Showing posts with label recommendations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recommendations. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Recommendations
Passion Pit - The Reeling
A cool 80s synth, heavy drum-based track from this American electronic band. Passion Pit are fairly new to the scene, forming in 2007 and releasing their first EP Chunk Of Change in September 2008. Their first LP Manners was released just this weekend and has already received rave reviews. Clash magazine wrote "At its most adventurous, Manners sounds like little else – a pop record that exists in a world of its own, carving a sub-genre niche which only fits their expansive, tonally decadent material", while Rolling Stone magazine noted, "what makes the record are his loose beats, shamelessly fruity melodies and breathless little-boy vocals, all pushing skyward."
MySpace
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Hysteric
I remember hearing "Zero" on JOY for the very first time, and the next minute finding myself in JB Hifi purchasing the It's Blitz album. The power of one brilliant song! This album has been on constant rotation for me over the past couple of months and is already one of my top favourites for 2009. It's an alternative art-rock record with subtle electronic influences, and features the beautiful vocal work of Karen O (listen to album track "Hysteric" and you'll understand what I mean). The album provides a change in sound for the band, who aren't exactly new to the scene, having released another two LPs and three EPs since 2003. Their former material is much more raw, heavier and guitar-based in comparison. Reading comments on their Last FM page, this change has been met with some uncertainty from some long-term fans, but mostly embraced with enthusiasm. The album has peaked top ten in Australia and the UK, and reached #22 in the US. I can't recommend a 2009 album more than this one.
MySpace
Howling Bells - Cities Burning Down
Quite similar in style to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and another recent band in which I purchased the album after just one listen. These female vocal-lead indie bands are exciting me a lot of late. There's something so authentic and real about the material they produce. "Cities Burning Down" isn't the track we played last night, but it is the first single from the new record Radio Wars. We played the upbeat album opener "Treasure Hunt" (which has been added to JOY daytime playlists). These guys are a homegrown Sydney band who formed in 2004. They moved to the UK to record their debut album in 2006. Both records have received much critical acclaim. They have toured extensively, supporting The Killers, Placebo, Snow Patrol and will open for Coldplay on the 2009 North American leg of their current world tour.
MySpace
We Are Smug
Now this is something very unexpected! Former Savage Garden front man turned out of the closet and proud gay, independent artist Darren Hayes has released a new album with long-time collaborator Robert Conley under the pseudonym We Are Smug. The album is a heavily electronic experiment bursting with an uncontrollable sense of excitement and energy. Check out the fab "Shit On The Radio" (a Stephen Hahn - JOY's general manager - favourite). But guess what? It's FREE! You can download the 10-track album here. This is Darren's first release since the 2007 double disc LP This Delicate Thing We've Made, his first album through his own self-funded record label. He is working on material for his fourth solo album, due in 2010.
MySpace
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Recommendations
New moosik keeping us on our tippy toes this week.
Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van
Johno and myself are HUGE fans of the wonder woman that is Ladyhawke. She released her debut self-titled album in September last year to small fanfare, but word of mouth eventually caught on and third single "My Delirium" became a sleeper hit, taking 12 weeks in the ARIA Top 50 before finally cracking the Top 10, peaked at #8. JOY has supported this Kiwi born and bred gal since the very beginning, long before commercial radio got their greasy mits on her. The album, which was recently re-released with bonus tracks, has now been accredited gold. "Back Of The Van", Hawke's very first solo single is also being re-released thanks to the success of "My Delirium", so while it's technically not new, the track has now been added to JOY's daytime playlists. It doesn't get much more 80s throw-back than this! And the video...just watch it for yourself and be amazed by its retro-tasticness. Australia is now her biggest selling market, I have little doubt she'll skip us a tour before the end of the year. Fingers crossed.
David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over
We first previewed this track during our debut episode, even before JOY got their mits on it! No longer content with playing second (or third, fourth...) best to Queen diva Beyonce, Ms. Kelly ditches urban for dance with a camp, feel-good disco stomper that is sure to become a much-needed hit for the former child of destiny. Now working on her third solo album, despite no longer being signed to Columbia Records, it'll be interesting to see if the new material follows down a similar path. Popular French DJ David Guetta is responsible for the track which will feature on his fourth studio album "One Love", out August.
