happy holidays!

hey peps,
i will be taking a highly anticipated vaykay to the more southern and warmer climates of brazil for the next few weeks in search of new and exciting music such as award-winning //dj marky//and my current brazilian pop/rock fav's o rappa and papas da lingua. I will be setting aside my blogging updates until my return in mid-january but promise ta share with you any and all new brazilian music that I can fit into my maxed out carry-on bags. happy holidays!
be well,
nycfreelancer :: (aka. yer ear candy muse)

//dj marky//dj award winner 2008//

FINAL CD GIVEAWAY WINNER IS...

...donna444444! Please email me for details on how to claim your prize at: nycfreelancer [at] gmail.com. Congrats to all the winners of our December CD giveaway and Happy Holidays to you all!

Last chance to enter this week's giveaway...

Leave a comment below with your favorite music genre(s) of this year by midnight TONIGHT (EST) for a chance to win one of the following CDs FREE!

Cat Power Jukebox

Vampire Weekend (self-titled)

kaYeWest Graduation

:: Final CD Giveaway ::

Note: The final CD giveaway drawing has been moved from this Friday to Christmas Eve (Wednesday) so be sure to enter by Tuesday at midnight (EST) by adding your comment below with your favorite musical genre(s) of this year as well as which of the three CDs {Vampire Weekend, Cat Power or Kanye West} you'd like sent to you if you win. Then just check back on Christmas Eve to see if you were the lucky winner and be sure to contact me at NYCFreelancer [at] gmail.com if you are within two days for further instructions on how to claim your prize. 

My iPod's 31 most played albums in 2008...

:: 3rd CD GIVEAWAY ::

It seems over the last year alone I have gone through many musical phases...namely electronica, folk, songs to meditate and sun salute to, chill indie rock and french pop. What are the genres you gave into most this year? Leave a comment below with your favorite musical genre(s) of the year for a chance to win one of the following three CDs from my list below [Cat Power's Jukebox, Vampire Weekend's debut album or Kanye's Graduation] and I'll draw the final CD winner of our December music giveaway 

{ON CHRISTMAS EVE!}. So be sure to enter before Wednesday!

Now for a look at my iPod's 31 most played albums over the last year (in no particular order)...

1. Brazilian Girls - New York City

2. She & Him - Volume One

3. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

4. Bishop Allen - The Broken String

5. This Is Ivy League - This Is Ivy League

6. My Morning Jacket - At Dawn

7. as in Rebekkamaria - Queen of France

8. American Analog Set - Know By Heart

9. Metric - Live It Out

10. Nada Surf - Lucky

11. RaTaTaT - LP3

12. Santogold - Santogold

13. Loane - Jamais seule (Never Alone)

14. Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un M'a Dit (Someone Told Me)

15. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

16. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

17. The National - Boxer

18. The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs (Distortion is a'ight too)

19. Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Rodrigo Y Gabriela

20. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block

21. John Butler Trio - Grand National

22. The Weepies - Say I Am You (Hideaway is decent as well)

23. Morrissey - The Best of Morriseey

24 & 25. Cat Power - Jukebox (and) Moon Pix

26 & 27. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin (and) Everything All the Time

28 & 29. TJ Rehmi - Invisible Rain (and) The Warm Chill

30. Mos Def - Black on Both Sides (and love what he got goin' on with Life In Marvelous Times single)

31. Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (Graduation was good but keep this up Kanye and you'll have my ears locked down for keeps!)

P.S. Congrats to Haley, the winner of last week's giveaway! The venue you describe sounds amazing. To claim your prize, please email me at: nycfreelancer [at] gmail.com

Last chance to enter this week's giveaway...

Prince, Morrissey or Ricky Nelson...you choose your favorite "Best Of" mix and comment on last Friday's entry TODAY for your chance to win your freebie CD of choice...gifted from me to you. Happy Holidays!

Feelin' French? Great Albums for Under $10!

