Youngblood Hawke – We Come Running

The moment I come out of my last final (Friday 7 to 10 p.m., damn it) I will be throwing my earphones on and playing this song. The band from Los Angeles is a strong example of indie pop the likes of which have been radio-friendly as of late (e.g. Imagine Dragons). However, the band hasn’t received as much exposure as they deserve in my opinion, and this song is one of the most uplifting things I’ve heard in a while. Some people may recognize the tune from FIFA ‘13, which is promising, but it’s a song with Top 40 potential (and in that case it’d be an example of a Top 40 song I actually enjoy). Those looking for something a bit more laid-back could give RAC’s remix a try.

Last Lynx – Killing Switch

Speaking of laid back, “Killing Switch” is a perfect example. Last Lynx is a band from Sweden. Just like Youngblood Hawke, they self-categorize as indie pop. “Killing Switch” might sound like a song that a metal band might release, but it’s actually a relaxing song that I can see myself drinking a beer to at a campfire. Their newest EP, Ocean Reels, came out a month ago.

NONONO – Pumpin Blood

NONONO is another band hailing from Sweden. This is one of those bands that deserves attention that just might get it through one anthemic song (The Naked and Famous and Icona Pop come to mind) that has people singing, dancing and, in this case, whistling along. I can see myself listening to this at the beach and on the way there, being obnoxiously loud in my car with friends.

Coasts – Oceans

Speaking of the beach, here’s “Oceans” by Coasts. As the band name and song title might suggest, this song is overflowing with a summery vibe. Maybe it’s just me, but their sound’s as if the members of Foals grew up on the California coast instead of in Oxford. Summer’s a season made for love for some people (personally, I’m more of a winter romance guy) and this song should be a nice accompaniment.

Blackbird Blackbird – Pure

I’m including Blackbird Blackbird here mainly for two reasons. First of all, he’s from San Francisco and I believe in supporting locals. The other is that when I asked around about summer tunes, a huge portion of the responses involved Washed Out, which seemed obvious, and enough people know about his work (but I will give an honorable mention to RAC’s remix of “New Theory”). Anyway, I went with Blackbird Blackbird as an alternative answer because he’s a local artist I think deserves a bit more attention.

Dumbfoundead – Cool and Calm

This is a name that some may recognize from last year’s Hip Hop in the Park. Jonathan Park, otherwise known as Dumbfoundead, has made one of my favorite songs to lay back and do nothing do. Thematically, the lyrics are pretty heavy, but they’re relatable for most students. However, there are those times where my brain will shut down and stop all comprehension of lyricism or wordplay and this is one of my favorite beats for a mind-clearing, stress-relieving drive.

Daft Punk – Lose Yourself to Dance (ft. Pharrell Williams)

Yesterday, Daft Punk streamed Random Access Memories, their new album, in full on iTunes. In the end, this song ended up being my personal favorite (particularly for a summer list) with “Contact” and “Fragments of Time” close behind (but neither feel like summer tunes to me). The verdict’s still out on the new album. I think I need to give it another listen before I’ve completely formulated an opinion, but what seems certain at the moment is that this song will be making my summer playlist.

Les Enfants – Celeste

I’ll admit I don’t know anything about Les Enfants. I heard this song in a playlist and instantly fell in love with it. I love the little claps at the beginning and the claps that become stronger in the song. The use of mandolin and the back-up vocals make this a nice, happy song to throw away all your worries to. Something must seriously be wrong with you if you don’t tap your feet along.

Lana Del Rey – Summertime Sadness (Hannes Fischer Remix)

Let me make one thing clear before I talk about this song: I am not a fan of Lana Del Rey in general. I find her search for a persona as confusing as her awkward stage-turning live. Regardless, I think it’s important not to turn down an artist simply because you haven’t liked them before. You may end up surprised. What I will give her is that I think “Born to Die” is a lovely song and that she has a wonderful voice for remixes and mash-ups (like this one that I had on repeat a while back with Notorious B.I.G.). Hannes Fischer makes a catchy, somewhat happy version of “Summertime Sadness” here.

Banks – Warm Water (Produced by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs)

Some of us like mellow music for the beach and Banks has provided a good song to add to that list. “Warm Water” is completely different from “Before I Ever Met You” (a song I linked to in a previous Tunesday). I’m also a huge fan of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs for songs such as “Garden” because they have a unique sound in the world of electro music. The collaboration works for me.

The Colourist – Little Games (St. Lucia Remix)

With a guitar riff and percussion-driven sound, “Little Games” got a ton of attention on music blogs all over the internet. On its own, it’s a strong indie-rock poppy tune that you can blast for good times. However, St. Lucia gave it more of an electronic makeover that’s more suited for larger crowds. Ideally, I’d be playing this for a day club in Las Vegas or Ibiza.

Tycho – A Walk

More shoutouts for local talent. Scott Hansen, who goes by the name Tycho, is from San Francisco just like Blackbird Blackbird (but probably the more recognizable name between the two). Furthermore, one of my closest friends, Anna, is known as the “Tycho Girl” because of her presence in the background visuals during the live shows. Recently, Tycho released a music video for their song “Ascension”, and she’s being awesome in it, but to be honest it’s not my favorite song. I think “A Walk” is a stronger song in general and one of the best to fall asleep on the beach to.

Angel Haze – New York (King Krule Rework)

My summer plans are currently ambiguous, but the only thing that seems certain at the moment is that I will be going to New York in July. No, I won’t be landing to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Instead, I will be getting off the plane with this song blasting. The original version’s a bit more brutal, whereas King Krule reworked the song into a more laid back one.

I suppose… that’s… hip-hop? I don’t know what you will be doing for the summer, but I hope that the last video made whatever you’re doing seem more awesome. Try not to get involved with a lame rapper for your summer fling, as tempting as those choreographed dance moves may seem. He’s so funky. Wherever you may be ending up for the next three months, I hope you enjoy your summers. Tunesday will continue in August and I look forward to interacting with you again then! For the time being, you can expect a summer playlist to show up on my Spotify at some point in the next month. Onward and upward.

Contact Ephraim Lee at ephraimlee@dailycal.org.

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Phoenix – Trying to Be Cool (The Chainsmokers Remix)

The original by Phoenix in their new album, Entertainment, is a much slower, laid-back song which The Chainsmokers have changed into a more dance-y one. The Chainsmokers made their way onto the list last Tuesday for their remix of Daughter’s “Medicine” and then they released this remix of “Trying to Be Cool” from Phoenix’s new album. Speaking of last week’s post, it earned me the lovely title of “Most Likely to Reveal His Deepest, Darkest Secrets in a Blog Post” for the mentions of break-ups and unused concert tickets.

It would be a shame not to have a TMI moment after receiving such an honor from my editors. It isn’t my deepest, darkest secret, but it’ll have to do. This is like two truths and a lie… except I’m going to put more statements and not specify how many truths/lies I’ve sprinkled. No answer key, but I guarantee at least one is true. Have fun speculating!

1. I have a tattoo on my right butt cheek because I lost a bet.
2. I have had a semester-long crush on someone at the Daily Cal.
3. I cried when the Clippers got eliminated from the NBA playoffs.
4. I have never been in love, but I have told people I’m in love with them just to see how they react.
5. I just ate an everything bagel.

Portugal. The Man – Purple Yellow Red and Blue

Portugal. The Man’s seventh album will be coming out on June 4th and is completely produced by Danger Mouse. Don’t pay so much attention to the lyrics of this song, though, which include the likes of “workin’ just don’t work for me.” The tune’s so catchy that you’ll be tapping your feet along. It’s no wonder it’s been on my playlist for times when I am attempting to focus on work.

Sir Sly – Ghost

Originally, this post was going to be one with songs and bands involving the word “ghost” to follow the theme of dead week. Frankly, it was a dumb idea, but I think Sir Sly still fits into the new theme. This LA-based band has been one of my favorite discoveries since last year. My application to the Daily Cal involved a review of their album and I vouched for them for Noise Pop. Admittedly, some of their other songs such as “Gold” or “Found You Out” would probably fit the profile of upbeat songs a bit more, but I got slightly attached to what this post originally was so this is the one that made the cut.

