Disclosure “When A Fire Starts to Burn” Settle (out 06/04 on PMR) In the next few hours, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence are going to be unleashing their disgustingly fresh debut LP on the masses. In celebration of Settle, we are going to devote all the Hot Jams of the Day this week to the diverse, devastating LP. After a number of listens over the last week, I am convinced that this is not only the best album I’ve heard this … →
Kevin Gates “Roaming Around” Digital Single This year, Baton Rouge’s Kevin Gates rose as one of the most fascinating, unique voices in hip-hop today. Combining Future’s heart-on-sleeve vulnerability with top-notch lyricism, the 27-year old released one of the best mixtapes of the year (The Luca Brasi Story). His J.U.S.T.I.C.E League-assisted new single is another example of his versatile, unique flow and ear for a hook, as Gates expertly weaves fractured, disjointed couplets over heady, reflective soundscapes. He’s one of the new breed … →
Jacques Greene “On Your Side” (f/ How to Dress Well) On Your Side (out 07/01 on LuckyMe) Check out the fascinating interactive video from Canadian production whiz, Jacques Greene, and fractured, R&B crooner, Tom Krell (aka How to Dress Well). The track itself is fire, melding Greene’s moody, celestial production with Krell’s emotive falsetto, but the video is very cool as well. Watch it out on Greene’s website and stream the track below.
Disclosure Settle Out 6/4 on PMR THE WAIT IS OVER! After 3 years of brilliant singles, unfuckwitable remixes, and an EP or two, Guy and Howard Lawrence are finally ready to unleash their debut LP. I first wrote about them back in 2011, and it’s amazing to see how far these youngsters (the younger Lawrence, Howard, was born in 1994) have come in just two and a half years. While I’m physically restraining my fingers to hold back the wild … →
The Weeknd “Kiss Land/John Carpenter” Kiss Land (out this year on XO/Republic) @HowToDressWell 17 May: dude this guy from the weeknd is taking a ton of drugs and seems really homesick i hope he’s ok tho This tweet from How to Dress Well’s Tom Krell about sums up the lyrical content of the dubiously-named title track from Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s insanely-awaited proper debut album. However, it doesn’t begin to sum up the majesty of the Canadian’s harrowing, 8-minute gem. … →
A couple of NYC’s best dropped videos this week. The first is your typical Action being Action clip, and the second is your classic NYC crew cut. The AB one is probably NSFW. Action Bronson “Strictly 4 My Jeeps” Saaab Stories (out in June) A$AP Ferg “Work” (f/ A$AP Rocky, Trinidad James, Schoolboy Q, French Montana) (Remix) Original Appears on Lord$ Never Worry (out now on Polo Grounds)
Boardwalk “I’m To Blame” Boardwalk (out later this year on Stones Throw) Over the past couple of years, I’ve written extensively about my love for dreamy Ontario-based duo Memoryhouse, so it comes as no surprise that I would sa-fuckin-woon over the decidedly MH-ish debut single from these newly-signed Angelinos. Amber Quintero’s breathy vocals glide effortlessly over alluring electric piano and a languid guitar line. Though it’s not going to blow you over at first, it’ll burrow its way in, gently inviting you to drift off to … →
Mirage “Let’s Kiss” After Dark 2 (out now on Italians Do it Better) Because Johnny Jewel sums it up better than I ever could, here is the Chromatics/Glass Candy/Desire/etc mainman on the lovely, synth-jam, “Let’s Kiss.” He also talks about the long-awaited follow-up to IDIB’s legendary compilation, After Dark. Thanks, GvB. “Let’s Kiss” was written the same week as “Under Your Spell” in November 2008. After a bizarre & beautiful twist of fate, I walked into a remote bar in Montreal where … →
Mikky Ekko “Disappear” (Ruff Demo) Digital Single The new single from the Nashville-based crooner is a surprisingly esoteric turn from an artist who seems on the cusp of breaking through (due to his feature on RiRi’s mega-smash “Stay”). The velvet-voiced Shreveport-native sounds surprisingly Panda Bear-ish, plaintively emoting over a mostly-stark, cineamtic arraignment that builds to a brief, powerful climax. Lyrically, it’s basically a rehash of Snow Patrol’s uber-ode to spooning “Chasing Cars,” but that doesn’t stop it from being an affecting, effective piece of … →
