NEW MUSIC TUESDAY (6/28/11)

DEAR FRIENDS: An Evening with The Foreign Exchange

The Foreign Exchange is more than just a swooning electro R&B group, and their new live accoustic album proves it.  The adult-contemporary genre they'd been flirting with, particularly on the duo's last full length LP, is emphasized in this latest release.  It's a video and audio recording of a private, very intimate acoustic performance the group gave for select friends back in February and comes as a double disc CD/DVD digipak.  "Dear Friends" is top priority among today's new releases.  Get a small taste here.

Hard Times by Kids These Days

A lot can be said about kids these days; they're surprisingly witty, shrewd and apparently, they make the darnest music.  Suggestive of the phrase, the band Kids These Days sheds new light on a forthcoming generation of musicians.  If this young eight-piece collective is any indication of the ingenuity of today's youth, our future looks brighter than ever.  Even Mr. Shawn Carter himself realizes this.   Be sure to catch Kids These Days performing at Lollapalooza this year.

FIRST LISTEN: Jill Scott - "Light Of The Sun" [ALBUM STREAM]

More good music a week ahead of its release date courtesy of my former supervisor, Ms. Frannie Kelley, over at NPR.  In all honesty, I haven't heard music this good from Jill Scott since her debut.  Decide for yourself, though.  Stream the soulstress's upcoming album, Light Of The Sun, in its entirety down bottom before it drops next Tuesday, June 21st.   

Listen HERE<<<

MUSIC MONDAY JAM: Kids These Days - "Summer Scent"

There's always a certain stigma associated with kid bands, but there isn't much very juvenile about Kids These Days.  In fact, about half the members of the band are nearly into their early 20s.  But what makes this youthful bunch seem slightly more mature and a bit less pop than the average teenybopper band isn't their age.  It's their sound; it draws from influences far beyond their time, merging blues-rock, jazz, and traditional hip hop.  Perhaps you can think of Kids These Days as an updated version of Arrested Development.  The 8-piece collective hails from my current stomping grounds, and I had the pleasure of working with them for my latest endeavour.  "Summer Scent" is from the band's upcoming Hard Times EP, dropping June 28th.  Although the video was shot in L.A., the song is a perfect welcoming celebration of beautiful, sunny Summertime-Chi.

MUSIC MONDAY JAM: Random Axe - "Chewbacca"

Random Axe "Chewbacca" feat. Roc Marciano by duckdown

Over the past several months, the Hip Hop in my heavy rotation has had two things in common: Detroit and Duck Down.  With a phenomenal mixtape, an exceptional follow-up album, and three more promising projects on the horizon, the two have undoubtedly been sources of the finest music in Hip Hop as of late.  Random Axe— the much delayed and anticipated self-titled debut from the heavy weight trio of Detroit producer/emcee Black Milk, Guilty Simpson and celebrated BCC legend, Sean Price --has been painfully delayed for years (literally).  But one very unfortunate disaster and two great solo albums later, we can finally rejoice for the project to drop next week (June 14), adding to the list of wins for the overlooked city and the indie hip hop label.  "Chewbacca" is the latest drop from the album.  Check after the jump for the artwork, track listing, and more.