While I do consider myself a music junkie, I tend to go through phases with music overplaying new artists within a month and rarely taking the time to buy new albums for myself. Having OD-ed on this year's hot albums like Santogold and Vampire Weekend (especially when they're overplayed on every ABC and WB show and UrbanOutfitters across America...thanks guys!) I felt compelled to search overseas for something fresh and exciting enough to buy. I found my new musical zest for life in the genre of French pop and despite the fact I cannot understand one lyrical word, I feel like this new phase could be played out well into the new year or perhaps until I learn to be semi-fluent in French. Here are a few of the top groups in my Feelin' French playlist:

Loane
One of the few whose entire album is available on iTunes ($9.99) and well worth buying. Best bets include: Danser and Jamais seule, though the entire album is golden.

Carla Bruni
First heard her Quelqu'un M'a Dit in a yoga class and was struck by the uniqueness of a more bluegrass/acoustic folk sound set to French lyrics and come to find out that beautiful singing voice belongs to that modelesque first lady over there in France...a stunner to the eyes in a sea of political stiffs and pure sultry silkiness to the ears. All three of her albums are available on iTunes for $9-10 each...her second one entirely in English sans accent but still great...buy them...NOW...and...yah, you're welcome.

Mauss et Charlie
Mauss is more alternative rock than any of these other groups, namely because of the incorporation of drums. I'm actually not so much a fan of Mauss' solo stuff as I am of this great collaboration with gorgeous french female vocalist Charlie in Je recherche.

Ridan
Give the haunting Ulysse a listen. Ridan's sound is straight up French pop and both previous and newer albums are full of classic french melodic winners.

Da Silva
Check out this French pop artist's beautifully raspy vocals in Au moment des amours and De la haut. You may also wanna take a listen to the melodically relaxed and smooth Tout va pour le mieux. Da Silva's newest album, De beaux jours a venir, is also available through iTunes for a mere $8.01.

Zoe Avril
Zoe encompasses elements of the traditional circus-like french folk genre in her sweetly fresh acoustic pop rock. Try on the playful On ne changera pas le monde for size.

DJs and VJs of Then and Now

I was at a holiday party at a NYC recording studio last Thursday hosted by none other than the Godfather of Turntablism, King of back spinin' and cuttin', Guru of beat-jugglin', phase shiftin' and needle droppin' ... DJ Grandmaster Flash. He is about as sick as it gets when it comes to scratching like a mad man and it doesn't seem that this innovative mastah is going anywhere but up. He had that dance floor hopping all night long and even took a moment to step out of the clear-cased DJ corner booth to MC while he viewed the dance floor and get some love from his adoring fans (see my shameless photo op above).  

Looking back on how the creation of hip hop and how it influenced such as Grandmaster himself, the man who FIRST used the turntable as an instrument, and the direction DJs are going today, there has been is still is a vast amount of growth and creativity in this arena. One of the best DJs I've seen "live" recently was through the YouTube Live online concert feed (recorded from San Fran), showcasing some of the best talent the world over as judged by the popularity of their YouTube videos. VJ (video jockey)/Scratch DJ Mike Relm rocked the stage and clogged up commenting abilities on the YouTube Live streaming site during his scratch set performance combining Santogold rthymic genius with Ok Go's popular stair master music video as well as a ridiculous scratchin' he did to the baby duo Charlie and his older brother. But despite added technology and flashy videography, some classic techniques and sounds just can't be beat, at least that's the opinion of this blogger/music lover after experiencing the mix magic of Mistah Flash in the flesh. Flash had announced to the crowd a new album to be released in February of next year and if your passport is up-to-date you can catch Mike Relm the rest of this month at the Jingle Bell Rock tour in Canada (or on his straight to DVD flick Clown Alley - currently out of stock on his site but if you're desperate I think they still have some in the UK...passport or extra shipping costs may apply).

You're Truly Remarkable RebekkahMaria

Add an air of quirky panache to Scandinavian electro-pop and combine with a Bjork-like sense of fashion and you've got the recipe for As In RebekkaMaria as presented in her album Queen of France. This front woman of Danish-Swedish band, Lampshade, released her first solo endeavor this summer that has put her name in bold and brighter lights the world over and currently on tour in Sweden. I'd actually highly recommend givin' a listen to Rebekka Maria Andersson's alter persona in Lampshades as a Swedish rocker melding with a sweet Kate Nash edginess to produce a classic indie pop (with lyrics I can't understand nor care to). It is what its is. And it's all good.

