straight out of.

"zara, you've changed..."

Do you remember being fourteen? I remember being fourteen, and being able to, quite proudly, identify in a crowd who my friends would be by the way they dressed. This sounds awful, but it's true. The criteria for this initial "selection" has evolved over the years. My days as a Camden pseudo punk (school uniform carefully tucked away in my rucksack) were fun, dense and characterised by people who were covered in patches, leather, studs, tattoos and for that brief awful moment, trucker caps. With these people I associated all the independent thoughts I so admired in the music I was listening to. Looking back, I evidently hung around with a lot of very stoned people, who at the time seemed very deep. Punk was a new concept for me and I admired everyone involved. I then moved along to be surrounded by the "indie kid". You know, the Converse wearing, collegiate looking, bumbling, bookish shy types so characterised by Seth Cohen of the O.C. For a long time afterwards if I was to see a young woman or man strolling along with such apparel I'd deem him or her interesting enough to talk to. To place myself in this melee, I attended a shambolic, fairly odd, public school where the girls regularly came in to the common room at various hours of the morning sporting £400+ hair extensions, fake tanned to the max, logo-ed handbags, Tiffanys jewelery gifted to them by paramours and bejeweled Jimmy Choo heels. (You must note this was when I was sixteen and uniform was no longer required). To this day I still characterise those who dress and appear in this manner vapid, vacant and dull. When I was between fourteen and sixteen I lived in band t-shirts, black jeans and Converse. I realise that it is awful to pass judgement on anyones character by how they appear, but I truly believed the way in which you chose to express yourself (thanks Dre) physically said a great deal about ones personality and interests. By this I mean to me Ugg boots equal mindless heathens, Doc Martens equal intimidating girls with death stares and high heels equal the masochistic/exhibitionist types. It's likely your interpretations derived from these pieces of footwear are entirely different, and this is where the social divide begins. Now, being older I'm very much aware stereotyping of this kind minimizes the benefit a wide variety of friends can have and what you stand to learn, not just about music, but about culture (though Ugg boots have no place in ANY culture). 

These days I have friends who dress themselves in a manner of ways- skinny jeans, skirts, trousers hung low, cords, whatever really, but if I'm being honest I still have a lot of characteristics I associate with certain ways people appear. Of course now, unlike when I was younger, fashion is much more in tune with subculture and buying into a Topman "indie look " won't buy you good taste in bands, nor will a New Era cap make you king of hardcore knowledge, the same way a pair of Dunks won't make you a real fan of hip hop. Due to the homogenisation of the ways in which various subcultures dress and in turn are being sold on as a "look" or "lifestyle" to consumers, in many ways we have begun alleviating our judgements associated with the items of clothing and the homogenisation in turn infers the falsehoods of the masses upon the subcultures themselves. Working both ways, the lines begin to get blurry and this takes away from subcultures, but also lays foundation for originality to appear in the cracks and forces people to move beyond "a look" in selecting their company, as "a look" no longer says as much about ones taste, or so it would seem.

I admittedly quite badly prejudge bands on how they look a lot of the time. Beards? Great. Skinny jeans on boys? Hmmm. Paisley? No. Bling? Hilarious! Grills? Ick. Do-rags? Gross.

Written down this comes across as very blunt, harsh and quite shallow, but the vast majority of people do pre-judge those they are faced with by the way they appear. When sifting through the vaguely more "unknown" acts of SXSW I tried to put aside my visual blockers, my judgements , and came out with some pretty decent results. So agree, disagree, debate, or no debate, I digress, and go on in an attempt to not bandy around genres and only describe the music...

Firstly Perseph One, who is a woman. She is a woman who reminds me a little bit of Lauryn Hill. If she decided to make a non-crazy comeback with a Santogold remix. I was told she tore it up at SX and sources say she is IT this year. Pay her a visit here.

Next, the awfully monikered Mr Lif who apparently I've been missing out on for oh about NINE releases? Where have I been? Why has no one shared the wealth? He rhymes with fairly intelligent lyrics, but as with most music such as this the samples make it for me. He'll certainly make you sway and nod your head, I'm feeling it.

