I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
And so here we are at the end of the 'crisis', hope you've enjoyed the ride...
Everyone has their personal favorite Prince record(s). Just ask around and you'll get a myriad of answers. Mostly Purple Rain is the common choice, with Sign O' The Times right behind as their opus of choice. Dirty Mind and 1999 are sometimes thrown into the pot. The show-offs say a really obscure bootleg that about 4 people own just to impress you with their depth on Prince knowledge.
While I'll be the common (wo)man and say that Purple Rain is probably my all-time favorite Prince record, Parade just happens to be my personal favorite.
Van Hunt---he's pissed. Really pissed. He's also in retaliation mode. He's Dirty Harry and he wants you to make his day, shoot and then ask questions later.
Yet, it's all understandable.
You'd be this way if you had been dropped from your record label and had them put a halt to the release of an album that you poured every ounce of yourself into. You wouldn't be exactly sitting around twiddling your thumbs---you'd get even the best way you knew how. This is Van Hunt's game plan. So strapped with his guitar and his ever-present cynical wit, What Were You Hoping For?, the Dayton, Ohio native's fourth installment, is nothing short of a brazen middle finger towards those who tried to box him into the plush idea of him being like every Maxwell, D'Angelo, and Raphael Saadiq that ever crooned their way through a tune. You can hear it as it crackles and pops, thrusts and pulls, yanks and gnaws, rocks and reels---this is the Van Hunt who will not be tamed and where individualism is on display, so get ready for the 'hot stage lights', they're ablaze.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Even more singles....!
Push It - Salt N' Pepa
Such a legendary cut. Touted as the femme fatale answer to Run-D.M.C., Salt N' Pepa became legends in their own right by taking their spunk and feministing to the mainstream, vocalizing that hip-hop wasn't a 'He-Man-Woman-Haters Club'--that the girls had some things to say. Though the song has carried onto different meanings, still, over the years one fact remains the same: it's a infectious slice of hip-hop history and that ladies do indeed come first. Big things were to come of the trio in later years, but this is where it all began doorknocker earrings and all.
Notorious - Duran Duran
Funky, funky, and more funky. Duran Duran regrouped in 1986 after embarking to front separate spin-off groups (see The Power Station and Arcadia) to release Notorious. At the time, Notorious, spotlighted how much the band had matured and advanced from their sabbatical, and while Notorious isn't Rio by any means, it still has a lot going for it, especially the title track. No doubt that "Notorious" has some leftover juice from The Power Station as it sways and bass licks away. It's easily one of my favorites from them and it just never gets boring no matter how many times you hear it.
Sara Bareilles isn't a master dancer, but hey, she looks like she's having a blast in her video for "Gonna Get Over You" as she rocks a Johnny Depp as Crybaby-esque look and frolics around in a Mexican supermarket. Yes...you read that right.
I wasn't a huge fan of Kaleidoscope Heart, in fact, I found it a bit run-of-the-mill, considering how 2007's Little Voice was so precious to my heart. I'll probably give it a second chance one day considering my love for the Bareilles and how she knows how to write a great kiss-off song like this one. Directed by actor Jonah Hill, this video is not what you think it is so stay tuned for a neat twist. Plus after viewing, you'll get a hankering to go to a Mexican supermarket---seriously, they are as fun as this video leads you to believe.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Ignorance is never bliss. I don't care what the original quote means, there are some things you do need to know in order to function properly in this society. For many years, the only song I knew by Peter Gabriel was "Sledgehammer" and well, that's a bit embarrassing to admit considering Gabriel is more than "Sledgehammer". For all my young years, I never knew about his innovative turns and wild animal costumes in the prog-rock years of Genesis (the pre-Phil Collins years) or of his previous experimental solo albums and soundtrack scores that made art-pop less of a nerdy indulgence. Life is for learning, like Marvin sang, and I learned that there was a full album to "Sledgehammer" and that album was 1986's So.
Yes, I'm still on my deep House kick and once again an album has plopped into my lap for musical consumption. To satisfy my craving, vet of the San Francisco music scene, DJ/producer Miguel Migs has released his Outside The Skyline project--which is a House music dreamsicle.
He's wrangled in a wonderful array of guest spots on this one from House divas like Lisa Shaw and Aya, to Bebel Gilberto and to one of my personal favorite ladies of the 70's and 80's, Miss Evelyn "Champagne" King.Oh, and silly me, how could I forget Meshell Ndegeocello who makes two appearances?
As surprising as that merging of the minds is and how most Meshell die-hards might think she's out of her comfort zone, from the sounds of "Tonight" and "Close Your Eyes" you'll find Migs and Meshell should happen much more often. Yet, Meshell isn't the only showpiece as Miss Evelyn reminds us why she is so damn good (and terribly underrated) on "Everybody", and Lisa Shaw does her thing on "Breakdown"---just good things all around on this. So take a mind break, kick back in the cubicle, or whatever and have at the stream below!
"Every Part" is one of my favorites off of the Seven EP and this video (which is merely a impromptu rehearsal), really does bring to life the intimacy the track evokes. Not official, but if you adore King's voice, then you're in for a treat as this is just strictly singing, expressin' feelings, and all that good stuff that makes you excited to be a music lover (not to mention a cute giraffe earring).
