As is customary for year’s end, we must reflect back on our experiences. The way everything came together for us this year in regards to music – album releases, shows, festival appearances, CAD4.0! – definitely makes it one of the best years we’ve had. We’ve put together a top 20 list to recognize our very much opinionated favourite releases of 2014. These twenty albums influenced us in some way or other throughout the year by making us dance, think (or not think), and enjoy life; and they deserve a shout out for that. Onward to bigger and better in 2015!

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Empire of the Sun

Roughly a month after releasing the debut single ‘Alive’ from their followup album Ice on the Dune, Empire of the Sun are back with ‘DNA’. This song features everything that we’ve come to expect from Empire of the Sun: dreamy electronic pop soundscapes, drenched in reverb, throw in some guitar, new wave synths, and soaring choruses. Ice on the Dune is set to release on June 17th, and you can catch Empire of the Sun at HARD Summer this year! If I could sum up their live performance in two words: brace yourself.

Empire of the Sun – DNA
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/Empire%20of%20the%20Sun/Empire%20Of%20The%20Sun%20-%20DNA.mp3]

Still coming off that HARD Summer high. And to be honest, I think it definitely made it’s way into the “Best Night of My Life” level like I thought it would. Expect details and highlights of the night + videos and some delightful downloads in the next post. I tried branch out a little more and throw in some of my favorite hip hop/rap into this weeks YOLO list. I’m really particular about hip hop. To me, a good rapper is someone you can listen to without any beat and still have it be a pleasure to listen to. (AKA i’m not down with Lil Wayne…if anyone has some of is shit that will make more sense to me, send it my way). Anyway, someone who flows and still manages to get creative with the beats is really what I look for. With artists like Immortal Technique and Del the Funky Homosapien, good beats and seamless flows are a given. Don’t forget to have an open mind while you go through these lists. There’s some good in every genre, you just have to give it a solid chance.

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Delightful Mention!

Rusko – Woo Boost
Dubstep is finally making it’s way onto DJ sets and people’s playlists world wide. Rusko has always been a front runner and face man for dubstep, and he just moved to LA to help spread the good word in sunny southern California. I’ve been getting less weird looks every time I throw on some dubstep at parties. At first, it’s kinda weird because it sounds like robot sex…but once you get with the groove, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s usually very hit or miss for me. I either love a dubstep song or absolutely can’t stand it. This track, on the other hand, is everything I would want from a dubstep song and definitely my favorite so far. It hits hard as fuck when the beat drops, and it’s just an all around great song. Rusko’s new album was a big disappointment. I was expecting a CD full of heavy “woo boost-esque” songs and got an album full of the more mellow side of dubstep that I’m not into. This song should give you an idea of where dubstep is going.

Artist: Ty Segall
As garage rock solidifies its own special spot in my heart, I owe a lot of the thanks to Ty Segall (pronounced sea-gul). His first two CDs were decent, but he didn’t really do it for me until the release of his latest album Melted. With a full backing band, including a girl bassist and drummer, they bring nothing but hard grungy rock that still manages to stay catchy and fun to go crazy too. You’ll understand when you hear “Girlfriend,” my favorite off the album. I saw them live at The Smell in LA, and it was a straight riot the whole time. Takes me back to my old hardcore days in the pit. These guys are easy to get down to. Let me know what you think.

Architecture In Helsinki – Heart It Races (Dr. Dog Cover)
Dr. Dog has always been one of my favorite bands. They’re really folky and kinda have a country vibe to them, but I love it. Pretty much everyone in the band sings, but they’re mainly led by their bassist and lead guitarist. The high and low pitches of their voices harmonize really well. I never got into Architecture In Helsinki, or gave them a fair shot even, but this remake is where it’s at. You can hear the original here. Clearly, Dr. Dog knows how to remake a song the right way. It’s upbeat and really easy to get stuck in your head so be careful.

Artist: Del the Funky Homosapien (aka Deltron3030)
The name may come off as a little funky to you, but it’s nothing less than just that. His voice will probably sound familiar, and by good reason. Gorillaz have used his expertise in a few songs (Clint Eastwood, Rock the house). The way he spits is really unique and he’s got a hella bay area thing goin’ on since he’s from there. Whatever, though, fool knows what he’s doing. His beats just top it off. I can always trust a song with him in it to be what I need out of hip hop/rap artists.

Artist: Bassnectar
As A-Trak said it, “Get down with that dubstep LA.” Check out the Audiotistic post here for a video of the beginning of his set where he plays “Here We Go” and some tasty remixes for download.