Champagne, Champagne rise from Seattle and are very "now". Now meaning comparable to people like The Teenagers, Kitsune, La Roux, etc. Except they're pretty hilarious and good. Listen to the lyrics, at one point he mocks the "emotastic" and then goes on to sing an ode to Molly Ringwald. I laughed so hard my guts hurt. Beat heavy, lyrically awesome, GO now.

Awkquarius make me think of those hilarious porn channels that appear on Sky TV after midnight with those late night call shows where people act out their fantasies with some kitschy poorly acted brilliance. They also (with tongue firmly in cheek) evoke The Fresh Prince of Belair. This is so 90's it hurts, but man do you need to hear it.

What attracted me to the Morning Benders were their bedroom covers (hello Cardigans!). I'm a sucker for a good cover song and doing them in such a sweet offbeat manner does nothing but make me smile more. Their original music is very sunny, fans of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin should be excited, others who might enjoy may be currently revelling in some sort of hazy day. For those with weather wanderlust have a listen, they'll take you there.

The wiley We Were Lovers are disgustingly cute and very, very girly. SO sugary I almost want to put them among icing in my list of favourite things. After a while though I'm sure my teeth will be set on edge and I'll feel a little sick. However, until then I'll pretend I'm in the Princess Diaries and sing along to lighthearted tunes such as 'Birds Of A Feather' and feel totally pleased to be present in their musical fairytale.

Les Handclaps put us back in the 80's, but in Europe. In a trashy club. The bands name does not lie- they are pretty French (French Canadian), and do use a whole lot of hand claps, but somehow this combination works for them. They also have songs about the most stupid and ridiculous things. Such as how Cacti are delicious fruit. No, really...

The Lovely Feathers exist somewhere between Foals and the Caesars. They coast the perimeter of fine and great with some pretty promising mp3s circling the web. Every time I listen to them I begin to dig them a bit more and with a little more production effort and money they could quite easily be great. Watch this space? Yeah, they'll probably be on an Itunes advert soon.

Night Control create gorgeous sounds that Panda Bear would be jealous of. Ambient, a little spacey, it's good earth cafe music. Kids who've cruised beyond Sublime and past Animal Collective may enjoy this a lot. That said, I appreciate both Sublime and Animal Collective a great deal and fully endorse them, so anything goes. A band for all!

Everyone raves about Peasant. I don't really get the big deal, it seems to me like pretty standard singer with a guitar fare. Check it out with your own self loathing/wallowing discretion by clicking on his name.

Papercuts are pretty awesome. Mellow, elegant,  creative, bundles of pain and joy. They contrast well with the certainly more grassroots Donnovan Quinn and the 13th month, close friends of the aforementioned. Enjoying both creates a lovely mixture of musical textures to fill the next few moments of your life.

Thus ends part one of the SXSW summary by the absentee.

On top of all this new music stuff I highly recommend the new Silversun Pickups record for Smashing Pumpkin fans, the new Metric album for EH fans and the new Grizzly Bear album

for all the cool kids. They are all worth actually paying money for and not just stealing off of the Internet, and that's kind of a big deal.

Love to LGBK for the tip offs, more soon to conclude the SX roundup in the week.

simon says

This week has been busy. Not because I'm one of the masses getting collectively wasted in Austin, but because I have socialised beyond the point of no return. I think I have used up the funds at my bank of social skills and have resorted to having the most mundane (on my part) of conversations with people about the weather, politics and various forms of social sciences. So if I've seen you this week and been a little out of it, sincere apologies. I'll be awake and in touch again soon I think.

