It's the Supersound

With last week’s Brit Awards win for Best International Male Solo Artist, Jay-Z continues to prove why he is the reigning king of hip-hop. The only stateside artist (other than Lady Gaga) to sang an award treats us to a an in-depth look at his visionary song Hard Knock Life, courtesy of Sweden’s STV.

 

The 15 minute documentary recounts the making of the video, the meanings behind the song, and guests, including Jigga himself, drop by to chat about the impact that the song had on modern music.

Some of the video is in Swedish, most in English with subtitles, but you’ll be able to easily follow along and enjoy this quick glimpse into Hova’s world.

 

mp3: Jay-Z x Radiohead – Dirt Off Your Android (Jaydiohead Mix)

This put a smile, a grin and a huge tooth flasher on my beastly little face this morning. In a Swedish songstress “meeting of the minds”, El Perro Del Mar gets the remix treatment from her fellow countrywoman, Robyn.

EPDM has been garnering the utmost praise for her mini-album, Love Is Not Pop, including being nominated for three Swedish Grammis Awards in the following categories: Best Pop, Best Composer, & Best Producer (together w/ Rasmus Hägg, her co-producer).

Additionally, her gut-wrenching tune, Change Of Heart, has been remixed by Robyn, the latter’s first official mix for another artist. It serves as her premiere Rakamonie remix.

Grab the track below the upcoming El Perro Del Mar tour dates.

Feb 14 – World Café – Philadelphia, PA
Feb 16 – Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY
Feb 17 – Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
Feb 19 – Cambridge Family YMCA – Cambridge, MA
Feb 20 – Il Motore – Montreal, QB
Feb 21 – The Mod Club – Toronto, ON
Feb 22 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
Feb 23 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN
Feb 26 – The Triple Door – Seattle, WA
Feb 27 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC
Feb 28 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
Mar 02 – Café du Nord – San Francisco, CA
Mar 03 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA

mp3: El Perro Del Mar – Change Of Heart (Robyn’s Rakamonie Remix)

Last month, this beast went bananas for the sounds emitted by Coco Sumner, aka I Blame Coco. Mentioning that her song featuring the poploving darlin’, Robyn, was in the midst of filming a video, only threw me into a deeper fit of wondering obsession…but today, we wonder no more.

With her husky vocals and “are you sure she’s only 18″ musical sensibility, Caesar proves Sumner’s more than adequate chops and the ensuing song and video is just the beginning for what I promise will be a huge year in 2010 for the gal.

Watch the video for Caesar now.

Here’s what Coco has to say about the video:

“Had my first radio play last night! On at 10 with Nick Grimshaw. I’m over the moon! (Cheers Grimmy!). Should be putting up the video of Caesar at some point directed by Hope + Audikana. I think its brilliant I hope you like it. Also Caesar remixes from Miike Snow and Diplo are going to be avalible too! Merry Christmas everyone.”

Did you get that all down? The track will be officially released on January 25th via download and a limited edition 10″ vinyl featuring an exclusive Miike Snow remix. A Diplo mix also in the works.

Radness.

mp3: I Blame Coco – Bohemian Love

Today, the swooping and soaring Into the Clouds from Swedish dudes, The Sound of Arrows, is officially bestowed upon us. What better way to stir up all those doe-eyed emotions than by diving into this luscious song and loving it all over again.

High up on the Beaston scale of “oh my word, this song is so damn good, I never want it to end!” is where you’ll find us notching this gem. In case you missed it the first time around, watch the colorfully cool video, then jump below for more info.

As mentioned, the single is out today, and it comes packaged with the below supplements.

1. Into The Clouds
2. And Beyond
3. Into The Clouds (Fear Of Tigers Remix)
4. Into The Clouds (Gold Dust Remix)

Buy it here. And another mix for your ears, that is not included on the release can be gobbled up, for free, below.

mp3: The Sound of Arrows – Into the Clouds (Mille Remix)

Are you confused by that smattering of Swedish verbiage? I had to do a little research myself in order to get the full breadth of what was going on in the below footage. Let’s dive in!

Dansbandskampen is an entertainment program in Sweden, much like our very own American Idol. The contest aims to bring dance band culture into the mainstream media light of the Scandinavian public. Acts are voted for and are booted off or continue on in the competition thanks to the popular vote.

On a recent episode, one of the faring participants, Titanix, took the insanely catchy Mando Diao track, Dance With Somebody, and “disco-ed” it up. Watch them cover it live now.

What’d you think? Are they worthy of the phone-in vote? I think it’s quite catchy!

Mando Diao are on tour in Europe through December 12. Dates here.

mp3: Mando Diao – Dance With Somebody (Tocadisco Remix)

We’ve been anxiously waiting for the debut of The Sounds‘ video for Beatbox, the second single from their 3rd studio album, Crossing the Rubicon. Fear not, dear followers of the Swedish new-wave outfit, for the time is nigh. Meaning…yeah, we’ve got the vid now.

In a darkly lit and scarily invaded forest of natives, we find Maja and the boys being chased by some greased up muscly men. And oooh boy, do they look piping mad! Luckily, there’s a large body of water nearby for the troupe to take refuge in…and you know, play their instruments.

Watch the video now.

Are we scared? Do we love the gratutitous calf zooms? Do we dig the underwater performance?

Hey, I love The Sounds like no other, so I’m gonna say, yes, yes, YES!

mp3: The Sounds – 4 Songs and a Fight