If one were to look at one positive thing that has come of Michael Jackson’s death, I know it’s terrible to say, but the most obvious would have to be the way the entire music community has come together to show their gratitude to the late King of Pop.

Some good tributes, others… not so good. Regardless, I can’t recall when the last time was I saw such an outpouring of love, admiration, and mourning.

The dearly departed King of Pop would definitely not be disappointed with this tribute. Eryka Badhu is fiery and phenomenal, and kinda sounds like MJ in some parts too. The Roots per usual are breaking it down, and per usual they sound like some bad mamma jammas.

This version of “I Wanna Be Where You Are” is full of soul. One of my favorite tributes I’ve heard thus far.

Verdict: This cover comes second only to the legend himself. Listen to it here

Erykah Badu x The Roots – I Wanna Be Where You Are (Michael Jackson Cover) | mp3

via GvsB

Related posts

• The Roots Working on 200 Songs for Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night (4)
• The Roots ft. Wale, Chrisette Michele – Rising Up (9)
• The Lonely Island & The Roots – I’m On A Boat (Live on Jimmy Fallon) (5)

It’s really not fair for me to write this review because “The Seed 2.0″ probably ranks in my top twenty-five all-time favorite songs. It’s really hard to mess up a track with such an amazing hook.

“The Seed 3.0″ is a nice little remix. It’s slightly jock jam-esque, especially with the intermittent “WOWW” voice.

Not a big deal though. The added instrumentals and beats spice up The Seed 2.0. A little clubbier, “3.0″ isn’t an upgrade, but definitely a newer edition. Don Diablo does a good job of putting a little pizzazz into the original track, but doesn’t ruin the dopeness of the original.

Verdict: The Seed 3.0 makes for a legite summer cut. Good call on resurrecting a classic Mr. Diablo. Listen to “The Seed 3.0″ here

Don Diablo x The Roots – The Seed 3.0 | mp3

Related posts

• The Roots Working on 200 Songs for Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night (4)
• The Roots ft. Wale, Chrisette Michele – Rising Up (9)
• The Lonely Island & The Roots – I’m On A Boat (Live on Jimmy Fallon) (5)

I immediately disliked this track simply because of the hook. Taking the most annoying part of Keri Hilson’s “Turning me On” (the half moan/half wail Keri subjects us to) was a bad move on MSTRKRFT’s part.

The best part of “Turning me On” is the combination of Keri’s semi-monotonous chant and the edgy backbeats- at least in my humble opinion. Take those two factors out, and it’s not a play-worthy track.

With that being said, I respect that MSTRKRFT is trying on new hats and doing some more mainstream stuff. I hope this isn’t a ploy to make more money (who am I kidding?), or reach out to a wider audience. MSTRKRFT has a specific segment to which the duo appeal to, and these fans love them for the bass-pound energy Ed Banger prodigies are notorious for.

One thing to note on this track though is the adaptability of Weezy’s freestyle to a more electro fast-paced beat. That part of the track is actually decent. I’d like to see some more MSTRKRFT/ Lil Wayne collabos.

Verdict: Leave Keri out of it, or at least her whiny breakdowns. Not MSTRKRFT’s best work by any stretch of the imagination. Grab it here

Keri Hilson – Turnin’ Me On (ft. Lil Wayne) (MSTRKRFT Remix) | mp3

Related posts

• Monday Has The Beat: (Re)mixtape #28 (6)
• Who Charted? Britney Spears atop the US Album Chart for 5th Time (1)
• Weezy and, oh yeah, Yeezy: GQ’s Men of the Year. (17)

I’ll be honest and say that I was beginning to lose faith in Wale… all this hype surrounding him, “Best mixtape of ’08, etc. etc.”… Yet what I’ve been hearing lately has been, well, kind-of weak.

But let me just stop right here and stick my foot in my mouth.

“Um Rica” is a great track. For starters, it’s a refreshing sample (I’m a sucker for foreign artists being sampled, I’ll admit it). There’s something about Wale’s rhythmic free styling, combined with the Somalian music that gives the track a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’. Definitely gets the feet and hips moving.

And K’nann, he simply kills it. His rhymes are on point and very real. Awesome collabo.