I recently came to a fairly startling conclusion. On the hip hop/ hip pop revivalist tangent I've been floating on recently I began to notice the prevalence of vulgar subjects and fairly nasty lyrics in some of my favourite songs. Nice songs in hop hop piss me off. Ballads are for the phenomenally lame. The songs I love in this genre start something, incite movement (be that it may, just head nodding), and really, it's not always good. For instance, Method Man's remix of Pharoache Monch's 'Simon Says', contains the lyrics "Ladies rub the ta-ta's, bras, titties and knockers on the floor/Oww! Fellas pull ya cock out" and "I got a bitch named Nina and I tuck her/I leave a nigga hanging like ya moms muffler/Snuff her/ Then my boys follow up". Hilarious and more than a tad gross right? This is nothing new. The main focus of the song is a line based upon the sensationalism of profanity (yelling "Get the fuck up!") and telling girls to rub their breasts in public ("Fuck it! Girls, I said rub on your titties/ Fuck it! I said rub on your titties!"), of which the appeal escapes me. 

Another of my favourite hip hop songs is "Pass the Courvoisier II" by Busta Rhymes, an artist who my dad introduced me to at age eleven. You'd think being exposed so young to music so lyrically gross would have some sort of profound effect on kids like me, but while I would not mind a life in which I could bathe in jewels and be surrounded by a posse of large bottomed women and amply muscly men feeding me grapes, caviar and champagne, I have somehow come out the other end a mild mannered normal young adult. Who only occasionally dabbles in decadence. Despite being a fairly educated individual I continue to endorse and sing along happily to music made by the very misogynists aforementioned and their contemporaries. Why? As I can't help but want to nod my head in that awkward "street" manner that I learnt from watching Dangerous Minds back when I was a kid. The lyrics become like script, albeit an amusing one, and I'm character acting for three minutes. In this I realise, my mind has surrendered and on the most basic level I've engaged with a piece of music, and just music. With this instinct I rarely approach indie or rock music, as I enjoy it in a different way. So today I thought I'd try something new, here are some indie rock and pop bands, acts and individuals who I've tried to gauge with my "hip hop ear". To see who indeed might make your head bob up and down. Let's go...

Well after a few scarring experiences with electro proper it's safe to say I will never love the genre. However if there ever was a need to (I don't really see why there would) go to anything vaguely resembling an electro night once more I guess I'd want to hear the mild and childlike blip pop of Old Folks Home. I actually listened to them when I came home from a night out not too long ago and had the most messed up dream of a choir of children wearing white gowns playing tag in slow motion on a rainbow. It was pretty spacey and pretty scary. Electro clearly freaks me out.

Say Hi claims that he sounds like "the moment just before the orgasm", which I translate to mean either you'll find him hilarious or euphoric. Either way, it's a pretty corny description. Going back to the theme of the post, I'm not too keen on the way his voice sounds on the recordings, I do however really encourage the listening of his Bazan-esque, sort of Jimmy Eat World-ish spiderwebby songs musically. They're very delicate, as in if a song could be diaphanous, this is the perfect example. I've heard live he's quite powerful, so if he ever makes it across to British shores I'd be sure to check him out.

Final Flash remind of the National in places, Band of Horses in others. I'm a little in love with their floaty, calm alt-pop. They come from Montreal and deliver songs of grace, lightness and have the basis from which to morph into a really powerful force in their chosen genre. They have an album coming out this year and I'm hot with anticipation already. They will soundtrack many of my walks about towns and places for months to come, and I really hope Austin treats them well this week. I believe in big things coming their way.

The Break Mission might be compared to Bon Iver by some. I think they're way better. Earnest, hushed and intense, I find them to be reminiscent of early Shins and, once again Band of Horses. The songs seem to shimmer in a hypothetical musical light. Hardly one for emotional outpouring, I have to say I do feel a certain warmth when listening to them, the kind I haven't felt for a band in a long, long while.

Gigantic Hand are categorised as Americana, a genre I associate only with Springsteen, so I find it quite hard to compare them to anyone. The songs are quite hollow, but not in a bad way. They are easy and difficult in an instance, the kind of band I wish played in bars to provide pleasant ambiance to soundtrack dear moments with friends. However, at the same time not acting as a distraction. They have a long way to go, but march on in the right direction.

