radio rips

Elbow: Xfm sessions

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Earlier in the week, Dodge was raving – finally! – about Elbow’s fantastic Leaders of the Free World (V2 Records). The album was a cinch for my favorite albums of 2005 list; in fact, it checked in at No. 3.

Today’s three tracks were taken from the great Xfm Sessions, which I receive as a podcast. Anyway, for all the rave in the U.S. over bands from the U.K., Elbow seems oddly lost in the shuffle. Elbow does not possess the cachet of Coldplay, yet, in my opinion, come off more sincere and thoughtful.

Here’s hoping Elbow has enough of a following here in the States for a tour.

Elbow, from the Xfm Sessions:
1. Station Approach
2. Forget Myself
3. Leaders of the Free World

BONUS mp3:
Mexican Standoff (Spanish version)

Also …
On this rare post for a Saturday, I’d like to point out an e-mail I got from Clea, who runs (Sm)all Ages, an mp3 blog aimed at folks with children. This is a fantastic idea because, as Clea points out, “no one should have to listen to the Wiggles. Ever.” As the uncle of a 3-year-old and 1-year-old, all I can say is, Amen! The Teletubbies typically frighten me, and the world would be such a better place if our kids were raised on Wilco. Thank you, Clea. Our future is safe in your hands.

Hey, if you live in Arizona and plan on attending Nada Surf/Rogue Wave/King of France on Monday, did you know Nada Surf is doing an in-store acoustic session at Stinkweeds in Tempe at 5 p.m. Monday? Yeah, I’ll be there. Probably recording, too.

general

Promo sampler madness / contest winner

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We all love freebies. And I’ve come across a few free promo sampler CDs in the past couple weeks on my record-store excursions. So, thank you, Zia Records and Stinkweeds.

Part of the fun of promo samplers is weeding through the, um, crap to get to the goods. I don’t wanna name any names (Scott Stapp) but there was some garbage (new Rolling Stones) to pluck through. But I do the hard work so you don’t have to.

Included in the pile of the choice cuts are The Wand by the Flaming Lips (I know, I’m a little late here), the Strokes’ B-side Hawaii and the Most Serene Mix of the Stars’ Ageless Beauty.

From Monitor This! (Dec. 05/Jan. 06):
Death Cab for Cutie | Jealousy Rides With Me

From Monitor This! (Feb./March 06):
The Flaming Lips | The Wand
The Strokes | Hawaii
Ray Davies | After the Fall

From Polyvinyl Summer/Fall 2005:
Saturday Looks Good to Me | Lift Me Up
Owen | I Woke Up Today (from Japanese release of I Do Perceive)

From Arts & Crafts Adventures in Advertising:
Stars | Ageless Beauty (Most Serene Mix)

Contest winner …

Nobody correctly guessed my other favorite hip-hop album (along with Tribe’s Midnight Marauders) in my contest for a pair of 12″ records. Perhaps I made it too difficult, but one contestant – cbtoot – was excruciatingly close with this comment: “Since i highly doubt it was run dmc’s tougher than leather, i’m gonna have to go with Straight Out the Jungle by the JBs.”

It actually is Run-D.M.C.’s Tougher Than Leather. Now I have to wonder why anyone would “highly doubt” that. My reasons are strongly sentimental – it was one of my first tapes – but also because I thought the group was branching out a bit but still keeping its edge. Hard to explain, really. Raising Hell is probably the default choice of most for a favorite Run-D.M.C. record. I’ve just always felt a stronger pull to Tougher Than Leather.

Alas, the winner was selected by my wife at random from all entrants by pieces of paper from a hat. She pulled … (drum roll, please) … the man who goes by Jon Manyjars! Get in touch, Jon, and we’ll square away shipping details. Thanks to all for playing!

general

Sparks “Perfume”

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An acquaintance recently described the music of art-pop duo Sparks to me this way: “Think like over-the-top insane dudes, making giant almost operatic opuses but with lyrical content not that much different than your typical indie rock song. It’s kind of insane glam but with a heart.”

I was skeptical … but after listening to this track Perfume about, oooooh, 27 times on Wednesday, I’m sold. Crazy thing is, the pair – brothers Ron and Russell Mael – have been around since the ’70s, yet this is the first I’d heard of them. Learn something new every day. And that’s the beauty of the blogs … expanding my horizons.

At heart, Perfume, from the LP Hello Young Lovers (due for U.S. release in March I believe), is pretty basic in its intent: He wants to spend the rest of his life with this girl because “you don’t wear no perfume.” It’d be wholly ridiculous if the musical composition weren’t absolutely pop greatness.

Perhaps my favorite line:

“The olfactory sense is the sense
that most strongly evokes
memories of the past …
Well, screw the past.”

Listen to the bass and piano lines. Even if you find the lyrics laughable or pretentious, there is no denying the near-perfect pop construction of the instrumentation.

The great Marathonpacks has another mp3 from the album here.

Sparks | Perfume

Also …

After two months of not being able to sign on to MySpace, I’m baaaaaack. Hit me up!

We also created a page for our iSpin night, which is now a week out, here. On that note, we have an amazing sponsor on board: iLounge.com, the site for all things iPod. Give them a visit. iLounge is graciously providing iTunes gift cards for the best three sets of the evening. Time to ramp it up!

general

Jonah Matranga live CD/DVD: “There’s A Lot In Here”

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The news of this release almost slipped through the cracks, but I’m glad I caught up with it. On Feb. 21, Jonah Matranga – former frontman of Far, New End Original and recently of Gratitude and also known for his solo project Onelinedrawing – is putting out a live CD/DVD There’s A Lot in Here. Here’s the info from Equal Vision Records:

“The CD contains some of his greatest songs, recorded live, all on one CD. The DVD features two live shows (one in a living room, one in a rock club) and 11 videos (with optional commentary by Jonah) by director XDOANEX, one for each song off of the excellent Onelinedrawing album The Volunteers.”

I’m a huge fan of Far, one of the great post-grunge, “emocore” bands of the ’90s; Water & Solutions is a must-have for any collection. Matranga’s work as Onelinedrawing is more stripped down but equally appealing.

If what I’ve heard is true, Gratitude is finished, and, quite frankly, that seemed like an ill-fated project from the get-go. The music was too glossy, like a hasty attempt to spin out a radio hit. Maybe it’s just me, but Jonah didn’t seem to fit.

So, I’m hoping this CD/DVD release leads him more along the line of Onelinedrawing-type material. He’s playing some dates in California next week and then hits the East Coast in March for some dates with Ian Love, a new favorite here. Get the tour dates here.

Also, be sure to browse Jonah’s Web site. And visit the store area, where Jonah offers to make “unique recordings” at fans’ requests. He also lays out a most generous policy in terms of sharing/downloading/buying. An excerpt: “For now, if you’ve downloaded or burned a lot of stuff over the years, I’ve made an easy way for you to give whatever you think is fair for this art, regardless of how you got it. … No guilt trip, just trust.” Visit his store for a liberal pricing structure, that benefits both artist and fan. The way it should be.

Here’s a few tracks from some of Jonah’s projects. Enjoy. Buy There’s A Lot In Here for only $12.

Far | Man Overboard
Far | I Like It (both highly recommended)
Far | Monkey Gone to Heaven (Pixies cover, from tribute album)

New End Original | Hostage

Onelinedrawing | Over It
Onelinedrawing | Ghost
(Probably my two favorite songs off The Volunteers.)

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.