Did you cop it?

I’ve had the preview copy for a while, and I gotta say, it’s different from their previous album. They managed to make Machine Dreams more dancable and dare I say pop than their previous effort. I know a few of you were expecting more ballads, but after their show in DC this summer, which became a full on dance party, I can’t front them for trying to go more pop. Creative Loafing calls the album “a great model of how an album should be put together: an equal blend of upbeat and chill numbers that spotlight the band’s most worthy assets.” I have to agree. I will give it a few more listens before the full review. I do have to say that Yukimi has one of the sexiest female voices I’ve ever heard. It’s not overbearing in the least, but overly soulful at the same time. What do y’all think?

Little Dragon Interview

Fortune Video (with artwork by Yukimi Nagano’s father)

Little Dragon – Fortune

Little Dragon’s 2007 self titled album stays on constant rotation in the iPod. It’s the type of album that you fall in love with from day one and never let go of again. Having that said, when I feel this way about an artists’ first album, I usually get anxious about their sophomore release. I’ve been dissapointed so many times by artists who either try to be more “pop” or forget that classic sound that made them famous whenever they get back into the studio for the second go round.

However, after listening to Little Dragon’s track “Fortune,” I’m not only less anxious for their sophomore release Berlinmaster, but I’m eagerly anticipating it. Everything that made me love this group in the first place is still there: the off kilter yet subtle beats and Yukimi Nagano’s magical voice still reign supreme.

Not much is known about Berlinmaster, but the fact that they just dropped a video for it (from Japanese animator, Hideyuki Katsumata) means that its hopefully coming real soon (via The Incubator).

Sidenote: I posted the divShare link as my away message and 5 people IMed me about it, so apparently I’m not the only Little Dragon fan around.