Dog Day first attracted me because I adore their cover art. It evokes different eras engaging you with gorgeous graphics. Providing a fusion of that late 80's shoegaze haze and early 90's pavement denim jacket-floral dress indie, the result is charmingly engaging. As I listen I begin to ache for American Summers, the skipping of continents, and excites me for the approaching Summer months of travel and experience- gardens, beaches, parks and dusty roads in hot cities.

Finally, you likely don't need me to tell you but Spring's finally here, and this calls for nothing more than a digging out of some Illmatic, and some Sublime. I'm going to go put on the Whackness and feel like it's 1994...(and act like I don't recall I was only seven back then, and not in fact old enough to appreciate the golden age of hip hop...)

i want to get down, but not the first night

Oh Monica, what wise words you sung. 

I apply Monica's theory to a lot of things, music not being an exception. Not many things piss me off more than when people hear only one song by a band and declare "O M G this band will CHANGE YOUR LIFE ! ! !" exclamation point, exclamation point, etc. I have a lot of one night stands with songs (I was going to say bands, but that'd be weird and wrong). This blog is compiled of some people who I have become very committed to, and others that befit a moment that I then cruelly dump and move on. Such is life. Monica didn't write a song about being musically slutty, therefore I don't know how to break the habit. So here I am, the musical Carrie Bradshaw, and these are my Aidens for the day...

Have you ever listened to one of those "indie-electronic" bands? None come to mind right now, but I know there are a lot of them out there. A lot of the time I find myself really down with the music, but vocals and ridiculous lyrics ruin the song for me overall. Windom Earle make music that those great backgrounds are made of. While I could never call myself an electro fan (I find flashing strobe lights and huge stereos far too daunting) I can say I really enjoy the music these guys produce, that really can't be put in any other category other than electro. People who are masters of electro will probably hate this, however people without an opinion on electro will probably love, and that's probably you.

Going to an extreme here, the Stolen Minks appeal to the fourteen year old in me who still wishes she spent every Saturday in the Electric Ballroom listening to really dirty CBGB's era punk. These days I've mellowed out a bit, but it doesn't mean from time to time I don't love hearing some really great scuzzy punk. Bikini Kill fans will love the Stolen Minks, who make me feel like I have a (less poppy) Blondie of my own generation to love.

Continuing on a punk themed route, Die Brucke play wonderfully fast hardcore. Hardcore was one of my first loves and has provided some of the most memorable musical experiences of my life. Music like this is great, abrasive, intense and not for everyone, which is why I love it. You can't get much harder or faster than music like this and that's what makes it so much fun.

Fast forwarding to the present and modern music, let's talk about Team B. A bag of Brooklyn All Stars, featuring members of LCD Soundsystem, Beirut and the Arcade Fire. You can't really get more indie avant garde than that can you? I find the music sounds a bit convoluted and difficult to listen to, but I didn't instantly fall in love with Beirut either, which is something I make an effort to remember when listening to the band. Have a listen, I'd be interested to hear what you think of them.

I saw Jack Lewis and the Fishermen Three play in an amazing basement venue in Manchester not to long ago. They came straight from opening for the Cribs, having driven for hours earlier that day, exhausted and tired to end up playing a really great cohesive set despite all of this. Long gone are the days when I made the effort to go see bands I'd never heard of play every night, but these guys made me want to do that again. 

Pleasantly surprised Jack, Jeff Lewis' brother, sounds like a better, more interesting version of his sibling. The band angle less for the quirky 'I'm-on-like-so-many-drugs-man' vibe and focus on playing really interesting basic guitar based pop music. Plus they're from Portland, beards, check shirts and insta-endearing cool factor included.

Waiting For the End Of The World is kind of a mouthful to say. The name is also a bit dismal. The band however sound like the Walkmen and have a singing drummer, which is nearly always a good thing. They've been playing around New York a lot lately and while I haven't had a chance to catch them live yet I did come across a live set on the simply super Baeble website, which you can check out here. Who doesn't want concert in their bedroom? Sure beats going out a lot of the time.

