This morning we launched Tom Waits’ BadAsMe.com!
We’ve worked with Waits’ team and SoundCloud to create this exclusive listening party streaming his new album Bad As Me before it comes out on October 24.
Fans on Waits’ mailing list received individualized codes that granted them access into this exclusive listening party. Those who aren’t on the list are able to request a code to get into this album stream.
Check it out and get your code now at BadAsMe.com!
Permalink Post CommentThe 2011 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place last night, August 28, 2011 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. This year marked the award show’s 28th year. While the show did not have a host, it was nothing short of surprising and entertaining.
Many artists and celebrities strutted down the red carpet in fabulous garments while Selena Gomez hosted the VMA pre-show. The most memorable appearances were from Nicki Minaj, who wore metal, stuffed animals and pink hair, and Beyonce, who showed off her baby bump and announced that she and husand, Jay-Z are expecting a baby! Cobra Starship and Sabi performed as part of the pre-show.
Oniracom has teamed up with our good friends at SoundCloud to bring you the first listen of
G. Loves latest release from Brushfire Records, Fixin’ To Die, exclusively on Conan O’Brien’s website Team Coco. Head over to TeamCoco.com to hear the full album a week before it hits stores and you can download an exclusive track right on G. Love’s website.
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Marie Parie is a new client here at Oniracom! She presents a different genre than we normally work with and we are excited to start working with her. She is a Parisian pop artist that moved to the United States in 2005, providing her with a unique view of American society. Marie is fascinated by the process of dating and is motivated by the power of futuristic music. Her full length album, Alien Victory, is aimed to be released early this year. Watch her first music video, Dating, here! Follow her on MySpace and Facebook to stay tuned for the release of her album!
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The kid named Cudi isn’t afraid to label himself “Mr. Rager”, “Maniac” or more nostalgically [his birth name]: “Scott Mescudi”.
Kid Cudi’s sophomore album Man on the Moon II had a lot to live up to considering previous mega-hits like “Soundtrack to my Life”, “Day N’ Nite”, “Pursuit of Happiness” and “Man on the Moon”. However, on The Legend of Mr. Rager, we’re not only invited into Cudi’s previously rapped-about dreams, but into his daily reality as “Mr. Rager”. The entire album is darker, and more musically adventurous than Man on the Moon - The End of Day (2009); incorporating various syncopation and instrumental elements to diversify his sound. An overall ominous, eerie tone emanates from each track, slowly but steadily ushering us along for the evolution of a “Cudi Revolution”.
The “Cudi Revolution” translates into a solid album, keeping some of the same Cudi-esque trademarks [think oo-oohs, grumbles/growls, and near-wailing sounds] with new insight into the somehow hazy yet focused Cudi state-of-mind. Of course there are multiple stand-outs: “Scott Mescudi vs. The World”, “REVOFEV”, “Marijuana”, “The Mood” and “Maniac”. Those that choose to skip out on the album [mistake!] will appreciate commercial tracks like “Mr. Rager”, “Erase Me”, and “Mojo So Dope”. However, here it is most critical to discuss the tracks that seem to create artistic progress for Cudi on his newest artwork. If nothing else, appreciate something has simple as the song titles. Each are carefully named to aid the listener in the dark journey of Cudi’s evolution.
The album opens up with the upbeat “Scott Mescudi vs. The World” featuring soulful Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley, proclaiming that “we can meet on the other side, this is our journey into the horizon”. Strategically placed first, the track immediately hooks the listener into Cudi’s lyrically displayed dark psyche, without exposing it fully.
“REVOFEV”, appropriately referring to “Revolution of Evolution”, alerts us to “wake up” and questions: “Where will you be for the Revolution?” For those lyrically- unappreciative folks: sit back and enjoy the passionate build-ups and break-downs, complete with snare drums and violin drama.
Quite possibly the best track on the album, “Marijuana” is not your typical party head-banger or commercial Cudi song. Instead, it gives a fresh new trance-like vibe that engulfs the listener. A dramatic choir element is added throughout, practically placing Cudi’s lyrical Mary Jane anthem on a pedestal; the almost-holy force that brings a man back to earth. As taken from Cudi, the track truly gets “all up in your blood”.
“The Mood”, while not particularly diverse, holds true to the Zone that Cudi so often refers to being lost in: a slightly passive, but deeply intuitive state of mind that instantly captivates anyone if allowed. The steady, pleasantly monotonous beat also has an eerie, ominous overtone.
The final most significant track aptly named “MANIAC” [appropriately in all capitals], is one of the most unique jams on the album: the possessed female voice repeats the same phrase [referring to a black hole!], setting the tone for the highly unusual track. Cudi raps, “I am the maniac - I am the ghoul - I’m in the shadows in the corner of my room” -- fully capitalizing on his self-proclaimed title as a lost, manic soul. “MANIAC” is also expertly produced with a multitude of sounds waffling in the background, slowly luring us in.
