Dubstep’s hard-edged North American producers have incorporated more aggressive guitar riffs into their sound and ’90s “nu-metal” embarrassment Korn are now making a dubstep album with obnoxious dubstep producer Skrillex. Try not to get sick in mouth.
An English singer-songwriter (pictured) who has bubblin’ under for a while now, La Grange steps out into the light with the Fleetwood Mac-esque folk-rock of Been Better. It’s the sound of mid-90s AM radio updated for 2011.
Yes, the actor James Franco. He’s teamed up with performance artist Kalup Linzy on a musical project called Kalup And Franco and guess what? It’s pretty good. Well, it’s better than his Oscars hosting performance. Boom! No seriously, it’s very indie R&B which is sooo hot right now.
After he performed the song I Can’t Make You Love Me on Jimmy Fallon, Justin Vernon sat down at the piano in a studio and recorded a superior version complete with a detour into Raitt’s Nick Of Time.
Gayngs
Bon Iver, Solid Gold, Megafaun, P.O.S. and a slew of Minneapolis musicians have united under Ryan Olsen’s supergroup to play soft rock music directly inspired by 10CC’s I’m Not In Love. It sounds dubious but judging by The Gaudy Side of Town, the album Relayted, out next month is worth investigation.
Listen at Nialler9
Bob Dylan’s gonna knock you out
Dylan was joined by comedian Steve Merchant on his radio show recently and the two rapped through LL Cool J’s hip-hop classic Mama Said Knock You Out.
The best music on the web this week.
Anders Ponders
Imagine a cross between a viola-playing Final Fantasy and Belle & Sebastian and you’ve got Anders somewhat sussed out. Listen to his debut album Nodes of Overtones on DayAndNightMag.ie this week.
http://www.myspace.com/andersponders
Bon Iver goes back to school
The bearded troubadour recently rejoined his first high school band – the Eau Claire Memorial Jazz Band, in order to raise funds for their annual trip to New York. The resulting concert of Bon Iver and Duke Ellington songs has now been released on iTunes. Listen to a song via I Guess I’m Floating.
http://short.ie/boniverband
Lonelady
Warp Records will release Lonelady’s debut album Nerve Up in February. Inspired by post-punk angular riffs, 80s pop and sounding like a combination of late ’80s/early ’90s female singers (Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey), LoneLady is an intriguing proposition. Get the single for free.
http://lonelady.co.uk/
Remixes of 2009
Before the year was up, I selected my 35 favourite remixes of the year taking in reworks from Aeroplane, Joker, Classixx, The Horrors, Crookers, Rustie, Skream, Air France and Fake Blood. Listen to them on Nialler9.com.
http://short.ie/remixes09
Bon Iver’s other band
Before he goes off to record to follow up to last year’s hugely successful For Emma Forever Ago, Bon Iver has got together with some fellow Wisconsinites to record an album under the name Volcano Choir. Sample the first track Island, IS on the label site.
http://short.ie/volchoir
Dead Man’s Bones
Actor Ryan Gosling’s musical project has been signed to Anti in the US and will feature a children’s choir throughout. There’s a definite Arcade Fire vibe to the songs released so far. Keep on ear out for these guys.
http://www.myspace.com/deadmansbones
The Drums
A Florida yet Brooklyn-based band who have come to blog attention thanks to their infectious summer tune ‘Let’s Go Surfing’.
http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
New Radiohead track
“These Twisted Words” appeared on P2P networks last week without fanfare before the band released it officially on Monday through their own W.A.S.T.E store. A great track, it features Jonny Greenwood’s signature guitar sound and that trademark Radiohead dystopian atmosphere.
http://short.ie/tamtw
Dark Was The Night live
Listen to the entire charity concert from New York’s Radio City Music Hall which featured David Byrne, Dirty Projectors, Bon Iver, Sharon Jones, The National and Feist.
Listen to the show @ NPR
Mos Def – Auditorium
Whether The Ecstatic, the forthcoming album from Mos Def will re-establish the rapper as a great MC remains to be seen but this tune featuring production from Madlib and a verse from Slick Rock makes me hopeful.
Listen at Rappcats
Frankmusik – Confusion Girl (Don Diablo remix)
The original is an OK pop tune but this more euphoric remix by Dutch producer Don Diablo is infinitely more listenable.
Listen at the Hype Machine
The Radio Dept.
The Swedish band return with a third album on Labrador Records after a three year hiatus. The much-blogged taster from Clinging To A Scheme, ‘David’ is a twinkling, laid-back dreamy indie-pop tune.
Listen at Rock Sellout
