What I love about Beirut is that the music takes me someplace unfamiliar. From the instrumentation and nuanced vocal stylings of Zack Condon to the wistful worldliness that comes through in his lyrics, Beirut is simply good listening.
Although not as strong as the previous two releases, the EP combo of March of the Zapotec and Realpeople:Holland is consistent with Beirut's sound. There's a little dabbling of electronic stuff thrown in the mix but I still enjoy it overall. I'm throwing "The Concubine" out there cause it's my favorite of the set. My daughter's fond of "The Shrew".
"Whether you describe it as the dawning of a post-racial age or just the end of white America, we’re approaching a profound demographic tipping point. According to an August 2008 report by the U.S. Census Bureau, those groups currently categorized as racial minorities—blacks and Hispanics, East Asians and South Asians—will account for a majority of the U.S. population by the year 2042. Among Americans under the age of 18, this shift is projected to take place in 2023, which means that every child born in the United States from here on out will belong to the first post-white generation."
I'm a little late getting to this but it's an interesting observation. Read Hua Hsu's full essay in The Atlantichere.
Incredible mixtape from start to finish. I'm enjoying this more than J.Period's Lauryn Hill endeavor.
The blends are perfect, the music is still incredible to this day and relevant as ever. The Q-Tip commentary is great as well.
I've usually stayed away from the mixtape circuit for numerous reasons but I have to give it to Tip and J.Period for putting together a fantastic mix of unforgettable Hip-Hop.
You know, I (We) should be dumbfounded at how someone like this has served, not one, but two terms as the President of these United States, elected by the people for the people. And we're supposed to be one of the more educated societies of the world. Are we??? I think that's a legitmate question.
The Cappatilize Project is better than some of the other Wu member's projects that have dropped. I'm not saying it's any good. Two of my favorite tracks clock in under the 2-minute mark.
I think I could turn and live with animals, they're so placid and self-contain'd, I stand and look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their condition, They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins, They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God, Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owing things, Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago, Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
I just caught Planet B-Boy on MTV2 this past Sunday night. I know that breakdancing had evolved into something more than uprocking and backspins but the contemporary b-boy continues to take the art form to new heights. Sometimes when I see what they're able to do, physically, with the precision, speed, intricacy, complexity, and the sheer strength and body control it takes to pull off each move...I dunno. I don't think they're human. And battles sure as hell aren't what they used to be.
Oliver Wang interviewed the documentary's director Benson Lee back in June of 2008 which you can read here.
Wasn't too impressed with Pro Tools but this track, produced by Bronze Nazereth, is worth a listen. GZA sounds like he just rolled out of bed and into the booth but the track bangs.
One of my favorite films of the year is Guillermo Del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I absolutely loved the first installment and the sequel is mind-blowing visually. The plot isn't very dynamic but I wasn't expecting too much in that respect. It is, after all, a sci-fi action extravaganza anyway. I'll take Hellboy II over The Dark Knight in a battle over this year's blockbusters any day. The Batman sequel was actually pretty disappointing.
I am a huge fan of Del Toro's other films as well, especially 2006's Pan's Labyrinth which I just watched again for the third time last night. I usually don't watch movies more than once, especially ones with exceptional stories and plots because the thrill is gone when you already know how the story and plots unravel, but Pan's Labyrinth is such a mulit-layered picture I discover something new with each viewing. It's a fascinating movie with stunning visuals and thought-provoking themes. It's become a more enjoyable experience revisiting the movie after diving into some of Del Toro's older interviews where he discusses the film, it's early beginnings, how he developed the story and it's various themes, how he chose the score, and so forth. Here's some interesting stuff I picked up around the way. He gives engaging and insightful interviews, good stuff.
These excerpts are on the Deluxe DVD release of Pan's Labyrinth as added bonus features:
Here he makes an appearance on Charlie Rose with fellow Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron (Director of The Children of Men) and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (Director of Babel) who are also his compadres as well as peers. This also appears on the Pan's Labyrinth Deluxe DVD release.