Verdict: Props Wale, keep ‘getting your rappin’ on’. Listen to “Um Ricka” here

Wale – Um Ricka (feat. K’Naan) (prod. by Mark Ronson) | mp3

Related posts

• Wale – Penthouse Anthem (6)
• Wale – Nothing To Worry About (ft. Peter Bjorn and John) (7)
• Wale – Family Affair (3)

Luis: It’s baaaaack

Hello you Pretty Much Amazing addicts. It’s Will from the less glamorous-and-famous little blog known as We All Want Someone To Shout For. I want to personally apologize for the delay on the Arctic Monkeys b-sides and rarities project. I have been so busy working 3 different part time jobs, as well as maintaining my own site and some sense of a personal life. How about we get back into the swing of things? I owe Luis an apology for how overdue this post is. However, I am finally back and ready to get this bad boy kicking again!

The timing is actually appropriate. The Arctic’s 3rd album Humbug is set to come out in August. The album seems to see the boys sounding more mature and different from their previous efforts.

The b-side that I decided to share with you guys today is “What If You Were Right The First Time?” from their fantastic Brianstorm EP. The song fits perfectly with Brianstorm with their darker, more aggressive sound. There is something about Matt Helders drumming that gets me every time in this song. At one part the band actually sounds sorta….metal. It is one of the Arctic Monkeys best songs in my opinion. (It is my 10th most listened to song on itunes!) This is the Arctic Monkeys darker and harder than ever! Listen to “What IF You Were Right The First Time?” here

Arctic Monkeys – What If You Were Right The First Time? | mp3

Related posts

• Arctic Monkeys B-Sides & Rarities Project – The Lovers (Rod McKuen Cover) (7)
• Under The Covers (13)
• Two Mixes to Get You Through The Last Few Hours (9)

The Gossip
Music For Men

Columbia
out October 6th

[77]
[Rating Scale]

7.7 out of 10 stars
It seems to me there are a few mandatory things that are always mentioned in a Gossip review, so let’s get them out of the way: the inescapable monster hit looming over the band that is ‘Standing in the way of control,’ and their equally dominating leader, Beth Ditto.

Now that’s done with, the Gossip have released their 4th (yes, fourth!) album, Music for Men, on the 22nd June in the UK, off the back of the success of lead single, ‘Heavy Cross.’ Which, if you ask me, is right up there with THAT aforementioned song.

Whilst still bearing their own distinctive sound, the new songs have that extra something – the basslines are cockier, Beth’s vocals are more impressive than ever – the whole band seem to have more of a swagger about them. A perfect example of this is the album’s opener, ‘Dimestore Diamond.’ From the opening few twangs of bass to the confident lyrics, I was drawn in and now can’t get the simple refrain out of my head.

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (The Gossip - Dimestore Diamond"/>The Gossip - Dimestore Diamond).

However, the band’s previous formula has been tinkered with and expanded: ‘Love long distance,’ a melodic lament about the difficulties of (surprise, surprise) long distance relationships, sees Beth’s ever changing vocals married to piano chords, which almost have a jazzy touch at times, whilst retaining the dance-friendly factor. By the time we reach the end of ‘Vertical Rhythym,’ the dancefactor has been cranked up to 11 with heavy synths and ripping bass along the way.

You know those choruses/snippets that follow you all through a sun-drenched summer? ‘Men in love,’ described by Beth as “our version of ‘I Kissed a Girl,’” provides just such a moment. An instantly recognizable chorus containing the eternal sing-a-long lyrics, “naaaaaaa naaa na na,” are encompassed in a song that sums up most of the album: having fun, not caring and dancing.

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (The Gossip - Men In Love"/>The Gossip - Men In Love).

In a strange way, it sounds like the Gossip have been matched with Franz Ferdinand – Beth’s expansive lungs and Franz’ guitar stabs combine to produce ever more appealing crossover hits. Franz’ influence is most apparent to me on one of the album’s slower moments – the breakup song ‘For Keeps,’ and I’m sure 2012 could easily sit on ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand,’ complete with handclaps, synths and motor-like drum beat. Minus Beth of course, although that’s equivalent to having Kanye without autotune: a horrifying prospect.

As a fan of anything with a good synthy-grungy bass, I enjoyed ‘Four letter word,’ from the first listen – and it gets better every time, in particular the mini breakdown towards the end. Electronic beeps and keyboards ahoy, and when is that ever a bad thing? The slightly slower bpm here allows the Gossip’s full fury to be unleashed in a final blow-out, the album closer ‘Spare me from the mold.’ A deliberately off-kilter intro gives way to a snarling bass part, Beth on overdrive and relentless drumming. Make no mistake, the Gossip are a large (!) part Beth Ditto, but equal parts Brace Paine (Guitar/Bass) and Hannah Billie (Drums) – often overlooked, but show here they are as integral as the maestro herself.

