Some things are just better mixed up. Like the ingredients to make cookies or the ingredients to make cakes or even the ingredients to make brownies. I think I’ve made my point at how delicious mixing can be. But what is even more delicious is the mixing going on with Basement Jaxx. I know you’re probably thinking it’s a guy named Jack who has seriously misspelled his name (by accident) and lives in a basement somewhere. Well if that’s what you thought, you would be partially correct. They are a UK house music duo. Oh wait, I guess you weren’t right at all.
Photos by Jamie Beeden
Basement Jaxx have been releasing catchy dance music since the mid-90s and most recently “mixed up” their tracks with a variety of artists across many different genres in their September 2009 release Scars. This mix of poppy club music will get you breakdancing in no time (that is if you know how to breakdance.) And with collaborations from such FreshScouts artists as Sam Sparro, Santigold and the creator of the milkshake that brought all the boys to the yard, Kelis, you are sure to find a song that’s scrupmtilicious.
But the original idea behind Scars was to release the tracks as a double-album; one album containing the collaborative club tracks they are known for and one album containing what Basement Jaxx describes as a “soundscape” exhibiting the mellower side of the duo. And thus, Zephyr was created. This second installment, admittedly, is probably not going to be the first choice to pop in at your next party. That’s what Scars is for. Zephyr is more an album you’d toss on for some trance-like chillaxin’.
The two actually compliment each other nicely. They are complete opposites that fit a variety of tastes, and since they were offered separately in a short time span, it’s easy to sample each like the cheese and sausage tables at a grocery store. Take one or both or even come back for seconds or thirds. As long as you look like you’re going to buy, it’s all good.
Check out the video for Scars (and some sweet animation from some guy on YouTube….bonus.)
Check out Scars:
Amazon Music
Like Basement Jaxx? Check out Girl Talk!
The Civil Wars – “Poison & Wine”
Television shows continue to serve as a nice launching pad for musicians. Years ago the Fox hit The O.C. thrusted many artists into the mainstream. ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy has also established itself as a vehicle for featured artists to gain overnight commercial success.
Joy Williams and John Paul White have built their careers as signer-songwriters. Their more recent combined effort is known as The Civil Wars, and thanks to Merrideth Grey’s need for dramatic moments, a lot of people are taking notice of “Poison & Wine”. The track was just featured on Grey’s Anatomy and it is incredibly beautiful and down right mesmerizing. Prepare to hear a lot more from The Civil Wars in the coming months. That is my diagnosis.
Amazon
Sam Sparro – “Black & Gold”
Another television show has helped place a song in heavy rotation for me this week. So You Think You Can Dance does a splendid job of showing me how much I really can’t dance. Furthermore, it does a phenomenal job of highlighting great music that I can’t dance to.
A recent routine on the show featured the Sam Sparro track “Black & Gold”. This cat can sing! Sparro’s smooth bluesy feel is captivating. The final studio track is designed to get you dancing. Take a listen to the live performance video below to get a true sense of his raw vocal power. This Aussie just might have knocked Paul “Crocodile Dundee” Hogan out of the number one spot on my list of favorite Australian imports.
Sparro’s live version of “Black & Gold” performed in a radio studio last year. Music starts at 32 seconds.
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iTunes
Sing It Loud – “Come Around”
A fan of Fresh Scouts recently requested that we do a write up on Sing It Loud. Your wish is our command. The request did remind me how much I do enjoy the punky pop sound of these Minnesota boys. The track “Come Around” is a rollicking good example of the type of energetic music they dish out. This song lends itself well to air guitaring and air drumming. Which of course lends itself well to my air tennis elbow.
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iTunes