Guillermo Del Toro's next project is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit (and it's sequel). I'm pretty sure it's going to be a monumental piece of work. Look at what he did with the Hellboy II budget.
I discovered Vampire Weekend's self titled release a little late but it's ridiculously good and is well worth mentioning as the year in music winds to a close. I usually browse "The Best Of..." lists at the year's conclusion to acquaint myself with music that may have flown under my radar during the year and Vampire Weekend was one of them. It was released January of 2008 but I didn't give it a thorough listen until the other night. Like TheWalkmen's You & Me, it boasts an album's worth of strong cuts, all catchy, all well-produced.
The pleasure in listening to this album is that it's hard to nail down a favorite, but here's a couple to goodies worth throwing out there.
...and Beach House's "Gila" is such a mesmerizer...
Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut is another album I just discovered. "Blue Ridge Mountains" is amazing. Very sublime, as is the rest of their solid debut.
And I can't begin to tell you how indispensible Soul Sides has been in introducing me to such an amazing catalog of the most soulful of soul classics. You know, the soul music variety that simply absorbs you...like these...
The video is terrible and this song came out last year but I haven't been able to get enough of it. From it's quiet and unassuming introductory 2.5 minutes to the unravelling of it's 1.5 minute conclusion that you want to sing from the rafters-The Shins' "Sleeping Lessons" from 2007's Wincing The Night Away is a sonic nova.
Junichi and Oliver over at Poplicks have rounded out their usual year-end lists.
1. The Walkmen: You & Me 2. Various: Fallin' Off The Reel Volume 2 3. Menahan Street Band: Make The Road By Walking 4. Q-Tip: The Renaissance 5. Jean Grae: Jeanius 6. Estelle: Shine 7. Coldplay: Viva La Vida 8. Final Solution: Brotherman OST 9. Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part 1 (4th World War) 10. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
Honorable Mention:
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes J-Live: Then What Happened? Beach House: Devotion
Some of these tunes didn't come out in 2008 but were heard for the first time this year. Here's my month to month breakdown of this year's most memorable songs...
January:
Candi Staton: "Too Hurt To Cry"
Kev Brown: "Batida"
Nas: "On The Real"
February:
Pete Rock: "We Roll (Instrumental)"
March:
Lee Fields & The Expressions: "My World"
Lee Fields & The Expressions: "Love Comes & Goes"
Pete Rock feat. Slum Village: "Gangsta Boogie"
Erykah Badu: "Soldier"
Gnarls Barkley: "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
April:
Rock Marciano: "MC's"
Nut-Rageous: "They Wanna Know"
Estelle: "Back In Love"
May:
J-Live feat. Posdnous & Oddisee: "The Upgrade"
BIG: "Another Rough One"
J-Live: "It Don't Stop"
NYGz feat. Lady of Rage & Royce 5'9: "Ya Dayz R #d (Remix)"
June:
Solange: "I Decided (Pt. 1)"
Coldplay: "Strawberry Swing"
Quantic & Nickodemus: "Mi Swing Es Tropical"
Little Brother feat. Oddisee: "Delusional"
Jean Grae: "#8"
Elkin & Nelson: "Vamanos"
Ray Barretto: "Pastime Paradise"
Infakt feat. Moonrokk: "California"
July:
Bishop Lamont: "Grow Up"
Rock Marciano: "4 All The Real Raw Deal"
M.I.A. feat Freeway: "Paper Planes (Remix)"
Alicia Keys: "Teenage Love Affair (Instrumental)"
August:
Mos Def: "The Glow"
The GZA: "IntroMental"
Q-Tip: "Gettin' Up"
Solange: "Would've Been The One"
Joe Bataan: "Gypsy Woman (Demo Version)"
Menahan Street Band: "Make The Road By Walking"
Portishead: "Threads"
September:
The Walkmen: "The Blue Route"
The Jacksons: "Show You The Way To Go"
Final Solution: "Brotherman"
Joe Bataan: "Under The Street Lamp"
October:
EPMD: "Listen Up"
Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound: "Que Se Sepa"
Menahan Street Band: "Go The Distance"
November:
Raphael Saadiq: "Kelly Ray"
Cesaria Evora: "Sodade"
Bill Withers: "I Want To Spend The Night"
Q-Tip: "Move"
Oddisee feat. Buckshot: "Where I Be At"
Stevie Wonder: "Send Me Some Lovin'"
December:
Jay-Z feat. B.I.G.: "Brooklyn Go Hard (Mick Boogie Remix)"
Paul Mitchell Trio: "Now That I Know What Loneliness Is"
Blackstar's "Little Brother" just so happens to be one of the most gorgeous J-Dilla tracks I've ever heard. And that's saying a lot when you consider his body of work prior to his passing two years ago.
