Rediscovering the Video – 1/19/07

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=6gLc4FVEYpY[/youtube]That’s The Flaming Lips WONDERFUL video for “Mr. Ambulance Driver”

MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Mr. Ambulance Driver”

Something I realized lately is that music videos, with the “perversion” “corruption” of MTV, the value of a music video is totally overlooked. So every once in a while I’m going to post some videos with the intent that you, the reader, look not only at the pretty moving pictures but analyze it as an entity itself. There are some amazing creators and artists that are missing the credit they deserve. It is a humble community that begs to receive credit long overdue. I’m not going to give my input out just yet, but I’d love to know how these move you. The underground of the music video business is exploding with creativity and character. Click below to read this installment of Rediscovering the Video.

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Awesomely Awesome Tapes From Africa…

First off, I’m not really sure where this site stands, legally, but I’m going to tell you why Awesome Tapes From Africa is more important as a device for the globalization of music than any of us give credit for.

On one side, the ATfA plays a game we know well and good in the blog word. It is a “Full Album Blog” that posts all the tracks from various tapes and albums from that continent across the Atlantic (Ghana, especially). The B-side is a much interesting story. Awesome Tapes From Africa isn’t just another blog that helps the listener bypass the economics of the music industry and “steal” their favorite artists’ music, it’s great publicity for the creator and mind expansion for the usual blog-savvy community.

The artists featured are some of the biggest names around as well as some lesser. Many of the artists featured on the blog would never be heard, never have been heard or at least found it extremely difficult to make their names familiar to a western civilization that holds most of the power in deciding what trends, musical or otherwise, will catch on globally. Musically, African music is ridiculously diverse and original with each group representing strong values and intent–each region yielding a new and particular sound. Our concept of time-signature, key, tempo and very well our entire musical system is only one style to some of these artists. Almost always fusing their traditional (and sometimes extremely local) sound with something that hails to a much greater concept of popular music ends with some of the most lush and complex as well as simple and effective music I’ve heard in a long time. We forget there is a world out there…

In America, a completely networked system, we can obviously spot the difference between East Coast and West Coast rap or share our thoughts on pre- and post-Nirvana grunge bands in Seattle during the 90’s. It is a well documented musicology. So while we have LA, NYC, Miami, Austin, Seattle, Chicago, etc. each with its own musical style and history, then how can we group all of Africa into one stereotypical genre in our minds? We must explore and never has the simple blog community had the chance to open doors this way. This morning I sampled rap from all around the continent. I even found music from my homeland of Kenya. Now, in some small way, I can stay connected and learn about a culture by virtue of spending time with albums from the artists that are popular and influential there. Here are some favorites:

MP3: Wakimbizi – “Hallo Hallo (Radio Edit)” from Nairobi, Kenya

MP3: Mah Damba – “Sosoly” from Mali

MP3: Alhassan Ibrahim – “Zuu Mahamu Akonsi” from Northern Ghana

MP3:  Yoro Diallo – “Kobê Wati Yé” from Mali

Now, I’m not saying that this is the only way to explore the music of the world. In fact, I’d like to find out more about other systems. Finding the sound that shakes you to the core is certainly not impossible, it is a humble joy. And hopefully, with a keener interest in the music of the world, we can expand our interest in the fuel behind the music… the current events. Remember… every city (and every village) has news, even on a slow day.

There is much more to be had at the awesome Awesome Tapes from Africa.

Also, feel free to share your favorite world music. I’m down for everything.

Song of the Day – 1/12/07 + THE GLORY OF THE PACKERS!

A few weeks ago I got an album by The Bad Plus from a friend of mine. I didn’t catch too much from them but had heard things like their cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and ended up writing them off as a novelty thing, although great jazz musicians. Later I was searching my dad’s CD collection and stumbled on 4 volumes of NPR’s All Songs Considered. Somewhere in there I heard your song of the day for January 12th, 2008.

MP3: The Bad Plus – “The Big Eater”

The Bad Plus are a group of midwesterners, the bassist and drummer growing up in Minnesota and the pianist hailing from the great state of Wisconsin. Mixing rock, experimental and especially jazz theory into a volatile mix like this yielded amazing originality and success for the three. I had the honor of listening to three of their albums today and, while I decided my favorite was 2003’s These Are The Vistas, each one holds its own. Their songs are all truly small adventures–always keeping the listener guessing what will come next. Like a slightly less experimental and more traditional MMW, The Bad Plus gets creative and taps at the often overlooked “Contemporary Jazz” genre. I will forever have a special place in my music collection for these guys.

