Share the Sound

Oblivion ft. Susanne Sundor - M83 (from the Oblivion movie...

howtomatter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:12:01 -0500

Oblivion ft. Susanne Sundor - M83 (from the Oblivion movie soundtrack)

A few days ago I undertook the brave task of seeing a movie at the local Thai movie theater - brave because it’s a massive place, and because it was the day after the Thai New Year, so everyone and their mother was there. My friends and I saw Tom Cruise’s new sci fi epic Oblivion, which ended up being quite entertaining. The plot was a little thin in some spots, but overall I enjoyed it for its visual beauty and the soundtrack, which was orchestrated by indie favorite M83.

It seems that several critics weren’t totally sold on an indie musician making the soundtrack for a big budget film, and in an interview with Pitchfork, Anthony Gonzalez (the man behind M83) admitted that he didn’t have much experience with arranging orchestras.

I personally enjoyed the end result and felt that the score gave depth and a refreshing turn from what could otherwise be just another alien invasion movie (or in this case post-invasion). There’s a lot of nuanced whimsy in many of the tracks, including the one that I highlight here, which was played during the credits. I was so captivated by it’s immediate hook and was not pleased that my friends were scrambling to leave the packed theater as soon as the credits rolled.

Another favorite from the soundtrack is “StarWaves”, which is played earlier in the movie before the “Beginning of the End” mark in the plot. It features an intense crescendo towards the end that really stirred my imagination.

Anyway that’s all for now. I recommend seeing the movie as well, especially if you don’t know anything about it other than Tom Cruise being in it. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised once or twice and definitely entertained.

-Morgan

“Billy Corgan is a Vampire” - S.S. Bumblebee Hey...

deceptivelyawesome — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:09:00 -0500

“Billy Corgan is a Vampire” - S.S. Bumblebee

Hey kids! Who likes pop-punk?

This is “Billy Corgan is a Vampire” by S.S. Bumblebee, from their album. Comic Book Superhero. I found it scouring the music library at the radio station I work for. The name caught my attention, as you might imagine, and I was instantly hooked.

This song was released in 2000, but sounds a few years ahead of it’s time. Other pop-punk bands weren’t doing this kind of stuff for another 3 or 4 years,

S.S. Bumblebee seems to be one of those bands that made their one album and faded into obscurity, which is a damn shame, because this album is full of childish, irreverent potty humor that music seems to think it’s outgrown these days.

Ah well. Such is life.

Once again, this has been Matt Davidson. Always remember to board your windows and lock your doors when The Smashing Pumpkins come to your town. Goodnight everybody!

P.S. If you like this , check out “My Small Apartment” and “Abducted By Aliens”

For even more great music, check us out at Share the Sound!

Zero 7 - “Destiny” (from Simple Things) I’ve...

themattstevensblog — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:13:08 -0500

Zero 7 - “Destiny” (from Simple Things)

I’ve been playing this song over and over again these past few days.

Zero 7 is, besides the name of nightclub in Honduras, the moniker adopted by British producers Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, who released Simple Things in 2001 after spending the better part of the 90’s working in studios with the likes of Robert Plant.

“Destiny” is a downtempo track that fosters a hazy, intimate setting that is reinforced by the supple vocal of Sia Furler, who later found success as a solo artist you may remember as a guest artist for “Titanium” on David Guetta’s 2011 album Nothing But the Beat. “Destiny” makes great use of her obvious singing talent, as well as light percussion, fingerpicked guitar, fluttering flutes, and reverb FX. But, without a doubt, the song would not be the same without Sia and the surreal lyrics:

“I lie awake/I’ve gone to ground/I’m watching porn/In my hotel dressing gown”

or the chorus:

“When I’m weak I draw strength from you/And when you’re lost I know how to change your mood/And when I’m down you breathe life over me/Even though we’re miles apart we are each other’s destiny”

- Matt B, Share the Sound

See also: Emma Louise - “Boy” and Norah Jones - “Good Morning”

Ronald Jenkees - “Remix to a Remix” Ronald Jenkees...

themattstevensblog — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:38:59 -0500

Ronald Jenkees - “Remix to a Remix”

Ronald Jenkees is another one of those YouTube musicians/geniuses that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the music he puts out. The genre he plays tends to vary from track to track, but the common thread is the use of multiple keyboard tracks playing independent melodies. This particular track manages to combine hip-hop beats with Baroque violin riffs. (Would Bach have called them riffs? I’m not sure.)

