mixtape maestro (2.0)

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• SWV “Co-Sign”
• Standard Fare “Darth Vader”
• The Concept “Gimme Twice”

SWV “Co-Sign” Posted: 18 Dec 2011 09:51 PM PST SWV‘s VERY welcome return on a remix to Chris Brown’s “Right Here/ Human Nature”-referencing single “She Ain’t You” earlier this year surely sparked all kinds of excited “SWV is Back!!” exclamations, but after years of sporadic live appearance reunions leading to rumors of a new album being in the making leading to 0% in results, we were a bit hesitant in putting too much hope in one of the 90′s top girl groups actually recording another album this time around. Apparently we should have more faith, because not only have the trio of Coko, Taj and LeLee officially marked their return with a brand new track, the tune just so happens to pay tribute to their platinum hit-coated legacy with some “New Jill Swing” flavor and older material shout-outs (“Love will be right here”) while also sounding like something that could get some rotation on R&B radio today. With some serious jeep jam bump supplied by producer Lamb, someone who has had some experience making divas sound their best (prior credits include chart-topping joints like Monica’s “Everything To Me”, Keyshia Cole’s “Let It Go” and Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need U Bad”), “Co-Sign” has the Sisters With Voices sounding like they never left the scene, using their still-fabulous harmonies (and lead parts for each member!!) to celebrate the highs of a brand new love that’s so good, it has them giddily re-playing voicemail messages just to hear their boo’s sweet voice all over again. Feeling like a modern-day sibling to their back-in-the-day classic “Anything”, SWV have us about ready to do throw a house party of the old-school/ Kid N Play kind with this one. “Co-Sign” (iTunes): Download audio file (SWV-Co-Sign.mp3) BONUS: SWV featuring Jay-Z, Mr. Cheeks, Busta Rhymes, Smoothe Da Hustler & Trigger Tha Gambler “You’re The One (Remix)” (DL): Download audio file (SWV-Youre-The-One-Remix-feat.-Jay-Z-Mr.-Cheeks-Busta-Rhymes-Smoothe-Da-Hustler-Trigger-Tha-Gambler.mp3)

Standard Fare “Darth Vader” Posted: 18 Dec 2011 04:26 PM PST Sharing the title and opening line (“I’m not darth vader/ Luke, I’m not your father…”) to this low-key gem from Sheffield-based indie-pop trio Standard Fare is probably not the most helpful when trying to convince someone of the track’s timeless ballad quality, but bet: if you’re able to strap them down in a seat and force them to be fully immersed within the three-and-a-half minute track’s tender melancholy and relatable scenario sketch of a lyric, you’ll have them on board with one spin. Such is the instant charm of this rare slow-tempo move from the usually youthfully perky band’s “Album of The Year”-leaning sophomore set Out of Sight, Out of Town, a tune tracking a person’s request to be given a break from another (her lover? her child?) peppered with exhausting reassurances that her desire for relief won’t be eternal (“It’s not an abandonment”). With her lethargic vocal presence and the lingering tinge of slight annoyance when she breaks down the reasons behind her decision (“You gettin’ too emotional/ You’re lost in your own turmoil/ You’re not still five years old…”) pushing the notion of how draining this relationship has been to her, singer Emma Kupa sounds like she emotionally checked out of the situation long ago and now simply needs freedom of a physical sort, the level of “Don’t go!” neediness this other person seems to be projecting at her leading one to wonder if this exit is truly going to be temporary. Still, there’s a certain gentle care with the way she sighs the promise of her return towards song’s end (“I love you completely/ Darling you won’t lose me/ So don’t you feel so blue…”) that ultimately supports the idea that she’s speaking the truth, her soothing fear-calming tactics here planting a nice pretty bow on a simply beautiful take on the smaller tribulations that emerge when being a human dealing with other humans, quirky Star Wars references and all. Pick up Out of Sight, Out of Town on iTunes or in the various format packages seen here. Standard Fare “Darth Vader” by Thee SPC

The Concept “Gimme Twice” Posted: 18 Dec 2011 09:30 AM PST The general consensus likely to be generated from this new single by Swedish indie-rock newbies The Concept (a four-piece with members combining history playing with fellow Swede acts Robyn, Tove Styrke, MRTN and Veronica Maggio): This is what one listens to while awaiting another Phoenix album, with everything from the song’s forward-pummeling dance-rock structure to frontman David Larson’s swooping, stutter-accented yelps making similarities to the beloved French rock act output damn near unavoidable. What “Gimme Twice” lacks in originality though it more than makes up for in ear-pleasing pep, its bright ringing of guitars, steady drum hits and Larson’s hooky phrasings, not to mention that 8-bit turn of a breakdown, sure to inspire tons of top-of-volume blasting when Saturday morning chores need to be done.

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