Today's Featured Song = 'Fashion' by Grum

Today's featured song is Fashion, by UK electro-artist Grum. Grum (Graeme Shepard) has been active on the synth-electro music scene since 2007 and he originates out of Leeds, UK. Fashion comes off of his May 2010 debut album titled Heartbeats, which I would highly recommend checking out if you are into the synth-electro scene and are fond of artists like Cut Copy, Van She, The Presets, Miami Horror, and Tesla Boy.

Song for November 22nd, 2010: "Palaces of Montezuma" by Grinderman

And today's song is...Palaces of Montezuma by English rock-band Grinderman. Grinderman was formed back in 2006 in London, UK and it consists of members Nick Cave ( on vocals, guitar, organ, and piano), Warren Ellis (bouzouki, Mandocastor, violin, viola, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals), Martyn P. Casey (bass guitar, guitar, and backing vocals) and Jim Sclavunos (drums, percussion, and backing vocals). All members in Grinderman were also members in the former group called Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, basically it was a name change. Palaces of Montezuma comes off of their latest album release (September 2010) titled Grinderman 2. Nick Cave has those very unique sounding vocals, and the band is obviously multi-talented, so check them out!

Song of the Day for November 17th, 2010: "It Takes a Muscle" by M.I.A.

Today's featured song is...It Takes a Muscle, by British singer/songwriter/rapper/record producer M.I.A.  M.I.A. (actual name is Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) originates out of Mitcham, South London, UK. She began her career as a visual artist and designer in West London and started up on the music scene in 2004, and after a couple of hit singles she was nominated for an Academy Award, 2 Grammy Awards, and a Mercury Prize. If you check out her wikipedia page HERE, you will see just how many other awards she has been nominated for and won. Her mother works as a seamstress in London, and she notes fashion and guerilla art as being big influences on her style and music. It Takes a Muscle is actually a cover recording of the original 1982-release track recorded by Dutch band Spectral Display, which M.I.A. has clearly added a reggae-style twist to. This song was released on her 3rd studio album titled Maya which was released on July 10th, 2010. The Maya album has been her highest charting album to date, as it reached #21 on the UK Albums Chart, #9 on the US Billboard 200, and #1 on the U.S. BillboardDance/Electronic Albums. Booyakasha!

Song of the Day for September 29th, 2010: "Save Our Town" by Philadelphia Grand Jury

And the song is....Save Our Town by Australian indie-rock band Philadelphia Grand Jury. Philadelphia Grand Jury are a 3-piece band from Sydney, Australia but who are now based in the UK. They consist of band members Simon Berckelman, Joel Beeson, and latest addition Calvin Welch on drums. This song was released as a single from their new album titled Hope is for the Hopeless, and this single was released in August 2010. Also, be sure to take note that this song is still available as a free mp3 download at the following web-page, and like all of the other posts I have made of free mp3 downloads, yes, it is a legal download and in fact the band wants to their stuff out there, so there. Enjoy!

Song of the Day for September 27th, 2010: "Collapsing Cities" by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

And the song of the day is...Collapsing Cities, by English artist Sam Duckworth, and his band Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. come out of Southend, Essex, England and were signed to Atlantic Records in 2006. According to lead band member Sam Duckworth, the name for the band comes from a section out of a magazine called ZX Spectrum, as a solution to a Batman computer game. The song Collapsing Cities appears as the first single from the new self-titled album, which was released on August 9th, 2010. Also if you like the song, you would do well to know it is still available as a free mp3 download at this website.

Song of the Day for September 15th, 2010: "The Bike Song" by Mark Ronson & The Business Intl

And the song of the day is....The Bike Song, by English guitarist/producer Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. Now I have done a previous post for his recent hit song titled Bang, Bang, Bang, so to expedite this process the rest is just a simple copy and paste from the previous post: Mark Ronson is known for working with other artists, primarily as a DJ and producer in producing hit pop-hop and electronica tracks such as his 2003 release Ooh Wee (feat. Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg & Trife) which appeared on the Hitch movie soundtrack that year. Mark Ronson has released 3 studio albums, and has won a BRIT Award for Best Male Artist in 2008. The Bike Song comes off of his still unreleased Record Collection album, due to come out sometime in this year of 2010.This song features singer Kyle Falconer from indie rock band The View and rapper Spank Rock. This video is pretty cool, especially the beginning bits with the flashing lights reminiscent of japanese animation and 80's cartoons the likes of Voltron and Thundercats. It is a bit different from his last one though, not quite as instantly catchy, but it will grow on you. The song itself is set to be released on September 19th, 2010 in the UK, so it will probably be on itunes and amazon by then. Enjoy!

Song of the Day for August 21st, 2010: "Stop and Stare" by Fenech-Soler

And the song is....Stop and Stare by British electronic band Fenech-Soler. Fenech-Soler come at us out of Kings Cliffe, UK and consists of members Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy, Daniel Soler and Andrew Lindsay. They formed as a band back in 2006 and have released 3 singles to date. Stop and Stare is one of those singles, which reached #102 on the UK charts. The band members have a few side projects as well, and they are currently on tour in the UK.

And the "Hot Song of the Day" is....

...Mowgli's Road, by Welsh indie-pop singer/songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. Marina and the Diamonds is actually Marina Lambrini Diamandis, and is of Greek decent (hence the name), yet she grew up in Wales. The "Diamonds" part of her stage name refers to the Diamanidis part of her birth name. The song Mowgli's Road comes off of her February 2010 studio album release titled The Family Jewels, which has been certified gold in the UK already. 

And the "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Bang, Bang, Bang, by English guitarist, music producer, and co-founder of Allido Records Mark Ronson & the Business INTL (feat. QTIP and MDNR). Mark Ronson is known for working with other artists, primarily as a DJ and producer in producing hit pop-hop and electronica tracks such as his 2003 release "Ooh Wee" (feat. Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg & Trife), which appeared on the Hitch movie soundtrack that year. Mark Ronson has released 3 studio albums, and has won a BRIT Award for Best Male Artist in 2008. Bang, Bang, Bang comes off of his still unreleased Record Collection album, due to come out sometime in this year of 2010. This video is pretty cool, especially the beginning bits with the flashing lights reminiscent of japanese animation and 80's cartoons the likes of Voltron and Thundercats. Don't miss this one, its an instant Summer hit fo sho!

And the "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Light It Up, by British alternative rock duo Blood Red Shoes. Blood Red Shoes come out of Brighton, England consisting of Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter, they formed in late 2004. Light It Up was released in February 2010 and appears on their Fire Like This album. Not much else to say, pues nada...

And the "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Skeleton Boy, by English dance-punk band Friendly Fires. Friendly Fires was formed in 2006 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK and they have released 3 EP's and 1 studio album. Skeleton Boy was released in March 2009. In 2009 the band was nominated for Best Breakthrough Award at The South Bank Show Awards and for ‘Best Dancefloor Filler’ at the NME Awards, as well as for the Mercury Music Prize. Their self-titled studio album reached #21 on the UK albums chart. Enjoy!

And the "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Dawn of the Dead, by British electronica band Does It Offend You, Yeah? Does It Offend You, Yeah? are based in Reading, England. According to wikipedia Does It Offend You, Yeah? were the ninth most listened to new band of 2008 on last.fm and were included in the best alternative music list of 2008 on iTunes. They were announced as a Rolling Stone breaking Artist in 2008, and they often work with big-time DJ's, such as Justice, Peaches, MSTRKRFT, Simian Mobile Disco, etc.. Dawn of the Dead is a single release, which debuted in 2008, so not really that new, but who bloody cares, the term newish, applies here. Enjoy!

#85 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome back to VJ Samsonite's top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Today we are presenting #85 of the top 100 countdown! And the song is the new wave classic...Kids In America, by English pop-singer, author, and television presenter, ya sabes, Kim Wilde. Kids In America was her first big time hit (and will always be ranked highly in the classic new wave 80's genre) which rocketed to #2 on the UK Singles charts upon its release in 1981. The song did not debut in the USA (ironically) until 1982 when it became a Top 30 Hit. According to wikipedia the song was originally written by Ricky and Marty Wilde, and then sent to Kim who made it big. Their was also a 1994 re-release version of the song produced for Kim's Singles Collection released that year. Saludos.

