Tagged: Music.

2011 was a huge year in music across all genres. As the internet age has continued to permeate every facet of our lives, the music industry has been forced to change. New models of music delivery (such as Spotify) became mainstream, and for the first time, artists have begun to truly attain international success with nothing more than talent and a reliable internet connection. But even more important than the music industry is the art behind it that drives the whole thing - so, without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of the year. They’re well worth a listen.

The Foreign Exchange - Authenticity

Legendary R&B musician Phonte’s pairing with Dutch producer Nicolay continues to be a successful transatlantic collaborative effort. Their latest project features soulful production, outstanding instrumentation, and philosophical musings on life, time, love, travel, and more. Also worth checking out is their live rendition of this same album. Highly recommended.

The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

Perhaps thebiggest story of 2011 was the overnight ascendence of Abel Tesfaye, a prolific musician with a work ethic and talent second to none. Combined with the creative genius of Toronto producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, The Weeknd has begun a genre-bending discography, the likes of which have never been seen before. The final chapter of his album trilogy, Echoes of Silence takes the best elements of House of Balloons and Thursday, and melds them together to create an ethereal, haunting masterpiece. With three solid bodies of work already under his belt, Tesfaye is already being likened by critics to a young Prince or Michael Jackson. The really scary thing? His career started only a year ago.

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

Along with The Weeknd, another young prodigy burst onto the music scene by self-releasing his first album against the wishes of Def Jam, his record label. What followed was hundreds of thousands of downloads, remixes, and collaborations with Kanye West and Jay-Z. Not bad for a 24-year old from New Orleans. Nostalgia, Ultra features excellent original songs (“Swim Good” is one standout), and reimaginings of current songs by artists such as Mr Hudson and MGMT. Ocean is currently preparing his now heavily anticipated debut retail album, putting in studio time with artists such as Nas, Tyler the Creator, and Pharrell.

Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights

Already well-established in her native United Kingdom, Goulding also experienced a breakout year with the US release of her hit album, Bright Lights. Using electronic synths on one song and an acoustic guitar on the next, Goulding demonstrated her versatility while using an incredible vocal range. This one is underrated, definitely one of the best albums of the year.

Big Sean - Finally Famous

After years of delays and pushbacks, rapper Big Sean emerged as something more than simply the protege of Kanye West with the release of his first album. With outstanding production by No ID and a diverse range of guest spots and song topics, Sean delivered on one of the best rap albums of the year. Whether the sophomore slump can be avoided has yet to be seen, but as of right now, the Detroit native has a bright future ahead of him. Finally Famous, indeed.

Honorable Mentions

  • Common - The Dreamer, The Believer
  • Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
  • Bon Iver - Bon Iver
  • BT - These Re-Imagined Machines
  • Drake - Take Care
10:32 am, by jonbrown 3  |  Comments
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This is a short movie I made that summarizes my recent trip to Belize and Guatemala. Photo credits / shout-outs to everyone on the trip who took pictures and helped contribute to this video! This trip was short but sweet, and I already can’t wait to go back. I learned a wealth of information while down there (both about the biology of the tropics, and life itself) that has proven to be immensely valuable. And that’s what it’s all about. It’s the journey - not the destination - that makes all the difference in the world.

11:50 am, by jonbrown 5  |  Comments
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This song is short, sweet, and to the point. It does a pretty good job of summing up how I feel right now, too. It is a very “summer”-type of a song, but it’s a sad one too.

I’m about to drive to the ocean,

I’m going to try to swim from something bigger than me.

I’ll kick off my shoes and swim good, swim good…

I think deep down, we all want to be free. For each one of us, freedom is defined in a different way. Some people want fame and fortune. Others want to be free from the responsibilities of society. I just want to be loved unconditionally. To me, that’s freedom. The ability to be myself, without worrying about whether I’m adequate, or whether I’ve changed the world for the better. It’s true that sometimes I work too hard for earthly approval, but don’t we all at times? I think so, but hey, I’m human. To be loved for being yourself is the greatest freedom. Unfortunately, this concept is elusive and nearly impossible to attain. Most of the time, I don’t subscribe to this particular definition - but every once in awhile those familiar feelings of inadequacy seep in and bring me down. They shouldn’t, really. I know who I am. But they do anyways. I might add that this is but one definition I have for the concept…there are many others, each applying to a different time and place and situation. For now, this is the one that fits my present state. If nothing else, at least I can be at peace knowing I haven’t compromised myself in the course of this journey called life. This release of thoughts, these words…this is me. Nothing added, nothing taken away. And by doing so, I am free…

10:49 pm, by jonbrown 3  |  Comments
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This song (“I Miss You”, by Incubus) could apply to so many people in my life right now…I guess that is kind of sad, but the good life was never promised to any of us. It’s absolutely essential that we play the hands we are dealt on this earth to the very best of the ability. Sometimes, yes, that means a void that a person (or two, or three) leaves, but good can still be made of those situations that seem hopeless. Within space lies opportunity, which pays no regard to hopelessness. Seize those opportunities! Each and every one of us has the power to turn a trial into a triumph. What in your life could be transformed in this manner? Something to think about…

11:15 pm, by jonbrown 7  |  Comments
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ctxradio:

Hello all! Thank you to everyone who tuned in for our latest episode this past Thursday. Our usual cast joined us last week, and there was lots of interesting discussion and great music to be had. We had an outstanding start to the year, made even better by a photoshoot by photographer Adrian Gutierrez (thanks Adrian!). He took some great pictures during the show that you can check out above, if you want to see what we’re up to. Included in this week’s episode are topics such as:

  • Stephen Colbert running for President?
  • Student Government and Spring Semester Events!
  • Coachella 2011 lineup announced.
  • Concordia’s Pita-palooza (Middle Eastern Week)

In addition, we had a great lineup of music on tap. Here’s links to the songs you’ll be hearing in this week’s episode (in order):

Hope you enjoyed this week’s broadcast! As always, tune in right here at 9PM on Thursdays for our live show. If you have any song requests, by all means let us know through the link on the right side of this page. Enjoy!

Season 1, Episode 12 by NotFM

Download here: http://www.mediafire.com/?1ucaifb0iius2y0

07:52 am, reblogged  by jonbrown 1  |
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