"Something He Can Feel" - Aretha Franklin

This song just reminded me how awesome Aretha is.




Remember how hot the video of the En Vogue version was? Hubba, hubba.

5 Reasons to Love Jazz Music, Vol. 1

Hand check, people. How many out there listen to Jazz music? Too few would be my guess. It's high time that changed, if you ask me. I first fell in love with Jazz as a young boy, learning to play the saxophone, trying my best to master Charlie Parker licks, swing like Count Basie, and match the sound of Paul Desmond. To a young musician, the stuff can be powerful. The freedom of the style, the history of the music, and the influence of Jazz on music of today are all strong reasons to love the genre.

That said, I will be the first to state that I know relatively little about Jazz music produced today. I would guess many of you are the same. When most people think of Jazz, they think of days of old. Names like Armstrong, Ellington, and Coltrane are often the first to come to mind. And rightly so, geniuses all. I'm here today to give you a handful of reasons to open your mind to contemporary Jazz. Special thanks to my Jazz-obsessed buddy James M. who when asked for a couple recommendations sent me a list of 40 (seriously, 40) great artists currently producing music. Here a just a few of today's greatest. I hope you enjoy and maybe experience something new.

1. Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding first came to my attention as the winner of last year's Grammy Award for Best New Artist. This was quite an event, as most people in this country hadn't yet heard of the lovely Jazz bassist/singer. On principle I was elated that the award went to a Jazz musician, and I was even more excited when I started listening her music. This woman is amazing. Raised by a single mother, she not only taught herself to play the violin by age 5, but began writing lyrics and composing by 15. By 17 she had dropped out of high school, completed her GED, and was admitted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music on full scholarship as a bass player. Her music is an eclectic fusion of influences from Brazil, to hip-hop, to pop music, to classic Jazz. She is both extremely talented and stunningly beautiful, and a great example of how Jazz music can still be innovative, provocative, intriguing, and hip. Here you will find her song "Little Fly", which takes a poem by William Blake and fuses it with a fantastic musical composition. I can't stop watching it. It is a thing of beauty.


2. Roy Hargrove

Roy Hargrove has gained international acclaim as a Grammy Award winning musician in two different genres (1997 and 2002). A gifted trumpet player from an early age, Hargrove was discovered as a potential star when Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis visited his high school in Waco Texas. With a musical style heavy on funk and groove, Hargrove is an eclectic performer who has collaborated with a wide array of musicians such as D'Angelo, Macy Gray, Joshua Redman, Joe Henderson, the Soultronics, Common, and Erykah Badu. His latest work has showcased his talent as a band leader, in both the Roy Hargrove Big Band and the Roy Hargrove Quintent. I heard the song above, "Strasborg Saint Denis" for the first time today and was hooked. The man knows how to groove.

3. Joshua Redmond

I have listened to Joshua Redman for quite a while now, and never cease to be amazed at this dude's mind-numbing skills on the horn. My first exposure to him was in 1996 when I caught Robert Altman's documentary Jazz '34. Redman blew my mind in the "Yeah Right" clip you see above (he is in the brown suit). This could be one of the greatest saxophone battles ever caught on film. In it Redman shows his chops while wailing on a throw-back tune from Kansas City's epic era of Jazz. The stylized outfits and the face contortions of the guitarist chomping on a cigar in the background are almost as fun to watch as the duel. Redman has steadily put out fantastic work, producing 13 albums between 1993 and 2009.

4. Jason Moran

Jason Moran is a new favorite of mine. The Jazz pianist and band leader composes work that draws inspiration from a variety of styles including stride piano, avant-garde jazz, classical music, hip hop, and spoken word. His piece "Thelonious" you see above showcases his talent, and the depth of skill that can be displayed on a piano through Jazz.


5. Charlie Hunter
My friend Elan introduced me to Charlie Hunter around 2001, when he passed me a copy of the guitarists reinterpretation of Bob Marley's classic album "Natty Dread". I saw Hunter perform a number of times at the legendary Oakland Jazz club, Yoshi's, where he has an annual show in December. When I first saw him play I thought I was hearing things. Upon closer inspection I realized the guy plays a custom-made 8-string guitar that allows him to play solos, bassline, and rhythm guitar ALL AT THE SAME TIME! (Insert music-dork-jaw-drop here). I encourage you to see this crazy stuff for yourself by checking youtube. My favorite song of Hunter's is actually his rendition of Marley's "No Woman No Cry" (below). Check it out.
No Woman No Cry: Charlie Hunter
No Woman, No Cry
Album: Natty Dread
Released: Feb 27, 1997
Label:Blue Note
Length: 5:15
Plays: 429
Genre: Jazz

