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Nada Surf: No Quick Fix (B-side)

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Spent the weekend in Henderson, Nev., with the in-laws, which allowed ample time in the car – two-hour delay at Hoover Dam! – for some intimate time with the iPod. That meant revisiting some of this year’s early releases, including Nada Surf’s Lucky.

I haven’t seen Lucky on many year-end lists, which seems criminal. All Nada Surf does is put out solid albums. There is nothing flashy or sexy about it … and that, sadly, seems to cost the group a little notoriety. Too bad. Lucky, released in February, likely will be overlooked by many 10 months later.

Clearly, fans have not overlooked the band, which just released a vinyl box set of all five albums (limited to 1,000 copies) that includes a download for 16 b-sides/rarities. Barsuk already is sold out of the collection, released Nov. 25. But the label has kindly provided one of the b-sides, No Quick Fix, from the Let Go era. Enjoy below.

Locally, check with Stinkweeds for a copy of the box set.

general, video

The Dodos: Fools (video)

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I’ve been pondering my favorite albums of the year, jotting notes and scrambling a bit to see what I’ve overlooked, as I’ll be presenting my list here (presumably before the end of the year) and for Stinkweeds (as I did for their year-end booklet last year).

The Dodos’ Visiter is making a late charge. I admit: It was recommended to me by a friend at least three months ago (it came out in March, for crying out loud) and I’ve only recently cozied up to it. But, seriously, I think it has a real good chance at overtaking Chinese Democracy for my No. 10 spot (*RIMSHOT*).

I know for a fact that Fools (and maybe even Jodi) will be on a year-end mix I make for friends who come over to our New Year’s Eve bash. I’d say you’d be a fool to not like this one, but that’s just too easy.

Pick up Visiter at eMusic.

general

Mayer Hawthorne: Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out

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Troll the Stones Throw site and you’re bound to find a gem, usually sooner than later. That’s how I found out about Mayer Hawthorne, a Michigan-bred soul singer who inexplicably channels the Motown era to which he surely grew up listening.

Why inexplicably? Well, for starters, he’s white. Give Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out a listen and you’ll understand. Mark Ronson played it on his radio show and commented: “I have no idea what it is … old, new. It’s fucking good.” (You can hear the clip at Hawthorne’s MySpace page.) If I didn’t know better, I swear it’s a track I could have pulled from the collection of 45s and Wurlitzer jukebox my dad handed down to me.

What’s more, Hawthorne played all the instruments. Check his bio at Stones Throw.

You can order this amazing-looking heart-shaped 45 for the Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, which spins in the video below.

hip-hop

Digable Planets, Club Red, 11/20/08

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Plain and simple: Digable Planets can still bring it. A small part of me feared I’d let nostalgia get the best of me. I think that’s natural, especially when you hear those opening bars on a song like 9th Wonder (which I woke up with in my head). But the DPs, who played almost two hours, were clearly geared up, not resting on the credit they’ve built from their good name over the years. It didn’t hurt that a spirited crowd of about 300 packed into Club Red. (Kudos to the Blunt Club guys for such a great night.)

Planets is the joint this year, right?

arizona, general, video

Stream new Miniature Tigers demo

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Phoenix’s Miniature Tigers, who played our Oct. 13 show with Birdmonster, are streaming a new demo on MySpace called Japanese Woman Living in My Closet.

The song, even in its infant stages, sounds like a logical extension of the group’s catchy-as-hell 2008 album Tell it to the Volcano. Highly recommended.

[STREAM]: Miniature Tigers | Japanese Woman Living in My Closet

If you missed it the first time, here’s the video for the group’s lead single Cannibal Queen:

hip-hop

The Cool Kids: 2K Pennies

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As you might imagine, the advertising/promotion at Monday’s 2K Sports Bounce Tour with Q-Tip, the Cool Kids and the Knux at Marquee Theatre had all the subtlety of a jackhammer on concrete. Game kiosks in the lobby/bar area were trumped only by two screens on the stage showing highlights of the NBA 2K9 game.

Who has money to buy a video game after paying $33 for a concert ticket anyway? At least the folks at 2K Sports were kind/smart enough to dole out some freebies, including a sampler CD featuring artists who appear on the soundtracks to their games.

That includes the Cool Kids, who put on an impressive set with their decidedly minimalist style (love the dip-and-duck dance with Pac Div during Black Mags).

Naturally, 2K Pennies (on the NBA 2K9 game) finds the duo coolly tossing out basketball references. I’ll even forgive Chuck Inglish (originally from Michigan) for name-checking famous Bulls nemesis Rick Mahorn. Hey, if it’s good enough for Kevin Garnett, it’s good enough for me.

hip-hop

Leaders of the New Cool mixtape

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As I mentioned Sunday, tonight is the Q-Tip extravaganza with the Cool Kids and the Knux.

Weiss, who saw the show in Los Angeles, was kind enough to give me a heads up to get to the show early to catch the Knux. Also, of Q-Tip, he said, “He tore it down last night.” No surprise there. Can’t wait. (Keep checking back with Passion of the Weiss, as I’m sure Jeff will have a detailed/in-depth review.)

As a teaser for the openers, check out the Leaders of the New Cool mixtape, presented by Mick Boogie and DJ Treats, a celebration of the youthful hip-hop talent rising to the surface. The Knux, the Cool Kids, 88-Keys and Charles Hamilton are among those featured on the mix.

[ZIP]: Mike Boogie and DJ Treats | Leaders of the New Cool