making you cooler since early 2010


5.27.2010

WELL I GUESS I'M A FUCKER.

Love this next song from Belgian rock duo The Tellers. It speaks for itself. Especially when 'it' is still hungover from Wednesday night and 'it' does not feel like charming you or this post. Download to desktop immediately. Upload to ipod asap. Put in on all your playlists now!


the tellers / more
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5.26.2010

DEAR GOD:

All I can say is wow. Can something be this amazing and Kanye West not be involved? Finally. For their ELEVENTH studio album, The Roots have revamped Conor Oburst's 'Dear God' into a modern and sexy hip hop riff. Now titled 'Dear God 2.0,' the track was co-produced and includes vocals by Bright Eyes + Monsters of Folk. It's a fusion of the old and new Roots. Both equally hypnotizing.


the roots feat. monsters of folk / dear god 2.0
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5.25.2010

COUNTRY CAN BE RAD


Just when I thought I'd had enough of KIDS by MGMT, my girl Schwookie sends me this cover by Ooks Of Hazzard. (PAUSE FOR REACTION) Ooks of Hazzard? Ya, I have no clue who that is. Anyway that's not important because this rendition of KIDS is quite wonderful. And I can't possibly hate considering I'll be seeing them live at red rocks in just three short weeks. (MGMT NOT OOKS) - This version is highly worth blaaaarfengaaaring over.

ooks of hazzard / kids (mgmt cover)
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DISCOVERY

What makes this group so special? It's a collaborative effort between Rostam Batmanglij, the keyboardist and producer of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles, Ra Ra Riot's frontman. Interesting, inventive, beautiful, and complex. My phone is on so I'm able to get your 'thank you' texts.


discovery / osaka loop line
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5.24.2010

OK

I've listened to this song approximately 15 times in a row now. I figured it deserved a spot on the velveteen. It's off a semi-recent Hotel Costes compilation and it secretly features Ben Harper.


vanessa da mata / boa sorte
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DANCIN DRINKIN SMOKIN SINGIN

A graceful weekend of celebration and sun was surely in my cards and damn did Miami deliver. Gotham Steak for dinner Thursday, poolside with momma dukes on Friday, Mexican Feast Friday night, followed by a Cold War Kids / Heineken event in the Design District, day drinking Saturday on the beach, an oceanside engagement party for Jack + Vickee DJed by yours truly, a little tattoo laser removal at Mt. Sinai, Sunday brunch with the Lewins and before you know it we're at Monday and I'm back on Canal street talking to you. Now that you know what I've been doing, let's get back to business - I'm mixing this post up with a photoblog from my weekend plus a Yael Naim cover of Britney Spears. You may recognize this Israeli who won her fame on U.S. soil via the iPod commercial a while back.









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yael naim / toxic (britney spears cover)
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5.19.2010

GET IT GET IT

Never know how to answer the question "what's your favorite song?" I'm here to help...this may just be be in my top 5 of all time. The Temper Trap, one of the main reasons I almost booked my flight to Coachella, just recorded a session on Daytrotter.com...We need more artists that produce music so effortless and memorable. This comes from my secret stash...just in time for a car ride with the windows down.


the temper trap / sweet disposition (daytrotter version)
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5.17.2010

YEZZZZZIR

P & The Yessirs aka Pharrell and other geniuses he hangs out with released this years ago. It was very under the radar, and I've just rediscovered it in my iTunes. Pharrell is just the most uplifting talent - this guy made me love music and I gotta get gitty over anything he's involved with. long live pharrell.


p & the yessirs / creamsickle
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5.16.2010

FROM COLETTE WITH LOVE

The DON of all stores in existence, Colette, randomly releases mixes through their online store. I've had this album for a while and every track is really unique. These are by far my two favorite. Unfortunately,the files are locked so they are only available for download below - unlike all my other posts. I made an exception for these two - they are worth sharing regardless of shareability.



tom assman / rock with me (doshhammer mix 2)
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final fantasy / this is the dream of win and regine
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5.11.2010

DANCE DANCE DANCE

For the last month, I've been listening to the Local Natives like no other. Somehow, I overlooked this song and after hearing it now, I'm sort of having a mini dance party with Alabama. Hopefully this track leaves a similar impression on you.


local natives / world news
download here

Also, I'm adding a rare recording of 'Airplanes' off of Daytrotter.com. Log on and sign up to download a never ending archive of acoustic sessions by tons of well known and emerging bands. It's a velveteen secret, but I'm feeling mighty generous.

local natives / airplane (daytrotter session)
download here

And to show Local Natives a little mas amor, check them out in a ghetto yet inspirational Los Angeles backyard performing an acoustic, impromptu version of Simon & Garfunkel's Cecilia.

XXXO

Brand new M.I.A. - this is actually the 3rd release off her upcoming, still untitled album, which drops June 22. Snap, next month. If you're a New Yorker and you love M.I.A. - expect to see her all over the island, all summer long.


m.i.a. / xxxo
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5.10.2010

I'M STONED

Yes...the velveteen got high on someone else's Murray Hill supply. Murray Hill is not as bad as people say. It's worse. I can't believe I once lived a mere five blocks south of it's official border. But with every bad comes good. The good part about Murray Hill happens when you leave it. Honestly, Bloomberg should tear it down, and turn it into a strip mall housing the following businesses:

1 - P.F. Chang's
2 - Whole Foods
3 - Fuddrucker's
4 - Maybe a Cheesecake Factory if people were super into it
5 - Another California Pizza Kitchen
6 - Olive Garden Flagship

I'm very open to other suggestions and I'm sure Bloomberg would agree that this city is in more need of restaurants that jappy Jews love vs. a neighborhood that loves jappy Jews.

On another note, the last two weeks of SNL have made me fall back in love with the entire institution. I tend to doubt or critique the writers and what goes on behind the scenes, but honestly, after witnessing Zach Galifianakis and Betty White kill it consecutively, I realize how much it lies on the host to make us laugh. Not to mention - Jay and Vampire Weekend were fantastic. Regardless, if you like SNL just a little bit, go on Hulu and watch as much of last week's and the week before's SNL. All I have to say is blaaaaarrrfengaaarr!

That being said, I'm posting a random song from the last Kooks album, Konk. I'm anxiously awaiting their 3rd album which supposedly drops this summer, but when it comes to UK bands that harbor alcoholics and/or drug abusers, the release date tends to be a wash. So my guess is Fall or early Winter 2010. For the record I only capitalize Fall and Winter, never spring or summer. You? Anyway, this is the bonus track which is a combination of two tracks: one obvious + one hidden. I've been feeling more deaf than usual so when I say full blast on this one, I mean it a little less.

the kooks / tick of time + hidden track "all over town"
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