Mieka Pauley - I Haven't Even Started With You

Ever since I heard Wreck and realized this day would come, I've been looking forward to it. I just heard Mieka Pauley's newest album and it's about as good as I hoped it would be.

I had high expectations.

Today's track is slow, Alt-Country-ish, and it's a decent display of her song writing skills. The song deserves a listen.

Give it one.

Let's not mention the amazingly portrayed lyrics (oops..) and just focus on the production that Geoff Stanfield brings to the table. Because it's simple enough to focus itself around her vocals and really make them stand out.

I mean sure, at certain points it could be better. A few extra details here, some more particular layering there, but to do that and not cross over to the field of more generic sounds is a difficult task. I'd much rather not ruin her voice and keep it minimal.

It's a similar experience throughout the rest of the album. Decent music, better vocals, but the lyrics top it off.

Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

I've been listening to live, windy, acoustic versions The Science of Making Choices through her Youtube account, and those have prepared me a bit for the album. It's not really the same, but I knew to at the very least expect decent composition.

In fact, some of those tracks were good enough acoustic for me to wish they had stayed that way. Most notably was First Stone. After hearing that difference though, I started hoping she'd some day make an all acoustic album. Maybe a live, 'Best Of' in the future.

But in the end, for me, it's not about her well played guitar as much as it is her voice and her stories. I recommend that listen if you have the time to enjoy it. Some of my favorites to watch out for are Frigid and Never Fuck A Woman You Don't Love. That title peaked some interest, didn't it? Go ahead. Click it.

Tight Rope Sky - Strange New World

I just recently discovered this Space-Post-Prog-Rock band thanks to chance and luck. Seeing as their debut release wasn't too long ago, there's not a lot of info on them out there. I decided to do what any other fan would do, I got up and asked them what I wanted to know myself.

An important question was their influences, it'll help you guys realize what you're about to get into. They're heavily influenced by Oceansize (and it shows once you're told) as well as Radiohead. Some more hidden influences go as far as Incubus and The Mars Volta.

But don't let those predetermine your thoughts on the band just yet. Amazing influences still make them come up with their own strain of music.

Give their track Great Betrayer a listen.

Lyrics/Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

It starts off simple enough, grabbing your attention with the guitar and the lyrics for a while before Posting it up after the 1:39 mark. And it's after this point that we see the Progressive Rock starting up.

The vocals suit it all perfectly, through dark and uplifting transitions. The guitar solo at 3:35, it's deliciously slow, depressing and provocative. I love how after it ends it turns into almost an uplifting sounding song. The change is almost unnoticeable but you feel it. That feeling is worth a lot.

Just listen to this one live. Their exact words were: "Playing that live is like getting ready to expel every ounce of passion we have for music. By the time we're done with it there's not much of us left to give."

Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

Their debut album Strange New World (which is named after their arrival to the music industry) had a certain magic to it that after hearing only its first two songs, I knew I would be writing about. Which is nice, because your ears get used to it and it starts sounding its best near the end.

Unless you decide to hear it multiple times, like I did. Then you realize the sweet layered goodness they told me about. The album is like a good movie, you just keep getting more out of it with each listen.

For those of you as curious as I was about their line-up details:

And they're all awesome people, too. In fact, they just want to survive off their music. Not necessarily become filthy rich island-owners, but to be able to live day-to-day off what they love the most, making music.

Between their Facebook and Twitter, they keep themselves in touch with their fans, and all the rest of the time is spent elsewhere in their passion. They hope to release an EP by the end of the year.

But for a limited  time (about 5 days) their debut is down half price. Go grab it for $5, or cough up a little more if you wanna help them realize their goal. I'm sure they even appreciate you for listening.

Cachao - A Gozar con Mi Combo

Cachao is a big name. A name I couldn't really appreciate in my younger set of years, but his music is strong enough to beat the test of time and work its way back into my ears in a bright and positive new light.

