music of the month - October edition

here are my fav music purchases of the month. they weren't necessarily released in October just purchased.

5: Five Years of Hyperdub

Usually I wouldn’t consider making a compilation my album of the year, but it has to be said that this collection is easily one of the top releases of the year. There’s a million reviews, so I won’t go into too much detail except to say this:

• The selection of previously released songs on Disc 2 sound to me like a dance music label that is forward looking and continually pushing boundaries.
• The selection of new music on Disc 1 though is a different matter. To me these are the sound of a group of musicians who have gone beyond genres. This isn’t dubstep, hip-hop, blip-hop, whatever. This is straight future music. Absolutely brilliant

J. Tillman - Year in the Kingdom

his second release of the year after the excellent Vacilando Territory Blues. Best known nowadays for being the drummer in Fleet Foxes, J. Tilman has been releasing solo albums since late 2004. his style has always been stark and melancholy, but not necessarily introspective until now.
The sound is akin to Minor Works with a mix of solo and fuller arrangements, however this album is definitely his most polished/produced sounding yet which may or may not be related to his day job. The first half of the album has a 60s folk-psychedelia feel but as you reach the end of the album the arrangements become more stripped down and reminiscent of his earlier work.
Though not as strong as his previous albums, I would still take a J Tilman album over most anything our there.

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day
I didn't even give this album a second glance until I heard a few songs on Sound Opinions a few weeks ago. Even then I wasn't sure that this was an album for me, but I previewed the entire thing and decided to take a chance and I am glad that I did. Though I have a few quibbles, this album is one of my favorites this year.

This album takes the retro-future r'n'b sound of 808s and Heartbreaks by Kanye and develops it into something really interesting and with a lot of promise.

as I mentioned, I do have a couple issues with the album though:

1. it's too long - needs to have at least three songs cut (ratatat productions, I'm looking at you)
2. the completely misogynistic track 12 "make her say" - out of character with rest of album. worthless
3. so I get that it is a concept album, but let people figure out the story. you don't need the narration song titles to tell you the story. Bat For Lashes was able to tell a similar story without all that. trust the storytelling in the songs to pull people along

Wheel and Come Again - Apr Dubstep mix

So I thought I would share all the mixes I have made for myself this year.

Wheel and Come Again is the first dubstep mix I recorded so it might not be the best but it has some amazing tunes on it as you will see from the tracklist.

Again it is currently encoded as VBR until I find a better hosting location and of course feel free to send to friends or embed a link anywhere that won't get me sued.

Tracklist:

1. Unkown - White label - ASBO
2. Distance - Battle Sequence - Chestplate
3. Fracture - The Phone Call - Compound One
4. N-Type - Way of the Dub (Caspa RMX) - Dub Police
5. Caspa - Louder - Pitch Black
6. Benga - Out of Phaze - Tempa
7. Silkie - Cyber dub - Disfigured Dubs
8. Movado - Gangster 4 Life (Coki Rmx) - White
9. Benga & Coki - Night - Tempa
10. Black Ghosts - Some Way Through This (Plastician & Skream RMX) - Southern Fried
11. SPMC - Trust Nobody - Tempa
12. Dubwoofa - Devoliz - Dub Police
13. Mala - Lean Forward - DMZ
14. Skream - Sublemonal - Soul Jazz
15. Quest - Deep Inside - Deep Medi Musik

Bass Transmitter - Nov Dubstep Mix

Just completed a new dubstep mix at the end of November entitled Bass Transmitter.

The tracklist is a little heavy on Tempa records, but they seem to have waited until the end of the year to release all the dubs they've been sitting on since last fall.

The file is currently encoded as a high quality VBR, so the sound quality kills a little of the bass weight, but I am looking for a free hosting service that I can post 320 kbps files to.  Feel free to pass along to friends or embed a link in your blogs or whatever.

