Electric Panda Music » Electric Panda Music

Lil Kids – “Nobodies”

chase — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:00:07 +0000

Because f*** it, that's why

Alright so I don’t have any interesting info about this artist, other than I came by the song on Dingus and hot damn if this isn’t some great hip hop. As far as I know, Lil Kids is just a white rapper named Adam and his producer, Lopato, kickin’ some beats and rhymes in Brooklyn.

Oh, but don’t read too much into that whole white rapper thing. As Dingus correctly points there, there are a few Beck similarities here, along with that classic NYC production sound. They released a dope album, Slow Rainbows, in February on Bandcamp which you can download for FREE - with a new album rumored for May 30th.

That’s about all I have on this one. The album is sick. “Nobodies” is sick. That’s all I got. Follow them on Twitter and we’ll figure this out together as things move along.

The Knocks – “Learn To Fly”

chase — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:22:12 +0000

Kings of New York

As per our tradition of posting every song The Knocks release, there was no debate about throwin’ up “Learn To Fly” – a favorite at live shows that’s never gotten a proper release. Apparently cut from their Magic EP, “Learn To Fly” holds its own against the rest of their stellar collection.

In a lot of ways, The Knocks defined New York City for me, and this is just another jam from them making me homesick. To illustrate what kind of energy these guys bring, they played a rooftop show in Manhattan with security forcing them to keep the volume down and they STILL killed it. They’ll be playing a few festivals this summer so be sure to keep an eye out.

Learn To Fly by The Knocks

Emanny – “Wrong Impression (Feat. Emilio Rojas)”

chase — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:00:14 +0000

Have a seat, ladies

Not since Frank Ocean have we featured an R&B artist on the hallowed pages of Electric Panda Music, but The Bronx’s own Emanny demands an exception. With the provocative new school atmosphere of The Weeknd mixed with traditional R&B stylings of an R.Kelly, Emanny brings the sound that makes panties drop like BLAOW.

I’m not even kidding you. In a completely scientific poll, 10 out of 10 ladies said listening to the latest Emanny record worked them up into an uncontrollable sexual furor. Stay tuned to his Facebook page for when his mixtape Songs About HER drops, because you know somebody is going to be getting down. It might as well be you.

Wrong Impression feat. Emilio Rojas by EmannyMusic

Ramona Falls – “Proof”

chase — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:00:07 +0000

"This door needs a bird on it..."

With The Shins officially declaring to the world that they’ve lost their touch, it’s time for a new indie darling to emerge from Portland. Enter Ramona Falls, an experimental indie rock band started by Brent Knopf, a former Menomena band member. They’re not experimental in the Ariel Pink sense, preferring to take the Yeasayer road of genre-melting.

They’ve got an album coming out tomorrow, and will be playing Cafe Du Nord on May 11th. In the meantime, you can catch some of their other moody jams on Facebook.

Crystal Bright & The Silver Hands – “Especially Your Mother”

chase — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:00:44 +0000

Accordions are sexy again! Actually, for the first time ever.

Delighted to have come across this little gypsy-inspired number from the unsigned Crystal Bright & The Silver Hands. Bright is no joke with the accordion, hammering out wonderfully quirky tunes that have to have even more significance for those still mourning the loss of the Dresden Dolls. “Especially Your Mother” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense (or maybe I’m just a dolt or misunderstanding of sarcasm or both), but damn if it isn’t nice to listen to.

It could be esoteric for some, but fuck those people. The world music foundation and Crystal Bright’s enchanting voice make this a must-post. Pick up their second album, Muses and Bones, on Bandcamp.

Especially Your Mother by Crystal Bright

Rebekah Higgs – “Gosh, darn, damn”

Father John Misty – “Nancy From Now On”

chase — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:47 +0000

Witches are sooooo boring

Ideally, we’d never start the week with something this downtempo but alas, life. Father John Misty is the solo project of J. Tillman, the original Fleet Foxes drummer. And it doesn’t sound like he’s doing all that bad on his own.

“Nancy From Now On” is a sad, hopeless ballad of a man who has completely just given up.

Oh pour me another drink
And punch me in the face
You can call me Nancy

You had us at “Oh.”

Father John Misty will be among many bands performing at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival this year. The lineup is pretty amazing for a $225 3-day pass, and expect me to post more from it over the next few months (or until tickets sell out, because then what’s the point?)

Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On by subpop

Mr. Little Jeans – “Runaway”

chase — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:30:21 +0000

Tease us with your bedroom eyes

While Grimes may be the reigning nü-pop princess, Norway’s Mr. Little Jeans (aka Monica Birkenes) follows up her much buzzed about cover of Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” with “Runaway.”

Milk Carton Kids – “New York”

chase — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:48:07 +0000

How's that for classic?

Usually two guys with nothing but guitars is only a recipe for subway platforms. But this duo from Eagle Rock, California capture a sound almost long forgotten on their album, Prologue, released last year. “New York” tells a melancholy tale of waiting around in the big city for a wayward love to come around.

Not a bad place to kill some time.

Download Prologue for free from themilkcartonkids.com Thanks to my buddy Dul for the find.

Gramatik – “Talkbox Intended”

chase — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:58:25 +0000

Elbows up, side to side

This rarely, if ever, happens on Electric Panda Music – but I’ve posted a dubstep song (oh em gee). And even then, you can only categorize “Talkbox Intended” as dubstep on a technicality. If anything, this is pure, modern funk. All I want to say about Gramatik‘s latest (free download) is that it had me dancing in my chair at work even through the 5th listen on repeat.

Now put your mother fuckin’ hands up.

K.Flay – “Stop, Focus”

chase — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:30:30 +0000

What genre am I today? Oh, labels....

K.Flay is an anomaly in an area of the country whose hip hop scene still suffers from the long-standing stigma of hyphy left by E-40. Even in the last year, pawn shop rappers like Kreayshawn and Lil B have characterized the Bay Area. Instead, K.Flay is the West Coast counterpart to NYC rapper Azealia Banks, embracing the continuously blurred line between electronic and rap that exist from the mainstream (Kanye/Jay-Z) to the emerging genre of hipster rap (Die Antwoord).

San Francisco/Bay Area peeps can catch her tonight at Rickshaw Stop at 10pm, presented by POPSCENE.

Stop, Focus by kflay

The Neighbourhood – “Sweater Weather”

chase — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:00:47 +0000

How mysterious of them

So Electric Guest thought they could get away with being LA’s resident white kids with soul. Not so fast, says Newbury Park natives The Neighbourhood. After releasing “Female Robbery” on SoundCloud a couple months ago, they’ve dropped another early hit with “Sweater Weather.”

While the whole “mysterious” marketing gimmick is kind of played out, the music speaks for itself. “Sweater Weather” is a sexy next-era indie jam with high production values and a massive backdrop.

Sweater Weather by theneighbourhood

Female Robbery by theneighbourhood

Azealia Banks – “Fuck Up The Fun (Prod. by Diplo)”

chase — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:24:01 +0000

Azealia Banks, always a show off

Looks like she’s finally answered the “Can she do it again?” question. After the massive release of her “212″ single backed by Lazy Jay, it was uncertain if Azealia Banks was a flash in the pan or the real deal. She’s back with the Diplo-powered “Fuck Up The Fun,” showcasing everything we loved about “212″ – endless sass, spitfire delivery and a sick beat.

I’d say as long as she has talented producers behind her (and she will), Banks is ready to tear into the rap game. Tracks prior to “212″ failed because they were stagnant and didn’t allow her to light up the way she does best. But things appear to be much different now and 2012 should see her on a much larger stage.

She’s getting enough blog attention from this one to do without my post, but owning many shares of her on Tastemaker X I felt obliged to add to the pot.

Samuel – “Brooklyn”

chase — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:00:38 +0000

HeavyRoc Music‘s Samuel first graced Electric Panda Music with his 2010 hit “I Heart NY.” NYC comes back as a theme with his latest “Brooklyn,” a wistful tune lamenting the difficulties of dating someone who lives in another borough. It’s a sentiment that will ring true for any New Yorker, as even living a couple subway stations away from someone can put them out of reach for regular hang outs.

Samuel continues to impress, and we’re very excited for what’s in store this year. Both him and the entire HeavyRoc Music roster is poised to explode any moment.

Shawn Chrystopher – “One Of My Homies”

chase — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:00:09 +0000

Shawn Christopher doing his best Childish Gambino impersonation

Inglewood’s own Shawn Chrystopher has been building his profile for the last few years as one of the West Coast’s more promising talents. Not a YouTube phenom, Chrystopher has built a great collection of solid records to support his bid for stardom. He’s faced criticism for not having a stronger individual identity, but I think there’s a lot of strength in his ability to switch gears and tackle different styles.