If you haven't gotten Emily King's Seven EP yet---you're just failing at this thing we call life. So dig around in the couch for some copper and paper with good old Georgie's mug on it, it's $7 well worth spent.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Madonna's True Blue was the first full Madonna album I bought. Don't know why considering I bought it about 15 years after the fact and at that time Madonna was relaxing in the moderate success of American Life (aka one of my least favorite records of hers). Lucky for me, True Blue is a stunner and the perfect first album to expand past The Immaculate Collection. It also was the light bulb moment where I learned to really love and appreciate Madonna, not just because she was uninhibited and could spit out verbal zingers to her nay-sayers, but because she knew how to whip a pop song into shape and really make each song/album an event in itself. Like A Prayer and Bedtime Stories would confirm it for me in later years, but True Blue kicked it all off and began my now life-long jaunt with ol' Madgesty.
Oh, Björk.Only you can entrance by thumbing a harp on your body and holding up a gemstone for close to six minutes. Tell me what artist in today's world can get away with that?
The phases of the moon are chronicled and given a soundtrack in Björk's latest video for track, "Moon" off of the rabidly anticipated Biophilia, which hits stores October 11th. I feel that Biophilia, is going to be one of those albums that's an 'aquired' taste, and will be no doubt be the coolest science lesson ever put to music since Bill Nye: The Science Guy and The Magic School Bus. You can bet on that.
While there are more flashier artists out there who attempt to follow in a conga line of imitators, James Morrison is on the other side of the floor doing the waltz, and dancing circles around everyone else---content that he's the 'honest Abe' of the British pop-soul market. This works in his favor as Morrison knows his audience and knows that they crave his throwback to the singer/songwriters of the 70's and how he fixes it for Gen-Y ears without sounding like he's going for a novelty record. For his third installment, The Awakening, Morrison sticks to the formula that made his previous albums, 2007's Undiscovered and 2008's Songs For You, Truths For Me such aural pleasures. Just this time out, the songs are moodier, nothing is tightly tied or polished up, and Morrison's rasp is even edgier than previous. The album is really unlike the brazen Soulsville workouts that littered his first two records, and that is the album's upside as well as it's downside.
Talk about a problem arising! I was so deep in the 'crisis' that I found out there were more singles that I loved from 1986 than I figured, and since September is running low on dates, I have decided to combine in two separate posts all the singles that I adore. Alrighty then let's continue the Quarter Life Crisis!
When Problems Arise - Fishbone
Fishbone dared to be different in '86 when they released their debut, In Your Face as they weren't your typical outfit at the time. Merging ska-rock in with hip-hop, lots o' funk and a zest of humor, Fishbone shook up and funked out with their unique sound. They wouldn't get alternative tastemakers attention till 1988's Truth and Soul and would get oh so heavier as the years went on, but it all started with "When Problems Arise" their lone single from In Your Face. It was a great way to kick things off as "Problems" is hysterical (a song all about a real selfish weasel of a person) but it's also grooves in all the right places. I truly think they should have been as big as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers became, but alas Fishbone is one of music history's gems, and when you do discover (or re-discover) them it is like finding treasure.
Change Of Heart - Cyndi Lauper
It's idyllic to tell you that all the Cyndi Lauper you need is on She's So Unusual, her 1984 classic debut. It is true, I mean "Time After Time", "She Bop", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"---classics. But it's not always that simple. Cyndi has always had a lot more to say, and even though some people never went past Unusual, there were moments on True Colors, Cyndi's encore, that proved she had lasting power. "Change Of Heart" was the game changer. I was never a fan of the gooey title track, but "Change Of Heart" with it's edgy guitar work really does 'turn it around' and earned it's #3 position in '86. With The Bangles on backing vocals, "Heart" is spunky and pure Lauper that showcased that she was sharpening her pop sound for later years to come.
Maybe we should blame Jay-Z for "New York State of Mind" as now everyone has an anthem for their stompin' grounds. I guess this means I need to get my little camera and start filming me hanging out along the Riverwalk and bothering the tourists on the riverboats about their being sea monkeys in the SA River. C'mon, I need a YouTube hit just like everyone else....
Whether you're confused about Patrick Stump (about his new look, to why you find him attractive all of a sudden, to why you just now realized he's from Fall Out Boy), you can't help but find a little space in your heart for "This City" as it is zippy little pop number. It's not the best, but it's a passable introduction to what will become of Stump's upcoming, Soul Punk record. Lupe Fiasco does his bit, and whether you agree with his political stance or not, Fiasco doesn't disappoint. I'm more interested in the album cover for SP, than this video, but the first singles are just enough to get the pot stirring.
Nneka is going to make me quite happy later this year when her third album, Soul Heavy drops, as I'm loving the official first single from it, "My Home". How great is this visual? Filmed on location in her stompin' ground of Nigeria, Nneka gives us a character study of the many identities and personalities that occupy her homeland. Nneka has the right message concerning this song and video--- "home" is where our 'beginning, middle, and end' is.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Let me let you in on a little tiny dream of mine: I want Anita Baker to sing at my wedding.
I know. Audio Diva has lost her mind.
To make this happen, of course I'm going to shell out the big bucks. I'll forgo a lavish ceremony. I'll make the wedding party eat Twinkies if need be to cut back on funds. I don't even have Mr. Audio Diva in mind, but like some little girls who don't let their feminism gusto cloud their pursuits of happiness, I intend to put a ring on it and then have Anita Baker singing fit into the equation somehow.