Set list is as follows:

1. Shut Up and Dance - Epileptic (Martyn's No Strobe Mix) - SUAD
2. Silkie & Harry Craze - French Knickers - Break the Habit
3. Skream & D1 - Hitch - Tempa
4. Pangaea - Router - Hessle Audio
5. Ramadanman - Bidding War - Tempa
6. Breakage - Untitled - White
7. Headhunter - Royal Flush - Tempa
8. Quest - Eden - Deep Medi Musik
9. Headhunter - Prototypes - Tempa
10. Seven - Sirens - Tempa
11. Skream - Simple City - Tempa
12. Luke Envoy - M.U.G.E.N. - Wonderland
13. DZ - Old Timers - Black Acre
14. Silkie - Skys the Limit - Deep Medi Musik
15. Pacheko - Bi-Polar Bear (Starkey RMX) - Lo Dubs
16. Gemmy - Bass Transmitter - Punch Drunk
17. Sukh Knight - Shooting Stars - True Tiger
18. Joker & Rustie - Play Doe - Kapsize

2008 Top Ten

It is that time of year when fellow musicheads begin to look back at the year in music. 2008 has been a mixed year for me. on the one hand, I have been really into dubstep and buying lots of 12"s, but on the other hand, there has been a huge number of disapointing albums released by bands I really like this year. The shear number of less than stellar albums made this a little more difficult than in years gone by but in the end this is what I came up with.

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War); Best album of the year-period. now where is that part 2?
Cat Power - Jukebox; a lot of people don't seem to like this album but I think her arrangements of the covers performed within are incredible. add a couple of stellar new songs and you have a great album all around
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold; what can you say about Atmosphere? Every album rocks and every album is better than the last. I have no idea how they do it.
Menahan Street Band - "Make the Road by Walking"; members of the Dap-Kings, Budos Band, and Antibalas. They also cover "Going the Distance" from Rocky. How coudl you possibly go wrong here? Simple you can't, awesome album that I will be listening to for many years to come.
Jeremy Messersmith - The Silver City; yes the Dan Wilson production makes it a sound like a Dan Wilson album, but the songs!!! great storytelling inside great songwriting point to a great future.
Nick Cave - Dig! Lazarus! Dig! ; I've never really been into Nick Cave before, but I am sensing that I may have to start investing in his back catalog after this album.
Nomo - Ghost Rock; Discovered this album late in the game via The Current and I don't really know anything about them. One of my new year's resolutions however is to learn more because this is an awesome update of afro-beat to dance around the house to.
Various Production - Versus; of collection of remixes they have done of others and that others have done of their tracks showcases the wide variety that comes out of this incredible production group. add to this the various new songs that have come out online and on vinyl and it has been a productive and strong year yet again.
The Heavy - Great Vengeance and Furious Fire; part lo-fi indie and part Curtis Mayfield and all awesome. This has been in regular rotation on my iPod since I bought the album.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes; I didn't want to succumb to the hype machine but this album really is good.

I'll gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today

I have a major exam to study for in Spanish and a big project to finish up for Wednesday in my info studies class, so what am I doing?

writing in the blog I haven't touched for a month.

Typical.

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we've been getting the NY Times Sunday edition for a few weeks now and I came across an interesting article as I was finishing my coffee today (there is absolutely no way to finish reading it on a Sunday-or even make a dent in it in my case).

It was about a new challenge to gay marriage. people were arguing that since gay couples can't procreate they shouldn't be able to marry. The main couple they interviewed tried to say this had absolutely nothing to do with religion, but the funny thing was they were an infertile couple.

so my question for them is, should you have to be able to prove fertility to be able to get married then? because there is no difference in their inability to conceive and a gay couple's inability to conceive.

GET OVER IT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

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The wife bought the new oasis album this weekend.

I have decided there are 2 requirements for every Oasis album.

1. there must be at minimum one line that directly references a Beatles song or lyric

2. there must be at least one song that is a direct rip-off of a Beatles song.

that is my review. 2/5

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In biking news, I hit my season mileage goal this weekend with an awesome ride along the river road. leaves were at peak and the temps were great.

too bad I dressed for slightly cooler temps and was roasting by the end.

Season total - 1504

wondering if I can get another couple hundred miles in before the weather kicks me off the streets.

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In other biking news, shouts to Phillipe Gilbert for winning Paris-Tours this weekend and schooling the sprinters who thought they were going to get their chance.

One last big road race this weekend and then I will have to focus on Cyclocross to get my fix.

living the glamorous life

since I joined twitter, I find myself posting here less and less.

i suppose it could be a combination of the easy add nature of twitter, combined the the perceived effort to actually type something up.