Lastly, mellow out with some nineties lo-fi pop, Patterns play really softly driven pop-rock. Quite Bishop Allen, though perhaps a little more accessible. Fans of Barsuk or Polyvinyl bands will like them a lot, I think. It's fun music to assist you as you go about your day. 

Sunshine calls outside my window, until next time.

day seven: no cake

When the rain comes down hard outside and the wind blows you around on the way home, the world doesn’t feel that kind. You want to get into bed, wearing knitted socks, a big sweater, warm your hands around a hot mug of something and seek comfort. I’ve become a big fan of quiet over the years.

I can’t read when there’s music playing, I can’t try on clothes with music playing, I can’t cook with music playing, I can’t write or draw with music playing usually. However, I also can’t sleep unless there is music in the background, I can’t take long walks without music playing and I certainly can’t take journeys train, plane or otherwise without some music to provide mood or memory. What’s special about listening to music at this time of year I find is how it can very much take you away from harsh elements, the grey, any kind of emotional tumult and crowds of all sizes. After a particularly busy weekend I always feel the need to spend a day or two, or at least a few hours walking about by myself, with just headphones for company. With this in mind, here is my company of late…

I first became attracted to Bell Plaines a few months ago while addicted to Chris Walla. A recent film graduate from Portland, my dream home, Spencer (not of The Hills fame) had been creating soundtracks for films when he decided to create music that “had the sound of a blustery winter” for it’s own purpose. Chris discovered this music and fell in love with it soon after (while his band mate fell in love wit Zooey Deschanel, my girl crush). I find Spencer’s done a beautiful job. The songs are soft, clear, intimate and yes, cinematic. Not adhering to any musical trends, this is music to attach to your own “moments”, significant or singular.

Ruby Coast are from Aurora, Canada. I first listened to them because I have little of a fascination with the name Aurora; I think it’s terribly beautiful. This music is very typically “contemporary Canadian”. They sound like an untrained Tokyo Police Club, rougher and as unproduced as can be. Yet through this dusty haze of unprofessionalism, lies talent and pop songs that have infinite potential and appeal for fans of the Rapture, Tokyo Police Club and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Imagining them live I feel a little sunshine, the kind I associate solely with Ontario summers.

Winter Gloves dub themselves to be part of the genre “Healing & Easy Listening”. I like to listen to them when I need something mildly upbeat to get psyched for emerging into the night when it’s winter, a sort of merry incentive for excitement. They’re like a much less annoying MGMT, which in itself is a reason why I guess they could be “healing”. I have to be honest, I’m not totally sold on them, but I do find them interesting enough to listen to multiple times to try and figure them out. They have handclaps. I am a sucker for handclaps, so I guess I’ll keep coming back for more.


When I feel like being a little jauntier, I like to listen to Sports, another Ontario band, who are like a hyper Broken Social Scene or a band of sort of Beck fans. They make me happy, as they fuse a manner of genres from indie to pop to garage rock to laptop electro without taking themselves seriously at all. Most of all they sound really joyous and happy to be making music and generally, a happy band equals a happy fan. They cite their influences as “spontaneous mutations”, and you know what? You can hear them.

Now Now Every Children are playing in London soon, and if you like the Postal Service or even kind of liked I Was A Cub Scout in their short existence, go see them. Seriously. This kind of spacey laptop pop is only bettered by Faded Paper Figures and Gibbard and co themselves, so if you are a fan of the aforementioned bands, this WILL be your thing. The band hail from the truly wonderful Afternoon Records roster, which made me kind of like them before I even listened to them. They have epic potential and already pretty pop songs, and for such a small band that’s a big deal.

The last of this gang are called Bamorhea. This is very girly Grays Anatomy music- pianos, cellos and violins feature- and could soundtrack any number of heartbreaks, emotional let downs and moments of quiet reflection. It took me a long time to grow to even tolerate instrumental music, but find it to be the most malleable to ones own feelings. Lord, I’ve clearly just watched far too many heart wrenching episodes of Dawsons Creek in my time, I’m getting far too sappy. Next thing you know I’ll be digging out my Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton records…

Before I go I just wanted to say, I know a lot of you will know Pedro the Lion/ David Bazan, but I’m also aware a lot of you may never have heard him before. Pedro the Lion are not just one of my favourite bands for winter, but for always. I have spent days and days alone with records created by David and feel more for his music every time I listen. My three most listened to songs are ‘Harmless Sparks’, ‘Never Leave A Job Half Done’, and revealing my love for listening to carols all year round, ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’. Alas, none of these are on Spotify, but some can be found on the Pedro The Lion Myspace and at the Daytrotter sessions page.

Failing to like any of the above, put on ‘Logic Will Break Your Heart’ by the Stills (track: Gender Bombs) or ‘Boxer’ by The National (track: Slow Show) both the best of company for any season or situation.

cedar bar redux

Good names, bad names, most bands teeter on the ridiculous with their monikers. I know whenever I've had to entitle anything everything that I come up with sounds either horribly pretentious or very cheesy. This is the case with a lot of the acts discussed on this blog and today it's no different.

To befit the mood I'm in lately hip hop is where my minds at, so as a segway from our last post which incited a lot of excitement about Chiddy and co, I give to you More or Les.
Awful name, good rapper. I'm a big fan of his big band/jazz samples, and once more I think he's one of those gems that fans of Kanye would really like. Unlike Chiddy there aren't contemporary references as recent as Chiddys' 'Chris Brown on Grammy night' line, but still works out being pretty sick. I think Will Smith in the Fresh Prince would dig it, and that's enough for me to keep pushing repeat.

Enjoying the jazzy tones of More? Why not cruise on over and listen to the interestingly titled Black Congo, NC. They're pretty weird, but funky, in a let's all take acid and go crazy kind of way. I've never actually done acid, so if you have do let me know if this is what jazz-rock sounds like while on it. I'm genuinely intrigued.

Let's move into non drug induced beat heavy indie rock now. Who doesn't indie music like the kind Illinois produce? They sound really hot and lethargic. Which might not sound so good on paper, but they sound really seductive in a dive bar kind of way. Like a dirty Dirty Projectors. Check them out and feel grimy in the best of ways.

I usually abhor modern folk music, especially when sung by precocious girls in flowery dresses, however I find Hop Along, Queen Ansleis pretty refreshing.  She's really happy, and yet evokes the bitter sweet emotion found in the better Mouldy Peaches songs, without ripping off Diane Cluck like most lady folk singers. Her voice has real character that really just makes me want to be her (Frances Quinlans) best friend. Sweet and a little odd, have a listen to what I think is the healthy alternative to Emmy the Great. No offense to Emmy, but imagine Emmy doing a really great cover album of Alanis Morissettes 'Jagged Little Pill'. Now you've got the right idea.

Okay so, you read this blog. You think to yourself, 'Zara, it's all good and well that you talk about people with stupid facial hair and your love of bad hip hop, but where is the COOL MUSIC. I want to dance to some electronic bands this weekend, why aren't you helping me, huh? I want to jerk my body in awesome and weird shapes, give me music to be able to do so. Okay?'

Fear not Metronomy, Late Of The Pier fans, why not listen to hey hey for all your shape making needs. Pump up the jam, Philly style.

Jumping to another ship, do you like Tim Kasher? I do. Chicago has their own answer to The Good Life/ Cursive in Netherfriends. Netherfriends are a psy-pop-rock gang who make indie music sound like a soundtrack to a Narnia film, but awesome. I'm also guessing fans of this kind of music may like Minus the Bear-ites Exercise as well due to their big experimental pop endeavors .

Pet Lions are a band for those who like OKGO, The Strokes and maybe a little touch of Tokyo Police Club. I am getting a little sick of animal themed band names, but hey, this band are pretty good to bop along to in the sun. Or bop anywhere really. Sunny music for people of a sunny disposition.