The Radio Still Plays Good Music (Sometimes)- Metronomy:: "The Look", "You and I"

Okay, I know many of us have been frustrated with the quality of music on the radio. I would like to state that 93.1, WXRT Chicago is an exception to this rule. I have been listening to the station for the past few months, and love their programming. Great live performances, interesting specialty shows, cool personalities. But I truly realized how fantastic the station was when my lovely wife came running up the stairs a few nights ago to tell me about Metronomy. Apparently, the station literally had her dancing by herself in our kitchen for two hours, and this group was the one to set it off. So, thanks radio, for not always being lame. And thanks Shannon for the great recommendation, and for dancing like no-one is watching.

Metronomy - The Look from lorenzo fonda on Vimeo.

Originally an artistic outlet for Joseph Mount (composer, singer, keyboards, guitar) the group was formed in England in 1999 as an experiment in instrumental electronica. The group has grown significantly since then, and has crafted three albums, Pip Payne (2005), Nights Out (2008), and The English Riviera (2011), which blend vocal electronic pop music and instrumentals. Great live performances and incredibly catchy tunes have increased Metronomy's popularity, as have Mount's frequent remixes of songs from other artists such as the Gorillaz, Lykke Li, Lady Gaga, and Goldfrapp. Here you will find The Look off of their latest album, a great remix of the song by Fred Falke, and an amazing Metronomy remix of Gaga's You and I.

Top 10 Playlist Vol. 3

Hello all! Here is the 3rd installment of the top 10 playlist. These tracks have a bit of everything, and highlight some fantastic live performances. Thanks to all you out there shooting me suggestions. Keep the recommendations coming. Enjoy.



Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Sweden is so hot right now....

I don't know if you all have heard, but Sweden is killing it right now. I was just reminded of this thanks to a preview for the American version of Steig Larson's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, due out next month. First, it reminded me of how fantastic the original Swedish-language trilogy was. The American version does look pretty sweet. But I highly recommend you all catch the original first (available on Netflix) because I seriously doubt the American Lisbeth could be half as awesome as the bad-ass Noomi Rapace you see pictured above.

The Millenium Trilogy novels/films are not the only awesome entertainment sensation coming out of the little Nordic powerhouse. There are the amazing Wallander mysteries, recently turned into great mini-movies for PBS's Masterpiece Mystery series. More pertinent to this blog, however, is killer music being produced by the likes of the dance-pop goddess Robyn, the indie pop band Miike Snow, and the quirky-yet-enchanting Lykee Li. I put together a few of my favorites from these artists below for you all to check out.

Audio Track Direct Downloads!!

Procrastination has taken serious hold this evening. Instead of working I compiled all the songs mentioned in previous posts that I have in my collection but haven't provided for download. I then figured out how to write the code for hyperlinks so that you could instantly download any of these tracks by clicking on the blue text. So. Here you go. This blog shit is addictive...
1. Misty Blue - Dorothy Moore
2. Yeah Yeah - Matt & Kim
3. Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
4. Nike Boots - Wale
5.Pon de Floor - Major Lazer
6.Hold You - Gyptian
7.Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
8.Footsteps in the Dark - Isley Brothers
9.Brown Skin Lady - Black Star
10.Thieves in the Night - Black Star
11.Respiration - Black Star
12.Luchini - Camp Lo

Album Preview::Common - "The Dreamer/The Believer"

Just caught a first glimpse of two tracks off of Common's new upcoming album, The Dreamer, the Believer, due out on December 20th, 2011. Produced by No I.D., the album unveils a fresh electronica-fueled feel to back up Common's artistic flow, and includes guest appearances by two legendary poets, Nas and Maya Angelou. Below you will find videos for "Blue Sky", "So Sweet", and a behind the scenes promo video of the album photo-shoot.

"So Sweet" (filmed in Haiti) was originally only made available online with a $1 donation to J/P Haitian Relief Organization. It's now available for free, but Common continues to raise money to support relief efforts in Haiti.



Maya Angelou on Common:

“I wanted to speak about Common, who is extremely uncommon. When I first heard him, I knew he was rare. I thought, my goodness, this young man…hello. So good, so talented, well raised. When I met his mother, I understood much. I will always support him. I know that I stand on the shoulders of great men and women. And I know there are young men and women who stand upon my shoulders” - Maya Angelou

Seriously. Is there anything this guy does that isn't awesome? Loved by Maya Angelou? Raising money for Haiti? New album? Oh, and he just released a new autobiography, "One Day it Will all Make Sense", that is a New York Times Bestseller. Sick. And the ladies love him. Read why you should too here.