“One Of My Homies” is the first single off his fourth album, My Name Is Shawn, due out in July. The record finds Chrystopher fully embracing his South Central roots with a fat 90s drum beat and funk nasty synth smoothing out the chorus. He doesn’t have the voice of his old guard counterparts, but his new school delivery fits in seamlessly with the old school beats like a rising sun on the Los Angeles horizon.

Shawn Chrystopher – “One Of My Homies”

Collins – “Loverboy”

chase — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:15:19 +0000

He must be bros with Kavinksy

My personal obsession with 80s inspired synth jams that started with the release of Drive last year hasn’t ended, and I desperately needed to add some logs to the flames.

Thankfully this juicy ass single from Rio De Janeiro’s Collins came out of nowhere with a happy electric slap to the face. “Loverboy” fits in perfectly with the likes of College and Kavinsky on the soundtrack- a dark, sensuous journey with enough pizazz to make Mark Mothersbaugh jump for joy.

Seriously, someone needs to get this in Devo’s hands. Good thing you can have it in yours. Check out the rest of his stuff on SoundCloud.

Collins – Loverboy by collins

The Jezabels – “Endless Summer” [Video]

chase — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:30:29 +0000

They're the honey badgers of indie rock

There are some songs, no matter how late to the party you are, just cannot go un-posted. “Endless Summer” by The Jezabels falls into that category with an epic, sort-of arena rock feel and vocals that soar. Really, their entire body of work falls into that category.

It reminds me of something Best Coast could pull off if they weren’t so damned trite. Thank goodness someone was up for the task.

With Australia seeing a rise in notoriety from the likes of Gotye, Angus & Julia Stone, Kimbra and several buzz-y hip hop acts, maybe The Jezabels can ride into the spotlight this year. Give this song a listen and I’m sure you’ll agree.

The Jezabels – Endless Summer

Buy their debut album, Prisoner, on iTunes

Standard Fare – “The Look of Lust”

chase — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:27 +0000

The more wholesome side of indie pop

Props to The Fader for premiering this track off Standard Fare’s second album, Out of Sight, Out of Town. Wholesome they may be, but “The Look of Lust” is one of the sadder songs you’ll hear.

It’s not a “Somebody That I Used To Know,” but only because it’s a situation much harder to relate to. Just read The Fader piece for a more eloquent dissection. Kinda late here and I don’t want to get into it. Great song, though!

Standard Fare, “The Look of Lust”

Mutts – “Junior”

chase — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:38 +0000

Mutts display the not-so-secret path to achieving Tom Waits' voice

Sitting down to write about Mutts, there is one thing that comes to mind before anything else. “Damn, this would be the perfect live show to get wasted at.”

Not that they can’t be enjoyed while sober, but the raspy vocals and relentlessly hard blues rock of this Chicago three piece makes a whiskey on the rocks sound better than ever before. It’s the kind of edge and dirty soul that just can’t be faked, so filthy they make The Black Keys seem sterile.

Critics and consumers alike often argue about what can be categorized as “real” or “genuine,” but there is no argument here, just emotion and energy boiled down to it’s purest form. I could go on about this, or you can just listen to their first full length album Pray For Rain, recently released on Bandcamp.

Junior

No related posts.

G-Eazy ft. Dominique LaJeune – “Marilyn”

chase — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:00:19 +0000

Come at him, bro

Decided to break my own moratorium on posting white rappers when I heard this gem from the Bay Area’s own G-Eazy. Having made the move to this area recently, it seemed only natural to give some love to local artists. However, the real star of this track (sorry G) is New Orleans’ Dominique LaJeune, who provides the chorus.

The story is that G-Eazy saw her perform at some backyard show and asked her to work in the studio with him. The fruit of that labor is “Marilyn,” a surprisingly honest song about the trials and tribulations of a serious relationship. LaJeune’s pleasantly unique voice is the perfect pairing to G’s style. Big ups.

WhoMadeWho – “Below The Cherry Moon”

chase — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:01 +0000

The most misleading image you'll find of this band

The second example on Electric Panda Music of Denmark making a rush at Sweden‘s share of the synth pop market, WhoMadeWho is a bright new group with a lot of polish. “Below The Cherry Moon” is off their upcoming Brighter, due out March 5th on Kompakt.

It’s a slow, moody synth pop track with all the makings of a future soundtrack record.

Also, my apologies for the recent infrequent posting. Moved to a new city and a more demanding job, but posts should start coming back more regularly now.