The Lossless Jukebox

Welcome to the Lost Jukebox! Own a record label? Part of a band? Just love music? You're on the right blog! We post reviews, top-10 lists, and a rundown of each week's releases. Want to nominate an album? Make a suggestion? Drop a note in the ask box! Also, check us out on twitter: @thelostjukebox! Just a quick disclaimer: I am not, unless otherwise stated, compensated in any way for these reviews, posts, or editorials. Any and all reviews done at the request of an artist, record label, or promoter will be labeled as such. All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of said artist, record label, or promoter.

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Calling it Early... Current picks for Album of the Year

I don't know about you, but my favorite part of the music year is reading all the end of the year lists. I always manage to find a few incredible releases that slipped through the cracks. Throughout the year, I usually have a running favorite for album of the year. Last year was simple, it was "Neck of the Woods" by Silversun Pickups (which is what I ended up picking at the end of the year). This year, however, I have two running favorites. Hummingbird - Local Natives I've been listening to this album since its release back in January. For me this is incredible as my musical attention span usually ranges about one to two weeks. I love this album because of the depth of its lyrics, the complexities of the music, and quite frankly, how deeply the album has impacted my life. It will definitely be an album I won't soon forget. False Idols - Tricky A more recent entrant to my album of the year race, I instantly became immersed in False Idols the second I heard it. That's a great descriptor of this album, immersive. You can't help but get caught up in its warm beats and inviting vocals. If this album doesn't make album of the year, it will surely be one of the most relaxing albums I've ever heard. So those are my two favorites I the year so far. Got a release you think I've missed? Feel free to reblog the post and add it or drop a line in the ask box!

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Most Anticipated Albums of (the rest of) 2013 Part 1

Here is part one of our most anticipated albums of the rest of 2013 Hesitation Marks - Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor has been a busying since the release of 2008's "The Slip". He's scored several movies and been working on the side project How to Destroy Angels. However, 2013 marks the return of his main project, Nine Inch Nails. I'm looking forward to this album because I'm hoping Trent melds the sounds of "The Slip" with the feel of my favorite NIN album "With Teeth". Mechanical Bull - Kings of Leon Kings of Leon are a great example of a talented band that gets avoided by the alternative music community simply because of their notoriety and radio play. The southern quartet are one of the few acts still bringing the roots of rock to the masses. While I admit, "Use Somebody" was overplayed, the band are still a group of incredible talents. I'm looking forward to this album because the band has hinted it has elements of their sound from "Because of the Times" while having strains of the direction taken with "Only by the Night" I'm looking forward to hearing a bit of the early Kings combined with the maturity and polish of their later releases. The Diving Board - Elton John Sir Elton is one of the many timeless acts from the golden age of music, back when the radio wasn't complete garbage. The beauty of Elton's music is that I has managed to reach and touch several generations. While I'm not sure if this will be anything like the Elton on "Madman Across the Water" or the one on "Crocodile", I'm looking forward to hearing some new stuff from the king of piano pop.

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Jukebox Song of the Day ~ July 1st

Today’s song of the day is Atlas Genius’ “Trojans". Trojans combines a grooving baseline and catchy drums that makes for a great track in and of itself. However, the vocals and lyrics take the track to the next level. Te metaphor of a Trojan horse as another person that really getting a hold on you is - no pun intended - genius.

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Jukebox Song of the Day ~ June 25th

Today’s song of the day is Disclosure’s “White Noise”. For the past few weeks, I’ve been obsessed with U.K. garage act “Disclosure”. It started with the song “Latch” which I instantly loved for its unique vocals and catchy beat. “White Noise” is no different. Its intensely smooth beat is instantly addicting. The guest vocals from Alunageorge really add to the track.

Check it out here

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Jukebox Song of the Day ~ June 24th

Today’s song of the day is “The Story I Heard” by Blind Pilot. Blind Pilot were one of my first alternative bands and they’ve had a big influence on my musical taste. “The Story I Heard” is one of my favorite songs from the band. It has catchy lyrics that also maintain some complexity. The overall cheer in the vocals is somewhat a disguise for the deep metaphorical nature of the subject.

Check out the song here

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Song of the Day - June 19th

Today’s Song of the Day is “Diane Young” by Vampire Weekend. I recently reviewed “Modern Vampires of the City” (check that out here), and I must say that the only song that stuck with me is “Diane Young”. While I don’t think the band has manage to show any growth in their latest album, I think that if they did, the rest of the album would have the same feel that “Diane Young” has. Between the song’s playful yet sincere lyrics and its catchy beat, the song is definitely a must-listen for both those who love and those who dislike Vampire Weekend.

