Minogue - Kylie + Garibay

Okay, so we all know Kiss Me Once came out earlier this year and it was partially amazing.  Some of it was on the less stunning side of the pop spectrum, and I'm not gonna pin the blame on anyone in particular.  I'm just saying, we would've been just fine without the Enrique Iglesias feature... and "executive producer" Sia.  But that's all said and done, and there's still a nice bundle of standout Kylie moments on the record.

Now here's the exciting news: Kylie just posted a free EP on the wonderful internet without any prior notice.  It's a collaboration with Fernando Garibay, the man who produced some of Lady Gaga's finest work.  I'm talking about "Dance In The Dark" and the majority of her Born This Way album.  With that in mind, the new EP, presumably titled "Kylie + Garibay", is completely different from Kiss Me Once.  It's dark and hard hitting, with Kylie's vocals left in a somewhat raw state.  The first two tracks are especially stunning.  "Glow" is a song that just pummels you with haunting vocals and a drilling synth, while "Wait" has a fantastic bounce that just fuses to a perfect melody.

Several of the tracks on the four song album were featured in the opening video sequence of the Kiss Me Once tour, which kicked off in Liverpool on September 24.  This means that Kylie + Garibay is more than just leftover material from an unused Kiss Me Once recording session.  And I must say, I find this EP to be far more exciting than the full-length album.  It's a daring and unusual move for someone in Kylie's position.  Why give it away for free when the label could slap together an "extended version" of Kiss Me Once with the four new songs?  She does it because she's Kylie Minogue.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Kiesza - No Enemiesz

I feel like a decent amount of the big pop stars have taken a dip into the "early-nineties house music" sound for maybe a single or two, but few of them have truly captured a modernized version of the vibe like Kiesza has.  Following the release of her Hideaway EP, Kiesza's debut album will see the light of day on October 21.  Sound Of A Woman will feature every song from the EP, along with a slew of new tracks, with one of them being her latest single,"No Enemiesz".

From the sound of "No Enemiesz", this album is gonna be a solid jam.  Grab a smoke machine, a few strobes, and you're set for the night.  There's this particular synth that reminds me of something Robyn would use, which puts Kiesza in good company.  Check it out...



Sound Of A Woman is out on October 21 in the US and November 17 in the UK, via Lokal Legend / Island.  That stunning picture up top is the cover artwork.  You can pre-order the album here.

Monday, September 15, 2014

BANKS Just Won The Vinyl Game

BANKS released her debut album last week, and if you haven't heard Goddess yet then you should definitely go check it out, but the real story here is the vinyl.  Vinyl tops the list when it comes to aesthetically pleasing music formats, but BANKS went all out on this one.  The double-LP gatefold record is housed inside a translucent red sleeve.  Just look at it.  Ugh, it's beautiful.



That's just the standard version, which you can buy here.  Urban Outfitters had a limited red marble pressing and BANKS' store has some signed copies available.  Don't even get me started on the actual music, it's equally beautiful.  Congrats to BANKS on such an amazing release.  Love live physical media!  Keep reading for more pictures...

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Unicorn Kid Is Retiring The "Unicorn Kid" Name


Electronic artist Unicorn Kid has announced the end of his "Unicorn Kid" moniker.  After disappearing from all social media outlets over the last year, he went to Twitter this week to make the announcement.  Apparently, he was recently cut free from his recording contract and wants to head in a different direction, which may or may not have something to do with the extremely low-key album release
But that's not to say he's retiring from music completely, as he then went on to reveal that he's since relocated to New York and will release new material under another name later this year.  So while we wait for new music, let's take this moment to revisit some of Unicorn Kid's work one more time.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Katy Perry - This Is How We Do

Katy Perry just released the music video for last year's severely underrated jam, "This Is How We Do".  The single was a highlight from Prism, spawning the completely amazing "Mariah Carey-oke" line.  The video is a summery color palate that puts aside all of the antics from her "Roar" and "Dark Horse" concepts.  It's simple, yet wacky enough to be recognizably "Katy".  Check out the video below.  I kinda love it.

