WILD TONIC: 2009

Monday, December 28, 2009

Top 50 Songs of 2009: 10 - 1

Okay, friends! We're finally at the top of my list. (Sorry it was postponed for so long. Holiday festivities with the family have taken up time during the last few days.)

These songs are considered to be the Top 50 Songs of 2009 based on how much I played them on repeat or on sheer quality and credible musicianship.

I hope you enjoyed all the songs so far. I hope even more that you grabbed a few tracks you really loved and are playing them on repeat now. So without further ado, here are my top 10 songs of 2009!

Top 50 Songs of 2009: 20 - 11

Okay, second to last list for my Top 50 Songs of 2009! Hope you had time to listen to numbers 50 - 41, 40 - 31, and 30 - 21. There was good stuff in those installments but the great stuff is what's up coming up in this post!

Think about it - we're up to the top 20 now! Also, keep in mind that these are my favorite songs of 2009 based on my opinions on musicality. Not everyone will agree with these ranking or choices, but I'm hoping that everyone will love at least a few songs if not all of these.

Songs 20 - 11 all ready for you to stream and download... after the jump!

With the sad news of Brittany Murphy's sudden death, I had to post this video. Although I despise Access Hollywood, I turned the TV on while they were showing footage of Murphy singing Queen's "Somebody To Love" for the film, Happy Feet - and that was all it took. I was overcome with sadness because not only was she a lovable actress but she had a such a great voice! It's a shame she never got to release that solo album of hers.

Although I'm glad Paul Oakenfold was just a phase for me back in 2002, (I can't really listen to him sober anymore) I still love this track which features the late actress. Murphy had been singing behind the scenes for years but this was the first track to identify her vocals with. Not to mention, she looked fabulous in this video!

Check it out below!

Top 50 Songs of 2009: 30 - 21

All right. We're in the middle of the list with the third installment to my countdown of 2009's Top 50 songs. I hope you had time to check out numbers 50 - 41 and 40 - 31. These are all songs I've rocked on my iPod this year. It's great if you were bumping to some of these tracks too, but nothing would make me happier than you discovering some great new artists in this list.

So, here's my favorite songs of 2009 - numbers 30 - 21. They're all after the jump ready for you to stream and download again. Enjoy!

If you haven't heard of Lex Land by now, my heart goes out to you. At the age of 21 she put out an incredible album titled Orange Days on Lemon Street filled with tracks of wisdom and soul. With vocals that are as soothingly classic as Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald's but refreshing in approach as Meaghan Smith or Adele, Lex Land has toured with great artists (such as Gavin Castleton) who also know how to musically throw down. You can read an interview I did with her on BeatCrave here.

To get you into the mood for the holidays - as if you weren't already - I'd like to share her cover of Joni Mitchell's lovely "River." A sad song when stripped down to the message but beautifully composed when focused on the musicality, Lex Land does a wonderful job bringing out the sorrow and insight in her cover.

Check it out and grab the mp3 along with her song, "Could've Had Me" below!

Top 50 Songs of 2009: 40 - 31

Well, I hope you had time to listen to all the songs from my Top 50 Songs of 2009 so far with numbers, 50 - 41! Now it's time to move on and get closer to the number one song.

Next up are my favorite songs ranked from 40 - 31. Songs include Peaches, Robotanists, Mirah, A Place To Bury Strangers, and more. Take a look below, listen and download away!

The Drums may not suit everyone's taste, but there is no doubt that they're simply a lot of fun. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY members from bands, Elkland and Goat Explosion, teamed up together with two other guys to bring us this post-punk pop music. Live shows include back up singers in uniform who dance in synchronization and whistle as well.

They've recently released a video for their song, "I Felt Stupid." It's a nice simple black and white concept based on track and field sports with shots of the band performing. However, fun times on the field turn into dangerous situations.

Watch the video below then download their track, "Let's Go Surfing," below!

