Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Binghamton, Editor's Picks, Emerging Artists, hip-hop, Myles P
Binghamton's Myles P is emerging fast with his latest mixtape release
PREVIEW: Myles P’s MySpace
DOWNLOAD: LMP Mixtape
LISTEN: “Hip-Hop’s Last Hope” by Myles P (Produced by Nick Cicero)
SU grad and professional music producer Nick Cicero has worked with big names labels and artists like Drake, so Myles P must have been licking his chops once Cicero agreed to work with him on his latest free for download mixtape. Myles P is a Binghamton, NY native and brings some unforeseen attitude and grit to an largely undefined music scene. He sounds more refined than SU’s very own Delirium, but that same kind of nerd-rap style people love about Kanye West and Kid Cudi.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Emerging Artists, The Mix Fix | Tags: E*Rock, Emerging Artists, Mix Fix, Peepholes, remix
Peepholes is an experimental pop sensation waiting to blow.
PREVIEW THE DJ AND THE BAND: E*Rock’s MySpace and Peepholes’ MySpace
LISTEN: “Lair” by Peepholes (E*Rock Remix)
If you like Ratatat‘s electric guitar loops and Wavves’ lo-fi blurry pop sound, then this remix might fit your needs. These Brits are a highly experimental pop duo that really loves using mechanical sound and lo-fi/garage rock mixed with synth-pop choruses, and this song keeps sticking around. The original “Lair” track isn’t as filtered as the remix by E*Rock, so I chose the remix over the original since the rhythm tends to get swamped by the muffled high-pitch vocals. If there’s an consistent theme in experimental rock groups, it’s that any sound has a chance, and these guys have enough pop to make some serious noise later on.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Genre Columns, Indie Rock | Tags: Australia, Beach House, Bogota, Emerging Artists, South America, Yucuna
"Yuk, yuk, Yucuna"... Taking self-loathing in music to a higher level....
VISIT Yucuna’s Myspace
DOWNLOAD Yucuna’s “Bogota” MP3
I know what you’re probably asking: “What the hell is a Yucuna?” Now, without having to Google or Wikipedia it, I’m going to say it’s an Australian animal that dudes kill with boomerangs. Happy?
Anyways, with no gig listings out there, and a Myspace profile view count (as of this post) of 80, Yucuna is a prime example of why living in this new Internet age so freaking exciting and amazing! (more…)
Filed under: Emerging Artists | Tags: 3Oh!3, Australia, Emerging Artists, Mest, Paramore, pop punk, Tonight Alive
Tonight Alive is an aussie band on the rise
PREVIEW: VISIT Tonight Alive’s Myspace
For this week’s Emerging Artists, I bring you a band from down-under called Tonight Alive. That’s right folks, we’re going to Australia for some tunes.
Formed earlier this year, these guys are the Aussie version of Paramore, complete with lead singer Jenna Mcdougall, whose vocals rival those of Paramore’s Hayley Williams, pop-punk guitar riffs and beats. The rest of the band is composed of dudes–who have some kickass accents, if you’re into that– whose synchronized head banging is sure to bring them some attention in the States. They’ve already had a few dates over here, supporting acts such as 3Oh!3 and Mest.
Keep your eye out for their EP, due out this coming January, and hopefully a tour to follow.
Want to hear some of their tunes? Check out their Purevolume
–Lorna Oppedisano, Assistant Features Editor
Filed under: Emerging Artists | Tags: Absolute Punk, Airborne Toxic Event, Cheap Girls, Emerging Artists
Cheap Girls
If you’re looking for new music, look no more. 20 Watts has got you covered with Cheap Girls.
If you ask me, the only drawback to these guys is their name. Cheap Girls — not exactly the name you wanna say you’re jamming out to.
But on to the more important aspect of Cheap Girls: their music. I stumbled upon these dudes a few weeks ago on Absolute Punk, and they intrigued me in the most simple way. They’ve got that indie sound that serves the perfect music to just relax to. The singer’s voice is a little raspy (think Airborne Toxic Event), which matches the garage sound of the guitar and drums.
Ways to check ‘em out:
1. Myspace music — http://www.myspace.com/cheapgirls
2. And if you’ve got an account with Absolute Punk (absolutepunk.net), which is free, you can stream their whole album — http://www.absolutepunk.net/cheapgirls
Enjoy!
– Lorna Oppedisano, Assistant Features Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Emerging Artists | Tags: Amy Winehouse, Brigitte Bardot, Editor's Picks, Emerging Artists, Lost in Translation, Nanny Diaries, Pete Yorn, Relator, Scarlett Johansson, Serge Gainsbourg, Shania Twain, Zooey Deschanel
Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn release 2006 recording of "Relator," to be featured on their upcoming album
PREVIEW: Download Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn’s “Relator” MP3
WATCH: Video below the cut
Zooey Deschanel x Amy Winehouse + Shania Twain = Scarlett Johannson. Throw in Pete Yorn with his typical unrealistic sappy ex-boyfriend vibe. No, this is not the script for the weirdest porno ever, but the formula for Scarlett Johannson and Pete Yorn’s “Relator” song and music video. Somehow it works.
The project was inspired by the Brigitte Bardot/Serge Gainsbourg duets. Considering these French nymphomaniacs produced a song (although this version was never actually released) so erotic the Vatican denounced it, the similarities between the originators and their less-believable imposters are few.
However, if you ignore the clearly contrived decision to hide the less hot of the two behind sunglasses and a crafty use of blurring, you can detect some traces of chemistry between Scarlett and Pete. I don’t mean as a couple, but more importantly, they complement each other vocally. And the outcome is as bouncy and inoffensive as you’d expect of this collaboration. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks, Emerging Artists | Tags: Editor's Picks, Emerging Artists, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, M. Ward, Smith Westerns
The Smith Westerns' blend of 1950s pop and garage-rock is a hit
PREVIEW: Download The Smith Westerns’ “Girl in Love” MP3
The opening notes of The Smith Westerns‘ latest single, “Girl in Love” will inevitably evoke images of M. Ward‘s “Never Had Nobody Like You.” As much as the similarities are both present and true, try to look past them. For all of the sometimes-corny nostalgia Ward has been able to conjure up over the years, specifically with this year’s Hold Time, it still doesn’t hold a candle to what The Smith Westerns have going on right now.
Within a few months of their self-titled debut, these four guys from Chicago have managed to carve out a fairly unique, and highly listenable sound all their own. Mixing elements of garage-rock and indie-pop with a 1950s songwriting style, it would seem they’ve got a monopoly on the hokey scene at the moment.
Still, the boy-meets-girl, “please fall in love with me” vibe works to perfection, catching the ears of many-a-blogger, this one included. For their first effort, every track shows a gutsy sort of initiative that’s refreshing, as well as surprising. If you have any appreciation for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons-type stuff, you’ve probably found your match with this one.
– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor
