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radio rips

Of Montreal on KCRW / How cool is my wife?

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Before the music, I have to share with you the coolness that is my wife, Annie. Wanna know what she got me for Valentine’s Day? Tickets to see the National on March 29 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Holy hell. The National only landed the top spot on my favorite albums and favorite songs of 2005. And I missed their show with Clap Your Hands in Phoenix because I had to work.

I’m just way too excited. My gift for her isn’t nearly as fabulous. So I can only say thank you and I love you. She knows the way to a man’s heart is with concert tickets.


So, all you LA bloggers … that means you and you, and anyone else I might be missing: Let’s rendezvous for drinks, shall we??

OK, on with the music …

Of Montreal is a band I’ve missed twice now in Phoenix in the past year. I tried to go to a show last year on a whim, and that was a mistake. The place was packed, line going out the door and through the parking lot.

So, this set on KCRW is as close as I’m going to get for now, although I think Cable and Tweed is hooking us up with a live set from a recent show in the ATL. I only own Sunlandic Twins, though Matt at YANP tells me Satanic Panic in the Attic is another one to pick up.

(Note: This was recorded from KCRW’s live stream, which comes over at 128 kbps as opposed to the archive audio, which is at 40-something kbps. So the sound should be pretty solid quality. You know, if you’re into that audiophile sorta thing.)

Of Montreal, on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, 2/13/06:

1. Rapture Rapes the Muses
2. So Begins Our Alabee
3. The Repudiated Immortals
4. Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games
5. Oslo in the Summertime/I Was Never Young
(There was a cool bridge between songs that I didn’t wanna chop up.)
6. The Party’s Crashing Us
7. Disconnect the Dots

radio rips

Blackalicious on KEXP

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Back in September, Seattle radio station KEXP broadcast for a week from New York’s Museum of Television and Radio. Among the invited musical acts (mostly all indie) was Blackalicious, a favorite in these parts for the duo’s progressive hip-hop stylings.

Gotta give it up to the excellent KEXP, which is known for hosting many a great indie act, for opening up to include hip-hop in the rotation.

I’m still in debate (with myself) about where Blackalicious’ latest LP, The Craft, stands among its work. Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel set the bar high with their debut Nia (and then Blazing Arrow), which sometimes sets expectations unrealistically high (see also, Nas’ Illmatic or even Souls of Mischief’s 93 Til Infinity). At least until Nas’ lastest work (God’s Son … maybe) could anybody argue that he lived up to the promise he set forth in Illmatic.

Classic debut albums: blessing or a curse? Talk amongst yourselves …

Blackalicious, live on KEXP, 9/15/05:

1. World of Vibrations/Rhythm Sticks
2. Alphabet Aerobics
(One of the great displays of verbal dexterity.)
3. Your Move

Also …

  • Because I’m on the topic of Blackalicious, whose track, I Declare, from the PlayStation video game The Con was part of my contest last week, I am sad to report that not one person guessed my favorite hip-hop album from 1988 (although one entrant was absurdly close). I’m debating extending the contest or simply drawing a random winner from those bold enough to guess. Stay tuned …
  • And if all goes as planned, I will have recorded Of Montreal’s performance on KCRW this morning.
  • I’ve got a fun week lined up, with a couple of great interviews, one of which will be accompanied by yet another contest.
hip-hop, vinyl

Sunday Grab Bag: R.I.P. Jay Dee

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Roger Erickson/Stones Throw
Sad news in the world of hip-hop that I first found out at Analog Giant: Producer Jay Dee (aka J-Dilla) died Friday of kidney failure (Detroit Free Press story). He was only 32.

Without even knowing, you probably have heard something by Jay Dee, even if you just listened to a sliver of hip-hop. He was a member of A Tribe Called Quest’s production team the Ummah, and he’s worked with artists like De La Soul, the Roots and Common. Stones Throw lists his extensive resume.

My knowledge of Jay Dee (born James Yancey) is fairly limited. But his name is, quietly, everywhere in my collection, especially on vinyl b-side remixes. Also check Stones Throw’s J-Dilla page for links to praiseworthy reviews of his latest Donuts, released just last week.

For more on Jay Dee, I highly recommend:

Here’s a few remix cuts culled from my collection.
Jay Dee/J-Dilla: 1974-2006, R.I.P.

De La Soul | Stakes is High (remix by Jay Dee)
From Itzsoweezee 12″ single; De La, Mos Def and Truth Enola on one track.

The Pharcyde | Y? (Be Like That) (Jay Dee remix)
From Drop 12″ single; a great example of Jay Dee keeping the flavor of the original but coloring it with a stuttering bass line and more pronounced backing vocals.

The Pharcyde | Runnin’ (Jay Dee Remix)
From Drop 12″ single; a cooled-out mix of one of my favorite Pharcyde tracks.

hip-hop

Run-DMC reissues/contest revision

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Slowly but surely, I’ve been repurchasing my Run-D.M.C. collection because of the Legacy reissues of the seminal hip-hop group’s catalog. Each reissue CD contains bonus tracks, either live or instrumentals or remixes. There are few groups I would rebuy CDs for, and Run-D.M.C. definitely is one of them. At this point, I’m only missing the Raising Hell reissue.

It’s pointless to get into some celebratory spiel about the group’s greatness (the repackaged liner notes do that quite well), but every time I listen to Run-D.M.C. I’m astounded. There is something very simple and pure about what they were doing. Listen to the beats. To the lyrics. There is nothing dressed up about them.

Not to sound like a bitter traditionalist, but revisiting these albums makes me long for something better from hip-hop. How is it that something so elemental in its function was so groundbreaking in its vision? I think that’s a rhetorical question.


Run-DMC | Rock Box
Run-DMC | Sucker M.C.’s (Live)
(Both taken from the self-titled Run-D.M.C.)

Contest update …

So my wife thought it would be “easy” for you to guess my two favorite hip-hop albums. It doesn’t appear that way, seeing as how only four people took a stab. So I’m going to pare it down. One of the two albums is A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Now, you must guess the other. Here’s a hint: It was released in 1988.

Here’s the contest post. Keep in mind: If you don’t want to find out about cool parties, bands or other Vice Records or addVice stuff, just say so. Otherwise you’ll be added to their e-mail list.

Also …

I’m probably gonna go check out Jax on the ones and twos tonight at an afterparty for Oh Shit! A Fest? in downtown PHX. Check it out if you live in AZ.

contests, hip-hop

Contest! 12″ vinyl for The Con and Jak X soundtracks

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OK, y’all, it’s contest time involving two of my favorite pastimes: music and video games. Some of the hottest tracks have been coming from video-game soundtracks, and I got some exclusive remix goods for ya.

New music inspired by Sony PlayStation games THE CONâ„¢ and JakX: Combat Racingâ„¢ are available. Here’s the track listing:

Music from and inspired by THE CONâ„¢ (exclusive tracks):
I Declare – Blackalicious
Danger Room Feat. Casual – Dan the Automator
The Champ Feat. Ax – Alchemist
Swing First Feat. Graph and Mujah – DOC
Music from and inspired by JakX: Combat Racingâ„¢ (exclusive remixes):
Reborn Feat. Cage – El-P
Tempest – John Digweed
Run the Table – Overseer

Tracks for The Con can be purchased here; tracks for The Jak here.
(Notice: Links only work with Microsoft® Windows® 98 SE, ME, 2000 or XP; Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.)

But lucky for you, if you’re not running on Windows, addVice and Sony hooked me (and you) up with the Blackalicious and El-P tracks:

Blackalicious | I Declare (from The Con)
El-P (feat. Cage) | Reborn (from Jak X)

Now, about that contest … The prize is a pair of 12″ records (that’s vinyl, yo) – one containing the four songs from THE CONâ„¢, the other with three songs from JakX: Combat Racingâ„¢.

So, how do you win? Because we’re dealing with hip-hop … there are two hip-hop albums I would grab first in a fire or I would need if I were stranded on an island. Can you guess them both? Leave your guess in the comments. A winner will be selected randomly among the correct entries. Contest cutoff is midnight Saturday.

Note: If you don’t want to find out about cool parties, bands or other Vice Records or addVice stuff, just say so. Otherwise you’ll be added to their e-mail list.

arizona

Reubens Accomplice/Dopamine split EP

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Great news on the local front in Arizona: Western Tread Recordings has released a split six-song EP with Reubens Accomplice (Arizona) and Dopamine (UK).

I can’t vouch for Dopamine because I haven’t listened, but I can say with confidence that Reubens is an excellent band. Check out a previous post here. According to Reubens’ Web site, the group is working feverishly on a follow-up LP to The Bull, The Balloon and The Family; it’s tentatively titled Mammal Music.

In the meantime, buy the split EP for a mere $5 at Stinkweeds. The three songs from Reubens contain two new tracks, and the third was the hidden song on The Bull, with vocals and guitars from Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins. (I’d offer you that track, but I’d rather you buy the EP; I’m heading to Stinkweeds today to get it.)

Reubens Accomplice | Lost Sun
Reubens Accomplice | Tonight We Drink (feat. Howe Gelb)

Also …

Coming Feb. 23 to the Paper Heart, our iPod DJ night. Peep the logo … flyers will be distributed shortly. If you’re in Arizona, check it out. Doors open @ 7 p.m. E-mail if you wanna get up and spin your 15 minutes.

radio rips

Colin Meloy on NPR, part II

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Before the music, let me say this: I made an honest mistake for Monday’s post in not linking to NPR, which was then misconstrued in a comment as a slight to the NPR staff and its hard work. That was not the case. I quickly updated the post and also sent an apology to All Songs Considered.

We should all be thankful that NPR and artists, such as Colin Meloy, have made these shows on the Live Concert Series available for download; it’s a great service for fans. In no way, did I intentionally mean to undermine the diligent work of NPR and All Songs Considered. Their site is a tremendous resource for music fans; I can personally – and highly – recommend the ASC podcast.

My sole intention of splitting this NPR show (and others like it) is for the sake of convenience. It’s difficult to maneuver through an hour-plus file; it’s somewhat like a cassette tape – rewinding and fast-forwarding. I like to skip tracks sometimes, and I assume others do, too. However, I encourage you to visit NPR’s Live Concert Series page to download the concerts in their entirety. More specifically, the download of Colin Meloy’s concert can be found here.

I would like to thank All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen for pointing out my mistake. Who knew such an influential member of the media was reading my blog?

Hope everyone enjoys this.

Colin Meloy, NPR Live Concert Series, 1/28/06:

10. Everything I Try to Do, Nothing Seems to Turn Out Right
11. Barbara Allen (Shirley Collins cover)
12. Apology Song
13. California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade
14. Red Right Ankle
15. Blues Runs the Game (Jackson Frank cover)
16. Bandit Queen

Briefly …

I’ve not been able to log in to MySpace for like two months, even though I’m using my correct e-mail address and password. Their technical support is lacking; automated messages are about all I’ve gotten. Wondering if I just need to create a new page. Anyone encountered this problem?? I’m having MySpace withdrawals …

radio rips

Colin Meloy on NPR, part I

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Joel Didriksen for www.kingpinphoto.com

So, I have nothing to say about the Decemberists or Colin Meloy that hasn’t been said already. I will admit that my fondness for them wasn’t immediate. There’s definitely a certain amount of concentration required when taking in their literature/prose disguised as songwriting. Yet that’s come to be what I most appreciate.

Like reading a good book, the stories and history wrapped in the writing make listening more than a passive exercise. To me, Meloy doesn’t come off so much pretentious as he does the outcast drama kid from high school who was determined to make good on his talents and interests. And damn it if Engine Driver isn’t becoming one of my favorite songs.

Most chatter was snipped from these songs. Tomorrow’s post will have seven more tracks. (Sorry, cutting up and uploading 16 tracks in one shot was too much of a pain.)

[UPDATE: Bob Boilen, host of NPR’s excellent All Songs Considered, left a comment about an egregious oversight on my part. I failed to link back to NPR, which I did a couple of days ago. All apologies. You can find Colin Meloy’s concert in its entirety here. The Live Concert Series page is here.]

Colin Meloy, NPR Live Concert Series, 1/28/06:
1. Devil’s Elbow
2. We Both Go Down Together
3. Engine Driver
4. The Gymnast, High Above the Ground
5. Baby song (about his impending fatherhood)
6. Shankhill Butchers (new)
7. Tristan and Iseult (from his ex-band Tarkio)
8. Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect
9. Shiny

general

Sunday Grab Bag: Pete Yorn live promo

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I know my wife thinks I’m insane for hitting the record shops once (twice?) a week. Definitely there are times when I know I’ve combed over just about everything there is to see. Until I stumble upon a gem, like this four-song Pete Yorn live promo CD from 2001 (for $3.99!).

Yeah, you can buy his double-CD Live from New Jersey. But this sweet little promo – recorded at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, June 14, 2001 – has him briefly covering Springsteen (Dancin’ in the Dark) and the Smiths (Panic). In the immortal words of Champ Kind: “Whammy!”

Do yourselves a favor and grab these. Not sure how long I’ll keep them up.

Pete Yorn: Live, promo CD:

1. Dancin’ in the Dark/Murray
2. For Nancy (‘Cos it Already Is)
3. Strange Condition
4. Panic/Life on a Chain