ASTR – Operate

Speaking of Sir Sly, it’s worth mentioning that Neon Gold Records gave them a shot with an EP. Other acts that Neon Gold has brought into the limelight include Ellie Goulding, Marina and The Diamonds, Passion Pit, The Knocks, and The Naked and Famous. Recently, they’ve taken on ASTR’s debut single “Operate,” and their string of success in finding talented and widely appealing acts doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all in 2013. Much like the aforementioned names, this is a song that sits somewhere between pop and electronic.

Nujabes – Aruarian Dance

Some people just cannot focus on work with lyrics being present, so we’re taking a time machine to bring back some Nujabes. It’s certainly the oldest song I’ve linked so far on Tunesday, but I consider this my favorite study song of all time (I mean, it’s not saying much considering I’ve got the worst studying habits in the world, but it really is an amazing song to help you concentrate on something). It should say a lot that there’s a “Homework Edit” of the song (just a 1 hour loop) and it’s pretty popular on YouTube.

MS MR – Hurricane (CHVRCHES Remix)

MS MR and CHVRCHES are two of my favorite up-and-coming musical acts. MS MR have their debut album coming out next Tuesday and CHVRCHES have their first full-length album coming out sometime this year as well. Though both categorize themselves as some kind of pop music, they sound completely different from each other. MS MR have a darker sound whereas CHVRCHES sound bit like an 80’s revival. The remix is far more characteristic of CHVRCHES’ sound than MS MR’s. I’d suggest you give the original song a listen as well as “Recover” by CHVRCHES. Click through to Soundcloud and this remix is available for a free (and completely legal) download!

The xx – Hot Like Fire (BeazyTymes Remix)

The xx’s cover of Aaliyah is given a trap-esque remix, but unlike some of the stuff Baauer puts out under the same genre, it is good. It’s not exactly a song I can see myself working to, but it’s one that I’d put on after finishing and lying down. I particularly love the way he utilized the original riff, and somehow the bass in the background reminds me of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind.” Speaking of which…

Pacific Air – Lose My Mind

I am ending with a song called “Lose My Mind” because, well, I don’t want you to. Particularly, I’d like to dedicate this to my friends who are graduating (as well as those of you I never got the chance to meet that are). First of all, you’re welcome for not dedicating “Graduation” by Vitamin C. God. That song. The lyrics in “Lose My Mind” talk about problems such as “I’ve been thinking about my future / And how cold it’s been,” and anyone who’s graduating is probably beginning to feel that way. It is all about fear of the uncertainty in having to face the future in the forms of possible failure and iffy commitment, but still manages to be an uplifting song.

That’s it for Tunesday this week! Come back next week for a summer mix and as always, give me your feedback and tell me about songs you think deserve some attention! Good luck with your finals and best wishes if you’re graduating.

Contact Ephraim Lee at ephraimlee@dailycal.org.

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Best Dressed

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara stole the show in a custom white lace Givenchy gown with oxblood lips. Although Mara didn’t take the theme as literally as some of the other attendees, the ethereal gown was embellished with exposed zipper detailing down the front and punk-inspired make-up, offering an immaculate marriage of hard and soft elements.

Anne Hathaway

Hathaway debuted her newly bleached hair in an incredible vintage Valentino gown. If there’s anything that can draw some of the attention away from her Debbie Harry-inspired hairstyle, it’s the fearlessly sheer panels and fabulously furry cuffs of the black gown, chosen from the designer’s 1992 archives. Although we’re not sure if we can welcome it as a permanent change, the platinum look is perfect for the theme.

Sarah Jessica Parker

In a show-stopping Giles Deacon gown and Philip Treacy feathered headpiece, Sarah Jessica Parker embraced the theme while giving it an elegant twist. Beneath the voluminous gown, SJP wore velvet over-the-knee plaid Christian Louboutin boots. This mix of statement pieces sounds like it was destined to fail, but SJP managed to blow everyone away with a ferocious and unforgettable look, perfectly embodying the night’s theme.

Kate Bosworth

“I feel like I’m wearing armour,” said Bosworth of her heavily beaded gown, “I’m a warrior.” The opulent fuschia minidress, originally designed by Balmain as a top, was paired with a studded belt and dramatic eyeliner to complete the glamorous punk look.

