Archives For Currently Listening To…

Currently Listening To… “I Feel Love”

David —  May 16, 2013 — 1 Comment

hair-throwback-bangs-ds-031313Donna Summer is often touted as the Queen of Disco. Although she was known for hits like “Last Dance,” “She Works Hard for the Money,” and “Hot Stuff” her true musical passions lied in the early stages of EDM (Electronic Dance Music). Unfortunately, she was pigeon-holed by her fans and record execs to stay on the less experimental side of disco against her will. With the resurgence of disco influenced beats back in mainstream music by the likes of Solange, Moullinex, and most notably Daft Punk, it’s important to see the roots of this movement. Check out this video to see the connection between Donna Summer and Daft Punk’s new album, Random Access Memories.

“I Feel Love” is THE Donna Summer song. It takes one viewing of her performance below to see just how engrossed she is in the music. That or the outrageous amount of drugs she might have consumed that day.

Pro Tip: This blogger has been playing “I Feel Love” in the mornings before heading out the door using Infinite Jukebox; for a never ending disco experience.

 

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Currently Listening To… “Next Stop”

David —  May 3, 2013 — Leave a comment

680503_439632176084391_1564953904_oSisters, Jennifer and Jessie Clavin, form the L.A. based duo, Bleached. Think of Bleached as the modern-day girl version of the Ramones with a little more lo-fi qualities. They previously released a couple quality EPs, but recently came out with the first full length album, Ride Your Heart.

“Next Stop” is one of the catchiest tracks on the album. It’s a perfect soundtrack for getting your inner hipster on; just make sure to wear a furry animal hat to top it all off. Bleached will be here in sunny San Francisco this Sunday, May 5 at the Independent. This hipster will be there!

[@hellobleached][iTunes][Rdio]

 

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Currently Listening To… “Variable”

David —  March 5, 2013 — Leave a comment

MillionYoung_AndyJScott-154Millionyoung aka Mike Diaz hails from Florida and recently released his sophomore LP, Variable.  The title track “Variable” is a chillwave synth pop wet dream.  The beats are fresh and have a have a whiff of disco.  It’s a perfect track for cleaning your stove while you dance around in your underwear, or soaking up sun in Dolores Park watching hipsters walk by as they smoke weed out of apples.  Czech it out!

[@millionyoung][iTunes][Rdio]

 

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Currently Listening To… “Foolish Games”

David —  February 5, 2013 — Leave a comment

UntitledRemember that summer in 1995 when all you did was listen to Jewel?  No? Just me?  It was right around the same time that Jagged Little Pill from Alanis Morissette came out.  Jewel was “Alanis-lite.”  The world was enamored with the only really good thing to come out of Alaska.  She had a heartwarming story about living in a car with her dad and a charming snaggletooth.  It was a simpler time.  Gas was on average $1.09 a gallon, the Friends were singing “Smelly Cat” at Central Perk, and Marlon Brando was kissing Larry King live on television.

Well, you can relive those days, sort of.  Jewel is trying to be relevant again so she released her Greatest Hits album.  Take a walk down memory lane and listen to “Foolish Games” by Jewel featuring Kelly Clarkson.  Try to forget when she attempted the “sexy” thing.  Kelly really helps round out the sound in the new rendition of the song and she brings her scorn-woman-filled-with-anger attitude.

[iTunes][Rdio][@jeweljk][@kelly_clarkson]

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Currently Listening To… “Superficial Heart”

David —  January 29, 2013 — Leave a comment

seatraffic-put-away

 

Seatraffic, a local SF duo, recently released their new single, “Superficial Heart.”  The track is sort of a starry-eyed jam with a melancholy twist.  The guys do a great job of building the intensity throughout the tune and give the listening everything they could have wanted… and then some. Simply; this song rocks.

Give “Superficial Heart” a spin below!

 

Bonus!

Seatraffic put out their music video for “Leave It Alone!” Czech it out!

 

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Currently Listening To… “Safe and Sound”

David —  December 19, 2012 — Leave a comment

1874069-Capital_Cities_617Capital Cities is an electro-pop duo hailing from La-La-Land comprised of dual frontmen and former jingle writers Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian.  Perez Hilton named them the “Best Band in Los Angeles” and are welcome into the already overcrowded electro-pop scene in LA.

