Teeth & Tongue is New Zealand born, Melbourne based singer/songwriter Jess Cornelius. After starting her musical career performing in bar/club rock bands, Jess picked up some drum machines, a keyboard and an electric guitar and formed her own sound. (more…)

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The latest edition of the global mix series features Chicago House veteran DJ Sneak.

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Jonny Greenwood playing bowed guitar. Image by RossoGialloBianco

We’ll have some original, potentially Oscar-worthy music from Radiohead multi-instrumentalist and composer Jonny Greenwood to look forward to in 2013.  (more…)

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I just downloaded Coldplay’s new album “Mylo Xyloto” from iTunes.  It’s in my queue and ready to start playing after the current track finishes.  I’m pretty excited to hear what the new album sounds like.  I’ve been a big Coldplay fan since “Yellow” – I remember when I first discovered the song, the band, it all…  I was a Sophomore in college, in my boyfriend’s dorm room.  He went to get ready for class and the TV was on when I arrived.  The video for “Yellow” had just started – it was nighttime with Chris Martin walking/running along the beach singing as the sun began to rise.  I was hooked instantly – whether it was my love of British music or love songs I don’t know, but I’ve never looked back since.

I sat in front of the TV in silence listening and watching.  I was sitting on my knees (like the little kid does at the end of Forest Gump) until it was finished.  I finally got to see them live for the first time nearly a year later, and that night then became my greatest concert experience to that date (only one other concert, by Oasis, has ever topped that first Coldplay show).  I’d been to plenty of concerts by the time I saw my first Coldplay show at the ripe old age of 20.  During college I spent almost every weekend at concerts downtown Chicago, some weeknights too!  I even got up to 4 shows in one weekend, which I was very proud of…

Anyways, back to the Coldplay concert.  The energy and enthusiasm exuded by the band just took me so off guard.  Their passion was evident and they all looked like they were having so much fun.  Plus they sounded amazing.  I can still remember Chris Martin rocking out on his guitar, then in mid song flinging his guitar onto his back and proceeding to jam on the little piano in the center of the stage.  He didn’t even bother to sit down. He just turned around and started banging out the rest of the song on the piano.   And of course, Yellow was even more amazing in person.

I’ve continued to see Coldplay on each of their additional tours as they’ve come to my city or nearby.  It’s always a great show, but they’ve never yet rivaled that first Parachutes tour for me.  But I’m looking forward to letting them try to one p themselves as I sit back an enjoy the great music.  Looking forward to the new album.

Cheers!

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This one nearly slipped under the radar: a fresh compilation of classic Buddy Holly songs covered by modern artists. Released a couple of weeks ago on Fantasy Records, ‘Rave On, Buddy Holly’ includes current big-hitters such as The Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, Cee-Lo, She & Him, and Modest Mouse, and also aging legends Paul McCartney and Lou Reed. Intrigued? Me too. And so, with a little digging around, I managed to preview all the tracks and it is a rather impressive LP. The musicians chosen all manage to strike that fine balance between paying tribute and putting their own stamp on the chosen track.

Paying tribute is an important part of the release: Buddy Holly was a true Rock and Roll pioneer, and his influence is often underrated. His untimely death in 1959 meant that his career may not have touched as many of the record buying public as he could have, but he certainly sowed the seeds in youth and pop culture that would grow to produce The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and other icons of the 1960s. Just imagine what it was like to hear this kind of music in 1957, it must have been unlike anything you could possibly fathom, as if he were from outer space…

The artists chosen to cover Holly’s hits are very well selected; they span a range of sounds but all seem to get across the spirit and emotion of the simple melodies and lyrics. The Black Keys add their stripped back spooky sound to ‘Dearest’, alongside Modest Mouse’s grainy folk spin on ‘That’ll Be The Day’. Also of note is The Detroit Cobras’ modern pop twist on ‘Heartbeat’. Even Cee-Lo Green, who, when first looking at the tracklist I had suspicions of, contributed a jostling samba-Elvis combination of ‘(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care’, and it really works. If anything, I’d pick on She & Him’s version of ‘Oh Boy’ being far too similar to the original, but that is simply their sounds being a good fit, and so not necessarily a bad thing, I just personally enjoy a little bit more of a mix up of styles (I’m actually a big She & Him fan).