Prism is out now, via Capitol Records.  You can grab a copy of the album here.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Imogen Heap - The Listening Chair


Sparks officially has a release date!  Imogen Heap's upcoming album has seen its fair share of release dates that never were and behind the scenes label issues, but Imogen recently decided to drop the label completely and release the album on August 18, via her own Megaphonic Records.

"The Listening Chair" began as a sort of social project involving an egg-shaped chair that would record video messages from its inhabitants.  Imogen took the chair to different locations across the map and asked "what is the song that still needs to be written?".  Quite some time, and loads of video messages later, a song was created.

I must say, "The Listening Chair" is the most exciting song I've heard from The Heap in quite a while.  Her past singles were fantastic as well, but this one is just that amazing.  It's her life story, all in a five and a half minute song.  The music video completes the concept, as Imogen takes a tour of her past and present.  Notice the cameo appearances from her previous albums!


Sparks is available for pre-order in a variety of formats including the standard CD, deluxe CD, and double LP.  There's also the ultimate box set, for the most dedicated fan.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Stream Mr. Dream's "Ultimate In Luxury"


It's been a long time coming, but Mr. Dream's Ultimate In Luxury is finally being released.  The album was preceded by a slew of singles, all of which were pretty amazing, and now it's up for streaming ahead of the July 7 release date.

Ultimate In Luxury will be released on a limited run of one hundred cassettes, complete with hand-crafted artwork in a stunning shade of hot pink (see picture below).  One little detail found on the pre-order page calls the album "the new and posthumous release", so it looks like this could be the band's grand exit.  Although if you're familiar with Mr. Dream at all, they could very well release another album next week just for kicks.


There's probably going to be a follow-up "review" post for this album a little later on, but after listening to the record once, I had the overwhelming urge to immediately play it again.  It actually has a fair amount of danceable moments mixed in with their go-to racket of a sound.  My mind is still stuck on the opening riff to "Work Faster".

Ultimate In Luxury is out on July 7, via GODMODE.  You can pre-order the cassette, bundled with a digital copy, here and then stream it below.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Grimes - Go (Feat. Blood Diamonds)


Grimes' upcoming album is easily one of my most anticipated releases for this year.  There's a rumored September release date, but that could very well change at any moment, if it hasn't already.  Yesterday, Grimes premiered a new song on Zane Lowe's show and it happened to be the much talked about track that was originally intended for Rihanna.

"Go" is a collaboration between Grimes and Blood Diamonds, who previously worked together on the fantastic "Phone Sex".  Claire hasn't confirmed whether or not the single will appear on the full album or if it's a sign of what's to come, in terms of genre.  The self-described "summer jam" incorporates the recently successful synthline breakdown trap sound and completely flips around everything you thought Grimes to be.


You can stream or download "Go" below and be amazed by the new press photo pictured above.  Claire describes the look as an "anime elf assassin who is a big fan of dolly parton and patsy cline".

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Penguin Prison - All Night Long


Look at that amazing artwork.  Yes it's that "All Night Long".  Before I even hit the play button, I knew this cover would be incredible.  Penguin Prison's throwback dance vibes mesh perfectly with Lionel Richie's 1983 hit, "All Night Long".  It has that light and airy breeze and could very well end up on a summer playlist or two.  It just makes sense, you know?

The song is a part of Penguin Prison's summer cover series.  There's no word on how often these singles will be released, but color me excited.  Even better, "All Night Long" is available as a free download, so grab it below and party... all night long.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

School Of Seven Bells - I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)

On December 29 of last year, Benjamin Curtis passed away after battling T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.  Prior to his diagnosis, School Of Seven Bells had been working on the follow-up record to 2012's GhostoryBenjamin continued to record his parts of the album while undergoing treatment and Alejandra Deheza has announced that she's finishing the album for release.

