Photo: Florence + The Machines

Blurb from YAMS:

A few months back, “Kiss with a Fist” [video below] by Florence and the Machine was posted here as Video of the Moment and dedicated to my lover. Today, whilst web browsing I came across a great mix by that I needed to share with you. Please take the time out to get into Florence and the Machine!

Blurb from YAMS:

Ze! we need more dialogue from you next time. You have a cute voice!

Although we wish there was more dialogue from Ze! cause her [talking] voice is cute, we really enjoyed this video. Our favourite looks are of Ze! in her red bra and when she wore the pink tutu. We love your choice, honey. We would have chosen the man with the Ze! thunderbolt, too! (Sticks tongue out)

About Boys I Like:

July 30th 2010, Brussels – Malaysian electropop singer Ze! premieres new music video “Boys I Like” simultaneously in 5 different cities around the globe at midnight tonight.

“Boys I Like” was shot in Hollywood last April by a team of new and upcoming film directors collectively known as Schlub Films. Ze! met director Eugene Lee back in 2008 when she was participating in an Asian Talent Show called, Sutasi in which Lee was a host. The two decided to work together on this music video when Ze! visited LA, stayed in Lee’s apartment and met his friendly group of actor-friends.

“Working with the Schlubs was a lot of fun,” says Ze!. “They’re a hyperactive bunch with an eternity of ideas. They’ve done a few really good short films but it was their first time producing a music video, which was maybe what made the process even more exciting.”

“Hanging out with Eugene’s friends was a great experience as it gave me an insight as to what life is really like as actors. The annoying thing is they’re all amazing actors which only made me feel like a goofball on set. They were at least nice enough not to laugh at me.”

‘Boys I Like’ is written by ZE! and producer Ruben Debusschere; a track taken off of ZE!’s new electro-pop album I Am Glam and was the first single released in 2007 along with 3 remixes. I Am Glam is distributed worldwide by Believe Digital and now available for download via all major digital music stores including iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Napster, Nokia Music Store and more.

About “Confessions of A Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated”:

For seven years, Alison Arngrim played a wretched, scheming, selfish, lying, manipulative brat on one of TV history’s most beloved series. Though millions of Little House on the Prairie viewers hated Nellie Oleson and her evil antics, Arngrim grew to love her character—and the freedom and confidence Nellie inspired in her.

In Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, Arngrim describes growing up in Hollywood with her eccentric parents: Thor Arngrim, a talent manager to Liberace and others, whose appetite for publicity was insatiable, and legendary voice actress Norma MacMillan, who played both Gumby and Casper the Friendly Ghost. She recalls her most cherished and often wickedly funny moments behind the scenes of Little House: Michael Landon’s “unsaintly” habit of not wearing underwear; how she and Melissa Gilbert (who played her TV nemesis, Laura Ingalls) became best friends and accidentally got drunk on rum cakes at 7-Eleven; and the only time she and Katherine MacGregor (who played Nellie’s mom) appeared in public in costume, provoking a posse of elementary schoolgirls to attack them.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch cover

Arngrim relays all this and more with biting wit, but she also bravely recounts her life’s challenges: her struggle to survive a history of traumatic abuse, depression, and paralyzing shyness; the “secret” her father kept from her for twenty years; and the devastating loss of her “Little House husband” and best friend, Steve Tracy, to AIDS, which inspired her second career in social and political activism. Arngrim describes how Nellie Oleson taught her to be bold, daring, and determined, and how she is eternally grateful to have had the biggest little bitch on the prairie to show her the way.

Blurb from YAMS:

I know it’s been available for awhile, but if you haven’t heard, Alison Arngrim has a new book entitled, “Confessions of A Prairie Bitch” and I am buying it. Oh yeah, I am buying it. I read the Village Voice interview early this morning on the train coming home from Burlesque Yes! and honey, Ms. Arngrim is a trip-and-a-half!

Here are some quotes from the interview:
Musto: Congrats on the book, Alison. It’s so real.”
Arngrim: “I laid shit out.”

Musto: In other scandalous developments, was your real-life father really gay?
Arngrim: It was a deal between he and my mother. They were madly in love, yet there was always some third party, some guy, hanging around a lot. Then, two years later, it would be some other guy.

Musto: I guess Mom was as malleable as Gumby. And you’re very brave to talk about how your brother incested you. Did you read Mackenzie Phillips’s book about consensual incest?

Arngrim: Yes. Being drugged into a stupor and waking out of a coma to find someone on top of you with his pants around his ankles is not my idea of consensual. I sent Mackenzie a message on Facebook saying, “This sounds as consensual as being hit on the head with a brick.” Then I read the book, and she makes it sort of clear that he was the one who called it consensual.