Friday Freebies: Best Of

Last Friday CD Winners are....(drum rrrrroll)

Mos Def goes to...Leo

Will-i-Am...Marcus

A Tribe Called Quest...Josh

Please email me for details on how to claim your prize: nycfreelancer [at] gmail.com 

This week's giveaway is titled "Best Of" with your choice of Ricky Nelson's Greatest Hits, Prince Ultimate (2 CDs) or The Best of Morrissey CD. Just leave a comment below with the best concert venue you've ever attended in the comment and which of the above "Best Of" CDs you'd like. I'll be drawing one winner only this week, so check back next Friday for this week's winner! 

Note: This contest is for US residents only (no overseas shipping).

Last chance to enter this week's giveaway...

...see last Friday's post for details on how you can win one of this week's free CDs!

Noisetrade {Fair Trade Music}

A great music site I was recently tuned into, noisetrade, is not only a healthy resource for checking out new indie bands for free but also allows you to download entire albums for free! Noisetrade, you are music to my ears!

Slumdog Wins a Million Times Over

My techno/dance fever has now taken an international turn after being completely moved by the highly acclaimed indie flick Slumdog Millionaire (now playing in select theaters). This modern day love story is set in India's inner-city slums and driven by A.R. Rahman's emotionally heart-pumping and rhythmically pulsating sounds that not only defy international borders in their appeal but in influence as well. This entire album exudes such energy and passion for life that it is easy to see it as the driving force behind this film's growing success and pre-oscar buzz. 

A.R. Rahman is best known in India as the most sought after Bollywood film composer with a reported success of over 100 million records and 200 million cassettes sold. Slumdog's soundtrack also includes M.I.A., a Sri Lankan rapper well known stateside after receiving a huge burst of popularity through the US summer concert festival circuit, a Late Night with David Letterman performance in support of her newest album Kala and a recent cover shoot with Spin Magazine. This album included her uber mixable, Paper Planes, which is also found on the Slumdog soundtrack as well as a much more listenable (minus the choruses gunshots) remix by DFA. One of the most exciting songs in the bunch is the film opener's  and only collaborative work between M.I.A. and Rahman, O... Saya. For all it's raw inner-city grittiness, it's the universal tale of hope amid love's tragic struggles and the incredible depth presented seamlessly in all performances that are sure to leave a more impressionable impact on audiences everywhere.

This soundtrack is now available online and through iTunes. Record store release date set for December 23.

Track listing:
"O... Saya" performed by A. R. Rahman, M.I.A.
"Riots" by A. R. Rahman
"Mausam & Escape" by A. R. Rahman
"Paper Planes"# performed by M.I.A.
"Paper Planes (DFA Remix)" performed by M.I.A.
"Ringa Ringa" by A. R. Rahman featuring Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun
"Liquid Dance" by A. R. Rahman featuring Palakkad Sriram, Madhumitha
"Latika's Theme" by A. R. Rahman featuring Suzanne D'Mello
"Aaj Ki Raat"#2 performed by Sonu Nigam, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Alisha Chinai
"Millionaire" by A. R. Rahman featuring Madhumitha
"Gangsta Blues" by A. R. Rahman featuring BlaaZe, Tanvi Shah
"Dreams on Fire" by A. R. Rahman featuring Suzanne D'Mello
"Jai Ho" by A. R. Rahman featuring Sukhwinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalakshmi Iyer

Cat Power Brings Another Batch of Great Covers

Cat Power's newest release, Dark Side of the Street, consists of half a dozen somberly jazzy covers originally recorded for her January 2008 release Jukebox. This bonus cover EP showcases Chan's hauntingly expressive vocals breathing new life into classic hits like Fortunate Son and I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now). 

As David Morris of Strangeglue remarks, "Cat Power strip [Fortunate Son] down to a gorgeous, hazy rebellion, without diminishing its impact one bit." And I most certainly agree. 

Whether you're a long time fan with an appreciation for the clearly fluid vocals of Moonpix or you prefer the more soulful tonality of today, I think all will enjoy this bonus cover EP released just in time for the holidays.

