Kanye Samples Wicked

Imma let you finish Kristin, but I'm more popular than you.

  Right off the bat I'll say that this post has been a struggle not only because it's been maybe two months since my last one, but also because it's about Kanye West. Not only is his music causing my inner hipster to start strangling herself with a pair of urban outfitters leggings, but also my inner normal person is going "hey that guy's a douche." Could this guy get any more pretentious? So with that being said, I will try and move on.

  My main objective is to talk about todays rap artists and sampling. You're not alone in realizing that almost every friggin' rapper out there today is layin' rhymes over yesterday's top indie song. When Kid Cudi sampled Paul Simon on 50 Ways to Make a Record, it was all I could do to not spit out my orange juice all over my keyboard. As a fan of Paul Simon, I'd say it's a good song because I already liked the melody, but really? It's just a ridiculous concept. And then there's Hoodie Allen whose last album was almost entirely him rapping over sampled artists, not to mention Chiddy Bang's "Truth". And then let's also not forget Big Boi's "General Patton" which samples Giuseppe Verdi's opera, "Vieni, o guerriero vindice,” perhaps the most random of them all.

  Recently, I was in my friends car listening to their CD. It soon dawned on me that I was listening to Kristin Chenoweth sing Popular. And then Kanye West started rapping? Nope, the new thing isn't sampling indie songs anymore, it isn't sampling the Numa Numa song like T.I. and Rihanna, and it definitely isn't sampling opera (sorry Big Boi.) I guess it's Broadway. But let me remind you that Kanye definitely isn't the first rap artist to do this, since Jay-Z already did it first with "Hard Knock Life" in 1998. Some argue that these artists are "stealing" but personally I think once a song's out there it's just as much mine as it is yours. Trying to hold onto something as intangible as music seems a little silly. All in all, I think that without artists being able to access each other's music and add their own style would probably end music as we know it. And in the end I guess I would have to admit that Kanye's a creative guy despite his obvious shortcomings.


Brand New x Popular (Flipboitamidles Remix) - Kanye West (remixed version. haven't found the real one yet)

It's a Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z



Happy Hipster Halloween erryone.
-K

Stream NEW Matt & Kim song - "Good for Great"

Matt & Kim up close and personal at Outside Lands '09

Sidewalks isn't set to release until Tuesday (Monday at 9 PM Bay Area time, that's what up) and even though Matt and Kim have already given us one pre-album release ("Cameras") they just gave us one more - "Good for Great." For those of you worried by Matt and Kim's new sound in "Cameras," "Good for Great" sounds much more Matt & Kim-esque just a little more demure... and I love it!

Stream "Good for Great" HERE. Enjoy :)

-G

Crystal Castles + Robert Smith

Crystal Castles & The Cure's Robert Smith make for a clashing mix in the remix of CC's "Not in Love." Think 80's techno - electro-pop beats, distortion, synthesizer, thumping bass line, etc. It's a little repetitive at some parts (we get it, you're NOT in love), but overall I give the song about a 8 out of 10. It's missing that haunting quality of Alice Glass's voice in the original but I like the brightness too - I'm in need of some pick-me-up music.

[For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of hearing songs like "Just Like Heaven" and "Friday I'm in Love," The Cure is an English rock band and Robert Smith is their headliner with a sweet voice that stands in stark contrast with his signature smudged-eyeliner red lipped look...]

-G

In lieu of the weekly mixes...

I present to you VjBrewskii... his channel has some great mash-ups

Hello Sidewalks

SUP MATT & KIM--
(Sidewalks comes out next Tuesday Eastern time which means 9:00pm Monday night for us, sup Bay Area)



-C

Fall Fashion Faves Part 3

Girls
 
Sequined berets and beanies - Literally add some shine to those overcast fall days with these sparkly hats. Functions include keeping your head warm, covering up a bad hair day, and adding a little extra oomph to your look. Sequined berets and beanies also give a more urban feel to any outfit.

Tweed shorts - I'm dying for some. Warm, cozy, classy - tweed is definitely a fall pattern, but I don't mean cover yourself in it head from head to toe.  I suggest getting trouser cut shorts, and don't forget some tights to keep your legs warm (and leg warmers perhaps....)