Do you like Bon Iver? And Ben Folds a little maybe? Then damn, do I have a band for you in Thin Hymns. It's SUCH pretty music I may shed a tear. Plus, there are no gimmicks attached! There is no reason not to LOVE Thin Hymns. Get stoked. Get emotional.

Finally, have you ever wondered what would happen if Panic at the Disco covered Postal Service songs? I have not. However, I think I know now. The record would sound a lot like Sam Buck Rosen. It's pretty out there, but very enjoyable once you get into the right mindset for the post pop pandemonium.

Oh my. My laptop is now beginning to burn my lap, so I figure this is as good a time as any to say, hello, goodbye and happy weekend wherever you are...

egged on. egged off.

Have you seen that Adidas advert? With Katy Perry, Run, Missy and various other cool cats at a slamming house party being played on your TV? I have and I love it. Got to love marketing that's down enough to appeal so many people. I'd never even thought of Adidas as anything other than a brand that make those uber gross drawstring bags weird kids in tracksuits carry around, but no more. Adidas = cool. Adidas = Jeremy Scott and WINGED trainers. It seems, I have been narrow casted to and I don't mind a bit. Actually though, the reason why I bring it up is that I also love the song being played in the background, which is Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons' 'Beggin'. I have loved FV&TFS since I was a small child. My family used to put on Four Seasons records and I would jive just like that cute kid in the beginning of the Outkast 'Hey Ya' video for hours on end. If your dad never played Frankie and his gang to you, check them out for some great old songs that'll make you pretty roused, and pretty happy.

Taking us quite appropriately down the soulful path, I give to you now my favourite new hip hop artists.

Before we continue down this route, I must explain to you that my taste in hip hop music is awful. I really like Lil Bow Wows' collaboration with Jagged Edge 'Puppy Love'. That song has been my excuse for non committal relationships since it came out ("I'm just too young to get down like THAT"). Fabs record 'Trade It All', is a total dream of a love song in my eyes. Mya and Blackstreets' 'Take Me There' from the Rugrats Movie soundtrack is my favourite lullaby. I even think Pink's first album is a great hip pop album, 'Split Personality' being one of my favourite songs by a female singer ever. I think you're getting the picture.

So with this in mind, if you're still with me, I forge on.

Chiddy Bang

From Philadelphia we have this neat rap-electro foursome. Rap-electro sounds a fair bit crap doesn't it? Aye. This however is a little different, I'd like to think this is more Kanye-lite than Ghostland Observatory. I don't think they're quite there with their production, but I think hip hop that samples is never super unless Jermaine Dupri/ P Diddy/ Rick Rubin/ Russell Simmons have blessed it and/or injected $100, ooo+ into it. All this said, essentially this is catchy stuff that I believe fans of Lupe Fiasco and ABX will enjoy. Turn up the bass once more.

Oh Snap

Okay, so this is more Gang Gang Dance than hip hop. Shoot me.

I'm sorry, that was a bit crass. 

Oh Snap is a phrase I've always wished I could pull off saying without sounding like a wannabe American Valley Girl. It's never worked. This band actually kind of annoy me, however they have moments of greatness (see 'So Dynamite').

You know when you're in a club, and they're playing such mind numbing music you begin to think you're acclimatizing to the crap and can kind of find your groove in some songs because you just HAVE too? Oh Snap are the band you'd sort of end up liking, and then hating yourself for liking. I hate myself right now. I should stop writing about them. 

I will. 

I feel dirty.

G-Eazy.

G-Eazy. Click on the link. Just look at him. How much do you want to punch this kid in the face?

Hold off for a second, give the kick in track about 15 seconds. It's actually pretty good right?

It's a tad bit Gym Class Heroes, I'm not going to lie, but I really enjoy the rapping over the track. As the songs progress, they just get better and they're all real growers. So don't hate, appreciate a bit. I'm gonna give you some real hip hop in just a moment.

