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After a number of women came forward and accused Louis C.K. of sexual misconduct, the disgraced comedian promised to “step back and take a long time to listen.” Less than a year later, Louis C.K. has returned to the comedy club circuit, and based on the early returns, it doesn’t seem like he did much listening at all. Recent sets have seen Louis C.K. joke about rape, the “black people” who stuck by his side, and his experience of losing “$35 million in an hour” after the allegations first surfaced. Now, a full audio recording of a recent Louis C.K. standup set has leaked onto the Internet, and it contains more problematic comments. Notably, he goes after survivors of the Parkland school shooting who have become advocates for gun control (“You’re not interesting because you went to a high school where kids got shot… You didn’t get shot”). (Read: How Louis C.K. and the Rest of Us Failed in His Comeback Attempt) In another instance, he mocks gender non-conforming people (“They tell you what to call them: ‘You should address me as they/them, because I identify as gender neutral.’ Oh, ok. You should address me as ‘there’ because I identify as a location. And the location is your mother’s whale”). Louis C.K. isn’t tone-deaf in his comments — he acknowledges as much. Rather, he simply doesn’t care: “What are you – going to take away my birthday? My life is over. I don’t give a shit,” he tells the audience. Recently, Live Nation’s comedy president predicted Louis C.K.’s comeback. While it’s doubtful any major TV network or movie studio will work with him again, Louis C.K. certainly seem to be positioning himself for a slot on Fox News. Louis CK, 2017: "I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen" Louis CK, 2018: pic.twitter.com/2qN1RrbgPH — Mike Pearl (@MikeLeePearl) December 31, 2018 Wow. Louis CK is seriously making fun of the Parkland students. Fuck him. https://t.co/tFnqPS8qRO — Ramon (@__ramon17) December 31, 2018 Source

The Raconteurs will release a new album in 2019, their first full-length in over a decade. Now, singer Brendan Brenson has confirmed that the band is planning to tour behind the release. “2019 is going to be an exciting year of touring with The Racs!”, Benson proclaimed in a tweet. 2019 is going to be an exciting year of touring with The Racs! — Brendan Benson (@brendanbensongs) December 30, 2018 The Raconteurs have already confirmed an appearance at Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest in April. Presumambly, more dates will be announced shortly. Benson, Jack White, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler reunited for a series of shows in 2011, but The Raconteurs haven’t embarked on a full-fledged tour since 2008. The as-yet-untitled album serves as the follow-up to The Raconteurs’ self-titled sophomore LP, which was released in 2008. Recently, the band previewed the forthcoming release with a pair of singles in “Sunday Driver” and “Now That You’re Gone”. You can listen to both tracks below. Source

Mike Taylor, a founding member of Canadian indie-pop band Walk Off the Earth, has died. According to a statement from the band, Taylor passed away Sunday in his sleep from “natural causes.” “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved brother and band member, Mike ‘Beard Guy’ Taylor,” the band said. “Mike had a love for life that was unmatched and a willingness to give that went beyond ordinary means. He passed peacefully from natural causes last night in his sleep. Our deepest sympathies are with his two children, whom he adored more than anything else in the world. We ask for privacy for his family in this trying time.” Taylor played a variety of instruments in Walk Off the Earth, including piano, keyboards, organ, vocals, xylophone, glockenspiel, melodica, trumpet, didgeridoo, accordion, kazoo, euphonium, and slide whistle. Taylor’s death appears to have been sudden and unexpected. On Christmas Eve, he posted a cover of “O Holy Night” to social media. Tomorrow, Walk Off the Earth was scheduled to participate in a New Year’s Eve concert special on Canadian television. Walk Off the Earth first gained notoriety for their cover of Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”, in which all five members of the band played one guitar together while singing it. They subsequently signed to Columbia Records and released two full-length albums: 2013’s R.E.V.O. and 2015’s Sing It All Away. The latter album peaked at No. 14 on the US Alternative Album chart and earned the band a Juno Award for Group of the Year in their native Canada. Source

Next week, Kevin Spacey is due in a Nantucket District Court on charges of felony sexual assault. Ahead of his arraignment, the disgraced actor made a rare public appearance… to deliver pizza to members of the paparazzi. Spacey, who is currently holed up in Baltimore, congratulated the paparazzi for finding him by gifting them a cheese pizza from Domino’s, according to The Daily Mail. “I know you’re just doing your job,’ he told one photographer. “Keep warm and have a happy New Year.” Another photographer proceeded to ask Spacey if he planned to attend his court appearance in person, but he declined to answer. He did, however, seem to make light of his firing from House of Cards by wearing a hat “Retired since 2017”. As previously reported, Spacey will be arraigned on a charge of indecent assault and battery related to a 2016 incident. The alleged incident took place at a Nantucket bar in July 2016 and involved the 18-year-old son of former Boston WCVB-TV news anchor Heather Unruh. In a bizarre video posted to Twitter on Christmas Eve, Spacey seemingly acknowledged the incident and promised he would be vindicated… all while appearing in character as Frank Underwood from House of Cards. Source

Five people have been hospitalized and eight charged with drug offenses following a two-day electronic music festival in Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. The event, Get Together, took place December 27 and 28. According to a report, three people were taken to hospital on Thursday via EMS. Two men in their 20s were described to be in serious conditions and the other, also in his 20s, in life-threatening condition. The following night, one woman in her 20s and a man in his 30s were taken to the hospital. Their conditions were stabilized. Eight people were arrested on drug charges on the first night of the music festival. Diplo, Illenium, Troyboi, and Alison Wonderland were among those on the bill at Get Together. Source: The Star Edmonton This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: REPORT: 5 Hospitalized, 8 Drug Charges At Get Together Music Festival Source