The main request is that she's going to do "Sweet Love"---right down to the opening crash of cymbals and that rocking movement she does when she's getting into her singing zone. Knowing myself, I will get greedy and poke her to do all of the Rapture album at the reception, just because well---Rapture is special.
This is pretty damn mesmerizing. Her voice is so clear and that diction---you can hear every.single.word. No noise pollution, just sangin'. And to think here in America we settle for contestants on singing competition shows where everyone sounds like they sing either through a portable fan or believes that when they sing Stevie Wonder in the shower that that fictitious lie will replicate itself on stage. See we can have this instead, people!
Write down and keep this Scottish lass (sorry couldn't help it) Emeli Sandé in mind for next year when her debut album, Our Version Of Events, comes to light. For now, "Heaven", Emeli's debut single, has been getting some buzz around the blogs (including spotlights on some of my blogging co-horts) and today is the day that I've heard the light. This live version on Later with Jools Holland even slightly brings more intimacy than the original. There's more to be heard after the cut---you must hear the track "Maybe" before the day is out...you just must.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Kim Wilde has had quite a checkerboard type of career, which is why she takes up an ample amount of spot in my music library. I know what you're thinking: "Really? Kim Wilde?? Shouldn't that kind of proclamation be saved for someone more avant garde?" To state my case, any artist who's sound evolves with each album always gets a gold star from me.
Wilde began in the 80's as a pouty New Wave darling with the hit, "Kids In America" and then throughout the rest of the decade she zipped around doing pop, R&B, House, and everything in-between, and it my opinion, never got the credit for it. At the time of Another Step in '86, Kim did her first sound transition as she discarded the brooding New Wave attitude and adopted a spunky platinum blonde pop persona. Yeah, the 'Madonna Syndrome' had effected a lot of female artists at the time who felt the competition and needed to capture that same sound, but Kim kept on her side of the street, and did pop the British gal way.
For some reason, this week I got a hankering to listen to some House/Electronica music, and Ben Westbeech's latest, There's More To Life Than This came out at the right time, as it is hitting the spot.
The British renaissance man (he's producing, singing, DJ-ing, making the sandwiches, etc.) has been scribbled on my list of 'artists that I need to blog about' for some time since I heard "Something For The Weekend" which sounded like Jamiroquai's play cousin. Hell, a lot of There's More sounds like Jay Kay and the gang, but that doesn't stop it from being enjoyable and hearing what Westbeech brings to the table.
There's More is Westbeech's second release (he released, Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life, back in '07), and he's got the lounge soul man thing down pact. There really isn't a bad track on the record, thanks to the production credits of Soul Clap and George Levin & Motor City Drum Ensemble to name a few. Highlights such as the opener "The Book", "Falling" (see below), and "Same Thing" are immensely engaging and you'll hate that a dance floor isn't available when you hear them. Westbeech is really in his element when he sinks into a deep electronica on tracks like the bass drenched "Let Your Feelings Show" and "Justice", a track that spins you right 'round. My personal favorite is "Butterflies", an effective blend of house and jazz that opens up quite memorably---scatting for the win. I just love the build-up of the track.
Some really great sounds are to be heard on this, so take a further listen at the album preview below, and then scope out a purchasing option---you will not be disappointed.
Ben Westbeech - There's More To Life Than This (Album Preview)
No need to use your frequent flyer miles as Kissey (formally known as Kissey Asplund) takes you on a mind trip in the guise of "Cry". Haven't heard much from Kissey in a hot minute, but glad to see the Swedish artist is in the process of recording and crafting a new effort to follow-up her under-the-radar 2008 record, Plethora. Plethroa got a few spins from me, especially the track, "Caos", but from the sound of this bass driven lullaby, I'm interested in this new avenue she's taking. Kissey reminds me of if Bjork and Jill Scott pooled their musical genes together as she's got this trippy electronic-soul thing gong on. If you head on over to Kissey's Soundcloud page there are many more goodies for your ears to enjoy and be sure to download "Cry" for free once you get a whiff of it---just click on the arrow in the SoundCloud player or follow the alternate link to Kissey's Bandcamp page.
My life literally is lacking because how come I was not at the NPG Music Festival in Copenhagen, so I could have seen Prince, Larry Graham and Nikka Costa together on one stage?!? Sounds like I need to disown some of my family members for not sending me there for an early birthday present just so I could have soaked up this awesomeness.
I've been elegantly ignoring that Prince has been touring out of jealousy that 1) I can't afford it and 2) he's not coming to my neck of the woods anytime soon. But I've noticed that Prince has brought on his stage some immeasurable talent, further showing that he knows talent when he hears it. I was especially pleased that he is given more recognition to Andy Allo recently (their Amy Winehouse tribute was spot on), not to mention Janelle Monae, who deserves every accolade her way. Miss Costa posted this set over at her YouTube page, Nikka's Box, and it's a real treat to see these powerhouses just tear it up on stage together--and it's the best two minutes and forty seconds you'll get to experience today. So excuse me while I pout and rock out to this.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
When New Wave and the Minneapolis Sound met, they fell in love, and then got married. Then along came the baby, and that was "Human" by The Human League.
One thing to note about 1986 was that Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis' popularity increased. Janet Jackson's runaway success with Controlhad a lot to do with it, but I'd like to throw in that "Human" got them even more mainstream success and respect as producers.
