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

Talking Heads: Rarities

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. 

Doniac Schvice

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.

Kid Koala & John Medeski (2006-08-19)

Yamanakako Theater Hibiki, Yamanashi, Japan

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. 

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.