To gear everyone up Major Lazer’s summer tour Mad Decent Radio released a 30 minute summer mix. This mix contains one of the best covers ever, a reggae remix of Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So”.
Download it here
http://www.maddecent.com/blog/mad-decent-worldwide-radio-60-major-lazer-summer-mix
LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening
James Murphy’s latest album under the band name LCD Soundsystem is probably the best yet. It’s an epic dance album from which the grueling recording process has left Murphy uncertain about the long term future of this project. The first single from the album “Drunk Girls” was burning up the net weeks before the album was released, and it is the typical electro pop anthem that you would expect from LCD. Other notable tracks include “Pow Pow”, “Dance Yrself Clean”, and “One Touch”. This album will definitely be up there in the category for album of the year.
The Dead Weather: Sea of Cowards
Jack White brings his newest band The Dead Weather back for their second album “Sea of Cowards” this year and they come back mad and fierce. The band’s first album “Horehound” brought a more down tempo and psychadelic feeling, this new album is almost the complete opposite the songs come fast and furious with no real pause between tracks. Lead vocalist Alison Mosshart almost sounds like she is channeling Janis Jopiln with the furious vocal performance that she delivers on songs like “Gasoline”. The thing that is most impressive though is the Dead Weather’s ability to mold their homage to the 70′s with present day synthesizers and lryical timing.
The Black Keys: Brothers
I think that this is the most original rock album of 2010 so far. The Black Keys have created a great roots rock sound on this album, going back to more of the sound from earlier albums before “Attack and Release”. The band’s true musicianship shines through on tracks like”Sinister Kid” with its great Southern rock guitar that make think back to the old Creedance tracks. The drums and rhythm section help keep one feet in the present, making it able to connect to a wide audience. Key tracks include “Howlin For You”, “Sinister Kid”, and “Unknown Brother”.
Honorable Mentions
The highly anticipated Nas and Damian Marley collaboration “Distant Relatives” was released today, and I’m here to say that it doesn’t disappoint at all. I just got the album this morning on Itunes and I must admit that I was curious as to whether or not two artists from different musical backgrounds could make a great album. The album is not a straight up hip hop album or a typical reggae album, there are songs that borrow from both genres respectively and bring elements from each together. Distant Relatives includes guest appearances by Nnenka , Stephen Marley, Lil Wayne (who I usually love to hate but blends well actually), Kanaan, and Joss Stone.
Key tracks
- Africa Must Wake Up (an epic 6 minute song that ends the album well)
- Patience (this is a track where Nas really shines through)
- As We Enter (Lyrics are so so, but I just can’t get the beat out of my head)
- Nah Mean (Great upbeat track that reminded me of early Jr. Gong beats mixed with modern hip hop lyrical terms)
This Saturday, May 22, Nas and Damian will be performing at the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene Or.
Musician/ film director Rob Zombie is making a return to the music scene in 2010 with a new album “Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls, and The Dehumanization of Cool”. This album is a return to the grunge and straight up rock n roll Zombie that we all loved in the early 90′s. The album opens with one of the heaviest songs that I have heard in recent years “Jesus Frankenstein” as soon as the main guitar riff hits you feel like your listening some old White Zombie track. Another key track is “Mars Needs Women” it opens with a great acoustic blues guitar intro, and by the end of the song you’ll find yourself singing “Mars needs women, angry red women”. The song concepts are goofy and funny as always with titles like “Werewolf Women of the SS”, and “Mars Needs Women”. The main difference that makes this album better than his previous albums is the lack of samples and electronic aspects, it’s just no holds barred heavy metal. It seems like this is the album that all the fans of White Zombie have been waiting for.