Beck has been one of the busiest musicians in 2009. After releasing Modern Guilt in 2008, Beck launched a website with a TON of different series including the most popular one called The Record Club. This club is basically a meeting where Beck invites a group of all-star musicians to come in to his studio and record an entire album's worth of covers.

The first Record Club installment featured producer Nigel Godrich and actor Giovanni Ribisi covering The Underground Velvet & Nico and the second installment featured MGMT and Devendra Banhart covering Songs of Leonard Cohen. The latest boasts another great round of artists such as Feist, Jamie Lidell and Wilco's guitarist, Nels Cline who all cover Skip Spence's cult-favorite, Oar.

Like always, they post their finished products onto vimeo to share with friends and fans. I've got two of them for you after the jump. Enjoy!

I always thought all three Swedish artists, Lykke Li, Robyn, and El Perro del Mar all sounded alike. Of course, I'm not talking about their styles but they all seem to have a delicate soprano voice that takes you by surprise.

El Perro del Mar, known for gorgeous lo-fi twee pop, put out a wonderful mini-album this year by the title of Love Is Not Pop. "Change of Heart" is the track that has become a favorite of many El Perro del Mar fans, and apparently we little people aren't the only ones who like it.

Swedish pop star, Robyn, has remixed the track under the moniker Rakamonie, and it's pretty decent! For those people who don't know too much about Robyn, all you have to know is that she went from this overbearing bubble gum pop star in the 90s with hits like "Show Me Love" and "Do You Know (What It Takes)," to this individually powerful force over in the UK when she decided to go indie and electronica. Her self-titled album, Robyn, was definitely one of my faves during 2008 and based on what I know about her and the electronica scene, it doesn't surprise me to find out she's done a rad remix like this.

El Perro del Mar and Robyn's voices sound like one on this remix, and of course I'm a fan because of its clean organized beats. Even del Mar fans won't be able to deny their liking for this remix. It doesn't run too far away from the key melodies, but reaches out just enough to sound refreshingly new. Listen to the remix and then the original below!

Top 50 Songs of 2009: 50 - 41

As I previously mentioned, 2009 has been such a great year in music. If you want proof, just check out my Top 40 albums of 2009. That list could have easily been 50!

So! I've decided to share my 50 favorite songs of 2009 with you. This list also could have been much longer, but I only want you to hear the cream of the crop.

Starting with today's post, I will be sharing numbers, 50 - 41. The entire list will be spread out among five days, so make sure you keep checking back for the next ten until you get to the number one song!

Here we go...

It's been a good year for Local Natives, and an even better year for fans of the fantastic Los Angeles-based 5-piece band. With their love for percussion and rich harmonies, Local Natives have gained a very loyal following here in LA and around the world. (You can read my interview with them on BeatCrave here.) NME even took notice and hooked them up with a UK tour and record label, Infectious, released their debut overseas.

Next year will be a greater year for US fans, since Frenckiss Records recently signed them. This means we fans State side will be able to get our hands on their full-length, Gorilla Manor, on February 19. Finally!

The album features well-known tracks such as "Airplanes," "World News," and more. However, if you've ever gone to one of their live shows, you also know that they had their own 5-track EPs with live tracks courtesy of Daytrotter. One of these tracks was the "Sun Hands," a track that has become one of my favorites.

Now, there is a cleaner version available from Gorilla Manor and people have probably been downloading it like crazy since Pitchfork recently put the track up on their site. You can listen to it and download both versions here after the jump. Enjoy!

I've been meaning to post this song last week when the band excitedly announced as a free download. Leave it up to LA's quirky duo, The Pity Party, to release a Christmas song with a not-so-cheesy holiday message.

Heisenflie and M has become a must-see for concert-goers in LA, or anywhere actually, in the past two years. Why? It might have to do with the fact that Heis simultaneously does vocals, drums and keyboards like an octopus.

What's also interesting is that both members have been or are associated with the acting world and Heis has red hair so many have compared them to Rilo Kiley. However, in an interview I did with the duo over a year ago, their response to that was simply, "We're not Rilo Kiley on speed. We're Rilo Kiley on PCP." I also did another interview with the pair for LA.CityZine (the former music section before it became BeatCrave), way back then which you can check out here.

Check out this tongue-in-cheek "holiday" snippet by The Pity Party below!

There is no doubt that Passion Pit released one of everybody's favorite albums for 2009 with Manners. Their track, "Sleepyhead," is most likely the most popular track since it was on both the Chunk of Change EP and the debut full-length. What's great about this track is the energy and when I first came across it, it was the perfect song to get me pumped up in the morning.

However, what most people haven't heard is their acoustic version of it. This rendition of "Sleepyhead" without all the bells and whistles isn't as vigorous in sound but extremely soothing especially when you need to wind down after a long day.

Check out this awesome piano acoustic take on "Sleepyhead" below!

Top 40 Albums of 2009

I told you I would bring it, and here it is. Well, half of it. Here is the beginning of my Top 40 Albums of 2009. However, it is only numbers 40 - 21. The other half will be published on BeatCrave tomorrow, so make sure to check in there on Tuesday!

2009 was a great year in music. To much dismay of others, indie rock took a slight electronic turn but it was actually to my delight! I'd like to say that I have a pretty broad taste in music ranging from pop to punk to rock to electro to soul and more. Yet, I know many people will disagree with this Top 40 list. It's just a consequence I'm ready to face as I post this.

Here is the bottom half of my Top 40 Albums of 2009...

Ellie Goulding: Starry Eyed (Jakwob Remix)

There's no use in hiding the fact that I have a lady crush on UK's rising electronica-pop star, Ellie Goulding. Her ability to make that thin voice soar over mesmeric beats have already gotten her into my iTunes' top 25 most listened songs. That's how much I listen to this girl.

I recently brought you the remix of her single, "Under the Sheets," but I just found out that there is also a remix of "Starry Eyed." This song has been around a bit longer than "Under the Sheets," so it leaves me befuddled to realize that I've never heard it because it's remixed by the same DJ, Jakwob.

Jakwob, a British DJ who is only 20 years old, keeps cranking these remixes out and I have to say - He does such a great job at creating clean beats on songs I love that I may find myself diving into the Dubstep genre all over again.

Take a listen to the remix of Goulding's "Starry Eyed" by Jakwob. It's a great partnership between two young and upcoming talents.

A month or so ago, a friend told me that I should get into an LA artist by the name of Dam Funk. I had heard of the name before but never really looked into him and sooner or later I couldn't deal with the curiosity in the back of my head.

This Dam-Funk guy is as funky as my friend says he is, apparently full of "boogie funk" to be exact, and I dig it. Modern electro and soul all giving off a retro Prince vibe is another chill sound I can gladly add to my music library.

However, his latest video for "Mirrors," is a bit silly. Entertaining but silly. The track is superb, but I couldn't agree more with Pitchfork's description: "The L.A. funk maestro brings some young people back to life using a keytar and the force of the funk..." That's exactly what happens yet you keep watching it because you see tons of cameos including Nite Jewel's Ramona Gonzalez. (He and Gonzales are currently working on a project titled Nite Funk.) Watch the video yourself below!

If you are a BeatCrave reader, you know we love the indie rock outfit that is Saint Motel. Four guys who all met in film school and decided to start a band couldn't come off more charming than this. Their shows are always extreme as they incorporate much more technology than most bands. Lead vocalist, A/J Jackson, sounds like a pop-rock version of Grizzly Bear's Edward Droste and they're just a ton of fun to see live.

You may have already seen the "To My Enemies" video if you've bought the EP, ForPlay, but they officially released it online Wednesday and I think it deserves to be seen as well. It's like the game, Clue, mashed up with rock star shenanigans backstage. Whodunnit? Watch it after the jump and enjoy!

Other than the A-trak remix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been somewhat off my radar this year even with the release of their latest album, It's Blitz! Not to imply that the album wasn't great - I loved the dance-anthem side of YYYs - however, in my opinion, nothing of theirs afterward has lived up to their album, Fever To Tell.

