Barbara’s cover of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” showed up in February and has appeared on Hype Machine off and on since then. Now they’re back! Just over a month ago, I wrote a post about these guys and questioned where they disappeared to. Well they got back to me. Their website has been updated and their EP is released. And I gotta say I am totally digging it! I’ve listened to the whole thing a couple of times and I’m not sure which is my favorite but there’s nothing I dislike on it. I really hope the future is bright for these guys and they continue to create.

I’ve been listening all morning out on the beach, and even as I sit here writing the post, I keep changing my mind as to which song I want to feature off of the EP. Also, the electro-folk trio will be releasing their album in the upcoming months and I got my hands on an exclusive unreleased demo from the album, not the EP (second track below).

Barbara – Advertisements [YSI]

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Barbara – Unicornica (Exclusive Demo) [YSI]

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As I sifted through my soundcloud today, I found a few tracks that piqued my interest a little but just didn’t really do it for me. Then I opened my inbox and in there waited this. I gotta say, I’m usually not into house music. It just bores me to be quite honest but Trafik has done something different. Their music is so… big! The solid bassline mixed with the high treble sounds is what does it for me personally. Instead of a wall of sound being thrown in my face, I feel definition throughout the song.

Dark Times is the first track off this UK electro duo’s newest album, None But The Brave, which was released on June 21 (I believe only in the UK but I may be wrong about that.) As described in their press release: “The long awaited third album from Trafik blazes an improbable trail through the sonic space somewhere between ethereal cinematic scores and storming DJ weapons.” With their most recent work being used in CSI and Nike campaigns, it could be quite the change we hear from these guys with this album. Check out more of their work on their Myspace.

Trafik – Dark Times [YSI]

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The Fray meets Jimmy Eat World. Yeah, I think that’s accurate. So I was recently sent this song by Brothers At Sea and I’m digging it. I don’t know much about them except that formed just last April 2009. This song is off their This Is Our Redemption Melody EP available here.

As described in the email I received, “All five of the Orange County, CA musicians are under 20, but have more-than perfected their blend of uplifting, buoyant, guitar-driven melodies at a time most of us would be stressing neck deep in how to understand college life, all-nighters and the wealth of newly-afforded freedom that comes with it all.” Take a listen for yourself and you decide. I really hope these guys make it because it will be very interesting to see how a band of under-20s progresses, grows, matures, and evolves. Enjoy.

Brothers At Sea – For Being Brave [YSI]

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♫ Check out yesterday’s post (completely unrelated to today’s) because Hype Machine never posted it… ♫

Bruno’s debut EP released yesterday and it shows the potential this 23-year-old up and comer certainly has. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the first track leaked off the EP that feature Cee-Lo and B.o.B, “The Other Side.” If not, check it out. Here’s another track off the EP that I really love. However, I have one MAJOR problem with it. It’s too short!! At a minute and a half, I really hope this is only teaser for a full length track that will hopefully be released on the an album before the end of summer. Get the 4-song EP on iTunes.

Bruno Mars – Count On Me [YSI]

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So I’ve always been in support of local music, good or bad. And let’s put it this way: DJ 609 is pretty damn good. Randomly came across him on facebook and really enjoyed his mixes. Then I found out he’s from less than 15 minutes from where I live. Anyway, here are two for you to enjoy as well.

Make sure to check out his facebook and if you want to hear more, go to his soundcloud.

DJ 609 – Bad Romance Remix (ft. SP Da Don, E, Cupid, Sentury, Lil’ Wayne, & John Blu) [YSI]

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DJ 609 – That’s Right (ft. Lil’ Wayne, Shortyo, & J-Russ) [YSI]

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Ok, I lied. Here’s a third song as a bonus today:

DJ 609 – It Takes Snoop (ft. Snoop Dogg) [YSI]

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You’ve got to hear these guys. They bend genres a bit but consider themselves hip hop, funk, and R&B. The best part is that this is all done with live instrumentals. Based out of Brooklyn, I’d consider them up and coming. They’re doing small shows in the Northeast and got to open for Talib Kweli not that long ago. If I get a chance, I def would like to see a live show of theirs. Check out their myspace or official site for more music.

DownBeat Keys – Addiction [YSI]

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Slash has quit smoking! …or so he says… Who knows how long this will last? But it doesn’t matter either way because the man has released his solo album. It came out on March 31 and features Slash doing songs with some very special and unique guests from Ozzy Osbourne to Chris Cornell to Dave Grohl. However, it gets even a bit more odd than that. Today, I’m posting his new version of the original Guns ‘n Roses song “Paradise City.” It’s a bonus track which features Fergie and Cyprus Hill. Not exactly the two artists I’d expect to work with Slash but the song is still amazing. POSSIBLY better than the original, which is also posted for comparison.

Slash – Paradise City (ft. Fergie and Cyprus Hill) [YSI]

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Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City [YSI]

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Chiddy Bang album release date is August 24. This information was released by Xaphoon Jones last night at a show the guys played at Penn State. Other than that, that info is unreleased. The show went terribly for so so so many reasons (scathing review to come from a guest writer). Yesterday, however, Chiddy’s new mixtape dropped. Get it here from Pigeons and Planes. I still like these guys as recorded artists but that show yesterday really makes me think twice about going to see them live again (not completely their fault). Anyway, here’s a new one from the mixtape.

Chiddy Bang – Pass Out (Chiddy Bang Freestyle) [YSI]

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So what’s Barenaked Ladies without a front man? Well still good ol’ Barenaked Ladies. BNL’s front man and co-founder Steven Page left the group about a year ago to work on a solo project but the remaining members aren’t letting that stop them. This is BNL’s brand new rock ballad released this past January. With Steven leaving, I really feel as though the band is not lacking at all. It’s just making the other members work that much harder and it comes through in this song. Now I just hope the album has some less ballad-y songs as well to keep that true happy go lucky BNL spirit. The band is currently streaming this song from their site.

Barenaked Ladies – You Run Away [YSI]

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Like John Legend or David Gray? Then definitely give a listen to Alex Boyd. I heard this song and just felt it. Alex says it best himself, “It’s impact is in it’s honesty.” I really dig this soulful sound and am looking forward to a possible freshman album release this summer.

Keep an eye here for more future releases from Alex. Also make sure to check out his myspace.

Alex Boyd – Light Up Tonight [YSI]

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