general

Karl Marx Stadt

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Karl Marx Stadt has evolved into the solo effort of Christian Gierden, one half of Society Suckers, who describe their music as, “precisely arranged psychedelic pogo trash music. born out of a frustration with emotionless dance music.”

In Gierden’s solo work he humanizes the manic breakbeats of Society Suckers. In the track 7.000.000.000, the grandeur of a movie score builds into an eruption of b.p.m.’s. As much emotion as electronic blips, Gierden gives insight of what electronic music can and should be.

Karl Marx Stadt – 7.000.000.000
Karl Marx Stadt – Geht Das Zusammen Oder Getrennt

Uncategorized

Off to Austin

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We’re hittin’ the road to Austin today. Can’t wait to get there. You should be in good hands with Royce while I’m partying like a rock star.

Also, funny story: My friend (and co-worker) Carrie tells me someone in our building said he saw her on a blog. He saw her picture from my birthday party last week. Turns out, he checked the site regularly but had no idea we worked in the same building. Small world. Anyway, he’s running a streaming radio station with an eclectic mix of tunes; I was rockin’ it at work the other day.

So check out RadioLAB today.

More goodness from another Austin artist:

David Garza | Float Away
David Garza | Blow My Mind

hip-hop

New Pharoahe Monch track

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Was there a more underrated hip-hop group in the 1990s than Organized Konfusion? Stress: The Extinction Agenda is a must-have for any collection. Although the group dissolved, Prince Poetry and Pharoahe Monch have branched off into solo careers.

Prince Po dropped The Slickness last year, and Monch got some mainstream attention with the slammin’ single Simon Says off Internal Affairs in 1999.

It appears Monch is back with the new single Book of Judges, an angry political track that sounds like he’s employed a live rock band to back him. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Give it a whirl. (Props to Spine Magazine.)

Pharoahe Monch Book of Judges

general

Alejandro Escovedo

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With our trip to Austin oh-so close, I figured there’s no better time to post on one of the city’s favorite sons: Alejandro Escovedo.

Escovedo’s biography and body of work are too prolific to detail here. But if you’re looking for a place to start, alt-country bible No Depression named Escovedo its “Artist of the Decade,” which is quite an honor considering the genre’s growth and the artists it spawned.

Regardless, I was taken aback the first (and only) time I saw him live, close to 10 years ago at a club in Tempe on a bill with Richard Buckner. There are shows you leave and think, “Huh. That was good, I had fun.” Then there are shows that just leave you emotionally charged and drained at the same time. Escovedo’s performance definitely fits the latter category.

If he comes to your city, you would do well to see him. In April 2003, he collapsed after a performance in Phoenix and was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver caused by hepatitis C. His illness brought musicians together for benefit concerts and the fantastic double CD Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, which includes covers by artists like Calexico, the Jayhawks and Son Volt (to name only a few). Proceeds helped pay Escovedo’s mounting medical bills.

This Washington Post story details Escovedo’s battles with his illness and the medicine and how he found his way back to music.

He’s playing Continental Club in Austin on Saturday night after all the ACL festivities, and as I write this I’m leaning more and more toward wanting to see that show.


Alejandro Escovedo | I Was Drunk

Alejandro Escovedo | As I Fall

BONUS
Alejandro Escovedo | Wave
Calexico | Wave

cassette, hip-hop

Atban Klann: the finale

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You asked for it, you got it: The final few tracks from Atban Klann’s Grass Roots, from the group that now is the Black Eyed Peas. For those that missed the previous three posts, scroll down.

The final few tracks offer my favorite, Puddles of H20, which I also own as a 12″ single on vinyl (which is, unfortunately, slightly warped). Another gem is La Borio Woman Beater, a Slick Rick-like narrative. Notice the title Duet, which was revived on Behind the Front, although this Duet is a much better song.

Atban Klann | Puddles of H20
Atban Klann | Duet
Atban Klann | Strolling
Atban Klann | Yougohdah
Atban Klann | La Borio Woman Beater

Football wrap-up: After a rough go of it last week, I rebounded nicely this weekend. For starters, Arizona State (No. 18 in AP poll) stomped Northwestern 52-21 and, in the process, rolled up a school-record 773 yards of offense. Sam Keller threw for 409 yards and four TDs, and freshman stud Keegan Herring finished with 197 yards on 23 attempts. Next up: Pac-10 opener at Oregon State this week.
Then on Sunday, the Bears punked the Lions 38-6, intercepting Joey Harrington five times, which surely made Chris long for the days of Rodney Peete (or maybe Erik Kramer? Yikes). QB Kyle Orton and WR Muhsin Muhammad hooked up on a 28-yard TD, and Thomas Jones rushed for 139 yards and two TDs.But it was the Bears’ defense that carried me to a huuuuge victory in my money fantasy league, and Terrell Owens’ big game. Did I mention I picked up Owens in the THIRD ROUND?