Doc Martens- Perfect for puddle-splashing, concert-trekking, leaf-crunching, holiday shopping, you name it. In other words, keep your feet clean, comfy, and looking coool in the "best counter-cultural footwear of the decade" (according to NY Fashion Week 2010). Sheesh how much more indie can you get. Do basic black, rubber neon yellow, even Hello Kitty if that floats your boat- the options are limitless. I have these black floral ones and I assure you they are nothing short of amazing :)


-G

New Albums

If you're feeling low on new music, make sure to check out these albums:

Root for Ruin-Les Savy Fav. These indie-punk veterans have once again proven they can make a solid album. They combined punk with catchy beats and occasional glimpses of electronic to make a great record (and only for $7.99!!!).









Forget-Twin Shadow. While it has the soft quality of dream-pop, Twin Shadow's music retains variety in their debut album Forget. Their songs are especially catchy, like Castles in the Snow, and melt together into an amazing album.







Lucky Shiner-Gold Panda. Gold Panda has been getting a lot of hype for a lot of reasons. His new album is instantly accessible to electronic lovers, but still has an artistic depth that you want in an album.







-C

Free Spookfest Music

There's only 6 days left until Live 105's Subsonic Spookfest. Featuring artists like Dyloot to Steve Aoki to MSTRKRFT and everyone in between, this is gonna be one sick event you simply cannot miss out on.

Get a FREE download of a mix made by Miles the DJ made entirely of artists performing at Spookfest 2010 here. Guaranteed half hour of head banging.

Details: 16+, $50 advanced, $55 at the door, Friday at the Cow Palace, Doors open at 6 PM

-G

#8

Frankmusik- Confusion Girl( russ chimes remix)

Chris Brown- Forever(cahill club remix)

Bloody Beetroots- Dimmackmmunication

Shootin star (party rock remix)

Guru Josh Project- Infinity

oldies....

Gigi D' Agostino- I'll fly with you

modjo- Lady

new theme song for Skins US: opportunity or outrage?

If it isn't already scoffed at enough (even before a single episode has come out), Skins US has seemingly taken another step backwards by not using the original Skins UK theme song. The "new" show apparently launched a competition for anyone in the United States to compose a tune and send it in (extended deadline: November 21), the winner will be announced around December 15. Check out contest details and vote for your favorite here.

Skins US Cast
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6146/55960963.jpg)

 Now this could be a good thing, launching some 15-year old part time-DJ or 35 year-old struggling singer/songwriter into fame, and giving Skins US a catchy new tune that says, "Hey, we're not British but at least we have good music." (Jk). Or it could be disastrous, provoking more outrage among die-hard fans who already ridicule Skins US (typically because MTV is producing it) enough.

What do you guys think: opportunity or outrage?
-G

P.S. Fyi, the original theme song is by Fat Segal (also called Segal) and can be easily found online (wink wink). The song helps make the show and honestly it's so good, it's even my ringtone :D

P.P.S. After watching the new trailer, my opinion is set about the show but I'll leave it up to you guys to tell me what you think.

Treasure Island Part 3: Deadmau5

DJs and assorted techno artists have traditionally kept secrecy about their talents. Vary few release all of their songs, and even less release full albums. You can only find some tracks on illegal softwares, so if you're dedicated to paying your artists and reserved to iTunes, you won't have much luck.

I walked into Deadmau5 with this understanding of techno. It was completely true. Frankly, I had only listened to a few songs by the notorious, Micky-Mouse-helmet-wearing DJ and I liked only two. However, I'd seen some online videos and I expected a good show.

But I got even better. Deadmau5 came on stage with his usual massive cube and mouse-helmet. When he popped up, the crowd went wild as it stretched from the stage all the way back to the food vendors. He maintained the basic format of some of his most popular songs like Ghosts N' Stuff, but like most DJs, mixed his music live.

The most interesting thing about Deadmau5's performance was his fluctuating of intensity. Sometimes he would blast out his techno sound at full volume, and then he'd slowly wind down, and then back up again. It wasn't traditional build up techno (which I hate) but rather a complicated rise and fall performance.

And of course, with the massive DJ cube and mouse-helmet equipped with fluctuating light patterns, the show was musically and visually pleasing.

Keeping with the tradition of techno, Deadmau5 saved his best for Treasure Island.