Check it out here

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Jukebox Song of the Day ~ June 18th

Today’s Jukebox Song of the Day is Black & Gold by Sam Sparro. With acts such as The Weeknd and Robin Thicke, the modernization of R&B is taking place. Sam Sparro is a staple to the roster of those revolutionizing the classic genre. On Black and Gold, Sparo melds the trademark smoothness of R&B vocals with a deep, warm beat. The lyricism behind Black & Gold is wonderfully enigmatic and metaphoric. The lyrics also allude to the process of evolution while still adapting (see what I did there? I’m so punny) to fit standard R&B subject matter. Definitely a great listen.

Check it out here

Check out our Grooveshark playlist of the week here

[thelosslessjukebox-blog]

Kanye West's "Yeezus" - Jukebox Album Review

Kanye West's "Yeezus" album review. Everyone's favorite, over-hyped rapper  has returned with a followup to his (somehow) critically acclaimed 2010 release: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". To this day, I can't understand why this man garners such attention, let alone how people call him a genius. Sure, Christian or atheist, "Jesus Walks" was a pretty good song. The sampling of the legendary King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" in "Power" was a nice touch. Even the inclusion of Bon Iver in "Monster" was  admittedly a well-played, head-turning move. That said, none of those songs are good enough to attach the description of genius to Mr. West. Getting back to the latest release, its a wonder to me how anyone can listen to let alone buy the album. In fact, I feel this whole album can be summed up perfectly with one Internet meme:

The beats off of this track give sampling and electronic artists a bad name. Basically the album is Kanye rap-talking over what sounds like a robot army going through a trash compactor while Skrillex and Deadmau5 are being played backwards. If the "quality" of the "music" wasn't enough, Kanye's lyrics for "Yeezus" were written in collaboration with a five year old (no offense to said five yr old), and were completed in about three hours. Not to mention, none of it could've been written without Kanye's trusty rhyming dictionary. My favorite lyrical gem is off the track "I Am a God": "I am a god/hurry up with my damn massage.../get the Porsche out the damn garage.../in a French-ass restaurant/hurry up with my damn croissant". So beautiful. With that we come to our final rating of the album: 1/10 Why it scores so high: Kanye called it Yeezus and the song "I A am a God" will just drive illuminati conspiracists nuts which, you have to admit, is amusing every once in a while. What needed to happen for the album to score a ten: Not exist. Somehow, for some reason, "Yeezus" will make the top ten on Billboard's chart, but for us at the Jukebox, it will join our exclusive new club: The Most Disappointing and/or Terrible Albums of 2013 Collection™" as the collection's first official member. 

  For those of you as underwhelmed as me and still looking to scratch the itch for some decent, creative hip-hop, go check out The Uncluded's playful "Hokey Fright" or the deep, forthcoming Dessa album "Parts of Speech".

[thelosslessjukebox-blog]

Speaking of Queens of the Stone Age...

Josh Homme says that the band does not plan to wait so long between albums. "I think we should make a record right away...I think we'll know when that is, the future is always out there isn't it?" 

All I can say is HALLELUJAH. I don't think I can handle another six years...

(source: Billboard.com)

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Jukebox Song of the Day - June 17th

Today's Song of the Day is Queens of the Stone Age's "I Sat by the Ocean". I recently reviewed the band's "...Like Clockwork" (check that out here). Since I posted the review, I've been listening to "...Like Clockwork" and "I Sat by the Ocean" is becoming one of my new favorites. The song manages to combine QOTSA's classic sound with the new direction they seem to be taking. The unavoidable riff opens the track and draws you in with the juicy guitar that only QOTSA can provide.

Check it out here

Also, check out our Grooveshark playlist for the full playlist of Songs of the Week

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Jukebox Song of the Day - June 13th

Today's Jukebox Song of the Day is "Every Third Hour" by Sister Crayon. After learning of Florenece + the Machine's hiatus, I was looking for a female artist that could come close to the musical talent and vocal abilities of Florence Welch. Enter "Every Third Hour" by Sister Crayon. "Every Third Hour" combines the cryptic lyrics and dark tonality found in much of Florence's work while making some tweaks to the overall style. When combined with Terra Lopez's unique, riveting vocals, the whole makes for a strikingly beautiful alternative track.

Listen here

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Bonaroo Livestream Lineup

Here is the Bonaroo Livestream Lineup:

(We put our favorites in bold)

A-Trak

ALO with Special Guests

A$AP Rocky :(

Beach House

Big K.R.I.T.