Then I rode T. Jones and Bears ‘D’ and toppled Ryan in our Blogger Fanatasy Football league, giving me ample trash-talking opportunities in Austin this weekend. That improves me to 2-0 with a clash vs. Chris this week while we’re in Austin. I smell wagers.

general

Ryan Ferguson

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Although No Knife appears to be broken up, the San Diego quartet is one of my favorite bands. So I was more than excited to come across Three, Four, the solo debut EP of No Knife guitarist/singer Ryan Ferguson.

Where No Knife was all jagged guitars and cryptic lyrics, Ferguson takes a decidedly more straightforward approach, founded on acoustic-based melodies. In fact, just on Monday he won best pop album at the 15th annual San Diego Music Awards (No Knife won in 2003 for best alternative album for Riot for Romance and in 1999 for best punk album for Fire in the City of Automatons).

Outside the confines of a group setting, Ferguson’s songwriting is honest and introspective … words and music to which we can all relate.

Nice guy that he is, Ferguson gave us his blessing via e-mail to post a couple tracks. You also can check his page at Pure Volume. Buy the EP (only $6) here or at iTunes. He’s also featured on the compilation My Favorite Song Writers.

Ryan Ferguson | Suddenly
Ryan Ferguson | Windshield (feat. Rob Crow of Pinback)

cassette, hip-hop

Atban Klann, Part III

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OK, six more tracks from Grass Roots, the album that never was released by Atban Klann (aka the Black Eyed Peas when the Black Eyed Peas were cool). This bunch includes pretty sweet tracks, including Focus on You and No Sequel. Like Chris and Dodge said, it makes you sad for what BEP has become — in a word, sellouts.

One more batch tomorrow, which will include the hottest track on the album (in my opinion), will be the last of it. Enjoy.

Atban Klann | World’s Gone Mad
Atban Klann | No SequelAtban Klann | Rain on Me
Atban Klann | Dedicated
Atban Klann | title unknown (sort of an interlude)
Atban Klann | Focus on You

cassette, hip-hop

By request, more Atban Klann

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Because of popular demand — yes, two comments is considered “demand” in these parts — I’m continuing to offer tracks from the never-was-released Grass Roots from Atban Klann (now known as Black Eyed Peas).

This lot offers one of my faves, Mountain Top, and the anti-cop track Lord of the Flies. Again, I’m trying my best to clean up the sound with Audio Hijack Pro, but gimme some feedback — too much bass? too much treble? — and I’ll try to correct it. There’s about seven or eight tracks left, which includes my No. 1 favorite on the album. (Ahem, I’m not above bribery to polish this project off; worth a try anyway.)

Atban Klann | Lord of the Flies
Atban Klann | Quid Pro Quo
Atban Klann | Jugglin’ My Nuts (a little jokey interlude; not sure if that’s actually the name of the song)
Atban Klann | Mountain Top

cassette, hip-hop

Atban Klann (aka Black Eyed Peas)

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We all know who the Black Eyed Peas are (I have to bite my tongue about how I really feel about them now). But did we all know before Black Eyed Peas there was Atban Klann?

Formed in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, Atban (A Tribe Beyond A Nation) brought current BEPs Apl.de.ap and Will.I.Am together to produce some cuts that might surprise you. It might surprise you also to know that Atban Klann was signed to Ruthless Records, run by none other than Eazy-E. Unfortunately, the album, Grass Roots, was shelved and never found its way to the public. Story has it that Ruthless was unsure how to market a group whose positive vibes ran contrary to Ruthless’ gangsta image.

Alas, all that exists are bootleg cassettes of the album, like the one that I own. I converted a few of the tracks to mp3 from the cassette. I tried to clean the sound as best I could; keep in mind, my copy is probably the copy of a copy of a copy. But if demand is high enough (hint: leave a comment), I’ll convert the rest of the album. These are the first three tracks.

Atban Klann | Open Your Mind
Atban Klann | Going for a Ride
Atban Klann | Adidas (Put on your adidas and step off!)

general

New Elbow tracks

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I know, I know. I’ve been pushing Elbow’s new album, Leaders of the Free World, for the past few weeks. But having listened to a stream of the record, I’m even more convinced now that it will make its way to my favorites of 2005. (I must make a correction: Release in the UK is Tuesday; release in the U.S. is Sept. 27. Sigh. Anyone in the UK wanna hook me up? Would also love Cast of Thousands on vinyl, too.)

I took the liberty of ripping the streams (using Audio Hijack) to make a couple of mp3s for you, my loyal readers. Station Approach already has nudged a permanent spot into my brain; you’ll understand once you feel the buildup near the three-minute mark of the song.

Elbow | Station Approach
Elbow | Picky Bastard