And it just so happens that ?uestlove has recounted the events leading up the creation of this Dilla jewel here. When I first heard this track my first response was "where did he sample this from?" So when I read ?uesto's story about how the beat came to life - let's just say that my wig is completely flipped backwards.
J-Dilla was on some other shit. But you already knew that...
Nas, Mos Def, and De La Soul passing the mic here at the G.O.O.D. Music after party in London just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Taking it back.
Alicia Keys' "Teenage Love Affair" was one of my favorite songs last year. The lyrics are pretty run-of-the-mill but the backing track really carried this tune to soulful sublimeness. Now, if only someone can track down Ghostface to get vintage on this... The LL Cool J remix was meh.
Beyonce's not the only Knowles with talent. Her little sister Solange Knowles has a little something out right now and it's a breezy number - a soulful throwback.
I'm guessing that in preparation for his above forthcoming album, the GZA decided to stir things up a bit and drop this track going at 50 Cent. I'm not sure how I feel about this track. On one hand, it's good to hear something new from the GZA. But if he was going to throw jabs he could of brought something with a little more bite. "Paper Plate" doesn't leave much of an impression. I think it's pretty boring altogether. It's a no-brainer that the GZA is superior with his wordplay and commands a better grasp of the english language than 50 Cent ever will. And 50 Cent would probably agree wholeheartedly.
I wouldn't be of the opinion that this was a complete waste of time had the GZA dropped something more witty and unpredictable. You know, the "8 bar murder verse/ freestyle or rehearsed/ I wreck MC's whether I'm last or first" kind of witty unpredictableness...
I first heard this on 2003's uneven Let It Be...Naked album. It's since become one of my all time Beatle favorites.
Neil Young: "Down By The River"
"Down By The River" is one of those indispensible Neil Young classics. He's accompanied here by his Crosby, Stills, and Nash co-horts. Amazing song and performance.
J-Live's Then What Happened? is out. I was expecting a little more considering it's been a while since his last album. It's got some boring material but the good ones almost make up for the parts that lag behind. Content and lyric-wise, he's definitely top 5 if I were to rank my personal favorite MC's out right now.
Furthermore, I've adopted "It Don't Stop" as my personal anthem.
Her New Amerykah album is pretty snoozy save "Soldier", produced by Kareem Riggins.
But I'm digging this Jay-Z laced snippet. I don't think it's an official remix but the beat is so hot, Lil' Wayne could drop a verse on this track and I'd still love it.
It's the first time I've seen this version of the video for my favorite tune from 2005's Late Registration. It helps that Bill Plympton does the fantastic animation and I've got to hand it to Kanye West for bringing in the guy responsible for the 1987 Oscar winning short Your Face (which is incredible), to do his video.
I was never really impressed with this other version.
Speaking of the classic that is Midnight Marauders, as part of Smirnoff's Signature Mix Series, Q-Tip teamed with Cool & Dre to update "Midnight" and give it a 2008 reworking.
Pete Rock's NY's Finest in your area on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I've been listening to some PR treats of the past and it's ridiculous the amount of incredible tracks he's put together in his distinguished career. Although the new album isn't as quite as good as I'd expected, it's still a solid effort and I'm glad to hear new material from him. Even the lukewarm joints.
Here's a couple of the more impressionable Pete Rock tracks from way back. Thorough indeed...
