little loud x ariel pink

This song came out earlier this year, but either way... Little Loud, well-known UK new waver, has put together a great remix of the Ariel Pink's seedy, low-fi masterpiece,"Round and Round". Just when you thought Pink's song couldn't get any better, Little Loud adds an ambient, almost euphoric dance-floor worthy sound (picture yourself wanting to shake your hips while jumping from one foot to the other with your arms in the air).

Listen for yo' self....

still starry-eyed.

Last night wasn't the first time I saw Ellie Goulding (I was lucky enough to see her first ever U.S. show at the ROXY earlier this year), but from the way I was screaming and dancing along to her you wouldn't have been able to tell.  Like usual, Ellie's vocal prowess paired with the thunderous clamor of her simple snare drumset took everyone in attendance by storm as she quickly opened with one particular crowd favorite, Under The Sheets.

I feel like its almost impossible for someone to give Ellie a bad review, between her insanely sonorous voice, friend-like charm on stage, and her serious skills on the drums and guitar. Over the past year Ellie has paved the way for an unsurpassable amount of strong female vocalists to break out with huge singles, like Adele and Robyn.

After an 11-song set and 2-song encore that included, "Human" and "Starry Eyed", Ellie still had the energy to stay after for a quick meet and greet with those die-hard fans that bought her cd at the show.

Great show, enjoy the song below:

the other dengue fever.

I heard about Dengue Fever a while back, but never seriously got into them (stupidly). These LA natives who got their start back in 2001 mixing cambodian style pop music with psych rock, resurfaced on my playlist after realizing they were making their way through Santa Barbara on April 28th at SOHO. After having come out with two full length albums, Escape From Dragon House and Venus on Earth, they've released a new track called "Cement Slippers", downloadable below.

Just a link to another one of their tracks that I absolutely love....  Tiger Phone Card

king...wait, Prince of last minute surprises

Only His Purpleness could announce via telephone call with George Lopez on Lopez Tonight, that his 'Welcome 2 America' tour is not only set for Los Angeles, but that he will be doing a 21-show residency at the Forum in Los Angeles.  What's even more surprising is how fast the string of shows will begin; the first tomorrow April 14 and the second and third gigs will take place next week, April 21-22.  True to his mysterious character, Prince has yet to release the rest of the dates, and will probably announce them as the days and weeks roll along.  There's little doubt that all of Prince's fans have been dying to see him back on stage and working his magic.

Not to rub it in or anything, but I was one of those people up at 9:59am today waiting for tickets to go on sale until i got 'em. I will definitely be partying like its 1999 until the show. Look for a review and pictures from the show next week. 

taking that Minneapolis flavor on the road.

You know when you ask people who their favorite artist, musician, band, or whatever you want to call it, is, and they come back with....The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or one of the many other bands that have a couple songs on VH1's "BEST 100 ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME"...well I'm not one of those people. Ask me this question and I'll probably emphatically scream the name Atmosphere in your face. Maybe its his ultra self-depreciating lyrics ladened by funky beats and sunshiney samples or just the fact that he is probably one of the largest pioneers of Minneapolis' hip-hop scene (that has grown out of Minnesota, and is now being heard all over the country), but I just can't get enough of Slug.

Atmosphere is finally hitting the road again (after a year) on The Family Tour, which starts in Columbus, OH on April 20th. This time around it won't just be Slug and Ant, Grieves will be joining the usual duo with Blueprint and Sab the Artist.  Got my tickets for his show @ the FOX in Pomona, May 5th.

Slug is all about his fans and how he can continue to bring them the kind of music he has from his last 6 albums. In an interview with FILTER magazine, Slug talks about the new album and what to expect from his live show, and why he loves what he does.

"There’s a validation that goes along with that.  As artists, we are supposed to say we just love playing music, but really it’s more than that. We could sit in our basement and play music, but to see people appreciating your music and to hold conversations with them afterwards, to see what they like and don’t like—that’s the void I need to fill."

full interview: FILTER: Atmosphere

Bibio is back.

So on March 29th, Bibio, the UK experimental producer whose worked with Flying Lotus and made some big waves with his last album Ambivalence Avenue, released Mind Bokeh, a more funky sound than his last. 'Anything New' is one track that you really see his innovative style, especially when he comes in with the talkbox-like 'la la la' sound towards the end.

listen to this, and you'll probably want to keep it on repeat for awhile...