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the big in-law family reunion was this past weekend so I got to spend some quality time in des moines.

we went to the IA state fair on sat and it was interesting to see the differences from the MN fair.

it definitely seemed like there was still more of a connection still to rural life than MN. we checked out the animal barns and got to see part of a sheep shearing competition. also checked out 4-H and the agriculture building which not only had all the winning veggies on display, but the infamous life-size butter cow as well.

one other notable difference was in the food selection. I did not see one cheese curd or mini-donut booth the whole time I was there. lots of pork chop on a stick however, and if you go I recommend the IA pork growers assoc. booth--YUMMY!!

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I picked up a couple of CDs before we left that I was completely unable to listen to even though I had them uploaded on my ipod (that is a different story though)

2 weeks ago I picked up the new Hold Steady and the Fleet Foxes

a lot of people seem to be thinking this is the hold steady's chance to make it to the big time but I am not so enchanted with this album. definitely not up to their last one and probably nothing will ever touch seperation sunday. I get the feeling it must be more palatable to non-hold steady people since those critics are the ones crowing about it.

Fleet Foxes is not up to all the hype but it is a very good album. you've no doubt heard the CSNY and 60's referencines so I won't repeat them here but it is a solid debut and I look forward to more music from them in the future.


right before the trip I grabbed the new various and a couple of used CDs: Bowie-alladin sane and PJ Harvey-Is this desire?

The new various is a collection of their remixes (including one of the sugababes) and others remixes of their work. given some of their more experimental reinterpretations via white label 12"s I was expecting a little more. I also felt a little let down by the remixes of their own work. the one "new" track limbs showcases their strength and I am still looking forward to the new album hopefully soon.

as for the bowie and pj harvey, they are both classic albums that you should have if you don't, so don't even think twice.

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since I've missed a couple weeks again here is a quick catch up on the biking (2/3 of the way to my goal)

w/e 8/3 - 91
w/e 8/10 - 52
season total - 1043
miles to goal - 457

stimulating the economy - june edition

I went music shopping at the fetus this weekend and picked up a couple of new CDs and one old one.

First up is The Alchemist Manifesto by Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada. For those that don't know this is an offshoot of Antibalas co-directed by Adrian Quesada from Grupo Fantasma. I didn't notice until I got the record home that it was released on ESL, but despite that I was expecting more of a mix between the latin sounds of Grupo Fantasma and the afrobeat sounds of Antibalas or a kind of Harlem River Drive feel. That is not what you get from this album. For anyone familiar with the ESL sound you will not be surprised or disappointed. Loungish, latin-influenced mellow grooves that are perfect for summer and will probably be added to soundtrack of coffee shops and wine bars all over.

Next up is the Nigeria 70 Lagos Jump comp. Where the first Nigeria 70 comp focused almost exclusively on Afrobeat and Afro-Funk, this new comp includes more Highlife in the mix making it more of a kindred spirit to the Lagos Chop Up comp on Honest Jon's. I am a big fan of all the sounds represented on this comp and from this era in general, but I am not knowledgeable enough to give much more info that could be easily found with a simple web search. Suffice to say that if you enjoy Afrobeat and Highlife from the 70s you both know what you are getting with this collection and you know you need it. Awesome summer sounds.

The in my triumvirate of CD purchases is Hootenanny by the Replacements. Since all their Twin Tone records have been re-released I found my self a used copy of the remaster from just a few years ago. I will be honest that it is not my favorite Replacements album (that is a tie between Let It be and Pleased to Meet Me) but how can you go wrong with any album that includes Color Me Impressed and Within Your Reach?

A little bit of this...a little bit of that

Heard a rumor today that I hope is wrong. Word is Twin Six may not continue producing jerseys as the t-shirt market is more lucrative. It doesn’t make sense to me as their jerseys have gotten props all over the joint, so hopefully my source is mistaken.

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World Cycling is having their annual(?) Warehouse sale this weekend.

I went to check it out yesterday and walked away much poorer. Got an ’07 FdJ jersey (dorky to wear a team jersey? Maybe, but at least I didn’t buy the matching bibs), a Selle San Marco saddle to replace the awful one on my single speed, and a couple of DVDs for only $10 each (Giro and Flanders ‘05).

Lots of cold weather gear and a good amount of stuff for the ladies as well

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Soul Jazz is releasing an awesome dubstep comp next week called Steppa’s Delight.

