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Just Encoded: Supercell – “The World is Mine feat. Hatsune Miku”

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

367532 72 Just Encoded: Supercell The World is Mine feat. Hatsune MikuArtist: Supercell
Title: The World is Mine feat. Hatsune Miku
Label: Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc.
Genre: World : Dance
UPC: 886443005068
Territory: Canada, United States
Release Date: 5.10.11

Oddly enough, Hatsune Miku is currently Japan’s biggest selling pop star. The video for “The World is Mine” has reached over 12,000,000 views on Niko Niko Douga, the Japanese version of youtube. The song has also been used by Toyota in their commercial for the new 2011 Corolla since May 4. She’s also got tons of fans and her own youtube channel.  The odd part? Hatsune Miku doesn’t actually exist. At least not in physical form.

Hatsune Miku is actually a singing, digital avatar created by Crypton Future media. Fans can purchase this “singer in a box” and program her to perform any song on a computer through Yamaha’s Vocaloid software. A 3-D hologram of the synthesized pop star recently finished up a small concert tour throughout Japan, and there are currently plans brewing for a  possible US performance some time this year.

Hit the jump to catch a video of the Miku’s hologram performing!

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Just Encoded: The Cuf – “Caviar Vol. 1″

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

363093 72 Just Encoded: The Cuf Caviar Vol. 1The CUF
download icon Just Encoded: The Cuf Caviar Vol. 1 “How We Get Down “ (mp3)
from “Caviar Vol. 1″
(CFO Recordings)

icon landing page Just Encoded: The Cuf Caviar Vol. 1 More On This Album

The CUF (an acronym for California Underground Funk) are a Sacramento-based hip hop group made up of emcees N8 the Gr8, Pete, Crush, Brotha RJ and Taktics (Lil N8). Their latest album on CFO Recordings, Caviar Vol. 1, will be their fourth full-length release, and will be their first album since their critically acclaimed Cuffdaddy was released in 2000.

Though it took years to complete this record, it is arguably their most dynamic work to date. The CUF took a hiatus after Cuffdaddy, but they’ve been able to stay fresh throughout the past few years by working on their own solo projects and collaborations. They’ve become a bit more refined since they formed in ’93, but continue to stick to their roots and make excellent hip hop. MC Pete sums up the album’s theme in the last track, “More”: “We never made cuts to be famous…All we ever wanted to do was rap in different places!”

Just Endocded: Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

364625 72 Just Endocded: Iggy & The Stooges Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the FansArtist: Iggy and the Stooges
Title: Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans
Label: MVD Audio
Genre: Punk : Rock
UPC: 760137520122
Territory: World
Release Date: 4.26.11

At 63 years old, Iggy Pop is still the same shirtless maniac on stage that brought him and The Stooges to infamy in the ’60s and ’70s. He and the reformed Stooges (Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, & Mike Watt) showed up for New York’s All Tomorrow’s Parties in September 2010 and ripped through a nearly flawless rendition of their 1973 classic, Raw Power, that had critics raving and fans screaming for more. Though you don’t get to see the audience members being brought on stage to dance to “Shake Appeal” or Iggy’s dozen stage dives, this live recording does an excellent job capturing the sheer energy of this explosive performance.

Just Encoded: Y-Love – “See Me”

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

366686 72 Just Encoded: Y Love See MeY-Love
download icon Just Encoded: Y Love See Me “The Takeover (feat. TJ Di Hitmaker, prod. Diwon)” (mp3)
from “See Me”
(Shemspeed)

icon landing page Just Encoded: Y Love See Me More On This Album

Just Encoded: Y Love See Me

Y-Love is part of the new wave of “global hip-hop” that has been popping up over the past few years, combining  throbbing rhythms with social consciousness. Drawing influences from old school vets like Chuck D to new artists like Major Lazer, his new EP See Me blends Middle Eastern Beats with clubbed-out hip-hop, giving the EP an entrancing worldly sound ready for the dance floor.

