Lists & Rankings
Staff Picks: Artists of the Month – May 2013
We have two firsts this month on our Staff Picks: Artists of the Month, yall. The first first: we have a female on the list. Personally, I don’t think this means that there aren’t good female artists out there. Rather, I think it’s a reflection of the fact that it’s harder to distinguish oneself as a female artist. Lots of their voices sound the same; they don’t tend to have as much differentiation in range as men can. There are certainly female artists out there bending the norm, but it doesn’t seem to be happening as frequently as it is with male artists right now. That said, this month features a female artist. Get ready.
The second first: we have a repeat artist. One artist has continued to impress us throughout the months of April and May, and he has made the list for the second month in a row. When you see who it is, you’ll understand.
Enjoy the picks and get familiar with the music. These artists seem to be here to stay.
View May’s Best Artists of the Month
Listen While You Work: 3.0
It’s Monday, and it’s a Monday where I’m still feeling like I’m recovering from the weekend. Considering yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, I have a feeling many of you are feeling the same way. I didn’t even make it out yesterday, because my ass was too hungover to get off the couch. But I feel for those of you who did, because trust me, I felt close to death yesterday. So if that’s you today, or hell, even if you’re a good kid just trying to get some work done, I’ve got your soundtrack. Here is the latest Listen While You Work, episode three.
This version features music from the following artists:
- Young Galaxy
- Baby Alpaca
- Sir Sly
- Feist
- Lana Del Rey
- Jamie Isaac
- LVLF
- Valentina
- Stay Bless
- Denai Moore
Listen to more Listen While You Work setlists
Best of April 2013
April is a stressful month. Fun, but stressful. Those in school are gearing up for finals and a wild summer. If you’re no longer in school, I’m sorry because that’s unfortunate. The music scene this month hasn’t helped out the stress that much because frankly, there was a bundle of quality music released this month. Thus, a result of more stress because of so much music to listen to. This is already an issue as I’m preppin’ for finals.
You know the saying April showers brings May flowers? Well, we were spoiled this month with music, so May better bloom into these wonderful, high expectations.
Download link below, my top 5, and then the track list after the jump!
Download Best of April 2013
Lucki Eck$ made some noise on the blogosphere with “Count On Me.” It appeared on our 4/20 mix, as well. Count On Me is something that’s different, but still fresh, all at the same damn time. Top 5 nod.
Give it three listens, and you’ll be hooked. You’re going to like the way you ears feel, I guarantee it.
Cashmere Cat – Do You (Miguel Remix)
One of the best remixes I’ve ever heard in a while. Filthy. Cashmere Cat done did Miguel’s song dirty. And Miguel is getting to the point where it’s like “c’mon guys, it’s Miguel.” Sort of like how Frank Ocean is, but not like Frank Ocean.
Another track that appeared on our 4/20 mix, makes my top 5 as well. Ghost Loft captures the right electronic sounds and synths, and combines them appropriately to create a track you don’t need to be high for (but will be better in said state).
Drake’s been on top of his game lately. Is it safe to say Drake’s got something really cookin’ for us come the next album? Girls love Aubrey, but actually.
Honorable Mention: Josef Salvat, Daft Punk, Antonio Paul, Max Frost, The Hard Knocks
Hit the jump for the track list! Continue reading “Best of April 2013” »
5 Incredible Piano Covers
1. Ferro Montanino from Winnipeg, Canada proves that is possible for one man to entirely remake Skrillex’s Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites on a piano. Though there are few moments when I enjoy Skrillex, this song of his is one of them, and Ferro makes it arguable even more enjoyable on the ivory keys.
2. The Internet has been abuzz over Disclosure’s song “Latch” recently. And rightfully so. But we need to take a minute and direct our attention to this piano cover of the same song by a Soundcloud user by the name of kongsingwei. Stunning.
3. I can’t find much out about Jason Bolea. All I can find in a quick Internet search is his Soundcloud page, which has a picture of an Asian kid with his parents, and two songs. One of them is this piano cover of Coldplay’s “Paradise,” which might actually be even more beautiful than the original. Get it, stranger.
