First things first, I want to say thank you to everyone who wrote me while I was away on vacation. The exact change inbox was full of emails worried about when I'd be back and would the music industry collapse while I was away, but most of all full of emails about how I can make my junk 3" bigger in just a few weeks or lottery opportunities in third world countries where I was the potential recipient of a small fortune. Just want to personally say how thoughtful it is of you guys to be thinking about my financial gains and unrelated short comings (insert rimshot).
But, uh, back to the lecture at hand. Perfection is perfected, so I'm 'a let 'em understand. From a young G's perspective (there I go again). I want to put this new act that we've discussed on here before back in front of your face. Persistence breaks all barriers I'm told, so here we go.
Teen Daze is a Canadian by way of Vancouver group has been dubbed by some outfits as the chillest band alive! Here is their myspace page (other than music geeks, does ANYONE use myspace?). It is more of that bliss sounding music that I am pushing and pushing upon the 10's of readers I have. They are set to release their first album via Arcade Sound Ltd.on 7/27, which also has Memoryhouse and Millionyoung under its wings (wOOt). Ambient synths galore!! Don't believe me about these up and comers? I got 40 (more like 3) nations ready to roll son:
Listen, I like MIA as much as the next person. My obsession with all things Diplo is well publicized. But this new album is hurting my ears and I believe that is the consensus. Pitchfork (who run the indieverse) gave her new album a 4.4, diplo may/may not have criticized the tracks not made by him (to which I say people in glass houses....), and it seems as though the public is tiring of her antics. She gave out the number of a writer of a unflattering NY Times article, her Hard Fest in LA was cancelled due to security concerns (see: ticket sales), and she's doing wacky stuff like this on Letterman:
I hope she gets through all this nonsense and start just making the good music that got her to this point. I'd like to think she's got the capacity to make bigger and better music and not have her peak with a clash-sampled song on a trailer for an Apatow movie. Godspeed lil' doodle!
I have left America on her birthday and I'm sick about it. Will be in Punta Cana until Tuesday. Coming back full force after that, I can feel how excited you all are for my return. Until I get back, some Hogan to hold you over. Cause he's the real american:
Quick recap of a concert I went to on Friday at Voyuer "Making Time". Always love these parties and was pissed I missed Neon Indian earlier this year. Holy Ghost! opened up and I was interested to see them play as a band, as I was only familiar with their remix work of Phoenix and the like. They did not disappoint and kept the crowd riled up for the main act. The Rapture killed it, per usual, and it was a sweaty sweaty dance fest that had more cowbell involved than I know what to do with. You could have rung out my shirt when I left there. Caught up with some good friends, saw some awesome music, and cut a rug. All in all a bueno Friday night. Check out phrequency's review/photos of the show for a pro's take. It's amateur hour here at the exact change offices.
Gonna flip the switch on y'all and write about a collection of links, music, and other goodness from the world of hip-hop. Cause I'm as hood as it gets, Yo! Hip-hop was cool when wearing backwards baseball jerseys was where it was at. Am I right people?
Let's start with the funny. Cause that's really what I'm about, the funny:
I enjoy a good fail, and apparently so does complex, because they posted the 50 biggest hip-hop fails of all time. A little aside, I love that "FAIL" has become a noun. Feels right, don't it? Highlights for this guy are: the Game getting the ax on 'Change of Heart', Lupe Fiasco not remembering the lyrics to a Tribe song at VH1's hip hop honors (srsly??!?), Brian Austin Green (of 90210 notoriety) working with the Pharcyde, Vanilla Ice's blockbuster 'Cool As Ice', Jay-Z's mom making him apologize to Nas and Lil Kim's plastic surgery debacle. Here's the article: 50 Worst Hip-Hop Fails
IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Big Boi is twittering and bopping around the internets as much as anyone these days promoting his solo album "Sir Lucious Left Foot - The Son of Chico Dusty". Does he want me not to tell people about this thing? I mean I only have 140 characters to post on something and that title is just obnoxious. Anywho, every track I have heard I have loved, and we talked previously about the track that Andre 3k shows up on, which is the bees knees. Listen to the entire album on his myspace page and here is a track for free and one to listen to while you read. Please read more, my family is hungry...
So last week, the "Brian Wilson's Smile" of hip-hop (sorry Pitchfork already used the Chinese Democracy joke) got its first leak. Dr. Dre's collaboration with Jay-Z was posted on Nah Right, fully accompanied by the tag department. Track is called "Under Pressure" and its good even without a hook. Stoked to hear more. Funniest part of it all is how hood the dude over at Nah Right got on Twitter after people were busting his stones about taggin the song and Dre coming out and saying the song wasn't done. Sorry bro, you have a blog, there is nothing about you that scares anyone. Its science. Regardless, they do awesome things and find great music, so I can't knock em. Enjoy. (Originally found by me on Pitchfork)
Last on the new album from well known Artist front, is Round 2 of The Roots and John Legend. John (we are on a first name basis) popped up on a couple of tracks on "How I Got Over" and also played with the gang during the Roots Picnic. Apparently it is going well because they are in the studios now ready to put out an album in Sept of "60's and 70's soul". Check out more over at okayplayer and here is a video of one of the new tracks.
