Pretty Light’s never released 5-track EP, titled Electro City, is turning into a 24-track behemoth of unreleased goodnass. While researching Electro City, I found another pile of unreleased tracks by PL. The validity of it is still up in the air, so i’ll continue with the original countdown and release the others if enough people hit us back with some feedback.
As for the good stuff, our next track features Yung Joc and offers up the same name as Joc’s original, “It’s Going Down”. I gotta say it’s not the best track on the EP, but the next few to come are hard to beat. Nevertheless, Pretty Lights remix of “It’s Going Down” goes well with Joc’s rhymes and what appears to be vocals originally by Shannon from “Give Me Tonight” (I still can’t believe Shazam picked that up!) […]
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[audio:Its-Going-Down.mp3|titles=It’s Going Down]
When I first started obsessing about Pretty Lights earlier this year, I went and downloaded anything I could of his. One thing I forgot to do was actually listen to them all. Fortunately, I’m becoming more organized (in one way).
What I unearthed was a 5-track EP titled Electro City that Derek Vincent Smith (Pretty Lights), apparently, never released. The version I found were unnamed tracks, but I did a little digging around and found what their names were (well, 4/5 so far).
The first track I present to you is “Better Than I’ve Ever Been” featuring Kanye West & what sounds like Prince. Make sure to check back in, they just keep getting better from here. Start preparing for the New Year :)
[audio:Better-Than.mp3|titles=Better Than I’ve Ever Been]
After putting two Busta Rhymes “Dangerous” remixes against each other, I knew I had enough remixes stockpiled to do another. I’ve never been a Lil’ Wayne fan, but mash him up with some of the best and ya can’t hate on something so gooood.
It may’ve taken Bob Marley & Pretty Lights to get me listening to him, but damn does Weezy flow well to these. I’m not gonna say which I like better, yet, but both bring out a different side to him – one for smokin’, one for ragin’ – well, I guess both are good for either, but you know what I mean. If you want me to tell ya my favorite of the two, post in the comments below and I may just do that.
[audio:No-Stunnin-No-Cry.mp3,Stuntin-With-A-Milli.mp3|titles=No Stunnin’ No Cry,Stuntin’ With A Milli](Download Link in Full Article)
I dunno if Pretty Lights could ever top Filling Up the City Skies, but this sure is sneaking up on it.
Glowing in the Darkest Night brings on some newly crafted tunes by our favorite hip-hop/electronic fused producer, Derek Vincent Smith.
The one thing the album’s missing is something substantially new from Smith. This may be the best release of his this year, but I know he would do well at experimenting with new […]
[audio:Still-Night.mp3,Shining-Bright-Despite-The-Plight.mp3,So-Much-in-the-Dark.mp3|titles=Still Night,Shining Bright Despite the Plight,So Much in the Dark](Download Link in Full Article)
It may’ve taken me two weeks to get this out (lazy lazy), but here’s a look at Friday’s set at North Coast Music Fest ’10.
Our site just turned one years old on September 3rd, so I thought I’d take a little vaca to Chicago and check out the North Coast Music Fest. I decided to only go Friday because a friend of mine couldn’t make it and all I really wanted to see was Pretty Lights.
We got there a little late – I’m not too good with directions – when we ran into will call, which was a fucking long wait. Well, we snuck up to the front and finally got in after […]
[audio:The-Time-Has-Come.mp3,Maybe-Tomorrow.mp3|titles=The Time Has Come,Maybe Tomorrow](Download Link in Full Article)
I wonder what people from past generations would think of music nowadays I don’t mean lyrically, but the actual sound. Take Pretty Lights for example – Derek Vincent Smith’s use of traditional instruments are only a small portion of his entire sound set.
Smith’s use of untraditional beats has set him, and many other electronic musicians, apart from conventional music. His newest album, Spilling Over Every Side, the second EP of his 2010 trilogy, is a step in a new direction, although not a leap forward from his previous work. The most noticeable difference is each song’s length, topping at close to nine minutes on “High School Art Class”. I’m not sure I prefer the lengthiness, but as he points out, there’s a “sort of dimension flip” occurring in each song.
In a document included with Spilling Over Every Side, Smith points out that he’s tried to incorporate different genres into his work, “transitioning between something pretty and organic to something heavy and electro”. Although this may be true, I don’t see Smith pushing forward and building from his previous work – it’s more of a side step. I’m sure if I was out hitting up one of his shows, this would be some awe-inspiring shit, but I expect his albums to be on the highest levels, only because I respect his craft so much.