4. You’re entering dangerous territory when you try to cover Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games,” because all things crazy about LDR aside, this is one of the more beautiful songs released in the past couple of years. So if you’re considering remixing/covering/mashing it, stop yourself now. Unless your name is…James Franco? Yeah, that’s weird too. Whoever this guy is, though, he can play piano like a pro. You did it justice, sir.
5. Evan Duffy is a bit of a phenomenon in the music world. He’s an award-winning composer whose main focus is writing musical scores for films and video games, but his covers are not to be overlooked. And they haven’t been. He’s received praise from artists including Deadmau5, Zedd, Alex Clare, Skrillex and Madeon. My favorite of his solely piano covers is this cover of Madeon’s “Finale.” It builds as it goes, and by the end you’ll wonder if this guy is for real.
Artists of the Month – April 2013
Last month, I predicted that April’s Best Artists of the Month would include a female. Alas, still no females. We seem to be a pretty sexist bunch over here at Sunset, huh? Joke’s on me, the only consistent female writer on the site, I suppose. At any rate, we’ve come together again to pull our picks for Best Artists of the Month thus far in April. These are the guys we can’t stop listening to; the guys who are still singing into our ears as we’re falling asleep every night; the guys we just can’t help but to wish to be in our next lives. They are…the coolest. Head on over to the list, and click on each artist to read more about them and hear more of their music.
View April’s Best Artists of the Month
Listen While You Work: 2.0
Listen While You Work 1.0 started with me saying I was trying to keep my head above water at my job. I came out yesterday in a pretty personal post saying that I wasn’t going to live that way anymore. That said, I still spend many hours at work, and it’s always important to have good music to listen to at work. And so comes Episode 2 of Listen While You Work. For the most part, it’s a little more upbeat this time; you gotta keep you head up while ya work, right? This version features music from the following artists:
- W.H.I.T.E.
- NONONO
- Sam Smith
- Sound Remedy
- Bibio
- Fryars
- Tunng
- The National
- Gambles
- Deertree
- Wildlife Control
The 10 Best Kid Cudi Songs
Kid Cudi was one of the first artists I really latched onto when I started this music blog back in 2008. I immediately heard something different in his music that I wasn’t hearing in most music: honesty, introspection, and a version of hip hop that was accessible to people not looking for the typical ramblings of a gangster making music. I admired the dark nature of Cudi’s words more than I ever thought I was. Perhaps it made me think I was lonelier than I was in reality, but I felt them. A Kid Named Cudi was the first project I heard from the young rapper/singer, and I’ve been listening ever since. Though I’ve felt a steady decline in the quality and appeal in Kid Cudi’s music since that fateful day in 2008, there have been songs that have forever changed my life between then and now. While I sit here and hope that Incidud catapults Cudder back into the ranks of the best musicians I’ve ever heard, I have worked with the Sunset Fam to put together a list of the 10 best Kid Cudi songs of all time. - Lydia Simmons
Start reading: 10 Best Kid Cudi Songs
Best of March 2013
It was a busy, busy month for us here at SITR. Many, many posts. Tons of new songs. A bunch of spankin’ new EP’s. #NoDaysOff
No, but seriously, this was one of the tougher months I’ve had due to the fact that there was so much music to choose from. It’s only 30 songs, but could’ve stretched it to 50. Could you even handle 50 new songs that are considered the best of the month? Could you? I feel like 50 new songs would give you a midlife crisis.
Download link, top 5, and track-list below!
Download Best of March 2013
A beautiful journey throughout the streets of Vegas on some other ish.
P&P called it “inide pop perfection” and it is. Word to ya mothaaaaaa.
Chance The Rapper – Good Ass Intro
#AcidRap drops in April. Around the same time I have finals. Good luck to me.
Vicetone ft. Collin McLoughlin – Heartbeat
I’ve known Collin’s music for a couple years now and he sure impressed when he was on The Voice. His versatility is crazy as he can go ahead and slow it up for you like he did on his Stark Perspective EP, or do something like this with Vicetone.
