Last Samurai

This track should belong in the rather epic soundtrack of Samurai Champloo, which I previously raved about on this blog. This silky Jazz inspired composition has poise, confidence, and style. Special mention to the trumpet in the background, it's placed perfectly. Welcome to my smokey underground speakeasy where the coolest of the cool do cool things to songs like these. Enjoy!

Last Samurai - Sinitus Tempo (right click to save as)
Sinitus Tempo

Possession

This song performs metamorphosis right before your ears. At first I hear the track as one of those indie-hipster-band where every dude wears boots and has a long beard, cause that's a sound these days. Don't get me wrong, I love the aforementioned sound, but this song has more to offer than that. After the mid song breakdown, where it's just some simple bass notes and vocals the song becomes a butterfly. Enjoy!

Possession - Humans (right click to save as)
Humans

Full Moon

I've been real into this 80's inspired indie-pop-electro-dance-mania thing, and Chela hits the mark with this number. The flow of delivery is so banging, "crash... into... each... other" bobs my head each time. The song is rough, and raw but has times of smoothness. I'd say that the music video is a fair representative of the song, with Chela's erratic dancing. Enjoy!

Full Moon - Chela (right click to save as)
Chela

Latch

I was won over by the sped up sample that plays during key times of this track, but then, there's more. When Sam Smith starts singing falsetto, in conjunction with that "no no", I'm enamored. There's a pinch of soul and plenty of groove on this deep track, though it preserves a light and fun aura. I find the use of the sped up sample is a byte of something similar to what Kanye West was rocking circa mid-00's, but in deep house fashion. Enjoy!

Latch (Feat. Sam Smith) - Disclosure (right click to save as)
Disclosure | Sam Smith

Mechanical

This beautiful song has got it's hooks real deep into my ears. I've continually been impressed with the production and remixing that comes from Oliver, and maybe I resonate extra with this song due to the fact that I hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering, hence I love things mechanical. Enjoy!

Mechanical - Oliver (right click to save as)
Oliver

I'm Not Your Hero

I've stated that I'm a huge Tegan and Sara fan before (links to older posts).

I'm giddy as a school girl that their newest album is only days away from release. I plan to walk down to the nearest record store and carefully inspect each copy the store has, in order to purchase the most pristine copy. This song in particular hangs on a bit more to the indie vibe than the pop direction that the girls have said they are moving towards with this album. Enjoy!

I'm Not Your Hero - Tegan and Sara (right click to save as)
Tegan and Sara

Sunday Drive

I'm rocketed back to the 80's with this track. That, "haaa aaaahhh" opening the track over thunder, leading to an early song breakdown is perfect. The song is too modern to be a real 80's track, but there's an ode to awesome electronic 80's that I get from this, and appreciate. I also love the way the lyrics express desire for that Sunday Drive. I've had some life changing sunday drives in my day, I know just what she's talking about. Enjoy!

Sunday Drive (Gigamesh Remix) - Ladyhawke (right click to save as)
Ladyhawke | Gigamesh

The Blues Are Still Blue

I love an uptempo jam that, without listening to the words, sounds like a happy-go-lucky song that's paired with lines like "I left my baby in the launderette". Maybe I'm attracted to the juxtaposition of happy vibes and sad words, or maybe there's an added emotion when you belt out the sad lyrics over a happy melody, either way I'm in. Enjoy!

The Blues Are Still Blue - Belle & Sebastian (right click to save as)
Belle & Sebastian

Song For You

I've got an amazingly soft spot for smooth deep house, especially fantastic specimens like this track. This song has even less than most in the percussion department, and even more in the beautiful and soulful lyrics. This song carries me away with the light saxophone and flute along with the piano. Enjoy!

Song For You - Marbert Rocel (right click to save as)
Marbert Rocel

Select Sundays: On the Way

The way this track builds is how I'd like my 2013 to go: slow and gentle until it ramps up and you find yourself needing to dance. The question is: how do you move to this?

On the Way - Short Stories (right click to save as)
Short Stories

Select Sundays: Yo Adrian!

Last time I hit you with the Tatanka playlist, now it's time for another. I'm making a short jaunt to Philadelphia this weekend so thought I'd take the opportunity to throw a few Philly related tracks together. Read the whole post over at jonyang.org or stay right here and download the whole playlist and get moving!

Yo Adrian!
Track list - Zip file
Disc One: Cheesesteak
18 songs, 1 hr 12 mins, 95.0 MB

Disc Two: Hoagies
16 songs, 1 hr 06 mins, 86.4 MB

Treten

This blissful tune spans well over 6 minutes of glides and swirls. I can really appreciate the production on this track, the direction it goes and the ground that it covers from start to finish. The breakdown in the middle hits perfectly, with the long steady synth notes laying the ground work for those delicate keyboard notes to start the breakdown off. I like to listen to this track when I read or bike ride. Enjoy!

