Frankmusik - Go

"I'm only half the man you're looking for"

Frankmusik has just released yet another new album. He really is one of the most prolific pop stars of our age. As with anyone who releases so much in so little time (I'm thinking of Prince in the late 80's and 90's), not everything's going to be amazing. But, it's fascinating to feel like we've got kind of an open door to his creativity. The new album, By Nicole, might actually be my favorite full-length of his. Like all his albums, nothing stands out as being miles above anything else, and this has sort of been my main issue with his music for awhile. But, even though there aren't a lot of highlights, the album as a whole is consistently good, and always interesting. When trying to pick my favorite track, I had a hard time. There are some verses I adore, connected to a chorus that doesn't really do it for me, or vice versa. It's like a hundred amazing pieces of songs that I want to cut and paste together. This just might be the perfectionist/OCD in me. I mean, who am I to give songwriting advice, right? I ended up picking Go, mostly for its AMAZING verses. The chorus is good too, but just a slight disappointment for me after that amazing build-up. Also, listen to Stabilizher for a more upbeat track and the hyper-aggressive, awesome Fled.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Frankmusik - Map

"I never wanna find my way back"

You've gotta admire Frankmusik's work ethic. He releases more music than almost any other pop artist that I can think of. You get the feeling that we're allowed to listen to anything and everything he's worked on, which means there can often be a varying degree in quality. This new EP, aptly titled Far From Over, is actually pretty amazing. It hits the pop jugular while still retaining his more experimental electronic influences. The single Map has a real corker of a chorus. It actually sounds like something I'd expect to hear in Melodifestivalen. Just out and out pop. The song switches between quiet, slow verses and that enormous, propulsive chorus. It gives the hook the spotlight it deserves.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Vincent Did It - Somebody (ft. Jay White)

"Don't let the bastards bring you down"

Vincent Did It is a side project of electro-pop maestro Frankmusik. Frank is one of the most prolific artists out there right now, releasing song after song online (many of them for free). As with anyone who churns out tracks so regularly, the quality tends to vary--or maybe it's my own tastes. The fact is, I could probably share one of his creations each week without any repetition, but I'm really only going to post when one of them strikes me strongly. Somebody, released on his new SOPA Opera EP is that kind of track. It's poppy and melodic and perfect for the Summer. Lyrically, it's one of those uplifting "you're wonderful" type songs, but it's delivered in a way that doesn't feel saccharine at all. The chorus is incredibly strong and the verse by guest rapper Jay White is a fun surprise. I'd love an entire album that follows this mold. Luckily, the EP it features on is available to download for free.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the EP for free here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Frankmusik - Struck By Lightning

"I'd rather be struck by lightning"

The sampler for Frankmusik's upcoming album is out there and, while I haven't given it more than the most casual of listens so far, there is one track that definitely stands out to me. As you know, I'm all about the big anthemic pop hooks, and this song definitely has them. The verses surge, the chorus explodes, and the retro electro beat keeps it all going. I love songs like this. Frankmusik is extremely hit or miss for me, and as such I haven't been able to get completely jazzed about him like I wish I would. But I do love the new single, and this is just fantastic. I hope the album follows suit. It really hits that sweet spot between indie and mainstream dance pop.

Frankmusik - Struck By Lightning by projectDRK

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Frankmusik - Do It In The AM (ft. Far East Movement)

"We only do it in the AM"

This is an odd pairing. I've always considered Frankmusik to be a "cool, indie" artist, while Far East Movement is definitely a "crappy, commercial" group. It all screams: "we want a hit so we're gonna tack an annoying bit of rap on top of this song." Surprisingly, it actually works (well, not the "hit" part... I doubt radio will embrace this). But the song itself is excellent. It's a little toned down for Frankmusik. His crazy kitchen sink production only rears its head in the final portion of the song, where everything's thrown into a blender and the song kind of explodes. Other than that, it's a simple pop/club track with excellent vocals and a very catchy, repetitive hook. I'm actually really excited for the album now, despite being slightly underwhelmed by his first. The artwork for the campaign so far has also been stunning.

Frankmusik ft. Far East Movement - Do It In The AM by putyourheadphonesup

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the first album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.