With countless New Year’s Eve festivals and events popping off across the globe tonight, there are many of us that still find ourselves in need of tunes to soundtrack the ring of 2019. Look no further, because Amazon Music has enlisted in some of the world’s biggest DJs to play the night right. The lineup of New Year’s Eve DJs is a festival in itself — headlining Steve Aoki, DJ Snake, Robin Schulz, Nervo, Kaskade, Jonas Blue, Felix Jaehn, and Sigma. No matter which you select, you really can’t go wrong here. “Very excited to share my New Year’s Eve party picks with Amazon Music listeners!” Steve Aoki shares in a statement. “I played 200 shows in 2018 and these are some of the tracks that always go off. Plus, I’ve included some favorites from my label Dim Mak. Be careful though, if you click this playlist you may get complaints from the neighbors.” Sure, you’ll have to visualize all the cake throwing that would go on at a live Aoki show. But, this is the next best thing. So, who which DJ will play your NYE party tonight? Select here. Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Choose Your Own New Year’s Eve DJ with Amazon Music Source

Lady Gaga revealed the debut of her new Las Vegas residency ENIGMA last night at MGM’s Park Theater. With plenty of theatrics, pyrotechnics, and music, it’s already one of the highlights of the city, and Gaga fans are absolutely eating it up. There’s a lot of influence that went into the production of the show, including Gaga’s own fascination with hologram singer Hatsune Miku, as well as her current obsession with the video game Bayonetta. On the actual music production side, she’s teamed up with Boys Noize for a few of the more electronically charged interludes. Elements of the ENIGMA show were created via motion capture and CGI, capturing elements of Gaga’s own movements. That seems to be part of what’s shown in the first teaser video from Boys Noize below, aside from his own glitchy and dark production. The second video shows the actual analog set up used to craft one of the interludes in the show, full of acid synths and LFOs and other treats. We expect more from ENIGMA, Lady Gaga, and Boys Noize throughout the course of the residency in Vegas. New music for @ladygaga #ENIGMA pic.twitter.com/YNWSZ7FLra — Boys Noize (@boysnoize) December 28, 2018 #enigma ıƞтeяʟʉԀe paтʗһ 1 pic.twitter.com/HzZzSdq7cc — Boys Noize (@boysnoize) December 29, 2018 this fucking #ENIGMA REVEAL!! pic.twitter.com/czEr1jvSqq — tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) December 29, 2018 This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Boys Noize Reveals He’s Worked On Elements Of Lady Gaga’s New Show “ENIGMA” Source

After a relatively quiet 2018, Skrillex is making his rounds this New Year’s Eve with a run of festival shows. During his show at Contact Festival in Vancouver, he played out one of his most hotly anticipated unreleased tracks. Skrillex first dropped the track at Fuji Rock and it sounds even better this time around. Before playing out the song, he took to the mic to address the crowd — “All I want to say is thank you so much and let’s have a fucking amazing 2019 together, yeah?!” With an edit of his classic, fan favorite “Cinema” leading into the new ID, this made for one of the most special moments of the night. Watch here and keep your fingers crossed that new Skrillex music will be released in 2019! Skrillex – ID – Contact Festival Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Skrillex Drops Anticipated New ID During Contact Fest Set [WATCH] Source

2018 was all about the collabs and we can expect that trend to continue into next year. “We got something very big planned for 2019,” Diplo captions the photo below. All signs point to a J Balvin and Major Lazer collaboration due out next year. J Balvin is no stranger to EDM. Alesso remixed the singer’s massive track “Mi Gente” during the peak of its popularity. David Guetta enlisted him, along with Bebe Rexha, for a triple-threat collab of his own, “Say My Name.” He has even worked with Skrillex, if we’re dropping names. On top of it all, J Balvin was recently announced as Deezer’s most-streamed artist globally for 2018. Anything with his name on it turns to gold. Whatever these guys are cooking up — it will definitely pack the flavor! Keep an ear out! Major Lazer x J Balvin Coming 2019 Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Major Lazer Tease Something Big with One Of The World’s Top Artists Source

Alison Wonderland is looking fabulous as always, striking a pose in the latest issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia. Rocking a tasteful black veil, a bare back, and wet hair swept back off her face — she looks simply stunning in this photo shoot. She appears almost completely submerged in water in some of the photos and in this cool video representation here. “I never thought someone like me would be shot for Vogue but here I am for @vogueczechoslovakia in a lake & it was magical,” the producer shares. “2018 has been wild.” As an artists who has truly worked her way to the top and given music her all, it’s amazing to see AW making her mark across the world. See a couple of the striking images below and be on the lookout for the forthcoming issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia. Alison Wonderland for Vogue Czechoslovakia Photo via Jake West for Insomniac This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Alison Wonderland Graces Vogue Czechoslovakia [PHOTOS] Source

One Lost Paradise music festival attendee has died and two other have been hospitalized, according to a report. The news comes as the event continues over this weekend on the NSW Central Coast, north of Sydney. A 22-year-old man, identified as Josh Tam, is said to have taken an “unknown substance” on the second day of the festival was rushed to the hospital. He died shortly upon arrival. Another man and a woman were treated at the hospital after ingesting other unknown substances. They remain in stable condition. All three incidents have been linked to so called mystery drugs. Lost Paradise has sent its sincerest condolences to the family of the man who passed. Source: Desert Sun This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: REPORT: One Dead & Two Hospitalized After Ingesting Unknown Drugs At Music Festival Source

Mom + Pop Music celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, marking a decade of truly great music from the NYC indie label that will last well into the future. Never an indie publication to miss a chance to champion another little guy making good, Consequence of Sound decided to look back on the very best releases during that first decade and reflect on the many memorable sounds courtesy of Mom + Pop. Listeners can only wait for the label’s next move, but their first years have been something incredibly special to rockers, ravers, and skaters alike. –Clara Scott Contributing Writer __________________________________________________________ 10. Ingrid Michaelson – Lights Out (2014) From the very first track on Lights Out, singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is self-assured in her quest to uplift and to be uplifted. “Home” is a stunning opening track, a fast-mounted promise for the rest of the album to fulfill, and followed immediately by the pop hit “Girls Chase Boys”. However, even as the album carries on and dips into its mellower and more introspective moments, Michaelson never relinquishes the soothing surety that so distinguishes her music on Lights Out. She never loses the edge that accentuates songs like “Warpath”, even as she travels through a layered examination both of herself and of the world around her. It seems as though, by the time an artist reaches her sixth studio album, she might have little left to say — or, at the very least, little left to prove — but Michaelson uses her experience to her advantage, reinventing at every turn and proving that she has plenty yet to say and do. –Laura Dzubay __________________________________________________________ 09. Lucius – Wildewoman (2014) Lucius’ 2014 record, Wildewoman, was the full-length studio debut for the Brooklyn five-piece, presenting the twin voices of vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig to the world for their first endeavor into the LP. The album is a carefully grown piece of art in every sense of the word, placing folk ballads like “Two of Us on the Run” next to ’60s-inspired girl-group pop hits like “Turn It Around” to form a very interesting mix of genre and tempo that somehow just works together in a natural way. The product is a work that frames Wolfe and Laessig’s voices in different lights that all focus on one common strain of longing, an emotional core of truth that shines through every track. Wildewoman was an outstanding second release after the group’s initial EP in 2013, showing audiences the strength and power of a woman’s voice through the mouths of two expert musicians. –Clara Scott __________________________________________________________ 08. Sleigh Bells – Treats (2010) Treats introduced the world to Sleigh Bells, and what an introduction it was. Eclectic and unabashed, metallic and sugary, Treats unifies bubblegum pop and noise rock so thoroughly that their melding almost feels like a tradition already established. Vocalist Alexis Krauss wields sighs and whispers like weapons, and guitarist Derek Edward Miller tracks powerful beats through tracks like “Infinity Guitars” and the inimitable “Rill Rill”. M.I.A.’s influence is all over this album, but Miller and Krauss take care to find their own direction, constantly switching up vibes over the course of the sparse half-hour-long album. The result is a record that sounds like the robot revolution meets a pep rally meets an action-packed party — the sort of party you’ve always wanted to go to, with crazed characters and the fun sort of danger, but you’d never been invited before. –Laura Dzubay __________________________________________________________ 07. Wavves – Afraid of Heights (2013) “No hope and no future,” Nathan Williams sings on “Demon to Lean On”, and indeed, that is largely the vibe that he and the rest of Wavves give off on their fourth studio album, Afraid of Heights. “Mystic” is industrial, stripped-away and chaotic; “Beat Me Up” is deceptively careless and perkily self-dismissive; “Paranoid” embodies self-doubt and, yes, paranoia. Yet, for an album so intensely focused on negativity, Afraid of Heights does carry a kind of exquisite feel to it, from the peppy, straightforward distress of “Lunge Forward” to the ghostly drama of “Everything Is My Fault”. Each track is wholly self-aware, and while not all of the record’s moodiness can be labeled ironic, so much of it is layered and self-referential that the emotions the surf rock group are mining come off consistently as raw and distinct from one another. Wavves’ venture in this album may be a dark one, but it is also fully realized and fully true. –Laura Dzubay __________________________________________________________ 06. FIDLAR – FIDLAR (2012) FIDLAR’s 2012 self-titled album sounds like an incredibly old leather jacket feels — cracked, full of patches, host to years of spilled beer and cigarette smoke, but undeniably comfortable, no matter how you cut it. FIDLAR is not a record for the faint of heart, but it’s a significant release for the skate-punk band, fusing their rough sensibilities with a slightly more polished approach to production. The group jumps between tracks like “Cheap Beer”, a frenetic romp about the virtues of terrible drinks, to “No Waves”, a surprisingly melodic reflection on addiction and fun with a roundabout hook, countering their extreme roots with a modern indie rock edge. The album is a perfect intro to FIDLAR’s music, because it offers the listener a tasting menu of the LA band’s different approaches to rock through the lens of punk, grunge, hardcore, and various mixes of the three. –Clara Scott __________________________________________________________ Source

It’s been nearly two years since the world last received new music from Flume. (As a refresher, he released Skin Companion EP II in February 2017.) By no means the longest drought from a producer or artist, there has still been a palpable void felt from the absence of one of Australia’s greatest exports. As the new year approaches, Flume is ready to start releasing again. “Cheers 2018,” Flume captions an Instagram post from the east coast of Australia, near Brisbane. “Next year I’ll be back in your life, I promise.” I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say I’m incredibly excited for this. Even in just the short time Flume has been away, the music landscape has changed a lot. At the same time, there’s a lot of pressure on Flume to be innovative in ways that no one else has been. It’s a lot of responsibility to place on an individual, but we’re confident he can rise to the occasion. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Flume Teases 2019 Return Source