5 Reasons You Should Still Be Watching Music Videos

For as long as I can remember I've had a serious obsession with music videos. As a kid raised in a house without cable, sleep-overs with friends weren't just an excuse to stay up past my bedtime, they were an opportunity to offer my delicate developing young psyche to the gods of MTV and VH1. I happily did so, from the moment I would arrive until the sun came up the next morning. Though my parents were inevitably pissed I would be returned to them without a wink of sleep, I was giddily happy about whatever new song, artist, or dance move I had discovered the night before.

Things have seriously changed since then. Does MTV actually show videos anymore? Does VH1 still exist? In today's ever-connected internet age, my guess is that most folks catch music videos online passed on by friends on Facebook or Twitter or some such thing. I've heard many of my friends say they don't even watch music videos anymore. To me, this is a tragic statement. Yes, music on its own is still powerful. But there is something special that can be added to this experience through visuals.

So, if you are one of those people who are hatin' on videos, here are 5 reasons to change your mind.

1. INNOVATION
We have come a long way since "Video Killed the Radio Star". Some particularly thoughtful artists have started to get creative, and explore how to make the video medium fresh and exciting. Here are two great examples.

"We Used to Wait" - Arcade Fire
If you only click on one link in this post, you should click on this. This experimental video allows you to interactively participate with the song's theme of childhood revisited. You can plug in your own childhood address, and then images of that location are incorporated into the video. You are asked to write a letter to your former self, and then that is put into the video. Its kinda amazing, and definitely a bit creepy.

"House of Cards" - Radiohead
This video uses 0 cameras or lights. Instead, the video is the result of visualizations of data collected from 64 rotating lasers that basically use 3D plotting technologies to gather information about shapes and relative distances between objects. Another example of Radiohead being light-years ahead of pretty much everyone else.



2. NOT JUST FOR PROFESSIONALS ANYMORE
Famous artists and big budgets are great and all, but one of the greatest things about music videos these days is that almost anyone with a camera and a clever idea can get in on the fun. Here are 4 of my favorites in one playlist.

(1) Dancing in the Rain- Turf Feinz
Oakland-born TURF dancing (Taking Up Room on the Floor)is a form of street dancing that intends to tell as story through movements inspired by everything from popping, to breaking, to ballet and jazz. This video went viral last year, due to the jaw-dropping moves, but what is more powerful to me is the story behind it. Apparently D-Real (white t-shirt) had recently lost his brother in a car accident. In a tribute to his brother, this crew of East Oakland youth went out in the rain to the scene of the death to dance in honor of their lost friend. The results below have now spread world-wide.

(2) "Home" - Jorge & Alexa Narvaez
A father, a daughter, a guitar, a camera and a great song. This one gets me every time.

(3-4) Daft Hands/Daft Bodies
So clever.



3. STORY TELLING
It is not easy to have a cohesive beginning, middle, and end in a <8 minute piece. It can be done, however, and one of my favorite examples of a great song presented through a great story is LCD Soundsytems "Home". I have never seen a robot I wanted to hug more.

4. DANCING
Sometimes the greatest thing about a video isn't the song itself, but the sick-ass dancing that accompanies it. Some of the best videos I have seen lately have introduced me to new dance styles, exhibited moves and coreography I could never possibly master (We've all seen "Single Ladies", right?), or given me a step-by-step how-to about how I too could learn how to "Dougie" like John Wall. Check out a few of my favorites below.



5. VISUAL BEAUTY
HD technology and no longer being limited to a 4+ minute T.V. time-slot (thanks internet!) have freed up artists to think differently about how to visual present their work. Kanye recently took this to another level with his 34 minute "Runaway" mini-movie. Yes, the dude be crazy. Yes, its over the top. But I dare you to watch this and tell me it isn't beautiful and mesmerizing. If you have the time, I suggest watching this full screen.

Kanye, Common, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Big Sean & Charlie Wilson:: "Good Friday"

Good Friday


I recently found Good Friday while trolling some other fantastic music blogs. The track is sick, especially the infused piano hook, and the driving bass. A great tune to pump up your day. Are you ready to go? La La La Lala...

Misty Blue

Winner!! "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"- Talking Heads - Best New Wave Song

The poll has closed, and the winner is "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" by the Talking Heads. Because the video for this song came from the epic film Stop Making Sense I figured I would honor the victor by posting a series of clips from this amazing concert movie. The first is a not-to-be missed video of David Byrne interviewing himself about the making of the film. It is a showcase of the intriguingly awkward, strange, brilliant character behind the Talking Heads success.