This Bird's Got a Song to Sing

...check it out will ya.

Friday Freebie: FREE Hip Hop CDs!

In the spirit of the season I'm giving away freebies every Friday of December. All you need to do is comment below with a list of your top 3 artists of the moment and let me know which of this week's freebie items you'd like. I'll have a drawing the following Thursday and let you know this week's winner in next Friday's blog entry. This weeks freebies include some good 'ol classic hip hop staples:

Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
will.i.am - Songs About Girls
A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement

I get the weekends off to soak up the sounds of new music, so I'll see you all on the flip side of Sunday.

Yacht Mixes It Up With RATATAT & Stereolab

Many great things have come out of Portland, Oregon...Stumptown coffee, McMennamin's Terminator Stout and Communication Breakdown Burgers, the ACE vintage hotel chain and radically innovative musicians like native "genre-smasher" Yacht. Their unique sound may best be described generally as indie rock but can really stretch the gamut from crunk to electronica and anything in between or beyond. Having toured with LCD Soundsystem, Architecture in Helsinki, High Places and Vampire Weekend in over 17 countries in 2007, they are currently slated to do the European tour this month after the release of this year's newest EP, Summer Song (music video below). A hefty shout out not only for Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evan's highly acclaimed premiere album and genre-exploding abilities but for the killer remixes created for fellow electronica buffs RATATAT and Stereolab...will their talents never cease?? My guess is, not in this lifetime...and that's fine by me.

YACHT - Summer Song

As an aside and in order to help promote Portland's tourism (as any karma-fearing native Oregonian should), I'm putting in a shameless plug for the Stumptown Rock, Vol 1 CD (compilation of all that rocks in Ptown)...now go on and enjoy your Oregonian salmon and Erath Pinot!

Technorati Profile

This is Ivy in an Indie League All Their Own

I shall step away from the ecstasy that is Electronica to bring rise to this breezy indie duo from Brooklyn, This Is Ivy League. I first got a glimpse of Ivy's melodic sweetness when I heard their masterful cover of The Magnetic Fields' You and Me and the Moon. But I became hooked after catching the whimsical music video for London Bridges (below). TIIL's unique fusion of vintage Beatlesque pop with Simon & Garfunkel-like harmonies comes off as both genuine and carefree making it a great album to counter the stress of cramming for finals or preparing for a series of hectic holiday shindigs. If you find yourself in Brooklyn next Saturday (December 13th), Alex Suarez and Ryland Blackinton will be playing a late show at The Bell House, but if NYC is out of reach their self-titled debut album is available to all on iTunes ($9.99). 

BK Delves into a Techno-Tinted Dreamworld

Brooklyn's Blip Festival 2008 could not be coming at a better time in my music phase-craze of Technopop/Dance Punk/Electronic earcandy. Kicking off this Thursday at Park Slope's The Bell House you can catch over 40 Electro / Techno / Powerpop / Punk / New Wave / Experimental Electronica groups from all over the world for only $15/day or snag a full 4-day festival pass for only $50. They're also throwing in a few workshops and demos through the weekend as well as a doc screening Sunday afternoon of Reformat the Planet, a film on the "chiptunes" movement (creating new and original music using video game hardware). 

Recommended shows: Stu,  M-.-n,  minusbaby,  Sidabitball,  Nullsleep,  and noteNdo 

Cut Copy's 'Colours' Is Razor-Sharp

As you can tell I'm on an Electronic/Dance high, but who can blame me when guys like Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey and Mitchell Scott are kickin' out hot, hot and hotter dance tracks like Lights & Music, Feel the Love and Hearts on Fire. Honestly, I'm not really sure how to contain this entry from sounding like a love letter from an overly excited stalker, but CC is just plain ridiculous. You just can't get enough of their songs' somber yet pulsating beats, absorbing lyrics and stricking danceability...and this coming from someone whose been listening to The Ghost Colours daily for about, oh, three solid months now. Cut Copy is blazing a more evolved kind of Electropop/Dance Punk trail that I am crazy ecstatic to be swept away by. These Williamsburg-worthy Aussies are spending their holidays and new year on tour at home in the land down under and will be returning stateside in March 2009.