I know, I know. October's almost over. I guess I got bloggburned out on the previous post. But I thought I'd share a few more tunes before November rolls around. Listen:
10 - "Shake it Off", Ryan Adams
Well isn't this an interesting improvement on the original (in my opinion)? Ryan's rerecording of the entire 1989 album is pretty cool. Has anything like this ever been done before? Covering an entire album? Applause from me.
9 - "10,000 Emerald Pools", BØRNS
While "Electric Love" is doing the rounds at alternative radio, this one wins out in my books. It took a couple of listens, but eventually it sunk its claws in. Don't let the cool "Ø" in the artist's name lead you to believe this is some Danish import or something - Garrett Borns is from Michigan. He toured with Charli XCX and Bleachers this past summer and his debut album Dopamine was released just last week.
8 - "Lay Down", Son Little
And now for something completely different. I don't know if Leon Bridges bringing old old school soul back to life has brought some other folks like this out of the woodwork, but this is some nice bluesy smoothness from Son Little. Son's from Philly and has worked with both RJD2 and the Roots crew. I'm not sure if his album has actually come out yet, but this is the first single.
7 - "Back of the Car (feat. Nate Henricks)", RAC
RAC is back at it again and once again, not in the electronic remix genre. If I have this right, Nate Henricks is a super DIY record-at-home folk artist from Kansas. Not entirely sure how he and RAC hooked up but the result is pretty catchy.
6 - "Show Me Love (EDX's Indian Summer Remix)", Sam Feldt
Why does nobody ever play "Love for Love" anymore? Can anyone tell the difference? Oh Robin S.... While it might not seem like it from some of the songs I've posted this year, I'm not the biggest fan of covers of decades-old iconic pop hits. But this one grabbed my attention. .
5 - "Omen (feat. Sam Smith)", Disclosure
Disclosure goes back to the well with Sam Smith and radio went back to the well with both of them, but only briefly. No, this track is no "Latch" and Sam Smith has been around the block now so he doesn't have that new car smell, but this is still a decent song and I'm a little surprised that the reception was so luke warm. One of many reasons I don't let others program what I listen to anymore. By the way, I bet the tattoo scanned to get into the party in the video read "fidelio".
4 - "One Man Can Change the World (feat. Kanye West and John Legend)", Big Sean
This one's been rattling around for a while. Overdue to get some shine on this list. Call your grandmothers.
3 - "Beautiful Escape (feat. Zak Abel)", Tom Misch
611 views on this video! Awesome. My man Tom Misch released his debut LP Beat Tape 2 a few weeks back and this is by far the standout on the album. However, I doubt it will be the last album track I highlight on these pages...stay tuned! Hi guitar work reminds me of some of the instrumental "new jazz" they used to play at ungodly hours on my childhood fave radio station in Winnipeg....I think the show was called "A New Way to Relax" and I kept hearing it on the way to the airport for early morning flights. But I digress. Tom is 20. 20!
2 - "No Justice", Astronauts, etc.
This is Anthony Ferraro, a guy who has worked very closely with Toro y Moi. In fact the two of them have a cover of Elton's "Rocket Man". I have read that Anthony was studying at UC Berkeley to be a classical musician but that career was sidelined due to arthritis. Yay internet facts! "No Justice" was released back in May and makes for a very nice listen.
1 - "All Your Love is Gone", Boxed In
Here's everything you need to know about Boxed In. Thank you, Guardian, for lines like "All Your Love Has Gone, has been all over Radio 1 like an indie-disco rash". Enjoy as I spread the rash?.
See you in a couple of weeks for the November rundown. And then the ever-popular tracks-of-the-year rundown (almost all of which I've put up for you on this site...but in what order will they settle???)!
