V.V. Brown has a story that’s not unlike my own.  She’s a British model-turned-singer who’s vocal talent is only matched by her intellectual prowess.  She got offers to top UK universities including Oxford and York, only to turn them down to follow a career in music.  Yeah, that’s pretty much me to a “T”.

So was it worth it?  How do you leave an opportunity to study at these elite institutions for something as uncertain as the music industry?  If your name is V.V. Brown and you’ve got the pipes to back it up.  That’s how.  Her mix of soul, pop and electronic music span aspects of different decades from the 50′s until now, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with her exact style.  She’s making a name for herself and for good reason.  Her newest release Travelling Like the Light is an album full of potential singles and poppy triumphs (I daresay there’s no bad song on the entire the album.)

“Quick Fix” and “Game Over” are my personal favorites, but give the album a once over and you’ll be hooked.  Check out the video for “Crying Blood” and you’ll see why V.V. Brown is someone you need on your personal music radar (if you have one of those…I heard Sharper Image was all sold out…):

Buy the album:

iTunes

If you like V.V. Brown, check out Lily Allen!

We haven’t featured mind-bending electronic music in a while.  It’s not because we don’t like it.  In fact, there’s nothing better for getting us pumped up than some hardcore dance music (other than possibly AC/DC).  It’s just that there are so many players in the game, it’s hard to keep up with all of the new music that comes out.  BT is definitely an exception.

BT (full name Brian Wayne Transeau) is a music producer and “audio technician” known for his signature dance floor hits and booty-scrumpin’ music (I edited that last part with some of my own verbiage).  As an early ankle-biter, BT was dubbed a child prodigy, learning piano by age two.  He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to focus more on his music.  So, yeah, he’s kind of a big deal.

His new 2-disc album These Hopeful Machines has more club music than you can handle, but also has dream-like “soundscapes” that offer a sweet transition from the bass-driven beats for the club floor.  It’s actually a well-constructed audio journey that offers a wide range of styles and sounds to accomplish what feels like a complete story.  I don’t get that often from the repetitiveness of other popular club music, but it’s exciting to see where he’s going to take you.

“Suddenly” is a mix of a wide range of vocal harmonies, rock guitars and dance beats and kicks off the album with full force whereas songs like “Every Other Way” and “A Million Stars” focus more on the melody than a wide range of electronic sound.  This 2-disc album definitely spans a larger spectrum than what we now label specifically as “club music”, but fans of the genre will not be disappointed.  If you want to listen to the full album, click here.  Or check out the link below to get your groove on.

Amazon Music

If you like BT, check out Basement Jaxx!

If the name of this group makes you think of the little adult establishment that you visit out by the interstate…well, you are a perv.  And no this is not the establishment where the kids from 90210 hung out.  Passion Pit is an electronic/synth band out of Massachusetts that is gearing up to blow your mind.

The music that these boys put out is nothing that you will easily find on your local radio dial.  Well, maybe you would find it if your radio ran through a synthesizer that also doubled as a time machine that only goes back to the 1970′s and early 1980′s.   Their sound is ethereal, trippy and vibrant.  Much love to my thesaurus for that last sentence.  This style of music may take a few listens to get used to but I know it will grow on you.  The guys have shared the stage with Death Cab for Cutie and Girl Talk.  You  might find their sound is similar in style to The Postal Service.

Passion Pit’s new album “Manners” came out a few months ago and it is quickly gaining a lot of attention.  I personally recommend that you check out “The Reeling”, “Sleepyhead” and “Little Secrets”.

Scope out the “Sleepyhead” video to see what Passion Pit is all about.

Amazon Music

If you like Passion Pit, check out Girl Talk!

As a kid, if someone brought up “girl talk” in a conversation, I’d immediately teleport back to my youth–to thoughts of sleepovers and pillow fights and lovely young ladies chatting about how cute I am.  Okay, so I still have those thoughts as an adult, but now Girl Talk has taken on so much more thanks to creative musical juggernaut Gregg Gillis.

I am going to share something personal with you. I struggle at times with my attention span. I often spin through the radio dial listening to songs one verse at a time before switching to something else.  While working on a project if a light shines across my desk I drift off and

Girl Talk’s Feed the Animals is perfect if you are in the mood for over 300 songs mashed up in a giant musical blender. You like your Jay-Z sprinkled with some Sinead O’Connor?  Enjoy a little Avril Lavigne accompanied by a side of the Wu-Tang Clan?  Have a hankerin’ for a Radiohead-Michael Jackson-Roy Orbison-Justin Timberlake-Megadeth-AC/DC-Kelly Clarkson-flavored Musical smoothie?  Then Feed the Animals. It’s really okay.

If you are a person that gets grossed out at the thought of mixing your peas with your mashed potatoes, I feel your pain.  However, if you’re looking to get pumped for a night out on the town or want a party mix at your next shindig you can’t go wrong with the mad genius of Girl Talk. Hip-Hop serves as a backbone through all of the tracks, which means the naughty words flow like an eternal spring.  With that in mind I would discourage breaking the album out at your next church lock-in.  But that depends on the awesomeness of the church.

Feed the Animals is the forth album from Girl Talk, so there is plenty to check out when you find yourself wanting more. Go forth and rock this album. Cruise around town with your windows down, all the while blowing out your factory speakers.

More of a visual person? Check out a video collage of Girl Talk’s “In Step.”

If you want to party like a rock star, check out the album below…if you can handle it.  You probably can’t handle it though.

Amazon Music

lala Music