It is HIGHLY RECCOMENDED for anyone as it has so many big choons.

Kode 9 – 9 Samurai
Plastician Feat Skepta — Intensive Snare
Uncle Sam — Around The World Girls (Tes La Rok Mix)
Shackleton — Blood On My Hands
Joker — Gullybrook Lane (Instrumental)
And many others

The only bummer is that the vinyl editions do not include the Joker tune which is just a crime as that song is just sick.

Really all his productions are just insane, and it is just the way it is that many of the top producers tunes are exclusives and may never see the light of day for us normal consumers, like benny page, seven, and most of the skream and benga productions.

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Speaking of dubstep I just have to say that Youngsta has to be the best dubstep DJ hands down. I save his Rinse FM podcasts until I have listened to everything else because they are always just incredible

going up around the bend

well I think that after yet another week of crappy march-like weather in April/May we might have finally turned the corner.

Saturday ended up being a pretty great day and Sunday was better. the only down part of the weekend was not getting out on the road bike Saturday. I did make it out Sunday morning for a short ride though. I only had about an hour so I went here:


The rest of the weekend included getting ready to have Jennifer and Monte over for dinner Sat evening, so lots of cleaning and errands to pick up supplies.

We got a couple of awesome desserts from Bellaria Bakery. a dark chocolate mousse torte and a petite chocolate cream cake (kind of like a really fancy hoho). both were fabulous. I also picked up a key lime tart for teh next day and I was less enthused about that. The key lime filling was right on but it was in a regular pastry tart crust vs. a graham cracker crust.

For dinner we made simple quesadillas for apps and our entree was Chicken in Escabeche with onions, carrots, and roasted poblano peppers. We also made a great side dish of Braised Fennel with a Guajillo Chile dressing.



During our errand running we stopped at the Fetus so I could pick up the new Nick Cave which is awesome. I have never been a big Nick Cave fan, liking a few songs here and there, but the new album is great from beginning to end.


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Weekly Total - 30
Season Total - 144
Miles to Goal - 1356

This one goes out to the ladies

So I have picked up my first couple of releases of the new year (one today and the other a few weeks ago) and it's been all about the ladies with the new one from Cat Power and Erykah Badu.

This probably shoudln't be surprising to me, but as I peruse my music collections, the boys do have the overwhelming edge and I don't think these two will make a dent in that lead.

Jukebox brings to mind a kind of a 60s Memphis/roadhouse easygoing feel especially the opening take on New York. Clearly this is due in no small part to her backing band n the album which is also her touring band-The Dirty Delta Blues Band. You can practically smell the cigarette smoke in the air on Ramblin' (Wo)man and original Metal Heart just slays me everytime I hear it.

Now I will say that I am a Johnny-come-lately to Miss Marshall's music with The Greatest being the first album I owned but I do think it is impossible to not say that this is an artist who is at the top of her game right now. Now this is Cat Power's second album of covers, which every review seems to make a big deal out of for no reason that I can figure out. There are plenty of great artists that played standards or songs that they just liked arranged differently from Dusty Springfield and Sinatra to Tom Jones or Isaac Hayes. I know that we have moved to a music loving public that expects artists to write and record their own songs but the thing about this album that I feel makes it work is that her arrangments make these songs her own.


As for another album that seems to be dividing both fans and non-fans alike Erykah Badu's new one New Amerykah part 1 definitely pushes the boundaries of the accepted sound of 'neo-soul'. With this album she really takes and explodes the expectations that I think people have of her music bouncing from more traditional Badu songs like Me and Honey to waving the freak flag with tunes like The Healer and the last half of Twinkle.

I don't know that I have a whole lot more to offer that you can't find in the many reviews elsewhere but I HIGHLY reccomend checking this album out and I am definitely looking forward to part 2 this summer.

Music I slept on in 2007

So as typically happens, I discover a number of releases that I slept on after the year is done.

First up are 3 EPs in the Sad Clown series Atmosphere put out throughout the year. Before getting around to checking them out myself I saw some back and forth out there about the style being different from the usual Atmosphere stuff. I suppose that’s true to an extent in that they tend to sound a little more party jam style, but once you get into them they’re classic Atmosphere. And even if they are a little change up, you want to listen to the same album again and again?

