RCRD LBL

Weekend Playlist 02.10.12

rcrd lbl — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:50:04 -0500

Another week down, and what happened? Well, Jeremy Lin made us believe in magic, it finally snowed for like 4 minutes in New York and we dished-out all sorts of awesome music. From the jangly beauty of Beach Fossils to the dreamy pop of Memoryhouse and the throwback R&B of Nick Waterhouse and the neo-L.A. beat-heavy crooning of First Person Shootr, there's certainly something to discover in our weekend playlist.

Special shoutout to our new Editorial Assistant Elise Peebles on curating this week's mix!

STREAM: Blondes - Business (John Roberts Remix)

Carter Maness — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:42:23 -0500

Skittery, punk, wobbly and deranged, John Roberts still manages to bring a danceable pop element out of Blondes' "Business." This would work well in a tribal-tinged set or as the score for your next peyote trip where a loss of ego might be imminent (but still welcome).

Blondes - 'Business (John Roberts Remix)' by BOILER ROOM

DOWNLOAD: The Duke Spirit - Surrender (Gary Numan Remix)

Kev Kharas — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:50:31 -0500

Though they started their recording careers decades apart from each other, in many ways The Duke Spirit and Gary Numan are kindred spirits. They both seem to enjoy extracting moments of soaring joy out of music that, in any other hands, would sound like doldrums. Maybe it's because of that that they share another characteristic: the ability to take the musical equivalent of pleather and turn it into musical velvet. The sexiness on Numan's remix of The 'Spirit's "Surrender" is unsettling, but in a nice way, like having a dream about ridiculous sex that you in no way can be blamed for because, well, it was a dream.

Duke Spirit - Surrender (Gary Numan Remix)

Get More Free Duke Spirit Music Here

DOWNLOAD: Psychic Teens - Red

Emily Zemler — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:32:22 -0500

(Photo: Oren Camera Hechtman)

Philadelphia trio Psychic Teens combine post-punk instrumentals with low, echoing vocals – a combination that results in a band that may very well be a fan of Sisters of Mercy. “Red,” a track from the band’s 2011 album Teen, is a fuzzy, dark number propelled by prog-laced guitars. It feels like it should be mopey, but the dancing guitar lines invigorate the track in a way that keeps you from looking down at your shoes too much.

Psychic Teens - Red

DOWNLOAD: Hunters - Acid Head

Carter Maness — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:36:12 -0500

I haven't even come close to headbanging since 1998, but, wow, Hunters are really pushing me back in that direction. This is real rock – heavy, chugging and powerful with grimy production and guidance from Nick Zinner and former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha. If anything, the main riff here reminds me of 'the good Soundgarden,' but there's a cool veneer that makes this better for warehouses with peeling walls, sweaty twenty-somethings, inappropriate love and everything else that makes me love music. Oh, and Hunters are on tour right now with The Kills and Jeff The Brotherhood, so check them out.

Hunters - Acid Head

Get More Free Hunters Music Here

DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston - Fire Ant

Hillary Kaylor — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:08:14 -0500

(Photo: Guy Eppel)

Alex Winston is one of those rare indie gems that manages to sound demure even as she’s threatening your trifling ass or whipping power chords into your ear like leather straps. Her baby-quiver-turned-dusty-shaman command of “Fire Ant” would be menacing enough even without the western trail chorus, marching drums and backwater twinkles. And yet, she’s so gentle-seeming that you’d still let her housesit, likely coming home to find that instead of throwing a rager, she’s Feng shui’d the joint. Keep on waiting for that debut LP of hers; we hear it’s finally coming in April.

Alex Winston - Fire Ant

Get More Free Alex Winston Music Here

The RCRD LBL Guide To The Grammys

Carter Maness — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Do the Grammys actually matter? No, not really at all, but it's still fun to watch music's biggest night of spectacle (eat your heart, VMAs) and see what performances and funny collaborations go down. This year has a particularly stacked roster of nominees that include many of our favorites, so here's a handy Q&A to get you through the long televised slog.

Will Adele win every award?

I knew that's what you were wondering. Yes, it's likely. She sold more than everyone, has stronger pipes than everyone and, really, who doesn't like an underdog that's actually produced by Rick Rubin. Look for Adele to be a major presence and her six nominations to result in at least a couple awards.

But Bon Iver's "Holocene" is like the best song ever and helped me through my breakup and I don't really need him anymore and am totally over it but I don't know, it's like he was speaking to me or something?

Mr. Justin Vernon is certainly a dark horse, refusing to perform and getting a nomination for a song that's so quiet you want to grab and shake it. Bon Iver is still getting a mighty big look, though. "Song Of The Year" and "Best New Artist" nominations could turn him into an even bigger name with a simple win.

Tell me more about "Best New Artist," because I know damn well that Steely Dan will somehow win every other award this year even though they aren't nominated.

Watch it with the Steely Dan jokes. Have you heard Aja? That's a sick record, dude! Our new crop of artistic geniuses being honored will include the countrified Americana of The Band Perry, Bon Iver's hush-hush beauty, J. Cole as the stable classical rapper, Nicki Minaj as the cartoon rapper turned pop-star and the nu-metal bass explosions of Skrillex. I think we can all agree that a Minaj or Skrillex victory speech would be the most fun!

Who cares, man! What performances are happening?

We are most excited for the legitimate reunion of the iconic Beach Boys, who will celebrate their 50th anniversary by performing with Foster The People and Maroon 5. The potential torture to come from this brings my anticipation level to a boil. Who booked that? Let those boys cook on their own, Grammys!

Other performances will include Bruce Springsteen with his heavy emotions towards country and working class life, Coldplay and Foo Fighters celebrating the last gasp of mainstream rock, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift doing the pop world proud, alt-country duo Civil Wars, Diana Krall, Maceo Parker, Joe Walsh, Adele, Paul McCartney, and… OK, we get it, everyone ever is performing.

Oh, just shut up. What are your picks?

I have no idea nor do I care who wins in this here game. Picks, though – I can choose who I think deserves the big ones.

Record Of The Year: Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Album Of The Year: Ugh, I guess Adele - 21
Song Of The Year: Kanye West - All Of The Lights
Best New Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Dance Recording: Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand
Best Rock Song: Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Best Alternative Album: Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
Best R&B Album: R Kelly - Love Letter (DUH)
Best Rap Song: Jay-Z & Kanye West - Otis
Best Rap Album: Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Enjoy, and let us know your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook.

DOWNLOAD: Donnis - Bout That Life (feat. Juicy J) (prod. Gods Paparazzi)

Carter Maness — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:52:13 -0500

This life, the one that Donnis and Juicy J depict on this new track "Bout That Life," is pretty misogynist, drug-addled and obsessed with being a pimp in the traditional sense. Maybe not the best strategy for a healthy American society, but, man, it's a lot of fun. The beat rumbles like a bomb got dropped down the street and both rappers praise "chicks on poles," "blowing green" and "sippin' lean." Uh, yup.

Donnis feat. Juicy J - Bout That Life (prod. by Gods Paparazzi) by DONNIS