2018 was another pristine year for music. Indie rock surged with success, hip-hop became more diverse than ever and women took music by storm with a strong sense of empowerment. Music never seems to become stagnant, which we should all be grateful for. This past year was without a doubt hectic, and that might be an understatement, but music was there for us like it is every year. In 2018, plenty of musical veterans took new directions, new artists came storming in, and younger artists began to blossom and come into their own. Here are the top 25 albums of 2018 in order, along with an accompanying playlist. 25. Your Queen Is A Reptile – Sons of Kemet The only jazz album on the list. British jazz group Sons of Kemet centralized their third studio album around an idea with a refined sense. Each song on Your Queen Is A Reptile is based around various women who have had an impact on culture. With only the use of tuba, saxophone, drums & spoken word, Sons of Kemet bring a refreshing & revolutionary take on jazz and the production you can use. It seems a bit minimalist, but the British outfit make it seem complete with no white space remaining. It’s got an old school sound filled with both jams and deeply conceptually written sections. 24. WARM – Jeff Tweedy The Wilco leader released his first proper solo album at the tail end of November. At first listen, you can tell Tweedy gets confessing throughout the 11 songs, and that’s become the goal of Tweedy it seems. Being apart of Wilco for 20 years certainly allowed us to get a glimpse of himself & his struggles, but this album lets us in like never before. Tweedy ended 2018 with a successful album release and the release of his memoir Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back). 23. soil – serpentwithfeet Not many people approach music the way Josiah Wise did with his debut album soil. The former choir singer mixes experimental pop and r&b with his exceptional voice leading the way. His vocals are emotional as he sings about an arsenal of specific emotionally arousing scenarios. soil draws you in and is a particularly thought-provoking album. Wise’s goal is to make people feel his thoughts and ways about life, and he did just that on his first full-length. 22. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships – the 1975 The 1975’s third studio album impressed me to say the least. ABIIOR is a concept that only the 1975 would attempt to decipher. The group chose to keep the production in house, with Matty Healy and drummer George Daniel producing the entire album themselves. As a result, they’ve created their best album to date. Healy’s lyrics reflect on his past as an addict, tackle social trends of today’s millennial-dominated society sitting behind fresh poppy rhythms. A Brief Inquiry shows the development of the 1975 as individual musicians and the chemistry that’s grown between them. 21. Clean – Soccer Mommy Nashville based songwriter Sophie Allison released Clean in early March and it’s a collection of songs that illustrate relatability and love in your early 20s in a way you’d expect from a 20-year-old indie rocker. It’s a breakthrough for Allison, as the album’s production strays away from the raw, bedroom pop made sound she had previously. However, despite the higher production value, she doesn’t completely abandon her familiarity for bedroom pop. Her patience and introspection stand out in her lyrics and her turbulent guitar playing, as she sings vulnerably yet toughly. 20. Double Rainbow – The Babe Rainbow Australian based psychedelic group The Babe Rainbow have remained under the radar in the United States for the most part, but the Flightless Records members’ second album Double Rainbow shines luminously. It’s a collection of feel good tunes that pays homage to the band’s 1960s influences such as the Beach Boys, the Beatles & the Grateful Dead. The album radiates peaceful harmonies, a hazy feel & reflects their beachy lifestyles. If you want to be thrown back in time & tripped out, give this album a listen. 19. When I Think Of You In A Castle – Post Animal Chicago based rock group Post Animal let it rip on their debut album When I Think Of You In A Castle. The five-piece group diversify their sound and do a stellar job of utilizing each of the members talents across all instruments and vocals. Post Animal bring a lot of ideas to the table on WITOYIAC and they work hard to make the record sound cohesive and centralized and avoid any feeling of scatteredness. Their music will make you want to dance, head bang, mosh & everything in between. When people ask where rock music is at this day in age, the typical answer is that it’s there, you just have to look for it in the shadows a little bit. Post Animal are a textbook example of the hidden gems you can find that’ll give you hope that rock is not dead, it’s just chillin’. Read our interview with Post Animal at Lollapalooza here. 18. Flow State – Tash Sultana Australian multi-instrumentalist prodigy Tash Sultana released her debut full-length album this August and her experimentalism jumps out at you quick. On the release of her Notion EP in 2016, we got a glimpse of her tireless DIY work ethic, and on her highly anticipated album she fully unleashed it. She pays attention to every little detail on her first record. Every lyric, riff & loop. She’s soulful and her expression of feelings, beliefs & experiences are unlike most artists around. You can tell she feels music, not just hears it. Sultana’s got the pop music edge, but brings an intriguing new twist and sense of authenticity to it. She’s only 23-years-old & has a bright future ahead of her. 17. Oxnard – Anderson .Paak Anderson .Paak has brought a sense of refreshment to the hip-hop community. Everything about him is something you won’t get from another musician. His persona, versatility & cheekiness. On his new Dr. Dre-assisted album Oxnard, .Paak brings what listeners expected, but in a refined manner. The productions are as funky, diverse & captivating. On “6 Summers,” .Paak uses two separate beats that contrast each other smoothly through the use of the classic. .Paak’s lyricism on the song takes a political approach mixing humor. “Trump’s got a love child & I hope that bitch is buck wild,” he sings at the beginning. The lyrics throughout the rest of the album are seductive, humorous and clever, something we’ve come to expect from Cheeky Andy. For some people, the hype behind this record sort of came and went, but .Paaks efforts on this record cannot go unnoticed. Like he said, it’s going to bang for six summers. 16. Little Dark Age – MGMT In their first album in five years, MGMT returned in 2018 with an album dominated by new wave synth-pop. During their hiatus, the duo decided to take a new direction following their abysmal self-titled 2013 album. The strange scenarios and lyrics the duo sing are still present, but this time over stickier & sweeter productions, making a lot of the album’s sound and lyrics contrast and become even a little ironic. Behind the sweet synths and endearing productions lies a darker theme behind the album. MGMT have never been conventional when making an album, but whatever they were going for on Little Dark Age turned out nicely. 15. TA13OO – Denzel Curry SoundCloud rap pioneer Denzel Curry released one of the darkest, most intriguing rap albums of the year. The production choices are superb on TA13OO and match the in-your-face style Curry has made his own in his short career. He released the album strategically with three separate acts, something rarely done in hip-hop – or music at all for that matter. Curry’s flow and variety in his raps keep you on your toes combined with the productions have made him the face of the South Florida rap resurgence. His lyrics tell stories of overcoming struggle, violence & the danger that comes with pill addiction. Denzel Curry, much like Pusha T, is becoming a master at architecting his own dimension in the vast hip-hop world and thriving off it. 14. DiCaprio 2 – JID Dreamville prodigy JID released one of the most slept on records of 2018 with DiCaprio 2. His countless efforts to break through and show the world what he’s got have finally paid off, with Leonardo Dicaprio being at the forefront of his idols and influences (hence the name). The productions are hard-nosed and filthy, and JID simply shows off what he does best: Spit bars. On “Off Deez,” J. Cole was forced to actually keep up with JID and avoid being shown out by his signee. JID’s ambition and utterly raw talent will allow him to become a star in the hip-hop world, one way or another. 13. Room 25 – Noname Noname’s independently released Room 25 is a collection of soft, minimalist songs mixed with Noname’s endearing personality. Her lyricism is clever and oftentimes humorous, something she’s no stranger to, as she transitioned from poet to musician years ago. The lines gently let us into her coming of age experiences and takes on the political climate. The production on Room 25 is not heavily layered & sort of abstract, but it’s funky and it pairs with her voice with immaculately. She’s an up and coming female talent in the hip-hop game that deserves to be recognized. 12. Boarding House Reach – Jack White Jack White is one of the most creative minds in music today and he knew his sound was beginning to sound a bit bleak for his liking. On Boarding House Reach, we see White incorporate more modernism into his ever so raw style. Old fans of White might find this to be more of an acquired taste, but it shows that White is attempting to keep up with the times. The throttling riffs are still present, but hints of electronic music and hip-hop even make their way into the album. White has reached the point in his career where he noticed he has to branch out a little bit, and he did it with precision on his third solo studio album. 11. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves Kacey Musgraves made country music fun & relatable in 2018. She refused to be tied down to the stereotypes of the genre and wasn’t afraid of incorporating unique elements into her masterpiece, Golden Hour. Her experimentation with LSD while making this album led her to experiment with pop-like approaches to country music that remain friendly to all types of music listeners, something that is seemingly impossible to accomplish in music nowadays. Her lyrics let us get to know her in a way that, frankly, without her LSD experimentation, wouldn’t have happened. Her themes aren’t scattered or basic like much country music, but rather one of a kind and hopeful. C’mon, listen to “Butterflies” and tell me you weren’t happy at the end of it. It’s textbookly cute and honest. 10. In a Poem Unlimited – U.S Girls U.S Girls threw it back on their new album In a Poem Unlimited by incorporating a plethora of 70s-like approaches into their sound. It’s psychedelic, with hints of disco, funk & everything in between. The production is sharp, the album glides through each track with utter cohesion. Meg Remy’s lyrics are political and provide eye-opening perspective. As a songwriter, Remy has fully blossomed and come into her own. She wears her influences on her sleeve, but she’s not afraid to speak up for what she believes in through her music. 9. Swimming – Mac Miller The last months of Mac Miller’s life lied on two sides of the pendulum. In May, his two-year relationship with Ariana Grande came to a surprising end, and left people wondering & worrying about his mental state considering his history with drug abuse. In August, we got a collection of honest, funky, and revitalizing tracks on Swimming, his fifth and final studio album. Lead single “Self Care” let listeners know that Miller had that at the top of his priorities following the break up. Miller was trying to cut ties with mental health deficiencies and a drug problem that was largely induced because of his initial rise to fame following the release of Blue Slide Park, his debut studio album that released when Miller was just 18. Mac Miller’s accidental overdose death gave Swimming a whole new perspective to listeners. A perspective that enhanced his lyrics from all of his bodies of work. Miller had an approach to music and hip-hop that not many others had, or will have in the future. His mind was certainly one of a kind & will be missed. 8. 7- Beach House The masters of dream-pop returned in 2018 with a glistening, gleaming masterpiece. Not many bands can refine the same sound and remain successful or keep listeners on their toes as much as Beach House can. Their seventh studio album, fittingly named 7, is their most cohesive album to date. Filled with eerie, sometimes unsettling sounds, Beach House’s new album delves you into a deep dream with no escape until “Last Ride” comes to a close. Much of the album is simplistic, not layered too deeply, but remains one of the most captivating listens of the year. Beach House have obtained a status in music that’s defined by the sub genre of dream pop, but nobody can refine the genre with each album the way they do. 7. Hive Mind- The Internet The band that’s become known for their solo endeavors came back together for their fourth album that released this past July, and it’s undoubtedly their best effort to date. Watching each one of these members come into their own at their respective instruments has been a pleasurable journey. Hive Mind is sexy, groovy and pushes genre boundaries. Syd has found enough confidence in her seductive, breezy voice for the band to surround their music around it. Steve Lacy appropriately gets some vocal representation, and has become a renowned solo musician himself. Whatever these guys do next, and whenever that may be, will be fun to watch. Read our full review here. 6. Daytona – Pusha T Pusha T’s highly anticipated masterpiece arrived in late May, and it shows Pusha fully in focus, leaving no room for error. Having the album entirely produced by sample fanatic and longtime collaborator Kanye West put Pusha in his natural pocket. The beat selection allowed Pusha’s somewhat one-dimensional topics to stand out and seem natural, something Pusha has become a master at throughout his career. 5. Wide Awake – Parquet Courts Arguably the most successful sociopolitically spoken album of 2018. New York based punk group Parquet Courts told listeners what they needed to hear in a tone that we frankly deserved on their new album Wide Awake! They tackle a lot of our current political climate and social issues through their songs with blunt lyrics being screamed by lead man Andrew Savage. But despite their humongous emphasis on their lyricism, they prioritized mixing those lyrics in with some dance-inducing grooves & tasteful productions. The album’s art is indicative of the hecticness that is this record. It brought back the authentic punk sound we became so used to in the 70s and 80s with a taste of modern influences included. Wide Awake! was a new direction and a certain breakthrough for the band that will set the tone for what they do next. 4. Tell Me How You Really Feel – Courtney Barnett The title of Courtney Barnett’s second album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, is a bold theme to attempt for an album, but that was evidently Barnett’s goal for this album. The opening track “Hopefulessness” is not the way someone would start a record 9/10 times, but Barnett attempted it, and it actually ended up being one of the best tracks on the record. Courtney’s lyricism and tone of vocals throughout the album combine for a feeling of “oh well, time to move on.” On “City Looks Pretty,” she says “friends treat you like a stranger and strangers treat you like their best friend, oh well” with a nonchalantess like none other. Barnett is one of Australia’s best musicians right now, and isn’t going anywhere. 3. Isolation – Kali Uchis One of the most interesting aspects of Kali Uchis is that she remained fairly quiet with the success that came with her debut studio album Isolation. She flew under the radar this year, and that’s something she’s completely fine with. Uchis dipped into a multitude of genres on her new record, and came away successful with each of them. She’s got pop star material, but chose to remain authentic, true to herself and personable on Isolation. Uchis uses seductive lyrics behind groovy productions to get her messages across, and they engulf you from the get go. Uchis is another young & blossoming star in the music world that will find loads of success in nearly any genre she tries. 2. Lush – Snail Mail 19-year-old Lindsay Jordan proves that being vulnerable and emotionally outpouring can be punk and cool too. Lush is a colorful outline of her experiences in her late teenage years and and the heartaches that come with transitioning into early adulthood. It’s 2018’s poster example of what indie-rock has become. Centralized by her crystal clear voice and pristine guitar riffs, Jordan knows how to capture your attention with her blunt and honest lyricism. Often times musicians go through a few bands/band names before they settle and excel with one, but Snail Mail is Jordan’s first band, which is a testament to her talent. Lindsay Jordan has a long career in music ahead of her, and we’re excited to see where it goes. 1. Kids See Ghosts- Kanye West & Kid Cudi It was a busy year for Kanye West, for better or worse. Ye spent months in Jackson Hole, Wyoming preparing for a five-week stretch in June that consisted of releasing albums each week he produced for his peers as well as himself. On Kids See Ghosts, the third of the five, the duo delve into their recent history of mental health issues, a topic that both had already been pretty open about in the recent past. The hefty use experimentation and sampling is something we’ve come to expect from Ye, but he took it in a different direction on KSG. Kid Cudi was in the best form he’s been in on an album in years, and Kanye fed off it. The project, like the others in West’s collection, sits only at 7 songs, clocking in at just 24 minutes in length, not overstaying its welcome but remaining precise and cohesive. It’s somewhat of an acquired taste, but Ye has never been afraid of going into that territory with his music. The post END OF THE YEAR LIST: Top 25 Albums of 2018 appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Thank the house and techno spirits for bringing the UK based duo Solardo across the pond to have their New Year’s run and USA Tour. To properly end their most exciting year yet, this holiday season Mark Richards and James Eliot (Solardo) are on big bills such as Decadence Arizona and Countdown in San Bernardino. Tonight, December 29th, they will be special guests for a evening with Green Velvet. Don’t miss Solardo along their New Year’s run and USA tour. Solardo To ring in the New Year the duo join Claude VonStroke and friends for Fresh Start at The Midway, a cutting edge venue in San Fran. Tickets to Get Real Following you can find Mark and James in Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Detroit and on Holy Ship throughout 2019. Treat yourself right by getting you tickets to any of their USA Tour sets- right now. Solardo’s piercing tracks and ability to win any crowd has garnered the support of Sola Recordings, Relief, Mixmag, Hot Creations as well as countless artists besides Green Velvet like Duke Dumont and Black Coffee. Now Solardo continues to shine as their radio show ‘The Spot‘ hits Spotify. Solardo The Spot Just yesterday they made their Spotify premier with a Best of 2018featuring a their recent release ‘Accelerator’ with CamelPhat and we can look forward to more to come in 2019. Keep up with the magic they create in the studio and their USA tour by following them on social media handles linked below. ‘The Spot’ Best of 2018: Follow Solardo: Spotify | facebook | SoundCloud | Instagram | Twitter The post The Tech House Spirits Bring Solardo Across The Pond appeared first on EDM | Electronic Music | EDM Music | EDM Festivals | EDM Events. Source

