A Taste:

MGMT, RATATAT, Lykke Li, Animal Collective

Kid Cudi just wants to rock.

Cleveland’s “lonely stoner” loves a good rock song—indie or otherwise. His playlist is practically a who’s who of popular and up-and-coming bands. It’s way more Pitchfork than Vibe, but it’s just another Kid Cudi curveball. He’s one of the best new rappers on the scene, and he’s constantly rocking out. It’s all part of this space man’s legend though.

Kid Cudi shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below!

Kid Cudi’s Playlist:

1. Kid Cudi — Man On the Moon: The End of Day

Damn, I really can’t stop listening to my own album to be honest [Laughs]. I really made this album for me first, and I hope that other people like it.

2. MGMT

I’m always into MGMT.

3. Lykke Li

I’m always listening to Lykke Li.

4. RATATAT

RATATAT is still on my playlist of course.

5. Animal Collective

I’m very selective about what I get into. Animal Collective, I just got familiar with them a couple months ago, and I’ve been jamming to them. I’ve got my ear to the streets.

6. Kings of Leon

I like Kings of Leon. They’re awesome! Their album is dope because I like the single but there are other songs that are just as good on the album, than just the single. I love constantly discovering new artists, getting their album and realizing they have more shit to offer.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Artic Monkeys, Santigold, Animal Collective, Hercules and Love Affair

“The groups that I think are amazing right now happen to be at Lollapalooza this year,” laughs Perry Farrell with a big smile. “I keep pumping Lollapalooza because I’m excited!”

Perry has every reason to be thrilled. This year’s installment of the festival has an epic lineup including Tool, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper, Lou Reed, Depeche Mode and many more. It goes down in Chicago’s Grant park once more from August 7th until August 9th.

For this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature, Perry shared his iTunes playlist. Check it out below and don’t miss Lollapalooza 2009!

Perry Farrell’s Playlist:

1. Gomez

I’ve never seen Gomez. For many years, I wanted to have Gomez perform at Lollapalooza and it never quite worked out. I’m excited about them.

2. Artic Monkeys

They’re playing Lollapalooza for the first time, and I’m excited to see them. They’re a super-cred band.

3. Santigold

She has a voice that I particularly love.

4. Animal Collective

They’re a group that, over the past year, has been the music blogs’ darling. I really love what they do. They have these great harmonies that they play with electronics live. They’re super interesting. Their videos are really fun.

5. Fleet Foxes

I’m really looking forward to seeing them for the first time.

6. MSTRKRFT

In the dance area, I’m excited about playing on a bill with MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco.

7. Simian Mobile Disco

8. Deadmau5

I’ve tried to get a track going with Deadmau5 over the past few years and I was never able to. I have been recording with Kaskade though.

9. Hercules and Love Affair

Europe is a couple years ahead of us as far as dance music goes. In fact, MTV plays dance music videos all night every weekend. I was able to see people I’ve never seen before while I was over there. I’m looking forward to seeing Hercules and Love Affair. This man has a very interesting voice.

There you go. That’s a pretty good list of people that I’ve been listening to and I’m looking forward to seeing.

—Rick Florino
08.04.09

A Taste:

Madlib, Animal Collective, Yelle, LCD Soundsystem

There’s about to be a revolution on the dance floor.

It’s going to come courtesy of two Las Vegas electro rock outlaws known as Afghan Raiders. This duo stirs up a flurry of electronic ecstasy, blending massive infectious hooks with warm sonic flourishes for a sound that’s both entrancing and hypnotic. Mikey and Beans elevate electronic music to a whole new plain, and they want to take you to outer space with them. Just crank “Admiral’s Doorbell”…

In order to get closer to their enigmatic sound, we spoke to Mikey and Beans about what they’re listening to. Check out their playlists below in this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature.

Don’t miss Afghan Raiders!

Mikey’s Playlist:

1. Madlib — “Distant Land”

Madlib is an artist who redefined the way I listen to music. He is all about the power of the mix and exploring the endless possibilities of mixing and messing with the listener’s ears. I find Madlib to be a truly creative, visionary producer, and he is definitely an artist I look to for inspiration when mixing and producing tracks. “Distant Land” is one of many gems on the album Shades of Blue, where Madlib sampled and reworked tracks from Blue Note’s catalog. His unique choice of loops and the organic feel and groove of the track take the listener to another universe.

2. Digitalism — “Pogo (Digitalism’s Pogo Robotic Remix)”Digitalism remixed their own track here and came up with an awesome new take on an already great song. Their choice of synths, use of stripped down drums and overall production technicalities never cease to amaze me every time I hear it. These guys are experts in building the energy of a song, and I always find myself listening to them for inspiration.

3. Late of the Pier — “The Bears Are Coming”

This is one of my favorite tracks to listen to when I’m out and about, because it’s a great soundtrack to the chaotic world around us. It’s a haunting, raw, filthy and, somehow, completely harmonious journey from start to finish. It’s a beautiful trainwreck…The production is killer thanks to the genius work of Erol Alkan. You never know what to expect with each successive part, but somehow amongst the chaos they tie it all together for a fun, energetic, lovable track. I had the pleasure of seeing these young guns play live in NYC and it was cool to see it all come together on stage.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — “Heads Will Roll (Passion Pit Remix)”

Here is a track that exemplifies the incredible potential of a remix. Passion Pit took what was the best track off It’s Blitz! and completely reinvented it… making a new track that was both better than anything off the new Yeah Yeah Yeah’s record and the new Passion Pit record. Their improvisation on the original chord progression is great and the energy makes me want to rage.