Check out some videos of the show here (remember to turn up the quality for the best sound/visual):




-C

Treasure Island: Miike Snow

For me, the Swedish band, Miike Snow was the true highlight of this beloved music festival. Amidst all the techno/ rave-esque artists at the festival, Miike Snow delivered the most artful performance of the evening. Wearing silver masks and shrouded in artificial fog, they brought their A game and played their best: "Silvia," "Burial," "Cult Logic," Black & Blue,""Animal," and the Vampire Weekend mash-up I posted a couple weeks ago. And to tell you the truth I prefer them live. Perhaps it was merely the "happy" crowd or the pure joy of even being there, but they played with a completely different sound and energy live... well whatever it was it was amazing... The best song live was Silvia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZO1nMuZSnI... but it is also my favorite Miike Snow song so I am a bit biased

The video of Silvia I was going to put up was unfortunately put down, but this will do...

Miike Snow- Burial

F

#1 Die Antwoord "Enter the Ninja" live at Treasure Island

Treasure Island Part 1: Die Antwoord

We all thought they were a joke, but they're a band. Die Antwoord kicked off Treasure Island Music Festival this year with their Zef Hip-Hop Techno beats, and it was so fokken next level. First their DJ came on, replacing DJ HI-Tek because he apparently doesn't like to fly. Clips of their music videos ran on the screen as Yo-Landi Visser jumped out on stage in a full body, pajama-like jumpsuit. She's even smaller in real life, but she's got all the same spunk as she does in their music videos. Then, Ninja joined her on stage to spit some next level rap and even free-style in between songs. Die Antwoord put on a goofy show, and it may have frightened a few people, but you can't deny that it was some fresh Zef.

Check out their video of Zef Side below.



-C

The Ting Tings + Passion Pit = Bliss

The hit British duo The Ting Tings' new single "Hands" has been remixed by the ever-so-lovely Passion Pit and is up for FREE download here. This song is the new one playing in my mind as I walk around bobbing my head and humming. So listen to it and "clap your hands if you're working too hard" (that means you, seniors).

The non-remixed version is pretty good (though saucy), and you can stream it in the same link but it's not available for free. Bummer.

-G

Taking over the indie scene...

Yes, Pitchfork.com dominates indie culture. A best new music title from the folks in Chicago guarantees a US tour. Any album on their list generates a massive chain-loop of "related artists" on iTunes. Hell, they even have their own music festival, Pitchfork Music Festival. Or maybe two?

Yes, Pitchfork has announced Offline Festival in Brooklyn, NY. The lineup has plenty of TBAs but is still amazing. Acts include TV on the Radio, Avey Tare of Animal Collective, Wild Nothing, Glasser, How To Dress Well, Baths, Matthew Dear, Zola Jesus, and more. The festival runs from Thursday, October 21st to Saturday, October 23rd. Tickets are only $10 dollars, so if you're in New York in October or happen to go to college there next year, be sure to check it out. Pitchfork doesn't disappoint.

-C

for raquel...

Muse remixes...

Muse- Knights of Cydonia (integrals)

Muse- Undisclosed desires (thin white duke mix)

#7

 MSTRKRFT- FRSHPRNCFBLR

Party Ben- dance like a record

Land of the pier- random firl

Miniature Tigers- Gold skull

Kelis- Acapella (Dave mix)

How Low vs. Walking on a dream

vengaboys vs my humps

Sufjan Stevens sends early shipments of Age of Adz

While it's too late to catch it now (unless you happen to live right next to an indie record store), Sufjan Stevens has released his new album to a select few shops before his October 12th release date. I walked into a Philadelphia record store on Sunday, Repo Records, to the sounds of unfamiliar, electronic Sufjan. And I knew I had listened to his singles over and over, so I asked myself: Could it be? The new album?

It was. They had a single Age of Adz left. This little story proves that we should all be going to indie record stores, who knows, they may have that album before iTunes does...

-C

Foals - Total Life Forever

Foals has always amazed me with their exprimental guitar shots and complicated riffs, but in this album they are able to carry their sound while mixing electronic and some dance into it. What Foals show in their new album is their ability tochange their orignial sound with a different one without sounding cliche or just plain bad. Foals are one of my personal favorite bands and if you haven't heard them yet then I suggest you go and listen to them. Please, go and check Foals!

Love,

Teddy <3

The Temporary Thing- The Buck, The Bed, ...and the Bottle

A definite Indie sound mixed with folk and electronic has to be none other than The Temporary Thing. His album, The Buck, The Bed, ...and the Bottle, has left me astounded with sounds that range from Broken Bells and the Shins*. Songs like "My generation" leave me with wanting more from this artist, and boy does he give you more. This talented one-man songwriter not only gives you a relaxed and mellow toned sound he also enables a soft feel for dance within his songs. If you have not yet checked out this artist I suggest you do it now, if you don't then your missing out on one hell of a songwriter!


