Jungle - House In LA

One of my favorite new bands in recent years. So excited to hear the new album.

Jungle - Julia

I like the other fan-made version I posted earlier better, but this is still great.

Best of 2014 Part 7

We're here at last! Somehow the year has come and gone. I haven't done nearly as many awesome things as I would have liked, but there were a few highlights. Silent disco at FollyFest was great, the weekend in TO, and I had all kinds of fancy new craft beers. I'm guessing this coming year will be a little more eventful, if only because there's so much I didn't get done this time.

Only one EP ended up getting finished this year, which is slightly annoying considering I've got a few that are really close to done. Think I'm just gonna sneak them out instead of promising dates that don't happen. Some changes in store for the blog as well, nothing revolutionary but it might make it a little more interesting to random observers.

Anyway here's my top 3 albums of the year, all loads of fun, and a great EP worth digging into. Hope your evening is swell, I'm sure mine will be hazy. 

#3

Mariachi El Bronx

III

Is it really that hard to pick a name for an album? Come one guys. Seriously. Urgh. So this one had a bit of hype behind it, or maybe just from me, because I love these guys, I think even more than their hardcore identity, The Bronx, but I'll probably change my mind again tomorrow. 

So this is actually what it should be. Mariachi rock. At its best. The first album from 2009 was great, the second three years ago wasn't quite as flash, this one takes the cake. Every song stands on its own, with a dash of epic tossed around liberally. It's upbeat and cynical at the same time, but a total blast throughout its 37 minutes, which is really my only complaint. I want more. Hell ya!

Wildfires

High Tide

New Beat

#2

Jungle

Jungle

I give up. Album titles are out. Disco is in. Remember their EP? It was my runaway favorite of last year. Soon as this album was announced I knew it would be the business. I've read complaints that they're just rehashed Bee-Gee's. And...? Who cares, they've done it so, so well, how can you complain? Their videos are the best of the year, and they've done a very commendable job on their live show. Needs a little work, but it's a great start.

It was a little disappointing to see all four tracks from the EP on this album, but they're all killer tracks so I guess it was inevitable. For me the most pleasing aspect was that the songs that aren't dance floor smashers are also great, if not my favorites. I can't say enough good things about this record. Go check it out and have yourself a good time.

Busy Earnin'

Julia

Crumbler

#1

La Roux

Trouble In Paradise

Finally! A proper album title, and with it go the spoils. Yesterday I said that any of the top 6 or so albums could be put in any order, and I stand by that, sorta. To be fair this was definitely my favorite of the year, even against stiff competition. It wasn't mind blowing, but it was really, really good. The whole disc has an unmistakably 80's feel to it, but in a good way, with just enough edge to keep it fresh. I loved the first single, "Let Me Down Slowly", and the opening track, "Uptight Downtown", is surely the best dance track of the year. How is there no video to that song?

That's really the gist of it. Eight tracks are just the type you want to play over, and over, and over. It's flighty and vibrant without sounding too pretentious. I also like that Elly has put substance in her songs, they're not 3-minute radio buzzer beaters. My biggest complaint is that the 9th track sounds like it was just thrown on, like it's not finished. It just doesn't belong, but the first 8 are so good it doesn't matter. Discounting that final letdown, it's 38 of the most engaging minutes of audio you'll find anywhere from the last 12 months. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Cruel Sexuality

Kiss And Not Tell

Tropical Chancer

EP #1

Black Milk

Glitches In The Break

Thought it would be something bouncy, didn't you? Nope, gotta hand it to one of the best hip hop artists in the biz. Curtis Cross kills it every time, and this EP is right up there with his best work. Phat beats, dope lyrics, and one of my favorites of the year, "Cold Day". Good one to end with.

G

1 For Dam

Cold Day

Catch ya on the flipside.

Jungle - Time

I've been waiting for this album since their EP came out, and now I has it. The verdict? It's awesome. Just like this video. So much fun. See ya tomorrow.

Jungle - Busy Earnin'

Meant to post this the moment it came out. Of course I didn't... I digress. These guys dropped my favourite EP of 2013 and I can't wait to hear their new album due out later this summer. Early reviews of their live act have been overwhelmingly funk-tacular...