Stop Making Sense (1984) was directed by renowned film-maker Jonathan Demme, and was recorded during three nights of shows in 1983 at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. The film was the first ever to be made using only digital audio techniques, and features the now iconic "big suit" and weird dance moves that helped reveal Byrne as a mad-genius of music. Byrne and Demme's expectations for the filming of the shows had dramatic impacts on the resulting product. Because Byrne wanted no color lights to be used to illuminate the performers, the lighting techniques for the movie are unusual. Rarely showing the audience, and keeping crowd noise at a minimum, was intended to allow the viewer to form their own opinion of the performances. Also, the film uses long camera shots instead of the quick-cut techniques, allowing viewers to see the full performance and stage interactions rather than zooming in on individual soloists/performers. Check out the four clips from the film below for yourself. Im particularly fond of minute 4:00 in both "This Must Be the Place" and "Once in a Lifetime"...



When I was about 13 my sister took me to see David Byrne live in Washington, D.C. It was 1994. I didn't know what I was getting into. I remember the psychadelic colors filtered through oils projected overhead, the off-putting voice, and quirky dance moves, the bleary red-eyed college students, unnaturally happy, swaying this way and that. I had no idea what was going on around me. I just knew it was something new, and I loved it. This music is timeless.

Byrne is still making great music. I recently got Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008) and really enjoy the two tracks Everything That Happens and Life is Long


Everything That Happens


Life is Long

Mayer Hawthorne-"Your Easy Lovin Aint' Pleasin' Nothin", "When I Said Goodbye"

When my friend Emily suggested I check out a young, White, Soul singer, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, with no vocal training, you could say I had my doubts. It took about 10 seconds of listening to Mayer Hawthorne to throw all my preconceived notions out the window and just appreciate fantastic skill. Here is evidence that soul has no color, and great music can come from unexpected people or places.

Mayer Hawthorne (Andrew Mayer Cohen) did not intend to become a singer. He has worked in music for most of his life, but mostly as an arranger, engineer, musician, and producer. His emergence as a front man came only after the head of Stones Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf, heard a few songs that Hawthorne just considered a fun side project. After hearing just two tracks, Wolf signed the artist to the label. Hawthorne has since produced two albums rich in retro-Motown style jams fused with hints of hip-hop. The musical arrangements, high falsetto, and horn flourishes of this music conjures up images of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, or Smokey Robinson, but the break-beat production and lyrics signal a modern progression from old-school Soul. Beyond the quality of the music, its pretty amazing that for most of these songs Hawthorne played the role of lead vocalist, producer, engineer, arranger, and played most of the instruments. The artist may be unexpected, but the music is undeniable. These songs are sure to take you out of the gloomiest funk and have you snapping your fingers and tapping your feet in no time. Take a listen.

P.S. Check out the Mayer Hawthorn track "Just Aint Gonna Work Out" on the earlier post User Recommended Playlist. Also, click the hyperlinks below to download the track for your collection.


Your Easy Lovin Aint Pleasin Nothin




When I Said Goodbye

John Lennon:: "All You Need Is Love", "Imagine" :: Birthday Tribute

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”
― John Lennon




“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
― John Lennon

Ski Beatz - "Winners Parade", "Cream of the Planet", "Luchini"

Just a quick bit of awesome music to brighten your Wednesday. Ski Beatz (AKA David Willis, DJ Ski) is an American Producer who has been quietly influential in Hip-Hop since the mid 90's. Ski produced most of Camp Lo's classic debut album Uptown Saturday Night including one of my all time favorite jams, "Luchini" (below), and helped create J-Z's Reasonable Doubt including tracks "Dead Presidents". More recently his work has included collaborations with Tabi Bonney (Above), Mos Def (below), Jay Electronica, and Curren$y. Each of these tracks are guaranteed to mellow you on your way through the rest of the week.







Luchini (This is It)- Camp Lo


Tabi Bonney-Winners Parade

New Wave Rock :: Vote on your favorite (to the right)!!

A few months back a friend of mine sent me a link to an amazing live clip of The Talking Heads playing "This Must be the Place (Naive Melody)". I have probably watched the video 100 times since, due to my love of the song, the vibe, and the incredible style on display. It got me thinking about some of my earliest pop-music experiences of the 80's, when my sister would fill the house with New Wave hits by the Eurythmics, Men at Work, and The Talking Heads, among others. Steeped in Mod culture, synthesized sound, disco influences, glitter, copious amounts of eye-liner and a healthy dose of androgyny, New Wave was a drug-addled futuristic glimpse into experimental music. The cultural impact of this sub-genre is even more noticeable nowadays, as modern indie-pop acts increasingly revisit New Wave styles.

