Sheena Beaston

Wiley (featuring Chew Fu) - Take That (new video!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Yesterday, Wiley released his erratically energizing video for Take That, which features my pal and yours, Brooklyn's own Chew Fu. The song officially comes out on December 28, but you can watch the video now.

I'm not saying much else about this joint, because I can't find enough time to stop dancing and type more.

That should give you a good idea as to how I feel about this bumping burner!

mp3: Wiley (featuring Chew Fu) - Take That

Major Lazer (featuring Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze) - Keep it Goin' Louder (new official video!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Ok, so I'm not really sure what the good word is with the first version of the Major Lazer video for Keep it Goin' Louder, but Diplo and Switch are back, with what is being called the offical visual treatment for the insanely catchy and club thumping dub banger.

Back at the beginning of October, we debuted what we thought was the video for the majorly lazery and super rad track, but hey, we're not complaining, because this new vid gives us every reason to rock out to the song again! This go 'round, things get chunky, weird, sexy and colorful...all with a silk-suited Diplo flair.

This is still one of our favorite hits off the Major Lazer album, Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do. And hey London and UK Lazer lovers...the show goes on the road and to your town starting next week. All dates here.

mp3: Major Lazer (featuring Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze) - Keep it Goin' Louder (DZ Remix)

Bonjay - Gimmee Gimmee

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:56:00 +0000

With Alanna on the mic and Pho behind the turntables, Bonjay are fully equipped to usher in an innovatively r&b and dancehall inspired slice of excellence into your lives. With their live performances coming in a high-energy sound system of bass, beats and soul, the sounds booming out from the Toronto duo are sure to catch fire.

It’s into an emerging environment that Bonjay arrive, drawing their name from spice island slang for "Good God!". Born in the basement of a pub at Ottawa’s legendary Disorganised parties, what began as a crowd-pleasing party lark has developed into a serious commitment to songwriting and production.

Just released yesterday, Bonjay's debut EP, Gimmee Gimmee, features the original monster song, along with remixes from Poirier, Smalltown DJs and Grahm Zilla. The track itself is a mix of minimalistic beats with Alanna's intriguing vocals lifting the verses through a path of tribal twists and turns.

Buy Bonjay's Gimmee Gimmee EP here.

mp3: Bonjay - Gimmee Gimmee (Grahm Zilla Remix)mp3: Bonjay - Gimmee Gimmee

Ke$ha - Tik Tok (Skeet Skeet Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Admittedly so, we were on team Ke$ha when we first heard some early demos way back when. Then, her radio friendly and widely appealing (for most) song, Tik Tok, basically took off, with the support of P. Diddy and some west coast constituents. This beast, however, was not feeling it. Until today.

Cali-dude, Skeet Skeet hit us up with his remix of the tune, and we kind of wish this was the original. It's everything we wanted it to be and more. With the vocals getting all sorts of chopped and screwed, an added jumping beat and layered electronic bits and hits, the song goes from "eh, ok" to club ready and worthy of some late night shenanigans. Ya dig?

Only problem. This makes me want to go hit a spot right now. Is 10:30am too early to start the party?

mp3: Ke$ha - Tik Tok (Skeet Skeet Remix)

BONUS! Listen to Skeet's muddily echoed and most rad mix of Shakira's animalistic track.

mp3: Shakira - She Wolf (Skeet Skeet's Dancefloor Dub)

Lykke Li - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Live Cover)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Aww, gush! Lykke Li is giving away her cover of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, for FREE, to celebrate both the release of New Moon, and the subsequent soundtrack on which a new song of hers appears.

Here's what the perfectly pitched gal has to say:
"I know its kind of dangerous to be swimming into those waters as so many amazing singers has done it before but I just can’t help myself, its like chocolate, I love it and I love singing it. In my eyes I'm not even a singer yet, I'm just a lonely pedestrian who likes to sing and do films. So here is me singing it live in the amazing Atlantis Studio in Stockholm filmed by my friend Ted Malmros."

This makes us SWOON. Straight into our weekend.

mp3: Lykke Li - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Live Cover)

Early 2009 Flashback: Electrik Red - Friend Lover

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Back in March of this year, I got swept off my feet by The-Dream produced girl quarter of Electrik Red. Having heard singles Drink in My Cup and W.F.Y. prior, a new song was shaping up to secure my solid backing of their efforts. Result? Mission accomplished!

