It’s not often two incredible artists come together to create something really special. If you’re thinking, “But wait! Miley Cyrus and Justin Beiber collaborate on stage all the time!”, you have obviously been inhaling paint fumes for the past few hours and need some time to come down off your dumb statement high. It’s ok, we’ll wait.
Now if you’re looking for a REAL artist collaboration (I’m looking at you imaginary guy from the first paragraph), look no further than the brand new album release Wake Up! from John Legend & The Roots. It’s a full on mixture of funk, hip-hop, soul, reggae, R&B – pretty much every genre ever created ever. Of course you might be thinking that too much of a good thing could in fact be a bad thing. Ye of little faith. You like John Legend right? You like The Roots right?? Then it’s not even a question of IF you are going to enjoy this album, it’s WHEN.
The first single is titled “Wake Up Everybody” and includes appearances by Melanie Fiona and rapper Common. I know, it sounds to good to be true. But if there’s anything life has taught me, it’s that it usually is especially when you find out it’s a pyramid scheme. This case is different though.
Buy Wake Up!:
Jukebox the Ghost – Empire
Think good enough to open for Ben Folds. That’s pretty much all you have to know, but I’ll give you more anyway ‘cause I’m nice. This rock trio has a distinctly indie flavor, but just like Folds they keep it on just this side of pop so it actually sounds pleasant to the general public as well as the indie purists. “Empire” is typical of their style, and it’s a great track. Taste it, savor it with all your buds of taste. Or sound. Image like you could taste in your ear. Do that.
Stromae – Alors on Danse (Remix)
I’m not 100% sure how Kanye West got mixed up with Belgian singer Stromae, but this collaboration between one of America’s most influential artists and one of 2009’s hottest European songs is definitely interesting enough to warrant a listen.
Crooked I – Light Up Freestyle
We’ve featured damn near everybody in rap supergroup Slaughterhouse except Crooked I, so here ya go. It’s an extremely up-to-date social commentary that rides the beat hard enough for any hip-hope head to both bob and weave. Plus, it makes you think, which is what rap was invented to do.
I recently stumbled across Matthew Perryman Jones on my musical travels. To be honest, I’m not sure how I made it there, but I’m glad I did. It was like finding a $5 bill in your coat pocket a year later or realizing you got 11 chicken nuggets instead of 10 at your favorite fast food joint (in my case Wendys.) It was an unexpected treat.
His voice is easy on the ears and his songs have a quality similar to that of Rufus Wainwright. And I loves me some Rufus. If you’re looking for a singer-songwritery, adult alternative man of the hour, look no further than Matthew Perryman Jones. It probably helps that he lives in one of the musical capitals of probably the world: Nashville, TN. I mean, it’s the home of country music, not to mention the likes of some of our favorite artists including Andrew Ripp, Dave Barnes and Ben Rector (just to name a few.)
But don’t take my word for it. Check out this super official video for “Save You” from Swallow the Sea. It’s like, the real deal.
Buy Swallow the Sea:
For like a year back in college, some radio fat cat thought it would be a good idea to inject a dance and techno station into the ears and hearts of the natives, and though I never previously gave much consideration to the genre I found myself cranking it in the wee hours after driving home half-asleep from working long nights at a local eatery.
That late at night, music such a forceful, driving beat can either roust you into wakefulness or rock you into a droning coma, and depending on what song was playing I had my fair share of experiences with both. When listening to iiO, however—most famous for their huge club hit “Rapture”—I usually found myself tightrope walking somewhere in between those two states of consciousness.
It was awesome.
The thing about club music is that a lot of its notoriety comes from remixes that get passed around and bumped at discotheques worldwide, but my allure to “Rapture” and later iiO jams like “At the End,” “Kiss Me,” and “Runaway” were a little more than just a primal appreciation for heavy bass and creatively thumping beats. These songs are, at their heart, really good and really catchy little ditties. It’s not just formulaic ass-shaker music intended for E-heads grinding on each other’s scantily-clad, sweaty bodies. Okay, so it is that, but it’s more than that, too. It’s music in every sense of the word, and I likes me some it.
Today, iiO is a one-man show, as Markus Moser has lost his partner Nadia Ali to a solo vocal career, which is apparently going relatively well. Regardless of what they’re up to now, back in 2003 they were the business, helping me stay awake on the drive home from a job that I absolutely did not like. The dance and techno station didn’t last, perhaps predictably because it’s such a niche market, but for the short time it was around I genuinely appreciated it.
And thanks to it, I still appreciate iiO. And thanks to me, you do too.
Here’s the video for “Rapture”:
And the video for “At the End”:
When I heard Ari Hest was part of a side project called The Open Sea, I didn’t have to wonder if I would like it. I just knew I would. Honestly, if Ari left me a voice mail message I would probably say the message is the single of the week. Yeah, we like Ari. Now, add the heavenly Rosi Golan into the mix and this thing just got real…for real.
Rosi Golan and Ari Hest
As individuals, Ari and Rosi have developed solid singer-songwriter careers that highlight their incredible voices. It is always wonderful to see when two talented individuals come together to make something new. We, the listeners, reap the benefits. Ari and Rosi’s voices fit together perfectly like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The finished product is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful showcase of what the human voice is capable of.
As The Open Sea, Rosi and Ari have created something special in their EP, Little Apple. The 5 tracks that they have chosen float effortlessly through the atmosphere. Their superb vocals and simple arrangements show off what they are both so darn good at. Little Apple is exhibit A for why more artists need to seriously look at collaborating. Do everything in your power to spread the word about this project. Support great artists and great music.
KC’s Personal Picks: “All in a Day” and “Starlight”
Check out their live performance of “All in a Day”
Buy the album
