Who knows where I’ve been...? Nobody? Well, shit. I don’t have to explain myself to YOU!
Aw, okay. Doing other things is the real answer. I had the idea to change blog hosts or perhaps change the unfortunate URL or the format, but I haven’t really decided what’s going to happen yet. What else? I had some major surgery in April, and I’m feeling back to better than normal now, so why not get back into the swing with a mix which I‘ve compiled and trashed probably four times now. Should be interesting to listen to -- it’s as random as usual but there’s definitely a unifying theme going on. In the last few months, suddenly, I’ve fallen for someone. First time a girl has crossed my path in about 5 years which has made me stop and think. That’s something, I’m pretty fickle and picky. So I’m in something like love now and don’t have the guts to try to get it back. I’ll find the guts eventually. As it stands, my head is really, really messy right now, and my heart’s a mess. There’s actually a song about exactly that on here, go figure! You may also notice it’s a segregated mix. But in my own defense, I put all of the black artists FIRST, so…
THE LINK: http://hotfile.com/dl/44426456/f697491/MIX_N_MATCH.rar.html
01 Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body
I know, I’m starting this mix with the fucking Black Eyed Peas. I suck. It’s this easy: if you don’t like the song, delete it. I personally can’t really stand much of their stuff, but this song gets stuck in my head and repeated so many times per day it’s not even funny. It’s really expertly produced, which is the Peas’ strong suit in will.I.am. On the flip side of that, everybody else is still in that group, and I can do without them. Whatever, I still get pumped listening to this. Even with Chipmunk Fergie.
02 Professor Green feat Ed Drewett - I Need You Tonight
My jam of the summer, so far. Not much is done with the backing sample, which is basically the whole beat of the INXS song. Know what? It doesn’t matter one bit, this thing is blazin‘ hot sauce. My buddy Niles said this is a white Dizzee Rascal, and that’s deadly accurate. If this gets a chance in the US, it should score.
03 Janelle Monae - Tightrope (feat Big Boi)
Look at her CD cover…
...and you think this could be something from Eryka Badu. Grace Jones, maybe. But no, it’s this eccentric lady with a fabulous voice who’s ready to get your booty moovin’, that’s all. Hearing Big Boi again really makes me happy, and reminds me I can do without Andre for a while now still.
04 Bruno Mars - Somewhere in Brooklyn
After hooking a smash on B.O.B.’s Nothing On You, his demos have begun appearing online. This is the best of the bunch, a sweet, bouncy tune with unforgettable harmonies that have been planted in my brain.
05 Lloyd - Set Me Free (feat Mystikal)
RE-DIC. Let Michael Bolton hit this beat, shit. ANYBODY. Bangladesh brings the heat for one of three newly recorded tracks featuring Mystikal (who was released from prison on rape charges this past January). I have missed this dude so much, and he absolutely murders this. You could even say he rapes it with rap if you like! I’m really beginning to like Lloyd too, and I didn’t see that coming.
06 Nas and Damien Marley - As We Enter
A weird pairing, but they decided to make an album together, and they actually blend ridiculously well. At under 3 minutes, this is brisk and bangin’ with no rest. Again, I could probably hear a retard rap on this beat and I’d like it. So it’s fortunate that there are actually other great songs on the album as well. Check it out.
07 Talib Kweli - Midnight Hour (feat Estelle)
Off of the Reflections Eternal album, which is a joint between Talib and DJ Hi-Tek. It’s packed with terrific production and Talib’s ever impressing, brainy delivery. If this doesn’t get you nodding within 15 seconds, check your pulse. Sick track.
08 J. Cole - Who Dat
Jay-Z’s protégé, and I can’t see why. The kid’s got no swagger, no flow, no delivery, and the beat is garbage. Kidding, of course, it’s the opposite of all of that. FIRE. Of all the hyped new hip hop artists, the one I’ve been anticipating an album from is J. Cole. Unlike, say, Drake, Wale or Kid Cudi, the hype machine is relatively quiet while Cole sits back and delivers a straight anthem here. I’ve yet to hear the other guys even come close outside of a mixtape. Thing is on repeat in my car, I LOVE IT!
09 Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
Sophomore disc eclipses their debut at every single turn. This song alone does it.
10 Ok Go - End Love
Ok Go’s Of the Blue Colour of the Sky is pretty brilliant and yet pretty forgettable at the same time. Not sure how that works out. It’s like this: I don’t think of listening to the CD, I don’t think of the band as one of my favorites, yet when I hear them mentioned or hear a song I’m giddy. I love how this disc is such a major departure from the sound that found them success on their first two albums. They took a break and came back with this cracked out, 80s electro fusion…shit. It’s awesome. Who knows how that happened (copious amounts of drugs).
11 Menomena - Five Little Rooms
Not only is the band’s name incredible, they’re actually not bad musicians either. This trumps anything else I had heard from them, too. I’m looking forward to hearing what else they have to offer on their sophomore album due this summer.
12 Gotye - Heart’s a Mess
Not a new song by any means, in fact from 2006, but Gotye’s Like Drawing Blood has gone in the past few months up to one of my all time favorite albums. No shit. I’ve really never heard anything quite like it. I stumbled upon the video for Heart’s a Mess while surfing YouTube. It’s a stunning piece of work on its own, but what really hooked me was this song. Haunting and sprawling, beautiful and strange. In my top 50 songs of all time.
Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnXFJOXvL_A
13 Mumford and Sons - White Blank Page
It took me a while to warm up to the album beyond Little Lion Man, but I’m pleased I was persuaded to give it more of a listen. Their blend of Brit-folk with this stomping-bluegrass business is really compelling and unique. This is a beautiful song, for sure.
14 Damien Jurado - Arkansas
Damien’s been around for a while, but I’ve just now found him. The production and instrumentation on this tune is a real ear opener. While you can tell it was made in this era, it could easily have fit on a record from the 60s or 70s. I find that stuff interesting.
15 Muse - Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)
The first single from the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack happens to be a leftover from The Resistance which the band claims they wanted on the album but couldn’t fit. I submit to them that they should listen to the album again, there are plenty of tracks you could have bumped to the curb in favor of this. Or just in general. Regardless, at least it sees the light of day now. The Twilight films leave much to be desired, but their soundtracks have both been absolutely stellar indie and rock showcases packed somehow with exclusive tracks. I’m hoping Eclipse will be the same, and judging from this tune it looks on track.
16 Charlotte Gainsbourg - Trick Pony
Her CD which Beck produced is far more interesting than anything Charlotte’s done before (with music), and this is far and away the most Beck-sounding track on the disc. Having said that, she sounds better on it than he ever would. Just that kinda sound. It’s truly a collaborative album.
17 The Hot Rats - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
If The Who recorded the Beastie Boys, it would go something like this. The band (who is a side project from blokes in Supergrass) began as a one-off joke which turned into an album of covers. All of them are actually good, either being faithful and respectful, or putting a new spin. This is a spin and a half. I fucking love it, and WAY more than the version by the Beasties.
18 Fall of Envy - White Flag
I’m not really familiar with Fall of Envy, but this track came highly recommended from a blog I frequently trust, and I’m glad I picked it up. This is a cover of Dido’s song which feels to me absolutely organic. Nothing’s forced, it’s just as if this song was written to be a power-rock track. Who knew? Nicely done.
19 Nitzer Ebb - Once You Say
It’s like traveling back in time and listening to Nine Inch Nails pre-Downward Spiral. Nitzer’s disc is a really solid industrial rock/new wave throwback blended with some modern age bits. I have trouble believing this ISN’T a Nine Inch Nails song, actually. Bravo.
20 Violent Soho - Jesus Stole My Girlfriend
Silverchair met Weezer at a Nirvana concert. Babies were made. BLA-DOW! Kick-ass.
I may actually have a second mix posted tomorrow. A sorrowful one, of course. I’ve been trying to get together an assembly of my favorite tracks to either heal or deal with heartache. Suppose I could share it here, that sounds cathartic. Getting really close to finishing it now. I’ve also got a mix of forgotten hip-hop tracks from the last decade that I can’t wait to share. Comment on my tastes, let me know who you’re liking, give me some recommendations, whatev.
-M
0 comments:
Post a Comment