Song Rotation 4
I realize I’m a week late on this rotation, but I honestly didn’t have any new music offerings in that week, so I figured I’d just wait until I got my 10 songs rather than just bullshit it. Anyways, you know the drill - the artist and title are the links to the video and/or song. Enjoy!
1. Utada Hikaru - HEART STATION
I can’t say this enough, I’m madly in love with Utada Hikaru. Just like, wow. But anyways, her new album is coming out in a month or two, and this is the title track from that album. Obviously the album is called HEART STATION, and I’m very excited about it. Check out the track, she really can’t do much wrong.
2. Artist Vs. Poet - Assurance Closure
Artist Vs. Poet is my friend Tarcy’s new music project after Enter The Collector broke up. The best I can describe the sound of AVP is a mix of pop, electronic, and rock. It has the catchiness of your standard pop song with the instrumentation and production sense of both electronic and rock combined. What you get is a very sing-able, near-dance-able rock song. Don’t think it’s possible? Their myspace is linked above, and check out the song Assurance Closure. Definitely one of my favorites of the week.
3. E.S. Posthumus - Nolitus
I didn’t know this, but E.S. Posthumus released a new album at the end of ‘07. Dre introduced me to them, and their first outing, ‘Unearthed’ is one of my favorite albums of all time. Having just heard their follow-up ‘Cartographer,’ I’d have to say it’s gonna be pretty hard to top their new stuff. It’s a double disc of the same tracks, but done in a different style on each CD. It’s kinda hard to explain, but it makes sense once you’re listening. Here is the first track off the first CD. I like their new sounds on this disc, but if you miss the old style, check out the second disc.
4. OneRepublic - Say (All I Need)
Here’s another track Dre introduced me to and is stuck in my head. Me and him both agree that Tedder’s voice is more suited for Coldplay-esque sounds like on this track. In particular, Say reminds me of Enya at the beginning. I’m seeing OneRepublic live next Sunday, I’ll have more on that later.
5. Ingram Hill - With You (Chris Brown Acoustic Cover)
While practicing this exact song for Stephen’s video for Joanne (I’ll post that at a later date), I came across this cover, which I believe to be as good, if not better, than the original. The band Ingram Hill does a very nice job of converting this R&B hit into an acoustic song, complete with shaker, washboard percussion, and two acoustic guitars. Definitely a must listen.
6. Saul Williams - WTF!
Saul Williams is a legend of poetry. Trent Reznor is a legend of music. Put them together, and you get musical nirvana. From probably Saul’s best musical offering to date, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!, WTF! is one of my favorite songs and incidentally the catchiest. For those craving more, you can find most of the songs on youtube, along with the cover of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday.
7. she - Traveling by night (version)
Pjat Lain’s chiptune music is probably more famous than her remixes (one of which was featured on the second week rotation), and this is no exception. Literally released this weekend, the video for Traveling by night (version) is a unique and visually stunning look at the nightlife of Japan. The music definitely adds to the imagery. For those more interested in this kind of music, all of she’s music is available at shemusic.org
8. Gabe Bondoc - Summertime
Anyone who’s been around me long enough knows I have a soft spot for acoustic guitar (playing one myself), and this song is one of the reasons why. Gabe mixes 90s R&B vocal styles with rock-esque chords on an acoustic guitar. This performance is killer, especially the nice use of the loop pedal at the end.
9. Trace Bundy - Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Keeping with my love for acoustic guitar is Trace Bundy’s interpretation of the classical piece Pachelbel’s Canon in D. This is by far one of my favorite uses of tapping on an acoustic guitar, and is a very good job of translating this orchestra classic into a solo piece on acoustic guitar. I’ll go on record to say that I prefer this to Canon Rock any day.
10. Sungha Jung - More Than Words
This kid makes me wanna quit playing guitar. Sungha Jung is 8 - yeah, EIGHT years old - and he plays like a virtuouso. I can play a bit of More Than Words, but I’m thinking of giving up after this display. He plays the melody AND the vocal parts on the guitar, and then just to shame the rest of us up-and-coming guitar players, adds some finger-tapping and acoustic-craziness at the end. Other than that, I think this kid is my new hero.
