New Is Always Better
Indie Electronic | Indietronica
Twitter (And I) React to Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’
10 days
Ok so today seems to be National Daft Punk Day (ironically on the same day The National’s album leaked…post hopefully coming soon) and with seemingly every artist weighing in on this monstrous album, we felt it necessary to highlight some of our favorite insights thus far via Twitter.
DotEXE starts it off with probably the most obvious of observations. In an era where Twitter gives everyone an “equal” voice amongst the internet, even the most uneducated of music listeners will take the opportunity to express how they think this album is “boring” because there are no “epic drops”. Go home “bro”.
Daft Punk’s album leak today… Proving anybody with ears is now a music critic
— DotEXE (@DotEXE) May 13, 2013
While it’s impossible not to love Zedd’s troll-like sense of humor, this is actually probably one of the most accurate statements to come out of the day. Growing up in a house with a father that LOVES jazz (dinner as a kid was accompanied by a soundtrack of David Benoit, Kenny G, David Sanborn etc.), it’s impossible to not make connections to great jazz guitarists like George Benson. A+ review from Anton Zaslavski.
If u like the new Daft Punk album I highly recommend also checking out “Best Of George Benson”. You will love it! itunes.apple.com/us/album/best-…
— Zedd (@Zedd) May 13, 2013
While I am admittedly part of “the youth” and a relatively new listener to dance music, it has been disturbing me as a lifelong music fan that live instrumentation was seemingly being phased out of popular music. Kids are treating music like it can only be enjoyed with the assistance of MDMA and even rap music (whose entire value is in the LYRICS for me) is rapping about their favorite girl Molly. Pharrell Williams himself said it and it’s refreshingly true in the case of RAM, “You don’t need MDMA to enjoy this music.”
To me the Daft album is for the youth.
— DJ Foot Massage (@atrak) May 13, 2013
Let me begin by saying I am a HUGE fan of the art of sound design. Teaching yourself is a time-consuming task that requires tons of trial and error, risks, and TERRIBLE sounds coming out of the speakers but when done correctly it has the ability to take your music to the next level. Aritsts like Porter Robinson, Knife Party, Synchronice & KOAN Sound come to mind as prime examples off the top of my head but that’s not to say I’m not missing some. Point is that in the haze of this “EDM” movement, it sometimes seems that people forget the musicality and human passion that poured out of the songs we loved before. Goldroom articulates this perfectly.
Everyone’s underwhelmed because everyone has become programmed to only respond to advances in sound design, not musicianship or songwriting.
— Goldroom (@goldroom) May 13, 2013
And this album is way soft on production/sound design and way heavy on musicianship and songwriting. Appreciate it for what it DOES do.
— Goldroom (@goldroom) May 13, 2013
Hit the jump for some other favorite responses that may or may not be updated as the rest of the Twitter-verse decides to weight in on Daft Punk’s latest album. Fire back in the comments to tell me you agree, don’t get what I’m saying or just wanna tell me to fall in a hole. Feedback is always welcome.
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
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Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (Full Album Stream)
10 days
It’s HERE!! After months of waiting, painstaking advertisement, marketing and hype-building, we have the full Random Access Memories album from Daft Punk available for full streaming! I don’t wanna sway your bias but after 5 songs through, I appreciate the entire aesthetic of the album and needless to say they bring the disco full force. While it’s not in your face festival sized raging music, half of the appeal is in the process knowing that these two guys used all physical tools in a studio to create these sounds rather than the suite of computer-based synthesizers that have taken their place for bedroom producers. Leave feedback in the comments, preorder the album officially here and hit the jump to listen to the full album!
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
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Capital Cities – Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees Cover)
15 days
Nothing like a little funk for your Wednesday. Capital Cities switched things up and decided to unleash this refreshed version of The Bee Gee’s classic song staying alive with all the flavor you’d come to expect out of the California duo.
Capital Cities: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Capital Cities – Stayin’ Alive (Bee Gees Cover)
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
Phoenix – Trying To Be Cool (The Chainsmokers Remix)
17 days
Meet one of my new favorite production duos The Chainsmokers. Their remix of Phoenix’s single Trying To Be Cool has all the summer fun you crave and their SoundCloud decriptions are A+ material. Hit the jump for the production stems courtesy of the band themselves!
