The Day After

Stein, the Netherlands (12.25.06)

Sidenote :: Spending a week at home with the 'Rents reminds me why I'm so happy to be a Mac user now.

James Brown is dead. You know this and it's sad, but have you ever heard the song James Brown Is Dead released 10 years ago? One of my favorite old school hardcore electronica/dance tracks. Obviously Dutch produced. Download below.

I recently got a chance to put together some questions to interview DMC of the famed Run DMC. He opened up about his personal life as a foster child, modern day hip hop, and more. Read the interview over at BrooklynVegan.

Speaking of BV I've made a top 10 list of my favorite Hip Hop Albums just appeared here. I didn't attempt to make an overall non-genre specific list because I can't focus on a group of records that big. However, what I can say is that Timbaland probably produced the majority on my favorite pop songs of 2006. He did some amazing things on the Nelly Furtado album (who I previously couldn't stand) and of course on the Justin Timberlake album. My Love gets all the love but my favorite song on the record is actually the second vignette of Lovestoned/I Think She Knows. Download below. Read someone else's opinion here

Now for those interested in Morrissey, there's a wonderful 4 part documentary on YouTube (God Bless YouTube) that I discovered through SneakMove. It includes Noel Gallagher, JK Rowling, Bono, Christie Hynde, Nancy Sinatra, Bowie and personal friends and family of the Moz. See below.

Download
LA Style - James Brown Is Dead (MP3) via Armagideon
Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned/I Think She Knows (MP3) via Cacaphony&Coffee

Part 1



Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

The Day I Overate

Who would've ever thought watching these guys that they'd become the greatest band in rock music today with one of the greatest rock singers ever?



Somehow it's very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings'Schmiegel.

Download
Radiohead - Creep (MP3) via SoundOfTheSuburb

The Day I Thought Of Crack

In the year that Crack/Cocaine rap overwhelmed the Hip Hop market place more than ever before (Young Jeezy, Clipse, Rick Ross, T.I., etc.) this late 1980's verse by Masta Ace of the Juice Crew sounded so foreign but there was a time where rappers warned against getting involved in the drug world instead of boasting about it.

Sing a song of six pence, a pocket full of crack
Think you're sayin somethin, you ain't sayin jack
Now tell me, what is goin on these days?
From what I'm seein lately I'd say crime pays
Cause somebody is gettin paid
I think it's time to sprinkle some rain on the parade
Now listen, take this as a word from the wise
I'm not a prophet or a preacher, just a man with eyes
And I've been witnessed the fitness of a neighborhood worsen
You oughta hold a person-to-person
Discussion with those who rose from that level
Usin a broom or a mop or a shovel
Not on the corner waitin for the big pay-off
It's not comin, so why not stay off
The streets, believe me it beats bein sent up-
state on a date with the man and bein pinned up
In solitary, take advantage of your freedom
I'm givin helpful hands cause you need em
It's not all about the cash you make
Sellin poison to boys and girls - you're a fake
So what you got a cable, so what you got a bm?
You love when the girls go, "Ooh, did you see him!"
So what your pocket's filled with 20s and 10s
You're gonna find out just how fast that ends
Cause one day you'll be drivin round the way in your ride
There'll be a bullet with your name on the side
And if you don't believe what I'm tellin you, mack
When you're layin on the ground with a hole in your back
Lookin up at the sky, gettin closer to hell
Just remember Master Ace had a story to tell




[CRED]

Downloads

Masta Ace ft Buckshot - Brooklyn Blocks (MP3) via Berkeley
Young Jeeze ft TI - I Got Money (MP3) via Spine
Clipse - Chinese New Year (MP3) via Wolfnotes

The Day I Almost Walked Into A Ramone

Last night I was a guest host on Sirius Radio's Left Of Center channel during BrooklynVegan's Blog Radio. I got to pick 1.5 hours worth of music (see playlist below) and we talked about the Heavyweights, Engine Room Recordings, the Guilt By Association compilation disc we're working on (I preview the Petra Haden track on air), Cross-Pollination,and more. As I walked in Dashboard Confessional was playing a few songs acoustically on air.



Afterwards I was ushered into the tiny studio where we recorded the episode. They have a big wall where all the famous bands sign their name. I managed to squeeze the Heavyweights into a little spot next to The Shins.



Find the playlist below. For more photos go to the Heavyweights Flickr page.

1) Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart
2) Toby Goodshank - Wally Breaks It Down Proper
3) Termanology - Watch How It Go Down

4) The So & So's -Please You
5) Ry Black - Til The Day (dem0)
6) Wakey Wakey - You Could DO Better If You Tried (live)
7) Oh No! Oh My! - I Love You All The Time
8) Jump Little Children - By The Way They Dance

9) Clipse - Chinese New Year
10) Classified - 5th Element
11) White Rabbits - The Plot

12) Snow Patrol - You Could Be Happy
13) Aphex Twin - 4
14) Ed Purchla - What I Believe In

15) Testosterone Kills - I'm Gonna Tell You
16) Kettel - Twinkle Twinkle That Is You
17) Sammy Davis Jr. & Carmen McCrea - Baby, It's Cold Outside
18) The Innocence Mission - Lakes Of Canada

19) Dave Deporis - At The End Of The Tunnel (Live @ CrossPol)
20) MSTU - Sheffield Shanty
21) Petra Haden - Don't Stop Believin'

22) Matt Singer - Suitable Vacation
23) Barry Bliss - All I Really Want
24) Acada & De Munnik - Bij Haar Zijn (live)

25) Ghostface Killah - RAGU
26) Lady Of Rage - Unfucwitable
27) The Game - Looking At You
28) Jay-Z - Trouble

The Day I Returned, Again

I rise up from the ashes a man reborn. Well maybe not reborn, but at least older and still slightly unsuccessful with home improvement matters. Pre-Ashes I've kept myself busy with life, music, Lost, thoughts of mexico, talking to and with stuffed animals, crepes, writing about hip hop, taking photos, and more things of that nature.

Tomorrow I'll be Sirius Radio's Left Of Center channel as a guest hosting on BrooklynVegan's Blog Show. I got to pick 1.5 hours worth of music and I'll be talking to host Dave as well. It will air Tuesday (tomorrow) at 10pm and I'll be posting the playlist here tomorrow.



Oh Norah, I know you have been. I've been thinking about you too. *wink* I'm gonna buy a leather jacket and getting some hair products to match your outfit. Grease 2007 featuring Norah Jones & The Undisputed Heavyweights? Just let me know.

Download of the Day
Norah Jones - Thinking About You (MP3) Via AlwaysSomeoneCooler