Best of 2013 Part 7

So here we are, the grand finale, the last gasp of the hour. After writing all this up and listening to everything repeatedly over the last week, I'm feeling a little better about this year in music than my initial diagnosis suggested. Lots of breakthroughs, the return of some established stars, and a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

Electronic music was the story of the year, no question, with ambient and disco sounds really shining. Not so much hip hop, and both indie and dubstep feel like they're beating a dead horse. Rock didn't necessarily find any new tricks, but maybe some new expressions.

What will 2014 bring? I think dance music will shift again, possibly to something we haven't quite heard yet, and there's still a place for some soul if the right artist can deliver it. Whatever happens, by this time next year some names I've never heard of will have a place among the best of the best.

On a personal level, it's been a frustrating year. After dropping several EPs last year, I didn't really finish any this year. It's not that I haven't been working on anything, far from it, I just didn't feel like anything was ready to be released. Thankfully that will change pretty soon, as I have a couple releases that should be good to go by the end of January.

It wasn't all bad though, I did manage to record some cool new mixes, got to experience silent disco at Folly Fest, and very recently bought a couple new toys to help with the music making process. The next 12 months should be very fruitful and though there's lots of work ahead, I'm very much looking forward to it after several months of inspirational stagnation.

Anyway, let's get on with it. Here are my top releases of 2013.

#3

Daft Punk

Random Access Memories

I was so excited when this album was announced. Then came all the marketing, which one has to admit was frickin ingenious, almost as good as the music itself. When the album finally dropped I was like everyone else - stunned. We all expected a rocking robot dance album, and got something totally different. Thank goodness for that.

Soul, disco, funk, and just about the most incredibly tight production quality I've ever heard on an electronic album, or any album. Almost 75 minutes of awesome. More jams and grooves than you knew what to do with. It has it all, and it only took eight years to happen. Please let the next one come sooner...

Within

Instant Crush

Contact

#2

Disclosure

Settle

Guy Lawrence is 22 years old, and his brother Howard is just 19. Here they are with the electronic world at their feet, and they've barely just begun. This album is essentially a mash up of old school Chicago house with UK garage, and it's the catchiest dang dance record of the year by a country mile.

Numerous collaborators helped out to really give this disc life, including singers Aluna Francis, Sam Smith, and Jessie Ware, among others. Motivational speaker Eric Thomas even lends his distinct voice to once of the year's hottest dance tracks, "When A Fire Starts To Burn". The haters will say this album is repetitive, and it is, but who cares. It sounds fresh and it makes you move. What more do you want?

Latch

F For You

White Noise

#1

Queens Of The Stone Age

...Like Clockwork

The big cheese! After all that bumping and grinding it's time to get serious, and what better way than to crank this 45 minute masterpiece from the best grunge rockers still going strong. Is this a better album than, say, "Rated R"? Not necessarily, but it's certainly worthy of a debate.

Crunchy guitars, creeping bridges, and moaning hooks punctuate the album's best moments, with Josh Homme's semi-casual vocals fitting the script to perfection. It's hard to find any faults at all. Each song leads into the next seamlessly, and the title track closes out the album with such grandeur you have to sit quietly, stunned, in awe, regathering your senses once it ends... and then you press play to start it all over again. 

If I Had A Tail

Smooth Sailing

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

EP #1

Jungle

The Heat

Far and away my favorite abbreviated release of the year is this four-track stunner from UK newcomers Jungle. The thing is, nobody really knows who they are. There's two of them, but we don't know their name, where they come from, or what they've done before. All we know is that they're bringing back the soul, and in a big way. I must have listened to this disc close to 50 times already, it's that good. Just check out the videos below and tell me that it ain't dope. Told ya so.

The Heat

Platoon

Lucky I Got What I Want

That's all she wrote! Thanks for checkin' in! Back Monday! Happy New Year!

Jungle - The Heat

Seriously. This song is awesome. Chillwave with a touch-a da juice.

Jungle - Drops

This one reminds me of jazzed up Bon Iver.

Jungle - Platoon

Just came across these guys and they are unreal, so it's gonna be an all-Jungle day today.