DIIV (formerly known as Dive) feel like a throwback to the indie scene of the 90's and it is even somewhat reminiscent of The Cure at times. They have one album out, Oshin which you can listen to in its entirety below.
I've compiled some of their videos and songs for you to get to know them better.
Divine Fits was formed after Spoon's Britt Daniel suggested to Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and it wasn't long before their first performance came about and then their first album, A Thing Called Divine Fits.
Divine Fits play Coachella Friday April 12 & 19.
Below I have compiled a link to hear their first album and some videos to get to know them better.
The NPR link may no longer be working but you can listen toPresente on Soundcloud below: Si no funciona el enlace de NPR pueden escuchar Presente en Soundcloud aqui abajo:
Track Listing for Presente:
Billboard describes Robert Delong's story very well:
“Here’s a story you don’t hear much anymore in this YouTube
sensation(!), social media era: Aspiring musician practices for hours
daily and plays live shows until he’s spotted by a label exec, who signs
him to a record deal. That’s what happened for Robert DeLong, the Los
Angeles multi-instrumentalist whose striking debut album “Just
Movement,” comes out on Feb. 5 through Glassnote Records. Trained as a
drummer, DeLong has created a sound that reflects his dance music
influences and an indie-rock sensibility that’s as club-ready as it is
headphone-friendly. Its release is just days away, but stream the full
LP exclusively on Billboard.com”
—BILLBOARD.COM
Click here to stream the new album ‘Just Movement’!
Happy 80th Birthday to the High Priestess of Soul, Ms. Nina Simone. Thank you for the musical legacy you left behind. Thank you for using your music to criticize the injustices you saw in society.
Most of all, I am grateful for your incomparable voice that carried in its beautiful tone the pain and lament of your ancestors and your own. A voice that you later used to become a beacon for the civil rights movement.
Your piano playing was graceful and tender at times and sometimes tumultuous just like the era you were living under. Each note being delivered with urgency and contempt, demanding attention and respect.
Your lyrics were mirrors you held up to a world that was backwards and every now and then we can also hear your own reflection in these mirrored lyrics. Many of your lyrics are still poignant and relevant to this day as there is a lot injustice in the world but your music is part of the soundtrack in our lives that makes this reality bearable and reminds many of us to fight for what you believe in.
Fresh from a stellar performance at the Grammys, Miguel just released his latest beautifully shot and powerful music video forCandles In The Sun from hisGrammy winning album, Kaleidoscope Dream.
Chicago based, Kids These Dayshave a funky mixture of hip hop, soul and jazz with live horns, several singers, MC's and everything.
You can say they are kind of like a younger version of The Roots but not they are not strictly hip hop.
Their excellent album Traphouse Rock produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy is available as a free download. Yes, absolutely free! What are you waiting for? It's free music!
They have a popular song, Doo-Wah where they use the music of The Pixies in a very interesting way.
Kids These Days play Coachella Saturday, April 13 & 20.
Below is a compilation of their songs and videos to help you get to know them more. Enjoy!
Trent Reznor's latest project with his wife Mariqueen, How to Destroy Angelshave released an exclusive full stream through Pitchfork of their upcoming album Welcome Oblivion due out March 5th. It sounds great from what I haveheard so far and it is perfect for the rainy day we have in L.A. at the moment.
Vintage Trouble (VT) are a rock & soul band that formed in Hollywood. They have one album out,The Bomb Shelter Sessions. This is perfect for fans of Jimi Hendrix and classic rock and roll and soul done just right. They are one of my favorite lineup discoveries and I am excited to see them live!
Their electric performances have madeVintage Trouble rise to the top and they are currently the opening act for The Who's North American tour.
Their fans have become known as Troublemakers and are considered a key component to their success and live shows.
Local Natives are an indie rock band from L.A. They have received critical acclaim for their first album, Gorilla Manor and they just recently released their 2nd album, Hummingbird. They are the kind of band that get better with each listen. It's hard to categorize them as only indie rock as their sound expands into psych-folk, they use afro-pop guitar licks, and are very percussion driven.
The Grammys were held last night and I must admit that this year the performances were rather blah. Even the much anticipated and overhyped return of Justin Timberlake to the stage was underwhelming. Other performers relied on the theatrics and production more to put on a show but there were a few performances that I felt stole the show and revived it for intervals the few minutes they were on.
The performance that was my favorite of the night was Jack White's who wore an awesome suit and brought some good old energetic rock and roll to the Grammy stage and performed Love Interruption and Freedom at 21 from his nominated album Blunderbuss. This is how it's done! Others take note!
The next performance that was memorable was the Grammy tribute to Levon
Helm, the drummer/singer for The Band. The tributes at the Grammys even though they mean well usually come off as trite and contrived (like the horrible tribute to Bob Marley) but this one included an all-star band of legends and soon to be legends covering The Weight: Elton John,
Mavis Staples, T. Bone Burnett, Zac Brown, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany
Howard, and Mumford & Sons.
Another performance that revived the show was The Black Keys who was joined by Dr. John and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a great rendition of their hit "Lonely Boy." It definitely felt like Mardi Gras came a week earlier to L.A. I hope The Black Keys consider recording with them as it sounded great.
One of the surprises of the night was Miguel who I had heard recorded but had no idea what he would sound like live. He performed Adorn with Whiz Khalifa (who was just there for me and was unnecessary) but Miguel's voice live was just amazingly smooth! He's definitely an act to watch out for in the next few years.