For those who don't know his name, he was an excellent bass player, a band leader, a composer, and pretty much a Mambo revolutionary. Today's track was even good enough to be featured in a GTA soundtrack (which I've come to realize means it's really good).

Go ahead and give it a listen.

Groooveshark Link | Buy

Translating to something like "To Rejoice with My Crew", the song sounds exactly like that. Like a lot of musicians getting together and enjoying their creation as it happens. Everyone gets to shine at the spotlight at one point or another, and all of them help whoever is upfront to sound their best.

It's an instant smack of good Latin vibes, good jammed out Mambo, and excellent musicianship. It also sounds a bit like a more-than-decent soundtrack for a Latin-based film. Which is funny, because so does the rest of the album.

Buy: CD | mp3

Master Sessions: Volume I is a Grammy winning album, and it shows. It's still hard for the new comer to really appreciate what seems like monotony, or what feels like a film score at certain points, but when it  comes to composition and delivery, Cachao's done an excellent job.

There are songs that describe the pros and cons I speak of pretty perfectly, like Isora Club (which has an excellent flutist). There are also songs that feel like molds to modern day Latin classics, like Lindo Yambú with its percussion and switching piano.

But of course if you liked today's track, you'll probably enjoy both of those. If you liked any, I'd recommend finding the album. It's a lovely listen. Leaves you in a good mood. Trust me.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Angel Hair

Just a month ago Omar Rodriguez Lopez surprised us with a solo release (Un Corazón De Nadie). With this next one popping out out of the blue; it sure feels like he's getting back into his groove again.

With such a short span of time separating the releases, the sounds provided today are definitely pretty different. That's the good ol' ORL I've grown to love.

As common with his solo albums, this one's best heard in its entirety. Hearing a song separately isn't a terrible idea, but you lose some of the magic. If you're not a huge fan though, go ahead and give the last track a listen.

Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

This track is probably one of the easier ones to listen to. Simple riffs, understandable lyrics, never too monotonous, simple. Even with the transitions and the switches in the droning bass, the track keeps its simplicity.

Not your average Rock song now is it? It's got some electronic influences, but the use of real instruments makes for a nice first listen. The percussion alone wins me over by the end, and it's one of the weaker aspects of the song as it starts.

The rest of the album also has the whole real instruments vs. electronics fused into it, but on a much smaller scale than today's track.

Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

Saber, Querer, Osar Y Callar (To Know, To Listen, To Dare and To Silence) is just another step in the infinite trail of albums ORL will leave the world. I don't think it's his best, but it's still a special piece.

It starts off with Home Lost, which will initially seem a bit creepy. It's a great way to start, considering the rest of the album has the same ghost-like drowned vocals. It's only on the day's track, Angel Hair, that the album starts to feel more socially acceptable. But of course, that's the last track.

If today's track seemed a bit too complicated for you, I wouldn't recommend even checking the rest of the album out. There's no point. But if on the other hand it intrigued you, you might want to give a listen to something like Tentaculos that better represents the album better.

Joe Louis Walker - I Won't Do That

I was feeling for something fresh. Some Bluesy, re-produced vintage sound. Nothing necessarily too exciting, but a good listen.

I ended up listening to some of Joe Louis Walker's newest material. Definitely nothing too stunning, but you go ahead and be the judge of that.

Check it out.

Grooveshark Link | Buy

In my eyes, this is exactly what I was  looking for. Nothing too stunning, still decent. Sweet bluesy lyrics coupled with a modern twist on an older style. This track has my attention.

I mean you might expect a guitar playing Blues singer to handle the guitar a little more than he did, but if you don't stop to over-analyze the details, everything is well. Maybe not to the point of making a purchase, but all is fine.

Where I really start getting disappointed is with the rest of the album.

Buy: CD | mp3

Hellfire is not my favorite Electric Blues album. I blame the production, which even shows a bit on today's track. It's sad because there's talent and because previous albums show potential. This one just falls below the potential expectations.

Aside from today's track, another I can get into and enjoy is What's it Worth. After that, not a single other song holds my attention.

The album just sounds like it's full of canned material. The only instrument that was really thought about was the guitar. The lyrics are decent, but often way too ironic to be taken seriously. My favorite example would be Black Girls, where he talks about there not being enough soul in modern Blues.. Oh boy.

But regardless of my opinion, if you enjoyed today's song feel free to give it a full listen. It's not that bad. Won't hurt.

The Green - Ways & Means

I have not been meaning to listen to these guys. I have not been told to, I haven't even heard them play anything before just a few days ago. No verbal recommendations, nothing. However, the universe has kindly been placing them ahead of me for the past few months, so it's about time I gave them a shot.

And I sure am glad that I did. It's not like they're perfect, but they're gonna be a big part of modern day Reggae if they aren't already.

Give them a listen.

Grooveshark Link | Buy

The transitions here may seem simple, but they're what make the song spin. They're not the hardest to pull off, but switching from a perfect Reggae tempo to a slightly faster one in that seemingly effortless sway is pretty impressive. It's not something they overdo, either.

The problem with the track is almost the same reason it's good. It's just Reggae; it doesn't have anything in particular to bring it out or spice it up. On the other hand, this track's take on modern Reggae has nothing you can really pin against it.

The lyrics are comprehensible, the bass is perfect throughout the whole song, and the details sport themselves effortlessly. It's the classic sound at its best, and if you want variety you'll get it on the rest of the album.

Buy: CD | mp3 | Vinyl

According to many, the Ways & Means album is a transition. It's the evolution of The Green from regular Reggae to more variation and talent. I'm not exactly stunned with the album, but if it's proof of evolution they're doing a pretty great job.

You might wanna see if it's truly to your liking by listening to a few varying tracks. Try She Was the Best, which I find a bit classic but cheesy, or Good Vibration which sounds like an advanced form of Reggae.

The latter is probably what I'm hoping they continue to evolve into.

Hearing their older material over the top, it really does feel like true improvement. It's just meant for people who already love Reggae. And those who do will probably find the listen rewarding.

Fernanda Porto - Só Tinha de Ser Com Você

It's been a while since I've felt myself in a nice constant upbeat mood. I'm feeling it today, and I'm feeling for something pretty rare.

Fernanda Porto is a pretty well known name in her land of Brazil for being one of the first and biggest names in Drum 'n' Bossa (Bossa Nova with a heightened BPM). Her style and range varies in every song, making her a frequently unique listen. Today's track is my favorite of her blends, though.

If you're in the mood for a lovely voice along side a Bossa Nova guitar riff and some digitally altered percussion, this might be for you.

Check it out.

Lyrics | Listen | Buy

If you're familiar with Bossa Nova you might have realized this is a remake of one of Tom Jobim's classics. A true genius' work is displayed through Porto's vocals.

Now she may not be perfect here, but the composition sure feels it. It's electronic, but smooth and organic. Her voice slides in perfectly, which is more than I can say for the rest of the album.

Listen | Buy

Her self titled debut is not the easiest album to come by, and that's not exactly a bad thing. It's definitely varied, but it's an obvious first attempt at making it big. The good news is there's enough variety and talent in there for certain songs to get noticed and have that happen.

There's songs like Outro Lugar do Mundo which sound very video-game oriented, or Jeito Novo that calm back down and even introduce some English. It's worth giving a listen if the mix-up intrigues you.

Then again, if the album's variety isn't for you and you want something similar to today's track, look into Sambass. Today's song can be found there along with a few other similar ones. It's a great compilation album.

sami.the.great - Lose You (Free Download)

You know how occasionally you come across these songs that can relate to just about anyone at any given moment? Well today's song is something like the opposite of that. It's a song less people can/want to relate to, and even less so during any given circumstance.

I love that.

It's a soft-acoustic-Indie piece, and it's worth trying out to see if it suits you. Even if the lyric isn't quite you, her talent might be.

Her smooth voice leaping through twists and turns in the emotional whirlpool of lyrics is beautiful. The last air of breath at the end of a note on a certain word, the sigh-of-relief as she sings her verse. It's the details that complete this song so perfectly.

And of course, if you like it it's free. Just share the track or subscribe to her newsletter.

Listen @ Myspace

The other option is checking out the Nothing Left to See EP which came out of a few years ago. This is her old material, and it's pretty and unheard of. That upsets me.

It starts off feeling a bit cliché with Love's A Losing Game, but by the end of it you understand that it's her style. That it's not your typical song after all. All the same it's not the best track to start off with.

After that point you realize the whole EP is just a taste of how versatile Sami can be. Lose You is the slower track, Wasted Emotion is the more music-oriented track (I didn't like the lyrical production, but the lyrics themselves were sweet), and Roxanne is her attempt at a cover. The original to that one being by The Police.

Overall she's got her flaws here, but they're pretty easy to overlook. I'm just starting to learn about her, this is her old material. The new audience pulling material hasn't gotten its fair listen, and I'll be back in a while to let you guys know how I feel.

I'm looking forward to it.

Easy Star All-Stars (featuring Luciano) - Billie Jean [Temporary Free Download]

I love emails. As outdated and obsolete as they've been becoming recently, there's still those moments where their existence makes sense. Like receiving a promo email for a Michael Jackson - Thriller tribute album.

Now, that thought all alone is awe-worthy. Who else would dare dream of creating such an interpretation than the Easy Stars themselves? What they're trying to accomplish is potentially biting off more than they can chew.

The album isn't released yet, but we do get a nice clean look at their version of Billie Jean with Luciano on vocals. He's nice and clear, a bit slower than Mike. It's worth checking out.

Grooveshark Link

I'm not sure I love the track. I took the free download, but it doesn't give me high expectations of the album. My reason is the bass. I think it could be better and that it doesn't do the original song the justice that the rest of the song does. It's a detail, but it's an important detail when you're listening to Reggae/Dub.

And no, I haven't forgotten you all might want the download. Just feed them your email and they'll subscribe you to their mailing list/send you the free download link. But hurry! July 19th (2012) they stop offering the download.

If the song is up to your standards, you love the Easy Star All-Stars, and you're willing to bet your money that the tribute album is gonna be good, be sure to put your money on their pocket and pre-order it.

Pre-Order @ Easy Star Records

The pre-order for Thrillah doesn't come in digital format, but that's fine because with your CD/vinyl and possibly t-shirts, you do get a free digital download of the album on the day of release. August 28th, the day before MJ's birthday.

Or if you're a little skeptical, like me, you'll just wait for the day and give it a more thorough pre-listen. I'll post about it soon after it's made available, I promise. (Check it out here!)

Until then you'll have the album's preview video (which is worth looking at just for the red, gold, and green 'Billie Jean' floor) which mentions a Billie Jean EP which you could preview and grab if it's to your liking. Check it out.

Bobby "Blue" Bland - Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City

I was just relaxing yesterday, listening to the new Watsky mixtape, and every time I heard Other Cities I would think of that sweet sample and how awesome the original song was.

And then I realized nobody really even knows the original that well. Even Watsky credited it as Jay-Z's Heart of the City beat. But just... no.

So for those of you curious, or for anyone who just wants that awesome blast of 1974, enjoy yourself the original.

Grooveshark Link | Buy

There are few instances when a sampled track sounds better as a Hip-Hop piece than its original version. That's something that definitely doesn't happen with this track.

Now, for those of you growing up thinking that the stuff on BET was R&B, just know that it isn't and that this is. I know, it's a little hard to grasp, but this is where R&B came from.

I'm sad about the declining quality too. If however, both R&B and the 70's aren't your thing; how about giving Whitesnake's 80's rock cover a listen?

However, if you want more where this gem came from, his album Dreamer is worth taking a peek at.

Buy: CD | mp3

It's not a perfect album, but it's pretty close. As long as you like that vintage Blues/R&B/Rock sound, anyway. You could just stop reading right here and go find yourself this album.

If you still need some persuasion, I can say it's a very well rounded album. Perhaps even too well rounded. It can just get to that point where it's so versatile that no one can keep track.

There's songs like today's, slower, rich in instrument use and easy going with its talent. There's also tracks like Lovin' on Borrowed Time that incline a lot more on the Blues side, and even songs with amazing (sample-able) bass lines like I Ain't Gonna Be the First to Cry.

The album is just a classic, it's supposed to be some of his best work. If you enjoyed the song, do yourself a favor and listen to it.

Watsky - Bucketlist

I'm really feeling some great vibes with the new Watsky mixtape. I feel like I'm giving the guy too much attention, but then I also feel like he deserves it so...

I figured a cool track to grab peoples attention real quick would be Bucketlist. It's a simple song. It's short at just under 3 minutes, and it gives good view of his style. The spoken word side will never really go away, but he aimed for Hip-Hop on this track.

Give it a go.

Lyrics/Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

Watsky's bucketlist amuses me. That's already the sign of a decent track. Frankly, all the song reminds me of is that I've got life to live, ideas to explore, and things to do. I'd never heard of a heroin smoothie before.

It's sad but by the end of the first verse it does start getting a little bland. Too many reallys might work well a capella, but with the band there backing him up it kinda flails a bit. From there to the second verse the transition is decent.

Or maybe it's just my approval for wanting to bang all the girls he liked in high school that made that verse alright. You guys will judge.

Download @ Bandcamp

Nothing like the First Time is a pleasing little mixtape. My ears thoroughly enjoyed it, and I recommend anyone who enjoys the sweet silk of Watsky's voice to give it a listen.

It starts off with Ninjas in Paris, which seemed like an amazing skit but ends up being some form of Jay-Z spin off. On that same note we've got Difference is the Differences which is a bit of a play off Dr. Dre's What's the Difference. He goes through the whole "I am not Eminem" thing on that one.

There's also some tracks featured on his Youtube channel like Stupidass (which I'd written on long ago) that finally made it to official download grounds. Good stuff.

But to me the best track is the title track. It's some top notch spoken word over some quality musicianship. I should stop letting these gems catch me off guard, but it's hard when he describes things better than most people could imagine them. How could I see it coming?

It's a name-your-price album, so give it a few dollars if you have 'em, or grab it for free if times are rough. I'm sure he appreciates even the tiniest donation, though.

I saw: 'Easy Star All-Stars and Cultura Profética' Live

This last weekend, aside from being hectic and tiring, was also extremely exciting. I got to see the Easy Star All-Stars perform live. Something I've wanted to witness for years.

For those of you who don't know, Easy Star is a respected Reggae label. Every few years, they come out and greet the world with a tribute album. Their first was Dub Side of the Moon (their interpretation of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon) and aside from being my favorite of their interpretations, it was the album they played for me and thousands of others.

It was magical.

They started off with their other songs. I found it scary, but it was a great way to motivate the crowd and prepare us for the energy. We met the All-Stars at hand, and they set up their stage presence before charging at us with Speak To Me.. which is pretty difficult to charge at anyone with. All of these artists however managed to imitate the instrumental track much better than I could have hoped.  And all while Dubbing it up.

Ras I Ray

It was then that I realized what a great lead Ras I Ray was. All he had to do was stand up towards the crowd and smile as he plucked the strings to his bass guitar. His infectious happiness and overload of energy soared through us.

At one point he was dancing and enjoying himself so much that his hat fell off.. He spent the rest of the performance brushing his dreadlocks away from his slick fingers. The tunes he managed to play regardless the incommodity was decently impressive. And all this as he sang, danced, and shared with all of us.

There was this one tubby guy, amazing crowd pleaser whose name I've forgotten. I'm sorry, dude. The thing is that between Ras I Ray and Kirsty Rock, the extra guy just felt like filler material. I feel bad saying that, because he was pretty talented.

Kirsty Rock

But speaking of Kirsty Rock, she was stunning. She has her place on the studio album as sole vocalist on The Great Gig in the Sky, and to be honest I never really loved the All-Stars' version of that song until I heard her sing it live.

Pink Floyd would use multiple women during their live performances, which is totally understandable given the amount of lung power one would need to pull this song off beautifully. Kirsty however, live, managed to sing a version that would make Pink Floyd and their fans proud. It wasn't exactly like on the album. It was slower, longer, and much more rich. Regardless how you feel about Reggae, if you love The Great Gig in the Sky and ever have the chance to see Kirsty Rock sing it live, don't say no.

She held her notes perfectly, the audience went through a mix of shock and awe. Fits of applause and admiration roared in chunks all throughout the crowd. It was an amazing feeling, and I would repeat it.

After they finished with the album, they played a few of their other songs from Radiodread and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Dub Band. It was a nice way to end and get us ready for

Cultura Profética

Now when it comes to Cultura, I wasn't expecting anything more than the usual. I've seen them many times before. Some times I've enjoyed more than others, but it's been done. I've seen it. I didn't go out there for them, I went for the Easy Stars. That was a mistake.

They've started a new style. I was among the first to listen to it and I'm ever so grateful. They went from their classic, beautiful and elegant Spanish Reggae, to an experiment of Progressive Jazz/Dub Fusion. The bass trembled through our bones, and the drummer was working it like Mitch Mitchell on fast forward. The blend was nothing short of jaw dropping, for a long time fan.

They made a complete turn into uncharted waters and aced it. Unfortunately, all they did was re-do some of their best songs. When an album is out, however, I'll keep you guys posted. It'll be magical. Expect it.

Rubén Blades & Cheo Feliciano - Lo Bueno Ya Viene

Sometimes something too good to be true happens, and then it's not as amazing as you expected it to be. Granted, when coming from two greats like Rubén Blades and Cheo Feliciano, the only thing that really matters is that it happened at all.

This time though. instead of hoping for something amazing, just don't. This is for fun. A fun duet with the purpose of bringing smiles to many.

Give it a listen.

Myspace Link | Buy

As someone who's heard more than a fair share of Salsa in his lifetime, I can honestly say that at the beginning it sounds like your regular old generic piece. It's a decent track, it's enough to get hips shaking, but it serves little musical purpose.

However, unlike the 1966 original (back when this now "generic" sound was the flame of the Latin community) this version is more of a remake. The duet come together and sing a conversation. You don't need to understand Spanish to hear the sternness or admiration that fluctuates between them.

The track is also an excellent way to show what the album is made up of, and that's probably why it's being given away for free. I don't expect the download to be up there for much longer, so go to Rubén Blade's website and hope you're on time.

Buy: CD | mp3

Eba Say Ajá is an album that has been waited for for just a few years shy of a decade. The idea was simple, Cheo and Rubén would sing each other's songs.

The result is extremely pleasing to those who already know of the artist's best known tracks, but won't be anything more than tolerable for everyone else.

The compositions are fairly decent, but the instrument use kinda flails around a bit. The lyrics are top notch, but sometimes Cheo's vocals reach their braking point (he is 76, after all).

Overall decent album. I'd recommend giving it a listen if you know either of these greats. I just feel like if this had been produced 30/40 years ago with both artists and the industry at highest levels, that the album would be a force to be reckoned with. Oh well.

Sister Crayon - Stem

Today I'm gonna post something mellow. I hadn't even heard of Sister Crayon before, but I won't be forgetting them after these past few listens.

Apparently they started as the vocalist, Terra Lopez' solo project. Think classical guitar and loop pedal. I'm sure that project would've been amazing had it gone any further, but what's left of this project is still great.

Expect an airy, almost Indie styled female vocal with a more-than-decent range. She's great to hear, but backed with the relaxed Trip-Hop it turns into an audio massage.

Give it a try.

Okay, so I really like this sound. I like the initial simplicity and I like how it pretty much breaks through at one point. It's a bit cliche in music, but it sounds nice in this instance. Not too amazing, just nice.

Which is odd, because the first time I heard this song it was amazing. The bass fit in perfectly with her voice, her voice would sound just right next to the melody, it would stretch itself just right. I could close my eyes and live in that moment for just a little longer.

That was effect of their interesting debut album, Bellow.

Listen/Buy @ Bandcamp

What's really funny is how my reaction to this song now, alone, is extremely similar to my reaction to the first song on the album, I'm Still The Same Person. It's cool because the farther the album, gets the more it grows on you.

Imagine something decent repeat itself, and somehow be better afterwards just because you never stopped. It's an odd sensation when you realize what's happening, but it's well deserved.

Needless to say I recommend listening to the album way before recommending this one song alone. If you did like the song, give it a listen. It should take about 45 minutes of your time.

It's worth it.

Yma Sumac - Goomba Boomba

I don't usually reach as far back as the 50's for music, but hey, why wouldn't I when so much of it is so much better than today's radio. It's a privilege to bring some of this back.

For those of you unaware of her name, Yma Sumac is a Peruvian singer, famous for the soprano she used in her Exotica music. For those of you unaware of the Exotica genre, well you'll be listening to it shortly.

Just one quick warning though. Her voice.

Enjoy.

Grooveshark Link | Buy

It takes almost a minute for her voice to kick in, but the first few thoughts for this particular track should be something along the lines of Animal. As in, the Muppet.

After you get through with that shock you'll realize how high her soprano can go, which would be even more amazing if it wasn't being exploited every other second.

What really saves the day is her husband's composition. He knew what her voice was made for, and he knew how to handle it perfectly for the duration of the album.

Buy: CD | mp3

Mambo! is her fifth and probably most well known release. The end result is pretty satisfying, but really, without Moisés Vivanco creating the mold to fit her voice, the album wouldn't be such a classic.

It starts off perfectly with Bo Mambo, between the horns, bass, and percussion, what you get is a Latin based epic. It's the perfect way to start itself off.

From there it fluctuates a bit. As long as you're used to her Tiny Tim-inspiring voice, the album won't let you down. The occasional lamer song here, but it works with the rest of the album in its favor. Good balance.

The oddest song, and the only potential deal breaker for the album would be Five Bottles. She exercises her Animal voice here the most, and then clings them together.. with her animal voice. The first time it's pretty funny, but it gets boring. (I always laugh, though.)

Aside from that, the album is pretty solid. I recommend giving it a listen if today's tack and Bo Mambo were to your liking.

Goldroom (with Chela) - Fifteen [Free Download]

I've had a pretty long weekend. My neck hurts, my abs ache with every step I take, and if another insect latches itself onto my skin I might throw a fit. I've had enough of the upbeat music at this point, so something modern and relaxing sounds amazing.

In comes Goldroom's first original release. The single has a gentle House-y feel that mixed with Chela's smooth voice makes for an excellent relaxing track. A pretty decent summer tune.

Give it a listen.

Soundcloud Link

I'm not usually a fan of music that seems to be inspired by the 80's, but these two managed to pull off a rare type of beauty. It's simple enough that a few synths and an airy voice does it well, but it's got enough talent to reel you in if you let it. I love it.

I think it's just a bit sad that this is nothing but a single. A nice little EP would've felt perfect, I think. Regardless, something is something. If you're looking for a little something extra, you could always just check the website out for some remixes.

Free Download

It might not be for everyone, but for a free track it's pretty sweet. If you really do enjoy it though, the least you could do is share it with your friends. Or settle for the Facebook like you need to give to gain access to the download. That works too.

And if you're just curious about Goldroom, his name is Josh Legg and he's also in a band called NightWaves that you may have heard about. If not, the sound is pretty similar, maybe a bit darker. It's cool, check them out too.

EDIT: Just today Freak You released a free remix. It's probably a few more notches closer to the 80's sound, and it's also free. Enjoy it!