Here's what happened this week on Rdio. Don't miss a thing — like Rdio on Facebook, subscribe to the Rdio blog feed, and follow @Rdio on Twitter and on Rdio. Or drop by every Friday for our weekly blog round-up.
Here’s what happened on Rdio this week:
Dad Deserves a Good ol’ Playlist — Father’s Day is this weekend. However you plan to celebrate good ol’ Dad, make sure it’s soundtracked by a playlist to match.
A Playlist of Awesome: Of Montreal for Bespoke Post — Rdio and men’s gift subscription service Bespoke Post teamed up to release a monthly playlist. This month? Play tunes from Psychedelic glam-pop outfit of Montreal.
New Music Tuesday, June 5, 2012 — Ed Sheeran, Waka Flocka Flame, Metric, Usher, and Hot Chip — it’s another big week for new releases.
Only on Rdio: Listen to Crocodiles’ Endless Flowers Commentary — The San Diego garage-pop troupe offer their insights on their new album, Endless Flowers.
Only on Rdio: Preview Smoke DZA’s New Album — You can hear the lilting, laid-back cadence of rapper Smoke DZA’s new album now, only on Rdio.
Only on Rdio: Hear Para One’s Passion — French beat-maker Para One’s new full-length, Passion, is available for preview this weekend.
Listen to Rhett Miller’s Fave Songs Playlist on Rdio — To celebrate his new album, Rhett MIller wrangled his favorite songs into a playlist.
At the Office: Brendan Benson, Young Hines and Howling Brothers — Rdio sat down with Young Hines after his in-office performance with Brendan Benson to talk music.
Developer Apps: Typing Karaoke — This new app is described as “Mavis Beacon meets Guitar Hero.” Type along to the lyrics of your favorite songs as quickly and as accurately as you can — nimble fingers get the most points!
Follow this week’s newest Influencers:
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Since earning the attention of music fans with his blippy Intelligent Dance Music and techno grooves, French beat-maker Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, aka Para One has embraced a number of new styles. In the process, he became a go-to producer and remixer for bands like Daft Punk and Justice. His new full-length, Passion, is another step forward for him, fusing sensuous R&B vocals with warmer production for a sound not yet heard in his ever-widening oeuvre.
Passion will drop next week, but you can hear an exclusive album preview over the weekend here on Rdio. Dim the lights and hit play.
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Old 97s frontman and solo singer-songwriter Rhett Miller’s popularity rose steadily thanks to his strong songwriting and singing — no gimmicks. His latest album, The Dreamer, is another solid set from Miller. To celebrate the occasion, he’s wrangled his favorite songs into the playlist found below.
Rock, folk, pop — play Rhett Miller’s Faves now, and read his well-written notes on why he picked each song.
The New Pornographers - “Mutiny, I Promise You”
Carl Newman writes great songs. Thorny, dense things, devoid of obvious handles and hooks, but sticky and slippery in the best way. Oh yeah, and Neko Case as a vocal counterpoint? Pretty sweet.
Guster - “Do You Love Me”
Do you love handclaps? Do you love bells? Do you love songs that will keep you awake at night out of sheer catchiness? Then you will love this song.
Guided By Voices - “Teenage FBI”
Once upon a time, The Cars' Ric Ocasek produced a record for the kings of lo-fi indie rock and this song came into being. At less than two minutes, this song challenges you not to play it again.
Redd Kross - “Peach Kelli Pop”
This ultimate rocker, off their historic Neurotica album, will start any day off right. I wanted to include "Stay Away From Downtown" off their upcoming album Researching The Blues, which features the classic Neurotica lineup, but that album doesn't drop until August. In the meantime, you should be researching Redd Kross.
Dukes of Stratosphear - “Little Lighthouse”
This XTC side project has never left my heavy rotation. I wish more people remembered them. Garage rock psychedelia that will melt your square brain. Play it loud.