We opened our gmail and were surprised to receive these stems for the tune… I mean its bloody Phoenix, if you get Phoenix stems you get excited and use them ASAP. That aside, Phoenix has one of the most unique popular sounds in music and Thomas Mars’ voice has to be one of the most recognizable so to have an opportunity to put a Chainsmoker’s touch on one of their songs was really a treat, particularly since our focus thus far has been this blending of progressive house/dance, indie music and pop music sounds and no band exemplifies that more than a band like Phoenix…
The Chainsmokers: Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Phoenix – Trying To Be Cool (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
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Steel Train – You Are Dangerous (RAC Mix)
23 days
This song kinda hits me somewhere between a downtempo Pierce Fulton track, something that The M Machine could possibly make and a Death Cab for Cutie vibe. Call it what you will, every track from RAC is pure gold and although I’m not entirely familiar with the original, I’m fairly certain this will find it’s way to the front of my playlists as the lazy summer days start coming.
Steel Train – You Are Dangerous (RAC Mix)
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
Beat Connection – Saola (Odesza Remix)
28 days
Beat Connection – an indie electronic Seattle band with a name deriving from an LCD Soundsystem song. Odesza – a fellow Seattle production duo consisting of both Catacombkid and BeachesBeaches.
Together the two will tour this Spring/Summer, surely playing their latest, blissful and impressive collaboration ‘Saola.’ Odesza’s dance-worthy and refreshing remix of Beat Connection’s original ‘Saola’ is bright, upbeat, synthy and beautifully crafted. The sun is shining on NYC, and it is the perfect day for such a summery, euphoric track.
Beat Connection – Saola (Odesza Remix)
Written by: @alexgoldman | @thatnewjam
Thundercat – Heartbreaks + Setbacks
34 days
Heartbreaks, setbacks, breakups, makeups
Love, love, love, love, love
Breakdowns, buildups, talk downs, drag downs
First we’ll find our hearts.
Stephen Bruner, aka Thundercat, sings these insightful and relatable words on his lastest track ‘Heartbreaks + Setbacks.’ I have a feeling that this is one of those tracks that will directly speak to many people out there.
Thundercat is an established and talented bassist, intelligent songwriter and charming vocalist. The track itself is full of jazzy influences, lyrical wisdom, funk and soul, and smooth electronica. He co-wrote/co-produced the track with Mono/Poly and Flying Lotus as well. Sit back and absorb this one.
Thundercat – Heartbreaks + Setbacks
Written by: @alexgoldman | @thatnewjam
Daft Punk – Get Lucky ft. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers
36 days
I’ll admit that in the craziness that has been following Daft Punk, I made the mistake of posting one of those fake loops before listening to it for about 5 minutes. That said, this is the real deal and the collaboration with Pharrell and Nile Rodgers is almost guaranteed to be an anthem this summer. You gotta sit and admire the aesthetic of the album; in a Rolling Stone interview the French duo admitted to making a conscious decision to move away from computerized sounds.
“Electronic music right now is in its comfort zone and it’s not moving one inch,” Thomas says. “That’s not what artists are supposed to do.” He adds that the genre is suffering “an identity crisis: You hear a song, whose track is it? There’s no signature. Skrillex has been successful because he has a recognizable sound: You hear a dubstep song, even if it’s not him, you think it’s him.”
You can call me a happy man if the entire “dubstep” wave that came following the break out of Skrillex happens on some level with that funky disco vibe following Random Access Memories.
Daft Punk – Get Lucky ft. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers – DOWNLOAD LINK|PRE-ORDER
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
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Empire Of The Sun – Alive
37 days
Indie-dance duo Empire Of The Sun recently posted the above teaser for their upcoming June release Ice On The Dune after a long silence and just yesterday they posted the project’s lead single Alive on their SoundCloud. Available for download via iTunes, the song is danceable yet still pleasant enough to be playing on your parents radio at work. I’ve been behind the curb with these two for a while back but many will recognize the vocals from their song We Are the People from the Tomorrowland 2011 video mashed with Pryda song Mirage.
Empire Of The Sun – Alive
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
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Capital Cities – Safe and Sound (RAC Mix)
37 days
As if the Capital Cities single Safe and Sound single wasn’t good enough, today marks the release of their official remix package for the track. We gave you the Tommie Sunshine & Live City remix of the track a little while back and today we have a remix courtesy of TNJ favorite RAC. Using the club-less electronic remix vibe, this track is nothing but easy listening for your springtime enjoyment!
Capital Cities – Safe and Sound (RAC Mix) – iTunes
Written by: @randymcrandell | @thatnewjam
