SHIT is the section of the RAW website where you'll find a bunch of SHIT that we think is cool, inspiring, or just SHIT we think you should know about. This SHIT is for promotional use only. If you're an artist or label that would like us to promote your SHIT or have anything removed just shoot us an email. Buy music, don't bogart it.
Other good places to find cool SHIT: 
THRU THE SMOKE & INTO YR HEART
March 12, 2010
Album covers with large pot leaves splattered in blood. Black and white videos with blood dripping into milk, fire, dogs, and gorgeous boys. Tropical dream pop. Organic field recordings with Lil Wayne samples and obscure movie and television samples. This is jj, who apparently aren't interested in you knowing who they are. Their intent is pure and simple - create the music that resonates in their bones, keep their identity mysterious, and do whatever the fuck they want.
Here's what we know: jj is the Swedish duo of Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander. They released their first two efforts, the single jj no. 1 and full length album jj no. 2 last Spring on European label Sincerely Yours. They released their second full length album, jj no. 3 in the US and Sweden a few days ago on the phenomenal label, Permanent Vacation, as well as Secretly Canadian.
Their lyrics are vague references to drug use, natural elements, worldly landscapes, falling in and out of love, dreaming while awake, and dying in the arms of the only person who ever understood you. Their sound has a strong African influence coupled with electronic transmission and deep soaked reverb. There is no template to their music or song structure. It's truly unique. It may be safe to say that they're just out to please themselves with an attitude of: If you like it, cool. If you don't, that's cool too. They've got a strong vision driven by their aches and happiness rather than a desire for acceptance. We think that's a pretty solid outlook.
jj - Ecstasy
jj - From Africa to Malaga
jj - My Way (unreleased)
TWO TURNTABLES AND A TELEPHONE
March 10, 2010
Posted by Bil
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The first time I heard Rory Phillips was after my NY friend made me a mix with The Units song High Pressure Days as the opening track. The nu-disco sound immediately struck a chord in me, replete with hand claps, cowbells, and steel drum influence. Days passed before I took that first track off repeat and gave the rest of the mix a listen. It was then that I began my search (which continues to this day) for anything that he has touched. It is worth the effort...Rory Phillips is the SHIT.
Hailing from the UK, Rory Phillips is quickly gaining recognition as one of the best in a business that is changing every day, and every minute. His remixes are consistently solid, and his original work retains just as much merit. His approach is simple - throw out the rule book and make it your own. Not only has he remixed for the likes of Gossip, The Golden Filter, Primary 1, The xx, and Jackpot, but he has also been throwing mind-blowing parties for almost a decade. His first party, TRASH, which he threw with Erol Alkan, was a Monday night weekly party that set the standard for hip and innovative parties in the UK. While sailing high on the success of TRASH, they decided to call it quits and move onto other things. There are rumors that the last party attracted so many people that the line went around the block, and looped over back over itself as patient party-goers waited to give TRASH one last Hoorah!.
Rory Phillips has gone on to carve out dance-floor packed parties including Our Disco, SAY YES, and DURRR. His DJ sets are a combination of dusty, hard to find records, as well as personal edits and remixes of current or yet to be released material. He occasionally peppers each set with his own, original cuts, and his telephone headphone has been startling and confusing people for years. Be sure to support this amazing artist by heading over to Juno or Beatport and scooping up some if his incredible work.
The Units - High Pressure Days (Rory Phillips Remix)
Rory Phillips - Solar Breakfast
The Golden Filter - Hide Me (Rory Phillips Remix)
HARD ON FOR HARD TON
March 9, 2010
Posted by RAW
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Billed as the biggest Disco Queen of the XXI century, Hard Ton is unlike any other artist out there, and RAW has a huge hard on for Hard Ton! He's a delicious Italian-flavored recipe for dance floor fun! Take the body of Divine, throw in the voice of Sylvester, add the stage presence of Rob Halford, sprinkle it with the style of Leigh Bowery, and shake liberally with 100% pure acid house. Not to mention an amazing sense of humor...I mean the cover art for the Selfish EP is a fan-effing-tastic riff on the original.
There's substance to Hard Ton, and we're not just talking about his 300 pounds. After 15 years of performing in heavy metal bands, Hard Ton is now using his powerful voice and an arsenal of analogue and vintage gear to kick out some great music. His list of equipment would probably make an electronica geek cum. We're talking shit like 303s, 606s, drum machines, KORG Kaoss Pad 3, Roland Juno 106, Korg MS 20, Prophet 5, Tenori ON, MC505, Gameboys, cymbals, cowbells, and more.
The Selfish EP comes out next week on Gigolo Records and features the track Earthquake, which RAW has a copy of for you. Be sure to buy the full release when it comes out on March 15, and pick up his previous 12-inch release, Flawless on Permanent Vacation.
Hard Ton - Earthquake
Keep reading for more Hard Ton...