Okay, shameless excuse to throw a picture of my daughter up. It's not enough that I've already posted it here. Anyway...
I've been meaning give shine to a couple of Madlib tracks that I throw on whenever I need a little inspiration or a slight knudge in the ribs to wake me from whatever stupor I'm in. Since I've been deprived of comfortable, quality shut-eye these few weeks, I've needed an extra jolt to accompany my morning coffee.
Wildchild's (of the Lootpack) "Hands Up" and Vast Aire's (of the mighty, now defunct, Cannibal Ox) "Look Mom...No Hands", both produced by Madlib (the other guy who never sleeps, peep his catalog), exhibit the sonic punch I so desperately need in these babyraising times. "Hands Up" is a leaner, more stripped down track compared to "Look Mom's..." more chaotic and frenetic boombastics. They both serve their purpose in their own distinct ways. It's sonic crack-rock-motivation when you need it.
Pete Rock is, without a doubt, my favorite producer of all time. There was a time I teetered between PR and DJ Premier but PR's sound, anchored by such soulful undercurrents, puts him at the top. Besides, Premier's work has been more uneven as of late and he's not nearly close to matching the quality of his output of the mid-late 90's. Termanology's "Watch How It Goes Down" is the last Primo track that I was feeling and I still think he could of brought the drums a little harder.
If you haven't already heard, Pete Rock's got an album dropping February 26. There are a few projects worth the anticipation this year but New York's Finest is most worthy. I've heard five cuts from the new album and they're not really mind blowing. "The PJ's" featuring Raekwon and Masta Killa and "914" featuring Styles P and Sheek Louch were already in rotation last year. I'm still looking forward to hearing how the rest of the album comes together. After all, a subpar Pete Rock track beats most of the garbage floating around these days.
"Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:"
1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness."
GOLD. Radiohead: In Rainbows - "15 Steps", "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", "All I Need", "House Of Cards", ("4 Minute Warning" and "Up On The Ladder" from CD 2 are excellent as well)... All worthy of top twenty song status for this year but "Reckoner" is amazing and stands out as my favorite track on the album. In Rainbows is a moody record. I mean, it's got a winter quality to it. It's very bass and drum driven and it seems that they decided to simplify their sound for this album. The only time the electric guitar is prominent is on "Bodysnatchers". The rest of the album is less assertive. I think it plays to their strength.
SILVER. Common: Finding Forever - I've come to expect great albums from Common. He simply knows how to put a well rounded album together and get the most from his producers. Kanye's best work seems to go Com's way. "Start The Show" was a huge surprise in that I knew Kanye could put together some diverse sounds but this track blows me away. I think Com could do better on the lyrical side of things, but this Kanye production just bangs. The only track on Finding Forever that I have a problem with is "I Want You", a Will.I.Am production no less. Should've titled that one "Skip"... Otherwise, it's the best Hip-Hop record of 2007.
BRONZE. Various:Electric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation Compilation - It's 40 songs deep and they're all quality soul cuts. Most of the artists I've never heard of. There are a lot of soul comps floating around out there but this is the most solid I've heard. "Yesterday's Mistakes" by Jimmy Jones and "To Love Somebody" by The Kaldirons are just two of the more esquisite soul tracks from this compilation. The fact that this comp has 40 tracks with each song as good as the next is an accomplishment to say the least. Solid from beginning to end.
1. "All My Friends" - LCD Soundsystem 2. "Start The Show" - Common 3. "Reckoner" - Radiohead 4. "Keep The Car Running" - Arcade Fire 5. "No Ones Gonna Love You" - Band Of Horses 6. "Teenage Love Affair" - Alicia Keys 7. "Pedigree" - Brother Ali 8. "All I Know" - DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. CL Smooth 9. "Flashing Lights" - Kanye West 10. "Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem 11. "The Limit To Your Love" - Feist 12. "Success" - Jay-Z feat. Nas 13. "Going To Acapulco" - Jim James & Calexico 14. "Sailing Away" - Anthony Hamilton 15. "In The Mood" - Talib Kweli feat. Kanye West 16. "Gilla House Check" - Redman 17. "I'm Not Gonna Teach You..." - Black Kids 18. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A 19. "Rec-Room Therapy" - Ghosface feat. Raekwon & U-God 20. "Now That I'm Free" - Outlines feat. RZA
You know you're getting old when your favorite song of the year is a song about growing older.
