Estelle + Lots of Special Guests

I'm listening to Estelle's new album "Shine" today (stream below). It's really solid. I wonder how much of it is due to smart executive production, though,(good job, John Stephens/Legend) b/c the best songs are the ones where she shares the spotlight with big names. You probably already know "American Boy" (ft. Kanye) and "Wait a Minute" (ft. and produced by Will.I.Am). "Shine" (produced by Swizz Beats) is my latest favorite. I'm also loving the way "No Substitute Love" (Wyclef shares production credits) plays with George Michael's "Faith".

The only song I really have to skip from boredom is "Back to Love", which sounds to me a lot like a mightily watered down version of John Stephens/Legend's "Again". (and disclaimer: I liked "Again"!)

Warning: Lykke Li is Addictive

I have been out of my usual scouring-the-web for new cool music mode ... blame it on the dissertation defense next Tues. (!). But Julianne mentioned that her office is addicted to this song "Little Bit", and now I've got it on repeat too.

I also really like Lykke Li's song "Dance Dance Dance" (see video below) Can't decide which of the two I like better.

Umalali

I love this music and Umalali's new album. It's music from the Garifuna communities of Central America, that has all kinds of cool influences. Umalali is performing at Symphony Space tomorrow night too - maybe RMW will be convinced to check it out. Thanks WNYC's Soundcheck!

GO TO VEGAS JUST TO SEE THIS

Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE show.

I'd honestly see it like 5 more times, and I still don't think I'd have had enough.

Adam Duritz Was at Passing Strange Tonight

He was just being a normal guy, enjoying his favorite songwriter's show.

We dug it too.

The theme of the week is ART=LIFE.
Tonight's incantation is ART>LIFE.

If it were any more real, it'd be fictional.

Carly Smithson Was Finally Great!

And she didn't sound like Celine Dion!

back to dissertating... argh.

Ignorant Shit

Let's stop the bullshittin'
Til' we all without sin,
Let's quit the pulpittin'

--Jay-Z, "Ignorant Shit", American Gangster album



Art=Life... (The Wire, RIP). Somehow I don't foresee Spitzer as able to pull a Clay Davis with this one.