Simple songs such as "Rich" and "Maps" were what made the trio a novelty and now it seems like Karen O's extravagant fashion has tried to creep into their music, and it doesn't sound as honest. So when I came across this acoustic and strings version of "Maps" (off of an iTunes exclusive), I knew it had to share it. The nakedness of this track with Karen O's perfect pitch vocals makes me long for YYYs from 6 years ago.

Listen below!

I apologize for the lack of posts, everyone. The end of year is always crazy and this month has been no exception. So! I'm back to play catch up with a few rad mp3s and videos. Also, on Tuesday, I will be posting the Top 20 albums of 2009 on BeatCrave, but make sure to check here tomorrow on Monday because I'll be posting albums 40 - 21 on Wild Tonic.

To get back into things, there is no other song I would be more happy to share with you than Sade's brand new single, "Soldier of Love." The track features Sade's subtle and silky vocals on top of a mid-tempo rhythm. Although Sade's leading lady has always been the epitome of exotic beauty, the new track takes on a slightly different turn with hypnotic, tribal beats and mystical swooshes of wind. It's a sexy and sophisticated listen.

Sultry Sade Adu and her band will be releasing a new album with the same title on February 8, 2010. No one can forgot how great Lovers Rock was and the new album will be another great reason to celebrate a new decade.

Take a listen below!

Fanfarlo Music Video: Harold T. Wilkins

Within the past few months, Fanfarlo has become one of the many bands I've been obsessing over. So when they came to LA and I didn't plan ahead of time enough to get on the list or buy tickets, I was pretty bummed when their show with Freelance Whales (another band you'll hear me talking about a lot) was completely sold out.

Their album, Reservoir, initially served as a filler for the melodramatic pop orchestrations Arcade Fire has been stingy with since 2007's Neon Bible, but the more I listened to it I realized that there is a quirkiness and detailed essence to Fanfarlo's sound that sets them apart. Melodies are more accessible and although a UK band, Simon Balthazar's Swedish undertones peek out in his vocals reminding me why they've gained the credibility overseas.

In this new video for "Harold T. Wilkins" (also known as "Harold T. Wilkins or How To Wait For A Very Long TIme") the band pays tribute to the Sci-Fi fiction writer by telegraphing motions to each other in the forest. Direction by Alma Har'el (who directed Beirut's famous "Elephant Gun" video) is also fitting since there are hints of Beirut-like pockets heard in their songwriting. Enjoy the video, watch the old video for it if you wish, and please grab an mp3 of "I'm A Pilot" if you don't already have it. I'm begging you.

As if Chromeo's Dave 1 needed to show another reason why he's crush-worthy! Electro-funk duo, Chromeo has just released their new video for "Night By Night," a single off of their upcoming follow-up album to Fancy Footwork and although it highlights Dave 1 more than P-Thugg it's a fun watch that echoes a little of Flashdance and their video for... well, "Fancy Footwork."

Girls are seen sneaking off to a warehouse where they pay P-Thugg to get a chance to dance with Dave 1. Things start out innocent but soon enough Chromeo's lead vocalist proves he's got the moves which makes the girls grow catty and possibly a little more dirty with their own steps.

Chromeo's third album is slated for a release in Summer 2010, and I can't wait. Not many agree but they're the Hall and Oates of this generation. (They've also worked with Daryll Hall!) Did I also mention Dave 1 speaks French really well, too? Swoon. Enjoy the video after the jump!

Lykke Li: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Shirelles cover)

Lykke Li first burst out onto the music scene with your hit single, "I'm Good, I'm Gone" a track off of her debut album Youth Novels (2008). She joined other famous blond Swedes such as Robyn and Jens Lekman by gaining popularity for her unique style. There is an endearing sound to her vocals where they may deceivingly come off small but instead echo very large with her inflections of soul. To add to her success, her song, "Possibility" was recently included on the New Moon soundtrack.

