I know we generally don’t play pop music on this site, but this mash-up gets a pass. No matter how much you (and some employees at the cafe) hate on Pop. I’m sure you know 80% of these songs even though you don’t own them. This list was complied by DJ Earworm from the top 25 songs on Billboards 2009 List.
Woke up this morning on my way to the Cafe, and had to pile through the nasty rain, and tons of people on their way to ground zero. Needless to say, summer is coming to an end. Early this week we dropped our Maroon Cafe Summer tracks (here), and this morning, we are showing you Quddus, Best of Summer 09 video.
Music festivals are the best thing about the summer and arguably the best one is Lollapalooza. This summer I decided to film as much of my experience there as possible and make a short film out of it. This is what I came up with. The all access perspective brings you right in the mix. It features Lykke Li, Snoop Dogg, Kings of Leon, Asher Roth, Vampire Weekend, Miike Snow, Santigold, Atmosphere, Dan Deacon, Bat for Lashes, Jane’s Addiction and Bon Iver.
Did you hear that? Conan O’Brien, just called Kings of Leon, one of the biggest bands in the world. It’s tough to argue that at the moment. Since selling 6.5 million copies of Only By Night and selling out every venue they performed in on their world tour, it’s a statement that can be justified.
Fresh off their MTV performance (which I didn’t catch), Kings Of Leon have released the third single, Notion, from the album, Only By The Night. By the timing of their MTV performance and the looks of this video, they are trying to get the their America behind them. Can you blame them?
The lineup of Lollapalooza dropped today. The dates are from August 7th-9th @ Chicago’s Grant Park. You can either click on the poster to see the lineup, or check the video after the jump. My question is…who’s coming with us?
I was never quite sold on “Use Somebody” which seems to be a favorite track of off the very solid Kings Of Leon album “Only By The Night.” Despite recent negativity the band has faced about there progressive sound, they continue to be the closet thing we have to a Southern U2 modern day Classic Rock group. Face it folks, Caleb and the guys make quality music if by any chance you need a second opinion, just ask the United Kingdom. Until then check out this mix RAC put together which actually gave us imagery of see-through shirts, rainbows and one hell of a dance party in Chelsea.
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We hear everyone’s cry’s and read your comments about how Kings of Leon are getting worst and worst each progressive album. Oh snap, seen what I did there…I said progressive. You have to think a group’s sound would grow and change each album. The Beatles first album sounds nothing like their last one. I feel your pain, but deal with it folks. Bats for Lashes stop by BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge last week and performed a Kings of Leon Cover. It’s way to early to say this is better than the original, but Ms. Khan made this haunting and stripped down version of “Use Somebody” her own. Go out and get Bats for Lashes’, Two Sun, which is in stores now!
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One of our Fresh Faces from 09 has finally released a single. Paolo Nutini’s, Candy, which is produced by Ethan Johns of Rufus Wainwright and Kings Of Leon fame, has the young Scottish man channeling his inner Nashville roots. It did take a couple of listens for us at first, because this is unlike anything on his debut album. Like it or hate it, we’re excited to hear his forthcoming album, Sunny Side Up(TBA). In the mean time check out one of my favorite tracks from Paolo Nutini, entitled, Last Request after the jump.
What a glorious year for music. The Maroon Cafe opened up and quenched your thirsts with our unique and fresh choices. We can only look forward to what this year has in store, but before we do, lets take a look back at some albums that stood out for 2008.
Sia – Some People Have Real Problems
If my zune was a disc player, Some People Have Real Problems, would have look like Freddy Kruger was playing Frisbee with it. This album was a turning point in Sia’s career. After years of being a guest star on tracks or adding vocals to other artist’s work, she step up to the plate and became a bonafide star. Like I said earlier, the amazing thing about this album, is that we’ve been playing in since January 2008. Normally, you grow weary of an album and throw it aside. Not SPHRP (Some People Have Real Problems), thanks to Sia’s voice, lyrics, inspirational and creative videos, this album was a snowball at the top of a hill that became a boulder.
Ours – Mercy (Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Friend)
It’s been six years since Ours has released a studio album. Was it worth the wait? Of course, it’s on our top releases of 2008, but……you knew there was a but. We expected more from this release. I’ve gone to countless Ours shows in the past six years, which seem like they were a listening session for Mercy (Dancing For The Death of An Imaginary Friend). Besides my little gripe, no one can deny, “Ranaway To Tell The World,” is easily one of the best tracks of 2008. Just off the strength of that track they would have made the list, but the rest of the album is equally soul shaking and deeply profound.
Kings of Leon – Only By Night
While a lot of rock groups have showed up and given us hope and flashes through this decade, The Hives, The Strokes, The Killers, basically any band with the in their name. They’ve all had their time to shine and have done something to disappoint us (musically of course). Well, the Kings Of Leon are the most consist of all of them. Only By Night, is their most commercial and studio polished album to date, but what they lose in rough and raunchy sound they make up for it with fine tuned tracks, like “Closer” and “Use Somebody.” Hands down their best album, and one of the best albums of 2008.
Adele – 19
Adele’s debut album, 19, shows a lot of potential for this young talented artist. Powerful voice, engaging and playful lyrics was the theme throughout her album. Take a listen to the opening track, Daydreamer: “Looks good when he when he walks, he is the subject of their talk/He would be hard to chase/but good to catch and he could change the world with his hands behind his back.“ You gotta love that. Some of the staff went to the Apple store to see she her perform live (article here). The way she commanded the stage with just a guitar and her lyrics was incredible. Hey, you guys remember when there was a million Amy Winehouse comparisons when Adele came out. Safe to say they were way off.
Royce the 5′9 – Bar Exam 2
We stumbled upon this album by accident. Last we heard of Royce, he was beefing with Em and D12, and just seemed in a real unhappy place. Keep in mind, I’ve been a fan of Royce since 1999 (Around the time he dropped Bad Meets Evil, with Eminem). So, his talent and work is nothing new to me or folks around the cafe. To say these past few months have been incredible for Royce would be an understatement. Easily reclaiming the crown as Detroit’s best emcee, with his countless guest appearances (most notably Slaughterhouse), and his mix tape, Bar Exam 2. His mix tape is of course the reason why he is on the list. Very underrated album and a even more underrated emcee.
Future inhabitors of MSG’s Wamu Theater (you heard it here first folks), Kings of Leon have released their most radio friendly single to date, ‘Use Somebody.’ One of our favorite tracks off of, ‘Only By Night‘, will open Kings of Leon up to more fans. Enough sell out MSG? Time will tell. Was it only us, but watching the close-ups of Caleb (was he crying) made it seem like we were watching a Drug P.S.A. commercial.