Today, Culture Collide premiered the video for School Of Seven Bells' cover of Joey Ramone's "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)".  The single was Benjamin's final recording and it's a stunning and powerful piece.  Directed by Toby Halbrooks and Alan Del Rio Ortiz, the video opens with live footage of Benjamin and features desert scenes with Alejandra.  You can watch the video here or stream the song below.



"I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" is available for download on iTunes.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

FKA twigs - Two Weeks


Okay, so I'm really really late to the FKA twigs party.  I've seen the name floating around for a long time now, but you know how someone asks you if you've heard an album or artist and you'll say "I'll check it out", but it somehow never happens?  Yeah, that's me and FKA twigs.

Anyways, I finally did a Youtube sweep of her work and discovered that she's an absolutely amazing visual artist.  "Water Me" is reminiscent of the alien portrait imagery found in Björk's "Hunter" video and it's impossible to look away.  Her music is exceedingly hard to categorize.  It mixes elements of electronic, R&B, and minimal hip-pop music.  You can basically just forget about labeling her.


Her new song and video debuted this week and the visual component is directed by Nabil.  It's called "Two Weeks" and will be included on twigs' upcoming debut, LP1.  Your idea of depth perception and size will be thrown off a bit as the view pans out.  Check it out below.  You can pre-order LP1, which will be released on August 12, here.  "Two Weeks" is available for download, here.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Is Lana Del Rey's "Black Beauty" Demo Better Than The Album Version?

If you've heard the deluxe edition of Lana Del Rey's Ultraviolence, then you'll notice that the first bonus track is "Black Beauty", a song that leaked last year in the form of a demo.  There's always that age-old debate between preferences towards the demo version and the album version of a song, and "Black Beauty" is an interesting case.

It's pretty much the same song in both forms when it comes to the lyrics, but everything else has completely changed.  The demo featured minimal production and was a tragically beautiful song in every way possible.  As far demos go, "Black Beauty" is fantastic.


The album version keeps the low-key intro, but switches things up once the first chorus hits.  The album version was actually produced by Paul Epworth and sounds like a piece of Ultraviolence, which serves the record better in terms of continuity.  It's grand and triumphant, which replaces the original atmosphere a bit.


So here's the deal, which version do you prefer?  Does the "less is more" demo feel more personal or do you prefer the fully produced album version?  You can pick up a copy of the album, featuring "Black Beauty", here.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Porter Robinson - Lionhearted (Feat. Urban Cone)



Back in 2012, I had the opportunity to see Porter Robinson and Zedd play a duel set at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest and I chose to see M83 instead.  It was just one of those dreaded festival decisions where you have to pick and choose between artists that you love, and unfortunately the Porter/Zedd show was snubbed.

That little anecdote dates back to before Porter's recent Worlds project, and by project I mean upcoming album.  Worlds is coming out on August 12 and so far it sounds like a more developed and fleshed out view of electronic music.  "Seas Of Voices", a track from earlier this year, was an extended atmospheric piece.  It's a big change from "Spitfire", to say the least.


His newest single is "Lionhearted" and it features the Swedish band, Urban ConePorter has managed to make electronic focused music without sounding like a DJ, sort of how RAC creates pop music without sounding like a mass market producer.

"Lionhearted" also has an amazing music video, showcasing a harajuku gang outfit mixed with a touch of Scott Pilgrim.  It was directed by Jodeb and has Porter glitching up the city.  You can check out "Lionhearted" below and if you're interested in grabbing Worlds on translucent vinyl or possibly tour dates, then head on over to Porter's website.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Sinéad O'Connor - Take Me To Church


Sinéad O'Connor is one of those artists that I discovered a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with.  That makes me sound excruciatingly young, but it wasn't so long ago that I only knew of Sinéad's name from her version of "Nothing Compares 2 U".  It was her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, that really struck me.  Even to this day, the politically charged and highly emotional album sounds as fresh and relevant as ever.

