ListenUp
The music we tweeted this week and the debut of our weekly #PrivateJam
HAIM: The Wire
The sisterly trio of hot rockers known as HAIM continues to leave fans wanting more with their new song “The Wire“—and the track’s brazen video shows they’re breaking a few hearts along the way. The LA-based band, often compared to Fleetwood Mac and made fully complete with drummer Dash Hutton, already has several chart-topping singles on their side, and late September they will finally release their first full-length album, Days Are Gone, on Polydor Records.
Oliver: Night Is On My Mind
An elderly man in light-up sneakers pushing a cart filled with classic ’80s gadgets nearly steals the limelight in Oliver’s video for “Night Is On My Mind,” the LA-based duo’s “after-midnight anthem” from their new Fool’s Gold EP Mechanical. The downtempo number consists of one continuously repeated lyric, letting you sink into the Giorgio Moroder-like musical atmosphere as you watch a bodacious model sporting nipple lasers emerge from the cart and join the man in dancing in the street. The darker retro sound is an interesting shift from their earlier disco hit “All Night.” To see some serious funk live, catch Oliver with Zedd and Alex Metric on tour this fall.
Solange: Crush (Don’t Fight the Feeling)
For our first #PrivateJam—our new series of songs pulled from a guest selector’s current rotation for its slightly embarrassing appeal—DFA co-founder Jonathan Galkin offered up Solange’s 2002 single, “Crush.” Originally featured on Solange’s aptly titled debut album, Solo Star, the title was changed to “Don’t Fight the Feeling” for the soundtrack to sister Beyoncé’s blockbuster, “The Fighting Temptations.” And as Galkin explains, the Neptunes-produced song is most likely “from an era she seems to want to maybe forget about.” Take a trip back in time and enjoy this guilty pleasure!
Cults: I Can Hardly Make You Mine
Cults’ glockenspiel-heavy track “Go Outside” landed the NYC-based band on every summer mixtape when it was released in 2011. And while the glimmering sound of bells is present in “I Can Hardly Make You Mine“—the freshly released track off their forthcoming sophomore album Static—it’s clear they’ve moved beyond Brooklyn rooftop soirées to a slightly more aggressive, mature sound, undoubtedly influenced by Static co-producers Shane Stoneback (Sleigh Bells, Vampire Weekend) and Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Washed Out).
Los Zafiros: Un Nombre De Mujer
Cuban doo-wop: Who knew! Apparently a lot of people. But for those who, like us, aren’t familiar with Los Zafiros—a band from the ’60s often compared with the Beatles in regards to timing and fame—have a listen to “Un Nombre De Mujer” and relish in its Latin-infused rhythmic blues. To dig deeper, check out “Music from the Edge of Time,” the 2004 documentary about the legendary band from Havana, which was ultimately known for heavy drinking, political infighting and fast-occurring international success. You can also have a full listen to their extensive discography on Spotify.