The Rooster from Bad Fall has to be one of my of my fav Atmosphere songs with its melancholy sixties-ish groove and lyrics that weave an intricate story that could just as easily be a short story in some literary journal.

And let’s not forget the Atmosphere’s Christmas present of the Strictly Leakage free MP3 LP.


Next is the Very Best of Ethiopiques 2-CD set available as an import. I have been wanting to get into this series but it is a little intimidating to know where to start so this is a perfect jumping off point. A little expensive as it is import only right now, but I got mine used on Amazon, so it wasn't too bad.


I am sure that I will disover even more that I missed as the year goes on but that is part of the fun.

Top Tunes 2007

Well it is about that time when everyone starts to reflect on the past year. And so it is here at Buried Pleasure that I am giving you my picks of the top albums and songs of 2007.

Top Albums

Burial – Untrue
Just when you thought his first album was a fluke Burial drops a sophomore release that blows the first away. Not necessarily built for the dance floor, but amazing.

Radiohead – In Rainbows
It's strange to hear of their return to form since I loved Hail to the Thief, but yet another amazing album from a band that can do no wrong.

J Tillman – Cancer & Delirium
Heartbreaking and beautiful, this album is hard to find but well worth the effort

Arbouretum – Rites of Uncovering
Not as hard to find as J Tillman, but fairly overlooked and a real hidden nugget of gold. It just transports you to another place. Amazing

Okkervil River – Stage Names
Though not as strong as Black Sheep Boy, it is another strong outing that showcases the talent of Will Scheff

Apparat – Walls
Incredible electronic release that reminds me of so many people at the same time-most of them from the "traditional" music world-yet is completely it's own sound.

White Stripes - Icky Thump
An awesome return to form for the White Stripes. Apparently all Jack White needed was some space from this format to reinvigorate himself.

Great Northern - Trading Twilight for Daylight
There is a part of me that feels like I should have something against this album because it is so slick and polished sounding, but it blows me away every time so I just don't care.

Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Daft Punk live with the concert experience of the last 2 years. 'nuff said.

Feist - The Reminder
Yes, you may be sick of 1234 from all the commercials but this entire album is full of great songwriting and performances.


Top Songs

Radiohead – Reckoner
From the first moment, I was hooked. This has become one of my favorite Radiohead tracks of all time

Burial – Archangel
alienating, heartbreaking, and captivating. takes the sound he hinted at in Unite from the Box of Dub compilation to another level altogether

J Tillman - When I Light Your Darkened Door
I could say the same about this as with Archangel. Feels like the other side of the same coin. This is desert island music to me.

Arbouretum - Pale Rider Blues
Post-apocalyptic folk/blues. This song grabs me and transports me somewhere else until it's done

Great Northern – Home
slick production that works for one of my favorite songs of the year, that I returned to again and again

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
I Know, I know, but it is a good song that sticks in your head and won't get out

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I Came to Hear the Music
The first song from this prolific songwriter that grabbed me and just wouldn't let go.

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
I may not buy into all the hype surrounding this album, though it is growing on me with each listen, but this song deserves all the praise it can get.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Little Monsters
From an album that just missed my top picks. This song takes the Air production and adds something to it to make it her own. Not as catchy as The Operation, but this will keep popping up on mixes I make for a long time to come

Dizzee Rascal - Sirens
Easily the top pick from the criminally overlooked third release from this MC. Great production, Great spittin' and an awesome video to boot.

Endorphin Rush

I was surprised the other day when I went to the Fetus and the electronic section had been shrunk down down even more than it was the last time I was there. Apparently dance music was even more of a phase than I thought.

Even more surprising was the fact that they did not have the one album that I had gone there specifically to pick up-Burial's sophmore release Untrue. Now dubstep isn't exactly on top of the US' tongue, but his first album easily went beyond the standard dubstep crowd and appealed to a pretty large audience.

With this new album there was a lot of anticipation to see how it would sound and if it would be possible to hold a candle to the first one.

Ghost Hardware which was released a few months ago kindled some hope, but I wasn't sure if the entire album could keep up.

Well suffice to say that after listening to the new one several times already, it has matched and maybe even surpassed the first release. From the spaced out, future groove, 2-step of Archangel to the Pole-ish Endorphin, or the outer space funk of my personal fav, Homeless there is hardly a wasted moment. the use of vocals is brilliant in their capacity to draw you into these sparse, moody tunes.