Sinéad's career after that record has been scattered and experimental.  Her third album, Am I Not Your Girl?, would be a collection of jazz standards.  In 2005, she released Throw Down Your Arms, a reggae record.  That sense of musical diversity and freedom has made her an unpredictable artist, and quite honestly, it's exciting to see what's to come.


On August 11, Sinéad O'Connor will release her tenth album, I'm Not Bossy, I'm The Boss.  The album artwork features a polished photo of Sinéad wielding a guitar and wearing a dramatically black bob instead of that signature shaven head.  It's drastic and intriguing, but what will the music sound like?  Well, NPR has debuted the album's lead single and it's called "Take Me To Church".

"Take Me To Church" builds and builds momentum through a guitar driven production.  Speaking of production, John Reynolds tackled the album, and it's very low-key for the most part.  The single features some surprisingly tame vocals when compared to Sinéad's recognizable and distinct howl.  You can stream "Take Me To Church" below and pre-order a signed copy of the upcoming album over at Sinéad's website.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Santigold - Kicking Down Doors


Doesn't that artwork just look like a lame compilation album from the dollar bin?  The Pepsi branding, along with the general "royalty-free stock photo" vibe, is a bit discouraging.  Technically, it is a compilation album, some sort of World Cup thing.  Well, despite that aesthetic disaster, the song within is actually pretty awesome.  Santigold's post-debut music has sounded especially M.I.A. inspired, and "Kicking Down Doors" continues that trend.  I love Santigold and all, but let's be real here, M.I.A. paved the way.  That's another post for another day, so here's "Kicking Down Doors".

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Ting Tings - Wrong Club


I think it's safe to say The Ting Tings enjoyed Random Access Memories.  They've gone with a nu-disco sound for their latest single, "Wrong Club".  It's actually the duo's first release since 2012's Sounds From Nowheresville, an album which seems to have been overlooked for the most part.  "Wrong Club" starts off with a guitar riff that could unfortunately cause some "I'm up all night to get lucky!" comments from the average passerby.  Fear not, because "Wrong Club" avoids that level of mind-numbing repetition.  Instead, it's quite refreshing.  The Ting Tings really needed a triumphant return and it looks like they found it.



"Wrong Club" will be released on July 28.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

BANKS - Drowning


BANKS is headed for big things.  Her minimalistic approach towards blending elements of R&B and dance music make her seem like a veteran artist already, yet she just debuted her first tracks early last year.  With a full-length release scheduled for September, BANKS has been busy living the touring life, but that hasn't stopped her from sharing a new single every now and then.  "Drowning" only strengthens her case with tight production and charged lyrics.

You can stream "Drowning" below.  BANKS' debut album, Goddess, is out September 5.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Kimbra - 90s Music


New Zealand's other reigning superstar has returned to the scene with the wacky and experimental "90s Music".  The song, which may or may not be the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album, debuted a little over a week ago and it's definitely been turning some heads.  The track moves away from the sound of Vows, which often leaned towards a pop-oriented direction.  "90s Music" heavily features some deep bass during the verses and there's a recognizable Kimbra sounding chorus.  Taking the title quite literally, she even gives a shout out to a few nineties artists, such as TLC.  Don't go chasing those waterfalls, Kimbra!

Monday, May 12, 2014

La Roux - Let Me Down Gently


Raise your hand if you remember the brilliance of La Roux's debut album.  I know, it's been a while and you might need a stroll down memory lane, so here's a quick refresher.  Okay, now that you recall the androgynous ginger wonder, you should know that La Roux has a new track out.  It's called "Let Me Down Gently" and it's off of their upcoming record, Trouble In Paradise.  Pretty exciting, isn't it?  The new music is a shift from the first record's more straight forward dance mood and even the vocals have a new feel.  The bit that comes after the dramatic pause about halfway through is where the song really gets going.  Check it out...



Trouble In Paradise is due July 7, via Polydor/Universal.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Lily Allen - Sheezus


I really haven't been too keen on Lily Allen's recent string of singles.  Don't get me wrong, I think her first two albums are fantastic, but the new material just missed the mark.  It's hard to be enthusiastic about an artist's new song when the artist herself admits that the track is rubbish.  With that said, Lily's new single, "Sheezus", is very interesting.