Read on for more sweetness about other Roots' aquaintences and a couple of awesome (yet completely unrelated) free tracks I found:
Exact Change is teaming up with Actual Records to throw a cassette tape and CD release party at Medusa Lounge on 21st between Market & Chestnut. Spinning all night will be DJ Sega and DJ Ruxbin and leading off will be a set by Shane SixTen. DJ Sega will have his live set from 5/1/2010 available on cassette and will also have the first run of a sick mix CD called "Back for the Last Time" for your listening pleasure. This is just the beginning of the fantastic goodies that will be available, and as I know about what else we have in store for you I will let you know. We here in the IHEC laboratory are cooking up a best of twentyten mixtape and plan to have that for you as well.
Top 5 Reasons you should be there:
Its over a month away, so I know none of you plan that far in advance.
It's on a thirsty thursday and they are coming back in a big way.
These guys rock and you should know about em.
Probably the most important, is to support up and coming local music.
You can't ask for a better time than hanging out with this guy and company, this I can guarantee. Try to find one, I dare you.
Here are some samples from their soundcloud pages. Get yrself some ear candy:
Philadelphia based space/dance rock awesomeness GANG has a handful of tracks from their new album available here, thanks reverbnation. Show these local gals some love:
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse have their entire album up for stream on NPR, here it is as one full album. This is their second collaboration, and if you are not familiar, it is more of the broken bells/flaming lips variety then the gnarls barkley. Head over to their site to listen to individual tracks:
Here are some sweet new videos for your viewing pleasure:
Tame Impala - Half Full Glass of Wine (via yvynyl/proaudiostar). Seems like we are on the same page, because as I've mentioned here before I think this band is going to blow up. Love that psych-rock sound.
Interpol is putting their new album out on Sept. 14th and here is a music video for the song ""(via Vulture):
Music Video for the first single off of Rusko's O.M.G "Hold On". Probably the most mainstream of the tracks on this album. Let us thank NME, Mad Decent, & Downtown Music:
This new trend of acts/bands throwing up their entire new album to stream and spread is freaking amazing. I have nothing else to say, other than this is the best Roots album since Phrenology, which is what put them on the national map. Now listen away and spread the word about the best representation of Philly music out there:
Both of these mixtapes rocked my world today and for completely different reasons. One is all about the old school funk and the other is all about the new school dance. You are welcome in advance...
First up to bat is a split mixtape released by Luis Angel Cancel and Kid Queasy released on Concrete Umbrella. The A side is titled "Come to the Bedroom" and it is awash with chillwave and other dreamy gems including: Washed Out, MillionYoung, JJ, and Miike Snow. The B side is from Kid Queasy, who we've mentioned before, and it lights your feet on fire and doesn't stop till the end. My choice samples are: Hot Chip and Mylo. They've set this mixtape up how I set up all of the many many woman who have fallen for Mr. Change. Win you over blindly with our smooth ass jamz and then BAM! Take it up a notch caveman style, back to the room. What's wrong? Isn't that how everyone does it?
And as I mentioned in the beginning of this post, another local awesome DJ gang, has also dropped some stupendous old school funk/soul in our laps. Rocktits! has been bringing it all day every day for some time now, also play a weekly gig at the Pope and last month they gave us this gift: Turnaround Vs. Immediate Summer 2010 Mix by rocktits!
Check out this tracklist:
The Message - Cymande - 0:00
Me Libertei - Toni Tornado - 1:04
Mothership Connection - Parliament - 3:28
Foxy Lady (Rob Tex Mix) - Jimi Hendrix - 6:48
Superjock - Rueben Bell - 9:12
You Got The Love - Rufus and Chaka Kahn - 10:53
The Beast Day (Todd Terje Edit) - Marsha Hunt's 22 - 12:22
Happy Birthday - Jimi Hendrix & Curtis Knight - 14:28
The Next Message - EGB and the Mikey 7 - 14:44
Dance and Hum Along - Rare Earth - 15:58
Strike - Union - 20:02
I Believe in Miracles - Jackson Sisters - 21:36
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Led Zeppelin - 23:54
Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool - 27:29
Hollywood Swinging - Kool & the Gang - 30:43
Green Tambourine (Bombs Edit) - Lemon Pipers - 32:20
Apache - The Sugarhill Gang - 34:23
Dance with the Devil - Cozy Powell - 35:20
I'm a Man (Rub 'n' Tug Edit) - The Chicago Transit Authority - 37:51
I Can't Stand Myself - James Brown - 39:41
Love City - Sly & The Family Stone - 42:17
Stuck in the Middle (Rusty Seger Edit) - Steeler's Wheel - 43:59
Some Kind Of Wonderful - Soul Brothers Six - 46:41
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations - 49:16
T.V. Eye - The Stooges - 52:44
Nutbush City Limits - Ike and Tina Turner - 55:43
Prodigal Son - The Rolling Stones - 58:47
Tenere - Group Bombino - 1:01:33