Even if you decide you don’t like it, you do have to admit that it is unique.

Justin Timberlake - “Lovestoned / I Think She Knows...

themattstevensblog — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:53:20 -0500

Justin Timberlake - “Lovestoned / I Think She Knows (Justice Remix)”

Okay, I admit it. Justin Timberlake’s new album, The 20/20 Experience, has some really good tracks in it. I would definitely recommend it.

But when I created Share the Sound, I did so with the mission of bringing recognition to under-appreciated music. And I think that with appearances on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week, I’m sure that 20/20 will get more than enough attention. Therefore, I’m going to focus on a remix of an older track.

This one here is a bona fide Justice tune. It does not hide it’s electro/disco roots. The JT vocals really play a secondary role.

See also: Track 1 on the new album, “Pusher Love Girl”.

Matt B - Share the Sound

How to Destroy Angels - Keep It Together Remember this? That...

themattstevensblog — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:04:00 -0500

How to Destroy Angels - Keep It Together

Remember this?

That image is the best way I can describe my reaction to hearing that Nine Inch Nails will be releasing new material in 2014. But, alas, we haven’t even finished the first quarter of 2013. So, while we anxiously await the the new album…

May I present, How to Destroy Angels. HTDA is the combination of the musical talents of Trent Reznor (the Nine Inch Nails guy) and Atticus Ross, who you may remember for scoring such films as The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Together with Mariqueen Maandig, vocalist/Reznor’s wife, the trio has produced two EPs and a recent album (titled Welcome oblivion), all of which are filled with experimental and asymmetrical sound that makes even Nine Inch Nails seem mainstream in comparison. Still, the top-tier production value that Reznor is known for is evident throughout, and audiophiles will take notice. But be warned, this album is not for the faint-of-heart. It will challenge your convictions about what music is.

Personally, I love it when that happens.

Matt - Share the Sound

Professor Kliq - “Pangea” Coming across the music of...

themattstevensblog — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:30:20 -0500

Professor Kliq - “Pangea”

Coming across the music of Professor Kliq is one of the happiest accidents to ever occur to me. When I first heard this song, I was actually stumbling around YouTube and found a video that showed what SimCity would look like if it ran on CryEngine 3 (AMAZING, if you were wondering), set to this song. “Pangea” is a beautifully crafted piece that harmonizes a variety of synths with sonically vibrant percussion and a melodically liberal piano.

What’s more, after hearing this I made sure to check out the rest of Kliq’s repertoire, and most of it is equally impressive. After listening to all of it, I would say that Professor Kliq is one of my favorite producers of all time. Much of his work is released under creative commons; it’s very refreshing to hear such good music come from self-made artists.

Matt - Share the Sound.

This is a documentation of works between 2006 and 2007, working at a gas station and attending a community college where I grew up. This album captures the last page of this chapter of my my life.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love I’m sure plenty of...

themattstevensblog — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:00:16 -0600

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love

I’m sure plenty of you have heard Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ bargain hunter’s anthem “Thrift Shop.” It’s infectiously catchy and the duo is blowing up like the Manhattan Project right now. But because I’m familiar with the rest of his work, I know that Macklemore is much more linguistically advanced than the line “Walk up in the club like what up? I got a big cock!” would suggest. As a fan and a champion of good music, I take it upon myself to shine light on the truth. The majority of his songs are about life lessons, contemporary issues, and the artist’s struggles with drugs and alcohol.

“Same Love” is a shining example. And, actually, I do believe that the song does reflect the beliefs of Share the Sound and its contributors. If that offends you, you can shove it.

Humbly,

Matt Stevens, Share the Sound

Imagine Dragons - “Radioactive” One of the few...

themattstevensblog — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:11:27 -0600

Imagine Dragons - “Radioactive”

One of the few trends in contemporary pop that I don’t hate is the clean-guitar-meets-SAWBASS fusion á la Alex Clare’s “Too Close” that came to define the serious side of popular music as well as Internet Explorer 9. Imagine Dragons is one of the newest breakout artists to give the method a try. Most of their new album, Night Visions, reminds me of Coldplay and OneRepublic, but “Radioactive” is a standout track that made my night the first time I heard it at a local bar. I also think this song has a ton of remix potential, and I’m hoping someone knocks the tempo down a little bit to make a slow-motion sex maker akin to Awolnation’s “Sail” and Unlimited Gravity’s remix of the same.

