Sunset in the Rearview

Childish Gambino – We Ain’t Them

Arjun — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:26:53 +0000

So Donald took to Twitter about half an hour ago and just started a Kanye-esque rant. Well okay, “rant” is a harsh word. Donald basically felt the need to explain himself–what’s he’s doing with his rap career, how he’s trying to improve, why he goes out of his way to mention kids like Trayvon Martin, and much more. The fact that he feels like he has to defend himself is ridiculous, but the things he said were insightful into the mind of one of the most talented young artists around today. He is ambitious, but he doesn’t think he’s the best (even when he says it all the time). He’s grateful for the many good things that have happened in his life but also remembers the bullshit he had to grow up with. A lot of people don’t realize that he’s paid his dues; he’s faced the same sort of hardships that many iconic rappers have faced. He’s just as “hood” as they are. After talking about how Childish Gambino started as an inside joke and has now become a legitimate rap career and how he has accepted that, he dropped the link to his newly redesigned site, featuring the picture above and the realest Big Ghost review of it. “We Ain’t Them” was first heard live at The Switch, which streamed online late last month. My favorite part of the song is when Gambino talks of reminiscing about Whitney Houston with Questlove. That’s royalty.

MP3: “We Ain’t Them” – Childish Gambino

Bonus!

This one dropped yesterday on Funkmaster Flex. I hate radio tags but love the song and the Schoolboy Q feature.

MP3: “Unnecessary (Radio Rip) (ft. Schoolboy Q)” – Childish Gambino

We don’t wife ‘em like Khalifa, we just party then we leave ‘em

Follow @THEArjunGrover

Win Free Vinyl Records!

Lydia — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:10:31 +0000

It’s been a little bit since we’ve done a giveaway on the site, so I’m here to announce a giveaway that we’re actually running through Facebook! Details below!

Enter to Win:

One of three free vinyl records. Winners will be selected at random.

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Reptar – Body Faucet
Oliver Tank – Dreams EP

How to Enter:

Click here and “like” the Facebook page, then enter your information and click submit

Dates of Eligibility:

Today – May 22, 2012

ENTER NOW

Reptar – Three Shining Suns [Music Video]

Lydia — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:57:05 +0000

Reptar‘s new album (Body Faucet) is phenomenal, but I think my favorite song from it is “Three Shining Suns.” It captured my attention from the first time I got to stream the album, and to this day it hasn’t lost one bit of its touch. I’m a bit late on this one, but the music video has been released, and though it’s a bit odd, what else can be expected from Reptar? It reminds me a lot of that scene in Now and Then when they went into the graveyard at night. That always scared the shit out of me when I was younger. This might even be scarier.

I don’t want to lose you, don’t want to let you go. We fit together so well, fold in to folds.

California Wives – Marianne

Lydia — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:42:41 +0000

California Wives is a four-piece from Chicago (Joe O’Connor, Jayson Kramer, Dan Zima, and Graham Masell) who self-released an EP in 2010 entitled, Affair, which quickly garnered attention from the press. They just signed to Vagrant Records, which for any band these days, is likely a sign of rainbows, ice cream on summer days, sleds in the snow, and candy on Halloween. Okay, maybe that’s weird, but basically I’m trying to say it’s a good thing. Vagrant Records does an incredible job picking a lineup of artists that have incredible talent (think: Reptar, James Vincent McMorrow, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and many more). From the sound of this song and the news of their new label, California Wives seems to have a very bright future.

[Brenton Duvall Remix] The Knocks – All We Got ft. One Room & Kardinal Offishall

Jordan — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:54 +0000

Our guy Brenton drops this brand new joint, remixing The Knocks song with Kardinal Offishall, All We Got (original), and he adds in one of our favorites, One Room.

Two favorites in one song? Yeah, we’re kind of excited about this drop. Lydia should be too. Two people in this song crush on her! Chris (of One Room) and Brenton…I see you both!

Kardinal Offishall used to be my shit back in the day.

Brenton Duvall – All We Got Remix ft. The Knocks, One Room & Kardinal Offishall

Noah – Sexy and I Know It (LMFAO Cover)

Dusty — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:57:26 +0000

LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know” is dead is buried. The radio killed it. Then Bruce Springstein buried it. Then Madonna took it out of the grave and killed it twice over. Fuck, even Nicholas Cage has reminded of us of how annoying this song can be.

But then there was Noah.

Noah took every notion that’s ever been constructed from this song and threw it out the window. He produced a cover to end all covers.

By now many of you may have seen this viral cover of the transcendent LMFAO song, but I’ve also included an MP3 for your enjoyment. Thank you Noah. You’ve showed the world that even the most commercial of songs can be oh so soulful.

