Jesse Boykins III Is Anything But 'Plain'

from Soulbounce.com

It occurred to me the other day that it's been a good minute since we've heard new, original material from Jesse Boykins III. Sure, he's delivered us some banging covers accompanied by intriguing videos (and even gotten behind the camera himself), which is all fine and dandy but it's no Love Apparatus, his new album that he's been promising us since last year. According to JBIII that album is still on the way, and here's video of him performing a song that will be found on that set to prove it. Filmed for Live at the Loft, "Plain" is an electro groove that finds Jesse kicking the tempo up a notch. He's known for his romantic slow jams, but this track coupled with the dance floor ready first single "B4 the Night is Thru" are a very good look to show his range. Although we have to wait an unspecified amount of time to get Jesse's Love Apparatus in our hands, he has the free EP Way of a Wayfarer dropping on June 21st -- yes, tomorrow -- to satisfy us until then. The first day of summer just got that much hotter.

There are Few Words for This

I don't make fun of the physically or mentally disabled, but this here...had me staring at the screen like......huh....whaaaaa. I guess if Lady can come on the scene with "pussy be yankin" then there is a lane for everyone. Share your thoughts if you dare.

In Love With Nikko Gray's "Rollercoaster" (STL 11 Preview)

Nikko Gray is an artist I had no idea existed until today parousing soulbounce.com and man, i'm very happy to be acquainted with the talented UK native as "rollercoaster" has been a ride i've been strapped in for all day. What struck me about the song is the atmospheric sexiness that ensues with the subtleties in Nikko's harmonies and voice and the bold delicacy of her pitch and tone. I also love how sexy she and the song is without really trying very hard to be. in fact, Nikko is so cute in the clip, that it was this (and my desire to share a bit of whats been cooking with the new STL project), that broke me out of my blogging slumber and share some goodies with the masses. She is also a Capricorn so enough said...lol

Fun With Stereotypes: The Olsen Twins Edition

from Dlisted

Long before the Olsens were wearing black veils made of the frozen nightmares of their victims, they were just little tiny trollings committing acts of accidental racism in family friendly direct-to-DVD movies like To Grandmother's House We Go. You know, full on fuckery aside, where did they get those fried chicken drumsticks? Who knew that the pre-KKK playgroups served fried chicken during snack time. But more importantly, what human being with at least half a working brain cell throws a chewed up drumstick into a dude's money case?! I know some people who will get hit upside the head with a spoon if they bring their grandma a plate of dark meat instead of white meat. And the Olsens think this is okay?!

If you're bold enough to throw a chicken bone into a street performer's money bin, you're strong enough to take an ass whoopin' from said street performer. To quote what a wise homeless man said after my friend handed him a bag of her leftovers: How the FUCK am I supposed to get drunk off of leftovers?

"Nothing Comes Easily" - The Best of Grey's Musical Event

Music can be so haunting when executed in the right manner and it can punctuate poignancy in the smallest of places. The Grey's Musical event in a nutshell was bizarre and odd, but I was surprised by the pipes some of the cast members have on them. Especially Sara Ramirez who does the bulk of the singing on the latest episode as the event revolve around her trauma. The above clip, in my opinion, was the best of the lot last night and the most moving and touching scene of the whole endeavor. Take a gander and let the moment wash over you.

Get to Know Kutiman's Fascinating Innovations

from Soulbounce.com

Ophir Kutiel, widely known as Kutiman, has upped the ante once again with his virtual arranging and composing. The Israeli musician/composer/producer/YouTube conductor brings us a new installment of his Thru-You series, where he combines music footage found on YouTube and finds the perfect moment in each video that has the right chord, sound, and/or note to sample and loop to fit with pieces from other videos. In his most recent project, his "My Favorite Color" video, Kutiman blends a founding piano riff, French horns, a saxophone, a triangle, cellos, various drum beats, and other instruments (the complete list can be viewed here). For the vocals, he chooses a video of a young girl singing an original song in her bedroom to lay atop it all. The end result is a melting pot of musical genius. Through the massive following that Kutiman has built for himself, he takes some great musical talent out of virtual obscurity and puts them into the viral forefront. Hopefully his Thru-You project will keep producing more of these fascinating and innovative creations.

Bobb V Brings Beautiful "Words" to Life, If not a Typical Album to Form

I have to admit, im having a hard time getting into Bobby V's latest offering, but the more i try to dismiss it, the more little pieces of the album keep popping up on my landscape. Recently caught the video treatment for "Words" and it made me appreciate the song soo much more. At once sexy, classy, and classic, Bobby V sure knows how to churn out an effective R&B song when he has the right elements. But his typical "if it aint broke don't fix it" approach to music is maddening on "Fly On The Wall", now available from Capital Records.

"Fly on the Wall" is Bobby Vs 4th or 5th album and although he has made a big splash on the musical landscape a couple of times with some significant hits, he has yet to hit the commercial mainstream he so desires. And "Fly on the Wall" will not do much to strengthen that cause. Standouts on the album include "Words" as well as "If I Can't Have You", "Would You Be", and "L.O.V.E." but at 18 tracks deep, the music becomes repetitive and because Bobby V sticks to a specific style, the songs feel redundant at best. Its as if, "once you've heard one Bobby V songs you've heard them all" which is, in essence, a catch 22 for Bobby V specifically because in order to be iconic, Bobby V needs to hone a specific style and drive a lane he can call his own (which he essentially has) but at the same time, this lane limits and boxes in his musical growth.

There are plenty of mediocre R&B artist that have and/or are following the same blueprint that Bobby V has mapped out with "Fly on the Wall". But I wouldn't call Bobby V necessarily mediocre or generic, just stuck. Although im glad he sticks to a general R&B format and purports to be a true R&B artist, Bobby V could really benefits from switching up his style a bit. Im glad he isn't hopping on the pop or techno trend, but he needs a new production team to keep his sound fresh. Cause as its is...the flies on the wall are eyeballing the stale bread on the table. By the way, "Fly on the Wall" is such a terrible title for an album.....and especially an R&B album. It sounds bored with itself already.....need i say more.