Worst Dressed

Beyonce

The honorary chairwoman of the evening made a grand entrance in an elaborate Givenchy gown. Beyonce can usually pull off just about any thing, but this look was  so reminiscent of the days of Destiny’s Child that it left us wondering if Kelly and Michelle were soon to follow in even worse coordinated ensembles. Perhaps without the elbow-length gloves and the punk-inspired belt, this look could have thrived, but as it is, the flaming orange gown-slash-rug with matching thigh-high boots was far too extreme.

Elizabeth Banks

The lovely Elizabeth Banks unfortunately let us down in last night’s gold Atelier Versace gown. The pinstripe tuxedo-style gown, paired with leopard print fringed shoes and elaborate earrings, fell flat on the red carpet, reminding us more of Liberace than Joey Ramone.

Madonna

Who needs pants? Evidently not Madonna, who arrived dead last in a jaw-dropping Givenchy Haute Couture ensemble. The devastating look, consisting of a shredded fishnet mini, studded tartan jacket and metal choker, was topped off with a severe black bob and hot pink shoes. We had expected her to pull the theme off effortlessly, but her punk look felt a little overkill.

Kim Kardashian

Rumors circulated last year that the reality star had been banned from the event by Anna Wintour herself, but last night Kardashian made her first appearance at the “fashion Oscars.” Kardashian donned a long-sleeve, turtleneck floral gown with a thigh-high slit, created by Givenchy, the designer of the night. “Riccardo’s [Tisci, creative director for Givenchy] vision of punk for me is not the typical mohawk you’d envision,” explained Kardashian. However, the wallpaper pattern and built-in gloves were certainly not what we had expected, and, combined with Kardashian’s awkward leaning pose, made for a very unflattering and bewildering look.

Coco Rocha

The 24-year-old model affronted the red carpet in a gold-embellished Emanuel Ungaro column of leopard print. Bizarrely paired with awkward mid-calf leather boots, the garish gown had very little to do with punk and came across as tacky.

Zandra Rhodes

The British designer took the theme very seriously, but unfortunately ended up looking as if she had grabbed every odd scrap of tattered fabric and ribbon from her workroom and threw them all together. The loud ensemble was ultimately more confusing and chaotic than couture.

Contact Meadhbh McGrath at mmcgrath@dailycal.org. Check her out on twitter at @MeadhbhMcGrath.

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The first of these was Madison Chapman, a breathtaking image in black and white. Wearing a chic ensemble consisting of a white vest, black skirt and elegant hat, Chapman could have been strolling down 5^th Avenue as easily as going to class. Every aspect of her look, from the careful braid in her hair to the pretty sandals on her feet, was deliberate and refined.

Next we encountered Anthony Le, a marvelously dressed gentleman exuding a certain gentle charm. Le was debonair from head to toe, with not a single item ill fitting or misplaced. His suave jacket, neat slacks, crisp shirt and polished shoes comprised a truly swanky suit, which was complemented by a smart selection of accessories: A purple pocket square, a straw-colored hat and a brown messenger bag in tip-top condition left no doubt of Le’s sophisticated fashion sense.

Nearby we found this lovely pair, sporting beautiful long sundresses befitting this week’s climate. Ryan Williams and Kaleigh Rhoads were a sight to behold, looking jaunty and relaxed in wonderfully light, sinuous garments. Flowery and colorful, their outfits were the perfect choice for an afternoon frolic on Sproul Plaza or Memorial Glade. Another of this week’s finest looks came in the form of Josephine Jetty, appearing cute and jovial in a blue and white dress. This outfit stood out thanks to its pronounced quirkiness, which stemmed from the cut of Jetty’s dress, her unusually shaped glasses and her bulky black shoes. The style is attractive because it’s highly individualized. Often the best dressers are those who ignore some conventions and let their personalities shine through.

All photos shot by Ashley Chen

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They played most of their latest, critically-acclaimed album, Bloom (2012), more than half of their break-out Teen Dream (2010), and one song from each of their first two albums, Devotion (2008) and Beach House (2006). The shuffled order of their set-list provided a comprehensive tour of their oeuvre’s highlights.

The surroundings were reminiscent of their music in terms of its layers. The dreamy landscape of an ever-present fog machine reflected their gradient band shirt design at the merch counter. Harp-like décor laid the backdrop for whimsical projections of ballroom dancing, walking dog feet and animations of disjointed dancing caveman drawings. And the starry background of scattered light bulbs further enhanced the fanciful scene.