Robin Thicke ft. Pharrel & T.I. – Blurred Lines
The irony in this song. Literally just last week during our ILR of JT’s new album we mentioned how Robin Thicke has been irrelevant, then he goes ahead and drops this bombshell on us. Oh, and the video is cool too.
Continue reading “Best of March 2013” »
Listen While You Work: 1.0
While I’m trying to keep my head above water with my day job, it pains me not to be able to share every song I hear and love. Particularly because even while I work, if I’m sitting at my desk, I have to listen to music to keep the blood pumping through my veins. That’s just how I operate. And there’s a lot of stuff going into my ears. So I’ve decided I’ll try to do some of these posts where I pull some of the top songs together and make a custom playlist for you to be able to listen to while you work. So here goes…Listen While You Work: 1.0. This week features music from Peace, Vondelpark, Josh Record, Fyfe, Say Lou Lou, Wintercoats, Junip, Last Lynx, Sir Sly, Cloud Boat, Ajimal, and Niagara.
15 Weird Rap Songs (Pt. 2)
Rap is a constantly evolving genre. Even the most traditional artists take risks in delivery, flow, and beat selection; that’s part of what makes the music so consistently interesting and fun and influential. The following songs are not the strangest rap songs out there, but each one features some sort of “abnormality.” Of course, these abnormalities could one day be the norm, and that’s horrifying.
But also incredibly exciting.
- F. Stokes – Madison West High School
- Star Slinger – Ladies in the Back (ft. Teki Latex)
- Acmatic – Make Her Jump
- Flume – On Top (ft. T.Shirt)
- Flux Pavilion – Do or Die (ft. Childish Gambino)
- Dominic Lord – Never and Never (Prod. by Hudson Mohawke)
- K.Flay – Another Round
- Kendall Elijah – Sittin’ (Cover)
- Ab-Soul x JMSN – You’re Gone
- Blood Diamonds – Barcode (ft. Dominic Lord)
- Euro League – Social Network (ft. Denzil Porter)
- Evil Nine – The Black Brad Pitt (ft. Danny Brown) (Deebs Remix)
- Iron Mics x Tonio – T W A (Till We Arrive)
- MeLo-X – GOD MAGIC
- Homeboy Sandman – Illuminati
Related: 10 Weird Rap Songs (Pt. 1)
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Artists of the Month – March 2013
It’s almost halfway through March, so in the spirit of giving, the Sunset fam put our heads together and came up with six of our favorite artists of this month. Hit the jump for the full list, and then click on each image to get a bit more information about them and links to be able to share the artist with your friends so you seem super cool and ahead of the curve, and you can then click through to get more information about them. Oh and we put together a playlist with some dope songs from these guys. WHERE ARE ALL THE LADIES? Next month, perhaps.
Continue reading “Artists of the Month – March 2013” »
Best of February 2013
Damn you, February! These 28 days crept up on me fast, but don’t worry, I still have your best 25 songs of the month. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, with a hint of swag from Arjun, and I give you Best of February.
Download link below, followed by top 5, and track list after the jump!
Download Best of February 2013
Jordan’s Top 5:
Chance? The Rapper? Lead single off of AcidRap and it doesn’t disappoint. His voice, his bars, his chorus, his visuals. Still my favorite current rapper (been like that since #10Day dropped).
Chance! The Rapper! 2/2. Acid Rain is much slower than Juice, and is a more “serious” song. Second single off of AcidRap
Doesn’t have that Channel Orange feel, but the acoustic vibe with his vocals is spot on. This was a leftover track from Channel Orange, but please, don’t let that fool you. Frank for daaayyyyyssssss.
Might be the most impressive song out of the bunch strictly because it’s someone brand new that made that good of a song. First impressions are everything, and Sam Smith impressed. Fuck that, he went way beyond that.
J. Cole ft. Miguel – Power Trip
First single off of J. Cole’s new album. Miguel with the wonderful hook, and J. Cole doing what he does best: keeping it real. You can’t beat this combo.
Honorable Mention: The King’s Dead, Juicy J, Hoodie Allen, Theophilus London
Continue reading “Best of February 2013” »
