Chances are if you listen to pop music today you've heard something written and influenced by a man who goes by the name Novel. Among others he's worked with Kelis and Alicia Keys as well as spending time producing, writing, and arranging various tracks. In short you can think of him as a sort of up and coming version of Wyclef {not surprisingly he lists Lauryn Hill as his biggest influence}. And that comparison, coming from the ever critical pages of TWF, should clue you in to the fact that I think Novel is someone to watch. Anyway, [...]
I don't know who Novel is, but apparantly he helped produce albums from Alicia Keys, India.Arie, and Joss Stone. None of which I listen to obviously, but I couldn't ignore the email I got today saying his new EP was about to come out, with the first single called "I Am", featuring none other than Mr. Ben Folds. Of course I was going to give that a listen, and in a hilariously unexpected move, it seems Novel has sampled Ben Folds' song "Luckiest", for his single. And it's surprisingly good too. Folds makes a singing cameo in the chorus, I [...]
After a little research, it's pretty obvious that Parts & Labor's new guitarist is anything but a fourth wheel. Guitarist Sarah Lipstate was creating cerebral walls of sound long before she teamed up with P&L, and it's been great to hear her influence on the band's wall of sound. It turns out that her solo stuff is a trip as well. Without vocals, melody, or drums in the mix, Lipstate is completely free to explore sound in a number of different ways. And even though there's not a right or wrong way to make sound , [...]
Oh jeez. Bad hangover. That makes two this week - probably not healthy but it's the Christmas season - excessive drinking is allowed. The pictures above are from the Serbian's leaving drinking extravaganza at Amber on Thursday - he got a rad job in Belgrade and will be out there for 6 months...or possibly forever. I'm sad :( But how classic is that picture with him and Ideal Man?! He always wanted to be a ventriloquist's puppet....anyway, I'm still in Socal and watching Pregnant Best Friend (!) (formerly English Best Friend) run around the kitchen which is making me dizzy [...]
Urban music's most anticipated and intriguing new artist, Novel , is offering a glimpse into his storied debut 'The Audiobiography' , due out on March 24th, 2009. Last Tuesday, November 25th, he digitally released his EP I Am...(Future Black President) . With I Am... - 5 full-length songs available digitally everywhere including iTunes, Amazon.com, etc. - Novel introduces his unique rapped/sung poetics to the world. Watch I Am video : Novel on amazon.com [...]
I slept on this because it was usually posted in full and I didn't feel like downloading a whole mixtape that I might not like, but I'm really glad I decided to check it out today. This shit is excellent. It's cool to hear someone that can actually sing on "Amazing". I love the original, but this is refreshing. And that "Wild West" version wouldn't sound out of place on The Fugees' The Score . Don't miss out on this. Novel -Amazing (Remix) Novel - Welcome to Heartbreak Freestyle [...]
Featuring Ben Folds Five, Talib Kweli & Spree Wilson, this vid is a nice change of pace in the Rap game where a dose of reality is always welcome. Novel's been around for awhile and it's nice to see that he's made it through the sinking ship that was Rawkus Records. I didn't like him too much when I first heard him on Quality and Soundbombing 3 . He sounded like a poor man's Wyclef Jean at a time when the original was wearing a little thin. To [...]
Check out a new track from Novel off his upcoming "The Audiobiography". It samples Ben Folds The Luckiest pretty successfully, and it's a nice, smooth track. We're not sure a semi-chipmunked out version of Folds' chorus was 100% the way to go, though...why not commission a cutie like Chrisette Michele to provide the vocals?? I Am (ft. Ben Folds, Talib Kweli & Spree Wilson)- Novel
This is gonna be off The Audiobiography. Novel ft. Ben Folds, Talib Kweli, Spree Wilson - I Am PigeonsandPlanes
Wow. The song just leaked yesterday and Novel already hopped on it. Talk about a quick turn around. Saw it at On Smash . DOWNLOAD Novel-Amazin (Remix) Dig
~ umorismodaflashback Today has been exhausting and exhilarating. Tomorrow is ditto. Lets get this over with, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy. Love will Tear Us Apart - Nouvelle Vague I Am (feat. Ben Folds, Talib Kwela and Spree Wilson) - Novel Waiting (Josh Harris Remix) - Taxi Doll Another Sunny Day - Belle and Sebastian Best Thing - Jihae Standing in the Way [...]