The Head and The Heart - “Lost in My Mind”
Seems these guys are blowing up these days. And rightly so. THATH are a great combination of the sweet little things I love about music (simple melodies, sparse moments), and the huge, fun things (mallet-wielding monster drummer, massive multi-part harmonies), and are, thus, one of my favorite new bands.
Carolina Chocolate Drops - “Cornbread and Butterbeans”
I just love these guys. I hesitate to describe them too much. You should just find out for yourself. This song contains my new motto: “Eatin' beans and makin’ love as long as I am able".
Crowded House - “Fall At Your Feet”
I toured with Neil Finn years ago and came away from the experience with a newfound respect for his enormous talent and admirable work ethic. Oh, and this new favorite song.
Ben Kweller - “Jealous Girl”
BK has been blowing my mind since he was a kid. And his newest record may be his best yet.
Sarah Jaffe - “Clementine”
This track appears on her new record Suburban Nature. It's a sweetheart of a song and a perfect showcase for the husky beauty of her pipes. To have such a special voice and the ability to write a song like this? An embarrassment of riches for my young friend Sarah.
Dawes - “When My Time Comes”
With songs like this, Dawes time should be coming... Right. About. Now.
The Pixies - “Wave of Mutilation”
The greatest song of all time. That's all.
Yrs,
Rhett
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This Sunday, Dad gets his due — it’s Father’s Day. Don’t forget to make him feel special for everything he’s done for you: send a card, take him out to a ball game, or sit back and have a chat. While you do that, bump the appropriate playlist.
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far is a compilation of songs by musical fathers and their kin: Bob and Jakob Dylan, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, and many more. Have we forgotten any good ones? Add it to our collaborative playlist above and have a very happy Father’s Day.
Still not sure what to get Dad to say thanks? If you love Rdio, he might just love it too. Give him a gift certificate.
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Say farewell to productivity for the next half hour — this month’s featured Developer App is Typing Karaoke.
Developed by Travis Chen at the most recent Hollywood Hackday, Typing Karaoke is described as Mavis Beacon meets Guitar Hero. Pick from a selection of songs like Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” or Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” and try your best to type along to the lyrics. Make sure to warm up those digits because the faster and more accurate you are, the more points you’ll score. Are you dying to transcribe a certain tune? Follow Travis on Twitter and suggest a song.
Think you have what it takes to make the next awesome app? Then have a look at Rdio’s Developer’s Page to register for an API key. We have a Github and API Google Group to help you get started. Who knows? Your creation can be worth some money through the Rdio Affiliate Program.
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Harlem rapper Smoke DZA is a member of Curren$y’s Jet Life posse. His lilting, laid-back cadence has been heard on tours and records with Curren$y, but his own discography is standalone strong. DZA already has a number of releases under his belt, and his new full-length, Rugby Thompson, is just around the corner.
You don’t have to wait, though. Starting today, four tracks from the album will be available to play as a preview of what’s to come. Play a selection of Rugby Thompson and get ready for the rest.
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It’s a rockin’ week for new releases. Punk-rock troupe Motion City Soundtrack, folk-rock troubadour Tallest Man on Earth, and blues-rock outfit Grace Potter & The Nocturnals all have new albums out this week. All rocked out? Try jazz composer Pat Metheny’s new album, which features a new ensemble, including saxophone, for the first time in 30 years.
For more new music than you can listen to in a week, consult our playlist notes below, listen to the New Music Tuesday playlist and browse all the New Releases.
Playlist Notes
Ed Sheeran - +
Ed Sheeran made his name playing acoustic guitar-driven songs punctuated by his angelic croon — and by playing more than 300 shows in 2011. His debut album is new this week.
Dent May - Do Things
The Mississippi singer-songwriter’s days as Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele are over. May’s new album, Do Things, is his first under his birth name, and features a glitzy pop sound.
Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Friends, Fans, & Family
The eclectic, in-your-face ATL-NY rapper’s second album follows a slew of mixtapes that cemented Waka Flocka Flame as an artist to watch.
