Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us” Remixed By Major Lazer: Listen & Grab A Free Download

May 23rd, 2013 // 1 Comment
Diplo On Daft Punk
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The DJ clarifies his thoughts on Random Access Memories. Read More »
"Thrift Shop" x "No Scrubs"
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Hear the TLC-Macklemore mashup. Read More »
Free The Universe
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Check out our review of Major Lazer's latest album. Read More »
Mad Decent Dates
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Check out the dates & lineup for this summer's Block Party. Read More »

Diplo took a break from posting about Daft Punk‘s Random Access Memories to put together a Major Lazer remix of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ “Can’t Hold Us.” Macklemore’s rapping takes a backseat here, with Ray Dalton‘s vocal melody now the centerpiece. Underneath the vocals you’ve got Major Lazer’s trademark squiggly synths and drum machine claps. While it’s not as revelatory as that “Thrift Shop”/”No Scrubs” mashup, it’s still a solid dance reinterpretation.

Head below for a stream and a free download. More »

Kendrick Lamar Joins Quadron On “Better Off”: Hear The Sultry Track

May 23rd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

It’s looking to be a big year for Danish duo Quadron. Singer Coco O. appeared on the Great Gatsby soundtrack and Tyler, the Creator‘s Wolf, while producer Robin Hannibal recently saw success as a member of smooth R&B project Rhye. But now the two are focused on Quadron and looking to capitalize on their respective momentum for their forthcoming album Avalanceh. And for that record’s first salvo they’ve dropped “Better Off,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.

Coco recently stopped by our New York office and told us initially K-Dot  approached them to be on his album. But after hearing some Quadron demos, he was hooked, and agreed to do a verse on one of their songs. The result is the album’s only feature, and “Better Off” is a laid-back groove with some velvety vocals and horns underpinning Lamar’s whispered verse. Head below to hear the sultry collaboration.  More »

Janelle Monae Guests On Goodie Mob’s “Special Education”: Listen

May 22nd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

We’re still obsessed with Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu‘s “Q.U.E.E.N.” and we see no sign of the obsession fading any time soon. But we’re greedy, so we still want to hear more new Monae. While we’ll still have to wait for another taste of The Electric Lady, we do have some new Janelle in the form of a feature on Goodie Mob‘s “Special Education.” We all remember how Monae’s last guest spot turned out, so this was a wise move by Cee Lo Green and his Atlanta rap crew.

While it’s highly unlikely this song will see the success that fun.‘s “We Are Young” enjoyed, it’s still a solid summer banger. The verses are grinding electro rap, almost reaching Skrillex levels of squelching, then Monae turns in a breathy, British-accented chorus extolling the virtues of being your unique, weird, special self. Think of it as a companion piece to 2 Chainz‘s “I’m Different.” Hear it below. More »

Ciara & Nicki Minaj’s “I’m Out”: Hear Their New Ladies’ Anthem

May 22nd, 2013 // 2 Comments

So remember how I went to hear Ciara‘s new album Ciara a few weeks ago, and I wrote about how it was really, exceptionally good? I wasn’t lying! Proof: The just-leaked collab between CiCi and Nicki Minaj, a ferocious ladies’ anthem titled “I’m Out.”

As per usual, the Harajuku Barbie is full of attitude and swagger on her verse (her frustration over someone “on Instagram trying to shade me” is great) — but Ciara more than meets her halfway with her strategy for how to handle a night out. See, Ciara just went through a break-up, and she’s got her hair done and her makeup on and she’s posting selfies, but still — still! — her would-be suitor won’t text her back. We’ve all been there. God knows I have. The only way to remedy this situation is to hit the dancefloor, right? Right.  More »

Daft Punk Slow It Down With “Horizon”: Hear The Spacey ‘Random Access Memories’ Bonus Track

May 22nd, 2013 // Leave a Comment

Daft Punk‘s latest album Random Access Memories is filled with smooth uptempos, but the French electro-house duo toys with a different sound on “Horizon.” The bonus instrumental, which is featured on the Japanese version of the album, is completely hypnotic and begins with an acoustic guitar and atmospheric sheen. The song gradually picks up speed when the other instruments kick in, building to a space-rock odyssey reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

The mellow, trance-like song is a surprising change from the already surprising RAM material. Listen to “Horizon” below. More »

Pharrell Channels Cee Lo Green For “Happy”: Hear His ‘Despicable Me 2′ Track

May 21st, 2013 // Leave a Comment

Pharrell dialed into smooth ’70s disco with Daft Punk on two Random Access Memories tracks, “Get Lucky” and “Lose Yourself to Dance.” But for his new solo track, “Happy,” Mr. Williams digs back a little bit further, to the ’60s. The result is a soulful, catchy little jaunt reminiscent of Cee Lo Green‘s recent work – all handclaps and singalongs and retro pop simplicity.