Please read the full article here. I feel Gusto asked all of the right questions to get me interested, although Little House on the Prairie is a bit before my time. Gusto, you are a flipping doll-baby <3

GrumCake

Blurb from YAMS:

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Grum since watching the music video for “Can’t Shake This Feeling” (see below). “Heartbeart” filled with big-beat synths, (all that other music jargon that I cannot make my own) and good-time head nods has to be my favourite on my Grum playlist. It sounds like a new wave [La] “Macarena” that you want to chronically-vogue-to and-end-your-routine-with-a-running-man-split! I also hear he is a Scotsman. (winks) For more about Grum, click here.

MP3: “Heartbeats” by Grum

About Grum

The best artists in the world start from the ground up. You see a tiny review, you hear about them from your friends, then you see something in the street. A flyer, sticker, poster, something; connections are made.

That was fine when there was a record store on every High Street. When an artist connected, picking up their record was as simple as buying a loaf of bread. The internet has completely changed all that. It might be far easier to get hold of your new favourite single but some of the connections have been lost. Who even knows what most single covers look like? Who remembers the flyer when they’re browsing the blogs?

Grum, the UK’s most important new dance producer is the first artist to change all that, revolutionising the way the public interact with music.

The artwork is a pioneering design, developed by David Ross, the artistic and creative brains behind Mylo’s ‘Destroy Rock N Roll’ poster and artwork campaigns. For Grum he has incorporated a unique 2-D Barcode into the artwork, which when photographed by your mobile phone (using the appropriate application) takes you directly to the music where you can hear great quality streamed versions of the track, with an option to buy there and then. A fully interactive experience for fans to get the music they want, when they want it. See the poster on the street or an advert in a mag, snap the logo, and get direct to the music. There’s already massive interest with mobile phone providers and software programmers to develop this idea, but Grum got there first. The revolution starts here!

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Blurb from YAMS:

In many ways, [aesthetically] Sia reminds me of Cornelia, Robyn, and Björk. She is an Australian soulful jazz-styled pop singer and songwriter and [vocally] exciting — every time! I wanted to listen to Sia’s album on Spotify to make this post more of an album review, but I was unsuccessful. For now, I bring you “Clap Your Hands” from her latest album, “We Are Born” and a personal favourite, “Buttons” by Sia from her album, “Some People Have Real Problems“. Enjoy. For the fashion junkies, feed your stomachs by reading Elle‘s article on her wardrobe.

MP3: “Clap Your Hands” by Sia

MP3: “Buttons” by Sia

Photo: siamusic.net

About We Are Born:

Sia released her fifth studio album titled We Are Born on June 18, 2010. The first single from the album is to be “Clap Your Hands“. A first track from this album, “You’ve Changed“, was premiered on music blog, Sheena Beaston, on November 18, 2009. “You’ve Changed” was originally co-written and released in 2008 by American DJ/producer Lauren Flax which was then re-recorded for Sia’s 2010 album, We Are Born.

Sia performed some new material (“You’ve Changed“, “The Co-Dependent” and “Clap Your Hands“) during her 2009/2010 tours, from “We Are Born“. “The Co-Dependent” was originally noted in 2008 to be part of a future ‘Animated Pop Project‘ called “The H-Crusaders“.

Her cover of The Church song “Under the Milky Way” was used in a Lincoln MKT car commercial, and on January 26, 2010, was released to the iTunes store.

“You’ve Changed” has become Sia’s highest charting single in Australia to date, and her first top 50 release, peaking at #31 and was played in the television show The Vampire Diaries. Her three other charting singles are “Buttons” (#67 in April 2009), “Soon We’ll Be Found” (#87 in May 2009) and “Taken for Granted” (#100 in March 2002). “You’ve Changed” also placed 72nd in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2009, even only being available since December 2009, followed shortly after by “Buttons” (CSS Remix) in 50th place.

“Femme Fatale” by Aloe Blacc

Blurb from YAMS:

The second single from Aloe Blacc’s forthcoming Good Things is a 7-inch of “Femme Fatale”, Aloe Blacc & Truth+Soul’s take on the Velvet Underground classic. The instrumental is on the flip side of this heavy 7-inch slab of vinyl.

MP3: “Femme Fatale” by Aloe Blacc

About Aloe Blacc:

“My purpose for music is positive social change,” says Orange County, California native Aloe Blacc. “Even if the music itself does not explicitly express anything that may signify positive social change, the product of the music will.” He is speaking in general terms regarding his career, but more specifically about the circumstances surrounding his upcoming album, Good Things, co-written by the versatile vocalist and songwriter in conjunction with the in-house production team at Truth & Soul Records.