Nirvana is reportedly suing fashion designer Marc Jacobs for jacking the band’s signature smiley face logo. According to the new lawsuit, brought to light by TMZ, a piece from the brand’s 2018 “Bootleg Redux Grunge” collection utilizes the likeness of Nirvana’s smiley face without permission. Apparently swapping out the “X” eyes with cleverly placed “M” and “J” letters wasn’t enough to fool anyone. The entire line of clothing by design is focused around the grunge music scene, which Nirvana helped pave the way for. The t-shirt in question has an uncanny resemblance to Nirvana’s same design introduced back in 1992. They say imitation is the best form of flattery — and that’s pretty much the case here. TMZ reached out to a rep for Marc Jacobs and so far, no response. Source: TMZ This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: REPORT: Nirvana Sues Marc Jacobs For Ripping Off Their Iconic Smiley Face Source

If you were worried that Bandersnatch, the fascinating “choose your own adventure” episode of Black Mirror that hit Netflix on Friday, was a substitute for a proper fifth season of the sci-fi anthology series, rest assured. Ars Technia received a statement from Netflix today confirming that “season five will arrive later in 2019.” The confirmation followed a bit in a new New York Times feature with creator Charlie Brooker saying that Brooker was “extremely hazy on when the next episodes would arrive.” Brooker said, “We’re doing more optimistic episodes and stories, rather than just dystopian and negative ones. We want to keep the show interesting for us.” Aside from that, little is known about the fifth season. It is in the works, however, with Miley Cyrus having previously confirmed that she was recently in South Africa filming an episode. Source

Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who flipped on his former boss before getting sentenced to three years in prison, was recently portrayed on Saturday Night Live by Ben Stiller. Will Stiller return should a movie about Cohen ever come to fruition? Because it appears Hollywood wants to make one happen. Now, this scoop comes from Page Six so take it with a grain of salt, but sources tell the gossip rag that Cohen’s met with Lawrence Bender, the Hollywood producer who made a name for himself by helping usher the works of Quentin Tarantino to the screen. While Cohen’s own attorney didn’t offer any insight into the meeting, he did acknowledge that there’s “a lot of interest in Michael’s story, but he isn’t open to doing anything at the moment because of continuing investigations.” There’s also the matter that Cohen, who seemed to be enjoying his newfound #Resistance fame in the wake of his flip, is probably still lying about a bunch of shit. He pled guilty to what a judge called “a veritable smorgasbord of fraudulent conduct,” after all, and recent reports call into question Cohen’s previous claims regarding his presence in Prague and the veracity of the Steel dossier. It’s clear that he’s determined to come out of this situation looking like a hero, and the worst kind of film about him would try to perpetuate that narrative. Dude only flipped ’cause he got caught, and anybody who gives him “a standing ovation” (as, according to Page Six, people apparently do), should be ashamed of themselves. Oliver Stone’s gonna direct this thing, isn’t he? Source

As of last night, the New Year’s Eve festivals have officially begun! For starters, Lights All Night in Dallas, Texas featured sets from Diplo, Rezz, Jai Wolf, Kaskade, and 1788-L. And it’s with that final name that we find ourselves with our jaws on the floor, seeing the video below. We already know that 1788-L and Kayzo have a collaboration in the works, but it seems like the world got its first listen last night in Dallas. The hardcore influence from Kayzo is immediately apparent, playing well against the crunchy synths from 1788-L. It bears resemblance to one of the drops in his official remix of “Era” by RL Grime, but only in BPM. The structure and sound design are completely fresh and the crowd obviously loved it. Perhaps the best part of the video below is what we don’t know about the track – with only one drop, and it may not even be a finished drop, the mystery of the rest of it is positively tantalizing. Check out the still-unnamed collaboration below! new @l_1788 and @KayzoMusic had me SHOOK, wait for those drops at then end so so good pic.twitter.com/aTY4KafiHO — (@kaliea_xoxo) December 29, 2018 This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: FIRST LISTEN: 1788-L Drops Unreleased Kayzo Collab At Lights All Night Source

Posters in Los Angeles appeared this morning in the Fairfax area, sporting Aphex Twin’s logo and a very clear Coachella logo in the center. The posters would suggest that Aphex Twin is playing the springtime festival in 2019, but according to some on Reddit, they might not be real. In a thread on /r/Coachella, one of the Reddit users claims his friend printed the posters out himself and plastered them up around Los Angeles – as a prank, I guess? Comment from discussion Up on the walls of LA. If /u/junkimchi is to be believed, then these posters are of no consequence and, sorry, better luck next time. However, in the same thread, another user linked to a separate forum conversation that suggests Aphex Twin is playing the festival, after all, even if these posters aren’t necessarily legitimate. Regardless, according to our own sources, the full Coachella lineup is expected Wednesday or Thursday of next week, so we won’t have to stay guessing for long! Keep an eye on Your EDM for the complete Coachella lineup as soon as it drops. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Posters Pop Up In LA Teasing Major Electronic Artist’s Return To Coachella Source