You can find plenty of praise out there in webland, so I will leave it at that and definitely reccomend that you pick it up.

In Rainbows - in three parts

As I just downloaded my copy of the new Radiohead yesterday, I though I would share a triptych of sorts containing my thoughts on this new release.

Part 1 - Distribution

I think it’s great that the band took the whole process into their own hands. By recording it on their own, and choosing to distribute how they wanted to, it gives them much more control over the how they are represented.

I know some things I have read online have essentially called this a controlled leak of the album, but I don’t think that quite fits what they are doing. First the big thing is that they kept under wraps just how complete the album was despite giving regular updates on their blog. Second by not resigning with a major label it kept too many cooks from entering the kitchen. Is it a truth that albums get leaked all the time nowadays? Yes. But why are they leaked? Because it is a product of a giant corporation with thousands of employees and the possibility of one of these—or many of these—people leaking a copy to the outside world is fairly high. I think some of the negative reactions to this method of distribution can be looked at as being stuck in the traditional mode of music distribution. I will be the first to admit that this won’t necessarily work for all bands and I am not expecting the music industry to fall apart or evolve overnight, but I think that it is interesting in showing the possibilities. Imagine if bands like U2 began to do this?

To come full circle, Radiohead is able to release this album then to their fans when they choose to do it (not waiting for the optimal time for the record label’s profits) and letting the fans decide how much its worth to them is a great plan. I personally choose to pay 5 pounds which equated to $10 US, or about what I would pay for an album on iTunes or a new release at Target or the local record shop.


Part 2 – Sound quality

I do have one gripe in all this though and it is the quality of the download. I paid my money in good faith based on a certain expectation of quality and feel that the 160 kbps files do not live up to that expectation. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Johnny Greenwood stated that:

“We talked about it and we just wanted to make it a bit better than iTunes, which it is, so that's kind of good enough, really. It's never going to be CD quality, because that's what CD does.”

Personally I think this is a cop out. If you want to be picky about it I could argue that the DRM free music Apple does provide is encoded at 256 kbps. Since you downloaded it as a zip file there wasn’t much of a limitation on what the size of the file could have been.


Part 3 – The music

Regarding the music, I think it would be very hard for Radiohead to release something I didn’t like. That being said I do find this to be something a departure from recent work in that it feels more stripped down and “simple.” Kid A and Amnesiac were both very experimental in their approaches which seemed to be a great counterpoint to the songwriting. Hail to the Thief seemed to be a perfect marriage of this new experimentalism within a more “rock” format which again allowed the songs themselves this space to expand and grow in.

In Rainbows seems a little more stripped down in approach and production and I am not convinced that this serves the songs as well as it could. I know it is bad probably bad form to compare the solo album to the group album but I feel that if you combined the production of The Eraser with In Rainbows it would be more complete.

As for individual songs:

Bodysnatchers is at once a reminder of the rocking numbers of Hail to the Thief and also Bends/OK Computer-era, which is interesting as Nude is from that earlier era but has been updated nicely.

Faust Arp feels like the weak link in the chain for me. It isn’t a bad song but the production being all strings and acoustic guitar just doesn’t feel like it fits in with the rest of the album. It feels more like b-side material.

Luckily, in my book at least, it is followed up by the strongest song on the album Reckoner. With its melancholy guitar melody, delicate vocals and understated guitar and drums, it is just gives me chills.

House of Cards is frustrating in that it reminds me of something/someone and for the life of me I can't think of who it is.


All in all a pretty strong album from a group that shows no sign of losing steam and instead a continuous stream of innovation

lo-fi overdriven blues

Went to the Clubhouse Jager this evening with some friends to chuck some darts and have a few drinks. Now I haven't been there in a couple months, but the music especially on Fridays and Saturdays has always been pretty borderline (typically DJs playing disco, various eighties, and the like).

I have to say though that I was really surprised when I walked in. The group playing when I walked in was pretty good. Guitar and drums with a vocalist playing rough lofi blues rock a la Black Keys. After a few songs they were done and the next couple of groups confirmed my feeling about the music there, but then Wolf & MY Bad Self went on and WOW. It was the same guitar/drums duo but now the guitarist was singing and I liked them even more than the first combination.