Today, she offered a free promo cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and made most popular by The Shirelles. The song, itself, ranks at #125 in Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and Lykke Li strips it down to the bare minimum in this recording by using only vocals and piano.

Take a listen below, grab the mp3 as well as the one for "Possibility," and watch the live video over here where they also have another link for others who want to download.

Everyone had high expectations for British duo, The Big Pink, and for good reasons, too. Their lead single off of September's A Brief History of Love, "Dominos," is catchy as you can get without stripping indie rock credibility and before that their hard-to-pin down sound was already creating enough buzz. Listeners of The Big Pink can hear bits of Jesus and Mary Chain as well as synth-pop and electro remnants.

Although spread out among various genres, the duo has always had a theme of romanticism and this may have lead to their cover of Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams." It's funny how Solange covered Dirty Projectors (who are on Domino records) and now the "Dominos" band is covering another Knowles song.

Check their haunting rendition out below (thanks to Stereogum), take a listen to the original and then grab the "Dominos" mp3 if you don't already have it.

Hot Chip: Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)

Hot Chip was one of the breakout electronic groups in 2004 with thier album, Coming On Strong, but they had been around long before that with remixes and EPs. They've recently announced that they will be releasing their fourth studio album, One Life Stand, and it's supposedly a wild blend of everything from soul music to modern R&B to house and more.

I came across their cover of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" a couple of weeks ago and I still love it. It maintains Gaye's cool soul vibe but also echos a trippy electronic sound with vocals that sound like they're buffering during playback.

Take a listen to it below, grab the mp3, and make sure to check out their new album once it's officially released on February 8th, 2010.

Sia doesn't have a huge range nor a voice which she belts with often, but that's fine by me because her vocals always have this edge that just make you feel whatever she is feeling. A great example of this is Colour the Small One's (2004), "Breathe Me," a song that will be my favorite Sia song until the end of time.

Today, the Australian singer shared a new track titled "You've Changed" with her Twitter followers and it's great! As much as I love her breathy ballads, this track is surely to be popular on the dance floor. There's a variety of layers to the music and her voice tops it all off so perfectly. The word on the street is that her new album will be released sometime in 2010.

Take a listen below. Of course, I've got the mp3 for you, too!

Even after they changed their sound to suit dance-anthem lovers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are still going strong with their latest album, It's Blitz!

Lately, it also seems like every time I am waiting for a show to start, the venue plays this "Heads Will Roll" remix by A-Trak (who is also known for being Kanye West's DJ and brother of Chromeo's Dave 1). The last time I recall hearing it was when I attended the Crystal Castles and Neon Indian show sponsored by Kia.

Although none of YYY's recent stuff compares to their first album, Fever to Tell (which they'll be playing in its entirety at ATP overseas), this remix is pretty rad. Take a listen and grab the mp3 below!

Atlas Sound Music Video: Quick Canal featuring Laetitia Sadier

Atlas Sound's second album, Logos, is not a disappointment. Even after a rough sketch of it was accidentally leaked (thanks to his public folder on MediaFire), Bradford Cox's sophomore album as a solo artist still shines.

Although the first single was "Walkabout" ft. Animal Collective's Noah Lennox, a video was made for "Quick Canal" instead. Watching the video makes me feel a bit like I'm in the twilight zone. Atlas Sound uses a lot of samples and the images I'm looking at are also random samples. That makes sense. However, if you sit still, the video can easily grab then pull you through this strange two-dimensional world as the images slowly scroll from side to side and the music almost gives off an echo. You see mostly images from the 60s and hear Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier on vocals.

Check it out after the jump!

Charlotte Gainsbourg is an amazing woman. She is not only a great actress (People may refer to Antichrist but I adore her in The Science of Sleep), but she is also a very legitimate songwriter. Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise if you know her father is.

Gainsbourg will be releasing a new album titled IRM which is produced by Beck. The one-man-show duets with her on this track and also stars in this video for "Heaven Can Wait." The song is a bit slow-tempo but nonetheless catchy. What's most captivating are the images they combine for this quirky story. There is a man with a half-beard. There's a shot of a skateboard with hamburgers in place of wheels and there is also a man with pancakes for a head. There's a number of absurdities, but the concept perfectly matches the sound of their unusual duet.