Kurt Vile @ the echo

After Smoke Ring For My Halo, released March 8, received an overwhelming amount of good reviews, anyone would be dumb not to try and catch one of his shows on his tour, extending through June.  Fortunately, he'll be in LA on April 21st at the Echo.  With moody songs like 'Ghost Town', and the more familiar sounding, but at the same time oh so seamless tune, 'Jesus Fever',  he has created a wonderful set of songs that take you through a confusing, but obviously emotional ride through Vile's own convoluted feelings.

One of my favorite's on the new album:

RUSKO RUSKO RUSKO

Pretty soon this will be streaming out of every frat house window you walk by....but you can't really blame them, this song definitely makes me want to stand on an oceanside balcony in my bathing suit with cocktail in hand. To me it sounds like Rusko is taking after his Major Lazer father figures a little too much with the more than usual amount of laser noises on this track.

Before you listen to 'Everyday', let me ask you a question...

Remember when Rusko used to make DUBSTEP??

I don't know if you will want to go after listening to this latest single, but Rusko has a line of shows in the US starting in Oakland at the Fox, and ending in LA at the Wiltern.

If you haven't already get your tickets HERE

Fitz does 'sweet dreams'

If you've had the opportunity, or should I say the privilege, to see this sextet of old school soulsters then you've also probably heard their rendition of the Eurythmics' most well known single, 'Sweet Dreams'.  In the midst of their lively motown-esque shows, Noelle Scaggs and Fitz usually find time to thrown in this number. Having just seen them for a second time in the past 6 months, I must say that their live performance never ceases to translate their vibrant nature.

Stream here: 'Sweet Dreams'

the charming Theophilus

Theophilus London is no joke. His ultra funky tracks make it hard for anyone to not want to stomp their feet and break out into a full-fledged groove in the middle of a party. On 'Girls Girls $', its not only the dance-party beat, but his quippy, fast-paced lyrics that make you want to playfully pull out a wad of twenties and make it rain whenever he yells, "Girls, Girls...Girls, Girls, Girls, and Moooney".

 London's debut LP will be out this summer,  but until then you can enjoy his track "Why Even Try", from the Lovers Holiday EP.

Check out this video:  Doesn't get much better than this...

Just can't get enough.

Even though it has been three weeks since I saw Girl Talk take his live set at the Hollywood Palladium to a whole new level of holy-shititude, I cannot stop thinking about how big of a dance party that show turned into.  Here's a short video of the last mashup Gillis played ( a small ode to the Beatles).  Gillis' set consisted of giant balloons, inflatable pillow-like floating devices that soured through the air, confetti, and slightly altered mashups of his latest album All Day.  Lucky for us, Gillis threw in a hefty amount of Lil' Wayne tracks, including Wayne, Busta, and Chris Brown's track, 'Look at Me Now' that he relentlessly paired with gritty guitar riffs.  You know it was a good show when you can see the sold out crowd pour out of the door of the Palladium drenched in sweat and unknowingly sporting pieces of confetti on their face and in their hair. For those that weren't there...big bummer.

Emissions: West Coast Bass Culture

This three day music and art festival is kind of like, if the grimy, muddy atmosphere and killer dubstep that flooded Coachella's Do LaB tent not only played intermitmently throughout the weekend, but instead lasted for three whole days in the middle of the forest where there would be no reason for the music to ever be shut off. This is the third year that Camp Question Mark and Irie Cartel have put together this three day event, and already have touted how they are looking to make a range of improvements from past years.

They have already posted close to 70 acts and the line-up is still not complete.  

To keep up with the latest line-up and check out more details go to:   

Emissions: West Coast Bass Culture

the young money princess vs. hip-hop's #1 sista'

Because there's never enough room at the top for two raunchy rapper divas... Nicki Minaj just put out a new track called Tragedy where she incessantly rips into Lil' Kim and her floundering career ( what? Dancing With the Stars isn't the sign of a prosperous career???).  Even if Lil' Kim proves down and out, is it necessary Minaj kick her while she's down?

DOWNLOAD:  Tragedy