Good Things marks a shift in methodology from personal to political for Aloe, who refers to the project as his report on present conditions—joblessness, homeless, the misappropriation of wealth, pillaging of resources, and a universal lack of compassion from the capitalism at-large under which we all function, but some struggle to survive. Song titles such as “You Make Me Smile” and “Miss Fortune,” coupled with airy, ethereal production from Truth & Soul’s Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman mask a foreboding undercurrent in which Aloe crafts lyrics both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Nowhere is this more evident than on lead single, “I Need a Dollar”—commissioned by HBO as the theme music for the series How to Make It in America—because ultimately, that is how to make it in America.

The first-generation American offspring of Panamanian parents, Aloe has become what writer and activist Amiri Baraka (nee Leroi Jones) once said of John Coltrane. He is a singular “scope of feeling…a more fixed traveler” who has found cohesion in art and life. The path from his 2006 debut, the multi-genre Shine Through, to Good Things is akin to the maturation of Marvin Gaye between That’s the Way Love Is and the What’s Going On masterwork that followed. Aloe has never purported to be any heir to Gaye, but musically, Good Things and What’s Going On are companion pieces as both albums establish a character for the artists that sets them apart from the sea of performers making very vivid and discernible—yet normative and conformist—statements about who they are and what they do. Good Things is a definitive declaration that places Aloe directly in the framework of modern soul.

At the heart of this musical character is a recession-age Robin Hood, whose goal is to sell and profit from his wares with hope of freeing the less fortunate from the capitalist system that serves as both their oppressor and his motivation. A 2001 graduate of the University of Southern California, Aloe credits a myriad of influences—transcendentalist scholars Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, French existentialism, Oprah Winfrey, Tavis Smiley, Cornel West—with leading him from the inner streams of consciousness he possessed as an MC early in his career, to a more disciplined approach to songwriting, and now, the desire to affect change and induce compassion by way of his own success. It is his grand scheme, which, not coincidentally, is also the name of his backing band (The Grand Scheme). The key is compromise and understanding the power of popular art. Aloe is willing to put the gloves on and engage in the marketplace. Good things lie ahead. – Ronnie Reese

The Like

Blurb from YAMS:

Yay, for the all-female band! Classic black and white treatment. A crisp flashback for the teenagers of the 60s and 70s.

MP3: “He’s Not a Boy” by The Like

About The Like:

The Like are set to release their sophomore album ‘Release Me’ – produced by Mark Ronso, Alex Greenwald, and the soul and studio sophistication of the Dap-Kings’ Tommy Brenneck, Homer Steinweiss, and Victor Axelrod – on June 15th (Downtown Records). The album came to life at Dunham Studios in Brooklyn. The girls stepped into another time – recorded only on analog equipment, used gear from the sixties, and let go. Drummer Tennessee Thomas adds, “Before Mark, we recorded everything nit-picky and perfect, track by track. But on those great 60′s records, thoe mistakes were some of the best parts of it. Mark shouted at us – it was chaos a lot of the time ? but it absolutely brought us together as a band. We recorded for six days with Mark ? and we got nine songs. Then we did four days with Alex Greenwald and the Dap-Kings. It was miraculous.”

Stills from 'Pillows'

A few days ago, Accidental Seabirds was in my office and I had the pleasure of picking his brains. Kindly watch Accidental Seabird’s music video below and leave a comment of critique.

Words by Accidental Seabirds: The video for “Pillows” was made by VAMP group from Philadelphia. They’re new, but they’re really good at what they do and they’re fun to work with. They wanted me to choose the location for the shoot. I chose a desolate boardwalk for the set, because [to me] it metaphorically represents what the song is about. Sort of.

The song has a few ideas within, but the central theme is substance abuse and addiction. It’s based on a dear friend of mine who nearly destroyed himself. Too many people, especially young people, very carelessly use drugs these days because they’re unaware of the dangers or they don’t realize how serious drug abuse can become. Shit is real, kids are dying, and we need to address these issues because young folks obviously don’t listen to their parents or any figure of authority for that matter. It’s not cool to be hooked on pills or whatever and it’s not cool for parents to bury their children.

Anyway, the boardwalk is supposed to be this place of entertainment and escape from daily life but when no one else is there the fun seems really phony and you’re left with stray cats, seagulls, and the bottom of the ocean calling your name.

MP3: “Audio Interview” with Accidental Seabirds

Accidental Seabirds is the moniker of the Brooklyn based musician Jesse Herdman. Jesse has composed three unofficially released albums since 2002. His fourth album “The Snow and the Full Moon” will be officially released August 2010.