Check it out below!

Those Darlins: Red Light Love

The first time I had ever seen Nashville-based band, Those Darlins, I was definitely not ready for them. I had initially gone to Silverlake Lounge to see Australian band, The Grates, and had no idea what the headlining "darlins" would sound like. I assumed they would be a tame country group based on their hometown.

Instead, I was completely taken aback as these three ladies cussed, made dirty jokes, spilled their beer, knocked equipment over and more. When their set was finally done, the stage was just soaked in booze. It's not just about the stage presence either. Their sound is a garage, punk, country and rock and roll hybrid that is incredibly hard not to get caught up in.

Hence, I am seeing them again tonight. Originally scheduled to open for The King Khan & BBQ Show at the Troubadour, they are now on the bill for 10:30 at Silverlake Lounge. Why? Because - surprise, surprise - King Khan and their manager are a no show again. Although it would have been amazing to see Those Darlins work the Troubadour stage, the small intimate stage at Silverlake Lounge is exciting to even think about again.

Want a little taste of these naughty rock gals? Download their track, "Red Light Love," and watch the footage someone actually got from that first night I saw them below. It's pretty wild. Don't let their darlin image fool you.

If you've ever read any of my articles on BeatCrave, you would know that I've been a fan of Long Beach-based band, Avi Buffalo for a while now. They've just recently graduated from high school (one of them is still enrolled), yet they've accomplished so much at such a young age. Lead vocalist and guitarist, Avi, has been trained by some of the greatest in the area and is basically a prodigy. The band, itself, has already played numerous festivals such as Monolith and FYF. To top it all off, they were very recently signed to Sup Pop Records.

Tonight, they will be playing a free show at Mountain Bar in Los Angeles' Chinatown along with Spider Problem and Kill Kill Kill as part of the lineup for Vice's party with Etnie Sneakers. If you rsvp, you not only get in for free but you get complimentary Colt 45 and a pair of sneakers! (Of course, there is a limited supply.) I'm not going to lie. It sounded really enticing but I've already made plans to go see Those Darlins over at Silverlake Lounge. However, if you decide to go the show is from 10pm - 2am.

If you've also been living under a rock for the past year or so, please do yourself a favor and download their song, "What's In It For," or just take a listen after the jump! You can also read an interview I've done with Avi for BeatCrave here.

Baltimore, Maryland-based duo, Beach House, has always been a favorite in the indie music realm. They may not like the phrase "dream pop" to describe their sound, but with Victoria Legrand's divine vocals make it difficult for their songs to come off anything but dreamy. (Have you heard her sing with Grizzly Bear?)

Their upcoming album, Teen Dream, will be released January 26 in 2010 and according to their new family, Sub Pop, the album is "without a question, more expansive and moving than anything they have shared before." If they're saying it's possibly a step up from their latest album, Devotion, that statement is already impressive in itself.

Hear a sneak peek of the album by grabbing their song, "Norway," after the jump!

Crystal Antlers Video: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan cover)

I love it when bands play any song in an unconventional setting and this video of Long Beach-based band, Crystal Antlers, is no exception. Stopping by Indie-Verse for the "Live in the Loo" segment, the band played a number of songs in CBS Radio's restroom and this is what they've captured during just one of the songs.

The Weekly Tape Deck was kind enough to share the video below with the rest of the blogosphere. Watch Crystal Antlers cover Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" after the jump.

South Carolina's Washed Out (aka Ernest Greene) released one of my favorite EPs of Summer 2009. Life of Leisure (via Mexican Summer) is full of gorgeous, hazy, and soft electronic melodies that make me feel like I've had a half a bottle of wine all to myself within just 30 minutes.

People have compared Washed Out to Memory Tapes and a subdued version of Neon Indian, but Greene's sound slightly leans toward the gentle side of Junior Boys which is a great accomplishment for any artist in my book.