All in all, an intriguing album that is definitely worth checking out. You can now buy it from Amazon, among others…

Tracklist
01 The Black Keys – Dearest
02 Fiona Apple and Jon Brion – Every Day
03 Paul McCartney – It’s So Easy
04 Florence and the Machine – Not Fade Away
05 Cee-Lo – (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care
06 Karen Elson – Crying, Waiting, Hoping
07 Julian Casablancas – Rave On
08 Jenny O. – I’m Gonna Love You Too
09 Justin Townes Earle – Maybe Baby
10 She & Him – Oh Boy
11 Nick Lowe – Changing All Those Changes
12 Patti Smith – Words of Love
13 My Morning Jacket – True Love Ways
14 Modest Mouse – That’ll Be the Day
15 Kid Rock – Well… All Right
16 Detroit Cobras – Heartbeat
17 Lou Reed – Peggy Sue
18 John Doe – Peggy Sue Got Married
19 Graham Nash – Raining in My Heart

Florence and The Machine

by Lee Jarvis.

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2010 saw some pretty epic movies hit the big screen, often accompanied by a futuristic-groovy soundtrack from a global electronic act, such as Trent Reznor’s Grammy and Golden Globe winning score for The Social Network, or Daft Punk’s work on TRON: Legacy.

Now, the Chemical Brothers step up to the plate, having composed the music for ‘Hanna’, an action packed thriller that was released last weekend to the tune of $12.3million. This was better than expected, with some critics classing the film as basically a two-hour music video of a teenage assassin kicking ass (as per the trailer below, featuring the track ‘Container Park’).

However, the Chems serve up an interesting score: their musical output always being edgy and genre-dodging has seen them light up many a global festival. (Even after 15 years they continue to stay relevant, as shown by this weekend’s gig at Coachella.) I consider the soundtrack album a worthy addition to their catalogue, and encourage you to have a listen over at US Music Jobs’ Myspace Playlist.

The Hanna soundtrack is available for purchase on iTunes.


by Lee Jarvis

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New York’s Charles Bradley is releasing his debut album at the sprightly age of 62 years young. His ‘No Time For Dreaming’ LP hits the stores on today (January 25th), released on Daptone/Dunham Records.

The remarkable Bradley has spent the last 48 years working number of jobs while pursuing his dream, from being a cook in Maine to working in a retiremnent home in California. The whole time, he never gave up on his dream of singing and performing. As he says, “soul music gives me my roots” therefore it is something that would never diminish within him.

His first exposure to soul music came from seeing James Brown at the age of 14. Inspired, he went on to create his own James Brown tribute act. Maintaining a tribute band and playing out regularly was interrupted by the Vietnam war, but his move to the West Coast and a change of scenery had his act touring the soul venues there in no time. Moving back to New York in the 1990s and performing the tribute act at various Brooklyn nightclubs led to his meeting the head of Daptone, as well as Tom Brenneck, whose instrumental band Bradley would write and record his album with.

Bradley is living proof that age really is only a number, and that you can make progress in the music industry no matter what birthday you’re approaching. In his case, his tough years and troubles are a key part of his rasping voice. His unique sound is really coming from the heart, making for some of the most amazing soul music of recent years.

Check out the promotional video for Bradley’s debut album, and use the widget below to get a free sample of his music.

‘No Time For Dreaming’ hits the stores Today ( January 25th), on Daptone / Dunham Records. Charles Bradley is also on an extensive US and EU tour over the coming months. Check out the dates here.

by Lee Jarvis.