Matt Stevens - Share The Sound

Songs like this are the reason I love electronic...

themattstevensblog — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:05:32 -0600

Songs like this are the reason I love electronic music.

BT’s new track “Skylarking” is without a doubt one of the prettiest pieces of music I’ve ever heard. BT has managed to create an atmospheric euphoria that blends soft and harsh sounds together in a way that can take you to a whole new world. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

- Matt Stevens, of Share the Sound

I’m not really one for Valentine’s Day and all that,...

themattstevensblog — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:17:30 -0600

I’m not really one for Valentine’s Day and all that, but this little track did get my attention. It’s a simple little remake of Ghosts N’ Stuff made by some friends of Joel Zimmerman (aka Deadmau5)

Sorry about this coming a day late. I was going to do it yesterday but I was too busy being single.

Jamie Woon - Lady Luck Dim the lights and grab your significant...

themattstevensblog — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:59:07 -0600

Jamie Woon - Lady Luck

Dim the lights and grab your significant others because Jamie Woon’s Lady Luck is sure to set the mood for what follows. With a vocal that resembles Justin Timberlake at a lower octave and rhythm filled with all kinds of sexy sounds it’s the kind of song that makes you want to be all over someone. If it were me, I might have lowered the tempo just a little bit, but its an otherwise very impressive track.

- Matt Stevens, Share the Sound

Xilent - Boss Wave OMG IT’S ARCADE DUBSTEP,...

themattstevensblog — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:56:31 -0600

Xilent - Boss Wave

OMG IT’S ARCADE DUBSTEP, Y’ALL!

This is seriously one of the most fun tracks I have heard in a long time. It has all the uncanny feel-good energy of simple 8-bit melodies packed into a high-quality dubstep track that will be a perfect fit for your “Operating a Robot Death Machine” playlist.

The music video’s a trip too. (Literally).

- Matt Stevens, Share the Sound.

Queen - We Will Rock You VonLichten Since the Super Bowl is one...

themattstevensblog — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:24:02 -0600

Queen - We Will Rock You VonLichten

Since the Super Bowl is one of the most-watched events in all of television, I imagine many of you heard this song’s debut just before the game last night. For the handful of you who didn’t, you’re in for a treat. This song is the product of an NFL-commisioned symphonic rock ballad to pump folks up.

This song excels at that.

Seriously, just when you thought We Will Rock you couldn’t get any cooler this comes along and cranks the “epic” up to eleven. Yes, the introduction struggles to transition to the first verse. And, yes, the track is desperately in need of some frequency equalization. But I’ll be damned if this track doesn’t make me want to tackle someone.

I’m Matt, happily posting for sharethesound.tumblr.com.

“Figure 8” - Ellie Goulding I don’t know what...

howtomatter — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 03:41:29 -0600

“Figure 8” - Ellie Goulding I don’t know what rock I was living under when this song came out a few months ago, but I listened to it for the first time today and it is rocking my world. Ellie Goulding is being a boss in many corners of the music industry right now, so I’m not surprised that such a powerful song came from her. Anyway, take a listen if you haven’t already. This has been a contribution from Morgan with Share the Sound, who is currently feeling too uninspired to make a longer post.

Bondax - “Gold” It’s a burdensome task to put...

themattstevensblog — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:30:40 -0600

Bondax - “Gold”

It’s a burdensome task to put into words why exactly I enjoy this track from the British group. One might describe it as sensual, but also sonically scattered. Having far too many sounds to process, its many layers blend together in a sublime fashion that highlights the superior production quality while also creating a connection to the soul that many electronic-centric tracks struggle to make.

In layman’s terms: baby-making music at its finest.

- Matt Stevens, sharethesound.tumblr.com

This playlist was made at the request of a friend who wanted...

themattstevensblog — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:52:38 -0600

This playlist was made at the request of a friend who wanted something “to capture that feeling when you know you’re on the cusp of an incredible and challenging and slightly terrifying change in your life, right as your about to cross the threshold towards a new path.” This playlist is designed to take the listener on an audio journey through this thrilling moment.

The first three songs were selected to set a serious mood that goes along with the sometimes sobering realization that change and the natural fear that goes along with it, is imminent.

Songs four and five are of a more reflective nature than the preceding songs. They lament (in a lighthearted fashion) the complexity of making a huge decision with potentially life altering consequences.

