Bolster Your Holster

A friend of mine posted a video on facebook a couple weeks ago. It’s for a song called ‘Work’ by up and coming hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea (see video below). Sure I could be accused of hopping on the bandwagon, as some young know-it-alls might say, but Iggy Azalea really seems like she has everything going for her at the moment. Her debut album, The New Classic, is set to drop in June. The two songs released already, ‘Work’ and ‘Bounce’, are two slices of club-friendly electronic heavy hip-hop.

Oh wait, you’re not familiar with Iggy? Well, hell, that’s ok, I wasn’t either until a couple weeks ago. She’s an Australian rapper who gained popularity through the new celebrity maker, YouTube. Back in 2011 she released a couple videos that went viral, one for the track  ’Pu$$y’ and one in November 2011 for ‘My World’. Both tracks were featured on her first mixtape Ignorant Art. An official EP entitled Glory was released in May 2012 featuring guest appearances from T.I., B.o.B. and Pusha T. Her second mixtape produced by Diplo and FKi, Trap Gold, followed in late 2012 (available freely on her website). Besides being a hip-hop artist she’s also a model and is “The new face for Levi Jeans”.

Fast forward to 2013, as the release of her debut album approaches she released the afforementioned first single, ‘Work’ in March followed by ‘Bounce’ last week, with the video premiering today. The new video is direted by BRTHR and finds Azalea in India, extremely happy doing some Bollywood dancing and riding an elephant. Check it out:

If you like Iggy, why not follow her on Twitter, where she updates constantly (42000+ tweets) or on Facebook for song, album and mixtape updates.

The band Daughter has released one of my favourite albums of the year.  If you leave is a slow burner of an album that combines the vibe of The XX and the subtle grandiosity of Sigur Ros together into one understated masterpiece.  It is an album that features a lot of strong tracks, but really stands as a cohesive album.

One of the tracks that really stands out lately is Smother.  So lyrically dark and vocally haunting, this sparse song really gets inside you.

Recently I came across their cover of Bon Iver’s Perth and Hot Chip’s Ready for the Floor (Found on Twentyfourbit) that was recorded on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio show.  This is one of perfect blends of two covers that just seems like they were written together.  I highly recommend you grab their Debut album, grab a bottle of red wine, kick back and soak it in.

and for further exploration, their single Still Which really features the Sigur Ros sound

I wish you could be with me, as my life’s just begun,

You should see him lying there, he looks just like me, 

But I sure hope that it is you, that he grows up to be.

I miss my Mom.  I think about her all the time.  And lately it seems that nearly everything reminds me of her.  Special occasions, letters from family members, Billy Elliot, my two sisters and my Dad, and of course my wife and daughter.

I know that she would be proud of me.  Of my wonderful family.  Of my sister’s and how we live our lives.  She is, after all, why we do.

Recently I heard this song by Norwegian singer Jonas Alaska, and it really hit home.  It is about losing a brother, but as with all songs about loss, it becomes more than that.  I have found myself listening to it a lot lately.  It is one that gives me some form of reassurance.  Or it simply fills me with happy thoughts about my Mom.

I know that this isn’t the happiest of Easter posts.  But to me Easter is about family.  And this is just where I am right now.  But, trust that I am alright.  I am quite well actually.  I have Neko and Steph, who truly have large pieces of my Mom.  I have my sisters, who obviously carry on a lot of her Legacy.  And I have my Dad.  I have crazy good family, and I feel blessed.

So here is the song by Jonas Alaska off of his second album, if only as a ghost, that was just released.  A little slice of Norwegian Americana.

And a little quote from Billy Elliot (which happens to be one of my favourite movies), and although my Mom was amazing, this just rings true.

Mrs. Wilkinson: She must’ve been a very special woman, your mother.
Billy: No she was just me mam.

Sometimes there are 2 versions of a song that are equally stunning. Bon Iver did a live acoustic guitar, piano and sax version of Anais Mitchell‘s gorgeous track, Coming Down, on Australian Radio’s Triple J awhile back. The original itself is beautiful, and Bon Iver‘s version makes it sound like it came from their latest LP. They both sound heartbreaking and passionate. I can’t say I have a favourite, but I listen to both equally. Below are both versions. Which one do you relate to the most?

Nothing gonna stop me now.

Anais’ Original

And Bon Iver’s Cover, following a 1.5 minute interview.

As you may have noticed, I have been a little absent as of late. Life seems to get in the way of what we deem extraneous activities. On top of this being the busiest 2 months of the year, I happened to start a new career move in mid August, and maintain the small business we run. This was something I wasn’t anticipating, and was somewhat unprepared for. Add into that, the fact that my wife and I are expecting a new baby in December, and you have one highly busy guy. I have several posts to make in the coming days/weeks/whenever i can find a spare 30 minutes. Posts about new local releases, symphonic performances, Fall playlists, new songs, and playlists for the coming baby.