Calexico

Delta Rae

Dirty Projectors

Divine Fits

Father John Misty

Foals

Four Tet

Glen Hansard

Gov't Mule

Grizzly Bear

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Jim James

Japandroids

Kendrick Lamar

Local Natives

Lord Huron

The Lumineers

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Matt & Kim

Paul McCartney

Mumford & Sons

Nas

The National

Of Monsters and Men

Passion Pit

Portugal. The Man

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Solange :(

Allen Stone

SuperJam featuring RZA, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Schoolboy Q, Earl Sweatshirt, Solange, Chad Hugo (of The Neptunes), Lettuce and special guests

Swans

Tame Impala

The Vaccines

Wilco

Wu-Tang Clan :( 

The xx

and more.

original source: http://bit.ly/194I0Il

Check back soon for our "Best of the Fest" guide to Bonaroo 2013!

[littlemusicreviews]

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013)

I figured that I might as well start my reviewing with probably the most hyped album of 2013 so far. It seems like everybody with an opinion on this record has already expressed it and it’s been an exhilarating enough journey reading the reviews,...

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Great review!

[thelosslessjukebox-blog]

Arcade Fire Announce Total Change in Direction

James Murphy has apparently had a great influence on them as the followup album to 2010's "The Suburbs" is entitled "The Hood". It will feature Win Butler and Regine Chassange rapping as well as Will Butler beatboxing. It will also feature collaborations with Lil Wayne, Daft Punk, and Vanilla Ice. 

Here is the promotional cover: 

Ok none of this is real but it was fun to make. Just to be clear, Arcade Fire are my favorite band of all time.

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Mumford & Sons Update

According to reports, Ted is doing well. I repeat, Ted is doing well.

Marcus Mumford, Country Winston & Ben Lovett are both pleased and relieved. 

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Jukebox Song of the Day - June 12th

Beach House's "Myth" plays out like an oxymoron. Deeply calming while delightfully eerie. As with much of the band's music, the song employs layered synth riffs and Victoria Legrand's charming voice to create a strangely beautiful, intricate track. What sets Beach House apart from their alternative electronic contemporaries is their delicate, cryptic lyricism. My favorite lines in "Myth" are found in the first verse: "Drifting in and out/See the road you’re on/You came rolling down the cheek/You say just what you need/And in between/It’s never as it seems"

Check out the song here

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The Lossless Jukebox's Weekly Album Roundup - June 11th

Gather your lassos everyone, it's time for this week's new release roundup. As I'm sure nearly every music fan knows, albums - for the most part - are released on Tuesday. Here are three albums released this week you should definitely check out.

Black Sabbath - "13" 

Background: The much anticipated "13" features the return of original Sabbath vocalist, Ozzy Osbourne. In addition to Ozzy's return, the album boasts Brad Wilk on the drums instead of original member Bill Ward. 

First impressions: All these years later, Sabbath hasn't lost their trademark sound. The album reminds me of songs like "War Pigs" filled with key changes, beginning with a slow, trudging buildup, and switching into a heavy breakdown. I think Sabbath does well with this release, pulling influence from the most popular songs from their catalog. 

Calexico - "Spiritoso"

I first discovered Calexico this week, what took so long, I don't know. Much to my delight, I've found they have released many albums along throughout their career. Spiritoso is a collection of songs from their catalog.

First impressions: Calexico draws from folk music, jazz, and blues to produce a uniquely beautiful, melancholy sound. Top tracks include "Black Heart" and "Frontera/Trigger"

Andrew Stockdale "Keep Moving" 

Andrew Stockdale is the lead singer of the band "Wolfmother". Most people will know them for their song "Joker and the Thief", the Hangover movie series' theme song.

First impressions: "Keep Moving" features the trademark homages to classic rock in Wolfmother's music but in a much lighter, feel-good way. The album is also incredibly long (16 tracks) so there is surely something for nearly any rock music fan. 

    Albums we missed last week, (and the week before)

June 1st - Disclosure - Settle

Disclosure reminds me of a U.K. version of Daft Punk in that they produce their music, and while they sometimes sing, most of their songs are feature tracks with other artists.

First impressions: Settle does well in combining modern electronic vibes and classic R&B elements. Top tracks include "Latch" and "Defeated No More". Albums like this legitimize the musicality of electronic music. 

May 24th - Tricky - False Idols

Tricky is an alum of Massive Attack, the popular band known for their pioneering in the genre "Trip-Hop" As it is Tricky's first album in many years, some listeners may not be as familiar with his work. 

First Impressions: The album has deep beats combined with smooth vocals. "Somebody's Sins" is by far my favorite but "Parenthesis" and "Nothings Changed" are also noteworthy songs.

      Liked the albums? Any albums you think we missed? Feel free to send us a message!