The Day I Shared

Since everybody seems to sharing their summer mixtape, and I don't really like summer in NYC very much, I figured it'd be better for me to compile a winter mixtape of songs that put me more in that latter half of the year kinda vibe. I wanted to keep it to local NYC artist only but then Denver, France and Norway snuck their way in as well. Fellow Undisputed Heavyweights members Casey Shea and Jeff Jacobson are preparing for their solo releases later this year and there's a little taster for both of those albums in here as well.

The Winter Wonderland Mixtape

01. Casey Shea - The River Still (MP3)
02. Dirty Virginia - Lonely (MP3)
03. Ian Thomas - Poor Children (live) (MP3)
04. Cameron Hull - Sweet Misery (MP3)
05. Kings of Convenience - What I Can Save You From (MP3)
06. Jeff Jacobson - Let You Down (demo) (MP3)
07. Paula Valstein - La La Song (MP3)
08. Phoenix - Long Distance Call (live) (MP3)
09. Nada Surf - In The Mirror (MP3)
10. Devotchka - How It Ends (MP3)

KoC song via ShakeYourFist.
Phoenix song via RBally

The Day We Said No

"Can we be in your video if we flash the camera?", the 15 year old girls asked running towards us while we filmed an upcoming Undisputed Heavyweights skit. Vince had called it correctly when he announced, "Uh-oh, Girls Gone Wild." Our initial reaction inside of our own heads might have been fed by our caveman instincts (yes, breasts=good), but within milliseconds we exclaimed: "No, no!" with images of bread, water and jail cells in our heads which our modern city man instincts were not good (no, having to join the Aryan brotherhood for protection = bad). Despite the good decision, we left that street corner feeling slightly soiled. Mostly I was glad that Jeff didn't have to join the Aryan Brotherhood though.



I love the concept of the serialized album cover. It might cost a little more to produce, but it's exciting to discover. The Roots have done it before, and their new album cover, see above, is a set of four. It might seem like just the depiction of a game, but there might be a more political background to the illustration. I shall inquire.

More albums added to my iTunes.



Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers (1998) :: Still underrated.
The Police - Every Breath You Take (1995) :: Must have.
Ice-T - Original Gangster (1991) :: CLASSIC.

Recently, albeit perhaps a little late, I discovered Goodnight & Goodnight, another one of those fun PA bands. MP3s below.

Download of the Day
The Roots - "Please Don't Go" (Demo) (MP3)
The Roots - Pfffat (MySpace)
Goodnight And Goodnight - The Sun Hits Her Face (MP3)
Goodnight And Goodnight - 1915 (MP3)

The Day Of Splendor

I went to see the Roots a week or so ago. It was a star studded line up featuring Common, Talib Kweli, Nas and Slum Village. There was a second night that was more R&B oriented as was to feature Erykah Badu and others. There was all the reason in the world to expect a surprise Jay-Z appearance on the first night through his strong links to the Roots, Nas and references to Talib and Common in the past. Basically I KNEW he was going to appear. I ended up slightly dissappointed with the night and Jay-Z didn't show. Now I never even considered he'd show up on the second night, but what do I find days later on YouTube?



Damn you Jay-Z! Damn you!

Memorial Day is coming up. I wasn't really sure what people were memorializing. I tried to find an American on the street to explain it to me. But everyone in my neighborhood was part of a Puerto Rico pride parade, one of 17 held throughout the year because it might be a tiny place but they're real proud of it. Justifiably so of course. I had to resort to the Wikipedia and found it was about "U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country". Interestingly enough it seems to be celebrated by grilling meat and drinking beer in public. I think most people celebrate having a day off, rather than commemorating the past. I guess that is the natural progress holidays make over the years. I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't get up out of that cave to go to Heaven leaving a note to instruct his followers to "worship the bunny that lays chocolate eggs every year on this day". I have a little plastic bear full of honey that says otherwise.

Download of the Day
Rick Ross ft Jay-Z & Young Jeezy - Hustlin' (rmx) (MP3) Via CMM

The Day I Lost

More albums added to my iTunes in the last couple of weeks.



The Shins - Oh Inverted World (2001) :: Very pretty vs filler.
Iron & Wine - The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002) :: Pretty.
Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan (2003) :: Great prologue.



Ice Cube - Death Certificate (1991) :: Superbly amazing.
Ben Harper - Burn To Shine (1999) :: Cool solitary roots rock.
Geto Boys - Resurrection (1996) :: Sick.



Sam & Dave - Soul Man (1996) :: Too much filler.
Stereophonics - Word Gets Around (1997) :: Solid soul rock.
The White Stripes - Elephant (2003) :: Took me a long time to like.



Shea Seger - The May Street Project (2000) :: Surprising.
George Clinton - Greatest Funkin' Hits (1996) :: :/.
Nightmares On Wax - A Word Of Science (1991) :: Great & deep.



Redman - Muddy Waters (1996) :: Crazy (and) talented.
Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach (1972) :: A little longwinding.
Creaky Boards - Creaky Boards (2004) :: Scatterbrained and fun.



George Harrison - Brainwashed (2002) :: 4.5 Last & best.
Ice Cube - Featuring Ice Cube (1997) :: 4 Surprisingly key.
Hole - Live Through This (1994) :: 2.5 Ehh.



Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth (1993) :: Flow on!
Ghostface Killah - Ironman (1996) :: 5th best Wu Album.
Bahamadia - BB Queen (2000) :: Underrated, rough smooth shit.

Download of the Day
Did I mention Nada Surf is my favorite find in 12 months?
Nada Surf - Blonde On Blonde (MP3)
Nada Surf - Inside Of Love (MP3)
Nada Surf - Always Love (MP3)