The chorus is a bizarre name dropping moment that actually had me saying, "Whaaaaaat, no way!" the first time I heard it.  Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Lorde, and Gaga are all mentioned, but it's not a diss track.  The entire thing is pretty ridiculous, yet it actually has me anticipating the full album.  Check out the equally intriguing music video, featuring what looks like some M.I.A. inspired art direction, below.


Sheezus is out in the US on May 6.  You can pre-order a copy here.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Imogen Heap - Me The Machine


It's beyond amazing to finally hear a new song from Imogen Heap's upcoming record, Sparks.  The album's release date is currently pending due to some kind of contract issues, so we can only hope for the best, but Imogen's long awaited "glove song" has arrived.  Heavily featuring the work of her Mi.Mu Gloves, "Me The Machine" has been teased endlessly.  With such a large build-up, it could've easily disappointed, and I may be a bit biased when it comes to the Heap, but this was so worth the wait.


Sparks will be out later this year.  For more information about the album, you can visit Immi's website.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Sky Ferreira - I Blame Myself


"I Blame Myself" has taken on a life of its own since the release of Night Time, My Time and it seems like we've been waiting an eternity for this music video.  Well, wait no more.  It's finally here and I kid you not, there's a choreographed dance scene, something I never expected to see in a Sky Ferreira video.  Even more surprising, Sky can actually pull off a pretty fantastic dance sequence without looking forced.  She's still styling that jet black grungy look, too.  It's almost scary how appropriate this song can be sometimes.  Watch "I Blame Myself" below...


Night Time, My Time is out now, via Capitol.  You can buy a copy here.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Charli XCX - Boom Clap


The soundtrack market is almost as lucrative as the film itself these days.  From Twilight to Hunger Games, the soundtracks to big name teen book adaptions have collided love triangles with your favorite P4K approved artists.  Charli XCX is the latest to join the group with "Boom Clap", which is featured in the upcoming film based on John Green's novel, The Fault In Our Stars.

It's pretty much what you would hope for with a Charli XCX release.  "Boom Clap" leans more on the pop side of her spectrum, but some True Romance elements are definitely recognizable.  She's right on the edge of becoming a Top 40 superstar.  I can feel it.


The Fault In Our Stars in in theatres on June 6.  You can go here to download "Boom Clap".

Monday, April 14, 2014

Lana Del Rey - West Coast


Lana Del Rey has revealed the lead single off of her upcoming Ultraviolence album and it's actually pretty surprising.  It's a decent change from her usual semi-throwback sound.  Her signature beats and strings formula has shifted to a less flashy production style and we have Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys to thank (or blame?) for that.  The vocals have less polish and there's a startling change of pace as the chorus begins.  I'm on the fence about the production, mostly due to the really loud theremin sound during the final chorus.  Aside from those small complaints, I kind of adore "West Coast".  We get to see a new side of Lana and I'm anticipating the full record more than ever before.


Ultraviolence is due this year on Interscope, possibly even next month according to reports.  You can download "West Coast" here.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Neon Trees - Voices In the Halls


While Neon Trees' recent single "Sleeping With A Friend" is starting to look like the next "Animal"/"Everybody Talks" sensation, the band has released yet another song from their upcoming album, Pop Psychology.  "Voices In The Halls" is our third taste of the new record and it's a minimal synth-focused ballad.  They've done songs in a musically similar vein before, see "Take Me For A Ride" and "Close To You", but this track is perhaps a bit more lyrically vulnerable.  You can watch the music video for "Voices In The Halls", featuring a dramatically colored Tyler Glenn, below.


Pop Psychology is out April 22, via Mercury.  You can pre-order the album here.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration

 

I think we can all agree that Cyndi Lauper's debut album is a masterpiece, right?  Last year marked the 30th anniversary of She's So Unusual's release on October 14, 1983, and what a day that was.  Cyndi already celebrated the occasion with a tour, where she performed the entire album from beginning to end each night.  Coming a few months fashionably late is a reissue of the album, titled more specifically "She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration".