And the "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Sticks 'N' Stones, by English indie-post-punk-revival singer/songwriter Jamie T. His full name is Jamie Alexander Treays (Jamie T for short), and he's from Wimbledon, South London, England. He has worked with the Ordinary Boys and in 2007 he won Best Solo Artist at the 2007 Shockwave NME Awards, apparently beating out Thom Yorke (of Radiohead) and Jarvis Cocker (of Pulp). Sticks N Stones appeared on his Kings and Queens album, reaching #15 on the UK Singles Charts. It was originally released in June of 2009. Now, like so many other music videos Youtube has disabled the music video from being embedded into other web pages, so go to youtube to see the actual music video. Cheers!

#92: of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome back to VJ Samsonite's top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Today we are presenting #92 of the top 100 countdown!And the song is...Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, by 80's British new-wave rock band Ultravox!. According to wikipedia they were one of the primary bands involved in the Brit-electro-pop of the early 1980's. They were considered to be associated with the new romantic and the new wave movements. The band was originally formed in 1973 under the name Tigerlily. In 1976 the lead singer changed his name to John Foxx and the band changed their name to Ultravox!  The actual evolution of the band and its members is rather convoluted and if you really want to know the details then I suggest you check out their wikipedia page. Dancing with Tears in My Eyes is a great dance track, and was the second single release off of the band's 7th studio album, Lament (released in 1984). Dancing with Tears in My Eyes hit #3 on the UK single charts, thus effectively putting Ultravox! back on the radar. Apparently (again according to wikipedia) the song is about nuclear power plants and the possibility of nuclear meltdown, which is depicted in the music video. I find that kind of strange now, seeing that the Chernobyl disaster occurred just two years later in 1986, but I suppose that would have made their message regarding the risks of nuclear power even more significant. There are a few different versions of the song, including the 7" and 12" vinyl versions. Enjoy!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Dog Days Are Over,  by UK indie-pop artist Florence and the Machine. Florence and the Machine comes out of London, and consists of Florence Welch, along with a variety of other artists that play backgrounds and other parts for her songs, but Florence is the lead. They are a young band, and released their first album in December 2008. They have a sort of indie-folk-pop sound, which alternates a bit during this song. I don't have too much more to say about this band as I really don't know much, but alas, this is the song of da day!

Halcyon by a band called Delphic

I stumbled across this new song called Halcyon by a band called Delphic, and figured that since this vlog is the Halcyon vlog/blog that this could be a good dedication to it. They are termed an "alternative dance band" by wikipedia, and come out of the Marple Bridge, Greater Manchester in the U.K. There is indeed some cool cinematography in this and some cool dancing, kind of reminds me of Lord of the Rings or something....Oh and I really just wanted an excuse to use the Oompa Loompa. So doompa dee doo to you too.

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Bonkers (with Armand Van Helden), by London, U.K. rapper Dizzee Rascal. Dizzee has partnered up with the legendary American DJ/producer Armand Van Helden on this track (which incidentally reached #1 on the U.K. singles chart in 2009).  I have posted a song by "the Diz" a few weeks back, but as I said then there will be more posted by him as he is an excellent new electro-rap artist. This song is one of the three #1 hits that comes off of his Tongue N' Cheek album (released in September of 2009), along with my earlier post of the song Dance Wiv Me. The 3rd hit will be posted here at a later date, so stay tuned or just go check out the album yourself!  

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

..."Fire" by U.K. indie rock band Kasabian. Yes that's right, another award winning rock band from the U.K.! I told you there wouldn't be many from the USA, although I do actually have a few on my list. This band has been around since 1999, and the song "Fire" comes off of their West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum album (released in 2008), and if that isn't a unique album title, then I don't know what is...This song is interesting because it starts out sounding a bit slow and then hits you with a harder more increased energetic chorus, which I notice quite a few bands and songs doing these days; that is the song starts out not so energetic and possibly even shy-sounding, but then a high-energy chorus kicks in out of no-where (this is especially notable in Pendulum's new hit song, will post later on). Anyways, I really dig this song and will post a few other Kasabian songs on future posts, so without further ado, I spit Hot Fiahhhh!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

..."The King and All Of His Men," by U.K. artist Wolf Gang. Now, due to having such a common name from history it is a bit of a pain to find any info on this specific artist, as you can imagine you have lots of Wolf Gang's, a few different bands named Wolfgang with or without a space, but you can find them on myspace when you search their name and this song. This song came out in October 2009, and it has an interesting sound which makes it unique, you'll just have to listen to it, it is quite catchy. And that's all he said...