The cast of Glee take on some of the King of Pop's classic tunes.

Today marks the first day of Dilla month. Facebook, twitter, and any popular blog that you may be venturing out to check are also trying to put up their sickest tribute post ever. Even last year, Stones Throw had a video contest, and some of the participants made their own 'Dilla Tribute' to his songs . At this point in time, EVERYONE has either heard about him, or finally know who this famous producer is. Unfortunately, because of his untimely demise is the part of the reason why many (like myself, admittedly) knows of the [...]

Fantasy Island , the awesome new band we told you about back in December , have released a new funky jam entitled, "Alone". The song certainly has a confident bop, but it is as chill as can be. It's like a perfect cross between the bygone Motown era and the chillwave era of now. Also, lovely verses that have the vocals matching the riff spot on. Really solid song right here.
Au bon endroit au bon moment. Sa licence de musique en poche, le jeune Hamilton Bohannon vit chichement entre quelques cours de batterie et des gigs dans le Chitlin' Circuit avec un certain Jimi James . Repéré par les producteurs de Little Stevie Wonder , ces derniers l'engagent comme batteur pour sa tournée de 1965. Bohannon part logiquement s'installer à Detroit, entre 1965 et 1967 il partage avec HDH l'essentiel des productions de la Motown . Lorsque la maison de disques déménage pour New York en 1972, il [...]
Being an utter Motown/oldies junkie, I find it completely necessary to add a little bit of that genre into the mix for this week's Friday Five. Without further ado, here are five upbeat tracks that will get your Friday started off in the right direction - you can bet that they'll get you ready for the rowdy weekend ahead. 1. Original post: Friday Five: Motown Throwdown 2. Posted in: soul , doo-wop , old school , motown , [...]
This such a happy way to start the weekend. Everyone should be thankful that more artists don't send in covers of 602s Motown (especially of the girl groups) because I think I might just only post them. Here, Maya Laner of Local Hero covers the 1963 classic by The Ronettes. The 18 year old recorded the song for a "special friend...since the lyrics of the song really fit the way I was feeling about them." Anyways, this mailbox gem is currently available for free download via Soundcloud. You can check out the Local [...]

Keeping up with their apparent mission statement to keep the globe in a perpetual state of T.G.I.F. bliss one track at a time, the consistently reliable The Knocks pull out another slab of irresistible ear-candy with "R.O.Y.L.", the latest single peeled from the production duo's latest Magic EP and one that basically demands that some part of your body be busting a serious move from wherever you might be standing (or sitting) at the moment. Melodically reminiscent of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops" with nods to early Motown, post-disco [...]

Michael Kiwanuka's place on the BBC's 'Sound of 2011' was a pretty safe bet. Somehow, he has managed to capture a strong online audience, as well as an even stronger radio following. A feat far harder than people consider. Much of this could well be to do with his timeless sound. A combination of jazz and soul that harks back unabashedly to some of his early influences of Otis Redding and Bill Withers. It's common to find bands taking a genre and giving it a 'modern twist'. Michael Kiwanuka however seems more than content to reside within the boundaries of [...]
Cuando leáis el nombre de Speech Debelle seguramente os venga a la cabeza el año 2009, un año con buenísimos trabajos de grupos como The Horrors, Kasabian, o Florence And The Machine, los cuales no tuvieron el honor de llevarse uno de los premios más codiciados en el mundo de la música: El Mercury Prize. Otorgado al mejor álbum de Reino Unido, todos tuvieron que conformarse con quedarse en la lista de nominados ya que Debelle, el nombre artístico de Corynne Elliot y una artista de tan sólo 28 años, se lo llevó con [...]

Lothar and the Hand People - Heatwave I've worn the original so thin I need a new kind of kick from this song. This cover of the Martha and Vandellas staple was taken from Lothar and the Hand People's Space Hymn LP from 1969, sounds more like it would belong in the mid-to-late-70s-early-80s new wave era.

Contributed by Chris Gedos It should've been your New Year's Resolution to listen to more Motown – especially when antiquated b-sides by minor artists are so enjoyable, as is the case with "I'll Cry Tomorrow" by The Serenaders. From January of '64, the song's doo-wop proclivities will sound even more outmoded by the time Mary Wells and The Supremes break big with "My Guy" and "Where Did Our Love Go", respectively, later that year, but the melodramatic intro into a verse underpinned by shala-wala-walas [...]

To be a fan of Theophilus London , one has to be used to expecting the unexpected, the alt-rapper's stylistic randomness (his beats of choice being a varied platter that includes electro, Top 40 pop, '802s funk, indie and everything in between) and "sometimes I rhyme fast/ sometimes I sing sweet" vocal stamps nearly guaranteeing an entirely different listening experience from song to song. So the fact that he would offer, as a Xmas treat for fans, an all-sung remake of a rare Marvin Gaye holiday number shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. [...]

West Coast duo Fantasy Island (Alex Jacob & Spencer Frazen) sent this little number over to our inbox, a track titled 'Avenue.' Not sure how to explain what we're hearing but damn if it doesn't sound good to our ears. Psych, pop & soul all in one, how can you go wrong. Listen to the melodic tune below. Single will see daylight on February 27th via Stroll On Records Fantasy Island - Avenue Avenue by Fantasy Island
Aujourd'hui, nous allons nous adresser aux orphelins d'Amy Winehouse. A ceux qui regrettent son talent, ou simplement à ceux qui trouvent que les pages people sont devenues beaucoup moins drôles depuis qu'il n'y a plus de nouvelles vidéos d'elle complètement démontée. Pour ceux-ci, il y a bien encore Pete Doherty , mais il semblait depuis quelques temps qu'il avait décider de se calmer. Heureusement, ce mois-ci, l'ami Pete a déclaré avoir vu le fantôme d'Amy Winehouse à quatre reprises dans son appartement, qu'il a du coup décidé de fuir. Il est parti précipitamment pour Paris [...]
Friday Five : \'frī-(,)dā,-dē 'fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we'll have a guest, but most of the time it's just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments. The Five: " Deck the Halls " by John [...]
The variety show is a venerable American musical institution, with a history that stretches all the way from medicine shows and vaudeville to the chitlin' circuit of the 1940s, the early 1950s r... Continue reading "St. Louis Blues and Soul Revue Aims To Revive the Days of Stax and Motown" >
The variety show is a venerable American musical institution, with a history that stretches all the way from medicine shows and vaudeville to the chitlin' circuit of the 1940s, the early 1950s r... Continue reading "St. Louis Blues and Soul Revue Aims To Revive the Days of Stax and Motown" >
Veteran guitarist Dennis Coffey returns with his 14th album release.

Vyxor , the solo project of Tyler Burton, brings us Nocture Feveron , released earlier this month. One of 6 releases he's put out in the last year, it flows as one cohesive body of work. This 'glitch-hop' record has a minimal/Motown vibe. Vocals are smooth and perfectly sewn into the array of electronic/glassy instrumentation. It makes sense that Burton has experience in sound design as his work has been featured in advertisements, video games, and short films. Nocturne Feveron by vyxor