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (The Gossip - Spare Me From The Mold"/>The Gossip - Spare Me From The Mold).

43 short minutes later, with a last yelp, Music for men ends.

If I was in a band trying to avoid being a one-hit wonder, having just signed to a major label, I would desperately try and think of everything possible to come up with a brilliant album, fretting over it endlessly. Instead, Gossip have just done what they’ve always done, effortlessly escaping from their white elephant, with a fun sense of self awareness – ‘Pop Goes the world,’ proclaiming: “For once we’ll do what comes naturally…with no apology.” Namely having fun, doing what they want, how they want – Beth’s attitude is clearly as infectious as their music. Whack it up loud, dance on your own, it doesn’t matter; this is music to enjoy.

To enter to win a copy of The Gossip’s Music For Men on vinyl, leave a comment with your thoughts on the tracks you’ve just sampled, The Gossip, or (if you’ve listened to it) the album. Make sure you leave your name/email address in the provided fields! Entries will be accepted until September 29th

Related posts

• The Gossip – Dimestore Diamond (2)
• Videoremixgasm: Trip On LCD (Soundsystem… Same Effect)!!! (9)
• The Gossip – Heavy Cross (11)

When I first heard Mr. Oizo’s remix of N.A.S.A.’s “Strange Enough,” I was a bit disappointed with the way his cuts seemed to delude Karen O’s fantastic hook on the song. By the second time around, Karen O’s hook felt deluded no longer — in fact, Mr. Oizo’s synth chops felt warm and joyous.

Indeed, it’s the choppy synth that really makes this remix shine. Only at first do they sound a bit awkward and ill-timed and it goes without saying that the discombobulation dies there. Mr. Oizo has always been a ball of fun and he has made this N.A.S.A. fan proud. Listen to his remix here

N.A.S.A. – Strange Enough (ft. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Fatlip) (Mr. Oizo Remix) | mp3

illustration by dam mumford

Related posts

• N.A.S.A. ft. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, & Fatlip – Strange Enough (17)
• Britney Spears “Circus” Officially Remixed + N.A.S.A., Mr. Oizo too (15)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ New Single Leaks (6)

La Roux is often overshadowed by the more accessible and likable Little Boots, and to be honest, neither of her new singles (In For The Kill, Not Your Toy, Bulletproof) have had any staying power on my iPod — not like their debut single “Quicksand.” Now that La Roux’s debut album has been splattered all over the internet, I’ve had a chance to poke my head in search of a song of “Quicksand” caliber. After a handful of listens, “Tigerlily” seems to be a good candidate. It’s by no means better than “Quicksand,” but it is a lot more interesting than US single “In For The Kill.” Edit: it might just be better than “Quicksand”

“Tigerlily” introduces La Roux’s seductive, sexy side to fantastic result. Elly Jackson’s confined vocals become feral and luring throughout the song; and at one point a remarkably menacing, timely and relevant “Thriller”-esque soliloquy floods the track.

“Tigerlily” precedes “Quicksand” on the eponymous album, marking for one of the year’s most thrilling one, two KO’s, putting it in the company of Little Boots’ “Remedy”-”Meddle,” Passion Pit’s “Little Secrets”-”Moth’s Wings,” Animal Collective’s “Daily Routine”-”Bluish,” and Phoenix’s “Lisztomania”-”1901.” Listen to “Tigerlily” here

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (LA ROUX - Tigerlily"/>LA ROUX - Tigerlily).

BONUS: LA ROUX – Farewell To The Fairground (White Lies Cover)  mp3

Related posts

• pmaCAST #4: The “Acts To Watch In 2009″ Episode (29)
• You Oughtta Know: Fanfarlo (10)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ New Single Leaks (6)

Today marks the beginning of the second half of 2009. We’ve had a marvelous 6 months full of great music and it’s time to update my list of the Absolute Best Songs of 2009. Well, it’s not really fair to call this an update really — I completely tossed out the old list and started up a new one from scratch. I didn’t stop at the top 10 either — this list spans the 50 songs that I believe are the best of the year, so far.

