Artist Of The Day: Refused and The Weeknd Coachella Performances

I don't think there's any argument that Coachella had the best lineup of pretty much any festival announced so far for 2012. So,  when it was announced that Coachella would be live streamed again this year, it became a can't miss Internet event. While there were plenty of awesome sets played, including those by M83, SBTRKT, Bon Iver and St. Vincent, two sets stood out above the rest.

On Friday, Refused made sure everyone knew they were back. After breaking up in 1998, the band just recently reunited, and only played a couple shows before their Coachella reemergence. Even 14 years later, the members still had the youthful punky energy that allowed them to put out one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the last 20 years in The Shape Of Punk To Come. The performance was absolutely flawless, and it only leads to more excitement for the band's future plans.

On the other side of the spectrum, The Weekend played his first ever show in the US on Sunday. Playing songs off his three mixtapes from 2011 as well as "Crew Love" from Drake's latest album (a definite highlight of the night), Abel Tesfaye showcased his absolutely majestic voice, which may be even stronger live than recorded. Previously a man of mystery, Abel busted into everyone's sight with his performance, asserting himself as one of the most creative and talented artists currently making music.

You can watch "New Noise" by Refused here, as well as The Weeknd's entire Coachella set here.

The Daily Blair: America!

For today's edition of the Daily Blair I tried to give you a song that I think perfectly describes or defines every state. I even included some descriptions!

ALABAMA

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"

Nothing symbolizes southern pride more effectively than Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." In one of the greatest non rap "beefs" ever, Skynyrd completely roasted Neil Young and his hippie ballad "Southern Man" on "Sweet Home Alabama." SHA is everything we love and hate about the south and Alabama in one song: it is southern hospitality yet southern racism, it is beautiful southern weather yet the vicious cloud of southern racism, and it is big hooks yet every weaker lyrics in the verse. SHA like the south has strengths in its weaknesses and weaknesses in its strengths.

ALASKA

Sun Kil Moon - "Trucker's Atlas"

Sun Kil Moon's cover of "Trucker Atlas" just gives you a very "Alaska feel." It is about traveling, fishing, finding "sex on the rocks," and making sure that all of this simpleness somehow makes you feel never ending happiness. Alaska is a state that advertises itself based off its coolness and simplicity. Nothing represents this coolness and this simplicity better than "Trucker's Atlas".

Album Review: The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

As a person who typically dislikes most things R&B it’s fair to say that I approached Abel Tesfaye’s entry mixtape, House of Balloons, with skepticism. And even though House of Balloons is - at its core - hedonistic, it veiled the most obvious stereotypes of its genre with meticulous production and Tesfaye’s angelic croons. Shortly thereafter, Thursday was released and helped expand on this potent blend by somewhat breaking away from the aesthetic of its predecessor to feel a little more emotionally resolute and, at times, kind of... creepy. As noted by many a reviewer, Thursday drew from a much darker atmosphere and thrived on its story-telling tendencies. Still though, both mixtapes come across as filthy, grimy sex music on the surface, but there’s something undeniably emotive about them. Beneath Tesfaye’s walls of drug-addled sexism lies a dangerously self-destructive person (“The Knowing”) - one who - knowingly - uses and abuses drugs and women, and even though Thursday saw Tesfaye’s character find a muse - one whom he created and destroyed a relationship with - his character’s demeanor inevitably led him back on the same path. So, after the fallout of failed relationships, finding Tesfaye placed (once more) exactly where he started, the inevitable question is: where does he go from here.

2011: My Favorite Moments In Music

2011 has been one of the more unique years in music for me as a listener. I listened to albums by hip-hop artists, dubstep artists, indie artist, punk artists, and even female artists. I enjoyed albums from bands I had never heard before, happy songs from one of the most depressing bands on earth, songs about being a "straight white male in America," songs about working in the fields, songs about plowing girls, songs about being a woman, and songs that tried to define America just based solely on its hyperbolic contradictions. 2011 expanded my music taste and produced more moments from more artists than any year in recent memory. Here are my ten favorite moments from 2011.....

The 14 Day Spiritual Journey

It has become clear to me that just about everyone likes music to a certain extent. Their are people who like music, people who like music a little bit more, and people who absolutely love music. Their are many things that separate people who like music from people who love music. People who like music view it simply as "music" while people who love music view it more as experiences or moments in time, people who like music can name you three mainstream albums while people who love music are constantly editing their albums of the year list, people who like music view music as a hobby while people who love music view it as something that is a critical reflection of the health of an individual and the health of a society. For people who simply like music it never really gets past anything other than catchy choruses and lame music videos, but for people who really love music the music becomes somewhat spiritual. Spiritual because it gives us so many different moments and experiences. And spiritual because it means so damn much.

The Weeknd's New Mixtape

Ever since hearing Frank Ocean's latest album, I've been a lot more open to R&B. The Weeknd's newest mixtape House Of Balloons makes me glad that I did. The beats are absolutely exceptional, as live instruments seem to be a common occurrence, yet it is hard to know as barely any information is out about The Weeknd. The only bio that I can find is on Last.fm, as there is nothing on his Facebook page. The mystery just adds to the excitement of the mixtape. And in the words of Rebecca Black, "Everybody's lookin' forward to The Weeknd." You can download the mixtape (album cover NSFW) for free here.