Metric - Synthetica
The Toronto-based synth-rock outfit took three years to follow up their Polaris Music Prize-nominated Fantasies, but it’s finally here. Synthetica is the sound of a band at their most confident — big melodies, clever lyrics, and lush, synth riffs.
Usher - Looking 4 Myself
The R&B icon returns with an album that has feet in the past and future. Usher’s voice remains as silky smooth as on his debut, but his instrumentals reflect a new brand of R&B that fuses classic soul with elements of dubstep and house.
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
The UK duo’s sleek, sexy new album is ready to take summer dance-floors, not to mention bedrooms, by storm. Turn the music up and the lights down.
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San Diego garage-pop duo Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell channel the brooding, lo-fi sound of the ‘80s — Jesus and Mary Chain, Echo and the Bunnymen, et. al. — into their band Crocodiles. Between their first and second albums, Crocodiles bettered their songwriting and added muscle to their guitar jangle. By the third album, Endless Flowers, they added yet more to their musical recipe: haunting organ, a thicker bass end, and more space for the reverb to breathe.
Don’t take our word for it — listen to the Rdio-exclusive Commentary Version of the album, on which Crocodiles give track-by-track explanations and anecdotes for Endless Flowers.
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Every month, men’s gift subscription website Bespoke Post sends their subscribers a “Box of Awesome,” filled with “everything a gentleman needs.” It got us thinking — Why not a “Playlist of Awesome,” too?
With that in mind, Rdio and Bespoke Post have teamed up release a monthly playlist curated by Rdio Influencers. This month’s playlist was concocted by psychedelic glam-pop outfit of Montreal, and can be found below.
For more monthly playlists, Follow Bespoke Post on Rdio, and grab a “Box of Awesome” of you own while you’re at it.
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This week, we welcomed Brendan Benson, Young Hines, and Howling Brothers to our HQ to for our first ever in-office performance.
Most notably known for being one fourth of The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson hit the road this summer in support of his fifth solo studio album, What Kind of World. This is the first record on Benson’s brand new label Readymade Records. Also on tour is fellow labelmate, Young Hines with his debut album Give Me My Change. Blue-grass band Howling Brothers supports them for their west coast dates.
We sat down with Young Hines to talk music and blast him with quickfire questions. Be sure to take a peek at all the pictures from the live performances here.
Five Questions with Young Hines
- Who do you think is an important musician that most people have never heard of before?
I think Nick Drake had a pretty cool catalog of music. I don’t know how widely known it is but he had a pretty cool way of saying certain things.
- If you had access to any record in the world, what would you listen to right now?
I would listen to San Francisco Days by Chris Isaac.
- Which album or artist do you most associate with your childhood?
Blue Hawaii by Elvis. I remember that used to be blasted like crazy. I think that record was actually see through blue, and even as a kid I knew that that was cool.
Well really, my eldest brother is actually the first person, the first thing I remember. I remember crawling and crying, going down this hallway for some reason — which tells you a lot about life — but I remember seeing him sitting Indian style on his bed playing his guitar. I didn’t know he was my brother but I sensed it. And I remember him saying, “What’s the matter, Young?”
And he was just playing this song that he ended putting on a record. His name is Matt Jordan. Particularly the song “My House.”
- We hope people are __ when they listen to our music.
Just happy. In the end, it shouldn’t leave you feeling too terrible.
- We were thinking about _when we wrote music for the new album.
Chicago.
Quickfire Questions with Young Hines
- Acoustic or electric?
Electric.
- Neil Young or Neil Diamond?
Neil Young.
- Kanye or Taylor Swift?
Kanye.
- Lollapalooza or Bonnaroo?
The first years on both are good but if I had to pick I’d have to say Lollapalooza just because it came first.
- “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder or “Under Pressure” by Queen?
Oh, Stevie Wonder. Totally.
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