New Video: Bajofondo - Lluvia

Bajofondo have a new video for their latest single, Lluvia off their album, Presente. To me the real beauty of this song are the poetry of the lyrics, about life's up and downs, and how we wait for the rain to cleanse the streets of city and get rid of the darkness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Gw7ZNifhqmo

If you live in the Los Angeles area, they will be in town at the  House of Blues Sunset Strip with Shuggie Otis on August 29th, 2013. 

New Video: Janelle Monáe - Dance Apocalyptic

Okay, I am not obsessed with Janelle Monáe or maybe I really am? This just happens to my third post on her in a week. To me she is one of those artists that has been able to tap into the soul of music and uses it to create fun and magical moments even when delivering a message through her lyrics. 

Take this song for instance, it is about the end of the world and dancing all the way until it ends. When you hear the song, you think it's a peppy, happy-go-lucky song. There is always more to her music, you just have to listen or pay attention. I love how serious she takes her craft. 

Why worry about the end? Just dance until it ends! And now please enjoy this video: 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaMBagakSdM#at=20

New Song: M.I.A. - Only 1 U

M.I.A is teasing us with a new track that premiered on a London radio show and has M.I.A. and it has fans everywhere clamoring to hear it. There is no word if the track, Only 1 U will be part of her new album MATANGI due out later this year.

M.I.A. tweeted instructions on how to listen to the track:

#ONLY1U instruction > keep away from LAP TOPS play in #REALSPEAKERS #LOUD. in direct sun light or in a dingy room #BASS on #dingdingding
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) July 2, 2013

So now that you have the listening instructions, here you go:

http://youtu.be/S3gHdTfok24

Video: Janelle Monáe closes BET Awards

Janelle Monáe closed out the 2013 BET Awards last night with a great performance of her funky big bass and empowering anthem, Q.U.E.E.N, she was joined onstage by Erykah Badu who's featured on the single.

Monáe delivered a message without being preachy, was sexy but classy without being obvious & flashy about it and there was no need to lyp-synch unlike some other performers before her. This was and is the real deal.

All you other so called "artists" need to take notes on how it's done or just step aside and let Ms. Janelle Monáe do her thing.

I can't wait to hear this song live, but until then enjoy the live version. 

Be warned your booty may shake just as the lyrics state, "the booty don't lie."

New Song: Janelle Monáe - Dance Apocalyptic

My favorite ArchAndroid, Janelle Monáe is teasing us with a new song titled Dance Apocalyptic from her upcoming album The Electric Lady due out Sept 9th, 2013.

The song is very peppy and fun and out just in time for summer bbq's.

https://soundcloud.com/atlanticrecords/janelle-mon-e-dance 

There is also a video in the works: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcwsCugjU0g

New Vid: M.I.A. - Bring The Noize (2 editions)

M.I.A. is back with not just one but two editions of her video for her latest single, Bring the Noize off her upcoming album MATANGI.

Version one everyone in the video is wearing white and only a few pops of color appear like her hot pink wig, some club lights and some gold plated scenes.

http://youtu.be/cCkIYkaLBGs

Version Two is the Matangi Gold Edition - Everything is gold plated and it all looks embossed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJPS40yBKWk

Either way, I am glad to have new music from M.I.A. just in time for summer!

I am back to posting!!!

Hello again!

After not posting much for almost over a month, I realized that I still want to do this and I will change the format slightly to include events in the L.A. area. 

At one point I will be switching to something else perhaps a website with a new more encompassing name but for now I will continue to post periodically. 

I do enjoy doing this and while the time away was good. 

There is just way too much good music out there that needs to disseminated.

Hope you are having a great summer. 

Regards, 
El Güido 

New Vid: NIN - Came Back Haunted

Nine Inch Nails are back with a new video for their single Came Back Haunted from their upcoming album Hesitation Marks due out September 3, 2013.

The video was directed by king of odd, David Lynch. Enjoy and try to not have a seizure while watching it.

http://youtu.be/1RN6pT3zL44

New Video: Café Tacvba - Aprovéchate

Fresh off their latest album El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco, Café Tacvba are back with their newest video for their single Aprovéchate.

The video was directed by Rubén Albarran (lead singer of the group.) The black and white video features a party with the awesome rockabilly-pin up-cholo-pachuco stylings of the attendees and a cross-dressing Rubén, cool low-rider bikes, old cars and lots of bad ass girls with pompadours. The band members are all dressed like an old school prom band. I have to say that I love Meme's vocals on here more than other tracks he has sung on before, he is quite the crooner on this track.

Enjoy!

    

 http://youtu.be/N9eroXvvCiI

New Vid: Q.U.E.E.N by Janelle Monáe feat. Erykah Badu

Janelle Monáe is back with a new video for her single, Q.U.E.E.N. that features Badoula Oblongata aka another one of Erykah Badu's alter egos. Q.U.E.E.N. is the first single from Monáe’s upcoming album The Electric Lady, which doesn’t have a release date yet. It’s the follow-up to Monáe’s critically-acclaimed and amazing album, The ArchAndroid. 

The video is very stylish and Monáe even dons a chic new hairdo which looks great on her but I still love her with her iconic pompadour. Looking forward to hearing more from this album. 

For now, turn up the bass on your speakers and shake it because as the lyrics say, "the booty don't lie."

You can buy  Q.U.E.E.N on iTunes here. 

Enjoy & support! 

 

http://youtu.be/tEddixS-UoU

New Video: Bowie - The Next Day

David Bowie returns with a controversial new video for his title single, The Next Day that YouTube has already censored. It is still up on Vevo and after watching it I still can't determine why it is deemed inappropriate other than the subject matter of a church being a bloody nightclub, literally. Sure there is Gary Oldman playing a bad ass priest, a monk flogging himself, and a prostitute played Marion Cotillard that has projectile stigmata but there is no blatant nudity that violated YouTube's terms. I'm not saying that the images are not unsettling to some people but to be censored and banned seems a bit much. 

Take a look for yourself while you still can:

  

Collection of my published Remezcla articles (March 2013)

Here is a collection of articles that were published in Remezcla (March 2013)

Video: Bomba Estéreo - Caribbean Power
Below is an excerpt from the article published March 12, 2013:

Few bands come on to the music scene with so much intensity that the whole world notices and even fewer are able to build on that intensity and continue to create innovative music that transcends cultures. Colombia’s Bomba Estereo is one of these few bands. On their video for their second single, Caribbean Power, off last year’s excellent  Elegancia Tropical, they feature a live performance of the song that really captures the ferocity of their live shows and their new found love for the synthesizer.

You can read the rest & watch the video here:
http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/video-bomba-estereo-caribbean-power/

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Video: Carla Morrison - Disfruto
Below is an excerpt from the article published on March 12, 2013:

Carla Morrison is back with a music video for her new single Disfruto from her Grammy winning album, Dejenme Llorar. The video features Morrison singlehandedly acting out the feelings of the lyrics. The concept is very simple yet effective in its invocation of emotions. It begins off focus and in black and white where we see Morrison’s blurred silhouette sitting in front of a blank wall. As the focus adjusts she begins to act out and gesture the sentiments of the lyrics. When the camera zooms in to Morrison’s eyes, slowly color begins to appear on her lips and face and soon everywhere else. It’s a creative effort that really works especially when Morrison’s intense direct stare pierces the camera and connects with the viewer.

You can read the rest & watch the video here:
http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/video-carla-morrison-disfruto/ 

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Free Download: Royal Highness - Sakala Mois EP
Below is an excerpt from the article published on March 22, 2013:

Royal Highness mix big bass beats, tribal, kuduro, cumbia, and trap music in such a way that I guarantee they will get you bobbing your head and dancing on their inventive new EP, Sakala Mois. The EP features four brand new tracks from the Austin-based duo. The first track, Screwbal is a blend of 90’s era “chopped and screwed” music and tribal. The combination sounds odd but it works very well, it’s a jarring big bass track that demands to be heard at a loud volume to truly appreciate its grandeur. PuroPari features the vocals of NYC based Zuzuka Poderosa and is a great quirky dance song that pays to tribute to “el puro pinche pari.” The track Extra Large Kids is a full on electro kuduro banger that will get your heart raising and your hips shaking to the upbeat African inspired groove that dominates the track. The final track Fiesta Colombiano mixes many samples, merengue sounding beats and big bass music to create an aural experience unlike no other. It is a mash-up of cultures that seamlessly collides on the dance floor. Fiesta Colombiano is a prime example of the continuous evolution of the Latino sound that fuses traditional elements in innovative ways to create a musical identity for a new generation.

Read the rest and download the EP for free here: 
http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/free-download-royal-highness-sakala-mois-ep/

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Song Review: Los Macuanos - El Camotero
Below is an excerpt from the article published on March 26, 2013:

Los Macuanos are part of the Ruidosón revolution that exploded in the local Tijuana music scene and became internationally known for its brooding themes and big bass beats that coalesce the past and the current to create a fresh sound that represents the present and looks forward to the future. Los Macuanos have been making clever political statements and social commentary through their music.