Empire Of The Sun - Standing On The Shore
The eccentric Aussie electro duo are back with the third single from their debut Platinum album Walking On A Dream (2008). "Standing On The Shore" continues where last single "We Are The People" left off: a pleasant and breezy, hypnotic tune. The music video has been shot at The Pinnacles, north of Perth, Australia. Keep an eye out for it.
Freemasons feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
Classy English pop diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor hasn't had a hit in Australia since 2002. Her memorable debut "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)", a collaboration with one hit wonder DJ Spiller, was a number one hit here and follow-ups "Murder On The Dancefloor" and "Get Over You" both reached the ARIA Top 5. She has however continued to have the odd hit throughout Europe, most notably 2004's "Mixed Up World" and 2007's "Catch You". Meanwhile, English dance duo Freemasons have scored a number of hits throughout Europe from their albums Shakedown (2006) and Unmixed (2007), most notably the remake of the Alanis Morissette classic "Uninvited". They also produced the fan favourite from Kylie's 2007 X album "The One". With their powers combined, they produce a glossy little dance number that should see both acts return to the heights of the UK charts, but will most likely get ignored here.
U2 - Magnificent
The second single from U2's latest album No Line On The Horizon, which has been free-falling down the ARIA Album Charts most likely due to the dismal flopping of lackluster first single "Get On Your Boots" (ARIA #26). "Magnificent" is really the only candidate on the album for potential hit single material (this album is lacking in notable hooks compared to their previous two records), and sees U2 sport a more traditional sound, spreading the theme of love. In it Bono sings "I was born to sing for you, I didn't have a choice but to lift you up, and sing whatever song you wanted me to". It's a good track, but nothing that's going to grab you and make you go "WOW!", so whether people care to notice it or not is the question. The Fred Falke remix (the version used in the above video) gives it an exciting dance makeover. To watch the offical video, click here.
Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van
Johno and myself are HUGE fans of the wonder woman that is Ladyhawke. She released her debut self-titled album in September last year to small fanfare, but word of mouth eventually caught on and third single "My Delirium" became a sleeper hit, taking 12 weeks in the ARIA Top 50 before finally cracking the Top 10, peaked at #8. JOY has supported this Kiwi born and bred gal since the very beginning, long before commercial radio got their greasy mits on her. The album, which was recently re-released with bonus tracks, has now been accredited gold. "Back Of The Van", Hawke's very first solo single is also being re-released thanks to the success of "My Delirium", so while it's technically not new, the track has now been added to JOY's daytime playlists. It doesn't get much more 80s throw-back than this! And the video...just watch it for yourself and be amazed by its retro-tasticness. Australia is now her biggest selling market, I have little doubt she'll skip us a tour before the end of the year. Fingers crossed.
David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over
We first previewed this track during our debut episode, even before JOY got their mits on it! No longer content with playing second (or third, fourth...) best to Queen diva Beyonce, Ms. Kelly ditches urban for dance with a camp, feel-good disco stomper that is sure to become a much-needed hit for the former child of destiny. Now working on her third solo album, despite no longer being signed to Columbia Records, it'll be interesting to see if the new material follows down a similar path. Popular French DJ David Guetta is responsible for the track which will feature on his fourth studio album "One Love", out August.
Empire Of The Sun - Standing On The Shore
The eccentric Aussie electro duo are back with the third single from their debut Platinum album Walking On A Dream (2008). "Standing On The Shore" continues where last single "We Are The People" left off: a pleasant and breezy, hypnotic tune. The music video has been shot at The Pinnacles, north of Perth, Australia. Keep an eye out for it.
Freemasons feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)
Classy English pop diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor hasn't had a hit in Australia since 2002. Her memorable debut "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)", a collaboration with one hit wonder DJ Spiller, was a number one hit here and follow-ups "Murder On The Dancefloor" and "Get Over You" both reached the ARIA Top 5. She has however continued to have the odd hit throughout Europe, most notably 2004's "Mixed Up World" and 2007's "Catch You". Meanwhile, English dance duo Freemasons have scored a number of hits throughout Europe from their albums Shakedown (2006) and Unmixed (2007), most notably the remake of the Alanis Morissette classic "Uninvited". They also produced the fan favourite from Kylie's 2007 X album "The One". With their powers combined, they produce a glossy little dance number that should see both acts return to the heights of the UK charts, but will most likely get ignored here.
