Shades (coolest band/artist name ever) is the latest entry out of indie hotbed Boise, Idaho. “Run Up” from Shades’ Clear Motions release is a neat little mix of more vibed out textures and synth pop rhythms. Listen.
Shades – Run UpShades 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Our buddy Anthony Valadez tipped us to this nice lights-pulled-back version of Kanye’s “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by NYC artist Francis and the Lights during his (must listen) Monday night KCRW show this week. The track’s more collected, pensive performance is an interesting counterpoint to Ye’s told-ya-so braggadocio on the original.
Francis and the Lights – Can’t Tell Me Nothing (Kanye West)Francis and the Lights 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
Wyclef still putting down A-plus beats. Here he teams up again with Pharrell protege Miami native Cris Cab. The track’s a mix between pop, reggae, and UK electronic music and features a neat little 16 bars from big Mavado.
Cris Cab – Rihanna’s Gun (Feat. Mavado) (Prod. Wyclef Jean)Cris Cab 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Capital Cities take their shot at a b3sci consensus Top 5 PF song. To help the CC blokes tackle the DSOTM opener is their friend Tupac, who when last we checked in with him was kickin’ it poolside in Cancun, seven sexy senoritas grabbing at his Fila (Tupac is fly enough to wear Fila in 2012.)
Capital Cities – Breathe (Feat. Tupac) (Pink Floyd Cover)Capital Cities 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
So “Devil’s Work” was awesome, “Paddling Out” knocked us out, and now latest Happy To You track “Black Tin Box” transports us to another dimension? universe? somewhere not unlike Sweden? This more spaced-out look from the Snow boys is another top shelf entry to their canon. You will best want to be clicking that play button right about now.
Miike Snow – Black Tin Box (Feat. Lykke Li)Miike Snow 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
American Royalty are band out of L.A. that walk a line between soul-driven rock and electronic/synth elements. Certainly not a new combination, no, but AR combine those sounds in a way not quite done before. Like the music really is soulful, it’s got great feel and you believe these guys when they namecheck a Motown or Stax influence. The electronic bits are complementary, coherent and do give the music, especially here on “Matchstick” an interesting texture. Let us know what you think.
American Royalty (Facebook) (Pre-Order)
Rating 8.2
Chicago collective Company of Thieves recently cut this stripped-down cover of Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down”. The band adds a sweet authentic touch to the classic which features a starlit vocal from lead singer Genevieve Schatz, helping give anyone a reason to stand their ground.
You can also take a look at a live performance of the song below with some additional tunes and interview coverage courtesy of the good peeps at Lightbox Sessions.
Company of Thieves – Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty Cover)Company of Thieves 
(Facebook) (iTunes)
Rating 8.2
PG dropped new track “Hood” today as part of the ramp up to the 20 Feb. release of his Put Your Back N 2 It (his spelling not ours) LP. The pensive, short, piano-driven “Hood” is another “nice song” win for the balladeer. Give it your attention below.
Perfume Genius – HoodPerfume Genius 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Malaysian singer Yuna’s “Live Your Life” is one of the best tracks of 2012. (We know it’s early but just spin the record, you will see (hear) what we mean.) Remember where you heard it first.
Yuna – Live Your LifeYuna 
(Facebook)
Rating 9.0
Jhameel clearly isn’t afraid to tread in any ‘sacred’ territory of Pop music. His cover of Sir Paul’s “Blackbird” is a breathy and soulful adaptation that seems to share the same type of appreciation for The Beatles catalog as say, perhaps, a young MJ may have. Preview the song and watch his performance of it below.
Jhameel – Blackbird (Beatles Cover)Jhameel (Facebook)
The Beatles 
( iTunes)
Rating 8.2
Spector breathes new life into the single off of Florence and the Machine’s latest Ceremonials. Proving not only that “No Light, No Light” will enjoy the prosperous life that so many other great Flo tracks do, but also that the world has a new A-list producer to keep atop their radars.
Florence & The Machine – No Light No Light (Spector Ryan Gosling Mix)Spector (Facebook)
Florence & The Machine (Official and Purchase)
Rating: 9.2
Timbaland sure has traversed quite the varied and extensive path. From Timbaland & Magoo (what up, Magoo!) to popping up on this Ian Carey-helmed dance pop track, the Man from the Big VA has pretty much genre done it all (We’re still mad about that Chris Cornell record, Timbo). So how about the track? It’s a solid electro-style pop song that given the right push/airplay/promo could make a dent in the UK and even the 90’s Real McCoy-house dominated U.S. charts.
Ian Carey – Amnesia (Feat. Rosette, Timbaland & Brasco)Ian Carey 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.2