However, today it is once again about Swedish Pop. I have fallen for the Nordic bands/girls this year. The sound coming from those beautiful countries just seems to grab me as of late. There is a blog that features only awesome music from the Nordic Countries called Ja Ja Ja, and I have been introduced to so many of these new artist’s from this site. This new track by Swedish Sister Duo, Saint Lou Lou, is of no exception. This isn’t a flashy Robyn or Niki and the Dove track. This is a slow and seductive track that teases itself into your ears with its whispery vocals and sensual slow mo Black and White video. Check out the video below, and the fantastic remix by Montauk directly below the video.

And if you can’t get enough Music from the Nordic Region, I am really enjoying the new Sandra Kolstad album and I highly expect it to be one of my top albums of the year. It tends to lean more towards the dark electronic side of the spectrum, borrowing from influences of Fever Ray, Kate Bush, and Bjork. This Norwegian artist is making waves over in Europe, and hopefully will reach a little crossover here in North America. Her new video is below. Enjoy!

And if you needed some more of my favs from this region, here are few more recent videos for your perusal.

More Dark Electronic Swedish/Norwegian Pop – Karin Park

Norwegian Retro Pop – Michael Paskalev

I may even post a playlist of my favourite Nordic Music sometime soon.

- Shaun

I first got into Macklemore + Ryan Lewis through their great video for “Wings”. “Wings” was a social commentary on the commercial consumerism of the Nike Air Movement of the 80′s and 90′s. Something that was instantly relatable for me, as I had several pairs of airs and Jordan’s.

Then “can’t hold us”hooked me. It was one of the bounciest hip hop/soul tracks of last year. A song you just had to dance to. Unfortunately there was no video to accompany it.

And now, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have their first iTunes top 40 hit with “Thrift Shop”. If I take into account his social commentary on the aforementioned “Wings” and his recent track, “Same Love”, supporting gay marriage, I could assume that this is a parody of hipster culture and thrift shops. But, it could also just be taken as a fun track. Either way, this video is extremely entertaining, and the song is beyond catchy. The horn loop that drives this song gets ya dancing, and then the witty rhymes keeps ya going. I am very excited for the new album, The Heist, to be released in October. But the track is available in the iTunes store now.

Here is the fantastic video for this great track, followed by a well done trailer for the Heist. And PS, if you hadn’t figured it out from the title, there is some bad language in this song, so listen accordingly.

- Shaun

This week Antony and the Johnson’s released a live album entitled “Cut the World”. It was recorded in Copenhagen with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, and features arrangements by Nico Muhly, among others. The album features a couple new songs, a spoken word piece, and a selection of tracks from his previous 4 albums.

The opening, and title track, “Cut the World” has received a video treatment, or perhaps more appropriately, a super short film treatment. The video stars Willem Dafoe, Marina Abramovi, and was directed by Robert Wilson. I don’t want to spoil the film, so I will talk little of it, other than it is a powerful piece. The song and the arrangement showcase his distinct voice, and the added orchestral arrangement adds even more emotion if possible. The album is an interesting elaboration of his previous work that is a great accompaniment to his catalog.

enjoy

- Shaun

This new gem from Jessie Ware is looking to be one this summer’s breakout hits. It is one of those instantly catchy tracks that has mass appeal. Minimalist groove, Neo-soul style vocals, and that sultry hint of an accent. She has a killer voice and a great songwriting knack. Her other song releases and her previous collaboration with Sampha hint that this could be one of the more popular albums of the year. Here is the video of the track, and below that is her Black Cab Session version, giving a stripped down alternative to the many remixes you are likely to hear this year. Look forward to some more posts on this Londoner this year as her album is set to be released in August.

Black Cab Session

- Shaun

You and I, bloodline.
We come together every time.
Two wrongs, no rights.
We lose ourselves at night.

From the outside, from the outside.
Everyone must be wondering why we try.
Why do we try.

Baby in our wildest moments.
We could be the greatest, we could be the greatest.
Baby in our wildest moments.
We could be the worst of all.
Baby in our wildest moments.
We could be the greatest, we could be the greatest.
Baby in our wildest moments.
We could be the worst of all.

My favourite track off of the great new Sigur Rós album Valtari just received a video treatment. The video for Varúð, like the previous video, is a very static feeling video. An Icelandic looking painterly landscape that subtly changes as the song swells past the choral piece. More and more characters then develop and release light as the song explodes in Sigur Rós fashion.

A minimalist approach to allow the power of the song to dominate. This is one of my favourite songs of the year, so expect it to be near the top of the year end list. And anticipate a few more videos for the rest of the album as this is part of a mystery film experiment.

- Shaun

As some of you very well know, we love the Swedish music. Some of our favourite artists like The Knife, Fever Ray, Lykke Li, Jose Gonzalez and Robyn are still on constant replay. And there is no shortage of great music as of late from this great land of Sweden. Recent albums by First Aid Kit and Niki and the Dove are solidifying their reign as the Pop capital of the world.

The next Swedish pop starlet looks to be Faye, formerly known as Fanny. Each of the singles she has released thus far is just fantastic. Her new video for the track “Water Against the Rocks” was just released, and the track will evoke comparisons to the aforementioned Lykke Li. The video is simple and emotional and perfectly suited to the track. Hopefully she becomes the hit she has the potential to be.

And just to emphasize her talent, here is an earlier gem.

Can’t wait for her debut album to be released.

- Shaun