Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Best of 2007: Pop




Everything Mark Ronson touched this year turned to gold. He produced tracks for Lily Allen's great debut Alright, Still, and produced and enlisted the Dap Tone horns to give Amy Winehouse's Back To Black a retro feel. Somehow he still found time to drop his own LP of cover songs Version, my favorite album of the year. Just last week he was nominated for a Grammy for "Producer of the Year."

Here are some pop gems from 2007, 3 of which Ronson had a hand in, one of which is just classic JT and Timbaland goodness.

Download: Lily Allen- Smile
From the album Alright, Still
(Buy)

Download: Amy Winehouse- Tears Dry on Their Own
From the album Back to Black
(Buy)

Download: Mark Ronson feat Daniel Merriweather- Stop Me
From the album Version
(Buy)

Download: Justin Timberlake feat TI- My Love
From the album Future Sex/Love Sounds
(Buy)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Best of 2007: Electronic



We will look back on 2007 as the year that House broke. Straight out of Paris, electro-house duo Justice led the charge with 2 massive hits - "We Are Your Friends" and "D.A.N.C.E." Their style of grimey noise coupled with pulsating bass, reverberated off many a dancefloor in 2007.

Brits Simian Mobile Disco and German group Digitalism also put out very excellent house-inspired albums this year. Veterans of the scene, LCD Soundsystem returned with a vengance with their disc Sound of Silver and an electrifying US Tour.

Download: LCD Soundsystem- All My Friends
From the album Sound of Silver
(Buy)

Download: Simian Mobile Disco- Hustler
From the album Attack Decay Sustain Release
(Buy)

Download: Digitalism- Zdarlight
From the album Idealism
(Buy)

Download: Justice- We Are Your Friends
From the album †
(Buy)

Monday, December 10, 2007

Best of 2007: Hip Hop




2007 was not a stellar year for Hip Hop, but any year that Kanye West puts out an album is a good year for music. His Graduation was a pleasant surprise amid most of the nonsense that clogged up the airwaves of rap radio. I would like to hope that we would hear the last of "Crank Dat Soulja Boy", "Walk It Out" and "Ay Bay Bay" when 2007 draws to a close, but I am afraid we will not be so lucky.

Acts like Wale, The Cool Kids and Kid Sister proved that there may be hope on the horizon by dropping albums that harked back to the glory days of the 80's and 90's. Wale in particular looks to be a prime candidate for Hip Hop's next superstar, some one sign this dude!

Download: Wale- Camp Lo
From the album 100 Miles and Running
(Buy)

Download: Kanye West- Big Brother
From the album Graduation
(Buy)

Download: The Cool Kids- 88
From the EP Totally Flossed Out
(Buy)

Download: UGK feat Outkast- International Players Anthem
From the album Underground Kingz
(Buy)

Download: Kid Sister- Pro Nails Remix ft Kanye West
From the Pro Nails EP
(Buy)

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Best of 2007: Indie Rock




Albeit very trite, I will be doing a year end "Best Of 2007" list with some of my favorite albums from the past year. In this first installment, I profile songs from five very solid Indie Rock releases from this past year. I'd have to say my favorite disc of the year is definitely Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future, followed closely by Mark Ronson's Version, which I will write more about in the days to come.

Download: Klaxons- Two Receivers
From the album Myths of the Near Future
(Buy)

Download: Band of Horses- No One's Gonna Love You
From the album Cease To Begin
(Buy)

Download: The National- Mistaken For Strangers
From the album Boxer
(Buy)

Download: Panda Bear- Bros (edit)
From the album Person Pitch
(Buy)

Download: Interpol- Rest My Chemsitry
From the album Interpol
(Buy)

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Wale


It has taken something momentous to drag me out of my non-blogging, working too hard schedule of the last few weeks. The occasion is the arrival of Wale. Hailing from Washington DC, the only way I can describe the dude is a mix of Kanye, A Tribe Called Quest and Spank Rock. His lyrics are poignant and humorous and he is fortunate to have Mark Ronson, Nick Catchdubs, Daniel Merriweather, Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse in his corner.

