Before The Music Ends: 8.12.09

Being the music buff that I am, one of the constant things I get asked is, "where do you get all your new music from?" If you take a look at my i-pod and my CD collection (yes, I do still buy CDs), most of the stuff I have is underground music or literally, barely up and coming musicians- musicians that have a demo or an EP to their name. Well I thought I'd be nice for once, and let you all in on my daily life of scanning the internet. I live by certain websites (as I hope you will one day live by what I write) that I read and re-read every day. Through these websites comes new music, new artists, and new ideas. So take notes by little butterflies:

My Top 8 Music Websites (In No Particular Order):
1. All Music- This website is dedicated to giving you all the information you could possibly want regarding any musician, group, composer, writer, producer, you name it. There is a full biography, full discography (by both albums and songs), credits, and any awards they have received. While this site is really dedicated to the information about a particular person or group, every now and then brand new music pops up. I use this website to look at upcoming album release dates and such.

2. Hypebot- Quite possibly my favorite blog, but I can only assume that most of you will just find this one boring. This one is one that I consider my bible as it relays up to the minute information about all music industry information. Whether livenation decides to merge with Ticketmaster, or whether Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls made $10,000 in one night via Twitter... all that is in this lovely little blog. There is even a community network you can join where you begin to network with people from all aspects of the community to give each other advice, suggestions, etc. If you're really into whats going on in the business side of the industry, then this site is for you.

3. Pollstar- This website is the free version of Pollstarpro.com, which is a magazine/website used for industry professionals in the concert aspects. The free version just gives up the minute details on all concerts going on around the world. Its a bit hard to get your concert dates added if you are a brand new musician, since this website is regulated by major booking and promotion companies, but it still serves a great purpose for the rest of us out there who just want to know the next time Bruce Springsteen will be in town!!!

4. Stereogum- Ahhh! Now here's one you're sure to be interested in. This website dedicates itself to all things indie and alternative. This includes news on upcoming projects and upcoming bands. But the best part about this website is that it has daily free downloads that are completely and legally free!! Keep in mind that this is still indie music, so if you're looking for something that sounds like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, or Akon, then you're better off heading over to MTV.com. 

5. Pitchfork- This, my friends, is the go-to website when it comes to ANYTHING underground or indie. Pitchfork does have the reputation of being the leading new independent music website, but it also has the reputation of being the biggest snob about music. Getting music reviewed by Pitchfork can be one of the highest honors (if you even get them to look at your demo, be honored then too), but they also have the ability to tear you to pieces. Their reviews and articles are superb, and you must have the patience and humor to deal with the things these writers say. But hey, through Pitchfork I discovered some of my now favorite bands (Bon Iver, M85, Animal Collective). While you can't download mp3s from here, they do have a player with their picks of the best new music, most of which I can guarantee you won't ever have heard. Swing by, I think you'll be impressed.

6. New Music Tip Sheet- This website is great to stay on top of upcoming releases, TV listings, and news. This is directed more towards the general population and mainstream music realm, but it does what it is supposed to do, and it has become a tool for the industry to look into music placement as well. For all of you who couldn't find your music at Stereogum or Pitchfork, you may just find it here.

7. Artist Rise- Okay, so as a manager to a local band, I LOOOOOOOVE this site. This in a way, is sort of like pollstar, only for up and coming artists. While for the time being, this is directed towards the Los Angeles and New York music scenes, it is a great way to see what new artists are playing where. Artist Rise is sort of like a facebook or myspace, except that once a profile is created (whether your an artist, band, venue, booker, promoter), you use your profile to network and get gigs. 

8. Crazed Hits- So this technically is another industry site, but don't worry. This could potentially be the best website to find completely unknown music. It is an industry A&R website which takes unsigned bands or artists, places their music on this website, and distributes it to labels, publishing, other a&r agents, etc. Through this site, a virtually unknown artist has the chance to become the next Justin Timberlake (horrible analogy, but I thought I'd talk in simpler terms). For example, some of the artists that were featured on this site before they were signed to major labels are: Katy Perry, Iglu & Hartly, Drake, LMFAO, and a tons others. 

So there you have it... my top 8 websites that I go to daily as both a music fan and music manager. But there are hundreds more that can tell you about upcoming music. Just one word of advice, you may be overwhelmed over just how much new music is out there. Myspace helped for a while in this area, but new blogs are taking over, and they are wayyyyy better.

Happy Searching!

Dals

Before The Music Ends: 07.12.09

Sincerely Yours

So as I do on a normal Sunday night, I get online to look for new music. By "new music" I mean music that I haven't come across yet. Plenty of times I actually find a band or artists that I absolutely love and it turns out that they've been around for ever. In my last post, my music obsession was from a band from Sweden called The Tough Alliance (hereafter, TTA). I decided to start with them to look for similar music; turns out TTA has been around since the 90s! Using them as my starting point, I decided to go for their record label. (Quick tip: once you have one or two artists you like from a certain label, I suggest you go look at the label catalogue for new music... chances are its the same style)

Sincerely Yours is the record label home to The Tough Alliance as well as a few other bands that to me is of utmost importance that you check out. Don't worry, I'll post the songs so that you don't have to look for it. That's how much I love you. Facts about the label are pretty scarce; it is a bit of a mysteriously label but nonetheless, its artists are SURE to break into the underground indie scene. After much research, all I was able to gather about Sincerely Yours is that it is a label based in Sweden and that apparently its talent has so many followers that their boutique selling all their t-shirts and merchandise are almost entirely sold out... I tried to get myself a shirt. However, here's what I have to say about the bands:

1. JJ- Equally as mysterious as its label. However, this Swedish duo do an awesome job at taking mainstream hits, usually hip hop songs, and entirely rewording them and coming out with this lounge-meets-underwater-club type of music. Their first single, which has yet to be released in the U.S. is called "Ecstasy" and the background of the entire song is none other than the famous car alarm songs of Lil Wayne's "Lollipop". Only, be sure to listen carefully because the words are not at all what you think! And yes, I just learned that the beat of "lollipop" really was made from car alarms. I'm posting the original Lil Wayne video BUT with the JJ song... check it out.. its fun, simple, and makes for a killer new summer song (Lil Wayne's version is soooooo 2008).

2. Air France- This band has got to be my favorite on the label by far. While I read in different reviews that they can be considered "pure bubble foam pop", I can't seem to label them in any way. All I can say about this band is that I picture them as my perfect soundtrack to a looooooooong road trip from coast to coast. Very few bands that I come across have the ability to let the listener imagine their own scenery with music, but Air France happens to do just that. Its ambiguity lets the listener make whatever he or she wants. Even Pitchfork.com (my snobby, indie music bible) named them as one of the Best New Music of 2009... thats how good they are!

So I can't really add a new music obsession without saying that these two new bands that partner up with The Tough Alliance are hands down this weeks music obsession. Check out those videos, and be sure to tell me if you love it or hate it. i'll try not to cry if you don't like it.

The labels website is www.sincerelyyours.se but don't get your hopes up. It's very vague. I suggest you stick to www.pitchfork.com for any news on these bands

Til next time, remember to Keep Rockin'!

Dalit@themensfashionblog.com