With the release of Friend Lover as the next single, and subsequent video, it was inevitable that the girls would be repetitiously loved and listened to here in Beastonia. With a producer like Dream backing them, it's hard to discount their efforts. Truth be told? Their album, How To Be a Lady: Volume 1, might even end up on some "year end best of" lists 'round here. Just sayin'...

Watch the video, grab the track, and reminisce/love it with me!

I love everything about this song. The jiggity hits, the beat, the harmonies. At the 1:45 mark when they start counting/singing the "rules" of being a friend lover, I lose my ish. Each and every time.

mp3: Electrik Red - Friend Lover

Annie - DJ Set at Tribeca Grand - Saturday, November 21

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Oh hello there Annie! Congratulations on your album, Don't Stop, being OFFICIALLY released here in the States this past Monday. It's a pure colletion of true pop gems and we have it on repeat. Oh, what's this? You're coming to New York City to see us? Killer!

Tribeca Grand is the spot to be tomorrow night. All details on the image above.

Look, there's free booze, rad DJ's, a live performance by Boy Crisis. And, our fair lass, Annie, is doing a guest DJ set as well. She may not be performing, but we'll be in the same room as her. Good enough for us!

mp3: Annie - Anthonio (Designer Drugs Remix)
mp3: Annie - I Don't Like Your Band

Kid Sister - Life On TV (Redlight Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:31:00 +0000

We thought it might be a bit of time before remixes of tracks from Kid Sister's debut album, Ultraviolet, started hitting teh internetz. I mean, it was just released this Tuesday, but hey, you can't keep a good man down. And that man? Let's welcome back Redlight! (insert applause here)

We did a proper Beaston-style review of the album on Monday (view it here), and one of the many rad tracks we praised was the summery and fun jam, Life On TV. With an early 90s street r-and-b influence pulsing throughout the song, it's hard not to love!

So in getting this remix from the rad Redlight, we half expected a disco bouncer much like his take on Beyonce's Control, which we still get weak for. Instead, dudeman opts for some hardhitting beats, even more chopped and screwed glitches than the original, and you know what? It all works. Really well.

Hat tip.

mp3: Kid Sister - Life On TV (Redlight Remix)

BONUS! Go snag more Redlight remixes here, from his 5 Track EP. He'll also be releasing original songs in the next month or so. We're ok with all of that!

Little Boots - Earthquake (Fabio Pop Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:59:00 +0000

Oh hi, Little Boots, remember us? Welcome back to Beastonia. It's surely been a bit of time since we last wrote about ya, but today ushers in your return, thanks to a grittily killer mix of latest single, Earthquake.

Thanks to a remix competition, as hosted by the lil' lass, we've been thrown a submission to listen to, and subsequently post for everyone to hear...considering we love it so.

Fabio Pop hails from Brazil, and while we were unfamiliar with his works before today, we're no longer strangers to his soaring and thumping mixes. His take on Earthquake is full of piercing synth hits, complete with a running and gunning bassline that will leave you itching for more.

The competition is open until Sunday, November 22. So, you know, if you think you can top Fabio, go here for more info.

mp3: Little Boots - Earthquake (Fabio Pop Remix)

Maluca: Mad Decent's Dora the Explorer

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:42:00 +0000

It's 11:30pm, and Maluca has just finished her set at The Fader's One Step Beyond Party at the Natural History Museum. If you think there would be any signs that the New York native was tired after a dynamic set, you'd be sorely mistaken. Known for her uniquely fast musical delivery, the Bronx cumbia songstress is a ball of energy, talking quickly about everything from jobs cutting limes to where her music is headed.

With a nod on the recent URB: 25 NOW! Artists to Watch list, Maluca is one to keep on your radar through the rest of the year and into 2010. So what's the gal have to say about her past year and rise to the top? Read on!

SB: Maluca! How are you?

MM: I'm good. Oh my god, I love your earrings!

SB: [laughs] Aw thanks! But we're not here to talk about me. Let's chat you! Were you around music growing up?

MM: Well, yeah, like I came from a really musical family. They weren't all necessarily musicians, but there was ALWAYS music in the house. When you're cleaning, in the shower, or when you're cooking. My dad actually ended up working for Best Promotions which is a music marketing company, so I remember being 7 years old and having a birthday party, and it was punk! Or at least what we though punk was!

SB: [laughs] How so?

MM: Probably cause he worked with Delicious Vinyl and that was what we were used to hearing. Then when my mother remarried, my stepfather was much into mambo and rumba and a lot of world music. I was exposed to a lot.

SB: Did you, or do you still, play any instruments?

MM: [laughs] Ok, so I would like, sing in bathrooms of restaurants, and my mother would be like "Get OUT of there muchacha!" But then I started with, you know, piano, and I think there was a flute, and then the conga. I always had my hand on something. If it wasn't a drum, it might've been a pot. And then later on when I was in college, I was actually in a group for a hot minute called the Commie Mamis. We were like the political r-and-b rap group.

SB: Music with a message?

MM: [laughs] Exactly! We were like "He's gonna get you...the system's gonna get you!"

SB: [laughs] I NEED to hear those recordings! Well how did you go from that style and sound to now, being picked up by Mad Decent?

MM: It was so random! I was working at a karaoke bar, and I was actually really shy and I didn't show anybody my music for such a long time. And my friends would be like "Yo, Maluca, you gotta do this! We're sending your stuff to Mad Decent." One day, I got inspired by Gang Gang Dance, and I thought, "Oh my god, they are fucking amazing!" So I was actually at the bar, paid my tab, went home and literally made this mambo rock beat. So we sent it over and they were like "You are so fucking weird!"

SB: [laughs] I'd take that a compliment!

MM: Right?! So they were like "Give us more!" And so then I did El Tigeraso. It was just for fun, nothing serious. I had actually never finished a song from beginning to end before. And I remember, one night when I was working at the bar, chopping lemons and limes, and someone from MD was like "Yo, do you want to perform at Fader? And by the way, we want to sign you and El Tigeraso." And all I could think was "I'm cutting LIMES, what do you want me to say? I'm doing my job!"

SB: [laughs] At that point, I think you have to say, just put down the fruit!

MM: [laughs] It was so cute, so I was like, fine! So we go to Fader, and I'm like "I need a conga, I need whistles, etc..." And my friend was like, are you crazy? This is your first show and you're already making these demands? And I thought, I am NOT just going to go out there with a DJ, that's not me and it's never been me. I love live instruments and dancing, so if I was going to do it, I had to do it right.

SB: Well you definitely have a unique sound and performance style, but what would you classify your style as?

MM: Oh, tropical punk. And punk meaning just, on the outside. Not particularly punk rock, but it's weird. Sometimes people are like "Um, we don't get it...it's not real", and I say "Well, ok, look at all the people who follow me, THEY think it's real, and you just missing out!"

SB: Precisely! So what happens next for you now? You;ve got all of ONE song out there, which caught so much fire, but when we can expect more music?

MM: Well the next song I'm going to put out is called Posers. And it's a track I did with Nguzunguzu, and they're from LA. So we're just trying to finish that up...speaking of which, there's my dad. [calls out] Hey Dad...come say hi!

SB: Say hi, Dad!

DAD: Hi dad!

ALL: [laughs]

MM: My dad inspires me and gives a lot of advice with my music. Like who I should work with and all that.

SB: So what does dad think about what you've got going on now?

DAD: I think it's awesome. Her live performances actually sound a lot better than anything else. Big Bad Bangs...THAT'S the hit.

SB: Oh really? When can we hear that one?

MM: It should be soon actually! We're just finshing up mastering it and it'll be ready before the end of the year. I think once the new year hits, I'm going to come out with a couple more new songs.

SB: Awesome! And will you continue doing more live shows to support the new material coming out?

MM: Yeah! I'm going to Australia in a week or so. Then I'll come back home for a bit before going out to LA to do a few shows out there. I like LA...they show me so much love. I actually just got done doing a ton of shows during CMJ. I performed at Santos and a ton of other places. And what's cool with that is, someone called me the "Dora the Explorer" of music, because I expose so many different people to this new and weird, eclectic sound. People will be like, "I don't know what a merengue is, but I like it!" And all these new people just get into it. I think my stuff goes well beyond the Latin community or the urban community. It's very universal. I reference hip-hop, and drum and bass, rock...it's just all accessible.

SB: From what I've heard so far, it definitely is. I can't wait to hear more new stuff from you! And thanks so much for taking the time to talk!

You can watch a video of Maluca performing Culebra here, from her recent trip to the Dominican Republic. Also, the official video for El Tigeraso will be out soon, and you can be sure we'll have it as soon as it's available.

mp3: Maluca - El Tigeraso (Nguzunguzu Remix)

Peaches Sets it Off at Terminal 5

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:09:00 +0000

Do you feel the cream? Frankly, we do, cause we're still on quite the high after catching our beloved queen of electroclash, Peaches, for the third time this year...so yeah, we're feeling all sorts of rad. The hardest touring woman in music brought her dynamic, and revitalized, new stage show through Terminal 5 last Saturday, November 14, with all sorts of tricks and treats up her leotarded sleeves.