5. Danger Mouse & Sparkle Horse — “Revenge” (Featuring Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips)

I have been playing this song over and over and over again, and it’s so damn good. I’m a big fan of artist collaborations, and this track illustrates how three completely different brains can come together to make some magic. I’m also really feeling Wayne’s lyrics on this one… it’s like I took some crazy experimental Flaming Lips drug and Wayne has totally found his way into my head.

Beans’ Playlist:

1. Animal Collective — “Summertime Clothes”

Animal Collective consistently impress me with every album. This song really stuck out to me upon first hearing Merriweather Post Pavillion. The rhythm is very fun and upbeat, and the electronic loops are hypnotic. I also love the harmonizing between Avey Tare and Panda Bear. They have a magical way of blending their melodies.

2. Yelle — “Mon Meilleur Ami”

Yelle is hot in every sense of the word. I’ve had the good fortune of seeing her live twice and, both times, it was a sweaty sexy dance party. You can’t help but bust out into a full blown techtonic sesh while listening to her. This track always gets me moving and wishing I spoke French.

3. LCD Soundsystem — “Yeah (Crass Version)”

James Murphy is one my biggest inspirations for making dance music. At just under 10 minutes, this track starts off very stripped down and then gradually builds into an intense rager. It houses some of the dirtiest synths and percussion I’ve ever heard. If you’re not flailing your arms and shaking your booty by the six minute mark, you’re not alive.

4. No Age — “Teen Creeps”

A raw track full of energy and youth. This song always makes me want to skate.

5. Yeasayer — “2080″

I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it. But I didn’t fully grasp the intense energy of “2080″ until I saw the song performed for La Blogotheque’s Take Away Show. The a capella live version (in an apartment in Paris, with the help of a few new friends made on a subway) completely floored me. I felt all the enthusiasm and joy that is uproariously sang post chorus. It’s now impossible for me not to sing a long when I hear it.

—Rick Florino
07.31.09

A Taste:

Notorious B.I.G., Animal Collective, Faust, Beatles, Of Montreal

The Honey Brothers make pop with a purpose.

They coat soaring sugary hooks with just the right amount of attitude. The Honey Brothers’ new EP, Demonstration (due out on 6/16), infuses true lyrical poetry into massive melodies. Oh yeah, upping the cool factor, Adrian Grenier of Entourage plays drums and lays down some vocals. In between cruising L.A. with Turtle, E, Johnny Drama and Ari Gold, Adrian found the time to make quite the record with his “brothers.”

In order to get closer to Demonstration, Adrian and guitarist/vocalist D.S. Posner wanted to give us a look at what makes The Honey Brothers tick musically. So they opened up their respective iTunes playlists and gave us an exclusive peek at what they’re spinning.

Check out their D.S. and Adrian’s playlists below and don’t forget to pick up Demonstration on June 16th!

Adrien Grenier’s Playlist:

1. Notorious B.I.G.

Adrian: My ever-continuing, never-ending playlist always has a little Notorious B.I.G.

D.S.: Oh come on!

Adrian: What? I’m not allowed to listen to “Big Poppa?” [Laughs]

2. Faust

Adrian: There’s always a little bit of Faust on my playlist.

3. Fischerspooner

Adrian: I’m actually going to see Fischerspooner tonight!

4. Of Montreal

Adrian: I do like Of Montreal! They won me over with some really great songs.

5. The Ting Tings

6. Black Kids

Adrian: I’ve been getting into dance stuff—music to make you move your body. I saw Black Kids the other day, and they were amazing.

7. Mates of State

Adrian: I think Mates of State has come a long way. They’ve always written really catchy and classically indie rock songs, but I think they’re becoming more poppy and dancey as well.

8. Funkadelic

Adrian: I was a big Funkadelic fan as a kid, besides the obvious Beatles and Zeppelin combination. I got really into funk and soul.

9. Led Zeppelin

10. Beatles

D.S. Posner’s Playlist:

1. Dirty Projectors

D.S.: I’m very excited to hear their new record. I’ve been following them recently, and I find them very inspiring.

2. Animal Collective

3. Deerhunter

4. Girl Talk

D.S.: I think we’re playing one of the festivals with Girl Talk, and that’s always a fun phenomenon.

Adrian: We’re playing with Roy Ayers too. Did you see that?

D.S.: Who is that?

Adrian: You don’t know who Roy Ayers is? C’mon, man [Laughs]. “My life, my life, my life…everybody loves the sunshine! We live in Brooklyn baby.”

D.S.: I’m going to have to admit that I don’t.

Adrian: You’re going to have to be lashed for this.

D.S.: I’ll take my lashing.

5. Grizzly Bear

D.S.: I love Grizzly Bear. I think they’re new records going to be dope, but I haven’t really heard it just yet.

—Rick Florino
06.03.09