They aren't breaking any new ground but are a good time. I would definitely recommend checking them out sometime. They apparently play monthly at Jitters and at the Jag so there you go.

Good things come in threes

Monday was a good day as my latest orders from Amazon finally showed up in the mail. Unfortunately for me I had class so I did not get a chance to listen to anything until the next day, but for the most part everything was worth the wait.

And what did I buy you're asking? Well I'm glad you asked:

First up is the Mitchell Brothers - a breath of fresh attire
for anyone not familiar and I am guessing that is pretty much anyone reading this, the Mitchell Brothers are on the Beats, the label started by Mike Skinner of the Streets, and is produced by him as well. They came to my attention recently when I was checking out the downloads available from the Streets' website where they grace a remix of Blinded by the Lights that is absolutely massive. Anyone familiar with Mike Skinner's production style knows exactly what to expect from the music on this one, down to the obligatory slow jam in the vain of Dry Your Eyes, It's Too Late, Nite Nite for Kano, etc. Don't get me wrong cause I am a sucker for these tunes (I have a playlist of just these numbers on my iPod). The album also features a number of guests vocalists like Beats alum Streets and Leo the Lion along with Sway and Kano (where is his new album???). All in all a solid album but not great as the Mitchell Brothers flow doesn't always work with the stilted beats that are de rigeur of a Streets production. Word is they are pretty solid live though and a new album should be dropping soon so be on the look out.

Next up is Vex'd - Degenerate
killer album from one of the more original dubstep producers on the scene. 2 disc in all-one is the album and the other is a collection of previously released singles. Opener Pop Pop VIP is all sharp crackly drums and wobbly, distorted bass somewhat reminiscent of the old DJ Zinc breaks tune s in the two-step days. This formula continues throughout the album but doesn't get old because they keep the atmosphere fresh and original with tunes that wouldn't sound out of place in an Adam Freeland set. As a matter of fact the only criticism I could level this album is that it is a bit more of a breaks feel than a dubstep feel. But as soon as you start feeling that way they drop the digital dub madness of Crusher Dub and of course the highlight in my mind has to be the incredible Lion VIP, which lulls you in with a basic drum groove before absolutely crushing you with a massive bassline. This is one for the dubstep and the breaks crowd.


and Finally Dubstep Allstars Vol 3 mixed by Kode 9 w/ Spaceape
As for this mix cd, it is absolutely MASSIVE!!!!!! Living in MPLS, I don't have access to any DJs representing Dubstep so this to me is great cause it is all the tunes that I have heard on various streams throughout the year. Most of the tracks are dubs as of the CD being mixed and they represent the best producers in the scene-Skream, Loefah, Plasticman, Burial, the list goes on and on. Add to that the MCing of Spaceape and you have an incredible combination. Highly reccomended and a great starting point if you need one.

white chocolate

So at work today we had this big meeting at work today and in the mddle of the meeting they are discussing this exclusive CD we have with Joss Stone and here she comes to sing a couple songs.

Now I am not trying to be elitist, but some 19 year old british girl singing 70 soul? Come on. It just seems so trite and manufactured. I will say her voice wasn't too bad live, so I do have some respect there but.......I don't know. Maybe it has something to me listening to What It Is lately and it's hard to here this imitation of funk and soul.

before we were dead

From somewhere in '92 until the beginning of '04, I DJed in pretty much every imaginable situation for a techno DJ. Clubs, house parties, raves, big fields in Wisconsin whatever no difference to me. Prior to this I had a pretty voracious appetite for all kinds of music but due to limitations of funds and just being so into what I was doing as a DJ, my tastes narrowed and I didn't listen to much outside of the techno I was playing or maybe some dub to chill out.

Sometime in the middle of all this I started dating a girl who was into the local indie rock scene about as much as I was into the techno scene (friends with a number of bands, went to all the shows, blah, blah, blah). Matter of fact the first night I met her, I was at a friends getting ready to go spin at a house party and she was like you have to hear this album and put on Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Airplane Over the Sea." Nor really what I was into at the time, but she was so passionate about it I gave it a chance (as an aside that is now one of my all time favorite records).

