Sleepyhead- TGIK remix

Passion Pit Sleepy Head - TGIK Remix by thisguyiknow

I almost like this one more than the original...

Throwback - "Wanna Be Loved" by Buju Banton

A classic music video from dance hall legend Buju Banton. Love this track ... Buju kills it!

Nastynasty Album of the Week/Dance Riot Review

Last week electronic producer/Dj Nastynasty flew in from Oakland, CA to play a show apart of his Kill the Soundboy Tour. Jasper Reeder, A.K.A NastyNasty, served up probably one of the heaviest Dj sets I have ever heard to date. After opening with a crazy version of Nas's "Made You Look" I immediately became aware of his musical talent. Playing a variety of originals and other remixes, Nastynasty's music is full of energy, containing wobbling bass, hip-hoppy drums and some tripped out vocal samples. "My live sets tend to jump around between the following genres: grime, juke/ghetto-house, dubstep, street-bass and Southern rap. Basically, bass-heavy stuff that makes you want to jump and swivel around" (Interview with Postandcourier.com).

Nastynasty's music is nuts. The amount of sounds and textures involved in all of his songs amaze me. Majoring in Audio production/engineering in College and most recently making the top 5 most downloaded artists on Junodownloads.com, Nasty's experience with all that electronic music encompasses exceeds most. Although I have little insight as to what he was exactly doing during his set, I know it required hundreds of hours writing and mastering. I got to chill with the dude the day of the show and he couldn't have been cooler. Nasty could not have seemed to care that not many people in Charleston had heard of him before his arrival, and was stoked simply on playing music. If you have not heard of Nastynasty before this check him out. Be sure to download his new Single "The Reef" and check out his myspace/blog for other updates. Below is a 7 min. live mix off of Nasty's blog...my favorite part starts at 5:00 min...

Nastynasty's Myspace
Nastynasty's Blog

Seven minute crush no.1 by NastyNasty

LadybiRdS- Andy Lex (80kidz remix)

Check it out...LadybiRdS - Andy LEx (80kidz remix)

J Dilla - Legacy Vol. 1 Mixtape

Another incredible mixtape of one of my favorites, J Dilla. 40 songs in total, the Legacy Vol. 1 mix contains some of Dilla's best. From soul to hip-hop, this album features some of my all-time favorite Dilla tracks. You can download the album for free off Datpiff, a mixtape website that gives its members (sign up for free!) three free mixtape downloads a day. I continue to hear Dilla tunes I have not heard before and I continue to be impressed. Download and stream the album for free here.

c o a c h e l l a 2010

I made the pilgrimage for the first time last year from Charleston, SC to the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA. I saw Fleet Foxes harmonizing ever so sublimely at dusk in front palm trees turned purple, framed by far away mountains at dusk. MSTRKRFT at midnight dancing in a synchronized school of thousands of adrenaline amped and sweat-laden strangers united by beats. Beirut, brass band and all, crooning away in the gentle heat of the late afternoon under the shade of the Mojave tent. Needless to say, I left the East Coast on Thursday, and came back dehydrated, slightly sunkissed, and with a new appreciation of live music and the festival experience. I can't wait to do it again...

http://coachella.com/

The Avett Brothers

I'm typically not a fan of country; however, I make an exception for my fellow North Carolinians, The Avett Brothers. The brothers, Scott and Seth Avett, are from Concord, NC, and began their musical meanderings together in 2000 as the punk/rock group "Nemo". While still in Nemo, the brothers began to experiment with acoustic instruments, and shortly after Nemo's first LP was released, the group disbanded, allowing the brothers to pursue a more folk, bluegrass, and acoustic sound.

Now, twelve LPs later, the band's latest release, "I And Love And You" is not really my thing. It is contrived to a fault, and it seems as though the brothers Avett have lost a lot of the homegrown, slightly unconventional approach to acoustic that makes their 2007 LP "Emotionalism" so disarmingly lovely. Despite that, I can't seem to stop listening to the track "Laundry Room". I am one of the many cynical people in this world, and instead of cringing at lyrics that speak of heartfelt affection, the way the words are spun between the plunking of banjo, contrabass, cello, and acoustic guitar makes me think I may be more vulnerable than I would otherwise like to believe. It may not disarm you in the same way that it does me, but if curiosity strikes you, check out a bit of their Tiny Desk Session recorded this Fall from NPR. Thank you, Hads.

This is Charleston presents Dance Riot

For all my Charleston peeps, this Friday dub-step/electronic artist NastyNasty is going to be playing at Shine from 10 till 2. An Oakland based DJ, NastyNasty was rated in the top 5 on Junodownloads.com as well as being coined "Master of Bass" by XLR8R magazine. The show is presented by This is Charleston, an organization run by my boy Femi, who is trying to bring in the hottest electronic artists he can get into town. If your around this Friday and wan't to get down, come to Shine on Line st. and King, you won't regret it.

** Tickets are only $8, get them online through the facebook event page **

NastyNasty Myspace
Dance Riot Facebook
This Is Charleston

Twin Sister - Vampires with Dreaming Kids EP

I randomly stumbled across rising Brooklyn band Twin Sister the other day and have listened to their new EP Vampires with Dreaming Kids on repeat ever since. In a time where indie folk-rock musicians and bands sprout daily by the dozens, Twin Sister has created an EP that, to me, stands out amongst the other hundreds of indie folk bands I have heard of the last couple months. The EP is available for free download on the Twin Sister website. I recommend downloading the album and first listening to last track, "I Want a House". Check out the bands website, and download the album for free here.