A song to divide the League Lovers thanks to the R&B slant they took on their '86 album, Crash, "Human" is somber soul number that is moody enough to be in the spirit of League's initial sound plan, but follows a melodic quiet storm ideal to where it hit #3 on the R&B charts, as well as hit #1 on the Hot 100. Yes, The Human League had an bucket loads of hits prior to this time ("Love Action (I Believe In Love)", "Fascination", and of course the eternal "Don't You Want Me") that are deemed 'better' by some standards, but "Human" just hits the spot for me at being their very best. It's also one of the best songs that Jam & Lewis has ever produced.
Even though "Human" was a success, it's album, Crash, wasn't. The album could have been so much better than what it was (though I like the single, "Love Is All That Matters" as well). Apparently according to pop legend there were creative disputes going on between the group and Jam & Lewis that hindered the project. Well, at least they all agreed on one thing or we wouldn't have had the gem of "Human".
Don'tcha kind of hate being behind on great underground artists? There are so many (thank you Internet!), and so little time in the day to discover them all. I say this as a "under-paid" music blogger who gathers up musical 'late hall passes' like no other. If only I had a personal assistant.... So when I fell upon Reva DeVito and her track, "Baby What You Do To Me" I was at first floored at how wonderful the song was and how Reva's voice sounded. Then I was angry with myself that I'm just now hearing about this Portland, Oregon chanteuse. Missing out on great music is just a total crime!
To play catch-up, last year she released the five song EP, The Catnip Collective. Immediately Esthero came to my mind as it's the perfect little antidote for a chill-out-max-n-relax evening but with a bit of spunk in there. Along with "Baby", "Nasty Stuff" and "Boogie Damn" are grooves that shouldn't be missed. Reva is currently in the process of working on her debut LP, as well as working with fellow Oregonian producer/DJ, Roane Namuh on a joint project. The first installment, "Should Have Known" was released just this week for interweb consumption. Very good stuff to be heard here.
Estelle has been hitting a few foul balls for me, the worst being the 'buzz-single' "Freak" and its accompanying video (ick). All Of Me, Estelle's third installment, has been in talks since 2009, and has yet to see a release date even though a few song drops have occurred from it. So I took the time to sit down and see if maybe Estelle could hit a homer this time for me, and she has, thanks to this lush black n' white lyric video for song, "Thank You". Usually lyric videos can feel a bit tedious, but this one feels as if you've stepped into the rolling credits of a flick from the 1930's or 40's (yes, I watch the mess out of Turner Classic Movies....)--very lush indeed. "Thank You" has pretty much put me back in Estelle's good graces, as it's the British singer doing what made Shine, her 2008 sophomore album, such a melodic package. Very soothing to the ear and has sort of a nod to Mary J. Blige in there. Sure the auto-tune is smeared through it, but applause goes towards the subtle usage of it. Now this is a single, Estelle.
So here we are, the final installment of (most of) everything I missed this summer...hoped you enjoyed the recap!
O, American Life! Marina & The Diamonds (or rather Marina Diamandis) has always been obsessed with the 'American dream' and American culture as a whole, thus she has adopted a moniker ("Electra Heart") and a Ga Ga-esque blonde wig to symbolize the 'corrupt' side of American culture for her next project. Or as she puts it: "epitomises and embodies the lies, illusions and death of American ideologies involved in the corruption of self." *Audio Diva inserts critical American thought* For a deeper context into what Marina is trying to convey (if you're completely not sold like me), check out PopJustice's piece about her 'transformation', reasons, and ideas for it. All is not a shambles, as I applaude the electronic crawl of the first installments of this 'Electra Heart' project with song, "Fear & Loathing" (which you guessed touches on the Hunter S. Thompson book and film) and of course "Radioactive". "Radioactive" doesn't need a background-story gimmick---it's a great pop number all by it's little lonesome and is far from all the "sell-out" coda most critics have tacked onto it. So play on Marina!
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Chaka Khan's Destiny is definitely a product of it's time. It's completely saturated in synths. There is some over-the-top drum work by Phil Collins. Scritti Politti produces a number (and influences others). Drum machines ricochet everywhere. You're in a pinball machine of 80's-ness. Yet, all these trappings is a part of the charm this album has, and dammit, this album is just loads of fun.
Destiny had the daunting task of following up 1984's I Feel For You, an album that brought Chaka back to the mainstream after her underrated 1982 self-titled album failed to make a dent in the charts. With her Prince cover in tow, among other singles such as "Through The Fire" and "This Is My Night", the album was a smash and "I Feel For You" scored Chaka a Grammy. No doubt with the success of I Feel For You, Chaka's label was gunning for her to best her peer, Tina Turner, as the sounds on Destiny were leaning into a arena rock vixen mode and Chaka had the voice to carry it off. So she douses her hair with Kool-Aid red dye (long before Rihanna, ha), piles on more jewelry than a fortune teller, and those legendary screams are decibels higher. Sounds like the ingredients for continued success?
Raise your hand if you didn't know Little Jackie released an album this year.