I've narrowed down the song list to 20 because I found that ranking them past that is an exercise in futility.
Ghostface's "Rec-Room Therapy", from his bulky Big Doe Rehab album, would have been higher on the list had it not been for U-God's inept verse at the end. Rae and Ghost united would've sufficed.
I purposely left off a couple more Radiohead songs from InRainbows for obvious reasons. If it's not obvious to you, you'll see why in my next post.
Spin just did a review of Arrested Development's Since The Last Time. I don't know much about the album since I haven't really kept up with where the group has been. Speech did a solo project some years ago to lukewarm reviews and didn't firm up much of a career on his own. Since The Last Time kind of flew under the radar and, from everything I've read up to this post, it was released last year. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical that it'd be even worth giving attention but after a couple of listens it's actually pretty good. They didn't pull a Black Eyed Peas and morph into some ridiculous eye and ear sore of a pop group. The group kept the formula simple and preserved the qualities that made their debut so enjoyable in 92' - tastefully soulful and with subtlely funky undercurrents.
This is the title track from the album and my favorite of the bunch. It's got a fantastic, celebratory feel to it with great lyrics from Speech. I slept in 2006.
As you know, with the year's end comes with it lists upon lists upon lists. Do I have my obligatory "Best of 2007" lists? Absolutely. But I love reading other's thoughts on the past year's great moments in music, movies, news...
My favorite list thus far comes from Junichi over at Poplicks. His "Best Quotes Of 2007" is hysterical! Here is a snippet of some of my favorites from his exhaustive list:
"Did you see Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards? I don't want to say that that performance was a disaster, but after the show, I saw Rudy Giuliani having his picture taken standing on her."-Bill Maher
"Go, Raiders."- Robert Comer's last words before being executed in Arizona
"Yeah, well maybe next time, you will estimate me."- Michael, to Jan, who said she underestimated him, on The Office
"People use music as a utensil to better themselves."- Jessica Simpson
AZ's next full length The Undeniable is set to drop February 19.
In the meantime, "The Hardest" featuring Styles P, produced by the Large Professor, is the heat for your cold winter. It's unclear as to who's track it actually is as it's also on Styles' new album Super Gangster. I don't blame them for keeping the track for their own respective albums. The Large Pro hasn't produced anything memorable in a long time but this track is superb and he's even got a cameo in this exclusive OnSmash presentation.
Delegation, The Promise Of Love (Shady Brook Records, 1976):
If you're unfamiliar with this group, there's really no reason to get familiar. The short of it is that Delegation was an R&B group of three members from the UK that released The Promise Of Love in 1976. I only mention this album because it boasts the ultra-soulful "Oh Honey", one of my all-time soul classics. There's a 6-minute 12" version floating around out there that I absolutely need but for now, marinate.
There's been a lot of hosility within the Wu-Tang camp lately. Apart from Ghostface's early grumbling about the Wu-Tang hierarchy, Raekwon has expressed his frustration with RZA's production choices for 8 Diagrams. RZA got on Tim Westwood's show to shed some wisdom on Raekwon's recent rants, in true RZA form (courtesy of Nahright).
I agree. STOP WITH THE CHRIS MARTIN COLLABOS! Two is two too many. "Beach Chair" and "Homecoming" are terrible. I doubt that featuring Coldplay's lead on a Hip Hop track will get their fans to buy your albums.
Oh Word! is giving away Lord Finesse's whole production catalog, practically. Merry early X-mas.
Yes, Yes Y'all!
...And one of my favorite songs at the moment from Radiohead's In Rainbows.
