Citizen of Sound

Wakeup To The Morning Benders

jet1972 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:51:38 +0000

The Morning Benders are a band from Berkeley, California, who met while working on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland. Their sound is scaled back to echo traces of 60s legends like The Beatles and The Kinks. The foursome dropped two self-released EPs while paying their dues by opening for acts such as The Kooks, Death Cab for Cutie and MGMT. Positive press in the Bay Area and online has helped boost the band’s popularity. I think they’re a band to keep your eye on!!!

Focus Tracks: Damnit Anna, Patient Patient and Heavy Hearts

Video Spotlight – It’s A New Day by Will.I.Am

jet1972 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:59:45 +0000

By electing Barack Obama as our nation’s 44th President last week, we’ve sent a wonderful message to the world. This signifies generational change, geographic realignment and reflects racial progress. It truly feels like the American dream is once again alive!!! Checkout this uplifting video from will.i.am.

Greyboy Is West Coast Cool

jet1972 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:25:06 +0000

Greyboy (a.k.a Andreas Stevens), a DJ from San Diego and co-founder of The Greyboy Allstars, has been creating groove-oriented electronica since his 1994 acid jazz-influenced classic, Freestylin’. Since then, Greyboy has infused his sound with hip-hop and world music. 15 Years Of West Coast Cool, his newest offering, integrates some of Greyboy’s more popular tracks with previously unreleased material and collaborations with a variety of artists, including Nino Moschella and Bart Davenport. With this release, he aims to please with a collection of stylish and sophisticated grooves.

Focus Tracks: Love and To Know You Is To Love You

The Southwestern Sounds Of Calexico

jet1972 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:13:50 +0000

Calexico, the capable pairing of Joey Burns and John Convertino, is an indie rock band influenced by the traditional sounds of Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. The resulting sound is a combination of southwestern rock, Latin, country, folk and blues. The duo first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand and is now based in Tuscon, Arizona. They’ve recorded a number of albums and with their 2005 EP In The Reins, recorded with Iron & Wine, they reached the Billboard 200 album chart.

Focus Tracks: Man Made Lake, History of Lovers (with Iron & Wine) and Victor Jara’s Hands

Blast From The Past – T. Rex

jet1972 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:41:40 +0000

T. Rex were an English rock band fronted by guitarist, singer/songwriter Marc Bolan. The band was established as a folk rock group in the 60s, when they released their debut album under the name Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968. They achieved mainstream success in the 70s with a string of glam rock hits. Electric Warrior, the band’s second album, was considered by many to be their best album. It brought great success to the group, and resulted in the term ‘T. Rextasy,’ which was coined as a parallel to Beatlemania.

Focus Tracks: Mambo Sun, Cosmic Dancer and Jeepster

Getting Down With The Kills

jet1972 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:01:50 +0000

The Kills is an indie rock band comprised of American vocalist Alison “VV” Mosshart and British guitarist Jamie “Hotel” Hince. The pair met when Mosshart heard Hince practicing in the hotel room above hers. In the following months, they shipped tapes back and forth between Florida and London until Mosshart made a move across the pond. Though the band cites PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem and Royal Trux as immediate influences, the music press has largely compared them to boy/girl duo The White Stripes. Inspiration for The Kills’ third album, Midnight Boom, came from a Sixties documentary about inner-city schools called Pizza Pizza Daddy-O. After listening to the lively tunes featured in the film, the duo built tracks around the same rhythms. Their sound is sexy, moody electro-rock that is razor sharp!

Focus Tracks: Goodnight Bad Morning, Getting Down and Last Day of Magic

I’m A Little Bit In Love With Lykke Li

jet1972 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:02:20 +0000

I saw Swedish sensation Lykke Li live for the first time last night at the El Rey and OMFG!!! With a minimal backdrop, Li took center stage with a Stevie Nicks-esque frock and proceeded to rock the house! In listening to Li’s album, Youth Novels, I didn’t expect her show to register as pop, rock, funk and hip-hop! I was excited to see her, but I had no idea that I was in for such a treat. From her banshee-style banging of the cymbals to her rendition of Vampire Weekend‘s Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Li brought down the house! My favorite moment was when Friendly Fire, one of the openers, took the stage with Li for her song Complaint Department. I might have to be in NYC on Feb. 2 to catch her show at Webster Hall!!!

Concert Highlights and Focus Tracks: Let It Fall, Little Bit and Complaint Department

The Poetic Sounds Of Carla Bruni

jet1972 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:30:12 +0000

Carla Bruni is an Italian-born singer/songwriter, former model and current First Lady of France. Thankfully, her music career did not cease after she become the third wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February 2008. She released her third album Comme Si de Rien N’Etait (As If Nothing Happened) in July. Prior to that, Bruni’s album No Promises (2007) set 11 respectfully-chosen lyric poems by the likes of Emily Dickinson, W.B. Yeats and Dorothy Parker, to her own soft music and lovely voice. Her music was featured in H&M’s 2006 Christmas commercial and in the film Le Divorce (2003) starring Naomi Watts and Kate Hudson. To date, Bruni has created a beautiful assortment of music that would be fitting for a leisurely day on the French Riviera or for avoiding road rage on the freeway!

Focus Tracks: Those Dancing Days Are Gone, Those Little Things, You Belong To Me and Quelqu’un M’a Dit

Glasvegas Baby

jet1972 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:14:31 +0000

Glasvegas, whose sound has been compared to that of Jesus And Mary Chain and The Raveonettes, are a Scottish rock band from Dalmarock, Glasgow that formed in 2001. After releasing the self-funded limited edition single for Daddy’s Gone in late 2006, the band found themselves at the center of a bidding war between several major labels. Daddy’s Gone sold out and went on to receive huge critical praise. Glasvegas recorded the rest of their newly-released, self-titled album In New York City with Muse producer Rich Cosley. Geraldine is a free download on iTunes until midnight Monday, so download quickly!

Focus Tracks: Geraldine, Daddy’s Gone and Go Square Go

Not So New Young Pony Club

jet1972 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:57:59 +0000

New Young Pony Club are a five piece electronic band from London, who have been cranking out sassy dance music since 2005. The band’s name came from lead singer Tahita Bulmer‘s desire to be part of a club or team in school. Taking influences from new wave bands such as Talking Heads and Blondie, New Young Pony Club take their cues from a whole range of sources, and try not to risk becoming too close to the sound of any other band.

Focus Tracks: The Get Go and Ice Cream