MP3: The Bad Plus – “Keep the Bugs Off Your Glass and Bears…”

MP3: The Bad Plus – “1972 Bronze Medalist” (awesome)

MP3: The Bad Plus – “Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana Cover)”

The Bad Plus: Home | MySpace | iTunes | Amazon

Here’s them doing a cover of Aphex Twin’s “Flim”:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=sX_Iij8Eyts[/youtube]

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Trax Fer Yr iPod

And movies for your face…

I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness – “The Owl”

  • [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=CD6VgRUE1y0[/youtube]

Lightspeed Champion – “Galaxy of the Lost”

  • [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZaHJJgoR0-s[/youtube]

Radiohead – “Bodysnatchers” (Live)

  • [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fx6MtweTuc8[/youtube]

Have a nice weekend, all…

Happy Like A Machine…

Song of the Day – 1/11/08

I’m almost asleep.

But then this song came on.

Slipped through the digital filter.

MP3: The LK – “Blakboy vs the Snow”

So it turns out they’re Sweedish.

Formerly The Lovekevins.

I heard a twisted lyric or two.

MP3: The LK – “Tandem Bike”

MP3: The LK – “Yellow Ribbons”

From the album Vs The Snow due this March

Support The LK: iTunes | Kora Records

The LK: MySpace | Home | INFO [via Who Needs Radio]

Song of the Day – 1/9/08 + New Ben Folds

See that picture? Ben Folds took that picture. Understand? Just try to remember. I remembered because someone passed me a link for a Ben Folds show back in December where he debuted some new songs. The recording begins with Folds explaining that they had new material that they were working out. They have 13 songs recorded, supposedly.

I have really had a serious love for Ben Folds for a long time… but maybe the same old thing was getting old for me too, because I forgot the last time I played him on my iPod. Listening to him again after a long break was pretty surprising because what he played , while still being very “signature Folds”, broke some boundaries–in a genre where he may well be the only member. My favorite of the bunch was stuck in my head for a while and I’m pleased to share it. Enjoy:

MP3: Ben Folds – “Brainwashed” Live – 12/19/07

Here are the rest:

MP3: Ben Folds – “Free Coffee” Live – 12/19/07 (Song starts 1:10)

*He uses some distortion and an autopan on the piano. It was only a matter of time… if you ask me…

*Still very nasty.

MP3: Ben Folds – “Effington” Live – 12/19/07

MP3: Ben Folds – ” You Don’t Know Me” Live – 12/19/07 (Song starts 1:20)

MP3: Ben Folds – “The Bitch Went Nuts” Live – 12/19/07 (Song starts 1:00)

MP3: Ben Folds – “Errant Dog” Live – 12/19/07 (Song starts 1:10)

Get: Show Info | Whole Show Recording

Support the Folds always, damnit!

Song of the Day – 12/28/07

The glory of a shuffling playlist means you can blindly encounter a song you forgot existed. One whose sonic melodies were “unforgettable.” The song found its way onto a slew of mixes and then, for whatever reason, was simply gone. Maybe you went through some hippie jam-band phase or your computer got stolen or whatever… the point is hearing that song after a long time can be one of the most satisfying moments ever.

Pas/Cal’s third EP, Dear Sir, was released earlier this year (maybe sometime last year?) and it was an incredibly strong release. I think I had a real thing for most of the songs on it. The song of the day today is “The Lot Came We Came Home With,” the fourth track.

What starts out simple pyramids into a complex and beautiful climax that really hits close to the soul. Everytime I listen through the EP, the flow between the two last tracks feels fantastic. I’ll spare you the bio and the pressure and let you take it as it is. Enjoi!

MP3: Pas/Cal – “The Lot We Came Home With”

I think we could really use a full-length sometime soon, eh guys?

MP3: Pas/Cal – “Wake up Wake Up Wake Up”

The best part? Every other track on this EP is equal or better… that’s called consistency, kids…

Song of the Day – 12/27/07

So it’s that elusive, treasure-trove of a week that sits firmly between Christmas and New Years when we have the right to drink more than we should, eat more than we should and just avoid doing what we should, you know? It’s called the holiday season because we have the right to be as happy as fucking possible.

White Shoes & the Couples Company is a band I really don’t know a lot about. At first listen, it’s an immediate recommendation to fans of Belle & Sebastian or The Clientele. A gift from a friend, their self-titled album is “fun as fuck, dude!!!!!111” and I agreed, so I did some research.

The band hails from Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. Influenced by more classic jazz than modern experimentation as well as 70’s Indonesian movie soundtracks, these guys don’t let the mood out for a second. More than just homogeneous indiepop, this album is a perfect blend of smooth jazz, rock, funk, disco, awesome noise and sound as well as thoughtful and energetic indiepop. It’s honestly a pleasure to listen to the album through, I truly hope you go out and find this one. It’s worth it… especially at a time like this. Let the good ones roll…

MP3: White Shoes & the Couples Company – “Tentang Cita”

Buy their album: Amazon | iTunes

Be their friend: MySpace

Bonus MP3: White Shoes & the Couples Company – “Topstar”

Check out this fantastic video for their single “Senandung Maaf”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ9wTSjHnMY[/youtube]

I’m all about the revival of “jolly badasses,” join me?