Mainland NYC – “Leave the Lights On”
I heard this song thanks to a Twitter exchange between KCRW DJ Jason Kramer and Twitter’s Head of Music Bob Moz.
Two minds I trust, so I had to take a listen and it was love at first note!
A driving pop-rock song that grabs you instantly. I’m willing to bet you find yourself singing “leave the lights on” in your head hours later.
The band is originally from Santa Cruz but relocated to NYC before being signed. Good stuff. Grab it as a free download.
“Shell Shock” — Sam Dew, Dave Sitek, Alice Smith
Dave Sitek put out one of my fave albums of the year as part of TV on the Radio, but he’s not done with 2014 yet.
He released a track on his label Federal Prism featuring soul singer Alice Smith. She has an incredible, unmistakable voice and this may be the best use of it yet!
This song has serious swagger.
(If you missed her 2006 debut “For Lovers, Dreamers and Me”, please give it a listen.)
I got an email about this band and two things drew me in: 1. they’re an LA band (yay, local pride!) 2. They’re an “ex-boyfriend girlfriend duo”. Hmmmmm.
Then this: They dated up until the point Dani the girl and drummer came out as a lesbian but now they’re roommates and bandmates!
Ex’s making beautiful music together? Well, I had to hear it and it’s a sweet, simple, romantic, synth pop track!
For fans of Phantogram.
“Bad for Me” – Bosq feat. Nicole Willis
Bosq, a house producer on Soul Clap Records, teamed up with another one of my favorite modern soul singers, Nicole Willis, for this disco dance track.
Chock full of afro-latin-disco percussion and funky bass lines, it’s a preview for his forthcoming sophomore full length.
Willis made a name for herself in the 90’s in the house scene, but her 2007 disc “Keep Reachin Up”, with the Soul Investigators, is worth repeated listens, particularly the slow burner “No One’s Gonna Love You”, which Ray Donovan fans might recognize.
RR