Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Quiet Storm?

Alright, so sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been really busy studying for finals and all that, but I have a few posts I'd like to do. So, this first one is about "quiet storm" music, or those tunes that are just so chill and sensual that you can't help but bob your head with a small smile.


There are links if you press on the main song titles (every other song has a link listed under it):


You've Got the Love by Florence and the Machine (The XX Remix)

Alright, so this song was the first XX song I ever listened to. So, when I first heard the XX, I thought Oliver Sim (the male singer) was some smooth looking black dude, similar to George Benson or Luther Vandross. Turns out..

Check out this link for a picture of the band:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/0ifH473B2FD/Barclaycard+Mercury+Prize+Arrivals/CMvjZ1oA454/Oliver+Sim

He's the dude on the very right.

The XX won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, and they very much deserved it. Other good songs from The XX are "Crystalised" and "Islands."

Crystalised:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib8eYDSFEI

Islands has a cool music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElhV8z7I60


Another sensual song is:
"Aztec Girl"by John Beltran featuring Sol Set

Starting out with a spanish guitar medley, and quickly evolving into a fusion jazz jam, this song is super swagged out in terms of smoothness.


"Take You There" by Chase & Status

Chase & Status is a British drum and bass duo that usually has songs with an aggressive feel. However, this song is a bit different in terms of its subject matter. I've started a dubstep remix of this song that I might share once I think it's far enough along to share (y'know).

"You're Not My Girl" by Ryan Leslie

Ryan Leslie is a talented producer, singer, and rapper who has done stuff for Rick Ross, Cassie, and Kid Cudi.

This is a video of "R-Les" producing with Kid Cudi in the studio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dz0eQTjMMw


He also does his own stuff; "You're Not My Girl" has that light MJ vibe kinda.. He has some other cool songs too, y'all should check them out.


Alright, I'm out, I'm too tired right now to think of any other good songs. Peace

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hello!

Hello, my name is Francis Lee. I am currently a high school student (as of 2010,) and I aspire to be a musician when I need to pick an occupation. This blog will concern my life, but will also be a bit of a music blog too, because of my obsession with music.

CHEDDE OUT

Alright, so, I've been a fan of Flying Lotus for some time now, and for all y'all who haven't heard him yet, I think you should. Fun fact: Flying Lotus (Steven Ellison) is the great nephew of the late John and Alice Coltrane! He is also the cousin of Ravi Coltrane, which is pretty cool, as they've toured together ocassionally.

This song:
Massage Situation-Flying Lotus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oUx6wGCekM&feature=youtube_gdata_player


This is the song that hooks many people to Flying Lotus. However, it's not the one that hooked me (I got hooked from the first FlyLo song I listened to) which would be this one:

Pickled-Flying Lotus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2-_Ud6aVuM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Good song, good song.. But if you're not feeling it, and want something slower and more chill, here's a darker song with more of a hip hop vibe to it.

Computer Face/Pure Being-Flying Lotus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il78kyjCDkc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's one last song that I'll introduce. It's called "Do the Astral Plane" and it's a favorite among FlyLo's following. He plays this song at the end of his live sets, and it's definitely a crowd pleaser.

Do the Astral Plane-Flying Lotus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXdwb_lUKvs&feature=youtube_gdata_player


There are many many many many many many many other great amazing songs by FlyLo that I love, and the ones I've listed so far aren't my absolute FlyLo favorites, but they are decent.

Buy his albums, and listen to them from the beginning to end.
His new EP, Pattern + Grid World, isn't as good as his others, so I recommend listening to em later, if you still like FlyLo, as I hope you will.

My favorites:
Parisian Goldfish
Breathe. Something/Stellar Star
GNG BNG
Galaxy in Janaki
1983
Camel
SexSlaveShip (This one is a bit darker than the rest, because, well, it actually does sound a bit like what a SexSlaveShip would sound like if it flew and cruised space in a strange and twisted journey to seek the complexes of BDSM and masochism that intertwine with sexual urges... Ugh it's so weird, but the textures and the vibe are pretty cool, and very creative. Notice the chains rattling; it's just plain creepy/creative!)