You can read the rest and hear the song here: 
http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/listen-los-macuanos-el-camotero/

New Video: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs just released a new video for their latest single Sacrilege off their forthcoming album, Mosquito due out April 16th.

http://youtu.be/jmRI3Ew4BvA

Hello, blogosphere!

I have been busy taking care of my friend and just being caught up with writing that I kind of neglected this blog for a bit. But stay tuned for new posts very soon. Thanks for your patience and for your support.

My latest for Remezcla: Maria y José

Ever heard of Ruidosón?

Meet and listen to María y José, the king of ruidosón & learn about the cultural phenenomenon coming out of Tijuana.

Below is an excerpt of my article published in Remezcla on3/11/13
 
Ruidosón is a cultural phenomenon that has taken over Tijuana and it can’t be mentioned without people associating it with Tony Gallardo aka Maria y José who has been at the forefront of this groundbreaking genre. Some of its creators go as far as describing it as a way of life rather than a genre. It picks up where Nortec left off.

Ruidosón is rooted in the dark sensibilities and noise of the modern city. It samples the sonic influences of yesteryear and melds it with the contemporary experiences and circumstances that many live in Tijuana. It is noisy, big bass beats and dance rhythms that were birthed by a new generation from the sinister bloodshed that has plagued the country for years. In a way, it could be said that ruidosón is a response to the violence and a way to cathartically release the frustration that many feel but don’t know how to express. It is a collision of cultures that explodes through the speakers rather than through weapons.

Click on the link below to read the rest & hear the new single, Ultra:
http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/listen-maria-y-jose-ultra/?=nocache4949

New Video: Empire of the Sun - Discovery

Empire of the Sun teases its fans (Empyereans) with a brand new video shot at the Bronson Caves in Griffith Park. 

Empire of the Sun's second album is due out in June 2013. 

Until then, the Empyreans can enjoy Discovery

 

 http://www.vevo.com/watch/empire-of-the-sun/discovery/AUEI91300001

My Latest Remezcla Article: Review - La Santa Cecilia's EL Hielo (Ice)

Here's an excerpt of my latest article for Remezcla. This time it was a song review on the latest single for one of my favorite L.A. bands, La Santa Cecilia beautiful new single, El Hielo (Ice).  




from the article published in Remezcla on 2/7/13: 
 
There are an estimated 2.8 million immigrants living in the U.S. Many left their home countries in hopes of a better future and in pursuit of the illusive “American Dream.” These immigrants are part of a shadow workforce that faces daily barriers, live under persecution and with constant fear of being deported just to provide for their families. On their moving new single, “El Hielo (Ice),” La Santa Cecilia brings into the limelight some of the people that strive to survive, day in and day out. The tragically beautiful and melancholic track uses some of these stories as inspiration to address this poignant issue in a melodious way.

You can read the rest of the article and hear El Hielo (Ice) here: 

 http://music.remezcla.com/2013/latin/review-la-santa-cecilia-el-hielo-ice/ 

Meet: DIIV (Coachella 2013 Artist)

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. 

DIIV play Coachella on Sunday April 14 & 21

http://youtu.be/KI79GPXAICM

http://youtu.be/L702zw6Ilqs

http://youtu.be/nSjXQJeVrtU

Meet Divine Fits (Coachella 2013 Artist)

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. 

http://youtu.be/HqKESoRWitU

http://youtu.be/8NqbhygoDSA

http://youtu.be/aoJt3zFl3fg

Listen: Bajofondo - Presente

Bajofondo's new album, Presente is not out until March 5th but NPR has an exclusive first listen to their full album. Take a listen to it and enjoy!

 

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172503476/first-listen-bajofondo-presente

The NPR link may no longer be working but you can listen to Presente on Soundcloud below: 
Si no funciona el enlace de NPR pueden escuchar Presente en Soundcloud aqui abajo:
Track Listing for Presente:

1. Intro
2. Código de barra
3. Segundos afuera
4. Pide piso
5. Nocturno
6. Pena en mi corazón
7. Caminante
8. La trufa y el sifón
9. Sabelo
10. Patrás
11. Oigo Voces
12. Cuesta arriba
13. Rendezvous
14. Lluvia
15. Noviembre
16. Circular
17. A repechaje
18. Milongón
19. Así es (Propergol)
20. Olvidate
21. Outro