6.21.2010

Baby..It's You

"Baby It's You" by Smith

I first heard this song when I was at a friends cabin and they had the 45 sitting around.  After hearing it I thought it was actually a pretty smooth and funky cut from a band that by viewing the album cover doesn't look exactly funky.  The song went to number 5 on the U.S. charts in 1969 and was written by Burt Bacharach.  I started a search for this tune and it has been virtually impossible to find up to this point.  Itunes didn't even carry it.  The song showed up on the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" and for some reason a live version from the Ed Sulluvin show showed up on Itunes.  Check it out.....


Smith - Baby It's You

5.25.2010

Don't Sweat The Technique

Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip Hop Junkies
Brian Coleman

Brian Coleman first put this book out a few years ago then titled "Rakim Told Me" but this is an updated and expanded version of that book.  This book tells the story of 36 immortal hip hop albums straight from the original artists.  Some of the albums included are "3 Feet High and Rising" De La Soul, "The Low End Theory" A Tribe Called Quest, "We Can't Be Stopped" Geto Boys, and "Raisng Hell" by Run DMC.  Brian Coleman sat down with these artists and interviewed them about the process of making their album.  I think the best part about this book is for each album there is the interview with the artist about the creative process, what went down when making the album, and different experiences they had.  After each interview though, Brian Coleman breaks the album down track by track and has the artist explain what inspired each track and how it was recorded, etc.  One of the most interesting things I found out was that there were three different versions of "Scenario" recorded for "The Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest.  One of the versions not used on the album featured Pos from De La Soul and Dres from Black Sheep.  Another story I found interesting about the Geto Boys was that the cover of "We Can't Be Stopped" features Scarface and Willie D. pushing Bushwick Bill into the emergency room after getting his eye shot.  Scarface was totally against the idea of taking the photo and you can see it in his face in the picture.  I find myself reading some of the albums over again because they are so interesting and there are so many interesting things that were involved.  I think the only disspointment I have is that he left some of the albums that were in the first book out in this one, but if anybody digs this book I can borrow it to you if you want to read more.  I picked this book up at the St.Paul Half Price Books for 7.99.  They had quite a few copies left.  The regular retail is 16.95.

5.12.2010

The Boogie

Onra - Long Distance

I came across this EP by a group called Onra.  This EP just came out and it sounds like some synth funk from the 80's!  Very Very Very funky album!  After one listen you'll swear you're back in 1988.

Listen to Onra

Long Distance
Rock On

1994 And Some Itunes Beef

I can't remember a time since I was in High School where I'll be buying three new releases on the same day.  On May 18th I will be purchasing or have allready pre-ordered "Brothers" by The Black Keys, "Compass" by Jamie Lidell and "This is Happening" by LCD Soundsystem.  This is an occurance that used to happen all the time back in the mid 90's.  I remember picking up 3 to 4 cd's sometimes on Tuesdays.  Of course the mess the music industry is in probably has something to do with it.  As i've been anticipating these releases I've noticed something awfully fishy going down on Itunes.  All three of these releases have bonus tracks only available on the Itunes preorder.  The Hold Steady release last week had the same deal. What the hell?  Is it the record companies doing this? Or is this a trick by the band to get people to buy the album twice? Or maybe it's a big ploy to shift people to downloading music?  The Hold Steady offered their bonus track as a extra 45 for vinyl pre-orders and The Black Keys put up a download of "Ohio" for free so that was cool.  In any case, i'm looking foreward to Tuesday!

5.09.2010

Weekenders





I started off the weekend picking up some Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer from 21st Amendment Brewery.  I was a little nervous on how this would taste but I was feeling pretty good about my purchase after first sip.  The description of the beer is "Summer In A Can" and I can agree with that.  I was afraid it would be an overbearing watermelon taste but it's just a nice little watermelon aftertaste.  This would go great on a superhot day hanging outside.  A six pack is available at Mcdonalds Liquor and Haskels for about 6.99. 

I made a Electric Fetus run this weekend and picked up the following...

Prince - "Let it Go" 12 inch Vinyl Single
LCD Soundsystem - "Sound Of Silver" Vinyl
Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" Vinyl
The Shams - "Please Yourself" Vinyl
Kon and Amir - "Off Track Vol. 3: Brooklyn" cd

The biggest suprise of my finds is The Shams.  It's some pretty sleazy rock n' roll just how I like it.  In the same vein as 70's Rolling Stones.  A pretty consistant album all the way through.

