Jayou "to be mixed"

After that Drankenstien mix by Bird Peterson that showed up on Mad Decent I have been closely watching what those guys have been up to. I just downloaded this mix from Jayou last night. The XX "Crystalised (Dark Sky Remix)" got me interested enough to check it out and it doesn't disappoint. What I found is one of the most interesting Dub Step albums I have heard. Granted I am a novice in the genera; due to a lot of it hasn't agreed with me thus far. This one is different. There are a ton of surprises that come out of nowhere. I especially like the Dead Prez Hip Hop (Ntrld Remix) half way though. You can download this mix here or give the guys at Mad Decent some love and check out the blog piece
on Jayou.

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

With each album they release, I can come to expect two things from Broken Social Scene. Terrific song writing and a live studio feel. One of the reasons I love the new album, "Forgiveness Rock Record" is because of this live studio feel. As a listener it sounds like you are hanging out in the studio listening to greatness being recorded in front of you. They always find a way to include external noise and even some times talking, to draw the listener into the music. Its that intimate connection that distinguishes these guys from the many other artists in the electronic/rock/pop genera. Your going to love the album when it is available on May 4th or to download it digitally on May 3rd. For now, enjoy some of my favorites...

My Man Crush - The National

I am not sure if I should be coming out to the world today but I can't hold it back anymore. I have a huge man-crush on the National. I can't help it. Matt Berninger's voice is so damn hypnotic. The man could sing "Mary had a little lamb" and I would probably buy it. When I finally got my hands on their newest LP "High Violet" I was in love all over again.

I really enjoyed what they did with this album. There is a great mix between the clean and the distorted. That theme seems to permeate through each track. I am only on the first couple listens but each track holds up the high standards I have set for this Brooklyn group since release Alligator in 2005. Here are some of my favorites so far... enjoy.

M.I.A. "Born Free"

M.I.A. new single is out with a bang. This 10 minute short is brash, brave, and controversial. In her new video Maya proposes a world where red heads are rounded up by the government for genocide. Its shocking to see the whitest 13 year old you can find getting executed right before your eyes. What is even more shocking is that these types of injustices happen every day in 3rd world countries around the world without any coverage from mainstream media. It is refreshing to see M.I.A. push the limits of conservative American culture in a video that will never be aired on T.V. Even though this video will never be seen by the masses, one thing is for sure, it will be a hot topic of discussion for some time.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Bird Peterson - Drankenstien

It's not every day you hear a mix in a genera that you have never heard before. Bird Peterson created a new genera of music last week with his Drankenstien Mixtape. Whether you like the newest sound or not, you got to give him major props for combining dirty south with trance. I know it sounds crazy, but you GOT to hear this. Living in Atlanta, I am very familiar with the dirty south sound. I also lived a mile from Simon's & Soulhouse in the late 90's/early 2000's in Gainesville Florida, so I am very familiar with the Trance movement. It's shocking at first to hear these two worlds colliding together but it creates one hell of a summer mixtape. Please go check out this mix at mad decent, you won't be dissapointed.