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Chicago DJ and producer (and all-round nice guy) Derrick Carter has been connected to music for some time. Allegedly starting on the decks at the age of nine (playing disco records at his family’s parties) he evolved into a key figure of his city’s house scene throughout the ’90s, playing clubs like Shelter and Foxy’s and working at Gramaphone Records. In 1995 he launched the now infamous Classic Records with Luke Solomon and Chez Damier, and went on to put out exactly 100 releases in its decade-long stint inclusing Markus Nikolai’s ‘Bushes,’ Isoleé’s ‘Beau Mot Plage’ or DJ Sneak’s ‘You Can’t Hide From Your Bud’. The label also helped break fresh material from upcoming artists such as Style of Eye, Justin Martin, Tiefschwartz and Jesse Rose among others. As a regular remixer, Derrick has put his own spin on works from Slam to Ricky Martin to Ian Pooley to Röyksopp.

The Fabric mix series is legendary in it’s own right, growing from the sideshow of the London club and reaching the heights of credibility by cutting new trends with over 100 releases in the last ten years. For Fabric 56, Carter does his best to show what you might hear from him in a club: his own remixes, tracks from Chicago artists, and that signature “boompty boomp” sound. In his own words, “I have some new stuff, some old stuff, some special stuff,” he says. “I tried to give it that kind of treatment so it’s authentic, and real and valid and present. It’s Derrick. All day.”

Tracklist
01. Jody Fingers Finch – Jack Your Big Booty (Derricks BHQ Acid Vocal / BHQ Bonus Of Beats) Green Velvet – La La Land (Derrick Carter Ds BHQ Business Remix)/ Dennis Ferrer – Church Lady (Tommy Davis & DJ Spen Bom Bom Bom Tool)
02. Almost September – Love (Derricks BHQ Remix)
03. DJ Sneak – Respect Bonito (Justin Long Remix)
04. Nick Garcia – Playin Tricks (Hector Moralez Remix)
05. Scope – 8 Track
06. Cricco Castelli – First Love
07. Osunlade pres. Nadirah Shakoor – Pride (Johnny D Remix)
08. Iz & Diz – Cosmid
09. Roger Sanchez – My Organ
10. Scrubfish – Testify To The Soul Provider
11. Olene Kadar feat. D-Low – Baby Keep It Up
12. Cajmere – Percolator (Derrick Carter Bonus Mix)
13. 1200 Warriors – HardDrum (B-Boy Mix)
14. Tripmastaz – Back on My BS
15. Piek meets Stan Garac – La Gondola
16. Lego – Bang Bang
17. Abraham Inc. – Moskowitz Remix (Ds BHQ Re-edit)

Derrick Carter’s Fabric 56 will be released March 7th.

by Lee Jarvis.

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It has recently been announced that the wonderful Sia will be stopping by North America and Europe to sprinkle some of her musical magic dust as part of The We Meaning You Tour. Tickets are on sale now, and I am definitely heading along to the Chicago show on April 25th.

Tickets are selling out fast, with only a very limited number of VIP tickets left, so check out the list of US tour dates below and then hurry on over to SiaMusic.net to buy your tickets (EU dates also available via that link).

NORTH AMERICA

Check out the video below for Sia’s fantastic version of You’ve Changed, with her own unique quirky character shining though as strong as her epic voice. If you like what you hear you can also get a free download after the jump…

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There has been a lot of good music on the US office stereo over Thanksgiving and into the Xmas season, and being fans of streaming and sharing new music, we thought we’d create our own Imeem profile and share our office jams on the blog! Welcome to the first of (we hope) many Music Jobs Playlists, featuring Friendly Fires, Chromeo, MSTRKRFT and more. Feel free to comment here and get in touch via Imeem.

To Play All the tracks in full, click here:

Music Jobs Team playlist 001: US Office December 2009 (Compiled by Lee Jarvis)