Concept

For fans of the 'Drop it Like It's Hot' style of hip hop. I ask firstly, why are you reading this blog? Secondly I say, you will love Concept. He is a super slick producer and kind of dirty sounding. I can hear hips gyrating to this song in those weird shiny leggings/skirts girls are rocking these days, I can see boxers from all the trousers riding low. Check him out, pair him with a few drinks and he'll totally get you laid.

Marc Payne

This guy is very much like the guy above. However, he is way more obscene. This is my favourite type of hip hop. Really derogatory, really dirty and really base. He has women panting in Britney -esque ways and sounds a whole lot at Timbaland at times. Good, bad and offensive, where is Perez Hilton? Like really? Are you guys feeling this stuff? I'm curious.

Theophilus London

Everyone loves this guy. He's a Neon Gold homeboy, so really, what's not to love? His Charming Mixtape is radical. I like him a whole lot. Download all his stuff free off the web, it's kicking about. I hear he's totally the new Kanye West, so why not join become part of the hype machine before Jo Whiley makes it her business to be more on it than you are?

High fives all around.

i'm on a boat

Hello ladies, gentle friends, this fine afternoon we will explore new music! 

While I have listened to pretty much nothing other than Andy Samberg and T Pain's wonder "I'm On A Boat" lately, in order to not be a total joke of a human being I have been tapping my finger along to some lovely talented new folk at regular intervals. None of these guys would be out of place on a teen movie soundtrack, so as you can imagine are pretty poppy, but just cool enough that Peyton Sawyer would totally advocate them. Like she did with Lavender Diamond that one time. I hate Peyton, she's clearly the worst character ever, but that's besides the point.

Elizabeth and the Catapult are one act who I've liked for a while, from Brooklyn as are most great new acts these days, she's one of the only girl singers I enjoy at the moment. She's very Hotel Cafe, pop and acoustic with a bit of a "sassy" edge. I enjoy 'Momma's Boy' and her other songs a lot. She's the kind of girl you wish would stumble upon playing one of the many open mic nights that go on. Alas, I do not live in Brooklyn so this will not happen. If you do, or are going to SXSW, check her out and report back okay?

Lots of people have been talking about Dent May lately, and I can see why. If you're down with lots of eclecticism and music that isn't easy to listen to, but is still inherently "pop" his music might be a match for you. I want to compare him to someone, but I can't really. SPIN magazine recently said ukeleles are the next big thing in music (thanks Noah and The Whale) and Dent uses a lot of them, in a much less twee way, which is quite interesting. I feel this'll appeal to fans of my beloved Coconut Records, and generally mellowed out people. I'm sending good vibes his way.

If you like old punk, like the Cramps, Black Flag and the such like, I very much encourage listening to Wicked Awesomes. If you don't like the bands mentioned, chances are you will NOT like this music. It's abrasive, but fun, and makes me think of Trash and Vaudeville in NYC and the awesome dude who owns it. Seeing as creepers are, like, totally in right now maybe this kind of punk will catch on again too? I'd like that a whole lot.

So onto indie rock, and hand in hand, Canada. The Danks produce the sort of melodic noise that makes everyone swoon (note: Broken Social Scene/Bear Hands fans will love them). The Danks produce perfect and intelligent poppy lyrics and melodies and generally are a joy to listen to. The Danks are just dreamy. I'm swooning somewhere up above the clouds.

Blind Pilot take this indie vibe a step further. We're talking acoustic dudes from Portland. They've got a bit of an E Smith vibe going on, Two Gallants a little also. Definitely poignant soundtrack music for the Good Will Hunting's of the world. I predict Alex Patsavas falling head over heels for them and putting them on Gossip Girl. Mark my words.

I actually can't remember whether I've talked about Target Market before, but for fans of the previously mentioned Little Death, Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Bishop Allen, you may well love this noisy pop gang from St Louis. Furrow your brow and shake your head, and enjoy the noise if so.

Enough for now- I'm going to go listen to the Cardigans and Land of Talk, feel the Spring sunshine outside my window. 

Have the best of times.