The DC trio RDGLDGRN have been genre-bending for years with infectious music that knows no bounds and personally make me wish I were 1/4 as talented as these dudes. Anyway, now that their self-titled debut is out, the world is getting to see it, hear it, live it, and love it. It should come as no surprise that the band comes equipped with more buzz than Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold. Their 2011 breakout song "I Love Lamp" was huge, and led them to Sound City Studios, which led them to Dave Grohl, which led them to asking him to play drums on a track, which led him to play on the entire record, which a lot of people to be like "whoa!" Anyway, Pharrell Williams is also on the album, having co-wrote and co-produced "Doing the Most," so these guys keep good company and deserve to keep that said "good company." Anyway...get on the bandwagon folks. These guys mean business. While on tour with Aer and New Beat Fund (watch them on A-Sides next week), I caught up with them for an interview and an impromptu freestyle session. Watch the video (filmed by Yale Goodman) below:
The Melodic are also defining genre labels. This English afro-folk-pop ensemble dropped their debut album Effra Parade in November, and definitely should be on your radar. You may have heard of them from their On My Way EP, and even if you didn't it's hard to find a band with this much uniquely beautiful harmonies and instrumentation. Train's leaving - you better get on. Watch a pair of songs and an interview below (filmed by Andrew Dipolite).
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "SuperLove" - Charli XCX
11. "Thunder Clatter" (LW-9) - Wild Cub
10. "The Moon Song" (LW-8) - Karen O.
9. "Shark Attack" (LW-7) - Grouplove
8. "Reflections"(LW-11) - MisterWives
7. "Young Heart" (LW-10) - Blondfire
6. "XO" (LW-5) - Beyonce
5. "Lost Boys and Girls Club" (LW-6)- The Dum Dum Girls
4. "Things We Lost in the Fire" (LW-4) - Bastille
3. "I Sat By the Ocean" (LW-2) - Queens of the Stone Age
2. "Doses and Mimosas" (LW-3) - Cherub
1. "You're Not Good Enough" (LW-1) - Blood Orange
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Thus far artists who have appeared on the series include: fun, American Authors, Imagine Dragons (interview only), Jake Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Sleigh Bells (interview only), Dispatch, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, San Fermin, and more!
A-Sides' 2nd Possibly Annual Pop Goes the Culture is set!