The album is pretty run-of-the-mill production-wise with a couple of gems sprinkled in between. By now you've probably had your fill of the circumstances surrounding the idea for Jay-Z's American Gangster. The hype machine has been in full gear before and after the release of both the movie and album of the same name.
Some observations:
1. Jay-Z really embellishes on his hustler days. Saying he was inspired by some scenes in Ridley Scott's film that took him back to his hustling days, invoking those "raw emotions", sounds a little trite to me. After all, he was a small time drug dealer. It's not like he was even on the same level as Frank Lucas who upped his self worth to the hundreds of millions (in the 70's!) through a heroin dealing empire.
2. His tastes for beats is beginning to dwindle save a couple of exceptional moments like these:
"Roc Boys" - Produced by Diddy's Hitmen. Amazing interpolation of these horns. And the video is as gully as it gets...And the live horns just makes this cut exponentially ridiculous...
"Success" feat. Nas - Produced by No I.D. Now you've got to understand that this is the same producer who worked on the majority of Common's earlier work so No I.D. has got an impeccable catalog. He hasn't produced anything memorable in years, until now. The organ vamps are incredible and the way he chops this up...you've got to wonder why he's not getting more work.
3. Despite his recent shortcomings, he's arguably still one of the best rappers alive still recording. Definitely top 5. He still manages to stay relevant even though he's not really re-inventing himself. The skill he displays, even on the more lackluster production he jumps on, is undeniable. He's got the clever punchlines, the effortless delivery and style, and he's as charasmatic as they get.
Stretch does it again. He unearthed two gems from his tape collection and posted them on his site. Now remember, the cuts were digitized from audio tape so the sound is quite fuzzy, but still gems nonetheless...
O.C.'s "Step Into The O-Zone" demo is O.K. "O-Zone", which is the final Buckwild product, is far superior as it's my all-time favorite O.C. cut (and yes I dig it more than "Times Up").
I'm really disappointed that the Souls Of Mischief demo "Step To My Girl" never made '93 Til Infinity. It's breezy, nostalgic feel with horns is superb. I admit I haven't been up on much of what Heiro is doing these days. Much of their later stuff just hasn't done much for me, but their debut is on my top 10 of all time.
I've been on a "classic Hip-Hop videos" kick lately. Kardinal Offishall's "'Ol Time Killin'" has been a long time favorite of mine. The video is pretty much a straight-ahead rap video but I like the look and feel of it.
I'm always gonna bring back the good 'ol days. 1991 - 1996 is what I, and many others, consider to be Hip-Hop's Age of Enlightenment. This period produced some of the greatest Hip-Hop albums ever recorded and I don't foresee anything happening in the music industry in the future to match the amount of quality output of this amazing era - sigh...
The following videos lack in overall quality but these videos were once on regular rotation on BET's Rap City (before the dumbing down).
O.G.C.: "Hurricane Starang"
The D&D Allstars: "1,2 Pass It (DJ Premier Remix)"
Despite my general disdain for Will.I.Am productions I'm diggin' this contribution to Talib Kweli's Ear Drum. It helps that the video is more original than any I've seen in a while. I know it plays on the HP ads, but still.
I was just giving this some thought on my way home from work this evening. These are the most memorable musical moments in cinema. Well, the kind of cinema I enjoy anyway... I'm a huge fan of Wes Anderson films and Rushmore is the most endearing of his work. Faces' "Ooh La La" comes at the films conclusion and all I can say is that it fits perfectly in every way imaginable.
I've seen every Quentin Tarrantino flick. He knows how to use music in his films and he chose the perfect artist to score Kill Bill Vol. 1. The RZA plucks an angelic Nancy Sinatra tune for the film's intro and it simply draws you in and doesn't let go.
You're sitting in movie theatre and someone cues up "Shimmy Shimmy Ya". Right as the introductory piano dabs started to fill the theatre it just occurred to me how perfect the song was for this movie. An ODB track about unprotected sex as the backdrop to the opening credits for this particular movie? Genius.