Flying Lotus talks new LP and Lil' Wayne

Pitchfork recently interviewed progressive electronic artist Flying Lotus to discuss the release of his upcoming LP Cosmogramma. The album is already finished, but artwork and packaging remains to be done. Expect to hear it sometime this April, 2010. Check out the interview here.

Punk?!?....Japandroid's Post-Nothing LP

Japandroids, a punk/noise rock band from Vancouver, recently caught my attention when I randomly stumbled upon them on Itunes. I have started to really dig guitar/drum bands and I find it impressive that bands such as the Japandroids can create such a full sound with just two instruments. On their debut LP Post-Nothing, the Japandroids have managed to create a busy/noisy style while still playing tight. The vocal melodies and harmonies are equally as powerful, and contain lyrics pertaining to love, rebellion, and the rising youth. I am a fan of the album and especially like the second track, "Young Hearts Spark Fire". If you have any bit of punk in ya, i highly recommend getting this album.

Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire

New Zealand's The Ruby Suns

Very Animal Collective-esque but still managing to make their own sound

Devendra Banhart

I just started listening to this guy and hes a tid bit wacky, but this is a cool track. Not a big fan of the video with its stereotypical mockery of Native American culture (i.e. headdresses and peace pipe). Anywho, give him a listen.

Flying Lotus - Breathe .Something/Stellar STar

Heres a jem off the Flying Lotus album 'Los Angeles'. Just starting to get into this guy and think some of his stuff is nuts...love the Hip-hop feel. Check out the track "Breathe .Something/Stellar STar "...

Ready for the Summer

Only 10 weeks til Spring..

The Very Best- Warm Heart of Africa

i love this album

Album of the Week: Rusko - Babylon, Vol 1.

With Dub-Step rising rapidly in popularity, I thought id attribute the album of the week to dubstep legend Rusko. I am just recently getting into Dub-step and this is the only dub-step album I have listened to where I have liked every track. Unlike some of the other dub-step artists out there, Rusko actually involves Reggae/Dub into his music. Adding upbeat synth rythm and drum beats, Rusko's Babylon Vol. 1 will get anyone bobbing their head. If your not to sure about dubstep or your thinking about getting into it, download this EP (Only $3.96 on Itunes) and im sure you won't regret it. Below is a video of Rusko playing at Club Mod in Toronto Oct. 2009. If this video doesn't make you wanna move, I don't know what can....

Martin Harley's NYE Acoustic Set

About five years ago I was sitting a small bar on the South Coast of Barbados called Surfers Bay. It was a quiet night, not many people at the bar besides me, my dad and a few locals. After a few rounds of Banks Beer (Local Barbados beer... so dank), I started paying attention to the music playing. It sounded great so I asked the owner of the bar, also the bartender at the time, who he was playing and he replied "Martin Harley". I wrote it down and proceeded to enjoy ice cold banks and music.

Once I arrived back into the states the first thing I did was buy Martin Harley's albums on Itunes. For the last five years I have been listening to Martin Harley and have grown to love his music. His bluesy slide-guitar playing and soulful voice has always reminded me of that one night at Surfers Bay. Martin Harley's music has become the go-to whenever I am looking for peace.

This past New Years, my Dad decided that we spend the turn of the new year at that very same bar where we first heard Martin Harley, Surfers Bay. We arrived around 10 o'lock, and expecting to see some generic cover band play at 11, we grabbed a round of Banks and sat at a table in the far corner. Reggae had been playing since we arrived, and at around 10:30 the music cut and we heard some one over the PA mumble their name that kind of sounded like Martin Harley. I looked at my dad and immediately rushed over to the small make-shift stage they set up to see Martin Harley tuning his guitar. I was sooo stoked, I had heard several times that Harley plays shows at Surfers Bay but for him to play for New Years, and for it to be a surprise was one of the best presents anyone could have given me.

Only playing 6 songs, Harley played tunes from his self-entitled album as well as his most recently released album, "Grow Your Own", an album Harley recorded with his band. The short lived set, approx. 30 minutes, was incredible. His guitar playing blows my mind, I don't know if i have ever heard some one play Acoustic lap slide guitar as well as he does. His voice is even more soulful live as well, and he wasn't afraid to belt it. Playing for only 50 odd people, Martin could not have seemed to enjoy playing more.

After the show I approached Martin and told him how much of a fan I was. He was so stoked to be playing and to be back in Barbados. He told me that his flight from the UK just got in and his decision to play was last-minute. He could not have been more appreciative of my words. The conversation ended with him telling me that he was going to get "Proper Drunk".

The show was definitely the highlight of my New Years if not my trip. It was one of the better concerts I have seen in a while, and it was great to meet him after. If you guys have not heard of him and you like bluesy acoustic music, you should definitly check him out. Below is the setlist as well as links to his websites, and be sure to check out his new album coming out this spring 2010.

***Pictures from the show to come soon!!***

Setlist:

1.) One For The Road
2.) When I Go
3.) Nobodies Fault But Mine
4.) Blues At My Window...Slight Return
5.) Chocolate Jesus
6.) Can't Help Moving (Encore)

Martin Harley Band - Myspace
Martin Harley Band Official Website