First of all, can we just talk about how there are three amazing versions of the reworked cover art?  That makes one for each physical format; deluxe CD, standard CD, and vinyl.

The deluxe CD comes with a slew of memorabilia-type extras, including a reusable sticker set of Cyndi and all of her iconic outfits, which you can then place on a backdrop of the "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" music video bedroom set.  Once again, this is amazing.


Aside from the classic tracklist, the double disc set includes early demos and live rehearsals of her big hits, such as "All Through The Night" and "Money Changes Everything".  There are a few b-sides, including the previously unheard low-fi track of "Rules And Regulations".  All versions of the reissue have three new remixes as well.  Hardcore Cyndi fans, rejoice!

All three versions of the reissue are out now, so you can go here for the deluxe CD, here for the standard CD, and here for the vinyl.  While you're trying to decide which one to get, you can watch the "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" video... 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Tori Amos - Trouble's Lament


Sometimes I feel like Tori Amos is underestimated.  Over the years, Tori has recorded a massive discography of albums that span from the last true wave of modern piano rock to bizarre niche moments.  In 2001, she released Strange Little Girls, an album of cover songs originally performed by men, and 2011 saw the release of the classically influenced Night Of Hunters.  Her 1996 album Boys For Pele is nothing short of a masterpiece and still remains my absolute favorite Tori record.  Basically, Tori Amos does whatever she wants, despite any critical or mainstream opinions.  You don't care about hearing orchestral versions of her past songs?  Too bad, because she'll release an album like Gold Dust and that's exactly why Tori Amos is amazing.

Tori has a new album coming out in May called Unrepentant Geraldines, as you can see from the artwork above.  The lead single is "Trouble's Lament" and it calls back to the sounds of her somewhat early music.  There's prominent guitar work and her storytelling is as strong as ever.  Scarlet's Walk comes to mind and I'm absolutely loving it.  Listen to "Trouble's Lament" below"...


Unrepentant Geraldines is out on May 12, via Mercury.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Grace Jones Is Releasing A Deluxe Remaster Of Nightclubbing


Ladies and gentlemen, here's GraceGrace Jones' iconic Nightclubbing record is receiving a massive re-issue treatment.  Originally released in 1981, the album has been regarded as one of her best among a career filled with endless highs.  It's one of my personal favorites, alongside with 1985's Slave To The Rhythm.  This new edition will arrive in several forms.  First, a two disc CD including a slew of alternate versions, remixes, b-sides, and unreleased songs from the Nightclubbing sessions.  Second is a heavyweight double-LP that includes the unreleased tracks and six remixes and finally, a blu-ray for the most extreme audiophiles.  There will also be a standard CD and digital release, but you really gotta go all the way with this album.

One of the previously unreleased songs is a cover of Tubeway Army's "Me! I Disconnect From You".  A radio edit is currently available for streaming, ahead of the Nightclubbing re-issue, which is due on April 28.  The song will also be released as a vinyl single in the UK on Record Store Day.  You can stream the track and a short teaser for the album below.


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Hercules & Love Affair - Do You Feel The Same? / Raid


Shape-shifting dance project Hercules & Love Affair is back with some new music to keep you moving.  "Do You Feel The Same?" is the lead track off of their upcoming record, The Feast Of The Broken Heart.  That's the album cover pictured above.  Pretty wild, isn't it?  "Do You Feel The Same?" features guest vocals from Belgian vocalist GustaphH&LA leader Andy Butler had some choice words about the new material saying, "nasty basslines, stormy, bleary-eyed sounds, fiery, rough, tough and ragged old school house productions that sounded almost techno"  The single is paired with a rabid B-side called "Raid".  It's an almost instrumental track that's begging for a club freak out.  Check out both tracks below...



The Feast Of The Broken Heart is out on May 26, via Moshi Moshi.