Ol' Dirty Bastard: "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" (I'm not wasting time in providing a download - I know you already own this. And if you don't, "shame on a NUH!")
?uestlove is an oasis of musical knowledge. Apart from his musicianship and overall contribution to The Roots ongoing catalog, ?uesto also pens some insightful observations on a variety of subjects. He's a busy guy but has time to document his groups progress via his Myspace page. From their relentless road schedule to whatever he or The Roots are running with at the moment, he somehow gets it up there. His posts are amusing reads. His sense of humor is sharp and he's got some fantastic stories about the business he's engulfed in. If he's feeling really generous, he'll even post some never-heard-before gems. He's got four tracks that didn't make Common's Electric Circus up right now!
This is a cool list I extracted from his page. Only a geeked out music nerd would take interest in idle information like this but it's what I do.
Songs In The Key Of Life (Childhood-Adulthood)
Song You Believe Your Parents Conceived You To: Stay In My Corner by The Dells
Song That Best Makes The Soundtrack of Your Childhood Neighborhood Theme: Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Theme Song To Your Closest Sibling: Reminiscing by Little River Band
The First Album You Ever Purchased: Looking Through The Windows by The Jackson 5ive
The First Single You Ever Purchased: "Dance Wit Me" Rufus And Chaka Khan 45
Album Cover That Scared You In Your Childhood: Why Can't We Be Friends by War/Shame On The World by The Main Ingredient
Song That Scared You In Your Childhood: "If There's Hell Below....We're All Gonna Go (Don't Worry)" by Curtis Mayfield
The TV Theme of Your Childhood: Soul Train 74
Favorite Song From Sesame Street: "Take A Bweath.....Take A Bweath....Smell A Smell Sniff A Sniff Take A Bweath"
Favorite Song From Mister Rodgers Neighborhood: "You Are My Friend You Are Special"
Favorite Song From The Electric Company: "My Name Is Fred....They Call Me Fred...."
What Were You Banned From Listening To In Your Childhood: Anything by Prince
Rock Song That Rocked Ghetto/Ghetto Song That Rocked The Suburbs (as a kid): "Let Em In" Paul McCartney and Wings
Song You First Slow Dragged To: "Good Morning Sunshine" by Brick
First Cassette You Got For Your First Walkman: The Fat Boys
Best Cosby Show Theme: Bobby Mcferrin Theme
Favorite Soundtrack Of Youth: Purple Rain was more a reveloution than "soundtrack"---so imma go with Saturday Night Fever
Song That Played When You Got In Trouble And Grounded At Home: Worst ass beating as a kid ironic for me had Michael W. Smith's "More Power To You" on christian radio
Song That Played When You Thought You Was About To Get Some: "Let's Wait Awhile" video was playing when i thought i was gonna seal the deal. DOH!
Song That Played When You Got Some: "Is It A Crime" Sade
The Theme To Your First Break Up In High School: "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker (last and ONLY time a chick will EVER dump me)---this song was playing and i will forever remember this as the theme from HELL
The First Compact Disc You Ever Brought (not Album/Cassette): Vivid by Living Color/Anthology by Sly And The Family Stone
Album That You Stole From A Friend: The World Is A Ghetto by War (every hip hop producer has a story of a girl's father's record collection they pillaged. you MUST hear Chuck D's story of how he got "The Grunt"
Your Favorite Album You Think Your Friend Stole: Fantastic Vol 1--tariq won't admit it but i KNOW he stole that shit.
If Ever In Car Accident....What Song Was Playing?: "Ironic" Alanis Morrisette (SHUTUP MICHELLE!)
5 Songs You'd Put On A Mixtape For A Potential Love One: 1) "Fall" Miles Davis, 2) "Circle Of Amour" Prince, 3)"Before The Dawn" Patrice Rushen, 4)"We Work The Black Seam" Sting, 5)"Easy Goin Evening (My Mama's Call) Stevie Wonder
Song To Best Describe Your Best Relationship: "6.4=Makeout" by Gary Wilson
Song To Best Describe Your Worst Breakup: "Just To Keep You Satisfied" Marvin Gaye
First Concert You Ever Went To: Besides My Dad? The Jacksons
Magical Concert You Ever Went To: Prince Calling Me From The Audience To Play Drums.