This amazing feat was pulled off last week at 20th Century Fox Studios and you can now see the full live performance of the song not even a week later. This is a great concept for covering songs and perhaps in the near future it will become a series of recordings by Beck or even other artists doing renditions in such an epic and innovative way. The musicians were conducted by Beck's dad, David Campbell.
text from youtube video:
The Hello, Again performance started with an idea -- Beck would
reimagine David Bowie's classic, "Sound and Vision." But it became more
than another cover. It became an experience that presented a fresh take
on the possibilities of the once familiar, for both the audience and
the performers.
In collaboration with Beck and a "band" of more
than 160 diverse musicians, Director Chris Milk created a concert
experience that was fully immersive for both the audience and the
performers. By capturing the concert with 360-degree cameras and
binaural microphones, online viewers will have the opportunity to
experience the show from any and every seat in the house.
The Postal Service have a new song, A Tattered Line of String from their forthcoming10th Anniversary deluxe reissue of their only albumGiveUp.
The song features Jenny Lewis who will be also joining them on the road in their upcoming reunion tour that includes both weekends of Coachella in April.
Café Tacvba have a new music video for their song Olita Del Altamar, a modern take on South American Andean rhythms. The single is off their excellent seventh studio album, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco.
There are quite a few roots revivalists acts out now and I am pretty sure that by now you have heard The Lumineers. Their music particularly their song Ho Hey has been used in several commercials, movie trailers andcan be heard just about anywhere there is a radio nearby.
Chances are you already know them, but here's an opportunity to get to know them even more or to get to know them completely if you haven't hear of them yet.
The Lumineers may not have the most original sound.In fact, they have said that they are not trying to reinvent the wheel. They are really good at what they do, writing simple and relatable songs. These songs along with theirold-time instrumentation adds personality and gives each song their own vibe.
The Lumineers are set to play Coachella Sunday April 14 & 21
Below are some songs and videos for you to listen to and get to know them:
Allen Stone describes himself as a hippie with soul and some have called him the hipster with soul. Either way, wow does he have soul indeed! He's been one of my Coachella lineup discoveries that blew away on the first listen. His voice is pitch-perfect and emits so much emotion. I also love that he has some social commentary in his lyrics. Take a listen, I am sure you'll be pleased. Allen Stone plays Coachella on Saturday April 13 & April 20, 2013. Below are some songs and videos for you to listen to and hear what I am talking about. Enjoy:
English art rock group, ∆ (pronounced alt-J) recently won the coveted Mercury prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave. Take a listen to it, it's not for everybody but I do feel like it's the kind of album that grows on you with each listen.
∆ (alt-J) play Coachella on Friday, April 12 & 19.
∆ (alt-J) were also recently featured on the Silver Linings Playbook soundtrack with a new track not on their debut album They had one of my favorite videos of 2012 as well for their single, Breezeblocks:
Jessie Ware has been described as the missing link between Adele and Sade. The 28 year old British singer-songwriter's sultry voice has been featured on other albums most notably on electronic act's SBTRKT last effort in 2011. Her debut album Devotion is great album to play when you are in the mood to just chill out and/or make out. She has a new EP, If You're Never Gonna Move that features a reworked version of her single 110%. Jessie Ware plays Coachella Sunday, April 14 & 21.
Below are some videos and songs to help you to get to know Jessie Ware:
Poliça (often written as Polica) is an American indie rock band from Minneapolis with an electronic & moody sound. Founded in 2011 by Ryan Olson and Channy Leaneagh who had previously collaborated in Gayngs.
According to Channy Leaneagh, Polica is Polish for "policy", and she
sees it as a reference to an unwritten code that guides the members when
they play together, as well as its work ethic.
The name appears to be a loose derivation, as there is no "ç" in Polish
alphabet. There is a similar word "polisa", that literally means "insurance policy" in Polish, in particular – the contract document itself They have one album out, called Give You the Ghost. Poliça are set to play Coachella on Friday April 12 & 19
Below are some videos and songs to persuade to you to check them out or to just to get to know them.
Monterey, Mexico has been at the forefront of new rhythms and sounds for many years. One of these sounds to take over Mexico recently is tribal a mixture of dance and electronic music with hints of Mexican norteño and South American indigenous sounds. Tribal became immensely popular and soon there were huge parties all over the country and dance crew competitions showing off their unique moves and their incredible style that this sound became infamous for, the surreal pointy boots.
The look and the pointy boots style originated in a small town in San Luis Potosi but the iconic
tribal sound launched the career of Erick Rincon who began djing at the
age of 16 and soon became one of tribals most popular and sought after DJ's.
In 2009, Rincon joined other tribal dj's (Dj Sheeqo Beat, Dj Otto, DJ Rooster) to form the group which later on became known as 3Ball MTY (Tribal Monterey) They recorded their 1st album, Inténtalo which had tremendous success even earning them a Latin Grammy in 2012 for Best New Artist. When this year's Coachella lineup was first announced it was somewhat of a surprise to some that 3Ball MTY would be on the bill and many people even hated on them. 3Ball MTY are a collective of DJ's that have gained critical acclaim and overnight success, it makes sense that they are at this year's Coachella for that reason alone. Coachella is also known for showcasing the best DJ's in the world so there is yetanother reason why they added them to the bill.
Don't go see them based on what you hear of them, go see them because they will be premiering in the desert some tribal remixes they have been working on that include Steve Aoki among others. You don't need to hear their album to enjoy their set. In fact, I'd say to not listen to it. What they do live is much more different than recorded and what they have planned sounds like a fun mix of styles.
Just go and experience what modern Mexico sounds like and don't forget your pointy boots.
3Ball MTY play Coachella on Saturday April13 & April 20.
Watch this short documentary made by Diplo about 3Ball MTY