~ umorismodaflashback Today has been exhausting and exhilarating. Tomorrow is ditto. Lets get this over with, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Nouvelle Vague I Am (feat. Ben Folds, Talib Kwela and Spree Wilson) - Novel Waiting (Josh Harris Remix) - Taxi Doll Best Thing - Jihae Standing in the Way of Control - Gossip [...]
School was rough and i am insanely out of the blogosphere picture.. The cons? 1. My blog sucks right now. 2. School is about to start and again. Wi-Fi connections are lame! 3. *sigh* The good news? not-so-good-but-fine grades and i've been gaining weight. Enough of this crap shit for i am forcing myself to catch up. let's see... what i've been listening lately: Keane - Lovers are Losing (CSS Remix) I've [...]
Good music, positive message. Novel ft. Ben Folds, Talib Qweli, Spree Wilson - I Am PigeonsandPlanes
"Myself" featuring Novel is a b-side to Leona Lewis's single Forgive Me.
Words by Derek Evers Photos by Nate Dorr It would be presumptuous of me – or anyone for that matter – to assume that Parts & Labor founding members B.J. Warsaw and Dan Friel could have envisioned the twists and turns that have accompanied the band and its line-up over its five-plus years of existence. As things have progressed, members, and subsequently sounds, have changed, leaving B.J. and Dan as the only parts of Parts & Labor that have endured. The labor is one of love, and one that has seen Warsaw and Friel [...]
"Unstoppable" - Alicia Keys "An amazing talent" - Leona Lewis "The potential to be greater than what we have in the business" - Talib Kweli "Lyrical genius" - Joell Ortiz "The most unbelievably talented artist, writer and producer of our time" - Dallas Austin Like the glowing blurbs slathered on the cover of a New York Times best-seller, advance praise for Rowdy/Capitol debut artist NOVEL is rolling in from collaborators and peers. To ride the [...]
Where does she get her ideas from? Heather Mills is shopping a novel round publishers about a man who finds he can understand trees and slowly turns into a carrot. Alright, it's about a model who marries a famous rock star. Doubtless the characters will be called Helen Millington and Mike McPaulney. She's hoping for a million dollar advance, so I'm not going to hold my breath.
DOWNLOAD Novel - Lost (Remix) ft Coldplay (MP3) Even if you can't afford Chris Martin on your hook and aren't chummy with Gwynneth, Novel proves even underground MC's can have a song with Coldplay .
SomaCow Media Network is proud to present SomaCow , brought to you by Chef Scott. The man makes some incredible meat, and we thank him for his call in from the Gun and Knife and Nose Fireball Show . In this hour, we discussed our various misspent youths (what is a yout?), the need to have bullets and things that shoot bullets, and a reader's question for you, our audience. What is it about the 8-bit and 16-bit era of games that continues [...]
The World Forgot
The Pelican's Perch
The Needle Drop
Dramatic Annie
Band Weblogs
Pigeons and Planes
The Smoking Section![NOVEL -[NEW] I AM [FULL Music Video] featuring Talib Kweli & Spree Wilson](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/vTJeYDzgi6k_130.jpg)
Kickin' the Peanuts!
The Hole
Metaphor
Some Kind Of EUPHONY
MOSSIP
The Tripwire
No Rock And Roll Fun
Sit Down Stand Up
SomaCow
Music Singles Chart #109
I’ll Just Leave This Here #161
Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Calvin Harris Remix)
TheNext2Shine.com present #Discovery Part 2: R&B Sampler Mixtape
