Rdio Blog

This Week on Rdio

This Week on Rdio: May 28 - June 1, 2012

Here's what happened this week on Rdio. Don't miss a thing — like Rdio on Facebook, subscribe to the Rdio blog feed, and follow @Rdio on Twitter and on Rdio. Or drop by every Friday for our weekly blog round-up.

Here’s what happened on Rdio this week:

New Music Tuesday, May 29, 2012 — Scissor Sisters, Azealia Banks, Sigur Rós, Edward Sharpe, The Walkmen, and many more all grace this week’s New Music Tuesday playlist.
Only on Rdio: Listen to The Mynabirds New Album, GENERALS — The new album from Laura Burhenn and co. fuses influences as varied as Nina Simone, PJ Harvey, David Bowie, hip-hop, and African rhythm.
Play Cadence Weapon’s Dirt City Influences Playlist — Canuck rapper Cadence Weapon’s experimental new hip-hop album was borne of a myriad influences. Check his playlist to find out what.

Follow this week’s newest Influencers:

The label Domino Records
The artist Sydney Wayser

∞ June 1, 2012 — 5:51PM

Artist Spotlights Music

Play Cadence Weapon’s Dirt City Influences Playlist

Edmonton, Alberta native Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, is not your average MC. The rapper has received acclaim in the past for experimenting with the rap format, using sparse, austere soundscapes and out-there electronic as beats for his unique flow and thoughtful lyrics.

Want to know what inspired the eclectic sounds of Cadence Weapon’s new album, Hope in Dirt City? Listen to his playlist of influences, En Route to Dirt City, and then sample his new album to hear where his hip-hop is headed next.

∞ May 31, 2012 — 10:00AM

Music New Music Tuesdays

New Music Tuesday - May 29, 2012

No matter your musical tastes, this week’s New Releases have something in store for you. Need your indie rock fix? Check out the debut album by King Tuff. Blues? Dr. John’s new career retrospective should do. Dance, hip-hop, and hardcore fans will find something to like in Simian Mobile Disco, Cadence Weapon, and For Today’s new ones.

Did we miss your musical niche? Read our playlist notes below and listen to the New Music Tuesday playlist and New Releases to find something new to love.

Playlist Notes

Scissor Sisters - Magic Hour
The Scissor Sisters make the kind of disco-rific pop music that plays as well at parties as on headphones. If Calvin Harris-produced first single “Only the Horses” is any indication, this new album should be another party.
Azealia Banks - 1991
Finally the brash, silver-tongued emcee behind viral hit “212”, drops her debut release. The 4-song EP is composed of her hits to date, re-recorded in a professional studio.
Sigur Rós - Valtari
The cinematic Icelandic troupe admitted that their sixth album is heavy on electronics. Listen to their new sound on Valtari.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Here
The folk-pop outfit behind the charming, ramshackle single “Home” are ready to release their sophomore album.
The Walkmen - Heaven
The Brooklyn indie-rock five-piece tones down the edges of their past albums for more conventionally pretty songs that gel together nicely.
Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves
Indie-folk icon Mark Kozelek’s new album under his Sun Kil Moon moniker is recorded almost solely on nylon-string guitar, lending his tunes even more poignance.

∞ May 29, 2012 — 10:48AM

Exclusives Music

Only on Rdio: Listen to The Mynabirds New Album, GENERALS

Where The Mynabirds’ debut quietly cooed, their follow-up, GENERALS, stomps, claps, and buzzes to the whims of frontwoman Laura Burhenn. Powered by a decade’s worth of frustrations, both personal and political, Burhenn was ready to make a statement. GENERALS, which fuses influences as varied as Nina Simone, PJ Harvey, David Bowie, hip-hop, and African rhythm, is that statement.

The album isn’t available to everyone just yet, but you can hear it now, exclusively on Rdio. Listen below and get your righteous freak on.

∞ May 29, 2012 — 9:00AM

This Week on Rdio

This Week on Rdio: May 21 - 25, 2012

Here's what happened this week on Rdio. Don't miss a thing — like Rdio on Facebook, subscribe to the Rdio blog feed, and follow @Rdio on Twitter and on Rdio. Or drop by every Friday for our weekly blog round-up.

Here’s what happened on Rdio this week:

Listen to Preteen Zenith’s Debut Album now, Only on Rdio — Cinematic, colorful indie pop by Tim DeLaughter, current member of The Polyphonic Spree and former Tripping Daisy member.
New Music Tuesday, May 22, 2012 — Gotye collaborator Kimbra, American Idol Haley Reinhart, and guitar troubadour John Mayer, and many more feature on this week’s New Music Tuesday playlist.
Only on Rdio: Listen to Gemma Ray’s Island Fire — Visceral, guitar-based pop noir songstress Gemma Ray’s new album is an Rdio exclusive.
Paste Magazine and Rdio: Music for Your Eyes and Ears — Paste Magazine is teaming with Rdio to bring their music lists to life. Now you can listen while you read!
Listen With Friends to Rdio on Facebook — Connect your Rdio account to Facebook and Listen to music with your friends.
Festival Watch: Sasquatch! Music Festival — Get ready for the indie music festival with playlists featuring all of the performing artist... or just your favorites!
An Rdio Exclusive: Enjoy Krzysztof Penderecki’s New Concerto for Horns, Fonogrammi — The acclaimed modern classical composer is renowned for his soundtrack scores and work with respected rock stars. Listen to his new Concerto, only on Rdio.
An Rdio Exclusive: Hear Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles’ New Album, HEAT — The eclectic Portland five-piece meld all sorts of influences into a punchy, exhilarating package, and their debut is on Rdio now.
You’re Invited to the Rdio Loves San Francisco Party — Wanna party with Twin Shadow, Tanlines, Dirty Ghosts, and the Rdio folks at a private show? Find out how to score tickets.

Follow this week’s newest Influencers:

The label Relapse Records
The label Rhino Records
The band Down With Webster

∞ May 25, 2012 — 1:00PM

Events Music

Festival Watch: Sasquatch! Music Festival

He might be hard to find in the wild, but every summer, take a peek into the valleys around George, Washington, and you’re sure to find Sasquatch — the indie music festival, that is. Every year, Sasquatch! brings the best and brightest indie musicians, rappers, comedians, and more out to its four stages for four days of music, comedy, and culture.

This year’s lineup includes Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, The Shins, Girl Talk, The Roots, Feist, Childish Gambino, Fred and Carrie from Portlandia, and tons more. Rdio users have been busy making some pretty great playlists — listen to Rdio user Brick Hammerstone’s collaborative Sasquatch 2012 playlist below, or make one to soundtrack your perfect Sasquatch! Music Festival.

∞ May 25, 2012 — 10:00AM

New Features Tips & Tricks

Listen With Friends to Rdio on Facebook

It might not be a brand new feature, but it's a cool one. When you connect your Rdio account with Facebook, not only can your friends see what’s Now Playing but you can listen to songs together. If you see a music note next to a friend’s name in the Facebook chat sidebar, hover over it and click the Listen With button. Close out at any time or let your friend become your personal DJ.

You can still chat during the DJ session and when others join the listening party, they’ll be added to the chat as well. Next time you like what your friend is playing, join in the fun.

Don't miss out on the latest news and updates — Like us on Facebook where we share weekly exclusives, host awesome giveaways like our M83 pre-show playlist contest and talk about music all day, every day.

∞ May 24, 2012 — 1:50PM

Exclusives

Only on Rdio: Listen to Gemma Ray’s Island Fire

UK singer-songwriter Gemma Ray writes visceral, guitar-based pop noir. She’s renowned for her axe-slinging capabilities — even Jimmy Page expresses admiration for her musicianship — but she combines her technical skill with pop hooks.

Ray’s new album Island Fire features even more flourishes and recording nuances than her previous efforts. It’s officially out next week, but for those who just can’t wait, Rdio has the album now. Listen to Island Fire and spread the word — Ray might be a secret now, but she won’t be for long.

∞ May 23, 2012 — 11:00AM

Exclusives Music

An Rdio Exclusive: Enjoy Krzysztof Penderecki’s New Concerto for Horns, Fonogrammi

Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki pulled off that rare feat of maintaining popularity and artistic integrity, one made even harder by the fact that he works in the elite realm of classical music. The composer is a bit of a renaissance man: his name appears regularly on NPR, he’s won Grammy awards, worked with Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, and his music has appeared in films like The Shining, Children of Men, and Shutter Island.

Penderecki’s latest work is Fonogrammi - Horn Concerto. Conducted by the much-lauded Antoni Wit and played by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the concerto will appeal to fans of both Penderecki’s earlier work and his later, neo-Romantic phrasing. The recorded concerto will be officially released for the first time next week, but it’s on Rdio now, for your exclusive enjoyment. Listen to Fonogrammi - Horn Concerto.

∞ May 23, 2012 — 10:00AM

Events Giveaways Music

You’re Invited to the Rdio Loves San Francisco Party

If you're in the Bay Area, you could win an invitation to Rdio's private party featuring Dirty Ghosts, Tanlines, and Twin Shadow.

Rdio loves San Francisco — so much that we’re throwing a special night of live music to celebrate our hometown. Since it just wouldn’t be a party without you, we have 50 pairs of tickets to giveaway for our private event on June 7th at the Independent.

If you’re in the Bay Area, here’s your chance to catch Dirty Ghosts, Tanlines, and Twin Shadow along with the Rdio staff. Not only that, one lucky winner also wins a year of Rdio Unlimited, and a limited edition Rdio-branded Jambox.

Want to come? Good — we want to see you there. Enter you your name, email address, and Rdio user name into the entry form between now and June 3rd and we’ll notify the winners on June 4th. Read the Official Rules for details.

Wouldn’t our Rdio Loves San Francisco playlist sound nice coming out of that Jambox?

∞ May 23, 2012 — 9:00AM