Worst Concert You Ever Went To: Masta Ace at the Troc in 92. His shit was dope. it was the fights that sucked.
Coolest Celeb Ever Met: 3 way tie: Annabella Sciorra is more Bgirl than anyone i know, Flea is the coolest ever, Cyndi Lauper is incredible
Assholish Celeb You Ever Met: Chuck Berry. "I Ain't Signing No Gotdamn Autograph
Godlike Celeb You Ever Met: Prince
The US Weekly "Oh They Just Like Me!" Celeb You Ever Met: Samual L Jackson
Song So Hype You'd Run Your Moms Over With A Trash Truck Going 100 mph: "Welcome To The Terrordome" by Public Enemy
Song That Has The Ability To Make You Cry: "Trying People" by De La Soul
The One Song That Has The Ability To Make You A Kid Again: "Sentimental Lady" by Bob Welch
Song You Are Ashamed To Admit You Love: "I Wish" by Skee Lo
Song/Album That You Have To Gunpoint Others To: Anything by Mars Volta
If You Were To Marry Now What Song Would Be Your Wedding Song?: "Cleo's Apartment" by Marvin Gaye
What Song Best Describes Your Children/Future Children?: "Dat Dere" by Oscar Brown Jr.
Who Killed Music?: Clive Davis
Who Keeps Music Alive For You?: James "J Dilla" Yancey
Amerie'sBecause I Love It has already been released overseas. Official U.S. release date is scheduled for August 21. Meanwhile, her second single is fantastic.
Seeing this really pains me. Don't get me wrong, the interview is very informative and I've wondered off and on what kind of progress she's been making, musically. At one point I was convinced that she was going to be the Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald or Billy Holiday of my generation. She's got that much talent and potential, not that I even know what "talent" and "potential" is. What I do know is that she's got something very unique. But during these past few years of self-imposed reclusivity and sporadic re-emergences, Lauryn Hill has been slowly disintegrating and becoming marginalized and irrelevant, all through her own doing (or undoing).
I don't care about a Fugees reunion. She doesn't need a reunion. No one even gives a fuck whether or not Wyclef or Pras are even on an album with her. Everyone wants to hear Lauryn. The Fugees didn't sell millions because of Wyclef & Pras. They were really just oversized, ornamental hype-men for the group. The success of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was not a fluke. Wyclef's Carnival was good but wasn't nearly as successful, and that was not fluke either. Ask anyone why they bought The Score and I doubt you'll get any response other than Lauryn Hill.
My advice: Just ease your clamp on the Bible and simply start to "make meaningful music".
The video interview should have never been allowed. Homey The Clown, not a good look.
Listen to these and tell me she's not the whole package (Erase the visual from the above interview from your consciousness).
The thing I missed about The Roots' last album Game Theory was that hidden or bonus track. Phrenology and The Tipping Point, if you let the CD ride, had one superb track nestled in a few minutes past the albums conclusions. I liked Game Theory a lot but out of all The Roots albums it's my least favorite. The band is constantly evolving and ?uesto is not one to rehash the same musical ideas and sounds with each new album, and I respect that. But I wish they would record more bangers like these:
"Rhymes & Ammo" feat. Talib Kweli - from Phrenology "The Mic" feat. Dave Chappelle, Skills & Truck North - from The Tipping Point
Many people think Bob Dylan's "Blood On The Tracks" album is one of his best, right up there with Freewheelin' and Blonde On Blonde. Well this could be true, but after listening to the recording sessions for the album (recorded in NYC in 1974) on a very rare bootleg I have to agree that it may be his best to date. The original test pressing for the songs on "Blood" were never relased and eventually re-cut after some feedback by Dylan's brother. The originals are featured here in their original form. This is simply an amazing recording featuring some of Dylan's classics re-worked and raw. Learn more about it here.
10 in the clip. 
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