Alright Seattle…enough of us giving you good music from good artists internationally that you can’t physically reach out and touch as soon as possible. One of the most forward reaching yet retro-leaning bands around right now are playing El Corazon in Seattle on 3/30 and if hearing rock with a swing is definitively your thing, then this show is not to be missed.

The Chicago-based band known as JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, marry a style of music that is part Sam and Dave, part Albert King and part whatever else your eardrums tell you it is. They’re on Bloodshot Records which should tell you plenty right there as that label doesn’t sign acts lightly. And they’ve got a new record out called Want More that’s tighter than gnat booty. Take the time to listen to the new single (which kicks ass) and peep this video for evidence of what they will be like this upcoming Friday.

Since my comrade Praxis83 decided to post the fun-loving jam “Sunshine” from Portland based power house Purple and Green last week, it seems like a good time to follow it up with their official video for the song. Justin showed me this song while I was in Portland a few months back, and having recently watched Purple and Green devour a stage in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, I feel strongly that the group has the ability to go far if folks just give them enough attention.

Talented music producer Mark de Clive Lowe recently released his ninth solo album, Renegades, last month. The record has a variety of high quality features (Sheila E, Pino Palladino, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Ovasoul 7) and should be a fun digital stocking stuffer for anyone who likes downtempo, nu-house and synthed out soul.

As a sort of anchor to keep people interested in that project, fellow producer DJ Spinna revisited MdCL’s catalog and plucked out some of the finest jams he could find. Check out a fresh, free mix below with 34 tracks of MdCL productions, remixes and collaborations with Kenny Dope (Masters At Work), DJ Spinna, Phil Asher (Restless Soul), Zed Bias and more. If you want breaks, soul, lounge, house or downtempo, it’s all here. This is the definition of adult chill out music.

Los Angeles duo J*DaVeY’s latest project, New Designer Drug, is the best album of the last half of 2011. I’ll make that statement and stand behind it without question. Everything about the record oozes a certain level of nu-wave creativity, black electronic power rock, future soul and all around passion that it’s hard to not get into the album. They released on their own label last week — this is after they walked away from an ill-fitting relationship at Warner Bros. Records — and are allowing the general public to the stream New Designer Drug for free or purchase it for $2.99. Charging three dollars for an amazing album nearly guarantees that a quarter of the people who hear it will purchase it. That’s smart. And the music is worth a heck of a lot more. Peep the album single below and then hit the group’s website if you want to support the project.

J*Davey featuring Thundercat – Queen of Wonderland by Hypetrak

If you’re still not convinced, stream the whole album and you should be convinced.

When it comes to dropping lyrics in songs that could easily be comedic punchlines, perhaps nobody is better at it right now than Danny Brown and the duders in Das Racist. Both entities love to make jaws drop and don’t mind making panties drop either. Both will be at Neumos tonight making folks laugh, pay attention, and of course dance.
If you’re not hip to Danny yet, frankly you’re just slow. He’s performing in Seattle for the first time tonight and that’s reason enough to come and support the show. Peruse this cover story. Hell yes I wrote it. You can also check out these videos below. Dude is nasty when it comes to the craft of rapping if you like hip-hop for what it, was, and will be in the future, come check out Danny do his thing.


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I’ve always been a fan of what Kenny Fresh and his Frsh Slcts website chooses to highlight in terms of being a tastemaking blog. I figured it was an entire crew of writers, designers, DJs and whoever else making Frsh Slcts happen until I met Kenny Fresh (aka Knny Frsh) in person here in Seattle and he dropped a nugget on me that I’ll always remember: “Naw man… it’s just me, that’s why I’m only able to post so often.” Well, nobody truly works alone, but still, there’s a whole heap of good taste in that man’s head and when he decides to post something folks should take the time to check it out.

Roughly a week ago, he dropped a mix of gems that were making him excited a couple of years ago. He enlisted the help of Portland DJ/producer Doc Adam to mix everything and what you get is a retrospective of timeless music that does not deserve to die due to people’s wack ass internet attention spans. Everybody is trying to either be current with the music they highlight or look toward future sounds/stuff that’s super retro. That’s fine. But what about the hot shit from 2008 that DJs act to cool to drop on the dancefloor now cause it’s “old.” Give me a break. Apparently Frsh Slcts agrees. Peep their highly eclectic mixer for free now. Full tracklist below the jump. Fans of Platinum Pied Pipers, Ta’raach, Little Dragon, and SA-RA should consider this mix an audible high five.

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Classic cello and Memphis-style Jookin together at last. Swag.