“Happy” is off the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, which Pharrell co-produced with composer Heitor Pereira (Pharrell also helmed the music for the first film). Coincidentally, the super-producer teams up with Cee Lo on another one of the movie’s tracks. But you can hear the peppy solo cut below. More »

Robin Thicke Tones It Down On “4 The Rest Of My Life”: Hear The New Ballad

May 21st, 2013 // 2 Comments
"Blurred Lines," Live
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Watch Robin Thicke, T.I. & Pharrell perform live. Read More »
Robin's Posse
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Robin Thicke, 2 Chainz, K-Dot & will.i.am team up. Read More »
"Blurred Lines" Video
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Watch Robin, Pharrell & T.I. have a blast. Read More »
This Time On Ellen
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Robin Thicke & Pharrell stop by Ellen. Read More »

Robin Thicke has dropped another Blurred Lines song, but unlike the bouncy, breezy title track or the buzzing “Give It to You,” this one is has no guest spots and no dance beats. “4 the Rest of My Life” is a blue-eyed soul ballad, the chorus riding along with a ’50s-style canned orchestra and eventually building to a guitar solo, as Thicke celebrates his (love) life sentence. So, yeah, time to break out those Justin Timberlake comparisons again.

It’s not as exciting as Thicke’s two prior cuts, but damn it’s a pretty listen. Hear it below. More »

The Limousines’ “Love Is A Dog From Hell”: Idolator Premiere

May 21st, 2013 // Leave a Comment

Bay Area duo The Limousines try to resist temptation with ”Love Is A Dog From Hell” — the new single we’re excited to premiere from their upcoming sophomore album, Hush. The track is an ’80s-inspired New Wave gem about the temptations of falling in love. Interestingly enough, the song’s title is borrowed from a book by poet Charles Bukowski that discusses the darker side of love. Heady stuff!

The track’s shimmering, dream-like synths are paired with lyrics about cigarettes, kisses and heaven, and it’ll surely leave you reminiscing about the one who got away. Head below to hear “Love Is a Dog From Hell,” and to check out the Hush trailer/album teaser, which briefly demonstrates how The Limos have diversified their electro-pop stylings (peep that velvety sax on “Fool’s Gold”!). More »

The Dream, 2 Chainz & Beyonce’s “Turnt”: Hear The Full Track

May 21st, 2013 // 1 Comment

There really isn’t much to say about this song that I didn’t already say when the snippet leaked a week ago, so I’ll say it again: New Beyonce. New Beyonce! New Beyonce. It’s just a guest spot on a new track from The-Dream, but it’s still something, right? Right.

So what kind of something is it? Well, it gives Beyonce a space to be a hook girl, which feels a bit odd, given the total absence of vocal pyrotechnics — frankly, LaTavia Roberson could have pulled off this hook capably — but she namedrops Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, and that’s pretty weird/cool. Also, 2 Chainz‘s rap is great in a slightly stomach-turning sort of way (he says he’d drink your bathwater, which is just so ugh). I don’t know. It’s effectively ratchet, so if that’s what they were going for, A+ all around, but I think all parties involved can probably do better. More »

Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’: Album Review

May 21st, 2013 // 2 Comments
Diplo vs. Daft Punk
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Diplo trashes the new album on Twitter. Read More »
Daft & Pharrell Pt. 2
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Hear their other collab, "Lose Yourself to Dance." Read More »
DP's Best Samples
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We list the best Daft Punk samples in rap songs. Read More »
Daft Punk's Videos
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The duo's five most groundbreaking clips. Read More »
With Random Access Memories(out today, ), Daft Punk’s first non-Tron related new music since 2005′s Human After All, the iconic EDM masterminds tread perilously close to creating an album’s worth of nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Comprised of childhood friends Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, the French duo have meticulously crafted (and I mean meticulously) 13 tracks of luxuriously reimagined disco, soft rock, prog, retro-house and synth-pop, featuring the actual, bona fide legendary songwriters, producers and session players that made those types of music famous in the first place (Giorgio Moroder, Todd Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams, Paul Jackson Jr….uh…Pharrell, etc.)

What distinguishes RAM from a six-disc ’70s/’80s club compendium advertised on Palladia and Fuse at 3:00 a.m. on a Tuesday not only has to do with Bangalter and De Homem-Christo’s complete and utter devotion to the classic styles, and makers, of the dance music they are undoubtedly obsessed with, but it also has to do with their ability to curate every aspect of the album experience — the announcement ads, the teaser spot premieres at Coachella and SNL, The Collaborators video series, the actual sequencing and track progression of the album, the songs themselves — in the manner of a spectacle that was mysterious and alluring. This was all a huge risk, but it’s ultimately rewarding. More »

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