But like the first list, I upheld only one rule — a song cannot be on this list, unless it was released as a single. I had trouble with defining the term “single” the first time around, so here is my working definition. 1) A song that has been given away for free to promote an upcoming album (known as a promotional single). 2) A song that has been played on TV or the radio (two of the largest mediums of discovering new music). 3) A song with its own music video and/or EP. 4) An album-track that has attracted enormous amounts of attention. That fourth definition is a loop hole, yes, but it’s a shame to ignore a smash hit just because it doesn’t have its own EP, amiright?

This list reflects my personal taste in music, as wide or narrow it may be in scope. As you may have guessed by reading this blog, this inclusive list honors the critically-acclaimed and the commercially solvent alike. While this list won’t come with an apology, I urge those who disagree with this list to give us a rundown of their favorite tunes of the year.

Now that that’s settled, let’s move on to The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 as of July 1st 2009.

50. Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow

At the time of writing, “Boom Boom Pow” had topped the singles charts for 12 consecutive weeks, the longest any song had stayed on the penthouse since Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together.” “Boom Boom Pow” is incredibly hypocritical and silly in a fashion only the Black Eyed Peas can get away with. It’s also the catchiest single that will grace pop radio this year.

49. Solange – T.O.N.Y.

“T.O.N.Y.” transports the listener back in time for a true taste of classic Motown sounds. The song (an acronym for “the other night, oh why“) is a track about one night stands and has a feeling of female empowerment – and as Solange sings it, you feel it comes from the heart. – Rebecca Cox

48. Green Day – 21 Guns

It’s been a while since anybody could call Green Day “punk,” and it wasn’t until “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” that we finally had a specific style to associate Green Day with. Thankfully they pull another radio-rock ballad on their latest set, 21st Century Breakdown, and it’s fantastic. It has a simple build-up, reminiscent of “Boulevard”, catchy lyrics, and Armstrong’s vocal have never sounded better.

47. Fever Ray – When I Grow Up

It may not be as enigmatic as the Knife back-catalog, but “When I Grow Up” is triumphant and rewarding in its own accord.

46. Lady GaGa – LoveGame

Bearing a striking resemblance to its 2 predecessors, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” “LoveGame” relies on silly, horny, clever lyrics to standout. By all accounts, “let’s have some fun, this beat is sick/ I wanna take a ride on your disco stick” does the job remarkably well.

45. Miike Snow – Animal

“Animal” is one of many jams that you should be putting on all of your playlists all summer long. It’s perfect for a drive, the dancefloor, or for a casual kickback. The song is so damn catchy; the beat starts off-beat the vocal staccato and you kind of find yourself boppin around the room for no reason other than just to… err… bop… around. – Luis Tovar/Richard Yoon

44. Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls

‘No You Girls’ is not only the most potent shot of adrenaline you’ll need to jumpstart your day, you’ll feel the lingering effects by mid-afternoon. Why? This song has the bones of a rock epic. And, there’s not one, but several deep-throated, guitar hooks that flesh-out the cut. – Lisa Torem

43. Eminem – Old Time’s Sake (ft. Dr. Dre)

Undoubtedly the best track off Eminem’s half-baked (no, he was fully baked) comeback album, it features no celebrity stabs and only light use of Eminem’s faux-accent. But it is not Eminem that makes “Old Time’s Sake” great, it is the good doctor delivering the best lines we’ve heard from him in years as well as an ill vintage Dre beat. Dr. Dre steals the show here, Eminem has left the building.

42. The Killers – A Dustland Fairytale

Taking a couple of lessons from Bruce Springsteen and the Sam’s Town backlash, Brandon Flowers and co. wrote the greatest Killers song since “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Simply put, “A Dustland Fairytale” is the Killers at their songwriting and cinematographic best.

41. The Gossip – Heavy Cross

Lurching from a brooding prowl to full on disco-indie-rock pomp, Beth Ditto’s trademark vocals carry the mood swings of ‘Heavy Cross’ effectively, with the resulting Frankenstein concoction actually working quite well. Once it gets into gear it has the same sort of groove that early Franz Ferdinand possessed, so dance floors beware. – Alex Lai

Related posts

• The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 (.25 of the way through) (49)
• pmaCAST #14 The “Yes, I Love Fred Falke Remixes” Episode (4)
• pmaCAST #11 The “Smile! It’s Longer (Your Mom Did)” Episode (18)

Major Lazer
Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do

Downtown Records
out June 16th

[76]
[Rating Scale]

7.6 out of 10 stars

The opening notes of Major Lazer’s debut album evoke an old Western movie, counterparts riding toward each other, gritty and determined looks on their faces, horse hooves scraping the dusty ground, tumbleweeds blowing across the barren landscape. The next 41 minutes and 50 seconds throw that image out the window, sacrificed in favor of summer parties, dancehall clubs, and Bacardi commercials. It’s a summer fling of an album, all fun and no commitment, blatantly here to party, break some things, and then go home. Sweet.