Kid Cudi: Man on the Moon II - The Legend of Mr. Rager is a successful documentation of the Cudi mindset. Although some have grown tired of his dreary self-depiction, it can be argued that Cudi has portrayed this dark image under an entirely new light. Avid Cudi fans will not be disappointed.
The ragin' Brooklyn rock band Sleigh Bells made their way to the SOhO Music Club last night in Santa Barbara, and had their Californian fans wanting to rock out all night with their amazing and hardcore set. With only one album out titled "Treats," fans last night were begging for more and more musical treats from the rock hard duo after their set ended. As the crowd was raving for an encore, the lead singer Alexis Krauss mentioned, "I don't know if you guys have noticed, but, our album is only thirty four minutes long." Although short, their set was surely awesome. Not only was every song on their album played, but Alexis and Derek (the lead guitarist) really had the crowd riled up and rocking out, as all rock shows should be! It had been a while since I had been to a show quite like this one. There was screaming, sweat, and some moshing here and there. Mainly just eccentric head-banging and dancing took place throughout every song, which made the experience even better. As small of a venue as SOhO may be, it seemed as though Sleigh Bells were performing for thousands. Their energy within every song exceeded all expectations, and made it one hardcore and kickass show.
Opening with "Tell Em," and followed with "Infinity Guitars" which is my personal favorite, it definitely did not seem like there were only two people on stage. Yes, it sounded THAT awesome! Alexis and Derek were both interacting with their fans during the entire show. Diving into the crowd, dancing with the crowd, and just plain rocking out with the crowd during every single song. After getting their fans a little more rowdy, they decided to slow it down with "Rill Rill." At that point, I couldn't even hear Alexis' voice anymore, the entire crowd was singing along, including myself. Her voice sounded even better than the record, and Derek's guitar skills had my eyes spinning. Their musical chemistry is one that most certainly connects.
Sleigh Bells is making their way down southern California, heading to Costa Mesa tonight and LA tomorrow! So if you're in that area and are craving a good head-banging and dancing time, definitely try to make it to their show! More tour dates can be found on their MySpace page here Can't wait for their sophomore album! Sleigh Bells are well on their way to the top!
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Brandon Boyd of Incubus recently released his first solo album. Here, we review "The Wild Trapeze," along with, as we like to do, his websites and social media presence.
After that little sneak peak into 6 of the year’s best albums, I compiled a nice list of the 25 Best albums, this time in an actual order.
Click below or “Read More” to see the official list.
We, through our label Oniric Records, announce that legendary reggae band The Wailers have contributed an exclusive new track titled “A Step for Mankind” to our “Solutions for Dreamers: Season 3” compilation album. This compilation, to be released July 1, 2010, is the third in our Solutions for Dreamers series and all of the proceeds generated will go directly to the United Nations’ World Food Programme(WFP).
The World Food Programme is the world largest organization fighting hunger on a global scale. WFP is committed to getting food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict, and natural disasters. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries. We at Oniracom and Oniric Records have been inspired the work the WFP does and are proud to partner with them on Solutions for Dreamers: Season 3.
Mason Jennings was featured and interviewed on CNN today.
On the interview he reveals a bit about how the new album “Blood Of Man” came about and what inspires him to write.
Effortless melody, dexterous wordplay, tight compositions—they come easy for Jennings, whom Rolling Stone recently dubbed “one of the best songwriters you’ve never heard of.” But his new album, “Blood of Man” (Brushfire), goes deeper than his previous work, which presented a more affable side of the Honolulu-born, Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter.
Read the full article here.
Also don’t forget to check out the website we did for him.
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Apple is exploring a new interactive album format code named “Cocktail” that could potentially bring new life to the Album AND the Music Industry. An executive involved in the plan is quoted by the Financial Times as saying it’s “all about re-creating the heyday of the album when you would sit around with your friends looking at the artwork, while you listened to the music.”
That’s all well and good but it seems as though the current state of the music industry has arrived to where it’s at because of a reason - progression. This new format is supposedly all about “re-creating the heyday of the album” but what can we classify this as - progression, nostalgia, retro, all of the above or none of the above?
I realize that this new format is being created to give fans more for their money and encourage them to buy the whole album versus single tracks. However, in order for this “Cocktail” to work it will have to overcome the way of thinking that most music consumers have these days - that albums only have 2 or 3 good songs that are worth the money and the rest is usually filler. Let’s just dream for a second and imagine if “Cocktail” really takes off. Perhaps this is what is needed to motivate artists to create albums with less filler.
Of course, for the die hard fans I think this concept will work. Fans are always willing and wanting to get new content from their favorite artists. The question, though, is what “exclusive content” will be offered and will it be something unique OR will it be something you can find on-line within a few minutes of searching?
I’m glad to see that the big names in the music industry are working on new ways to entice fans into buying music. It’s a sad, true fact but “just music” isn’t really cutting it these days. I personally think the “Cocktail” is a progression and a good idea, but it needs to be done right. And who better to lead this initiative than Apple.
Click here to read the article in the New York Times
Click here to read the article in Financial Times
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