Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix wins Best Alternative Album of the Year and Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” wins Best Record of Year beating out Lady Gaga and Beyonce. I am kind of impressed with the Grammy’s this year. Beyonce deserved what she won especially after that great cover of Alanis Morissettes’ “You Oughta Know”. I especially enjoy the fact that the Music Industry community has paid their respects to Phoenix and Kings of Leon, bands that have paid their dues in the rock sense – that have toured for over 10 years and have made more than 2 records. But it is definitely the last time we see acts like them. We are moving into a new era where every band has to reinvent themselves every release. They have to treat themselves as a start-up company that has to develop a cutting edge and revolutionary business plan with every single/album/EP that they create and put out.
When Taylor Swift accepted her first award and said “I want to thank my record label for letting me write all my songs.” I finally decide that this industry is done. We are in a time where everything is fair game. Yet another paradigm shift in the musical business world I guess we just need another Radiohead album to show everyone what we should do. Bands, artists, DJs, Producers, labels, promo companies, everyone that is still clinging onto this shell of an industry, it is time to do things differently. Let’s not just send out the same promo emails with the same old free mp3s, press releases and press photos and post it on our blog, let’s all take the time and show that we are trying to do something new and different with our art and crafts. Let’s show that we care about the quality and work that an artists puts into their work. Whether it is a band like Phoenix who spends 2 years crafting an epic song such as “Love Like a Sunset” and never settling even when it was just an infant tune called “Twenty One One Zero” or a band like Kings of Leon who have toured endlessly. Let’s just not settle for mediocrity. Not too sure what I am trying to get at with this rant or what I want to see happen to the industry. No doubt this is an argument/conflict that has been going on for decades in the industry. But I just know it is an exciting time for music.
Also I have so much love for Diplo, who I feel is a walking middle finger to the music industry. He is like thanks for giving me this Grammy for “Paper Planes” – let me shit talk everyone here at this event via twitter. Here is Diplo & Co’s lovely take on multiple Grammy winner, Beyonce’s “Halo”.
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I am a huge fan of La Blogoteque: Take-Away Shows such a genius way of showcasing and shedding a new light on an artist’s music. What better way to showcase Phoenix than under the Eiffel Tower in front of tourists. They are France’s musical and cultural ambassadors to the world these days. Check out “1901″ and “Long Distance Call” here.
Phoenix stopped by NPR’s World Cafe to play an acoustic 4 song set for the 100th time this year as well as a chat about each tune and their lives up to date. This maybe the same old same old in the blogosphere but it is oh so good.
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The French band Turzi add a new layer of synths that elevates “Love Like a Sunset” onto a level that Jean Michel Jarre would appreciate.
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You all know and have seen ROB on TV, on every late night show this summer laying it down on the keys/synths for this little known French Pop Band, Phoenix. This track is the 4th installation in his 12 month long release of musical pieces through Institubes Records. Mr. Tellier joins ROB on this latest tune – a psychedlic/kraut/classically inspired piece that dives deep into ROB’s musical mind. Join ROB on his mysterious musical adventures…
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Phoenix live is a totally different animal – raw and rocking. It all comes to life when Thomas Hedlund steps behind that drum kit. Here is a little souvenir for all of you who witnessed them live
Tracklist :
01. Intro
02. Lisztomania
03. Long Distance Call
04. Consolation Prizes
05. Rally
06. Sometimes in the Fall
07. Love Like A Sunset Part 1
08. Love Like A Sunset Part 2
09. Too Young
10. Rome
11. 1901
12. Back Announce
A fantastic journey into Phoenix’s musical psyche – twenty tunes that changed their lives and influenced the way they sound. I love the way they romanticize and philiosophize in that oh-so French way about Curtis Mayfield and Kenny Rogers. You can really hear the little production techniques and samples that they strive for in their music in these songs. I especially love the 2nd track, Evie Sands’ “I Can’t Let Go” – an epic 2 mins of pop magic that Branco said he and Daft Punk use to cover when they had their band “Darlin” (the name that came from the Beach Boys tune) together for a summer in their teenage years. Such an amazing list of tunes.
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Shuttle is a remixing/producing machine – from working on his own tracks or remixing tracks under Passion Pit’s name, he is just constantly pumping out tracks. Listen to this great reworking of “Love Like a Sunset” – LOUD. Nate promised Asian Dan an exclusive mix so be on the look out for that soon!
“Our good friend Shuttle sent us this fantastic remix of “Love Like A Sunset” and we’d like to share it with all of you. As well as releasing records as shuttle, he also plays drums in Passion Pit as “Nate”! His new album will be out later this year.”-Phoenix Diary
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I am so happy for Phoenix – after years of putting out amazing music they have finally received the recognition and respect they deserve. And now there is is proof by having all their contemporary musical peers remix / re-vision their music. Genius business model – that is genuine, sincere, and just a great way to showcase the depth of their music. Looking forward to the Two Doors Cinema Club, 25 Hours a Day, and Boombass remixes.
I have never been a fan of Animal Collective – interesting take on this epic journey of a tune. Animal Collective turns the song into a meditative, Indian sounding tune with Thomas Mars’ vocals looped over like a mantra over some tabla sounding percussion.
Check out what Animal Collective has to say about Phoenix here.
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Interesting reinterpretation/re-visioning of Phoenix’s epic tune. Devendra and co turn “Rome” into a sentimental, introspective tune of a lost love. Check out what Devendra has to say about Phoenix here.
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All music shared on this site is copyrighted by the artists and are only meant as samples, please buy their music,
buy their merchandise, see them live, support them, tell your friends about them, love them, cheers.
If you want me to blog about you, have any questions, comments, recommendations, requests, requests to remove tracks,
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