From there I introduced her to the techno scene (our first date was dinner and then a rave I was spinning-I know how lame) and she introduced me to her scene (lesson 1 - indie rock guys don't like rave guys; at least then they didn't). She also introduced me to more music and I immediately fell in love with Olivia Tremor Control and The Dandy Warhols, but there were a number of bands that I just didn't get. The Make-Up was one of these.

Another band that I REALLY didn't like was Modest Mouse. The music was jagged and tinny sounding, and I HATED his voice. There is nothing more irritating than Isaac Brock at 5:30 in the morning after you have been spinning and hanging out at a rave all night after working all day long.

Time goes on, people stop dating, but I kept exploring the indie scene and finding more and more bands that I was into.

Then one day "Float On" happens. I kind of ignored it at first because of who it was, but it was a good song and it was everywhere (admit it, it's going through your head right now isn't it). Soon enough I had the album and liked it-a lot. It didn't remind me of any of the previous stuff I had heard from them. Either they had changed or I had forgotten. Either way, I didn't care.

Soon enough I found a used copy of "Moon & Antarctica" and picked that up and loved it as well.

Which brings me to their new album "We were dead before the ship even sank." To me this album sounds like an extension of the songwriting for "Good News..." It even opens with a little ditty that is reminiscent of the horns intro on Good News.

I didn't like Dashboard at first, it is obviously the Float On of the new album, but over repeated listens it has grabbed me and the big epic chorus in Florida reminds me of something that I can't place my finger on even after repeated listens, and maybe because of this it stands out to me as one of the better tracks on the album.

Unfortunately it is not as good of an album as Good News. To me Good News was a damn near perfect album, there is not one song I don't like.

We Were Dead just isn't as solid, it is a good album though and despite its flaws I would recommend it.

Steppin' Out

I 'm a little behind on these as I got all of them a few weeks ago, but whatever. Better late than never right. And after all I had the flu and the ToC was going on too. In the end, I have no good reason for being such a lazyass.

I've been pretty upfront about my feelings about Various Productions. They are oneof my fav groups of the moment and they just released a new song via Boomkat that is only available digitally until march 22nd. For those who only know their album "Luv U' may come as a bit of a shock, but it is classic Various Productions if you go back to some of the vinyl only tunes out there. The beat is more jungle than dubstep and it contains a brilliant vocal by Same Brain Ents who I know nothing about but expect to hear more from soon.

It's not new but I picked up the Mary Anne Hobz "Warrior Dubz" CD a month ago now and it has barely left my CD player and has been in frequent rotation in my Ipod. FOr those that don't know Mary Anne Hobbs, she is a DJ and hosts a show on Radio 1 in the UK that was formerly know as the Breezeblock and is now known bu the ungainly Mary Anne Hobbs: BBC Radio 1's Experimental Show. She plays an eclectic mix of Jungle, Grime, Dubstep, Techno, Leftfield, and a number of other styles. For this unmixed collection she has grabbed a number of killer tunes that may be exclusives, but don't quote me on that.

The tunes span the spectrum from jungle to techno with a focus on dubstep and grime inbetween. The highlights that have fast become tunes that I cannot live without would have to be the upbeat (for him) but still killer darkness of "Versus" by Burial, the hyped up dark grime that is Plastician's "Cha Vocal," and the insane jungle of Spor's "Hydra"

Don't think for a second though that there are any sleepers on this with tunes by Digital Mystikz, Terror Danjah, The Bug, Loefah, and many more. If you are at all interested in this sound you need this CD yesterday.

New Music and the problems with Liberals

New music Tuesday and a couple of anticipated releases with super quick one listen reviews

Air - Pocket Symphony
I was not a fan of Talkie Walkie. I just found it a little disappointing, so I wasn't sure what to think of their new album, but I am glad that I did. Upon first listen, it reminds me of their older pre-10,000 Hertz work. The track with Neil Hannon, "Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping," sticks out as perhaps my favorite on first listen, but I am looking forward to giving it a good follow-up listen at home or in the headphones

Arcade Fire - Neon bible
I was pretty tentative about this album as well, since the last couple of sophomore albums I picked up were disappointing to say the least. The $7.98 price tag at your friendly neighborhood Target helped make up my mind, and I am glad it did. While not as good as their first album at first listen, it is definitely a solid release. Interestingly "intervention" is the one track that sounds the most like their debut, but there are a number of other solid tunes, especially the latter half of the album-"My Body Is A Cage" being one of them.