*raises hand*
I better see a lot of phalanges up---I can't be the only honest one. Well, yes they did, the duo of the fabulous Imani Coppola and producer co-hort, Adam Pallin, released Made4TV back in August as a follow-up to their highly enjoyable debut album, The Stoopfrom '08. Little Jackie know not to mess with a good thing as from streaming the album (see below), they haven't lost that rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air pop n' vintage soul sound that made The Stoop and noted single, "The World Should Revolve Around Me"such fun romps. From first stream, I'm pleased that Imani hasn't lost her sarcasm and wit, as you can hear in tracks like "Cock Block", a song about---ah well, you can just guess, and the cougar chasing jingle, "21st Birthday". Seriously, the lady writes some hilarious stuff. Just pick up some of her many independently produced solo albums (I totally suggest 2007's The Black & White Album to start off) and find yourself bobbing your head and laughing---she's like a curly haired musically inclined Daria, just with a cheerier attitude.
So if you like what's streamin' or your interest is just piqued, you can get the goods for 12 buckaroos over at their Bandcamp page. No disappointments to be found.
While coasting through Bandcamp the other night, I came upon an artist named Amenta and was intrigued by the album art of her debut EP, Sacred Places. I mean, just look at it. Art, baby, ART. Of course I was drawn into what this was going to sound like, and well, pictures do speak a thousand words, as the London-bred artist, is just as interesting as her cover art implies. Sacred Places, though five tracks short, contains some deep electronic/dub-step vibes so fans of fellow Brits like James Blake and Jamie Woon might find a female perspective on this emerging sound quite a refresher. Amenta reminds me of a dreamier, more subdued Santigold with a bit of Ultra Nate and Bjork influence for good measure. A "grad" from the Red Bull Music Academy, Amenta is quite the intellectual as she discusses in depth the background of almost each track on Sacred Places and her influences as seen in the interview here.
If you do anything today, take in her rendition of "Stormy Weather", which takes the standard immortalized by both Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne, and flips the script on it by adding in some ambiance, a bit of electronic intrusions, and amazingly still keeping the tone and spirit of jazz vocalist gone by. Amenta herself described it as "Radiohead meets Billie Holiday" and boy, she's not telling a fib. Very excellent rendition. So soak in the sounds below and if you like what you hear you can purchase Sacred Places and get to know Amenta a bit better by hopping over to her Bandcamp page.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Usually diss songs I find lamer than lame, but that's because nothing compares to Oran "Juice" Jones' "The Rain" which is the godfather of diss songs. Though cussing is therapeutic for me, this song is void of those four little word gems, and well, it proves that your mother was right all along---you can always find another word (s) and Oran "Juice" Jones has a lot of them to say about his gold digging dame.
Even though the lines about following his cheatin' girl and "doing a Rambo" on her sound like they come from a graduate of the Chris Brown Appreciation For Women Academy, but I guess, a man's gotta know his limitations a la Dirty Harry. Along with Alexander O' Neal's "Fake", "The Rain" calls out the age old gold diggers and fakers long before other R&B men and rappers with the last name West did so, and well, he has every right to do it. A former Navy officer, Oran "Juice" Jones was the first artist signed to the newly formed, Def Jam Records. "The Rain" reached #9 on the Hot 100 chart, and sadly, this was the peak of Oran's career, though he has released albums following his big hit.
So what are the best disses?
Get on outta here with that Alley Cat coat wearing, Hush Puppy shoe wearing crumb cake I saw you with!
I was about to jam you and flat blast both of you, but I didn't wanna mess up this thirty-seven hundred dollar lynx coat
I gave you things you couldn't even pronounce!
You without me is like corn flakes without the milk!
More bluesy epic goodness erupts on Florence + The Machine's latest single, "Shake It Out". I suggest you pump up your speakers and send away the cats and dogs, so you can properly feel the rush of drums, vocals, and overall arrangement that comes from this bombastic track. My words aren't really going to do it any sort of justice, you just have to listen to this (I swear the scene of Simba's christening from The Lion King flashed before my eyes when I heard this). Didn't think Welch could top, the tidal wave of "What The Water Gave Me", but the unthinkable has been accomplished.Ceremonials, Florence's second installment,is going to be a real sound escapade, and we're just going to have sit back and enjoy the ride when it comes this November.
There are days where I think, "I should have stuck with the clarinet". The thing was sort of my life from 5th to 12th grade. I could be making a fortune with it now. Serious. I could have made a clarinet rap album and be rolling in the deep bucks, recession be damned. But see, I lacked perseverance when it came to that kind of thing, and thankfully Marques Toliver didn't do like me because we wouldn't be graced with his talent---and boy, does he have some talent.
My first notice came with "White Sails", a really intriguing number that didn't need all the extra trimmings to really move me, it just simply charmed me with its simplicity. It's quite fresh to see someone who isn't behind the usual 'touted' instruments like a piano or a guitar so viewing someone putting a spin on violins is a treat. Plus Toliver's (who was a former street performer) ear is well in-tuned to making classical music fit into a popular music backdrop. If you just look at his appearance on Jools Holland (see below) you can see how much talent he radiates. His debut EP,Butterflies Are Not Free, came out in April, and it's something I'm going to have to get my hands on with the quickness. I know people have been buzzing about Toliver long before this blog went on sabbatical, so excuse me for hitching a ride on the late bus this time out!