Treten - Teen Daze (right click to save as)
Teen Daze

Something Good

This song soothes me. The soft vocals, light drums, and piano make this track feel smooth yet raw. My favorite part is when he's singing "Oh something good" at the breakdown that leads to the end of the song, it's just perfect. Enjoy!

Something Good - Alt-J (right click to save as)
Alt-J

I'll Be Wait for Sadness Comes Along

This pretty jingle has been tickling me for a few weeks now. I love the arrangement, in fact, I love little xylophones unconditionally. But this song is more than a cute xylophone, the hard stops and starts, the motions the song goes through. The track is beautiful, and has been soundtracking my days since I discovered it. Enjoy!

I'll Be Wait For Sadness Comes Along - Chrome Sparks (right click to save as)
Chrome Sparks

Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark)

This track has a very Animal Collective vibe at first. The track takes a journey, hardly ending where it began. The pace feels like it picks up, and the energy continually builds. "I wish that I could swim and sleep like a shark" is such a fun idea, I'm amazed at the imagination displayed with that simple line. The end of the song is huge. Enjoy!

Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark) Little Dragon Remix - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
(right click to save as)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Little Dragon

To Love You

I can't get enough of this track! The laid back beat, the snappy percussion, the flowing synths, and that amazing vocal bit "I'll be good". The song is put together so amazingly well. I can imagine 1,000 scenarios where this song would be the perfect soundtrack: driving a long road, at the beach, walking an urban landcape, and of course in a nightclub groovin' are the first of many images this track produces in my mind. Enjoy!

To Love You - Rotkraft (right click to save as)
Rotkraft

I'm Corrupt

The juxtaposition of young kids singing about being corrupt over a catchy nu-disco beat is hilarious to me. The touch of flute I really appreciate on this track as well as the dancing piano. Anything touched by Viceroy has been an instant enjoyment for me, and this track lives up to that expectation.

I'm Corrupt (Viceroy Remix) - DCUP (right click to save as)
DCUP | Viceroy

Iron

This song sounds like it was composed for an epic movie soundtrack. The horns at the beginning and the aggressive tribal drums that soon follow feel like a warpath. Normally I associate clapping with happy dance songs, but when the clapping in this track comes in at the bridge, my mental movie screen shows thousands of warriors clashing in battle and ultra slow motion angles. His voice and tone matches the score perfectly. Enjoy!

Iron - Woodkid (right click to save as)
Woodkid

Teenage Crime

This dance floor beat has me feeling happy. There's something great about those vocals saying "we don't waste no precious time". The builds and breaks are the stuff that dance floor smashers are made of. Enjoy!

Teenage Crime - Adrian Lux (right click to save as)
Adrian Lux

Mirror Maru

This track is playful. The beginning piano reminds me of a Passion Pit song, but soon that resemblance fades and the harp joins in.  A ton of sounds grace this cut, one that sounds like a squeak toy caught in between a mattress and a box spring. I like the frivolous feel of this track, it is curious and bright at times, but also a bit dark with extremely slowed down vocal samples. Enjoy!

Mirror Maru - Cashmere Cat (right click to save as)
Cashmere Cat

Two Princess

How fun is this track!?! The first time I heard this I was transported to the 1990s while at the same time had the amazing feeling of hearing an amazing new track. The synths and piano wipe all that 90's grunge off the track and repaint a beachy landscape with bikinis and sunshine. It may be the beginning of January, but here in California we can always use another solid summertime beach track. Enjoy!

Two Princess (G Templeton & Branded James Remix) - Spin Doctors (right click to save as)
Spin Doctors | G Templeton | Branded James

Weekend Girl

I grew up in the golden hip hop era, and a byproduct of being immersed in hip hop during the 90's was more knowledge of R&B from that same era than I craved. This track warps me back to baggy jeans, bad haircuts, and amazing hip hop.  The intro to this song almost sound like something Jodeci, High-5, or Brandy would have used. The track is light hearted, funny, but still works as great bedroom jam. Enjoy!

Weekend Girl - Pillow Talk (right click to save as)
Pillow Talk

Weak Knees

This melody is so catchy, I perpetually sway while singing "I go weak, at the knees" over and over. This track was made for summer, and I plan on playing it until an appropriate summer day graces San Francisco. Enjoy!

Weak Knees (Bronx Remix) - Miss Bee (right click to save as)
Miss Bee | Bronx

Wishbone

This track has been a longtime favorite, and I was surprised to find that I hadn't blogged it earlier. I am deeply in love with her voice, I could shower my ears with her sound waves for days. The track is upbeat and fun, the strings and percussion play like a carnival. Enjoy!

Wishbone - Architecture in Helsinki (right click to save as)
Architecture in Helsinki

Her New Touch

This feel good song is what I'm playing to ring in the new year. I love the airy reverb heavy vocals and catch chorus. I'm looking forward to another great year of music, blogging, live shows, and more. Here's to 2013! Enjoy!

Her New Touch - The Bird Day (right click to save as)
The Bird Day