Noah – Sexy and I Know It (LMFAO Cover)

Follow @dcbui

ft. Celeste – A Monarchs Mixtape

Lydia — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:01:34 +0000

I came across this mixtape in my inbox today called ft. Celeste by Monarchs. Celeste Griffin traditionally performs under the name Monarchs, but today she’s taken a path away from her typically alt-soul and folk-rock singing styles and instead toward hip-hop, a genre she loves. This tape features the results of Celeste writing, singing and rapping over hooks by some of today’s best hip-hop producers, including J. Dilla, Jake One, Reggie Coby, Javelin and MF Doom. Put together, we’re left with a 10-minute mixtape called ft. Celeste – a Monarchs Mixtape. I’m not sure I’m feeling the whole compilation, but am totally loving these two, “Loose in the Knees” and “Make Some.”

MP3: “Loose in the Knees” – Monarchs

MP3: “Make Some” – Monarchs

Hit the jump for the link to listen to the whole mixtape.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE MIXTAPE HERE.

[Mixtape] Aylen – The Remixtape II

D Prep — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:56:47 +0000

When Aylen first really caught my eye, he was releasing his first Remixtape. Now, he’s on his second of his Remixtapes, and his progression as an artist is apparent–I’ve said it again and again, the kid just keeps getting better.

One thing I really love about his music is his ability to cover such diverse ranges of music. It’s not often that you see an electronic artist whose remixing repertoire spans the likes of Regina Spektor to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Ellie Goulding. He puts a very unique twist on each song–every record he releases is thoroughly reimagined and reworked, and I have to credit him for that. It’s truly impressive to be able to flip such a wide range of genres, infusing your own unique sound into every track.

This is the kind of tape you can play continuously throughout without skipping any songs–through this on at a party this weekend and see how well it works. Trust me, you’ll be killing it on the DJing and you won’t have to change the song even once.

Enjoy, and show your friends. Let’s get Aylen the recognition his music deserves.

The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix) (Aylen Re-Fix)

Regina Spektor – Us (Aylen Remix)

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Around The World (Aylen Bootleg)

Len – Steal My Sunshine (Aylen Remix)

College Ft Electric Youth – A Real Hero (Aylen Remix)

Head over to Aylen’s Facebook page to Download “The Remixtape II”

—–

Dream Big

Follow @DJDPrep

ANTHM – Polaris (ft. Blu)

Lydia — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:49:42 +0000

ANTHM sent me a preview of this track a couple months ago and I was sworn to secrecy about it and the feature on it. Listen to this song for yourself and keep in mind that Blu (one of my favorite rappers) is featured on a track with my buddy, and imagine having to keep that to yourself for a significant period of time. Oh, and it samples James Vincent McMorrow. Let’s just say shit was hard. And on that note, ANTHM and Blu both go hard. I absolutely love this track.

Shouts to 2DBZ for the premier!

Live Review: Youth Lagoon, Death Cab For Cutie

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Youth Lagoon and Death Cab for Cutie with Magik Magik Orchestra [at Fox Theater, May 8th, 2012]

YOUTH LAGOON:

Despite arriving late, I managed to catch the end of “Cannons” and my favorite (and Sunset in the Rearview “Best of 2011”) Youth Lagoonsong, “17”. My heart started pounding (slowly) when the lights and guitar went up during the chorus of “17”. Like the hazy lights on stage, Youth Lagoon’s sound is predicated on a thin layer of distortion that doesn’t conceal his talent. For two guys on stage with a guitar, keyboard, and synth on an otherwise bare stage, they were powerful. I came in thinking they’d be drowned out by the size and emptiness of the Fox Theater, but they filled it quite nicely. Youth Lagoon closed with 2011 media favorite “July”, ending on an entirely appropriate note for Death Cab.

MP3: “17″ – Youth Lagoon

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE:

Magik Magik Orchestra started the Death Cab for Cutie portion of the show, playing the opening notes of “Passenger Seat” as Ben Gibbard quietly slid out on stage. The rest of the band joined him during “Different Names for the Same Thing”. The ornate nature of the Fox Theater was in stark but lovely contrast to the understated set up of the show and stage. All members of the band were clad entirely in black and the Magik Magik Orchestra members wore black and white. The light show was minimal, serving its purpose of playing up the mood of each song, nothing more. The focus was definitely on the music, appropriately somber with the orchestral accompaniment. There were some light moments and jokes, but this was definitely the most serious and most beautiful Death Cab concert I’ve seen.

Hit the jump to see the full Death Cab for Cutie set list.

-Written by Debbie Liu

Set List:

Passenger Seat
Different Names for the Same Thing
Movie Script Ending
Grapevine Fires
Codes and Keys (the first song they recorded with Magik Magik Orchestra)
Underneath the Sycamore
Little Fury Bugs
Death of an Interior Decorator
You are a Tourist
Bend to Squares
Hindsight
Crooked Teeth
No Joy in Mudville
What Sarah Said
Soul Meets Body
Stay Young, Go Dancing

Encore:
Steadier Footing
Mellow Doubt (Teenage Fanclub cover)
Your Heart is an Empty Room
Monday Morning
I Will Follow You into the Dark
Tiny Vessels
Transatlanticism