Raphael Saadiq: Love That Girl

// August 30th, 2008 // No Comments » // Video

Yesterday we posted information about Raphael Saadiq’s free concert in New York City, so it was good to see that he just released his video for the song “Love That Girl” the 60′s soul inspired track off of the album “The Way I See It” hitting stores September 16.

Now normally we’ve had a pretty good track record with our video posts, but in this case we’re really scratching our heads over here! great song but the video is lacking severely and it looks like the project was rushed. So to please all of our readers (many more to come we promise) here is the original audio version below which we prefer over the vid.

Raphael Saadiq- Love That Girl

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Common: Announcement Video

// August 30th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Video

Here is the latest video from Common “Announcement” featuring Planters Peanut Man Pharrell Williams off of his upcoming album “Invincible Summer” hitting stores September 22.

Common is doing alot of things in the entertainment industry, musically he is taking a risk drifting away from his Robin counterpart Kan-e We-t (I vowed to not mention his name on our site) so we shall see if his adventure pays off.

Side Note- Invincible Summer released on the second day of Fall? (insert side eye)

Maroon Cafe Spotlight Interview With Vinyl Dharma

// August 29th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Cafe Spotlight

Vinyl Dharma is a five piece band from Austin Texas that is quickly on the rise, combining Rock & Electronica alongside the sultry sounds of front man Johnny Dharma and a huge buzz courtesy of an appearance on MTV 2. The band took a break from there highly anticipated album and stopped the Maroon Cafe for a quick interview to see how this journey began.

H.Q. Where did the concept of Vinyl Dharma come from?

Johnny: Well, we were thinking of Vinyl symbolizing music, of course a (vinyl record) and Dharma being used to signify inner happiness that’s Dharma in a nutshell, it means so much more. Anyhow, the name pretty much means “Without music, life would be empty of meaning.”

H.Q. I read the song “Infidelity” came from a personal experience? Who was at fault?

Johnny: (Laughs)  Ah, we never seem to hear the end of it with this song! I guess I created a monster! (Laughs)  Believe it or not, I wasn’t at fault, but I’m so over that at this point in my life that I’m actually glad it happened. It pushed me beyond my limits and made me search deep within myself. I found a strength I never thought I had before. Now a days, I’m an “everything happens for a reason” type of guy.  I have better things coming my way so I don’t sweat it now.

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M.I.A. coming out of retirement?

// August 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // News, Video

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Maya Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. announced that she is pulling a Brett Favre and thinking of coming out of retirement. Her change of plans is due to the success of Paper Planes. M.I.A. has a crossover hit with ‘Paper Planes.’ The song is being used for movie trailers (Pineapple Express), artists are covering the track (Rihanna), countless rappers have rhymed over ther track (Esso, Freeway, Jim Jones). Her song is even sampled in the new T.I. song, ‘Swagger Like Us,’ which features Jay – Z, Lil’ Wayne and Kanye West (what a lineup). This great news for M.I.A. (and Santogold) fans. Song and interview after the jump.

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Raphael Saadiq Free Concert In NYC

// August 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // Live

WHEN: Today
Music: starts at 6PM with Raphael taking the stage at 7PM.

WHERE:South Street Seaport
Fulton & South Streets, Pier 17

New York, NY 10038

Source: Concrete Loop

Barack Obama’s DNC Speech

// August 29th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Video

History was made Thursday night as 84,000 people filled the Invesco Field at Mile High stadium (John Elway never did numbers like that) as Sen Barack Obama gave his Historic speech. Obama walked to the stage with grace and confidence as he touched on every issue (just about) that raised concerns with most Democratic supporters and Independent voters.
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Cafe Spotlight – Hope: Fresh like a cup of Java

// August 28th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cafe Spotlight

OK, Los-Angles based Hope isn’t that fresh (debut album came out 2004), but she is a relatively unknown voice in the soul game.  If you get your hands on her debut album, you might be scratching your head as to why she hasn’t made it big.  Granted, she was recently featured on the Tyler Perry’s soundtrack, ‘Why Didn’t I Get Marry,’ but Hope deserves more recognition and steady rotation like the Corinne Bailey Raes’ and Heather Headleys’ (artist she is compared to) of the world.

It’s bold for us to compare Hope with the elite songwriters out there, because her catalog isn’t that big.  However, we do know talent and potential when we see it.  We can’t Hope’s lyrically-immersed, ‘Lighthouse‘  out our heads and CD (yes, we still use CDs) rotation.  So go grab a fresh cup of java and listen (DJ Khaled Voice) to the track after the jump.

Hope – Lighthouse

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Hope’s Official Page and Myspace Page

Did you catch that? “I want to see what you see in me/ I want to know how it feels to believe.  Cause I feel lost/ some how I’m drifting away.  Was almost gone you bought me back to life again.  So let me be your lighthouse and I’ll help you find a way out of here.  I see the tide is coming don’t let it take you away from me.”

Neon Neon: Synth Pop & Much More

// August 28th, 2008 // No Comments » // Listening Section

Neon Neon is a collaborative project featuring members Boom Bip and Gruff Ryhs (front man for welsh rock band Super Furry Animals) the duo who now call themselves Neon Neon have released an album that has received positive reviews and recently nominated for a Mercury Prize.

Here is a track from the album “Stainless Steel” and features Cate Le Bon “I Lust You” is an 80′s Synth Pop gem that is sure to be rocking all the way to a local dance floor near you.

Neon Neon- I Lust You

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Side Note- Pet Shop Boys 2.0 but in a good way.