hip-hop

Murs on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic

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In support of his 2008 album Murs for President, the man himself dropped by KCRW for a set on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

If you haven’t heard, Jason Bentley has taken over for Nic Harcourt on the show, and I gotta say, I found this interview to be really refreshing and not the humdrum “who are your influences?” and “how did you meet?” line of questioning. And would Murs ever be on this show if Bentley weren’t the host? Something to think about.

ALSO: I recently realized that Murs didn’t include Dreadlocks, a track that was met with tepid response, on his new album.

Related:
Murs: Can it Be (video)
Living Legends: She Wants Me (video)
New Murs and 9th Wonder: Sweet Lord

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The Long Winters: Live at the Showbox DVD/MP3s

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Barsuk Records announced Monday that it will be distributing the concert film, The Long Winters: Live at the Showbox by Dorsia Films. If this is meant to whet the appetite for a new Long Winters album — it’s been two-plus years since the great Putting the Days to Bed, one of my favorites of 2006, was released — then consider me intrigued.

The film documents the band’s final show of a months-long tour in 2007, a year after I saw the band in September 2006 (that seems like a really long time ago).

You can preview a 10-minute trailer at Dorsia Films, which is also working on a documentary about the Long Winters called Through With Love.

And Barsuk has made available three audio downloads from the 19-song marathon set.

Or download all three in a handy zip file.

general, video

Incoming: Bloc Party and the Soft Pack, Dec. 14

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It seems so strange to say it, but I’m really on the fence about going to see Bloc Party on Sunday at Marquee Theatre. (Buy tickets.)

If you picture a line chart, you’d see my interest rapidly declining in correlation with each release. I realize it’s only three albums, but my initial reaction upon hearing Intimacy only proved to justify why I procrastinated listening to the album in the first place – my predicted disappointment came true. I know it’s a snobby and elitist thing to say that, dude, the new record totally isn’t as great as the first one. But, seriously, dude, the new record totally isn’t as great as the first one. Not by a long shot. I’m so disheartened by this move to a more electro-heavy sound; Matt Tong’s ridiculous drum skills seem wasted. And, really, how predictable (and weary) is it to include remixes by CSS and XXXChange?

About the only thing keeping me slightly intrigued is the chance to see the Soft Pack (formerly the Muslims) in the opening slot, a band we missed on the first day of the San Diego Street Scene.

Catch the video for the Muslims’ the Soft Pack’s Extinction below:

hip-hop, Sundays with Tribe

Sundays with A Tribe Called Quest: Vol. 17

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One of the great tracks on Q-Tip’s The Renaissance isn’t really even its own track at all. It probably would be called a hidden track, if such a thing is possible in the middle of an album.

Renaissance Rap is hitched to the back end of Move, a two-part suite of sorts. I swore my iTunes tags were screwed up or something when I heard it the first time. Move comes to a sudden end at about 2:49, leading into a scratch break that introduces Renaissance Rap, on which Q-Tip steamrolls through his verses, reminding everyone who’s in the house: “It’s the midnight marauder on the scene / geographically earthed in a place called Queens.”

Check the Bourne-esque video, directed by the ubiquitous Rik Cordero.

arizona, general

Little Joy, Martini Ranch, 12/4/08

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I assume that waking up with a medley of about four different Little Joy songs mashed together in my head, seamlessly melding from one chorus to another, means I’ve started to become a fan.

I hadn’t been totally sold on the band’s self-titled debut, but the live show helped uncover some of the charm I think I was missing in the album.

Advertised as a trio, Little Joy suddenly was five – and sometimes six or seven – strong with Todd Dahlhoff of the Dead Trees standing in on bass. Add that to Rodrigo Amarante’s slightly raspy voice, and there was a little more heft and texture to the sound. By the time the show was ending, both opening bands – the Dead Trees and Red Cortez – were on stage to lend their help for a feel-good sing-along to Brand New Start, its head-over-heels chorus – “There ain’t no lover like the one I got” – a perfect closer for a night of uplifting vibes.

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Tonight: Little Joy at Martini Ranch

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It takes a hell of a lot to convince me to venture into swanky Scottsdale for a night out. So I guess it says something about Little Joy that I’ll be heading to Martini Ranch tonight.

Though I’m not as totally convinced of Little Joy’s greatness as some, I did get a brief but glowing recap from Heather about the band’s show in Denver. Coincidentally, Martini Ranch (a venue that rarely hosts shows of bands I like) is the same spot where I saw Fab Moretti’s Strokes bandmate Albert Hammond Jr. about a year or so ago.

Anyway, tickets are $10 at the door. I’m told Little Joy goes on at 9 p.m. The Dead Trees and Red Cortez open.

Test out Little Joy’s self-titled debut, a breezy, laid-back affair, for yourself.

Here’s a video for Next Time Around:

hip-hop, video

The Cool Kids: Gold and a Pager (live in Atlanta)

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The Cool Kids have a pretty solid Vimeo page with live performances and at least one video of a day off spent wakeboarding.

Below is a clip of the guys rockin’ Gold and a Pager at the Loft in Atlanta from this year’s 2K Sports Bounce Tour. Speaking of, the Cool Kids — like most everyone I know — didn’t care for the Marquee Theatre in Tempe: “It’s basically a giant concrete room making it bad for acoustics.” Bingo.

Related:
The Cool Kids: 2K Pennies
Leaders of the New Cool mixtape
The Cool Kids: Delivery Man (9th Wonder remix)

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Spoon: The Beast and Dragon, Adored (live)

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Spoon continues to make good on its promise of offering a bonus mp3 every month, something the band has been doing since April.

There have been some gems, and December’s installment brings us a live version of The Beast and Dragon, Adored from a 2005 performance in Sydney (at least that’s what the album tag says in iTunes).

ON A SIDE NOTE: It’s been an awful two days for newspapers as the massive Gannett Co. carries out its plan to cut 10 percent across its work force.

The Arizona Republic, my former employer for five-plus years, is a Gannett paper. Though I feel fortunate to have moved on, I’ve had anxious/uneasy feelings for friends and ex-colleagues, who have been on pins and needles for the past month after it was announced there would be involuntary reductions layoffs. (The Republic already went through a round of buyouts earlier in the year.) I’ve been glued to Gannett Blog for information and updates.

I have nothing overtly political/righteous to say about this, other than that my thoughts go out to those losing their jobs. We all know newspapers are struggling to stay afloat, and whether you read them or not or you think it’s a useless medium, be mindful that a whole lot of talented journalists are wondering what they’ll do next. Here’s hoping they can put their skills to use elsewhere.