I have compiled a handful of New Wave favorites below. Take a few minutes to revisit the era, and vote on your favorite song to the right. Id love to hear your thoughts, or recommendations for other killer songs.

User Recommendation Playlist! Vol. 1

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Happy Monday! I wanted to thank you all for the awesome and frequent recommendations I have been getting from you folks out there in the Inter-verse. I have compiled a handful of these recommendations into a single playlist (above) for your entertainment. Nothin' finer than a bit of background music for your day. There is a good chance if you mentioned a song/artist to me that they are included in this list.

I will keep making such playlists as time goes on, and adding the tracks to the Top 10 Recommended Songs list (left) as I just did with the last Top 10. Take a listen, and keep the recommendations coming!

Black Star:: "Respiration" :: Concert Follow-up

Before the show last night we all agreed that the best thing that could happen during a Black Star concert in Chicago would be Common joining Mos and Talib for "Respiration". About an hour into the encore the crowd's energy had gone from intense to bonkers, but no "Respiration". Then when we all thought our hopes may not come to pass, BAM! The below happened. I have never seen a crowd respond in such a frenzy like they did here, surging towards the stage, screaming, and jumping in pure bliss.



Maybe I have rose-colored glasses on 1-day post-concert. Maybe my shattered eardrums have affected my judgement. But I would argue that the show last night may have been the best I have ever seen. Yes, I said it. The best. The energy was so infectious, and you could see Mos and Talib were eating it up. Chicago, man. Wow. What a show. Not to be forgotten. Escuche la. La ciudad respirando.


Respiration

Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli):: "Thieves in the Night", "Brown Skin Lady", "Definition"

Tomorrow night I'll be heading out to the House of Blues in Chicago to see one of my all-time favorites, Black Star. The group (comprised of MC's Mos Def and Talib Kweli) rose from the underground NYC hip-hop scene of the late '90's. Though they produced only one self-titled album (1998), their work quickly rose to international prominence due to a combination of superb lyrical quality and content centered on themes of race, social consciousness, and most importantly, anti-violence. Following the violent deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. only a few years before, the Black Star collaboration seemed a clear and direct effort to call out the harmful role violence often plays in hip-hop music. It was one of the first albums I heard that was a clear and jarring departure from the gangster rap era that preceded it. I ate it up, fell in love with the MC's, artistry, and messages, and have rarely found anything close to its equal since.

From what I hear, the tour going on now is gonna revisit the stellar tracks of their first album, and give audiences a first glimpse of Black Star's hugely anticipated 2nd album,Blackstar 2, expected to drop in 2012. If this is your first exposure to this group, I highly recommend getting the whole 1st album and spending a good hour or two listening to it from beginning to end. Its hard to choose a favorite tune to post here, so please pardon the excessive clips/mp3's below. Man, I just can't wait to see them live!


Thieves in the Night


Brown Skin Lady

Otis Redding:: "I Can't Turn You Loose/ Shake", "(Sittin' by the) Dock of the Bay"::: Birthday Tribute

Otis Redding, born on September 9th, 1941, is one of the greatest soul singers this world has ever seen. Tragically, his death at the young age of 26 cut short the life of an artist in his prime. His gritty, powerful voice and larger-than-life stage presence are emblematic of the greatest qualities of American music in the 60's. Though extremely popular among African Americans, Reddding was not fully embraced by White audiences in the U.S. until after his death. However, Reddings' charm and sweat-drenched performances (such as the clip below from a 1966 performance on the British show Ready, Steady, Go!) transcended racial boundaries, and won him widespread acclaim and adoration throughout Europe. Sadly his emergence as a great musical force was short-lived, as his breakout performance at the Monterey Pop Festival (June, 1967) came only six months before the the plane crash that took his life.




Redding died on December 10th, 1967, while en route to a concert in Wisconsin. The plane that carried him and his band crashed into a frozen lake just 3 miles from the runway, killing 7out of 8 passengers aboard. Redding had recorded a demo of his most famous song, "(Sittin' by the) Dock of the Bay", only 3 days before. It was released in its unfinished form a few weeks later and sold 4 million copies, becoming the first posthumous single to top the U.S. Billboard top 100. Interestingly, had the singer lived to complete it, the most indelible part of the song, Otis whistling at the end, would have been replaced with another verse.


I hope you enjoy this music. I absolutely love the video clip. The dancers, the crowd, the performance. All are just amazing. It ranks up there with the top reasons I wish I had a time-machine. Can you imagine how much pure FUN getting to dance there would have been!

