Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This has been a long overdue post but by far one of my favourite current groups. Here is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros appearance on Letterman.


I highly recommend looking into some of their other work. The recorded versions are all equally as wonderful.

-She

Matt & Kim

A while ago, Liz recommended a bunch of bands, and I was unable to check all of them out. One of these bands was Matt & Kim, a duet from New York. Their second album, Grand, was released early this year, and I have just recently started listening to them, after I heard one of their songs in a TV show. I really like their sound, upbeat, catchy tunes that remind me a bit of another duo and personal favourite, Mates Of State. The album is pretty good, can get a little sick of them after multiple listens, but definitely worth checking out. The most popular song would have to be "Daylight" which is one of my favourites, as is "Cutdown" and "Lessons Learned."

-&Him

Congratulations Liz!

Congrats to Liz (She) for making the top 16 in the MuchMusic VJ Search 2.0! The contest is just beginning, but after seeing some of the other finalists, I am confident that Liz can go far into the competition, and just might win the whole thing. And if that happens, maybe she can get some of our wonderful bands we discuss on here, the exposure they deserve! Make sure you follow the show and vote for her when possible! Show the love!
Click HERE to vote 5 hot/ 5 cool stars.

- &Him

She= Your Next MuchMusic VJ!

Hello my darlings.

I hope you have been enjoying the glorious updates this month- plenty more where that comes from! I just want to give you all a brief update/ help me out, post. I actually am running for a position with a channel that helped build my obsession with music- MuchMusic. Yes I am going for the the MuchMusic VJ 2009 search.
I hope you can all give me some stars when you get the chance. Polls close on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009, so not much time. Send me some love and this music forum can be extended onto the wonderful world of television.

One Love,
-She

CLICK HERE to vote & see my audition tape

The Raveonettes

One of the biggest surprises of 2007 was The Raveonettes' album Lust Lust Lust. Before that, I hadn't really been into the band, but now I am a huge fan of all the duo's work.
I have been eagerly awaiting a new album, and I found out last week that they will release a new album titled In And Out Of Control.
The album comes out on October 6, and the first single is called "Suicide" - an awesome track that I would definitely recommend.
I can't wait to hear the whole thing!

-&Him

LOLA 2009 - Final Fantasy

I had the pleasure last evening to attend a free concert at Victoria Park as a part of LOLA (London Ontario Live Arts) fest. The headlining act was Owen Pallett aka Final Fantasy, one of my absolute favourite artists.
Unlike last time I saw him, Pallett had someone accompanying him, a new member in his first show who played percussion and guitar. Pallett still performed using his loop pedal which is always fun to see/hear. Surprisingly, he played very few old favourites, opting for mostly new material which I hadn't heard yet. The songs were, of course, amazing, making me even more excited for the next album.
As an extra special treat, I got a chance to meet and talk with Pallett after the show. I told him what a fan of his music I was, along with other similar cliches. He also told me that the new album, Heartland would probably be out on January 12, 2010. He even apologized to me that it's taken so long. I suppose I can forgive him.

-&Him

Whoa

Wow. I guess we are really are back. It looks like Liz has been busy sharing some great music with the blogosphere, many thanks to her for that.
I too, am stoked for the new Vampire Weekend album, It should be great. I know that some don't like them that much, but Liz and I definitely loved their self-titled debut, and will be impatiently waiting for Contra.
Speaking of artists that have mixed opinions, I too enjoyed some songs from Scarlett Johansson's first album, especially Falling down. The only thing I have to dislike Scarlett for is her cover of Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye, which would have made the late genious roll over in his grave. (yes, it was THAT bad - sorry Scarlett. And yes, I am one of those die-hard Buckley fans)
Finally, I am going to agree again and say that Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear is awesome, especially the song Two weeks (even with the super creepy video haha). One song that I didn't like at first, but now love is "Fine For Now" which I would definitely reccomend. Enjoy!

-&Him

Mayer Hawthorne

MAYER HAWTHORNE

The face may not match the sound but sound is timeless and that's all that really matters here. Reigning from the grounds of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mayer Hawthorne (born Andrew Mayer Cohen), grew up with a strong passion for rich soul and jazz. The singer, DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist acknowledges an array of R&B, soul and jazz artists such as Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry, Barry White, Smokey Robinson, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, as major influences and inspirations. One may ask how he is slotted in the "retro" genre tag, especially factoring that he is just entering his 30s but it is the timeless sound that his voice brings through your stereo that takes you back to the late 60s, early 70s.
After being introduced to Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of the Rebirth, even his current boss was skeptical. "He showed me two songs and I didn't understand what I was listening to," Wolf recalls. "I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of - I couldn't believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments." (http://www.stonesthrow.com/mayerhawthorne)

After meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of his family at Stones Throw, as well as BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson and producer/DJ Mark Ronson. Expectations are high for the admitted vinyl junkie who never planned on taking his crooning public. Hawthorne's hanging-by-a-string falsetto and breakbeat production on his first recorded effort, the tender "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out," are simultaneously Smokey and J Dilla - equal parts "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Fall in Love." "It's soul," he explains, "But it's new." (http://www.stonesthrow.com/mayerhawthorne) Note: he was the only artist to ever be signed by Peanut Butter Wolf after only hearing 2 songs. Not to mention he has never been vocally trained and the songs were recorded more as a joke. Now look where he is, it's brilliant and we think its worth more then a few listens!

Links:
Official Website
Myspace
Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (Official Video)

Mayer Hawthorne & Barbershop Quartet

Hip Hop Official Interview-


-She

Sam Cooke

In recent weeks I have rediscovered my love for the late and great Sam Cooke. Collecting his entire Discography, it is without a doubt that Cooke made one of the biggest impacts on the R&B and soul music community. Dying at age 33, Cooke was able to successfully create twenty-nine Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1964- remarkable. Some of the songs are, in my opinion, among the greatest songs of all time. If you have not yet experienced Sam Cooke, I highly suggest you invest in an album or two and if you are feeling ultra eager, check out the entire discography because it is a must have in ones music library.

(also covered by artists such as: Seal, Lauryn Hill, Bob Dylan and Gavin Degraw and many more)

Enjoy
-She

Vampire Weekend-2nd Album

The wait is over. Two full years (minus a few songs here and there) and Vampire Weekend have finally confirmed the release date for their second album. If you weren't satisfied by Discovery (which was the side project/ collab between members of Vampire Weekend & Ra Ra Riot) you're in luck. January 12th 2010 is the official date, so brace yourself, this should be great. Stay tuned to their website for previews.

Contra Track Listing:

01 Horchata
02 White Sky
03 Holiday
04 California English
05 Taxi Cab
06 Run
07 Cousins
08 Giving Up the Gun
09 Diplomat's Son
10 I Think Ur a Contra

Vampire Weekend Canadian Dates:

10-06 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern (good luck getting hold of these ones and if you do, you are one lucky fello)

-She