Today would have been Amy Winehouse's 28th birthday, and to commemorate that, the video for her collaboration with Tony Bennett has been released. Bennett is releasing his Duets II album, which features not only appearances by Winehouse, but other favorites like Natalie Cole, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, and Lady GaGa---among others, but their duetting on "Body and Soul" was one of interest for many as it is the last video Winehouse recorded. No doubt it is spooky seeing the two in London's Abbey Studios, as from the looks of things Winehouse looked to be back on the right track, looking healthy and sounding fantastic--- alas we know how this story ends. Still it is wonderful that Winehouse got a chance to record a wonderful duet with one of her idols. Tissues might be in order upon viewage.
And while we're on the subject of duets, Aloe Blacc and Alice Smith give us the last little glimpse and crackle of summer for their Caetano Veloso cover, "Baby". The song is off of the Red Hot + Rio 2 compilation, and it is a beautiful tropical tinged track that was one of the many tracks I missed soaking in this summer. So if you're still holding on to those summer days, take a little mind escape back with this vid. If you imagination is wild enough you can feel the sand between your toes, the breeze blowing water sprays on your face, and possibly taste the tang of a margarita or two. Yes, I really want to go to the beach and have a margarita, as if you couldn't already tell...
I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a new Jose James album---and I'm about to get my wish. Just that I have to wait for Spring of next year. Yet, I have something to tide me over till then. Jose James was spotted last month in London, taking over a warehouse space for the AllSaints Basement Sessions laying down some new tracks such as "Trouble" and "It's All Over Your Body". I'm just now seeing these performances, and once again I'm floored. I just adore his voice. It was one of the main reasons why I loved last year's Black Magic, which was just an impeccable jazz-soul creation. If you haven't taken to it, please do so.
Now I finally realized that the person who was at the tip of my thoughts concerning Jose's tone was Gil Scott-Heron. Jose adds that kind of texture and grit to his songs as well. Coincidentally, Jose did a mini-tribute to the late hip-hop pioneer by pulling out "Winter In America" at a past event this summer. Mmmm...yes!
Check after the cut for more sound goodies, and hop on over to YouTubey for an in-depth interview with Jose if you wanna get better acquainted with the man behind that silky alto.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Baby-I-I-I-Can't Wait...!
According to today's music forecast, this is on the brink of cheesy, but you know what? I'll take this over about half of what construes as dance-pop these days, because it doesn't try too hard---it just is. It sets out to be a perfect blend of pop and freestyle with a little rhythm and blues (the guitar work and horns, yes!) swivel for that added kick and it passes with flying colors. You'd have to a real Scrooge to just hate this song.
Nu Shooz, a husband and wife duo out of Portland, Oregon, hit a goldmine in 1986 with "I Can't Wait", and scored a #3 hit with it. The duo would go on to have another hit, the equally infectious but oft forgotten, "Point Of No Return" and then the party was over. Still, having two hits is better than none, and at least you can't put a proper 80's compilation together without those two songs, proving that they did do something right.
To think they still play those opening bass lines at NBA games---see, some things never go out of style.
The Passing of Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse is a part of that group of artists who, whenever I first heard them, the time and place was symmetrical. Yes, this brawny, sharp-tongued, bedraggled, lopsided beehive hairstyle wearing, whiskey swigging, smeared mascara warbling brassy Brit with biting wit and a sneer was that voice in my head. She just 'got' my situations at that point in time as I was in the early throws and isolation of college and with songs like "Tears Dry On Their Own", "You Sent Me Flying", "Love Is A Losing Game", and "Wake Up Alone" were the remedies I needed, as I was on the edge of so many things at that time.
We don't know what was reeling in Winehouse's mind at the time of her death and why she chose the options she did, but that's not for us to know nor is it for us to judge. While, like most of her fans, I wanted Winehouse to get her life back in order so she can grace us with more of her style and her music---but things aren't as simple as we hope. I'd like to think that Winehouse is now free from her aggression and that she understands that even though she was only with us for a short time that she left behind a body of work, a body of work that will be admired for years to come by many others and that she helped me, like so many other fans, feel like they weren't 'waking up alone'. May she rest in peace.
I turn 25 this year and resting in a the comfortable grey area of a 'quarter life crisis'. To celebrate, for the next few weeks of September, I'm recapping some of my favorite albums and singles that are turning the big 2-5 along with me...
Control. That's all Janet Jackson wanted back in 1986. To say she didn't get it would be a lie.
When Control dropped back in the early days of February '86, no one probably expected the littlest Jackson to be the one to reinvigorate the spark of the "disco diva" and modernizing R&B for the female set. It can be argued that Jackson wasn't the first to attempt this. Plus she had a little help from her friends, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,in shaping her elusive sound, but Jackson utilized ideals set by Summer, Ross, Turner, LaBelle and many other divas, and as product of her influences, dropped one hell of a feminist funk record.
Did you know that I've been burning my bum down here in Texas? Apparently Texas is barreling towards the sun because we've had one of the worst droughts in history, and evidence of that is due to all those terrible grass fires that have been cropping up. So maybe by November we can get some relief from the heat and maybe I can beat it when Kate Bushdrops her 10th studio album, 50 Words For Snow, which from the tracklisting looks like it'll be perfect affair to snuggle with hot cider with.Dare I jump the gun and say I have high hopes for this, considering how this year's Director's Cut, with it's re-imaginging of Bush hits gone by, was just a jumble of mess. Only seven tracks long, 50 Words For Snow, is clocking in at a lofty 65 minutes and each song will have the backing sound of snow.
