What EMS Is Listening To ... The Weeknd

Sex, drugs and R&B?

So fellow blogger-colleague, Q aka ThroatChopU, turned me on to The Weeknd. I had no idea who it/they was/were and apparently there has been an insane amount of buzz going on about this artist all over the internet. I have to admit, I hadn't a clue what to expect and even when I turned on the record, I wasn't sure about it then. But after I listened to it all the way through a couple of times, I started falling in love. I'm one of those folks who, while loving and embracing all kinds of music, have certain genres that need a few listens before having the ability to digest and understand it. With all that being said, I LOVE THE WEEKND!

"Let me see you dance / I love to watch you dance / take you down another level / get you dancing with the devil / take a shot of this / but I'm wanting you / I'm on that shit that you can't smell baby / so put down your perfume / bring your love, baby, I can bring my shame / bring the drugs, baby, I can bring my pain / oh, I got my heart right here /oh, I got my scars right here / bring the cups, baby, I can bring the dranks / bring your body, baby, I can bring you fame / and that's my muhf*ckin' words too / ay, so let me muhf*ckin' love you..." - The Weeknd (verse two of Wicked Games)

The Weeknd is an up and coming artist that showcases the fusion of Electro/Pop and R&B and their mixed tape is extraordinarily raw. Although riddled with profanity from top to bottom, you can get past all of it just by listening to the incredible instrumentation of each song. Something I love about Electro/Pop and R&B is the marked uniqueness the genre possesses. I've always thought that combining different elements of base genres provide us a way to create fresh new sounds. With their debut entitled House of Balloons, The Weeknd has given us a glimpse of just that.

"So, tell me you love me / only for tonight / only for tonight (even though you don't love me) / just tell me you love me / I'll give you what I need / I'll give you what I need (even though you don't love me) oh, oh..." - The Weeknd (chorus of Wicked Games)

A particular favorite off of House of Balloons is the track "Wicked Games," which I can honestly say is 5 minutes and 25 seconds well-spent every time I listen to it. With this song, you can let your imagination run wild. You can hear the synthesizers, the dope drums and those beautiful guitars. "Wicked Games" is slow, methodical and let's the listener experience the song. If they elect to do any videos for this album, I'd prefer this be the first or second cut.

The Weeknd isn't going to be for everybody. I think you'll either hate or love it, but at the very least, give it a listen. It may surprise you. You'll be able to download the 9-track mix tape from their website the-weeknd.com and catch a listen here. Enjoy peoples and have a wonderful Saturday night.






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Download ... Slippery Elm and AstroLogical - "Milky Ways (And Other Slippery Galactic Phenomenon)"

Check out this eclectic album from Slippery Elm and AstroLogical. I assumed just by their names what kind of album this was gonna be. Though not what I usually listen to, I kinda enjoyed this one.

Milky Ways is a revelation—an electric dream, and a succulent curse. It is the shared artistic vision of two Vancouver hip-hoppers questing to realize the dark spirit of space-lust, also known as nazza, in sound form. Celebrated producer & musician—AstroLogical, and emcee & published poet—Slippery Elm, have ventured deep into the black waters of their unconscious and emerged with a new jazz & poetry that is at once otherworldly, insurgent, and uniquely their own. Unlike previous creative endeavours as members of Vancouver hip-hop super-group Elekwent Folk, for this project Astro and Slippery have navigated away from their usual eclectic and carefree sound in favour of a highly stylized, focused, and specific vibe that permeates the entire album—start to finish. Twisting psychedelic word-images wrap nimbly around cosmic cushiony beats oozing with space-lust and the milk of all worlds, in a dazzling display of musicianship and lyricism. Here are two masters of their art who shaped and polished the rough coal of these songs till they glowed like a supernatural diamond. And they’re not alone; the album features collaborations with Vancouver vocalist Claire Mortifee, and saxophone player/editor of White Hot Magazine of Contemporary Art—Noah Becker.

If what they’re saying is true, and Astro really did produce this album in a two day beat-making binge, and Slippery really did get kidnapped from out his window by a giant black bird while enjoying a morning wake and bake, and if lightning really did breakout in Vancouver during the recording of this album—mid take, the result is a musical masterpiece designed to be enjoyed while on mushrooms, in a dark forest, or while sipping absinthe from a silver goblet in a leather chair by fireside. Regardless, whatever your listening preference, play this album at night.



Thank you,
Eli Muro

jellyfishrecordings.com/
jellyfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/

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What I'm Watching ... Time Crisis - "Blue Lips"

This summer the debut album by Time Crisis was completed, and we will release it on Fameless Fam September 14th. The first single, "Blue Lips", is a perfect example of what Time Crisis sounds like: electronica, hip-hop, and rock occurring together peacefully, and with confidence. This music video marks the debut of Time Crisis. The video was directed by Nicolas Heller, who recently did videos with the likes of Diplo, Homeboy Sandman, and C-Rayz Walz.

Time Crisis welcomes the challenge of pushing modern music forward by blurring the traditional lines that separate genres. The Pennsylvania-bred duo fuses electronic and organic sounds to produce an audio experience that is both progressive and catchy. From sequencer to six string, vocoder to violin, Time Crisis takes full advantage of an expansive sonic palette.

The duo began when Will Brown and Jon Markson met in Connecticut, where the PA natives attended college. Upon meeting, both were equipped with a unique take on music shaped by their respective upbringings. Markson was accustomed to the eclectic buzz of Allentown, while Brown embraced the urban boom bap of Pittsburgh. Markson was taken aback by Brown’s vertical stature and hip-hop instrumentals. Brown was equally enthralled by Markson’s moustache and guitar playing. The two bonded over a shared sense of humor and a passion for wildly expressive music, and Time Crisis was born.

Blue Lips (Time Crisis) from Nicolas Heller on Vimeo.

Be the first to get Ricky Shabazz updates by follwing twitter.com/Nicolasheller
Directed by Nicolas Heller
Photographed by Houston Yang
Produced by Danny Joseph
Gaffed by Max Blank
Music by Time Crisis with partyboobytrap
Starring Adam Kipfer, Courtney Preiss, and a bunch of dope kids from Conn College
famelessfam.com
nicolasheller.com
This has been a Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys production.

twitter.com/Time_Crisis
Time Crisis in Facebook
www.famelessfam.com/


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Download ... Moxie Black - "So Much Better"

I don't know how I fully feel about this track but I'm willing to give it a shot. Thoughts?

“So Much Better" is a post-modern juxtaposition between anti-establishmentarianist tendencies and western eco-polity in the frame of global economics............NHHAT!

Call it the summer-jam of 2010, easy to reminisce to, but so much better to make new memories with. One part indie-pop, two parts hip-hop, shake, stir, now drink it up!

The group is still buzzing from the success of last week's electro-infused debut, "Risky Bizness," which landed them a spot on Complex Magazine's 5 O'Clock Shuffle:

"Today’s leaks are all about artists who know no genres... Moxie Black clashes indie electro backdrops with hip-hop and R&B sensibilities."

DOWNLOAD: Moxie Black - So Much Better
http://www.mediafire.com/?46ndrukj2qop6q3

Moxie Black's eleven-track album How Did This Happen? will be available as a free download on August 18, 2010.

So Much Better by Moxie Black

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