Thursday, April 28, 2011

9th Wonder

The good guys over at Pitchfork informed the interworld that there is a documentary on the ever funky, North Cakalak-based producer who makes thick beats using only the finest samples. Below is the trailer for the documentary, "The Wonder Year".

Songs to Enjoy

Talking Heads: Rarities


I just came across this collection of outtakes and rarities by Talking Heads recorded through out the bands career. I have heard several alternate versions from Talking Heads but there are some cuts on here I had not heard before. Some of those tracks are These Boots Are Made for Walking (Nancy Sinatra) and I Walk The Line (Johnny Cash) performed solo by David Byrne. Another track I was unfamiliar with was Dancing For Money, recorded during the "Fear of Music" session but sounds like it should be on "Remain in Light". Besides these rarities there are some alternate versions of songs many will be familiar with - Psycho Killer, Big Country, Life During Wartime (a version that is certainly more rocking than the original) and Uh Oh Loves Comes to Town - but a highlight for me is I Feel It In My Heart, an outtake from the "Talking Heads 77" session that has been one of my favorites for some time, a song that I cannot understand how it did not make it onto the album. 


Psycho Killer (take 1) 5:11
I Feel It In My Heart (Talking Heads 77 outtake) 3:06
Uh Oh Love Comes To Town (alt ver) 3:07
The Big Country (alt ver) 5:01
I'm Not In Love (alt ver) 5:10
Warning Sign (alt ver) 4:12
Thank You for Sending Me an Angel (alt ver) 2:28
Life During Wartime (w/Fripp and long ending) 3:56
Dancing For Money (Fear Of Music outtake) 2:40
Unison (Remain In Light outtake) 4:55
Double Groove (Remain In Light outtake) 4:41
These Boots Are Made For Walking (Talking Heads 77 session) 1:05
I Walk the Line (Talking Heads 77 session) 0:56
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat (Talking Heads 77 session) 1:50


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Doniac Schvice


If you were a fan of the band Phish back in the day you most likely received their newsletter, "Doniac Schvice",  in the mail. It consisted of ordering concert tickets (for $25 per ticket!) and random articles written by the band members as well as other strange tidbits from a strange band. They have a section where fans can write in questions and the band would answer them, some seriously, others sarcastically. I remember one in particular where a fan asked what the definition of Doniac Schvice. Jon Fishman replied that it is the feeling when someone is chasing you and you have reached your locked door, you are panicked and cannot seem to get the correct key in the door. I never found out of that was a silly answer or he was being truthfully. Regardless, that answer always stuck with me after all these years. Below is a link to a PDF file of every newsletter from 1996 through 2000. Its an interesting read and even more entertaining walk down memory lane for anyone who liked this band way too much back in the day. 

Monday, April 25, 2011

Kid Koala (and John Medeski)

I recently saw Pitchfork mentioning a "new" collaboration between Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Dan the Automator (Handsome Boy Modeling School, Kool Keith) and Kid Koala (Deltron 3030). Pitchfork posted a clip of Kid Koala spinning the track on a NYC radio show recently.

When I watched the clip, I immediately recognized it. Given Pitchfork mentioned that Kid Koala has been performing the song live, it does not specify that he has been performing using that song since 2006, possibly even earlier. The way I heard him perform this song was through a live recording of Kid Koala and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) performing a full set (43+ minutes) in Japan in 2006. This specific beat mentioned comes around the 13-minute mark. I have been listening to this track on the regular for the past few years ever since I came across it. This whole time I have been trying to figure out which Damon Albarn song is being sampled with zero success. If anyone knows the original, please let me know since I would absolutely love to hear it. Thankfully, Koala and Medeski blur their sounds so beautifully that it is certainly well worth a listen.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

New Music: My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket released the title track from their new album Circuital that is set to be released on May 31. The song is strong and certainly has a nice Americana rock sound with a slow build up a the beginning, book marked with the same subtle sounds at the end. Regardless, its good to hear some new MMJ and I hope they add some Northeast dates to their tour in support of the new record. They have not played New York since their sold out show at Madison Square Garden in 2008. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

James Murphy Interview, 2006

I was went to post a link to DFA Records on the post below this one and noticed an interview with James Murphy from 2006. It is a 30-minute interview and DFA cut it down to 9-minutes.

The Juan MacLean: The Future Will Come


I have been listing to "Happy House" today. Its making up for the rain falling outside my window. A  member of the DFA Records family, this album is filled with funky pop sounds to enjoy. The groove is thick and recommended to taste loudly through your ears. 

Elliott Smith: 4.17.1998


The Black Cat
Washington, DC
4.17.1998

angeles
division day
clementine
waltz #2 (xo)
between the bars
southern belle
jealous guy
say yes
oh well, okay
no name #4
rose parade
alameda
pictures of me
some song
biggest lie
st ides heaven
care of cell 44
speed trials
thirteen
no name #3

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Hot Dog Variations


It is close to impossible to find an authentic Chicago-style hot dog that is dragged thru the garden in New York. I have heard there are some places doing it right but have yet to try. I never crave a New York-style hot dog and that got me thinking about the different hot dog variations found around our great country. I knew of a few but there are certainly variations that I had no idea about. Cream cheese in Seattle? Mesquite-smoked bacon in Arizona? The variations are often similar but there are more cities turning out hot dogs in their own unique way than I thought. 

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Duff McKagen Talks About Kurt Cobain

It was trending on Twitter yesterday. It was on every music website. Newfeeds even mentioned it. Yesterday marked the 17th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death through suicide. People have been posting several videos of Kurt Cobain as well as interviews with people who knew him well. I like this video, in particular, since it is Duff McKagan, former bassist for Guns n' Roses, talking about a random encounter with Cobain on a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle just before he took his own life. 



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

ESG: Come Away With ESG


ESG started out as a group of four sisters from the Bronx in the early 1980's.  Come Away with ESG is a record that pushed the boundaries of soul music, blending it with elements of disco, rock and incredibly funky drum beats. In short, ESG makes wonderful dance music. If you are in mourning after last weekends farewell LCD Soundsystem concert at Madison Square Garden you may be able to fill your wound with this record. Come Away with ESG has that post-punk dance feel that is quite similar to what LCD was pulling off before they called it quits.





Farewell, LCD Soundsystem

Last Saturday marked the final performance by LCD Soundsystem at the historic area in midtown Manhattan, Madison Square Garden. Weeks leading up to the concert, many could not control their excitement knowing that the band, famous for putting on high-energy, utterly entertaining performances, would not hold back for their last hurrah. People from all over the globe descended on the city to witness a concert that will be talked about for years.