"Dreamin","The Vent" & "Children of The World" - Big KRIT

How many of you have heard (or believe) the complaint that there is just no good new hip-hop anymore? I'm sure most of us would agree that there certainly is an overabundance of lack-luster rap nowadays. Especially coming from mainstream sources. In my opinion, though, a handful of artists in the past few years still have me holding on to my love for hip-hop. The problem is that it is sometimes hard to find the gems that represent the best of what the genre has been and could be.

I had the idea for this site while talking about this with my buddy Evan out in Oakland. He's the guy I always talk to when I need something new to nod my head to, so I was not surprised I absolutely love his first recommendation for AudioIn-AudioOut, Big K.R.I.T.

Big K.R.I.T. (King Remembered in Time) is an MC and producer hailing from Meridian, Mississippi. He was a featured artist in this years XXL Freshman Class and, following the significant critical acclaim he received for the content and quality of his mix-tape, "Return4Eva", K.R.I.T. was recently signed to Def Jam. His highly anticipated first full studio album, "Live From the Underground" is due to be released at the end of the month.

K.R.I.T.'s content and production (which he does himself) create thought provoking tracks with heavy, sparse beats that accentuate rhymes deep on lyrical imagery of the struggles and aspirations of life in the American South. Nothing but true poetry here, a sterling example of how at its best hip-hop can be artistically complex and emotionally powerful. I heard these songs for the first time a few weeks ago and have had them on a consistent repeat cycle ever since. Love 'em.

If you fancy yourself a fan of great hip-hop and quality lyricism I would like to know if you agree. Or not. Either way, take a minute or two to listen to (and hopefully enjoy) something new.

"Percumajor" & "Pon de Floor"- Major Lazer, "Hold Yuh"- Gyptian (Major Lazer remix),

This weekend I'll be enjoying myself at the North Coast Festival at Union Park, here in sweltering hot Chicago. This will be only the second iteration of this event and features an impressive line-up of mostly electronic or hip-hop influenced groups (http://www.northcoastfestival.com/). Main acts include David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa, Thievery Corporation, and Fatboy Slim. The groups I'm most excited for are Little Dragon (see earlier blog post), Common, and Major Lazer.



Major Lazer, a collaborative project from DJ's Diplo & Switch, highlights dancehall reggae beats and vocals, with noticeable hints of house, soca, oldies, jazz and R&B. The result? High-energy, thumping, musical party starters. Perfect for a huge crowd of overexposed, under-hydrated, sweaty festival-goers who want nothing more than to dance their faces off.

The group has produced a wonderful mixtape called "Lazerproof" with La Roux, and a full length album in 2009 called "Guns don't Kill People...Lazers Do". For the album the duo moved to Jamaica, to immerse themselves in the many sub genres of the dancehall world. I have often argued that there is no better type of music to get people groovin' than dancehall. After checking out these songs I hope you not only agree, but join me on the floor come Saturday afternoon.

This track, "Pon de Floor" has one of the strangest, raunchiest, and entertaining videos I have ever seen. If you want an example of the Jamaican dance style, "stabbin", go on the internet and find it. Below is the track.





This Major Lazer remix was the first thing I heard from the duo. I loved it, and promptly went out and bought the original song by Gyptian as well. Check out both below.

"Treme" - John Boutte; "After Mardi Gras" - Lucia Macarelli & Steve Earl

I always loved me some New Orleans Jazz. I grew up listening to folks like Louis Armstrong, Jelly-Roll Morton, and Wynton Marsalis. But beyond jazz, I really had no knowledge of New Orleans music or the incredible role music plays in that city's history and culture. For that reason I've really been loving HBO's series, "Treme". The writers (also responsible for the best tv show of all time, 'The Wire') do a wonderful job of seamlessly infusing a crazy- wide variety of New Orleans music into an intense drama about a city recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The impressive thing is that the music is not a backdrop to the story, its an integral part of it, showing the inseparable nature of music and life in New Orleans. A great success of the show is that it has brought new attention to great acts from the Crescent City and elsewhere. Those worth checking out include Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffin, Lucia Macarelli, John Boutte, & the Hot 8 Brass Band. The music runs the gamut from poignant to uplifting and includes jazz, brass bands, hip-hop, dixieland, singer/songwriter, R&B, and more. Most can be found online on individual artist albums or on soundtrack albums from the show. Take a look.

Season 2 Music Videos

Season 3 should start at the beginning of next year, I believe, so keep your eyes and ears pealed.