Despite all my criticisms, it’s still phenomenally fresh, especially compared to countless other electronic albums I’ve heard over the past few months. I’ve been a big fan of his for a while, and with this latest addition, Pretty Lights continues to impress meh.
As always, you can hit up his site, PrettyLightsMusic.com, and head over to the downloads section to pick up this, and any of his other albums. Just make sure to give back the love if you enjoy his tunes – I just got a t-shirt form his store and it’s quality. Or go to the North Coast Festival this upcoming Labor Day weekend, and show him some support. Plus you might see me there (if you’re so lucky).
[audio:HotLikeDimes.mp3,LettheWorldHurryBy.mp3|titles=Hot Like Dimes,Let the World Hurry By](Download Link in Full Article)
This is my final feature of a three parter I’m doing on Pretty Lights’s 2008 album, Filling Up The City Skies. Just to recap, the first was on “Solamente“, which is a cool, downtempo beat; and the second was “Hot Like Sauce“, which is more like this feature, in that it’s something to start the night off with (aka good for a pregame mix). Each of these songs have been a favorite of mine at some point in the last few months, but I’ve come to realize that they’re all good for different situations.
Getting to the specifics on “Finally Moving Remix”: this one, without a doubt, has the best vocals of the three. I did some investigating on who the female voice is and came up with.. nothing, but to be honest, I didn’t put too much effort into it. Whoever she is, she has a remarkable voice, and the ways in which Derek Vincent Smith can doctor it to fit the beat so well can be almost perplexing at times. The man not only finds incredibly talented musicians to sample, but he can butcher their voices into something strangely pleasing to the ear. This original he created back in 2006 may not be as heart-poundingly engaging as this, but it still warrants a listen if you’re into his sound. If y’all want me to post it up then give me a shout out in the comments below, and I’ll see what I can do. I hope y’all enjoy it – you’ll definitely be seeing more of his music manipulations on here in the future.
One other thing, as I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, you can download most of Pretty Lights’s music on their website, and support ’em by purchasing a t-shirt from their store.
[audio:FinallyMovingRemix.mp3|titles=Finally Moving Remix](Download Link in Full Article)
This is the second feature in a three part series, I just decided now that it would be a three parter (here’s the first part). The three parter basically covers my favorites of Pretty Lights. I discovered the group just a couple weeks ago and am already obsessed. This one, apposed to my first post, is a lot more worthy to rock out to, and man does it rock! Derek Vincent Smith is one hell of a DJ – he mixes that shit out of a bunch of samples and comes up with some amazing music. I believe “Hot Like Sauce” has Big Boi of OutKast mixed in there (at around 3:14), but I could be mistaken (I often am). This shit is bumpin, and is definitely rock out worthy while you “go hyphy in this bitch”.
Also, follow us on Twitter, so you’ll know when the next Pretty Lights feature will be! Oh, and as always, tell me what ya think…
[audio:HotLikeSauce.mp3|titles=Hot Like Sauce](Download Link in Full Article)
Just around this time last year I came across a DJ that would change my life forever! Alright, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but it’s true. He was one of the main reasons I started this site. In fact, he was the first feature on it. This DJ I am referring to is none other than DJ Frane. Unlike most artists I’ve come across, when I started listening to Frane I couldn’t stop; each song after another was a rich & robust set of samples ranging from hip-hop to rock. I had heard of trip-hop before, but to me this is what defined the genre. After I was familiar with his music, I wondered when (or if) I would ever come across another DJ as gifted & prolific as him. Well, that day has come… I present to you: Derek Vincent Smith’s Pretty Lights…
Scanning over some blogs a friend of mine suggested, I discovered Pretty Lights on a clever & comically titled blog, Aurgasm. I was looking through the site’s hip-hop section when I came across this beaut. It was actually the first post of theirs that I listened to the samples they provided, and let’s just say I’m glad I did. Pretty Lights currently has three LP’s and one EP out, and I have listened to each album… twice! A lot of ’em caught my ear, but only a handful really blew me away, though that number is growing on the daily.
The feature I decided to go with, “Solamente”, was actually not my first choice, but I have a reason for saving the best for later (not gonna explain myself, though). “Solamente” is a comforting dreamscape of a song with a nasty bassline. It, along with the rest of Pretty Light’s works, are freely available on their website, PrettyLightsMusic.com. Check it out, it’s a gorgeous site and there’s free music!
One other thing, if you really want to figure out my next posting of Pretty Light’s, i’ll give you two clues: it’s on the same album & features a beautiful, female R&B voice. If you post it in the comments section, i’ll give you mad props. Enjoy!
[audio:Solamente.mp3|titles=Solamente](Download Link in Full Article)