Awesome Music

What’s this, two Gorillaz albums in less than a year? That’s what appears to be the case with the release of the first single off of THE NOW NOW, a smooth and groovy track featuring vocals from 2D, George Benson, and a music video with a typically effervescent Jack Black.

Vocalist Mike Tompkins makes way too many funny faces for his wonderful and lighthearted version of Toto’s meme-worthy 1982 hit track, made up entirely from sounds he produced with his mouth.

LEGO builder TECHNICally Possible shows off a neat machine that’s designed to display the lyrics from Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger in sync with the track. The big mechanical rig aims a GoPro at a LEGO sculpture using Mindstorms tech.

Jump back, what’s that sound? It’s a banjo and an upright bass! The bluegrass wizards of Finland’s Steve ‘n’ Seagulls turn in another insanely delightful cover, this time taking on Van Halen’s hit Panama with their trademark rapidfire twang.

To celebrate the release of SEGA Genesis Classics, musician and remixer Eclectic Method teamed up with the video game company to create a special track containing sound samples from classic 16-bit games, accompanied by an awesome pixel art video.

Leo Moracchioli intensifies Michael Jackson’s already taut pop-rock track by infusing the 1987 mega-hit Smooth Criminal with his trademark blend of gravely, headbanging heavy metal that puts Alien Ant Farm’s rock cover to shame.

After wowing us with an organ made from Furbys, Look Mum No Computer is back with a slightly less ambitious, yet still cool project – a pair of lightsabers modded with an accelerometer so it can be used as an analog input controller for a synthesizer.

Pomplamoose continues to infect our ears with joy with yet another awesome performance, mashing up Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity and The Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive. If you don’t want to get up and dance to this right now, we don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Jimi Hendrix was a master of the electric guitar. But we could never imagine one of his fiery hot tracks played on something so jangly as a ukulele. Well color us impressed. Sit back, crank up the speakers, and enjoy this fantastic uke cover of Voodoo Child, played by James Hill.

Especially for adults over 50, shingles can be a very nasty disease that causes excruciating pain. But for youthful YouTuber Brian David Gilbert – who was recently diagnosed with the ailment, it’s the source for some lyrical inspiration.

Scary Pockets teamed up with vocalist Mario Jose to perform a funky interpretation of of Guns N’ Roses’ hit Sweet Child O’ Mine, unlike any we’ve ever heard before. Between the Rhodes keyboard, horns, and Mario’s soulful voice, it’s a truly special listening experience.

Violinist “Danielle” discovered that the acoustics of a tunnel produced a dramatic echo. Listen as she plays a passage from John Williams’ Burning Homestead. We can vividly picture Luke coming home to the smoldering corpses of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

“I’m eccentric, I’ll amaze. I am wonderful, just let me count the ways.” A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammed teamed up with fellow star producer Adrian Younge to form The Midnight Hour. Their debut single Questions is a slick soul track with CeeLo Green on the mic.

“Music and lines, rhythm and melodies… So many nights, so many memories.” Justice reworked their feel good track Stop to be more compact and punchy. The track is from their upcoming album, Woman Worldwide, which drops 8/24/18.

DJ Cummerbund smashes up Michael Jackson’s classic The Way You Make Me Feel with Childish Gambino’s This Is America, yet again deftly melding two very different songs with very different meanings into something totally new and refreshing.

Animator Alessandro Bavari assaults our eyes, ears, and brains with this headbanging short film starring a disembodied digital head that gets pounded repeatedly by bass rhythms for nearly 7 minutes, distorting its form to the driving beat.

“I don’t waste ink, brother, I think. I drop megaton bombs more faster than you blink. ‘Cause rhyme thoughts travel at a tremendous speed.” Watch the Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA perform three tracks from his classic album Liquid Swords alongside brass band The Soul Rebels.

(PG-13: Language) The 3+1 members of the Warp Trio perform an energetic and enthralling arrangement of the entire 2017 Gorillaz album Humanz on piano, cello, violin, and percussion. It’s definitely well worth the next 32 minutes of your time.

“All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado…” The eclectic Sydney, Australia band Ocean Alley dusts off a 1970s classic – Player’s 1977 hit Baby Come Back, making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside thanks in no small part to Baden Donegal’s soulful lead vocals.

The original Sonic the Hedgehog was loaded with some of the most memorable music in the history of video games, including the classic opening level Green Hill Zone. Banjo Guy Ollie turns in an equally memorable performance of the tune on banjo and mandolin.

The members of Toronto ensemble Choir! Choir! Choir! were joined by a special guest performer, none other than pop legend Rick Astley. They provided harmonies and backup while Rick took on lead vocal duties. We’re impressed how great his voice is after all these years.

Musician Alexandr Misko hangs tough, stays hungry, and rises up to the challenge of his rivals with another awesome fingerstyle acoustic performance, as he takes on the 1980s juggernaut that was Survivor’s hit theme from Rocky III, Eye of the Tiger.

Brooklyn, New York’s High & Mighty Brass Band gives Portugal. The Man’s big hit a shiny coat of paint, infusing the tune with a rich, layered, and jazzy new sound. This arrangement would work great for a football halftime show.