After having caught Ms. Merrill Nisker twice earlier this summer, it was both a shock and a pleasure to hear the announcement of her return to NYC this fall. With her 4th studio album, I Feel Cream, coming out nearly 6 months ago, Peaches continues to tour in support of the finely crafted release.

To attend a Peaches gig is like watching a theatrically and intensely masterminded musical. Between props and costumes, interactions with fans and backing band members, there's never a second for your thoughts to stray or be distracted.

Highlights of the show included an extended sequence of scaling the barrier and crowd surfing, an adjusted performance of Lose You, moving a Beaston favorite, Operate, to the first encore, and overall, witnessing the genuine love and passion Peaches has for putting on a rocking show.

A couple more pics below, and others can be seen here.

I have to make a quick editor's note here about this final picture. After the traditional "get out of the photo pit after 3 songs" rules kicked in at the venue, I scrambled to find a decent spot to shoot the remainder of the show. Thanks to a helping hand from Peaches' tour manager (more on that later), I was able to hit the side of the stage for one song. Why is this so relevant/important (aside from the pretty rad tricolored separation)?

Peaches' birthday is November 11. Now, look at the time stamp on the stage clock.

Chills.

mp3: Peaches - Downtown (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)
mp3: Peaches - Tent In Your Pants

Drop The Lime - Devil's Eyes (Diplo's B-Live Mix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:51:00 +0000

To date, we've heard super stellar remixes of Drop The Lime's banger, Devil's Eyes, from Classixx, Kanji Kinetic, NROTB and Luca himself, however we've now reached the grand finale, the curtain raiser, the track that BREAKS the track and builds it back up again.

This mix comes courtesy of Diplo. As if the talented turnablist isn't already kept busy enough with his Major Lazer project, he's now jumped in and offered up this official and ohmigod amazing mix of the song.

It starts off with a tropically thunderous beat and it just keeps getting hotter from there. I could listen to the super wet drop at 1:47 over and over.

BONUS! XLR8R is running a contest to get Drop The Lime to play live in your local bar. Details here.

mp3: Drop The Lime - Devil's Eyes (Diplo's B-Live Mix)

Visitor - Hurt Someone (Kolt13 Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

For the better part of this year, there has been no one person, group or producer that we get more excited to write about than Visitor. With but a handful of originals, and a load of remixes to supplement, the London dynamo continues to impress with a hot demo and fix from a Beaston fave.

Honestly, we first heard Visitor's track, Hurt Someone, much earlier this past summer. It quickly became one of the most repeated songs that both defines and displays the perfect precision of disco dreamwave.

Now, with a super synthy remix from fantastic Frenchman, Kolt13, we're (pardon the bad pun) "re-visiting" everything we loved about the original, and basking in the radness that is his rework of the song.

Cheers boys! I've just been gifted the only song I'm going to listen to today.

mp3: Visitor - Hurt Someone (Kolt13 Remix)
mp3: Visitor - Hurt Someone (Demo)

Lisa Hannigan Covers Depeche Mode; Releases New Live Recordings

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Lisa Hannigan is a singer. She oftens hum away without realising it until she gets funny looks on Camden Street. She is both good at roasting potatoes and sewing on buttons, but not good at voice mails and competitive sports. Neither here nor there, but we're more interested in her music, including a set of new recordings.

Hannigan has just released a special set of live recordings, Live At Fingerprints, which includes six live tracks done at Fingerprint Records in Long Beach, CA. The album is out now exclusively at Think Indie, and everywhere else physically and digitally on December 15, 2009.

Besides having such an engrossing presence and hauntingly beautiful voice, Lisa Hannigan is an extremely versatile musician. She’s absolutely radiant when she performs and if you watch anything at all today, I IMPLORE you to at least hit play on the below video, and if you must, skip ahead to the 3:35 mark, when she gets so radly wild on her cover of Personal Jesus.

Simply stunning!

Lisa Hannigan, and her band, will appear on Last Call with Carson Daly tomorrow. Do watch!

mp3: Lisa Hannigan - Keep it All

Fan Death - Cannibal (new video!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Fan Death, they of the most deliciously disco infused ditties, are in full "get so much cool content out" mode that we're hard pressed to post all day/every day about 'em. But we're practicing self-control, unlike the duderman in this video.