That wraps up this weeks YOLO list. I hope you guys are finding use in the playlist and going places you never thought you’d go. If so, I’m doing my job, and I will continue to help you all out. Leave thoughts/comments/opinions/concerns!

Previous YOLO Lists
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1

Your week just got it’s own playlist!

source

So, it’s Sunday, and I pretty much played out last week’s CD. I’m likin’ that we both win on these playlists, because it definitely makes my daily driving a lot more tolerable. A little bit of dance, a little bit of hip-hop, a lotta bit of indie/alternative. Ended up being a pretty mellow list, now that I look at it. You can sleep to this playlist.

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Delightful Mention!

Artist: The Muddy Flowers
I’m proud to say that this band consists of a bunch of my friends from home (allllllllllllllllll the way back home……where I’m from). Call me biased, call me whatever, I know talent when I see it. If you’re into the lo-fi/garage rock stuff, there is no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy these guys. A melodic combo of instruments and personalities, driven by the passion of their frontman gives them a very unique sound. I had their last album, “Downer,” on repeat upon its release a few weeks ago. You can pick up a copy at their local shows. Here’s a vid

Flight Facilities – Crave You
I was hooked on this track right when I heard it. It has a Daft Punk feel to it. I’m not sure what it is exactly that gives it that feel, but I’m sure you’d understand. No other voice could be a better match for this track. Lyrics are very important, and for this song, they’re key. We’ve all been there. I tried to find more from these guys after I heard “Crave You.” For the most part, all they have is remixes of the same song. All good.

Artist: Arcade Fire
Ok so Arcade Fire‘s new album just leaked, and it’s been racking up most of my plays for the last week. Funeral, their first album, is definitely one of my top 5 most played. Neon Bible, their second, never really caught on for me. The two tracks are my favorites off The Suburbs so far. I’m gonna leave the rest to BBC (full article):

“…The Suburbs is their most thrillingly engrossing chapter yet; a complex, captivating work that, several cycles down the line, retains the magic and mystery of that first tentative encounter. You could call it their OK Computer. But it’s arguably better than that.”

Your week just got it’s own playlist!

First time at Control Fridays at Avalon in Hollywood. It was a pretty cool event, to be honest. Wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I had to see Felguk. They are very comparable to Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner. Hard, progressive house with a bunch of glitchy bass and samples that pretty much forces you to move.

I knew the second I heard these guys, that they were going to make it in the US. They’re originally from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and recently made their LA debut at EDC. Unfortunately, I had to miss that performance. I got stuck at the main stage getting down with Swedish House Mafia and being disappointed as hell for Deadmau5’s set. If you were there, you know what I’m talking about.

I got some videos from Felguk’s set and some songs to download. They were really fun to watch, because you can tell they felt very welcome. I can tell you now that this won’t be the last you hear of them. They’re going to be playing at my friend’s event Enchanted Music Festival in November. Check it out!

EVENT INFO: Wolfgang Gartner is making his way back to LA after an amazing EDC performance to play at Control Fridays at Avalon. If you wanna get tickets go here. He’s playing with Harvard Bass who I mentioned in the last post and saw at Audiotistic. Both of them are quality performers, and this isn’t an event to miss for $20.

Felguk @ Control through C+A+D‘s Eyes:

Funky Drama!

Felguk – The Funky Drama Delightful Choice!

MSRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Laidback Luke Remix)

MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Laidback Luke Remix)

Encore

BONUS!
Felguk – Side by Side (Original Mix)
Felguk – Fingertips

Happy Sunday everyone! Ok so sorry I haven’t had a chance to post anything up here in the past few weeks. Hopefully this post will make up for it. I’m going to start putting together a playlist weekly of a handful of different genres from bands I really like. I’m going to keep it to around 20 songs each time so you can put it on a CD to enjoy on your summer drives. If you don’t know already, YOLO is short hand for You Only Live Once. If i could live my life by any four letters, it’d be these. Life isn’t too short, but too dear to be confined to any one genre of music, or to any one way of life for that matter. There is some good in every genre, even country. Open your minds and your ears and give it a shot. You never know..

Click to Download

Download Instructions:

Ok, so apparently people have been having trouble downloading the stuff I put up here. It’s not as hard as it seems. Just click on the link that i provide that usually says Click to Download. You will be redirected to Mediafire’s website. Once again, click the link that says Click to Download. It should start downloading. If it doesn’t go straight onto your desktop search for it, because it’s there. Drag and drop into your itunes and you’re all set to go!

Leave your comments on bands or songs you liked specifically if you’d like some more from them.

all these tracks are for promotional purposes only and if you want them removed email contactalijafari@gmail.com