Live Sessions: Le Vice

Check out this clip of  Le Vice performing "Find You" at Studio SQ in San Francisco. The new song continues in the same hip hop/indie rock vein as the band's self-titled debut. As a bonus, look at the band's video for "Hard To Be Ill" below:

Pretty Lights Announces New Releases, Launches Record Label

Break Science

Paper Diamond

Vacation doesn't seem to be in Derek Vincent Smith's (a.k.a  Pretty Lights') vocabulary. Smith is starting off the new year by launching his record label, Pretty Lights Music, and preparing two new digital albums for electronic music fans to devour.

The first is Further Than Our Eyes Can See by Break Science. The new EP will feature the New York-based duo's mix of jazz, funk, soul, electro and hip hop, as well as collaborations with Talib Kweli, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Sierra Leone-based rapper Bajah and Falu, who hails from India. 

Meanwhile, Colorado-based producer Paper Diamond is set to release Levitate, his debut EP. The veteran knob twiddler's sound is full of synthesizers, deep bass and catchy melodies that are sure to lead to many inebriated sing-a-longs across clubland.

Both EPs will be released digitally on Pretty Lights Music's website on January 25th. If you want a little preview, listen to Break Science's "Zion Station" and Paper Diamond's "From Now Till" below:

Zion Station (featuring CX) by IndiesUnder

From Now Till..... by IndiesUnder

B Slade Releases Two New Albums

B Slade continues his Prince-like output of new music with the one-two punch of Gospop, released on Christmas, and Stereotype:Collector's Edition, which was released today. Unlike his previous releases--the Michael and Janet-inspired Jackson Magic and his A Brilliant Catastrophe series--these albums are not free digital downloads. You can still listen to the full albums over at B Slade's bandcamp page however. Expect reviews soon.

Album Review: A Brilliant Catastrophe (Beta)

"One year I can save a nation/Now I'm reduced to my orientation/Tell me why did you change your mind," B Slade sings in album opener "Brian's Lament," a somber starting point for the follow-up to A Brilliant Catastophe's alpha version. The album's emotional lyrics spin a loose narrative of isolation, loneliness, determination and spiritual redemption.

Remix Of The Week: Jennifer Lopez "Ain't It Funny"

The remix gods smiled on J.Lo with this track. The so-so latin-flavored song from 01's J.Lo got flipped into a smooth R&B/hip hop mashup with assistance from Murder Inc. and a Craig Mack sample. Get into the clip below:

Album Review: B Slade: A Brilliant Catastrophe

It's certainly been an interesting journey for B Slade, the artist formerly known as Tonex. Last year he became the first gospel singer to come out of the closet, a decision that effectively ended his working relationship with the mainstream gospel music industry. However, with wardrobes consisting of multi-colored mohawks, furs, scarfs and platform boots, and music that embraced everything from R&B to electronica-inspired pop, B Slade never fit the mold of a traditional gospel star. Even Kirk Franklin never strayed that far from the format.

Artist Profile: AWOLNATION

Imagine hip hop beats banging alongside deep dance grooves mashed-up against corrosive samples and vocals that alternate between Beastie Boys-style raps and death metal screams. Death metal dance pop if you will. That's the best way to describe AWOLNATION's music. Like their noise-pop peers Sleigh Bells, the L.A.-based quintet crank the volume up to 11 and let their collective creative craziness fly. Listen to a few tracks from their Back From Earth EP below:

MF by AWOLNATION

Sail by AWOLNATION

Burn It Down (Innerpartysystem Remix) by AWOLNATION