How Kate Bush-y.
Take in that album cover, with Frosty the Snowman getting some sugar from a girl who obviously needs some Patene Pro-V. Don't understand why folks across the blog world are so murked by it---we should support all kinds of relationships, it's 2011, it's time that Snow Men and Human Women couples get some love too.
I meant to post about this new audio drop back on Friday---but what better than to kick off the week with some funky stuff by Mr. Van Hunt?! So if you haven't indulged yourself in his newest leak from his upcoming set, What Where You Hoping For?, then skip right to the stream of the audio below and/or download it---whatever you can do, marinate in it, and then come back here. I'll wait.
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Okay, you listened to it? Didn't you love it? Or at least all those juicy guitars woke you up out of your sleepy Monday stupor? "Eyes Like Pearls" is the official first single off of WWHF? and it's Hunt once again plugging into a rockier funk mode, which was previously noted by B-Side, "The Savage, Sincere, L of P". Things are looking quite swell for the WWYHF? project, as Hunt is taking his talents on the road and he might be hitting your area soon. All that info plus info about pre-ordering WWHF? is over at Van Hunt's official web spot. In the meantime, take to Hunt's Facebook page to download the track, and if you're not on the Facebooky like me, then I have provided an alternate link, because who wouldn't want this freebie?
1. Play On
When a music video is in black and white it's automatically sexy and artsy. It's like what Dave Chappelle said about things in "slo-motion" being cooler---black n' white videos always win the 'sexy wexy' contest, hands down. So the best video to drop this week was Goapele's "Play" which is the first (or second if you count "Milk and Honey") off of the Bay Area vocalist's pending, Break Of Dawn---and album that fans, like I, have long been awaiting on. So getcha sexy on for your Friday, if this song and video hasn't already consumed your week.
2. Overplayed and Ancient Rolling Stone akathe 'holy grail of music magazines' (/sarcasm) released this week a list of the absolute worst songs of the 90's. Actually the list is dead on. Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out"...Aqua's "Barbie Girl"...*shiver*. Still a lot of these "awful" songs have sort of an endearing quality to them now in the 21st century considering at one point, these songs were top 10, even #1 hits. So let's think twice about that (and let's look at "Whip My Hair" in 10 years). Then there is the nostalgia wrapped up into these song to where I don't want to necessarily say they were they are horror film anthems. Back then I loved roller skating to Chumbawamba's "Tub Thumpin". Then there was a summer where I took into the Hanson "MMmmBop" craze (The Spice Girls broke up that year, okay? I was vulnerable). And least we forget everybody and their grandma (including mine) was doing the "Macarena" back in mid-90's? So let's retool the list title, how about "The Worst Songs of the 90's That You Are Too Pretentious For Now"?
Light Of June
Who owned June? My vote goes to Jilly, Jill Scott that is, as she debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts for the first time in her career with her aptly titled fourth album, Light Of The Sun. Relaxing and verbose, Jill continues to own her element and our ear drums as she entices with the grooves of the summer soundtrack. If earlier singles, "Shame" and her Anthony Hamilton partnership, "So In Love" didn't move you, Light Of The Sun has plenty of other (better) sound tapestries to enjoy. Personally, things being to cook when the stunning, "Hear My Call" emerges. Tracks like "Making You Wait" and "Missing You" and even a surprising Paul Wall collaboration ("So Gone (What My Mind Says)") ooze out so fluidly and shows Scott sinking into her element. Still I'm divided as the album feels more controlled than her earlier efforts (has to be the due to that major label change) and at times I'm hearing a hearty dose of Erykah Badu influence that hits quite close to what Badu did on Return Of The Ankh last year (it may be just crazy ol' me). Nonetheless, the only downside to this record is that a pitcher of sweet ice tea and a wide fan aren't included with purchase so you can properly experience the Southern soul vibe of Sun.
Oh, how I love a rock-soul hybrid to end the week on. "Laser Beams" is Idle Warship's second sound nugget from their pending debut, Habits Of The Heart. The trio (comprised of Talib Kweli, Res, and Graph Nobel) have already given clue to what's on the horizon when they dropped their mixtape, Party Robot last year. The mixtape left many on a dividing line, those wary that the group hadn't found the right sound to fit them, but "Laser Beams" dispels all that as the supergroup is definitely ready for an official liftoff. All this grungy guitar jammin' fits Res' vocals like a glove and the track as a whole is unabashedly fun, perfect to shake them weekday sillies off. Acts like Michelle Williams, Chester French, and Jean Grae will take on guest spots on the upcoming Habits, which will be arriving this October, but there is no upstaging Idle Warship, who just add to the awesomeness that 2011 is turning out to be.
You don't hear Diana King's name vocalized too often, but in my little music world, King is still as prominent as when I first heard "Shy Guy" many moons ago. I still wear grooves in her 1997 album, Think Like A Girl which is just awesome sauce in music format.
King has been in and out of the spotlight due to a bout with multiple sclerosis, but since recovery she's been on the touring circuit. She's got a huge following in her native Jamaica and overseas and she was last spotted at the Afro-Pfingsten Festival where other faves, Joy Denalane and Nneka also made an appearance. She's also still dropping sounds on her webpage (her Michael Jackson tribute got some spotlight from me a while back) and last year she released in Japan her fourth album, Warrior Girl. She also continues to make us all look like lazy bums because she's also prepping a new album slated for November. Phew!