He's recently released a video for "Feel It All Around," and although the concept is a bit too home video (on vacation), the woozy effect is still there thanks to the underwater scenes and those massaging beats on loop. Check it out below and grab a couple of mp3s!

Warning! NSFW

The Flaming Lips' leading man, Wayne Coyne, has always been a very ambitious and outgoing person. Who else walks into the crowd inside a giant bubble? So when I heard they were making a new video with naked people on bikes, it didn't sound anything too drastic for the band.

It turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. The video for "Watching The Planets" was recently released and Mr. Coyne went all out for it... and when I say Mr. Coyne went all out, he went. all. out.

Ellie Goulding: Under the Sheets (Jakwob Remix)

If you haven't heard of Ellie Goulding by now, your only reason may be that you're over here in the States. Overseas, the British acoustic turned electro-pop singer has blown up within the last few months. She's opened up for Little Boots, worked with Frankmusik and even covered Passion Pit's "Sleepyhead" on a Starsmith remix. Although her voice fits right into the stereotypical feathery light vocals that often accompany electronica, her range is impressive and she pulls it off almost Lykke Li style with pockets of R&B hidden in every measure or so.

She's currently working on her full-length debut with popular producer, Mark Ronson. There isn't a title or a definite date yet, but it is slated for an early 2010 release. Her first single is "Under the Sheets," and although it's only been out for a few weeks a remix by Jakwob has already been born. Considering the fact that a lot of electronica songs remixed are too much for me, this remix is quite good. Jakwob does a fine job accentuating just the right amount of build-ups to the chorus and layers the elements in an organized matter.

Listen to the remix after the jump. Then watch the video for the original version.

Olentangy John comes to Los Angeles by way of New York but his music luckily comes without the unnecessary flashiness or deceiving glitz of either city. His album, O! Be Joyful, released via Trailer Fire Records is a canon of utmost sincerity and truth through guitar and banjo strumming among a multitude of other instruments. Cigarettes, honest tunes and a trucker hat will do it if that combination consistently yields songs this great. Those who have a soft spot for Leslie and the Badgers and Ferraby Lionheart can easily make room for this guy.

Olentangy John will have an in-store performance at Origami Vinyl tonight starting at 7pm. So if you're in Echo Park, pop in for some refreshingly good storytelling.

Until then, check his video of the title track, "O! Be Joyful" out below and grab an Mp3 of "Daniel."

San Diego-based singer-songwriter, Anya Marina, has vocals that can sound very young and bright but there are many times where it has just enough color for us to hear some soul. Her latest album, Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II, is quickly gaining the attention it deserves due to TV placements and her song, "Satellite," which is featured on the New Moon Soundtrack.

She's also great at arrangements. This cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" is much catchier than the original and surprisingly, it even sounds a little dirtier coming from such a sweet looking girl. Then again, maybe it's just because the CW played it during a threesome scene in Gossip Girl or maybe because the video is not something you want to watch with your grandma. Also, yes; that is Justin Kirk of Weeds being a creeper.

Check the video out below then grab the mp3!

Animal Collective has gained popularity for their swirl of hallucinogenic music that soothes as well as rushes your adrenaline. So it's not a surprise their new video for "In The Flowers," a track off of their latest album Merriweather Post Pavilion, looks exactly what it sounds like.

Directed by Avey Tare's sister, Abigail Portner, the video boasts trippy images that range from marionettes to real life contemporary dancers who are just as creepy. The drawings are the best part. Check it out below!

Welcome to Wild Tonic! What you'll find here, everyday, is a video or song I really enjoy or just have something to say about. Since this is the first post, we've got lots of catching up to do because there have been some wild songs and videos released in the past few days. First up: Solange.

Solange is mostly known as Beyonce Knowle's younger sister. However, in the past few years she's proven herself to the critics who were just waiting to call her another diva wannabe. Although she's capable of writing solid pop hooks, her style has more of a soul and R&B undertone to it.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Friday, November 20, 2009

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

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