Lead singer Legrand’s smokey powerhouse of a voice is the band’s sonic centerpiece. It filled the whole venue while maintaining an airiness that never blasted at the audience. For reference, my friend noted that she sounded like an eerily beautiful humpback whale when she sang her piercing shrills at full force – but, you know, in a smoother, more consistently in-tune way. Guitarist Alex Scally complemented this with his delicately-woven yet haunting riffs.

The musicians surrendered their initial detachment by progressively letting loose. The audience was finally able to see Legrand’s lovely face six songs into the concert when a light shined on it during “Walk in the Park” – which is ironic given the withholding lyrics that go, “The face that you see in the door / Isn’t standing there anymore.” Soon after, she shed her leather to reveal a gold sequin jacket, which lit her up as if her body was a source of light. She even whipped her hair back and forth during “Wishes” and busted out some sweet pop-and-lock keyboarding moves. As the show transpired, the band transitioned from merely producing sonic replicas of their recordings to playing around with notes. Sure, “Take Care” has a great build-up on the album, but that experience is very subdued in comparison to their climactic live performance.  Legrand’s vocal improvisations were heightened by the shimmer of a revolving disco ball that furnished the setting with a celebratory tone.

As if this wasn’t enough to please a swagging-and-swaying mass of hipsters, the band melted hearts with their graciousness toward the crowd. Scally was like, “This is not a thing we say in every town. We love San Francisco. We did not say this last night in Vegas, although we did love the Michael Jackson pinball machine.” Then Legrand was all, “There’s a whole lotta fucking love.” When the crowd cheered for an encore, the band generously performed three more songs. Instead of inducing a sleepy reverie, this dreampop band popped dreams into reality.

Contact Caitlin Kelley at ckelley@dailycal.org. Check her out on twitter at @misantherapy.

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GO BEARS. For those of you who don’t know, up-and-comers Jhameel and Giraffage both went to UC Berkeley. Giraffage and Robert Cepeda (from DWNTWN) were roommates at one point in San Jose. This collaboration was bound to happen, just like Jay-Z and the xx. All three have been putting out some infectious tunes for a while (click on their names to hear some examples) and Kitsune (a label that constantly seems to be putting out mind-blowingly amazing compilations) had them get together for Kitsune America 2, which releases today.

Daughter – Landfill and Candles

Last year, Daughter helped me get over a break-up and I’ll forever be grateful. I have been obsessed with the band (particularly Elena Tonra’s vocals and lyrics) and today, they have their debut album coming out in the US. Their three strongest songs prior to this release, in my opinion, are “Landfill”, “Candles” and “Youth”. Only one of them has made it to their full album, so I’m kicking off this week’s Tunesday with the other two. As I have said in the review, this is some damned depressing stuff to listen to. For the record, they’re amazing live too. Sadly, my inability to land a date for a relatively unknown band left me with unused tickets for their show in San Francisco back in October. Chances are the next time you hear their name, they’ll be far more well-known and those tickets will be far more desirable — their show in LA next month sold out weeks ago. The last time I believed in a band’s impending success this much was The xx (another artist whose concert I had two tickets for and only used one of in 2009… oh dear).

The xx – Together

Speaking of The xx, Jay-Z is pulling some magic producing the soundtrack for “The Great Gatsby.” This collaboration was bound to happen. Jay-Z has long been a fan of The xx and was spotted back in Coachella 2010 vibing to their music with Beyonce. The soundtrack is due to be released next Tuesday and I could not be more psyched that one of my favorite bands will be on the album for an adaptation of one of my favorite novels. Something that you will catch in the song that isn’t usually featured in their music is the presence of violins. If you like this song, I would recommend you watch The xx Symphony where they play some of their songs with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

GEMS – All I Ever & Pegasus

Now that I’ve talked about The xx, I think I should give GEMS a mention. They’re an up-and-coming band with both a female and male vocalist. I’m kind of a sucker for that when their voices work well together. “All I Ever” does rightfully bring up some comparisons to The xx, but “Pegasus” shows a use of synth that sets them apart(particularly around 2:32). Regardless of how similar they are said to sound to other bands, I have been captivated and look forward to see what they do next.