Diana is releasing on her own label, AgirlNamedKing, (ear warning: music will start up at blog opening) and from the sound of things, her Reggae flavored R&B sound is still muy bueno. So catch yourself up and follow her blog, DianaKingdom, for further info about the woman and her music if you're still committed to her groove like I.
Oh, and Diana can still blow fish, shrimp, Ariel, Sebastian and all of 'em out of the water with that voice she has. Note Exhibit A, below:
A 'total recall' of all the awesome (and not so awesome) stuff that occurred in the summer of 2011. First up is May...
You So Heavy, Lady GaGa Born This Way, GaGa's third project is a well oiled and hard thrusting machine of pop. As a whole music experience, it totally makes up for all the cringing lead-ups to the project (the "Born This Way"/"Express Yourself" kerfuffle, the horrid album art, etc.) and all the tomfoolery she has attached the project (the dressing and acting as a dude---ooh, scandalous...not). Personally, she doesn't need all those lame trappings, BTW holds up on it's own due to Ms. Germanotta's ear for a perky pop song. GaGa has indeed gone full-blown Madonna in some spots and it feels a bit hackneyed and showy on her part. Still with it sounding like a revisit to Boy Toy days gone by, the industrial clinks, pulses, and grinds on BTW make for high voltage musical contagion. "Marry The Night" (what a hell of an album opener), "Heavy Metal Lover", "Bad Kids","Bloody Mary", and the excellent Clarence Clemons (RIP) sax assisted, "The Edge Of Glory" are all phenomenal pop anthems that deserve repeated listens. Also once again the bonus tracks, especially the "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"-esque, "Fashion Of His Love", outshines some of more paltry album cuts---so yes, the extended edition is worth it. Dressed up in ample 80's shimmer and sass, Born This Way is for the 21st Century kids who missed out on all the day-glo fun and not for those in the high-brow music crowd.
As an unabashed fan of the BIG 80's sound, Sneaky Sound System is right up my alley considering they are bring all that bombastic synth and drum machine heaven back to the 21st century. Well, for them it's old hat as they been doing so since 2006 when their self-titled debut emerged. Still I believe they have really captured it fully on their aptly titled latest single, "Big", which is simply a Goliath of a song. All the synthesizers in the world are used on this song, it's just completely covered.
Now down to a twosome the Aussie pop outfit has apparently pulled out the 'big' guns for their pending third effort, From Here To Anywhere, and I'm quite psyched. I've liked a SSS song here and there, especially "Kansas City" and "UFO" from prior albums, but "Big" and their other scorcher, "We Love" (which saw a release this summer) is just prepping us for a great lift off. Be sure to turn the sound up when you experience this jam---you know, to get the full effect.
I'm paying cost to the boss called, Daley, UK's newest star-in-waiting,due to his take on "Like A Virgin".
I have had long loathed 1984 Madonna classic with a passion---and yes, I feel better typing that. It was always so brassy and moronic to me, overshadowing some of the more meatier cuts on the album of the same name. So Daley did myself a favor, he expelled the expiration date and actually classed it up---nice! He also has injected his own into Maxwell's "Pretty Wings", so clearly he's someone who is shooting the stars by tackling these types of tracks. That's not all that I love Daley as listening to his debut 'mixtape', Those Who Wait, there is more to gush over from this multi-talented charmer. His duet with Marsha Ambrosius, "Alone Together" is what further drew me into his mix, and songs like "Spent" and my favorite, "Let It Go" made me stay. There's an undertone of an electronic Stevie Wonder (think Hotter Than July and In Circle Square periods) nestled in there, but I love how subtle it is to where you can get a sense of Daley himself. So Robin Thicke needs to watch his space, because Daley is easily moving into his falsetto loverman turf.
So take in the mixtape and download at your leisure---I promise you won't be disappointed.
Growing up in the 90's some of my all-time favorite music was the "Euro-Dance/Club" movement. Yes, recalling my childhood wouldn't be complete without all those pulsating beats and wailing diva voices. La Bouche, Black Box, Advea, Deee-Lite, CeCe Peniston, and of course Crystal Waters---all those artists and more got plays in the first tape deck I ever owned way back then. Some of that spirit from those times is creeping its way back into the mainstream now. Little Dragon knows what's up because they unleashed on a live audience awhile back their take on Waters' classic, "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)". Sure we can't ever forget the Kim Waynas' parody from In Living Color (heeelarious!), but Little Dragon's take is more along the lines of a tribute to possibly one source of their electronic sound. Yukimi and Co. keep the spirit of the boogie there and shows us what good covers are made of---compare and contrast below if you haven't already heard this one.
Little Dragon - Gypsy Woman (Crystal Waters cover)
How was your summer?! Mines was as productive (writing, reading, tearing hair out, sweating, writing) as claimed not to mention HOT (heat wise)---but blogging is a must again! I give warm hugs and thank you's to my readers and followers for being patient and still keeping the blog in your thoughts.
The 'adventures' into the land of music will continue right where I left off---album reviews, new artists/finds, nostalgia trips---all that good stuff. In the coming days I will be recapping things that I missed out on during my absence, and boy, did I miss a lot! I won't give anything away about what's coming up---you just gotta keep checking back and reading!
So thanks again for reading and following---so let's keep the music playing :)