With a new visual display for their super chic song, Cannibal, FD up the weird and max out the mega dance with an oddly interesting, yet super intriguing take on a homebody homeboy.

Check out the voyeuristically neat video now.

Reminder: Fan Death return with their A Coin For The Well EP, which is slated for a January 4, 2010 release through The Pharmacy Recording Company.

mp3: Fan Death - Reunited (CCENTURIESS Remix)

Stress (featuring Nega and Mouss MC) - Nananah! (Justin Faust Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:22:00 +0000

**EXCLUSIVE** (kind of)
Earlier this month, we introduced you to Swiss sir, Stress, and his uniquely vocaled and supremely styled song Nananah!, along with a remix from our buddies, Electrolightz. Now, we've got a treat worthy of all your love and continual plays, from a dude known well 'round these parts.

Gone are the grinding beats of the original and mix, thanks to the gifted hands of one, Mr. Justin Faust. The key is raised, the tones are dreamy and the beat simply won't quit. Exactly what we needed this morning!

Faust's mix will appear on Stress' upcoming release, Evolution, as a bonus track on the iTunes version. The album is out tomorrow...unfortunately only in Switzerland for now.

mp3: Stress (featuring Nega and Mouss MC) - Nananah! (Justin Faust Remix)

Sia - You've Changed (new version to appear on upcoming album!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Last year, Sia held down the top spot on our best albums of 2008 list, with her offering, Some People Have Real Problems. April 2010 will see the release of her 5th studio album, We Are Born, and we can almost guarantee it'll see great praise come next year's end time again.

Today, the Aussie lass took it upon herself to "leak" her version of the Lauren Flax penned and produced song, You've Changed. The track will appear on Sia's upcoming album, which makes us all sorts of excited.

We already fell hard and fast for the original. Now, with the addition of some fresh and funky riffs and glitches, we've got a super new and mega rad reason to smile.

mp3: Sia - You've Changed

Sleigh Bells, Popo and Zuzuka Poderosa Play le poisson rouge Tomorrow, November 19

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:20:00 +0000

What a major lineup! Between the tropical funkness of Zuzuka Poderosa, the gnarliest big beat surf rap of Popo, and the "everything radness to the max" output of Sleigh Bells, we can ensure that the kids will be crushing on the tunes pumping at le poisson rouge tomorrow.

Here's the details, and below the info, a rad track to pump you up!

Sleigh Bells, Popo, Zuzuka Poderosa
(with Death Traitor DJs)
Doors: 11:00 pm
Show: 11:30pm

Free Colt 45s from 11-12
$5 well drinks & $5 draft beer all night!

Tickets here.

mp3: Zuzuka Poderosa - Mas Com Voce

Theophilus London (featuring Jesse Boykins III) - Humdrum Town

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Last month, we were able to catch the ridiculously talented Theophilus London over at Santos, for the Hype Machine/Baeblegum CMJ Party. Who knew so much radness could be exerted at 4pm in the afternoon! We've got the chills reminiscing on his effortlessly cool performance, along with being introduced to new tunes.

Along with his new trio'd troupe, Chauffeur, which also hosts Mark Ronson and Sam Sparro, London is in the midst of tidying up the finishing touches on his debut album.

After the success of his This Charming Mixtape, Theophilus found many a fan of his eclectic blend of soulful singing and rapping. I, for one, have yet to tire of any of the songs from it, most notably Grey X Sage and Humdrum Town. And now with Green Label Sound properly releasing the latter, featuring Jesse Boykins III, we can relish in the hi-q that is the below.

Coming soon: Theophilus' remix of Ellie Goulding's Under The Sheets. Word!

mp3: Theophilus London (featuring Jesse Boykins III) - Humdrum Town

Eli Paperboy Reed Playing Brooklyn Bowl on November 21

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Good ol' gospel lovin' boy, Eli Paperboy Reed, has a passion for singing and performing with all the gusto and fire reminiscient of an early Sam Cooke. That, by our standards, is pretty damn major!

And with an upcoming date here in NYC, we've got every reason to grin and spin along with Reed's (and band, The True Loves) charismatic style of soulful rock and roll. Eli's bringing his boys over to Brooklyn Bowl this Saturday, November 21, where there will be plenty of hip shakin', feet swayin' and a rollicking grand time.

Details as follows.