Love,
Teddy <3
(*probably because the lead singer from the Shins is part of Broken Bells*)

Digitalism Idealism & Hands on Idealism (separate albums)

Although these albums are 2-3 years old they are some timeless pieces of work. This garage-band techno duo from Germany can get any party started with their songs! My personal favorites have to be "Yes, I don't want this," "Pogo," and "Idealistic." There sound is purely addictive and once you hear one bit by them you have to hear the rest. So check out this band, even though they're albums are a couple years old, there songs are still young!


Teddy <3

#6

 Passion Pit- Reeling (groove police mix)

 Felguk- 2nite

Fatboy Slim- Kung Fu Fighting remix

Alvaro- took the night

Jamaica- I think I like you 2

Aggro Santos- Candy

Belated Concert Review: Ratatat September 17th at the Warfield

A few weeks ago, two IMA bloggers traveled to San Francisco to see Ratatat play live. They delivered the trippy performance they are known for and played the hits along with new songs from their most recent album, LP4. Their live show has been compared to an old hippie-rock show, which isn't too far off. Some of their videos featured almost creepy images like the white birds on their album cover, but it seemed to go along with the music. They had the audience pretty captivated, with even the balcony section on their feet constantly.

If you like their style, you're not going to be disappointed by a Ratatat show.

Here's some tips and information about the Warfield, just in case you happen to go there in the future.

• If you don't like tight crowds, get balcony tickets. The floor is PACKED, hot, and uncomfortable but can be worth the sacrifice of your personal bubble. The balcony is awesome too, they view's great and you get the luxury of sitting down.
• Forgot your ticket? Don't freak out. One of IMA's own actually bought a ticket for a completely different act, but we got in fine. The floor entrance has several doors with alternating staff, and it's dimly lit. You can sneak in if you're stealthy as some staff barely read the ticket. 
• Drive, or get driven. Don't take Caltrain. Most people forget that Caltrain stops at 12:00, and if you stay for the whole concert, you probably won't get there in time. There is convenient parking all around the venue, but navigating SF streets is STRESSFUL.

Check out a video of Ratatat playing Loud Pipes live here:

-C

Deerhunter-Halcyon Digest

I never thought much of Deerhunter. Up until about a week ago, I had maybe four of their songs that I had listen to a few times. But then they released Halcyon Digest, and since it got an outstanding rating from Pitchfork (9.2), I decided to listen to it.

Well, the album's amazing. It's everything you could ever want in 45 minutes of music. The songs vary, and they're not as dark as the album cover. Some are slower, like the opener Earthquake, while others are more fast-paced and upbeat like Revival.

When I got to Helicopter, I knew Deerhunter had accomplished something. This album was immediately likable, it didn't take long to appreciate. Yet, listening to it again and again (and again) didn't make the album any less enjoyable.

The album's a great transition into Deerhunter, especially if you weren't a fan beforehand. Just get it, I promise you won't be dissapointed.

Check out Diplo's remix of Helicopter FOR FREE here.

-C

The Pass: Burst

Yes, we all know of the folk-indie sound that comes from Kentucky. However, a new band, known as the Pass, has surprised me beyond all beliefs. This band has mixed in a dance-electronic disco with Indie rock to 70's guitar riffs. This bands innate talent with Garage band type instrumentals never seems to lack the creativity that they show so vividly. While in their last album, "Colors" they gave their listeners almost a demo of their sound. Now, its all out their and I am pleased to say that their new album, Burst, is a definite favorite of mine. I highly recommend that you see whats on this album. It will blow you away!


-Teddy <3

#5

Glossy Grizzly Bears- Lil Mama/ Grizzly Bears

Cry 4 U- September(Jackal Miz)

 BonKers- Armand Van Halen/ Dizzeee Rascal

Jay Z/ The Verve- Dirt Symphony

Example- Won't go Quietly

Natasha bedingfield/ Chicane- Bruised Water

 Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks (Fred Falke Mix)

Working For A Nuclear Free City: Jojo Burger Tempest

They are back! WFANFC has amazed me again with their extremely long album and their originality! Every song introduces a new genre and experimental sound that always seems timeless and attention grabbing. In their last album, Businessmen and Ghosts, WFANFC introduced their growing sound in songs such as, "Rocket, Asleep At The Wheel, and Kingdom." However, in their new album every song Shows the upmost creativity coming from this group. I would highly recommend buying every single song in both albums. This is a band that you don't want to miss out on!


-Teddy