Daughter – Get Lucky (Cover of Daft Punk)

In last week’s edition of Tunesday, I briefly mentioned that Daft Punk released the first single from their new album and someone was bound to make a cover or remix of it soon enough. Naturally, I’m going to have to show you guys the one that Daughter did. It’s kind of a cop out in a way to take an upbeat song and make it into a mellow, acoustic version, but it’s a move that’s easily forgiven when it’s quality work — another example that immediately comes to mind is Anya Marina’s cover of “Whatever You Like” by T.I. The band demonstrates how much thought goes into their music as well as how much talent (and humility) they each have individually.

Banks – Before I Ever Met You

It’d feel like a crime not to mention this song when this has essentially become a superpost of break-up music. Banks is an act to watch because her unique, soulful voice is being applied to some trip-hoppy backgrounds and it makes for a genre-defining act. Her voice is constantly compared to some seriously talented names like Fiona Apple and Miss Lauryn Hill. You don’t have to be recently single to enjoy this tune either — with all the passion and downtempo goodness, it’s making its way to some playlists for sex. Whether you have a heart break to get over or a “heart-on” to get under, this is a good accompaniment.

Baths – Ironworks

A special thanks to my friend Jeni for this one! Baths will be releasing his 2nd LP, Obsidian, on May 28 and this is a nice first taste of what’s to come. It’s a change of style from what fans of Cerulean have heard. This quote from the artist himself on Soundcloud should do the job describing what kind of change. “The songs and lyrics all came out of a pretty fucked and arduous process of trial and error,” Baths says. ”But I hope people understand that I’m not the depressed, suicidal, and death-obsessed person the record may paint me as being. These are just darker areas that I wanted to explore.” Don’t expect another “Aminals,” but try to embrace it. “Ironworks” is a beautiful song in its own right and demonstrates the scope of emotion Baths is capable of relaying.

Absofacto – Backfire

Absofacto is the solo project of Jonathan Visger (of the band Mason Proper). Mason Proper makes some okay tunes, but I’m a huge fan of Absofacto. As he describes it, it is “experimental pop,” but I’d go with the cliche music blogging method and say he’s kind of a mix of Beach House, The Shins and Phantogram. He recently announced that he will be touring with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (not as Absofacto, but as a part of their band just for the live performances) and that he will be releasing more music as Absofacto sometime in the near future.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)

Well, this has been one clusterfuck of depressing and/or mellow music. Let’s transition to something a little bit more fun. As I just mentioned, Absofacto (Jonathan Visger) is touring as a part of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. & their new EP, Patterns, had some really catchy stuff. I have no shame in admitting that I danced around in my room to this one and it’s a good thing you didn’t see me since you weren’t on that dancefloor. The song, unlike my dancing, is pretty pleasing to the senses.

Daughter – Medicine (The Chainsmokers Remix)

I had a dilemma deciding between this remix and Sound Remedy’s and decided to link the Chainsmokers version. Sound Remedy takes on the track and makes a dubstep version, which turned out rather beautiful, but The Chainsmokers took it in the direction of house music while preserving a lot of the original version’s components. In a little blurb on their Soundcloud they say, “”We heard this song on a depressing cold winter day in NYC (it can get pretty bad) but as soon as we heard the haunting voice of Elena from Daughter and the bands equally incredible wallowing piano chords, we didn’t necessarily feel happier, but we fell in love with the song and knew we had to try give our Chainsmokers touch to it without ruining the already beautiful song.” My personal take is that they definitely didn’t ruin the already beautiful song (which, by the way, is another one that Daughter decided not to include on their full-length album).

MF Doom x Clams Casino – Bookfiend

Clams Casino is one of my favorite producers and MF Doom is one of my favorite rappers. Hopefully, there’ll be more collaborations between the two. Would it be too much to ask to hear Doom rap over “I’m God” (one of my favorite tracks produced by Clams)? Before I go off wishfully thinking, I can hold myself over with this song.

