The Current Music Blog: April 2, 2009 Archive

Marvin, You're Still Missed, and Always Will Be

Posted at 10:13 AM on April 2, 2009 by Steve Seel (1 Comments)

Today In Music History:

1939 - Marvin Gaye was born.
1947 - Emmylou Harris was born.
1961 - Keren Jane Woodward (Bananarama) was born.
1977 - Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" was #1 (where it stayed for 31 weeks.)
1987 - Buddy Rich died.
1998 - Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) was found dead in a German hotel.

Marvin Gaye would have been 70 today - he was born this day in 1939 in Washington D.C. With solo hits including "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "Ain't That Peculiar", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and his duets with singers such as Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, he was crowned "The Prince of Motown." Marvin's crowning achievement is considered to be his concept album What's Going On, featuring it's groundbreaking title track, which hit #1 in the Billboard charts. Today, I featured another track with a similar feel from the album, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)."

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Blue jean material for free!

Posted at 11:01 AM on April 2, 2009 by Barb Abney

Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're giving you the tune "Blue Denim" from Ben Lee for free. The tune is taken from his forthcoming record, Rebirth Of Venus which will be released on April 28th. Some of proceeds from the sale of the album will be donated to The Foundation for International Community Assistance. The newlywed will be playing The Varsity on May 12th.
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"TRL" done X-style!

Posted at 11:45 AM on April 2, 2009 by Barb Abney

X will be kicking off a new tour next week. They're giving you the opportunity to choose their setlist. Just vote for your top 5 songs from the band here.

So far, here's the top 5 choices for their show at The Cabooze on June 23rd...
"The New World" - (35.0%)
"Poor Girl" - (35.0%)
"Johnny Hit and Run Pauline" - (30.0%)
"Los Angeles" - (25.0%)
"We're having much more fun" - (25.0%)

Vote for your top 5 songs, for this show.

10 dance tracks you should hear

Posted at 4:37 PM on April 2, 2009 by Melanie Walker (5 Comments)

My name is Melanie Walker and I'm the Music Director here at The Current. I want to try a little experiment with a new online blog feature about some of my favorite tunes! I thought I'd open up to you, our audience, and give you a glimpse of some of my favorite music old and new. I'd love for you to do the same! Let's exchange and trade music finds. Nobody is right, or wrong, or better, or worse than another. This is simply an open ended music exchange that I'd love to do with you every week here on The Current blog. Hopefully, we can all discover some great new music and hear each others stories behind them. I'll post 10 tracks around a theme of some sort and you can chime in and tag along with your own finds and favorites.

It's no secret around here that I have a bias for anything remotely synthetic sounding or anything with a beat. I love dance music. No, no, no....not some happy, hardcore, candy raver flashback you're trying desperately to forget from back in the day. Hip Hop, House, Downtempo, Techno and dare I even say Trip Hop? It comes in many different forms. Intelligent, ethereal, transportive music that just sweeps you off your feet and away from that long day in the office. It's music to loose yourself in. Here are a few new tracks, and a few old tracks that are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as me! Just click the name of the track to the link to listen...

Junior Boys Parallel Lines from their album Begone Dull Care. I'm itching to go to this show this Friday night a First Ave. One of my favorite new electronic acts... The new album is amazing and I can't wait for you all to hear it!

Pepe Bradock Deep Burnt . Ok this track dates me a bit...but it still sounds just as good as the first day I heard it back on Gilles Peterson's radio show Worldwide on BBC Radio 1!

Underworld Jumbo from their album Beaucoup Fish. My favorite album of all time and a true classic that, in my humble opinion, will never go out of style.

Royksopp The Girl And The Robot from their album Junior. Ok ok I know Robyn (the vocalist) is basically considered a Swedish pop star. But, she's just so fantastic I can't help myself. You go girl... Royksopp's new album just got in at the station and has been getting great reviews from staff here at The Current. Keep your ears peeled as we'll be playing it soon!

Bent Cylons In Love from their album Programmed To Love. An older album that has been too easily forgotten yet is in permanent rotation for me...

Bomb The Bass Bug Powder Dust (K&D Remix) from a compilation called The K & D Sessions. Kruder and Dorfmister, the genius's behind G Stoned records out of Germany. This album had a huge impact on me and infected me with the musichead bug... Just trust me and buy it now.
**warning song contains questionable language**

Midnight Juggernauts Shadows from their album Dystopia. Love it! Dystopia is a new electronic classic for me that I think went under a lot of folk's radar last year. One of my favorite albums in the last few years. It's a bit campy at times. But, I'm a bit notorious for loving a bit of cheese with my music around here...

Herbert Suddenly from his album Bodily Functions. Herbert's album Bodily Functions is genius! A blend of jazz, downtempo and odd samples of people's bodies. That's the whole idea of this album actually. Conceptually, it's about relationships. But, I know what you are thinking and it's NOT those bodily noises! It's really quite beautiful and very tastefully done...

Cinematic Orchestra All Things To All Men featuring Roots Manuva from their album Everyday. Not only do I love Roots Manuva, but I love The Cinematic Orchestra! Let's put it this way, I walked in my wedding to a Cinematic Orchestra track. I'm pretty crazy about them and when we had them in the studio I made a huge fool of myself in front of them from nerves. But, they really can't be compared to anyone else. True originals.
**warning song contains questionable language**

Justice Waters Of Nazareth from their album Cross. Part of me feels really excited about dance music again because of the mainstream success of people like Justice, Mstrkrft or The Klaxons. Producers are having fun making great dance tracks again. I only hope the trend continues!

So, what are some of your favorite dance tracks? Inquiring minds want to know...

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