“Safe and Sound“ is their lead single off of their self-titled EP released last year.  It’s the perfect song to get lost on the dance floor (of if you’re me, cleaning your apartment in your underwear.)  Jam out to their EP for a bit and head on over to their website where you can get free downloads of other tracks, including covers of Madonna’s “Holiday” and Sinead O’Conner’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”  Rockin’!

Capital Cities is playing a sold-out show at Rickshaw Stop tomorrow night in San Francisco, so sadly this fan can’t attend.  Drop a line if a loyal reader has a scoop on some tickets!

[@capitalcities][iTunes][Rdio]

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Currently Listening To… “Lord Knows”

David —  December 7, 2012 — Leave a comment

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The Dum Dum Girls were formed in California and you can hear it in their music. The band got their name from The Vaselines album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song “Dum Dum Boys and have played shows with Vampire Weekend and one of my personal favorites, Beach House.  Check out their cover of “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths.  Its rockin’.

How often do you create the soundtrack of your life? I do it all the time.  There are songs that highlight high school graduation, or a first kiss. I recently heard “Lord Knows” and I knew it belonged in my soundtrack.  ”Lord Knows” would probably be the part where in my hipster biopic where I’m contemplative about life and its possibilites, so I decide to hop in a car and head up the coast to Vancouver in the middle of the night.  There is an oddly soothing sense of forlornness in the melody and subtle beat.  Check out their trippy video below.

[iTunes][@dumdumgirls]

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Currently Listening To… “Losing You”

David —  November 6, 2012 — Leave a comment

Yesterday, I promised you some more disco after we took a listen to Moullinex.

Enter Solange, younger sister of pop diva, bootylicious babe and singing siren Beyoncé Knowles.  Solange first started to get some attention when she was acting as a backup dancer for Big Sis B’s group Destiny’s Child.  As a younger sibling I can vouch, one can only stay in the shadows of our older kin for so long.

Solange came out with her sophomore Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams in 2008 which marked a major departure from trying to squeeze into the same pop category as her sister.  With that album, she chose to take it back to the motown era, especially apparent on the tracks “I Decided” and “Sandcastle Disco.”

After a 4 year hiatus, Solange is about to release her True EP which she described as being “…more than an album to me. It’s a transitional time in my life.”  The first single off the True EP is “Losing You”; a disco infused dance beat with a melancholy aftertaste.  The video for “Losing You” was shot earlier this year in Capetown, South Africa.

[iTunes][@solangeknowles]

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Currently Listening To… “Keep You Close”

David —  November 5, 2012 — 2 Comments

I was born in the wrong decade.  Sure, the 90s were great, but parachute pants really didn’t do anything for my figure.  I should have been shimmying around at the height of disco in the 70s.  Shaking my “groove thing” because I’m no closet disco queen.  Luckily, those beats are making a comeback in modern music and I’m excited to show you a recently stumbled upon artist, Moullinex.

Moullinex (Luis Clara Gomes) hails from rural Portugal and considers disco and house his foundation for music creation. He has had much success in doing remixes for well established artists including Cut Copy and Two Door Cinema Club, but he is most known for his cover of “Maniac” with Peaches.  Check out “Keep You Close” below and try your hardest not to bob your afro back and forth.  Try out some of these dance moves and get down today.

[iTunes][@moullinex]

P.S. Come back tomorrow for more disco inspired tunes by a younger sister of musical royalty.

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Currently Listening To… “How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?”

David —  October 15, 2012 — Leave a comment

No, you haven’t traveled back in time.  You are still alive and in the present music scene.  It’s easy to forget though when listening to Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings.  The group was originally formed back in 1996; decades after the rise of the 60′s funk sound they are recreating.  The Dap-Kings also were literally instrumental when helping create Back to Black with Amy Winehouse.  This writer has also had the privilege of seeing Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings live and can vouch that they are a musical force to be reckoned with.  Additionally, they were featured on the outstanding compilation album Dark was the Night and standout from the rest of the “more modern” music.

“How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?” is a track off the Naturally album.  There isn’t a single track that requires a “skip,” but “HLDIHTWFY?” is a stand-out.  The song is about heartbreak over a love lost, but the upbeat rhythm and musicality make it seem a bit more cheery than depressing.   Dance around to a broken heart today?

[iTunes Link][@SharonLJones]

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