YOU CAN BE MY LIGHT, YOU CAN BE MY FOG
March 8, 2010
Posted by RAW
/p>
The world lost another incredible heart, mind, soul, and visionary this past weekend. Mark Linkous, the mastermind, mulit-instrumentalist and lead-singer behind the alt-country/experimental band, Sparklehorse, took his own life on March 6, 2010. He also worked with David Lynch and Danger Mouse on the "finally being released" multi-media project, Dark Night of The Soul, and has collaborated with PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Nina Persson and Daniel Johnston, to name a few. He was nearly finished with a new album which was to be released on Anti-Records. Linkous was originaly from Virginia. Below are some songs from his 2001 album, It's A Wonderful Life, as well as a video for Ghost In The Sky, from the 2006 Sparklehorse album, Dreamt For Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain. It's sad that he felt like he needed to go...let's hope he found peace wherever he is.
Sparklehorse - King of Nails
Sparklehorse - Comfort Me
Sparklehorse - It's A Wonderful Life
LOVE IN A DARK ROOM
March 5, 2010
Posted by RAW
/p>
Washington DC legalized same sex marriage this week. The next RAW party is tonight. Maybe you'll find your future husband at RAW? Or maybe you'll find a husband for one night, or the weekend? Eyes are for looking. Hands are for touching. Perfect for getting nasty.
Ssion - Street Jizz
Corruption - Show Me Yours
Tiga - You're Gonna Want Me (12" Dance Mix)
Patrick Cowley - I Wanna Take You Home
Keep reading to find your husband...
DANCE DANCE DANCE
March 4, 2010
Posted by RAW
This Friday is RAW. That means disco and electro and synth-pop and more. Come and dance. Here's some SHIT to get you in the mood, including a mystery track that popped up without any deets. But it's awesome. Get ready for RAW, boys. Here comes the Dirty, the Sleazy, and the Sweaty. See you on the dance floor.
Unknown - Unknown
Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again
In Flagranti - Bang Gang
The Golden Filter - Hide Me
Vitalic - Second Lives (Lifelike Remix)
VILLA TAKES THE CROWN WITH DIVA EDITS
March 3, 2010
Posted by RAW
It's a great feeling when you're in the DJ booth, and someone comes up to ask "What's this song?" The Villa Diva Edits have caused that reaction many times at RAW parties. A phenomenal trio from Belgium, these guys have been remixing songs for artists like The Golden Filter, Moby, and the C-90's, as well as Tina Turner and Slice & Soda.
Many of their releases are on the psycho-balearic and nu-disco label, Mindless Boogie. Initially, their three Diva Edits (Agneta, Anita, and Tina) were given away as a great way to bring attention to the then obscure Villa. We can't decide on a favorite, so we posted all three for you. Sit back and stare at the glorious pic above - taken at the Fire Island dunes in 1977. You'll hear one or two of these amazing edits this Friday at our next RAW party.
Villa - Agneta (edit)
Villa - Anita (edit)
Villa - Tina (edit)
Keep reading for more Villa Diva Edits...
DISCO NOIR FROM THE DARK ESQUIRE
March 2, 2010
Posted by RAW
Yea, so this pic has nothing to do with the post. It's just a cute guy with hairy legs that we saw on the SSION website. Nice, huh? Anyway, at the end of January, The Dark Esquire released their fantastic disco noir track, Situation on thisisnotanexit records. If you haven't bought a copy, get it now. RAW has a couple killer remixes for you, too. One from Canadian discohead CFCF and also the hot Night Plane mix. Here's the video, too.
Situation (CFCF Remix)
Situation (Night Plane Remix)
Keep reading for more Dark Esquire...
LIARS IN GOOD HEALTH
February 26, 2010
Posted by RAW
Both LIARS and HEALTH are part of an emerging noise rock and experimental music wave that has been feverishly taking over L.A. the past 5 years. Collectively they have about 7 albums under their belts, and a slew of singles, splits, and live recordings as well.
The LIARS first gained momentum with their second full length, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned, which was produced by Dave Sitak of TV On The Radio fame. They followed that with Drums Not Dead and the self-titled Liars albums, as well as securing an opening slot on Radiohead's 2008 tour. Their next album, Sisterworld, has a March 9, 2010, release date, although the entire album has already been leaked and you can find very low-rate versions around the blogoshphere. Their drive to stay true to themselves and their vision is evident in their catalogue of music, videos, art, and marketing campaigns.
HEALTH blasted onto the scene in 2007 with a release that included experimental, electro-noise addicts, Crystal Castles. Their song Crimewave went to the #9 position on the U.K. Charts, pushing them into the spotlight. They followed this with the self-titled album that was so highly regarded that they were named "a band to look out for in 2008." This spawned the remix album, HEALTH//DISCO, and furthered public interest in what else was up HEALTH's sleeves. In 2009, they released another album of noise, pop, and fury, True Color. They helped fuel anticipation for the new record by offering posters autographed in blood, locks of their own hair, and a contest for an all-expenses paid trip to L.A. to hang with the band at the amusement park, Magic Mountain. They also DJ, are debuting a clothing line this year, and are creating an Internet television show called HEALTHvision. You can buy the LIARS and HEALTH shit everywhere, so scoop it up if you can.
Liars - Scissor
Liars - Scarecrows On A Killer Slant
HEALTH - We Are Water
HEALTH - Die Slow (Tobacco Remix)
Keep reading for more HEALTH & LIARS...