"Like Eating Grass" - Bloc Party & "Nike Boots" - Wale

I'm chillin' here packing, about to head to the airport for a little trip. I have been enjoying a little mix I made full of tracks for just this occasion. The playlist is called "pumped while packing". Its working, so I figured you folks may be interested. Bloc Party is one of my new favorites. So. Much. Energy. Their lead singers voice sounds so earnest. And their drummer...Damn. I mean seriously. Check his sick skills at 2:53 in "Like Eating Glass". And Wale. Oh how I love thee. Anyone that actually shout-outs Montgomery County (Bethesda! WHAT WHAT!) in a killer hip-hop song gets my undying respect. I would write so much more about both these songs, but I have a plane to catch :-)

"Block After Block" & "Yeah Yeah" - Matt and Kim

Another great rec from my buddy Erin. Way to go, man. Thanks for the dose of levity to my day. Matt and Kim are a dance-punk duo from NYC. Though I have just heard of them myself, they have been around since '98 and have three choice albums out. As you can tell from the wide and toothy grins that seem perpetually smacked onto their faces, Matt and Kim really appear to be enjoying themselves. Their videos certainly convey as much. They seem to go with schemes that resemble ideas I used to have a pre-teen. You know, the ones you roll your eyes at now because you are too "mature" to do that sort of thing anymore (but you secretly know would be a freakin' BLAST! Like having a food fight like in "Yeah Yeah" or playing tag through New York). Anyways, their music is peppy, their videos are fun to watch. Not a bad thing for a rainy Tuesday afternoon. P.S. Both my pre-teen self and current self would have a serious thing for Kim. So. Damn. Cute.

Winner!! :: "Good Day" - Ice Cube :: Best early 90's throw-back hip-hop

Your votes are in, and it was a close race (see poll to the right). Victorious by 1 vote was "Good Day" by Ice cube. While many of you mentioned that the competition was fierce, and the full Ice Cube catalog does not quite compare to the likes of Tupac, Tribe, or Pharcyde, it seems this track holds a special place in the annals of hip-hop history.

According to the source of all sources (Wikipedia!!), Ice Cube commented on the concept behind the song stating, "The inspiration was my life at the time ... I was at the top of the rap game. It was the summer of ’92 and I was in a hotel room, really in a state of euphoria. I had all the money I had dreamed of. I was in a good frame of mind. And I remember thinking, ‘Okay, there’s been the riots, people know I will deal with that. That’s a given. But I rap all this gangsta stuff – what about all the good days I had?" While the original version blew my mind with that Isley Brothers "Footsteps in the Dark" sample, my good friend Tijana reminded me how awesome the "Good Day (Remix)" is. So, in honor of the winning track, here is the remix for y'all (courtesy of my Bootlegs and B-sides CD from 1994 !!) And here is the Isley Brothers hit used on the original:

"Tricky Turtle", "Get Your Regal On", & "Lost & Lookin' (Remix)" - Blockhead

If y'all are not into super-chilled-out instrumental hip-hop already, prepare to change your mind. I present to you Blockhead (AKA Tony Simon), a NYC-based producer who came to prominence in the indie/underground hip-hop scene in the 90's, most noticeably due to his collaboration with MC Aesop Rock. Since then Blockhead has focused his energy on solo instrumental albums which showcase his skills at weaving together obscure horn riffs, analog sounds, and soulful vocal samples into lo-fi tapestries of head-nodding goodness. The results of his work seem so mellow and simple, but a second listen reveal the complexity of his craft. Yes, I may seem to be on his jock (musically speaking, that is), and this isn't far from the truth. But my appreciation for Tony's music stems from the fact that I actually have become friends with the guy. He was smart enough to start dating a wonderful and long-time friend of mine (well played, sir) so now I get to crash on their couch when I visit NYC. Beyond his work, the guy is a very cool and gracious dude. He has a disturbingly funny sense of humor and is unassuming in his celebrity, both of which I appreciate. Oh, and he is super fun to talk music with. Tony, if you are reading this don't get a big head. Im just fluffing you up so you will accept hosting me on my next visit so we can do that whole dancing-and-drinking-til-5.am.-eating-pizza-passing-out-on-your-couch once again. Alright, about this "Get Your Regal On" track...Have you ever had one of those wonderful days where you are strutting around your city/town, feelin' good, sun shining down on your back, walking tall? Ever wish you had a soundtrack for your life at that moment? Well, I'll be damned if this isn't one of the best songs for that moment that I have heard. As a final note, I highly recommend you check out the "Lost & Looking (Remix)" track found here:::: http://www.myspace.com/theblockishot

Throw-back 90's Hip-hop:: Vote on your favorite in our latest poll (to the right)

Remember the early 90's? Good times. I had one of those shaved-underneath haircuts, wore ridiculously huge baggy jean-shorts, and pretended I knew how to skate. I also used to play sick to skip school, order Domino's, watch Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, and memorize tons of hip-hop lyrics. Below you will find a few of my favorites from that era. If you are anything like me, most should be familiar. I am sure some of you even take deep pride in knowing them word for word. This is both awesome and impressive. To be true, I fell in love with my wife again that night in 2007 when she (somewhat disturbingly) revealed she knew every line to "Gimme that Nut" by Eazy-E during a campfire sing-along. This was truly a time of great, great, music... Here is the full version of the song.