I'm counting the says untill May 17th for The Black Keys "Brothers" and Jamie Lidell's "Compass"

5.03.2010

The Glow Of Love

Change - The Very Best Of  *** out of 5 Stars

I picked this album up after hearing the Change song "Change Of Heart" on KMOJ somewhere in the early 00's.  After hearing it, I did some research on the band and found out some interesting things.  On their first album, a young unknown Luther Vandros is on lead vocals.  He later left the group as he became popular.  Also Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were involved in their later productions which adds a Minneapolis sound element to Change's later albums.  Change made some very funky/disco music,but a couple tracks stand out for me due to my interest in sampling and where beats came from.  One track in particular is "The Glow Of Love".  It's from Changes first album and features a young Luther on vocals.  Upon hearing this song, you will recongnize that the music is exactly the same as Janet's "All For You".  With Jam and Lewis's traditional one song beat jacking for Janet's albums you can give a A-HA! after finding out that they were involved in Change's production.  One other funky joint is "A Lover's Holiday".  I remember a friend of mine had that R.Kelly album that had a red and black cover and I remember one of the first tracks being really funky.  The song is the same music as "A Lover's Holiday". The Very Best Of Change also contains the funk synth workout "Change Of Heart" and the tender ballad "Say You Love Me Again" where you might think Jam and Lewis thought about this song when writing "Let's Wait Awhile" for Janet.  Change was a pretty funky group and probably underrated as far as 80's dance music goes.  Check them out if you're looking for some funk!

Listen to Glow Of Love by Change

4.25.2010

I Got Beers

I'm crazy about Surly Abrasive Ale!  Being a fan of Hops, this totally tops my list as my favorite beer of the moment.  Even though  the price gets me a little Surly I think it's definitely worth it.  I also like the fact that it's 9% so I can have a couple and catch a nice buzz while listening to records or hanging outside in the summer sun. Like Furious, I can taste hints of pineapple and grapefruit.  Definitely my favorite beer of the moment!

4.21.2010

West Coast Poplockin'

Ronnie Hudson - West Coast Poplock

The one thing that makes me want to talk about this song/record is something that keeps occuring at work.  During our first break at 9am, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is usually on the television.  She has a part in her show where she gets the crowd to dance with her.  They have a selection of about 8 songs that they rotate everyday.  One of those songs is "California Love" by 2pac.  Everytime "California Love" is the song played, a 23 year old coworker always says "Damn..they're going old school." This single statement goes with the time 5 years ago where I asked the guy at Cheap Skate in Blaine if he could play "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton and he told me that they only bring those songs out on adult skates.  They both make me feel like i'm getting old.  Anyways..Old school? Are you kidding me?  I for one do not like 2pac. There are so many other legends that were about 20 times better then him that deserve the credit, but that's for another day.  "California Love" samples "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson and The Street People.  This track is from 1982-83 and it would go perfect on a summer throwdown mixtape/playlist.  Upon first listen you will recongnize the chorus Roger Troutman sings on "California Love" with instead of "We keep it rockin'" it's "we're poplockin". Another funky treat is Mr. Hudson singing about Poplockin' in Howard Johnson's and Holiday Inn's which sounds like if this was a dream I was having it might be one of the best dreams i've ever had.  I mean come on..Poplockin' in hotels, keepin' it rockin..california sun!! It's a lot faster then "California Love" and a lot more funky.  Why do I keep comparing "West Coast Poplock" to "California Love"? Because if you can't stand 2pac and people who's music listening is based on what Clear Channel tells them to, then throw "West Coast Poplock" on at the party and it will get the real people on the dancefloor.



Record Store Day Journal 2010

Like Jake did, I thought I'd write about my Record Store Day 2010 experience.  The last two years I really missed out on the special releases because i'd show up at noon or after being that it was a Saurday morning.  Being that I'm a bit older, I have a hard time dealing with crowds and a even harder time dealing with hipsters, but I thought i'd give showing up early a shot. I woke up in the morning thinking I'm not going to get what I want.  Of course The Hold Steady release would be awesome but limited to 400 copies sounds impossible to find unless I showed up a day in adavance and waited in line.  But whatever, I found some cool things last year late in the day, i'd get a goody bag of samplers, and I'd get some food if I went to t he fetus. At a little before 9am, I drove past The Electric Fetus and it was a madhouse! The line was down the block with hipsters and I wasn't going to wait in line for 2 hours.  So I remembered last year Jake said that nobody really went to Down In The Valley.  I went on a Saturday morning drive to Golden Valley and when I arrived at 9:30, a half hour before store open, two people were in line!  I got in line behind a overweight over 40 year old woman with a MUSE shirt who asked me if I'm able to grab the MUSE special release would I grab it for her?  I told her sure.  At 10 am the doors opened with only about 7 of us and I picked up...

"Tighten Up/Howlin For You" - The Black Keys 12 inch
"Mind Eraser No Chaser, HWY 1, Interview" -Them Crooked Vultures picture disc vinyl
"Fences" - Phoenix pink vinyl 12 inch
"Little Secrets/Little Secrets Felix Da housecat mix"- Passion Pit 7 inch
"Compass/Lies Inside" Jamie Lidell 7inch
"live at clark university" Jimi Hendrix Experience vinyl

Besides these finds, at down in the valley I won a Motion City Soundtrack autographed vinyl and I got a free MGMT vinyl slipmat plus a goodie bag full of samplers and stickers.  After I got home I read that the black keys put a secret inside thier release.  I found nothing but after looking at the vinyl, in the dead wax it said Akron Split with an email address.  I emailed the address and twenty minutes later I got a email back saying I was one of 200 lucky winners of a black keys/devo split 7inch!  Needless to say, I had a great day!