Expect big things from Wale in the year to come and check out a few tracks from his just released mixtape, 100 Miles and Running:

Download: Wale- Daytona Squared
(Buy)

Download: Wale- W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E
(Buy)

Download: Wale-Camp Lo
(Buy)

Friday, June 29, 2007

Friday Hotness #15



Sorry I have been out of the loop for a minute, had family in town and was sick for a few days, but I am back with the hotness.

Download: Menomena- Rotten Hell
(Buy)

Download: Nina Sky ft Daytona- Clothes Off
(Buy)

Download: The White Stripes- 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
(Buy)

Download: UGK ft Outkast- International Players Anthem
(Buy)

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Baltimore Bands


Much to many people's suprise, my hometown of Baltimore, MD actually has a pretty vibrant music scene. Growing up there in the 90's I was fortunate enough to go to shows at places Fletchers and the Boh Dome and see bands that never really made it on a national level, but had a damn good time rocking Baltimore every weekend. The Kelly Bell Band is a blues rock outfit led by overweight songman and Baltimore legend, Mr. Kelly Bell. Lake Trout, a pioneer in the electronic-jam genre paved the way for acts like The Disco Biscuits and The New Deal. Colouring Lesson brought reggae/ska beats to make the Charm City summers feel like Kingston.

Download: Kelly Bell Band- Homegrown (Live)
(Buy)

Download: Lake Trout- Another Day
(Buy)

Download: Colouring Lesson- Head
(Buy)

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Cornershop


A few tracks from everyone's favorite British-Indian reggae, blues, funk, elctro-rock band, Cornershop.

Download: Cornershop-Brimful of Asha
(Buy)

Download: Cornershop-Sleep on the Left Side
(Buy)

Download: Cornershop-Staging the Plaguing of the Raised Platform
(Buy)

Download: Cornershop-Lessons Learned From Rocky 1 to Rocky 3
(Buy)

Monday, May 28, 2007

Lupe Fiasco


Chicago's Lupe Fiasco has been passed the torch for the backpack/skateboard rap crowd, a genre started by Skateboard P himself and Lupe's label chief Mr. Kanye West. His raps are a breath of fresh air, mainly because he is not trying to be something he's not. His highly slept-on debut Food & Liquor featured beats by Kanye and others and was the perfect showcase for young Lupe to showcase his laid back flow.

Download: Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell- Kick Push (Remix)
(Buy)

Download: Lupe Fiasco ft Jill Scott- Daydreamin'
(Buy)

Download: Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West & Pharrell- US Placers
(Buy)

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Barbeque Songs


I know there will be a lot of grilling out this Memorial Day weekend, as the summer has officially kicked off. Here are some of my favorite Barbeque songs (yes, I have favorite songs about BBQ's).

Download: 2 Skinnee J's- BBQ
(Buy)

Download: Animal Liberation Orchestra- Barbeque
(Buy)

Download: Outkast feat Raekwon- Skew it on the Bar-B
(Buy)

Download: Tim McGraw- BBQ Stain
(Buy)

Monday, May 21, 2007

Interpol


I didn't know what to expect when I went to see Interpol on Saturday for the first time at the annual KROQ Weenie Roast, a ritual gathering-grounds for fat, drunk, tattooed Orange County dudes. Although they were probably burning up in their all black hipster suits, they ripped through their "hits," including their new single "The Heinrich Maneuver," and really won the crowd over. I have been a late comer to this band, but as I go back through their albums I am continually impressed by their fast-guitar driven rock songs and their downtempo jams alike.