After being taken down earlier this year, the Netflix original documentary Avicii: True Stories is now officially released in the US, UK, and Australia. The documentary originally premiered in October 2017 in Scandinavia and western Europe, six months before Avicii’s death this past April. Following his death, the documentary was removed from the service. Directed by Levan Tsikurishvili, the documentary follows Avicii’s career and personal life, covering his ups and downs in the industry and his health scares – of which he had more than a few. Before the documentary was initially released, Tsikurishvili said via press release, “I wanted to do a brutally honest film about Tim as a person and not only about Avicii. Everybody knows Avicii but very few people know Tim. I think this documentary really shows Tim’s struggle and strength of character. Being a worldwide superstar artist is not as easy as it looks on Instagram.” Avicii took his own life April 20 this year. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Avicii: True Stories Is Now Back On Netflix Source

Calvin Harris has come a long way since his drinking days. The superstar DJ/producer has revealed he used to drink two bottles Jack Daniel’s a night when touring. When a fan posed the following statement on Twitter, it must have stuck a nerve. Harris revealed these were the days he also lived on pasties (the British baked patries, not the nipple covers) and his sets were more like a 55-minute scream sesh. This doesn’t sound like the Calvin Harris we know. The last thing I want to do is down 2 bottles of jack daniels a night, live on greggs pasties and sleep on an absolutely stinking bus all year, scream down a mic for 55 minutes and pretend to play a keyboard 5x a week those days are behind me son https://t.co/IWX5zXCe9u — Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) December 28, 2018 Of course, given the nature of the tweet and the context, this could have been an exaggeration. Two bottles of Jack Daniel’s is a LOT for one person. But then again, he repeated himself. Wouldn’t dream of encouraging anyone to drink 2 bottle of JD a night and live off Greggs the baker got me in a right old state my dear https://t.co/dYMzMgUfzU — Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) December 28, 2018 Calvin Harris has been open about his sobriety and it sounds like it’s the best thing for him. Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Calvin Harris Reveals He Used To Down 2 Bottles of Jack Daniel’s A Night Source

Ever since Dash Berlin broke up, we’ve been hearing much about Jeffrey Sutorius and not so much about the other members. Now, fans are getting the good news they’ve been waiting for — Sebastiaan Molijn and Eelke Kalberg will carry on the Dash Berlin torch. The duo has stayed relatively quiet amidst the separation, but now we know the two continuing members have been busy working on new music. The greatest hint we have thus far comes in the form of the following tweet: Coming in 2019 — Dash Berlin (@DashBerlin) December 28, 2018 After experiencing a nasty falling out with fellow bandmates of Dash Berlin, Sutorius didn’t skip a beat jumping onto his own path. His solo career seems to be off to a great start as he also sets his focus on making new music, and he’ll make his solo west coast debut on New Year’s Eve at Los Angeles club Exchange LA. “I want to achieve things as Jeffrey Sutorius that Dash Berlin never accomplished,” he previously remarked. “The world is my oyster. And I like oysters! I am making new music, and I am beyond thrilled to share this with the world, with the fans. To tell my story and to share it. And to make everyone understand, I am EDM: Emotional Dance Music.” What’s Dash Berlin like without Jeffrey Sutorius? We’ll have to wait and see. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Dash Berlin Reveals New Music Coming In 2019, Sans Jeffrey Sutorius Source

Wakaan has announced its very own festival will take place in 2019. It was only a matter of time before Liquid Stranger‘s label, which champions massive bass talent like Esseks, Minnesota, and more, started up a music festival. The imprint has saw through releases from Bleep Bloop, LSDREAM, Peekaboo, and many others in the freeform bass game. With a stacked roster of artists already associated with the label, best believe this lineup is going to run deep, with diversity and experimentation galore. A festival seems like a natural next step. Very little is known at this point, but Wakaan has taken to social media for a “Save the Date” announcement. Wakaan Festival will take place October 3 – 6 in 2019. As for location, your guess is as good as ours. Get ready to experience Wakaan like never before! Wakaan Festival WAKAAN Music Festival – Save the Date – 10/3 – 10/6 More Info to Come pic.twitter.com/z07P1of3Gb — WAKAAN (@WakaanOfficial) December 28, 2018 Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Wakaan Announces Its Own Music Festival Coming 2019 Source

Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival recently revealed details regarding its inaugural outing. The festival will be held August 16th-18th in 2019 in Bethel Woods, at the site of the original Woodstock Festival in 1969. However, BWMCF is in no way affiliated with Woodstock Ventures, LLC. While this festival has been widely reported as a 50th anniversary festival for Woodstock, to call it so is a bit of a misnomer. Michael Lang, producer and co-creator of the original Woodstock Festival in 1969, is producing the “official” anniversary, but it won’t be at Bethel Woods. In a statement sent out to media this morning, Lang states, “While the original site in Bethel remains close to our hearts, it no longer has the capacity to hold a real Woodstock Festival. I’m delighted that Bethel Woods is doing events in the coming year to celebrate what we brought to life in 1969 and I encourage people to visit the museum and concert venue.” In the next few weeks, Lang will shortly be announcing his plans for the “real” Woodstock 50th Festival to bring back the much needed spirit and energy of the 1969 original. However, it remains to be seen if Lang’s festival will have the energy to topple BWMCF after an already-powerful media presence and reference to a 50th anniversary festival. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Plans For “Real” Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival Still To Come Source