U2 - Magnificent
The second single from U2's latest album No Line On The Horizon, which has been free-falling down the ARIA Album Charts most likely due to the dismal flopping of lackluster first single "Get On Your Boots" (ARIA #26). "Magnificent" is really the only candidate on the album for potential hit single material (this album is lacking in notable hooks compared to their previous two records), and sees U2 sport a more traditional sound, spreading the theme of love. In it Bono sings "I was born to sing for you, I didn't have a choice but to lift you up, and sing whatever song you wanted me to". It's a good track, but nothing that's going to grab you and make you go "WOW!", so whether people care to notice it or not is the question. The Fred Falke remix (the version used in the above video) gives it an exciting dance makeover. To watch the offical video, click here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Recommendations
New music that's getting us excited on Boombox...
Bertie Blackman - Heart
Here's a great Sydney indie singer-songwriter with a track that was sent into JOY just this week, and had Johno giving birth to kittens. With it's hypnotic, clap-a-long urbanish beats under Bertie's fierce lyrics and vocals, this is something worth checking out. Bertie is releasing her third LP Secrets and Lies on May 8 on Forum 5 Recordings. The disc has already been Triple J's "Featured Album of the Week". Check her out at MySpace.
Christer - How You Like It
Christer is a very exciting Canadian "dancy glam-rock synth-jazz pop thunder" artist who released her first album Techna February this year. "How You Like It" is brand new music to JOY, and had Petro drooling after first listen. Mash up some Goldfrapp, Peaches and Presets, add a bit of 2nd album Holly Valance, and you have Christer. Do yourself a favour and download the album off iTunes (Not sure if there's a physical release yet). She's coming down under later this month - dates are on her MySpace.
Royksopp feat. Robyn - The Robot & The Girl
Swedish poppet Robyn can do no wrong with her collaborations. First there was the 2007 epic dreamy-disco of Kleerup's "With Every Heartbeat", then there was last year's "Dream On" with Christian Falk. Now she lends her vocals to the boys of Royksopp, one of Norwegian's hottest and most successful electronic music duos, for the second single from their third 2009 LP Junior. This track is very much in the same vein of "With Every Heartbeat", with it's bubbling electronic-dance production and a tale of desperation, this time over a lover who is a workaholic. Check out Royksopp on MySpace.
Bertie Blackman - Heart
Here's a great Sydney indie singer-songwriter with a track that was sent into JOY just this week, and had Johno giving birth to kittens. With it's hypnotic, clap-a-long urbanish beats under Bertie's fierce lyrics and vocals, this is something worth checking out. Bertie is releasing her third LP Secrets and Lies on May 8 on Forum 5 Recordings. The disc has already been Triple J's "Featured Album of the Week". Check her out at MySpace.
Christer - How You Like It
Christer is a very exciting Canadian "dancy glam-rock synth-jazz pop thunder" artist who released her first album Techna February this year. "How You Like It" is brand new music to JOY, and had Petro drooling after first listen. Mash up some Goldfrapp, Peaches and Presets, add a bit of 2nd album Holly Valance, and you have Christer. Do yourself a favour and download the album off iTunes (Not sure if there's a physical release yet). She's coming down under later this month - dates are on her MySpace.
Royksopp feat. Robyn - The Robot & The Girl
Swedish poppet Robyn can do no wrong with her collaborations. First there was the 2007 epic dreamy-disco of Kleerup's "With Every Heartbeat", then there was last year's "Dream On" with Christian Falk. Now she lends her vocals to the boys of Royksopp, one of Norwegian's hottest and most successful electronic music duos, for the second single from their third 2009 LP Junior. This track is very much in the same vein of "With Every Heartbeat", with it's bubbling electronic-dance production and a tale of desperation, this time over a lover who is a workaholic. Check out Royksopp on MySpace.
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