For the most part, Visions, the latest album from the one-woman project that is Montreal-based musician Claire Boucher, sounds like a 1980s pop album remixed by an extremely smart modern producer. The fact that this is all the work of one person, operating under the stage name Grimes, is evidence of Boucher’s impressive skill set. Within five seconds of the start of “Infinite Love Without Fulfillment” the template has been established: programmed drums, Boucher’s voice layered and looped over itself to establish a giddy choir, and then the introduction of minimal but prominent synths.
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For months, February 21st has been known by me as simply “The Day the New fun. Album Drops,” but looking at the list below, Some Nights is definitely not the only release worth getting excited about. Sophomore effort from Sleigh Bells, new music from perennial favorite Cursive, another album from Grimes….I’ll definitely be busy with new music all this week! How about you? Let me know in the comments what new albums you’ll be checking out today!
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Chiddy Bang will be performing at the Troubadour this Wednesday, February 22nd, and you could win a pair of free tickets! The duo, comprised of rapper Chidera and accompanying producer Noah, is hitting the road to promote the release of their highly anticipated “electro-hip hop” inspired album, Breakfast. The album will drop on February 28, but their newest single, “Ray Charles,” has already been released and bumping in my car for months.
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There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the good people at the My Life Everyday (LED) promotion group. As a company, they haven’t been a part of San Diego’s up-and-coming EDM scene for too long, but in the short year (or so I assume since it’s an Anniversary show) that they’ve been a familiar name, they’ve done pretty damn well.
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Driving back from a party in Beverly Hills late Saturday night, I missed my turn home. Thinking nothing of it, I drove instead onto Santa Monica Blvd. A minute later, the Beverly Hilton came into sight. The numb sadness I had been suppressing since hearing the news earlier that afternoon came suddenly welling up. A mass of police cars and camera crews bathed the scene in a haunting glow – their blue and white lights illuminating the night – while an audience of curious and concerned bystanders kept vigil in small clusters around the property. I was forced to confront the reality of the chaos: Whitney Houston is gone.
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