Blondfire – Walking With Giants (Shreddie Mercury Remix)

In this remix of “Walking With Giants” by Blondfire, Shreddie Mercury makes Erica Driscoll sound like GLaDOS from Valve’s “Portal” series by adding elements of glitch music and a heavy beat. The original song by Blondfire was also a pretty catchy tune to dance along to and the band is picking up steam now that they’re touring with Surfer Blood and Foals. I’d recommend checking out Blondfire’s EP, Where the Kids Are and their cover of “Trojans” by Atlas Genius”.

Mr Little Jeans – Oh Sailor (ft. The Silverlake Conservatory of Music Youth Chorale) & Waterfalls (Cover of Paul McCartney)

Mr Little Jeans caught my attention when she (real name Monica Birkenes) released a cover of Arcade Fire and an original song, “Runaway,” that was just as addictive. I had the chance to see her open for St. Lucia last summer and she is just as attractive as she is talented. There are rumors floating about that she may be releasing a full album in June and two more songs have popped up on Soundcloud. The first is “Oh Sailor,” an original song that’s the best use of a youth choir that I’ve heard since Ryan Gosling used one for his band, Dead Man’s Bones (ah yes, a 2nd consecutive week managing to mention him). It wasn’t soon after noting Gosling’s young back-up singers that I realized that it was the same choir. More recently, Birkenes released a cover of Paul McCartney’s “Waterfalls.” As she’s already demonstrated with her cover of “The Suburbs,” it is a cover that is uniquely hers.

Run the Jewels – Get It & Banana Clipper (Snippet)

Run the Jewels is a newly formed collaboration between El-P and Killer Mike and yesterday, they released a single from their album. A while back, El-P posted a snippet from a song called “Banana Clipper” on Soundcloud. The latter is the song that got me more excited and it’s an album to keep an eye on (especially since they’ll be releasing it free of charge in June). It’s worth noting that Killer Mike is on tour during the summer and El-P will be joining him in July along with Despot and Kool AD (of the recently broken-up Das Racist).

TORCHES – When You Gonna?

TORCHES is a band that’s been around for a while in LA, but they still haven’t seen the spotlight. “When You Gonna?” is the kind of song that’s easier for people to catch on to and they will be starting a residency soon at The Echo in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, a big part of their sound in this song is the harmonizing of Azad Cheikosman and Bridgette Moody’s voices, but Moody (also the bassist) left the band recently and it remains to be seen what kind of direction they will take the band with their new bassist. Their EP, If The People Stare, comes out May 6.

Empire of the Sun – Alive (Music Video)

When I heard the single from Empire of the Sun’s upcoming sophomore album, Ice On The Sun, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was clearly intended to be catchy, but it quickly became repetitive whereas previous hits like “We Are The People” and “Walking On A Dream” did not. However, upon watching the music video that they released yesterday, one thing is clear: they have not lost their showmanship. Empire of the Sun clearly care about crowd-pleasing. They are entertainers and it showed in one of the best live shows I’ve ever been to. Hopefully, the rest of the album offers something more challenging to listen to, but for the time being, nothing’s convinced me not to buy tickets the moment they’re on sale.

Jez Dior – Candles

To end Tunesday, once again, some hip-hop. If you thought I was done talking about Daughter, well, you’re wrong. Jez Dior sampled “Candles” (the first song in this post) to make this song from his mixtape, Scarlett Sage. Last week, I bashed auto-tune, but this is one of the few instances where I think it’s used well (when used sparingly)… you’ll see. He’s been slowly gaining fans and “Candles” was his earliest hit. Other songs that have been getting attention since include “Love Me To Death” and an appearance in mdnt’s “Dreamcatcher”.

As usual, I’d love to hear your feedback and even more, to know what music you think deserves some attention. See you again for another installment of Tunesday in a week! I promise I won’t mention Daughter next week. Probably. I’ll try not to be so depressing with my musical choices in the future, especially during dead week. Here’s a cute cat video to make up for it.

Contact Ephraim Lee at ephraimlee@dailycal.org.

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Sweet HayaH will be at the Boom Boom Room in SF on May 7.

Ian Birnam covers music. Contact him at ibirnam@dailycal.org.