Eli Paperboy Reed and The True Loves
featuring The London Souls and The Bloks

Saturday November 21
Show is at 9:00pm (21+)
Cost: $5 (buy a ticket here)

mp3: Basement Jaxx (featuring Eli Paperboy Reed) - She's No Good

Fear Of Tigers - The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump (Diamond Cut Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:42:00 +0000

**EXCLUSIVE**
Fear Of Tigers is a magically rad dude. After remixing insanely stellar tracks from Visitor and The Sound of Arrows, this lone wolf, er well cat, has had enough! How so? Read on for the details and get ready to gush.

The Greenwich gent is set to release his debut album on December 1, and that makes us super stoked and prepped to swoon trhough the remainder of the year. Here's the kicker. Cossus Snufsigalonica will be given away free. FREE. As in, you are about to get so many good tunes injected into your library that your computer might melt...all at no cost.

And in true celebratory fashion, we've got a Beaston exclusive from FOT. His pal, and ours, Diamond Cut, remixed the original song, The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump. Silly name, yes. Amazing end result? DEFINITELY!

We're also throwing the original at you...because when we are given something so killer, we like to give back too.

mp3: Fear Of Tigers - The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump (Diamond Cut Remix)
mp3: Fear Of Tigers - The Adventures of Pippi Longstrump

Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart (new video and official remix!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:08:00 +0000

I fell hard and fast for Alicia Keys' new single, Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart. With it's passionate lyrics and pounding beat, there wasn't a chance I cold escape the power being thrown at me via this offering.

And now with a sneak peek at the video below, along with an official remix featuring the silky vocals of Avery Storm, we have even more reason to keep the song in heavy rotation for quite some time.

Check out the superhumanly healing Keys in action now.

That leather studded jacket? I both want and need it. Let's make that happen, ok?

Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom is out December 15 via J Records.

mp3: Alicia Keys (featuring Avery Storm) - Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart (Remix)

NPR Scores Exclusive First Listen of Fever Ray's Live At Lulea

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Rarely does a debut album impact an audience so deeply, that less than a year after its release, a 3-disc deluxe bonus package is both begged for and delivered upon. Fever Ray has just that appeal.

The hauntingly fragile yet dripping with electronic pop elementally self-titled debut from the Swedish set, as led by The Knife's Karin Dreijer-Andersson, is one that will undoubtedly rise to the top of the "Beastonian best of the year". The original album will add two studio-recorded cover songs: Vashti Bunyan's Here Before and Nick Cave and Anita Lane's Stranger Than Kindness. The DVD features all five of the beautifully creepy music videos.

The 3rd disc holds Live at Lulea, a concert recorded in the northern coastal town in Fever Ray's native Sweden. You can listen to this special feature in its entirety over on NPR now.

The US version of the Fever Ray Deluxe Edition is out on November 24. Pre-order at Amazon. We saw Fever Ray at Webster Hall earlier this year. Check out the review here.

mp3: Fever Ray - Seven (Live At Lulea)

Zambri - Bang For Changes EP Out Digitally

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:32:00 +0000

We fall hard for all things Zambri, that, my friends, is a given fact. The local troupe is one that I can't quit on, no matter how much you might say, "Hey, turn something else on!" No, I simply won't. Viva Zambri.

Zambri recently won Deli Magazine's Artist Of The Month and were also featured as the The Guardian's Band Of The Day. Further proof that we're not the only ones hot on the followings of this talented act.

In betwixt working on their debut album and playing a handful of fall/winter tour dates, they've also released their Bang For Changes EP, which is digitally available for you to own and love.

One more goodie for ya...the video for Easier, which we're ashamed to admit we never got around to posting when it first came out a few months back. Below the vid, free songs, cause you know, they're cool like that.

mp3: Zambri - wSomebody (The Model Remix)
mp3: Zambri - Easier

Plastiscines - Bitch (new video!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:47:00 +0000

One band we've been hot (without really writing a ton) on for a good portion of the year is Plastiscines. The French foursome of femme fatales are all things punk, thrash, glam and basically, what we're trying to say, is that they're the raddest chicks on the scene.

With their sophomore album, About Love, coming out earlier this summer, we had every reason to shout, scream and sing along with Katty, Marine, Louise and Anoushka. Collectively referred to as les bébés rockers, they fall right in line with a number of Parisian bands that bestill our beastly hearts.

The girls just released the video for their song, Bitch, yesterday, and you can watch it right here.

Raging! We always get a little more excited every time a bit of news and or new content comes out of Plastiscines brash camp, and until new material is released, we've got this vid and the below mixes on a major repetitive cycle.

mp3: Plastiscines - Barcelona (Lifelike Remix)
mp3: Plastiscines - Barcelona (Chew Lips Remix)