Download: Interpol- Evil
(Buy)

Download: Interpol- NYC
(Buy)

Download: Interpol- Slow Hands
(Buy)

Download: Interpol- The Heinrich Maneuver
(Buy)

Download: Interpol- Untitled
(Buy)

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

New Beastie Boys


Here's the new single The Rat Cage from their upcoming instrumental album, and these old dudes can still rock it. Also some older instrumental jazz tracks from their excellent 1996 compilation The In Sound From Way Out.

Download: Beastie Boys- The Rat Cage
(Buy)

Download: Beastie Boys- Son of Neckbone
(Buy)

Download: Beastie Boys- Groove Holmes
(Buy)

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Project Pat


It's a shame how the producers of MTV's Adventures in Hollyhood have shown Project Pat as a background figure in the whole Three 6 Mafia world. This dude has been around since the beginning, he is the brother of Three 6 member and just damn funny guy, Juicy J.

The reason I like Project Pat so much is because of his cadence, it’s so different than what anyone else's flow, and he doesn’t give a shit. This dude rides the beats like he was driving his low-rider through the streets of Memphis on a Saturday night. Granted it’s different, but throw some of his shit on, put the top down and coast into summer:

Download: Project Pat- Ballers
(Buy)

Download: Project Pat- Good Googly Moogly
(Buy)

Download: Three 6 Mafia ft Project Pat- Poppin' My Collar
(Buy)

Monday, May 7, 2007

El Ten Eleven


LA's own El Ten Eleven are The White Stripes of instrumental music, as they continue to amaze me with how full of a sound they can squeeze out of a two-man band. One guy plays drums and the other rips a double neck guitar, one with a 6 guitar strings, the other neck a fully operational bass. He uses a sampler to record guitar parts, then layers over them to create a sound that is complex and transcending. It’s easier to watch then for my musically challenged self to explain:

El Ten Eleven- Live Video

And some songs for you to check out:

Download: El Ten Eleven-Sorry About Your Irony
(Buy)

Download: El Ten Eleven-My Only Swerving
(Buy)

Download: El Ten Eleven-Lorge
(Buy)

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

What the hell happened?



No songs today, let's just think about what could have been.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Chromeo


Chromeo has been charged with a tough duty these days - Not fakin' the funk. In fact the disco/funk tradition is alive and well when Chromeo takes the stage, with Roger Troutman-esque vocoder lyrics and pulsating dancefloor grooves. Popular with both the funk crowd the the hip/hop dance community because of their relation to Kanye West's DJ A Trak, Chromeo are just trying to make you move your ass. Here are some of my favorite joints of theirs plus their brand new remix of Feist's Sea Lions, which is bound to put a smile on your face and a dip in yo' hip.

Download: Chromeo- Needy Girl
(Buy)

Download: Chromeo- Fancy Footwork
(Buy)

Download: Chromeo- Tenderoni
(Buy)

Download: Chromeo- You're So Gangsta
(Buy)

Download: Feist- Sea Lion (Chromeo Remix)
(Buy)

Friday, April 27, 2007

Coachella Preview: Sunday 4/29


I will be out there on Sunday, so holla at a play when you see him in the desert.

Download: Manu Chao- Merry Blues
(Buy)

Download: Rodrigo y Gabriela- One
(Buy)

Download: CSS- Alala
(Buy)

Download: Except from Spank Rock- Fabric Live:33 Mix
(Buy)

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Coachella Preview: Saturday 4/28


Download: Red Hot Chili Peppers- I Could Have Lied
(Buy)

Download: Regina Spektor- Fidelity
(Buy)

Download: Hot Chip- Boy From School
(Buy)

Download: Girl Talk- Pure Magic
(Buy)

Monday, April 23, 2007

Coachella Preview: Friday 4/27


Download: Interpol- Untitled
(Buy)

Download: DJ Shadow- What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 2) (Live)
(Buy)

Download: Silversun Pickups- Kissing Families
(Buy)

Download: Amy Winehouse- Tears Dry On Their Own
(Buy)

Download: Busdriver- Imaginary Places
(Buy)

