Summertime Cowboy

Photo Credit kel60

“Summertime Cowboy” is an ambient folk-pop gem by the Finnish band Husky Rescue. It’s off their first album, Country Falls, which was released in 2004.

I picked Country Falls up on a whim at Seattle’s wonderful Sonic Boom Records way back in 2005. I had never heard of the band, but they were on the store’s “featured” display. They had a cute name and cool cover art, so I figured why not? I’m glad I went out on a limb, because the album ended up in almost constant rotation for the next 3 months of my life.

The entire album is worth a listen, but “Summertime Cowboy” is the clear standout track. Even my dad likes this song. I’ve caught him singing along on more than one occasion. It’s simple, sweet, and damn is it catchy. It also contains a whimsical universality that I think makes it almost impossible not to like. You may be thinking “How is a song about an intergalactic summer romance with a cowboy universal?” Well my friends, don’t sweat the details. The overarching theme is ‘young love,’ and I think that’s something we can all relate to.

Click to Download: Summertime Cowboy—Husky Rescue

I Want You

"I want you, but I want you to want me too."

Theophilus London is an up-and-coming rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Generally speaking, I’m not the biggest rap fan, but Theophilus’ beats are smooth, sexy, and genre-bending. He incorporates everything from big band and soul influences—complete with horn section (be still my heart)—to Discovery samples. Theophilus is one to watch. And that name.

"I Want You", a Marvin Gaye cover, showcases Theophilus’ inherent knack for incorporating a range of different styles in one song to produce something that sounds uniquely his own. In addition to his rapping, bongos, horns, and soulful singing abound. It’s off his latest I Want You mixtape, which you can download in its entirety for free off his website. (I highly recommend that you do.)

Click to Download: Theophilus London--I Want You (Marvin Gaye Cover)


Bonus:
This clever little tongue-in-cheek song about meeting your girlfriend’s dad (who just happens to be the prime minister) features a perfectly-incorporated sample of Vampire Weekend’s “Giving up the Gun.” Like I said, keep an eye out for Theophilus; he’s going places.

Click to Download: Theophilus London—Give it Up Dad (feat. Vampire Weekend)

P.S. The neat art-film-style music video for “I Want You”

THEOPHILUS LONDON "I WANT YOU" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) dir. VASHTIE from va$htie on Vimeo.

Teenage Crime

"We don't sleep when the sun goes down, we don't waste no precious time."

Photo Credit B.J. Enright

Adrian Lux dropped his “Teenage Crime” EP on Beatport May 31st, just in time for summer. The EP features the Original Mix as well as a few remixes, including one by the king of Progressive House, Axwell. (Axwell is one-third of Swedish House Mafia, and his label Axtone released Lux’s EP).

While the Axwell remix of the song is likely to get more attention on the blogosphere (I mean come on he’s in the freaking Swedish House Mafia), I prefer the Original Mix much more. It’s not that the Axwell remix isn’t terrific, because it is in an IN-YOUR-FACE-LET’S-RAVE sort of way. However, every now and then I like my House music to be a little more subtle. While the Axwell remix is perfect for the club, the Original Mix is a lot better suited for my car stereo.

That being said, this song is arguably my perfect summer anthem. I hear it and immediately reminisce about driving down Dallas Highway 75 in the middle of the night; windows down, music blaring, cigarettes in hand, city lights streaming by, and not a care in the world.

We don’t sleep when the sun goes down, we don’t waste no precious time.

All my friends in the loop, making up for teenage crime.

Click to Download: Teenage Crime--Adrian Lux

Superman

**Track Streaming Coming Soon!
Photo Credit Yakub

Not much can be said about German/Portuguese uberproducer Moullinex that hasn't already been repeated time and time again.
Bottom line is that this guy can do virtually no wrong. He has been setting the nu-disco world on fire with his masterful usage of funk basslines, pulsating synths, and frequent incorporation of (!!!) real instruments. While he is perhaps known best for his remixes of popular acts like Cut Copy, Sebatien Tellier, and Two Door Cinema Club, his solo work is equally formidable.

This track comes from his Superman EP, which just dropped June 4th on Gomma Records.

It's a delightful 6-minute number that makes me envision dark clubs filled with beautiful people. The bass plucks away steadily throughout the song while synths and guitars weave in and out, layering until the vocals come in. Whoever the singer is, he's filtered so heavily through a vocoder that I can't understand a single word he's saying. But that's what makes it all so mysterious and sexy.

Click to Download: Superman--Moullinex

P.S. As a general rule I dislike most dance music videos, but I think this one captures the mood of the song perfectly. Enjoy.

Moullinex - Superman from Moullinex on Vimeo.

Cold War

"This is a cold war, do you know what you're fighting for?"

Photo Credit Nick Waplington

I only found out about Janelle Monáe a few weeks ago, but already I want to shout from the rooftops:
"THIS IS THE FUTURE OF POP MUSIC!"

Janelle sounds like the lovechild of Andre 3000 and Dionne Warwick, with style that rivals Kanye. Her music is fresh, innovative, and insanely catchy. She seamlessly blends influences ranging from funk to R&B to classic rock to electronica, never settling on a specific style, but rather creating a sound all her own. Oh, and did I mention she's on Diddy's label?

Two weeks ago she released a new concept album, ArchAndroid. It's fantastic.
Here's my favorite song from the album thus far:

Click to Download: Cold War-Janelle Monae


Bonus:
And now for something completely different, here's the first song entitled "Cold War" that I ever loved. This gritty lament on a failing relationship perfectly embodies Death From Above 1979's unique sound, which combines the best elements of punk, dance, hardcore, and beating the shit out of a drumset.

Click to Download: Cold War-Death From Above 1979

If you've ever heard DFA1979, you already know that they are one of the greatest post-punk bands of our generation (perhaps of all time). If you haven't heard them, well, shame on you. Unfortunately, they broke up years ago after their first LP, but are survived by member Jesse F. Keeler's little side project, MSTRKRFT.