Dubstep 101

In case you've been hiding in a cave for the last few years and need to get your dubstep edumecation on, here's a little tutorial I came across.

But seriously...

Dubstep was once a counter-movement in music, but what you may not realize is how widespread its influence has become.  From Radiohead's subtle interpretation on King of Limbs to Britney Spears' candy-coated adoption on Femme Fatale, that characteristic abstract bass has wobbled on over to the mainstream.

With artists like James Blake pushing the boundaries of this relatively new genre, infusing it with warmth and soul, it's clear that dubstep has yet to peak.  Whether you like the style or not, it's opening the door for more challenging music to infiltrate the pop scene, and that can only yield great things.

I'll leave you with a piece from Sir Dubstep himself, Bassnectar.  Strap on your unnecessary glasses and get your grime on peeps.

"The 808 Track" - Bassnectar Featuring Mighty High Coup

Belle Brigade have a secret...

They are awesome.  Secret's out.

Listen to my favorites from their debut and watch a bathtub acoustic session at The Next Family.

Royksopp Show Review - March 29th at The Wiltern

Royksopp graced the stage at The Wiltern last night.  Great venue, funky crowd, and one stellar set.  Check out my review on the KCRW blog.

Bites and Bytes at Tadpole Audio

My gifted chef-roommate Catherine "Nom-Nom" McNulty and I teamed up to bring scrumptious delicacies for your ears and belly courtesy of faboosh Music Blog Tadpole Audio.  Check out the first installment of Aural Fixation, and bring a napkin.

Daydreaming in the Dark Dark Dark

Do yourself a favor. Take 5 minutes and abide by the title of Dark Dark Dark's single "Daydreaming" as you watch their video.

Oh, how to describe. Is beautiful too banal a word?  Breathtaking. Humble. Honest. At times, haunting.  The warmth of those keys and Nona Invie's stunning voice lulls us into a hypnotic triplet sway.  Brushes on snare swing gently, topped with strings, banjo, and yes, accordion.  This piece begs us to slow down, admire the beauty in the world, and daydream.

Dark Dark Dark began as a means of making gas money on a road trip to New Orleans, but Invie and fellow founder Marshall LaCount quickly found traction with their music.  Supply & Demand were lucky enough to sign the group, releasing their first official full length in 2008.  More recently, their 2010 sophomore release Wild Go found critical acclaim for songs such as "In Your Dreams."  Listen below.

"In Your Dreams" - Dark Dark Dark


The quintet float effortlessly across genres, citing such varied influences as classical, jazz, world and top 40 pop. This eclectic chamber-style folk collective bring an honesty to their music that surpasses any need for classification.  The music speaks for itself, utilizing Nona's dazzling vocals as a medium to convey lyrical treasures that are often lost in the hussle of modern living.

They will be gracing the Satellite in Los Angeles on April 28th.  Take a look at some of their amazing live performances on youtube (like this rendition of "Wild Goose Chase") and you'll know why it's worth your while to buy a ticket.

Crystal Fighters - The Spanish Naked & Famous?

This song reminds me of "Young Blood" by Naked & Famous.

It's an uber catchy track, and there's nothing wrong with that.  But when Crystal Fighters decided to make a remix ep, the song veered away from pop for a new level of distinctive sophistication.  I fell for the Berou & Canblaster Remix.  Listen below.

"At Home (Berou & Canblaster Remix)" - Crystal Fighters

While the original song is playful in its use of percussion, Berou & Canblaster accentuate these neo-tribal leanings with all sorts of unexpected bangs, whistles, hisses and droplets as the backbone behind those balmy reverb/delay heavy vocals.  The tune finds a new industrial spirituality in the B&C remix, which for me, exceeds the original by challenging the ear.

It's certainly worth checking out the rest of Crystal Fighters debut album Star of Love, which was released last October on the bands own label, Zirkulo.  The Spanish five-some began to take off when Laure (vocals) found a manuscript filled with her late grandfather's prophetic musings, written during his final months of insanity.  Enraptured with his writing, they decided to base their album on these spiritual themes, such as the power of the sun and finding peace in the journey toward death.  In fact, their name, Crystal Fighters, is drawn from her grandfather's unfinished opera.

With such a unique creative force to guide them, this intriguing album begs a second look.  "At Home" is one of the poppier tunes.  I recommend checking out "I Love London" and "Follow" to get a glimpse into their variety of style and edginess.  They also have quite the collection of quirky videos that my eyes have been glued to all week. Do yourself a favor and head over to their myspace to watch.

Michel Gondry directs The Living Sisters

I'm excited to say that I've just begun contributing music articles to a fantastic organization, The Next Family.  It is the prime resource for "alternative" families, and really anyone who has kids.

Check out the Michel Gondry directed video for The Living Sisters' "How Are You Doing," and dig into the rest of my post about the lovely threesome here.  While you're at it, take a minute to explore the site for parenting tips, travel ideas, health information, gossip, and much more...