Photos: Courtesy of Ze!

Blurb from YAMS:

Releasing her debut album I Am Glam on May 12, 2010, recording artist Ze! has lent her time to GrungeCake Magazine to formally introduce herself to our readers, share her definition of glam, speak on her recording process, who she has joined forces with, her image comparison to M.I.A., and what’s next. We are grateful. Short for Zebra, the Kuala Lumpur born musician has played SXSW in the United States of America, signed to Catapult Creative, and desires to play at a pride festival. Ze has captured the sounds of New York City house, dance, electro music and vocals of a Madonna offspring. For more about Ze! and her debut album, kindly click here. She is so glam, she pisses glitter!

MP3: “My Wonderland” by Ze!

Ze!’s Bio:

Ze! is one loud and ballsy electro-pop female singer and songwriter from Kuala Lumpur. Teaming up with Belgian producer, Ruben Debusschere to create music influenced by the likes of M.I.A., Santigold, Yelle, New Young Pony Club, and Peaches.

From starring in TV commercials by international brands like McDonald’s, Toyota and Pizza Hut, electropop songstress Ze! (pronounced zee) has come a long way and from a very experimental musical background. Back in 1999, Ze! started gigging as a rapper in an R&B girl trio Xaunte, Ze! released a first solo EP ‘My Make-Believe’ in 2003.

Glam•our [glam-er-uhs]: –adjective
1. full of glamour; charmingly or fascinatingly attractive, esp. in a mysterious or magical way.
2. full of excitement, adventure, and unusual activity: the glamorous job of a foreign correspondent.

GrungeCake: Are you self-proclaimed glam(orous)?

Ze!: My definition of glam is to not be ashamed of being yourself and to live out loud. If that’s how you’d define glam, then hell yes I am!

GrungeCake: How long was the process of recording and editing for “I Am Glam”?

Ze!: The album took 4 years to complete and finally be released. We started working on it in 2006. The first single we ever put out was ‘Boys I Like’. It was a new direction [for me] as an artist because my first album was so experimental and didn’t have any direction to begin with. My producer, Ruben Debusschere and I really took our time with this record and waited to see how people responded to the tracks, took the pain to adjust every little thing we weren’t happy with as we were recording and finishing them. I think that is what makes it so solid. The album has come to truly define Ze! (Ze! smiles)

GrungeCake: What was the inspiration for “My Wonderland”?

Ze!: My Wonderland is a hurtful song, really. Throughout the making of this album, my personal love life has just been full of drama and nonsense and ridiculous heartaches. I think I’m getting tired of it, but I will never stop dreaming. I’m a dreamer, that’s what I am.

GrungeCake: Did you collaborate with other artists for “I Am Glam“?

Ze!: I Am Glam features POSH! The Prince on the intro and he is currently touring with Lady Gaga, French producer Docolv (on ‘My Wonderland’), DJ duo Defunct! (on ‘Catwalk’) and London-based electro band The Coolness (who wrote ‘Give it to My Body (Everybody)’). It also features my sister, miss.osixnine who designed the awesome album artwork.

GrungeCake: What would you like prospective fans to take from this album?

Ze!: I’m all about fun. If you wanna put a smile on your face, do some silly dancing in your bedroom before going to work, sing out loud while you’re stuck in the traffic then put my shit on!

GrungeCake: Lastly, I have shared your music with many friends and before they press play, they all mention MIA? Can you handle image comparisons to M.I.A.? Do you see the comparisons?

Ze!: Yes, I do get that a lot and I can totally handle it, I’m not sure if she can though. (Ze! laughs aloud) I’m kidding! But, yeah, like you say I think it stops right there because we make completely different styles of music.

GrungeCake: What’s next for Ze!?

Ze!: Well, I’m very excited about my album release party happening next week on May 12th. And over on the other side of the world in Hollywood, my music video for ‘Boys I Like’, which is produced by Schlub Films, is being edited and released in the next few weeks. Apart from that, I’m looking forward to going back to touring Europe this summer! (Ze! smiles)

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Photo: We Have Band

Blurb from YAMS:

Above all, I enjoy the lyrics. What do you like?

About We Have Band:

We Have Band are Darren Bancroft (vocals, drums, percussion, sampler), Dede W-P (vocals, percussion, sampler) and husband Thomas W-P (vocals, guitar, bass, programming). They are a do-it-yourself trio who encompass the grooves of Talking Heads and the best bits of Hot Chip. They all live in London.

MP3: “Divisive (Carl Craig Remix)” by We Have Band