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While the boys left little room for error by way of crowd favorites — highlights included “White Sky,” “Diplomat’s Son,” and “A-Punk” — the performance felt short and substantially lacking in girth and gusto. For being creatures of the night, the vampires seemed either too fatigued or too scared to show off or venture at all from studio renditions of their songs. Some tracks even felt shorter than their originals as the band hastened to reach 20 songs in the short hour.

The band has been accused of what could be called boyish, 20-something shyness in the past, likely stemming from their sudden rise to fame after all having graduated from Columbia University and self-producing their first album in 2006. But sheer amateurism alone can’t account for the members’ general lack of enthusiasm before a decidedly non-Oakland audience on Wednesday night.

Blame their cool, preppy aloofness or post-Coachella fatigue, but the band’s virtual lack of crowd engagement felt like disinterest over all else. The Fox show felt like an afterthought for the band, an unnecessary “Oxford Comma” splicing its ambitious Coachella weekend sandwich in two. Indeed, even the encore felt altogether contrived and Koenig couldn’t seem to effectively deliver the line, “But actually Oakland and not Alameda / your girl was in Berkeley with her Communist reader” with sufficient shout-out enthusiasm that an expectant (and paying) audience deserves.

Contact Bonnie Mata at bmata@dailycal.org.

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Beat-boxing cellist Cello Joe opened up the show with a funky unconventional take on genre mash-ups using onstage looping techniques, while rapper, poet and female MC Aima the Dreamer followed up with a strong performance over head-bopping rhythms.

Headlining was Ensemble Mik Nawooj, which performed its latest hip-hop chamber opera “Death, Love & Life.” Arriving that night and quite frankly not knowing what to expect, I was treated with an unforgettable and altogether invigorating musical experience. EMN, which consists of a flutist, drummer, bassist, clarinet player, violinist and cellist, as well as MCs from The Attik, a soprano and a pianist, filled the stage and commanded full attention with a stroke of the keyboard.

With each piece that was performed, everyone in the room was brought along with EMN as they traversed through an emotional journey that went from startling death to tumultuous love to newfound life. The ups and downs of life played out as a harmonious balance was found between the lively music and arresting vocals. Although the musicians were classically trained, the music was anything but classical. It was as if all these layers of pop, rock and jazz instrumentals were injected with a classical flair that gave each portion its own quirks and lasting characteristics. “Hope Springs Eternal” brought delightfully upbeat, energetic notes while “Morning Light” built up to a powerful crescendo led by pianist and composer JooWan Kim and opera singer Lauren Woody. Rappers Do D.A.T., Sandman and RyanNicole were impressive as they exercised a lyrical prowess that put into words exactly how the music felt. Whether it was Kim, with his hair flying and fingers pounding away at the keyboard, the MCs, with their vibrant voices ringing out across the room, or the orchestra as they waxed sweet harmonies, the result was captivating, authentic and indicative of the very ways in which EMN is revolutionizing hybrid music.

        EMN will be joining the line-up at this year’s free Hip Hop in the Park festival, held at People’s Park on May 4. Head out and indulge in a real hip-hop opera — the kind that might have R. Kelly reconsidering what to call the next installments of his “Trapped in the Closet.”

Check out the music video for “WGFYU!” below.

Contact Ashley Chen at achen@dailycal.org.

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This curiously dressed individual, Sarah Stoermer, was a spectacle of varying colors and fabrics. From the black shoes to the bright blue pants and multicolored top, the outfit commanded attention with its many hues. At the same time, it exhibited a wide range of textures, from the flannel shirt to the jean-like pants and leathery shoes. As a whole, this was an interesting example of how one might put a diverse array of items to use in one solid style.

Another of this week’s top dressers was Molly Perez, looking remarkably confident and urbane. Her outfit was like a canvas, with the first coat of paint being a black background that included her hat, sunglasses, dress, leggings, boots and bag. On top of this, she bore a striped, multicolored sweater, which served as the foreground of the painting. The combination made Perez look like an attractive piece of art as she sauntered through campus.

Elsewhere, this group of friends was the definition of cool, sporting fun hats and lively garments. La’Quoia Renee, Loady Low and Albert Watts (from left to right) embodied the relaxed sun-soaked atmosphere that pervades Berkeley around this time of year. Full of color and comprised of light, summery fabrics, their outfits spoke of comfort as well as a certain flair.

All photos shot by Ashley Chen

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