Y-Love’s first full-length album, This is Babylon, gained worldwide praise and propelled him to appearances from BBC World TV to Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2008. As one of the world’s only black Jewish MCs, his life story has interested a number of publications, including USA Today, XXL Magazine and Italy’s La Republica. His Jewish heritage also adds a unique twist to his music—there aren’t too many MCs rapping Hebrew verses over Middle Eastern-style hip-hop beats.

See Me‘s lead single, “The Takeover” is a perfect example of the high-energy, multicultural sound indicative of the rest of the EP. Featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Tj Di Hitmaker, the track explodes with African rhythms and clever wordplay. It also rests on an underlying message of harmony expressed in all of Y-Love’s work: “Unity builds the world, all divisions destroy the world.” In the words of XXL Magazine, Y-Love is “making hip-hop kosher.” Make sure to download “The Takeover” above to tide you over til See Me drops May 17th on Shemspeed.

Just Encoded: The Watson Twins

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

367306 72 Just Encoded: The Watson TwinsArtist: The Watson Twins
Title: Night Covers
Label: The Watson Twins
Genre: Rock : Pop
UPC: 614511780728
Territory: World
Release Date: 4.19.11

Riding off the critical success of their 2010 release, Talking to You, Talking to Me, the Watson Twins have returned with a collection of six cover songs that span influences from the past five decades. The collection features songs from PJ Harvey, Bill Withers, Sade, The Turtles, Eurythmics and The Black Keys, each of them highlighting the lush vocal harmonies and southern sensibility the twins are known for while still preserving the essences of the original tracks.

The two have come a long way since their days of singing backup for a well-known local band in Los Angeles. With the help of the 2006 collaboration with Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, Rabbit Fur Coat, The Watson Twins became a recognized name in the indie community, paving the way for the release of their first EP in 2006, Southern Manners.  Two well-received LPs later, they’re ready to explore and re-interpret some of their favorite influences for your listening pleasure.

The Watson Twins say they really found their collective groove together during the recording of Talking to You, Talking to Me. According to Leigh Watson, “I feel we’ve honed how to work together and I think our singing style on this album strengthened the idea of the two of us being one voice.” Night Covers hearkens back sonically to each of the twins’ previous three releases, spanning everywhere from melancholy experimental folk to contemplative alt-country ballads to hints at classic soul and R&B. The result is a collection of six songs that send shivers down your spine while gently rocking you to sleep.

Just Encoded: Rene Marie

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

356602 72 Just Encoded: Rene MarieRene ­Marie
download icon Just Encoded: Rene Marie “Strange Meadow Lark” (mp3)
from “Voice of My Beautiful Country”
(Motema Music)

service icon 4 Just Encoded: Rene Marie Buy at iTunes Music Store
icon landing page Just Encoded: Rene Marie More On This Album

As one of the most widely recognized talents in vocals today, Rene Marie’s every move seems to get talked about. The award-winning singer who’s signature style incorporates elements of jazz, soul, blues and gospel has sold over 40,000 albums in her brief recording career. She burst on to the tp of the jazz scene in 2002 when her album Vertigo was voted Best Vocal Jazz Record by JazzTimes in the UK.  The follow up, Live at the Jazz Standard, entered the top-20 in the Billboard Jazz Charts and earned her write-ups in nearly every major US Jazz publication, as well as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Vibe, and Essence. Her efforts extend beyond music into humanitarian action, as she has partnered with the National Coalition for the Homeless in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the organization. Now she returns with a brand new record, her first distributed release since a controversial appearance at the Denver Mayoral State of the City Address in 2008, where she sand “Lify Ev’ry Voice and Sing” in place of the national anthem. Rene Marie’s revolutionary yet deeply personal patriotism soars from sea to shining sea on her tour-de-force, jazz/gospel/Americana crossover album, Voice of My Beautiful Country. With searing honesty, impeccable artistry and bold musical risk-taking (the key characteristics of her remarkable vocal career), Rene Marie and her loyal touring ensemble apply their substantial improvisational chops to an intriguing set of 19th, 20th & 21st century compositions to define the very cloth that America is cut from.

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