Dotore- Nadie Llora en Nanjing

Jam: Nadie Llora en Nanjing
Good to jam when: Needing a kick

     Dotore is a Spanish band featuring songs based on the personal experiences of band member Pablo Martínez Sanromá, who was originally born in San Sebastian, but currently resides in my former city of residence held EVER so dearly to my heart, Barcelona.  A lot of the songs off their new album "Los veranos y los días," (The summers and the days), are Pablo's way of reflecting on his days spent living in China, France, Germany, and the U.S. and have seen positive reviews for the album in return for having one of the best discs and songs of the year.  

     Today's feature, "Nadie llora en Nanjing," or (Nobody cries in Nanjing), is filled with powerful and irking movements of violin, and doused with subtle repetition from the use of brushes to soften the sound of drums to give you that extra kick that you might be needing.  Nanjing is an extremely important city in China due to its previous title as the country's capital during several historical periods and also for being recognized as one of the four great ancient capitals of China.  So while the title provides that the city doesn't get knocked down easily, maybe today, it will allow you to withstand a little more.  

Theophilus London- Flying Overseas feat. Devonte Hynes & Solange Knowles

Jam: Flying Overseas
Good to jam: Overseas, underseas, with that beachy breeze, or when you've got those sandy knees

  

I'm in love. I've spent my entire morning jamming anything Theophilus London and can't seem to get myself to stop.  Think of this Brooklyn-bred genius as a new age Fresh Prince who not only provides more than a needed fresh breath of air to the rap industry, but goes all the way to give an infinitely stocked and portable oxygen tank to the sea of one thousand and one robotic and in-genuine scubers. 

If you're willing to be revived, you can check out just about any of his new songs to get a feel for how he's making waves, but I'll personally recommend his live performance of "Why Even Try" on Rolling Stones to get an idea of his personality and flow, his hilarious cartoon-animated video of "Girls Girls $," that I'm pretty sure no one really realizes what they have watched by the end of, and lastly, the video of his new featured single "Last Name London" off his new album Timez Are Weird These Days due out on July 19th to see his real potential to take over the stage.  So go ahead and dive in head first, but no looking back, because Theophilus London has got your tank jam-packed.  

The Secret Sisters- Tennessee Me

Jam: Tennessee Me

Good to jam: At a small, countryside gathering, that's lit by a bonfire and packed with the entirety of the miniscule town that came together to eat grits and have old-fashioned entertainment from the talented sisters who have been in hiding down the wobbly road in a barn

     With no former experience besides singing in church and belting tunes around bonfires, The Secret Sisters from a small town in Alabama decided to try their luck at a record label's audition in Tennessee and were immediately shipped on their first plane ride to LA to record an album.  To make the story even better, these Secret Sisters recorded their entire album in about two weeks using "vintage microphones and 'throwback' recording techniques down to the same type of tape they would have used fifty years ago" in order to sound just like their album when they perform live.  

     Check out the new album released late last year to hear old country classic covers including Bill Monroe's "The One I Love Is Gone," Buck Owens' "My Heart Skips a Beat," Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me," and "House of Gold," and my personal favorite jam on the album, the cover of Frank Sinatras' "Somethin' Stupid."

While I'm not normally a huge country fan, this album has something for everybody.  From full-on honky-tonk songs for all those rustic rangers out there, to more simple, 50's-sounding, folkish melodies for the others, just about anyone can benefit.  I think in the end it's safe to say that the world is extremely thankful that these sisters finally made their way out of the barn and are no longer a secret.