Amy Winehouse 1983-2011

In 2006, Amy Winehouse worked with Mark Ronson to create an album that captivated an entire generation, and will forever remind the world of Amy at her best.

Time magazine named "Rehab" the Best Song of 2007. Writer Josh Tyrangiel praised Winehouse for her confidence, saying, "What she is is mouthy, funny, sultry, and quite possibly crazy" and "It's impossible not to be seduced by her originality. Combine it with production by Mark Ronson that references four decades worth of soul music without once ripping it off, and you've got the best song of 2007." Thank God, for music's sake, it happened.

The "Winehouse phenomenon" has been credited by Sebastian Danchin, author of Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Soul, of kick-starting a revival of soul music that has been ongoing since 2000. We've lost a truly great artist.

Foster The People does just that

Some bands make cool songs, and some bands make great albums. Foster The People did both. They don't just have a sweet band name, it's exactly what they do. MGMT gave us Oracular Spectacular in 2007, and since then not one album has captured its anthemic-future-pop sound & energy. Until now, almost 4 years later, when a polished L.A. outfit dropoped their self-titled debut to satisfy music fans everywhere, and every song on it is just what we've been needing.

Make sure to blast their single 'Pumped Up Kicks', but here are some other standouts:

Foster The People - Helena Beat from inaharris on Vimeo.

Cloudy Busey: A Good Japanese Band?

Loving anything I hear from Cloudy Busey. This project is the singular output of Bob from puzzlingly good Japanese band Ice Cream Shout. Bob describes Cloudy Busey as 'orphan' songs that don't fit in with Ice Cream Shout." Fresh, throwback, pure and totally radio-ready. His blog should keep you updated on new tracks etc, so I recommend checkin' back in:

http://icecreamshout.blogspot.com/

Cloudy Busey - broken by inertia from ice cream shout on Vimeo.

Ferris Club: It all makes sense now

MillionYoung: New Floridian Chillwave

Almost two years have gone by since I first heard this song by Mike Diaz, AKA MillionYoung, and it still gets me every time. No matter how often I hear it. Magic.



More info here.

Wu Tang's Unreleased Nintendo Commercial

Unreleased Nintendo Commercial (filmed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn) from 1993 promoting the Super Game Boy featuring ODB, RZA, Prince Paul on the beat, and street art by the COD Crew.

While I'm at it, another classic. This one from '95: