Everybody knows Motown was great, but few realize what an incubator the entire City of Detroit was for soul music in its heyday. For each artist on Berry Gordy’s label there were several more just as good who went with another major, or with a smaller, local indie. Some made their names in r&b, vocal groups or gospel before evolving into soul; others started in soul but had their greatest impact in funk. But even… more »
At eMusic, we take pride in being the place you hear about artists first. Whether it's through our eMusic Selects program - which brought you the first releases by Best Coast, Crystal Stilts, Strand of Oaks and more - or our Breaking Artist features, our editorial team is always on the grind to bring you the best new artists first. Our eMerging Artists station is your chance to be first on the Next Big Thing. more »
The office folks at Righteous Babe Records put this playlist together for eMusic. It has some choice songs from the Righteous Babe catalog but also some friends, openers and influencers we either work with or just plain like to play. Hope you enjoy! more »
Whether your tastes skew toward classics by The Smiths and Wilco or current cutting edge tastemakers like Sleigh Bells and Neon Indian, you're sure to discover something you love on Indie Hits, Past & Present. more »
While the legendary voices of such jazz icons as Billie, Ella and Sarah still ring true, subsequent generations of female jazz vocalists have taken the music in new directions, especially in the '90s, ranging from Cassandra Wilson's new-standard caress to Diana Krall's classics with a twist. Taking their lead, young singers over the last decade have been swinging the vocal tradition onto a new plateau with a pop sensibility. In the mix are tunes by… more »
This mix is not for the faint of heart, so all you groovy geezers take it easy with this one, and let the Daptone crew guide you through a soulful journey of some of our favorite party starters, and late night movers.
Get ready, cause we're gonna swing folks. There's a Happening going down in Bushwick, and we here at Daptone Records would like to share it with you. You don't have to be hip, but… more »
Nirvana and Pearl Jam. This is who you'll hear about when the topic of Seattle's music scene is brought up in a historical context. It makes sense. Alternative music has always been the face of the Seattle scene. But before Kurt and Eddie, there was Ray and Quincy and Jimi. Seattle has soul, and the hip-hop community in the 206 is the living proof. They love their hometown and the music reflects that. "Townfolk Hip-Hop"… more »
Turn your subwoofer into an impact crater. The best new and classic Drum & Bass, Dubstep and Jungle with smatterings of IDM and downtempo. Leaning towards the dark end of the spectrum, the only hard rule is it must have massive amounts of low end. You will be guaranteed to drive your neighbors insane with Mortar Bass Bomb. more »
After Elvis went into the Army and before the British Invasion, the years 1958-63 were rock's forgotten years. But they were the years that shaped the musical tastes of baby boomers and of acts from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen and the Ramones. Hear the dance sensations, the one-hit-wonders, the girl groups and doo-wop singers, surfers and rockabilly twangers, the birth of Motown, the evolution of R&B into soul and so much… more »
More cleverly crafted than your average label compilation, Dim Mak 2003 Sampler takes the listener through the spectrum of the imprint’s roster, displaying just how diverse a label Dim Mak really is along the way. The collection begins with more avant offerings like the fiery punk-funk of Dance Disaster Movement’s “I Want Your Sass,” the anarchic silliness of Die Monitr Batss’ “Spread Your Leg,” and Miracle Chosuke’s cranked-up “Gonk,” as well as fierce, post-riot grrrl punk like the Gossip’s oversaturated “Non Non Non” and Phantom Pregnancies’ short and screechy “Delicacy 80.” The Panthers’ “Don’t Be a Dick” and “Liquid Courage” by Pretty Girls Make Graves (who recently moved to Matador) add a dose of emo and hardcore-inflected rock to the proceedings, while From Monument to Masses’ “Untitled (Stepping Razor 1st Mix)” — the sampler’s midpoint — goes in a completely different direction than anything before or after it. Based on a simple, pretty guitar figure; a skittering drum pattern; vibes; and political spoken-word samples, the song is much closer to Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor! than any of their labelmates. The second half of Dim Mak 2003 Sampler features the garagey bands that the label is better-known for, such as the Kills’ gritty but playful cover of Beefheart’s “Dropout Boogie” from their Black Rooster EP and new signing Tokyo Sex Destruction’s defiant, MC5-influenced “Break-out Town.” Revved-up Midwestern and Motor City rock also gets its share of the spotlight with the menacing sonics of the Von Bondies’ “Please Please Man” and the Soledad Brothers’ live version of “Goin’ Back to Memphis.” But even within their signature style, Dim Mak still offers some surprises, such as the porch-front blues of Mr. David Viner’s “Drinking” and the shiny arena rock of Bluebird’s “Falling Back to Earth,” which, with its chugging guitars and cheesy lyrics, is miles away from where the collection began. Eclectic but not to the point of sounding scattered, Dim Mak 2003 Sampler does a good job of presenting the label’s new artists and veteran acts in a logical and very listenable way. – Heather Phares