Major Lazer is the nom-de-record of the collaboration between producers Diplo and Switch. The name belongs, supposedly, to a one-armed Jamaican commando who fought in a secret zombie war. Instead of prosthetic arms, he now has lasers for hands. Yes, you read that correctly. Given that back story, Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do sounds pretty much exactly how you’d expect it to – complete with off the wall beats, uncontrollable lyrics, and awesometastic videos.

The album isn’t for everybody. It’s not really an old-people-album, it’s not really a jam-band-fan-album, it’s not really an offended-by-off-color-lyrics-album.

Nor is the album for all situations. It’s not really a gradually-wake-up-to-album, it’s not really a mellowing-out-in-your-living-room-album, it’s not really a just-got-bad-news-album.

But for those moments and people that it’s meant for, it’s perfect. Do you often find yourself with a bunch of buzz-chasing kids looking for a dance party? Bingo. Are you a DJ looking for a Santigold cut to mix with (the also Diplo and Switch produced) “Paper Planes”? Bingo. Are you Usain Bolt looking to get pumped up before a race? Bingo. This is the album for you.

I don’t claim to be a dancehall expert in any sense of the word. My exposure to reggae is pretty much confined to people with the last name Marley, I don’t know the difference between dubstep and dancehall, and I used to like Sean Paul in high school. But the fact that I don’t know much about those genres and scenes shouldn’t change the fact that I ride for this album. In fact, it should probably serve as an extra bonus – even people who know nothing about what they’re listening to will dig it!

Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do opens with “Hold The Line”, backed by a Bird Is The Word bassline and fronted by a stutterstepping Santigold. It’s some high energy, high intensity material, and one of the album’s standout tracks. “Anything Goes”, featuring Turbulence, is another highlight. Turbulence’s Jamaican accent is interwoven with synthesized strings, laseresque sound effects, and explosions. It’s here that Diplo’s description of the album is apt: “digital reggae and dancehall from Mars in the future!”

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (Major Lazer - Hold The Line).

“Pon de Floor” is probably my favorite track from the album…no wait, maybe it’s “Jump Up”. No, it might be the aforementioned “Anything Goes”, although the stoner romp “Mary Jane” is pretty solid too. Ah! It’s just so hard to choose! The fact is, this isn’t an album that’s supposed to be analyzed on a song-by-song basis. It’s more of a soundtrack than a complete record, meant to serve as a backdrop for a dance party rather than as a piece of art. Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do pumps through speakers and pales through headphones. It’s meant to be shared.

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
Download (Major Lazer - Anything Goes).

The album isn’t without its low points. “Cash Flow” is a low-energy reggae tune that seems out of place between high octane tracks “Anything Goes” and “Mary Jane”. “Can’t Stop Now” would serve better as an outro to the album – it seems out of place in the first three tracks. And “Baby”, a skit song built on the gag of a crying baby having built-in autotune, was great as a hype-building promo for the album but doesn’t match up to the quality found elsewhere on the record.

But a couple duds on an album stuffed to the gills with frantic bangers is forgivable. Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do never pretends to be anything more than what it is – a nonsensically hype dancehall album that will miraculously reach the ears of suburban youth and indie snobs everywhere. It’s weird, it’s intense, it’s unfamiliar. And not everyone will like it – I personally want to like it less than I actually do like it. But in its superficiality, it’s pretty perfect.

To enter to win a copy of Major Lazer’s Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do, leave a comment with your thoughts on the tracks you’ve just sampled, Major Lazer, or (if you’ve listened to it) the album. Make sure you leave your name/email address in the provided fields! Entries will be accepted until July 7th

Related posts

• Major Lazer (Diplo & Switch) – Hold The Line (feat. Santigold & Mr Lexx) (9)
• Super Cool MP3 Grab Bag #8 (9)
• pmaCAST #15 The “Funk In Your Trunk” Episode (10)