Friday, April 20, 2007

Friday Hotness #7


Download: Brand Nubian- Slow Down
(Buy)

Download: Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra- Kiss The Sky
(Buy)

Download: Bright Eyes- Classic Cars
(Buy)

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Sufjan Stevens


I don't know how I let this blog go on so long without posting about the muthafuckin' man himself, Sufjan Stevens. This guy, who is currently busy working on the 3rd of his albums devoted to the 50 states (Michigan and Illinois being the first two), is one of the most prolific artists of our time. He doesn't just crank out simple singer/guitar jams either- Sufjan can play the oboe, recorder, banjo, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums, piano and a number of other obscure instruments.

While growing up in a cult in Michigan, the young Sufjan was constantly writing and recording music with his family and friends whenever he could, but it wasn't until his release of Illinois in 2005 that he achieved notoriety in the "indie mainstream." The songs, ranging from the triumphant "Chicago" to the hauntingly melancholy "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." all fit together to tell tales of the state and it's famous sons. His music can move me like none other. I hope you enjoy, and maybe your state will be next to be Sufjan-ified, be on the lookout.

Download: Sufjan Stevens- Chicago
(Buy)

Download: Sufjan Stevens- For The Windows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
(Buy)

Download: Sufjan Stevens- Come On Feel The Illinoise
(Buy)

Download: Sufjan Stevens- Casimir Pulaski Day
(Buy)

Download: Sufjan Stevens- Jacksonville
(Buy)

Monday, April 16, 2007

Saves The Day


I saw the originators of New Jersey emo-pop-punk Saves The Day last week at the House of Blues here in LA. It was a very entertaining show, even if I was the oldest guy there. Their f-ing classic debut Through Being Cool was the blueprint for emotional punk rock that has since been watered down to permeate the world of MTV. Before Pete Wentz even got his first pair of skinny jeans, Saves The Day was writing some of the catchiest rock songs out there.

What I love about them is that they are constantly evolving and refusing to get caught up in that boring emo world. On 2003's In Reverie, Saves the Day showed a much cleaner sound. Most of the songs sound almost like catchy Beach Boys-esque pop-tarts.

And you can't tell me that the singer (2nd from right, red hair) doesn't look like my homie Evan


Download: Saves The Day- At Your Funeral
(Buy)

Download: Saves The Day- Rocks Tonic Juice Magic
(Buy)

Download: Saves The Day- Shoulder To The Wheel
(Buy)

Download: Saves The Day- My Sweet Fracture
(Buy)

Download: Saves The Day- Driving In The Dark
(Buy)

Download: Saves The Day- Anywhere With You
(Buy)

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Ugly Duckling


Ugly Duckling is one of my favorite underground hip-hop groups because they bring the fun back to the genre. Their beats, provided by DJ and genuine character Young Einstein, are heaily based on old school breaks. The lyrics range from classic party rhymes to tales of workplace hardships and a fictional fast food chain called "Meatshake."

UD's popularity has somewhat dwindled here in the states over the past few years, but they are massively popular in the UK and Australia. If you can ever catch one of their concerts I highly suggest you check them out, it's an all night party.

Download: Ugly Duckling-Rio De Janeiro
(Buy)

Download: Ugly Duckling-A Little Samba
(Buy)

Download: Ugly Duckling-La Revolucion
(Buy)

Download: Ugly Duckling-Journey to Anywhere
(Buy)

Download: Ugly Duckling-Oasis
(Buy)

Mark Ronson - Version


Superstar New York DJ and producer Mark Ronson's new album Version drops tomorrow in the UK and hopefully soon after here in the states. All the songs are cover songs re-worked by Ronson, and featured some of the best vocalists out there. Here are my 3 favorites joints off Version.

Download: Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse- Valerie
(Buy)

Download: Mark Ronson ft Daniel Merriweather- Stop Me
(Buy)

Download: Mark Ronson ft Lily Allen- Oh My God
(Buy)