"Twice" - Little Dragon

My friend Alicia recently said, "I often hear people say that there is no good music out today. That's only true if you're listening solely to FM radio. You may have to dig, but well-crafted, heart-skipping, soulful, original, thoughtful, sexy, foot-thumping, emotion-provoking, head-nodding music is definitely out there! To say it doesn't exist is outrageous, in my opinion". Her suggestion to check out Little Dragon most certainly backs up this statement. A vehicle for the haunting vocals of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano,the groups music is ultra-hybrid blend of acoustic jazz, soul, hip hop, & synth-heavy rhythm and blues. "Twice" is a fantastic example of how Little Dragon can fuse these influences into a passionate, finely crafted, intriguing piece of music. Sit back and enjoy.

Birthday: Richard Wright::: "Echoes" - Richard Wright & David Gilmore of Pink Floyd

Today we celebrate the life and birthday of Richard Wright, the prolific keyboardist of Pink Floyd. Wright passed away too early, in 2008 due to cancer. Though often overshadowed by his band-mates, Wright contributed a great deal to the textured, full sound that characterized Pink Floyd's most epic pieces. Check out this absurdly awesome version of "Echoes" from a 2006 Gilmore show at the Royal Albert Hall. Wright guests on lead vocals and keyboard. What a great way to kill 22 minutes at work! Enjoy. David Gilmore on Richard Wright: "No one can replace Richard Wright. He was my musical partner and my friend. In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick's enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound. I have never played with anyone quite like him."

"You Oughta Know" & "Rainbow in the Dark" - Das Racist

My buddy E. Claudio is always good for music suggestions.  His latest recommendation has been stuck in my head all day.  I figured I should post it so as to at least make sure I'm not the only one going around Chicago singing strangely to themselves.

Das Racist is a hip hop group out of Brooklyn, NYC that own a wickedly strange style highlighting deep knowledge of 90's Americana, old-school hip hop, and New York culture, among a variety of other odd throw-back and comedic influences.  Consisting of Heems (Himanshu Suri), Kool A.D. (Victor Vazquez), and hype man Dap (Ashok Kondabulu), the cultural make-up of the group (including members of Indian, Italian, and Afro-Cuban descent) is as atypical to the hip hop world as their music.  While critics can't seem to decide if Das Racist deserves "kind-of-a-big deal" or "joke" status, the group seems to embrace the whacked out dorkiness of it all.

I liked this quote...

Himanshu Suri stated in an interview:

“

I think being minorities at a liberal arts college and that type of environment had an impact on both the way we view race and our sense of humor, which people often use as a tool to deal with race. I always felt like Wonder Showzen was a television show that captured that type of thing perfectly. When I saw the little kid yelling "THAT'S RACIST" it blew my mind. And then it became a game ... to take all the seriousness out of making legitimate commentary on race, because that can get very annoying. So when something veering on racially insensitive would pop off in a commercial on television or something it would be like, who could yell "That's Racist" first. And then we thought it would be a cool name. Das EFX may have been an inspiration. <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MzWxf7tf3Qo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

In honor of the gorgeous and sunny day here in lovely Chicago I thought I would bring it back a bit for y'all with this classic. Adjust the bass, and let the Alpine blast.

My Sweetie - Wale

If you ever need to get a dance party started, look no further.  Seriously.  I have played this on car trips, at house parties, while making dinner, while getting ready to go out, while brushing my teeth...In each case things got HYPED!!!  Wale does an amazing job of mixing Nigerian dance influences with D.C. style go-go rhythms in a way that brings out primal hip motion in even the most reserved wall flower.  Go forth.  Shake your money-maker.

Bizness- tUnE-yArDs

My buddy Erin suggested I check out this song last week.  Not only is the music awesome, but the video is mesmerizing (see below).  I promptly bought the whole album (WhoKill) and was not disappointed one bit.  The album is full of excellent songs that do an amazing job of mixing experimental folk elements, really strange percussion, and powerfully emotional vocals.