Songs six and seven deal with the realization that something must be done. The path forward may not be entirely clear, but dammit you need to do something. Seven also adds a bit of much needed pep to the mix.

Song eight represents the departure from a previous life. It’s also a cover of one of my friends’ favorite artists, and I think she’s going to like it a lot.

Song nine is about those first awkward steps; a beautiful moment indeed, when you soak up your new surroundings in awe.

Song ten is when you realize that this is now your life. What was once a dream has become a reality.

Song eleven…and the world didn’t end.

Songs twelve and thirteen embody that wonderful sense of relief. You’ve done something good for yourself and now your life is better for it.

14-17. Whew! All that worrying and life planning can be stressful. But it’s all good now. Time to dance! Because you really do have something to celebrate.

Last track. The big finale. This song is in the same period as the handful of party tunes in front of it, but you should actually pay attention to the lyrics in this one. Life is bound to throw more challenges like this one your way, but always remember that you can accomplish anything if you have the right mindset.

“Brings Renewal” - MiTiS “MitiS, brought up a...

howtomatter — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:36:53 -0600

“Brings Renewal” - MiTiS

“MitiS, brought up a Classical pianist in Pennsylvania, has been making his way into the Electronic music scene for the past two years and has been producing tracks from genres Dubstep to Electro.”
“I just wanna share good music, have it be through performance or a small, simple social setting. Music is what I do, I wouldn’t change that for anything. Have it be a Chopin piece playing in a hall, or a dirty bass kickin’ the club’s ass, I’m down for either”.
After experiencing the classical world of piano, performing in world renowned Halls such as Carnegie Hall in Manhattan NY, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Joe Torre became MitiS to give the Dance music scene a run for it’s money. “I find myself unable to stop making phat basses, heavy beats,and throwing melodies into the mix… I Can’t think of anything else more appetizing; It’s the new age Classical.”

(Taken from his Soundcloud profile)

I just found MiTiS’ music a few days ago and I’ve been really impressed. “Brings Renewal” is a great example of the “new age classical” he talks about. It’s great music to listen to if you want to buckle down and study or brainstorm and get creative. Check out his soundcloud page if you like this song! He has tons of tracks over there for you to download for free. I highly recommend “Born” as a follow-up to “Brings Renewal”.

This has been Morgan with Share the Sound, who’s just waking up on this side of the world.

Queen - “Dead on Time” Last night I saw the...

themattstevensblog — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:30:56 -0600

Queen - “Dead on Time”

Last night I saw the Louisiana Philharmonic play a bunch of Queen hits. And sure, everyone does love “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen” and “Don’t Stop Me Now”, but one of the things I think the average music fan fails to acknowledge is that before they became the gods of glam rock, Queen was a damned good rock band.

Dead on Time is a song that shows how hard those guys could rock. Brian May (a very underrated guitarist among the greats) is constantly shredding, the drums are loud and fierce, and Freddie Mercury is Freddie fucking Mercury.

But somehow, rocking songs like this and “Stone Cold Crazy” were somehow lost to history. My best guess is that they were simply too awesome for radio.

For more music you wish you had heard before now, check us out at sharethesound.tumblr.com.

- Matt Stevens

Dogs Eating Dogs - Blink 182 Don’t let it ever be said...

deceptivelyawesome — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:30:53 -0600

Dogs Eating Dogs - Blink 182

Don’t let it ever be said that I am not a Blink-182 fan, dear STS followers. I apologize for the absence. This has been one hell of a semester. Let’s get back to the music, yeah?

This is the title track off of Blink-182’s new EP. It, to me anyway, sounds a lot like Mark Hoppus’ recently ignored side-project, +44. It has an aggression to it that most Blink material lacks, but When Your Heart Stops Beating (+44’s only album) had in spades. The break-down is very reminiscent of the spoken word ending to the song “Violence” from Blink’s (phenomenal) self-titled album.

Travis Barker deserves special consideration on this track. The dude kills it.

It’s nice to hear Mark and Tom trade off on vocals again. I’ve said since it came out that Neighborhoods didn’t have enough of that. It reminds me of pre-breakup Blink in the best way.

Once again, let me apologize for the lack of content for the last few weeks. I promise I’ll be better about it.

Once again, this has been Matt Davidson. Always remember to never neglect your amazing music blog when getting a new girlfriend. (Or boyfriend. We don’t judge) Goodnight everybody!

For even more great music, as well as secret to eternal happiness, check us out at Share the Sound!