ListenUp
The music we tweeted this week and the second installment of our #PrivateJam series
Parquet Courts: You’ve Got Me Wonderin’ Now
The four-piece band from New York has a raw punk sound that could easily have been found on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack; the recorder line on Parquet Courts’ newest single, “You’ve Got Me Wonderin’ Now,” is a resonating blast from the past. Parquet Courts has a knack for obtuse yet intriguing lyrics, and the mystery is further perpetuated by the band’s refusal to have a Twitter or Facebook account, choosing to interact with fans in their own ways. Although their album Light Up Gold was released only a year ago in August, they haven’t wasted a single moment while touring, and their new EP Tally All The Things That You Broke will be released 8 October 2013.
George Duke: Reach Out
Famed jazz funk keyboardist George Duke passed away on 5 August 2013 at the age of 67 and his memorial service—which took place this past Monday—included performances from Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. When Duke passed away, the ripple through Twitter showed just how many of today’s musicians were inspired and influenced by him—with condolences from Justin Timberlake, ?uestlove, Bootsy Collins and many more. We’re remembering Duke with the 1983 disco jam “Reach Out,” which lives on strong today and was most likely the inspiration for Breakbot’s “Baby I’m Yours,”—which, in turn, spurred the Bruno Mars’ hit “Treasure.”
Megadeth: Holy Wars
For this week’s #PrivateJam, Kenny G gave us his own guilty pleasure hit. Our woodwind spirit animal explained that after taking his son to one of their shows years ago, he’s still hair-over-heels for Megadeth’s “Holy Wars.” The band’s #1 hit featured on their 1990 Rust in Peace album is the heart and soul of progressive thrash metal. And no surprise, Kenny’s always been a fan of diehard musicianship and loves that something so heavy can be equally as melodic. “Plus,” he says, “the ability to head-bang to their music gives me the chance to put this hair to good use.”
Zero 7: On My Own
After a four-year hiatus, Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker of London-based duo Zero 7 have released a new 12″ white label “On My Own,” featuring a vocalist they’ve never worked with before: Danny Pratt. That’s not all that’s new; the trip-hop duo—with roots in acid jazz—are experimenting with a different sound influenced by house music and funk, taking their time over nine minutes. Keep an ear out for the subtle guitar embellishments that give the song its freshness. The single will be available on 26 August 2013 and includes a B-side track, “Don’t Call It Love.”
Justin Timberlake: Summer Love
The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards are taking place in Brooklyn tonight, a first in the show’s 30-year history. This past week has been a roller-coaster of rumors involving Justin Timberlake, who will be receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for his two decades of innovation in music videos. While everybody discussed whether JT’s former pop group ‘N Sync would reunite on stage for his performance or not, we revisited one of the singer’s older hits, “Summer Love” from his 2006 album, FutureSex/LoveSounds to round out this summer. Although there’s no video, the song’s bold, hypnotic synth melody creates the visual perception of sweaty slow-dancing.
