A great philosopher once said, “You spin me right round, baby right round like a record, baby right round.” A Girl Talk record does just that, it spins me. We here at Fresh Scouts first shed light on Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) back in April of 2009, when we featured his album Feed the Animals. Since then we have been slapping each other in the face with glow sticks while we thrash out to the musical connect-the-dots of a Girl Talk album.
If you have a short attention span and you don’t fear mixing Jay-Z and Flock of Seagulls together, well…this is SO going to be your thing. Girl Talk is back at it again with his winning formula of digital sampling and mashups. His newest creation, All Day, is jammed packed with hip hops finest and pop music gems. Imagine sitting at a red light and four cars pull up around you with windows down blaring their music. Buckle yourself in for 71 minutes of seamless sampling.
Can it get any better? Uh, fo sho. Get your greedy little paws on All Day for FREE! Yeah, that’s the price that speaks a universal language. Mosey on over to Illegal Art to get the whole album for $0.00. Thanks be to Girl Talk and to all of the samples. And yes, thanks be to glow sticks.
Check out this artsy fan created video for “Oh No”
A lot of good things have been brought to American from Europe: pizza, Robert Pattinson, French kissing, racy foreign movies, an indie alternative garage-rock back know as The Beatles, and escar go. Ok, maybe we’re not as excited about that last one. Europeans have introduced us to the quaint game of golf, nude beaches, and even wooden shoes. We really owe them a couple of high fives, a round of drinks and possibly some gold stars. They’re the country that just keeps on giving. So naturally, it wasn’t long until they came up with another treat. Their recent gift comes from England in the form of indie pop singer, Ellie Goulding. Born in Hereford, England, Ellie has been laying down entrancing, unique tracks that have earned her a following of dedicated fans.
Ellie’s music is the perfect combination of “dancing just because you’re happy” and “bubble bathing because you’re in need of relaxing.” Her voice could carry its own, but combining it with the perfect rhythm of drums and a string quartet brings an additional flavor that is more enticing than the frosting on a perfectly toasted Toaster Strudel (which is saying a lot.) Both are so delicious that it results in a craving for more; whether it’s frosting or one of Ellie Goulding’s singles.
Ellie Goulding has been noted to be “the next big thing” by the entire UK music business, which they made official when they presented her with the critic’s choice award at the most recent Brit Awards. Her debut album, Lights, was released on March 1, 2010 preceded by her first single “Starry Eyed” which reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. But we here at Freshscouts know that we can provide you with as many facts as Wikipedia can provide (sometimes more), but what really reels in your attention is to actually sample the work. You’re gonna like the way she looks. I guarantee it.
Check out An Introduction to Ellie Goulding on:
When we say Jessie J we don’t mean Jesse James, Jesse Jackson, or even Jesse Katsopolis (although he did have a successful career with “the Rippers”, so a solo album would naturally be the next step.) Before you rush to a feeling of disappointment, let me explain to you who we ARE talking about. Jessie J, born Jessie Cornish, is a singer/song writer from London whose single “Do It Like A Dude” only recently presented itself to us here in the US of A after hovering in the UK for awhile. Despite the talent she exudes herself, to strengthen her musical resume further Jessie J has written for a few no-name artists you may not have heard about: Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, and Christina Aguilera. Mr. Timberlake has even been quoted as saying Jessie is “the best singer in the world right now.” And if you can’t trust Justin Timberlake, then who can you trust?
I hypothetically tripped and fell into the lap of this artist while perusing the World Wide Web to expand my own musical library even further. The song that introduced me to the wonder that is Jessie J was with the hip-hop power ballad “Who You Are”. Listen to this song for 30 seconds, and you’ll find out that this girl can wail. Her voice demands attention. And that’s exactly what I gave it when I first heard her voice. I Google-d, YouTube-d, and MySpace-d Jessie J until I had a sample of every flavor she had to offer and, like the free samples at Whole Foods, it intrigued me to buy in bulk. Lucky for me (and now you) Jessie’s USA debut album is scheduled for release in June of 2011. The album’s debut single is rumored to feature current Top 40 rapper B.O.B. and is said to hit airwaves in February of 2011.
To satisfy the longing I have now instilled in you for Jessie J’s music, you can take a listen to the single “Sexy Silk” which was featured in the recent theatrical release “Easy A.” It’s smooth, it’s sultry, it’s smokin’, and every other “s” word that means “a song you should listen to immediately and share with your friends.” That’s why you have 2,000 friends on Facebook and 500 Twitter followers, right? Share the love.
Buy the single “Do It Like A Dude”:
Robyn. Now that name rings a bell. Does the tune of that bell sound anything like a 90’s hit song called “Show Me Love” or how about “Do You Know (What It Takes)”? That’s weird, because Robyn would be the Swedish pop princess whose American musical career premiered in 1991 with those hit singles. Her spotlight dimmed for a short time (ok maybe a longish time) but was never extinguished. Lucky for us she’s continued to make music and adapt her style to a new generation with the 2010 releases of Body Talk Pt. 1 and Body Talk Pt. 2.
“But Freshscouts, I’ve grown up. Shouldn’t my music grow up too?” Lucky for you, Robyn is on the same page and has branched out lyrically and melodically throughout her nearly 30 years in the business. There’s even a parental advisory warning on the new albums. So, you know, it’s super rebellious now. Robyn turned her personal diary into electropop and R&B splendor with hits like “Dancing On My Own” and “Hang With Me.” She’s even laid down a track with THE Snoop Dogg. That’s fo’ shizzle.
The great thing about Robyn’s music is you can still break out some of those hip 90’s dance moves even if the music isn’t so much 90’s anymore. Don’t pretend like you haven’t been waiting for your chance to make the Tootsie Roll, Cabbage Patch, or Hammer Time publically appropriate again. Watch the video for “Hang With Me” and freshen up. Maybe combine the three. We don’t even give a care. But proceed with caution.
Buy Body Talk Pt. 2:
From the first time I heard Matt & Kim‘s single “Daylight”, I was hooked. Their quirky indie alternative pop sound was distinctive and just catchy enough to make you think about it all day long. But how could they possibly keep it up? Surely they can’t continue to create catchy songs that will play on repeat in your mind for days on end? Well surely they can. Because they did. How ’bout them apples?
Sidewalks is the latest release from this Brooklyn duo, and it definitely lives up to their names: Matt & Kim. Synthesizers, hip-hop beats, high energy, dancing, toy pianos, killer drums and horns. All of the things you’ll find at Burning Man. Oh, and also all of things you’ll find on Sidewalks. They are practically interchangeable.
If you’re not fully familiar with Matt & Kim, perhaps this will jog your memory:
It’s not easy playing piano in bed. Or in the bathroom. Or in the car. Trust me. I’ve tried. All I got was six stitches and a moving violation. They got a record deal. How fair is that?
Their latest album is even more up-beat than this single, so if you are looking to push your Matt & Kim love a little further, make sure you pick it up. And don’t delay because it’s going to sell out everywhere. I’m not even sure if that’s true, but I like to create a sense of urgency.
Here’s a commercial-type thing for the first song off of Sidewalks:
Buy the album:
