...and that will be the only instance of an exclmation point in this entire post. As I was informed today, Coachella has released its official line up with a layaway option and everything. First thing is first if you can't purchase these expensive tickets outright then you probably shouldn't be going. Things are a mess and not getting better anytime soon. I know way too many people with massive credit card debt a problem that has yet to come to roost, but thats an issue for another post and I'm hardly an economist.
The real point of contention for me is that the headliners are weak and the rest of the lineup is uninspiring. Paul McCartney, The Cure and the Killers? Really. Sorry my mom isn't going to make it to the three day festival so you can take Sir Paul off. Not sure if the forty something black eyed make-up crowd is picking up these things either and well...The Killers just make bad music.
Sure there are some salvageable people during the course of the festival, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Franz Ferdinand, Lupe Fiasco and Peanut Butter Wolf, but they can't salvage this bill or even come close to justify the ridiculous cost. We shouldn't bring up the fact that Girl Talk occupies similar space on that bill as TVOTR and Amy Winehouse is a second line act will either give a lame performance or simply not show up at all.
$269 dollars? Really for this? Save your money and pay down your credit card debt if you have it. We will all be better for it.
The Tones new record is Dreamtalk. Its a fantastic blend of soulful and honest hip hop and kicks 2009 off just right. The duo is rapper-producer, Retro, and rapper-singer, Suhn. The record does a great job of blending party tracks and laid back grooves showing off Retro's chops as a producer. Check out the lead single:
I am pretty sure my wife would quickly inform me that I am too old for toys but I figure if I am too old for video games and I love them then why not indulge and pick up this exclusive Quasimoto figure done by the unparalled Kid Robot. As some of you might remember Kid Robot did a Madvillian version and it didnt last more than 2 hours. This one comes in yellow and blue and there will be fewer of these made than Kid Robot & Stones Throw's Madvillain figure from 2007.
Get ready to grab one of these when they come out Febuary 19th. Locations listed here.
datA the pseudonym of French house DJ, David Guillon makes some absolutely insane synth-80s style house music. He has released a collection of EPs available on iTunes, with Trop Laser in '06, Aerius Light in '07 and my personal favorite Rapture last year. To get an idea of just how awesomely 80s this stuff is check out a remix of "Rapture" off his latest EP.Mp3: datA - "Rapture" (Pacific! Remix)
Buy: Get his stuff from iTunes here.
New video from Chicago hip hop phenoms the Cool Kids. Thanks to That Realish for the link. I am not into all the Pistons references but the beat is certainly nice.
I am always excited when I learn about a great new hip hop group. Dragon Fli Empire is certainly on the rise. The Calgary based duo of Cosm (DJ, producer) and Teekay(emcee, producer) create just the type of hip hop I love, upbeat, fun and catchy. On their lead single "Outside Inn" they have even teamed up with the much loved and respected Cadence Weapon.
Their new album is Redefined and certainly comes recommended by me. Its due out in 2009 and features some other great emcees and much discussed dudes like Omega Watts, Masta Ace and Moka Only.
Be sure to look for it soon!
Day late but certainly not a dollar short here is an awesome track by friend DJ B.Cause using the dub b-side to Ticklah's reggae version of Sharon Jones' "How Long Do I Have To Wait For You." He is really on top of things on this track.
Check out Tiklah's myspace or DJ B.Cause's here.
Mp3: Sean Paul - "Get Busy" (b.cause ticklah dub edit) (zshare)
“To all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born, know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.” - President Obama
There is no doubt that President Obama has some immense challenges facing him and his administration. He is only one man. Albeit a very bright, talented and hard working man, but a single man. He will not and cannot fix all our ills. Ills created and enabled by previous leaders and administrations, Democrat and Republican alike. What is important not to forget though is that for the first time in a long time we have a person of extreme character. A person of extreme brilliance and skill in crafting a message of unity and the importance of hardwork.
This is the role of the President. He is just one person sure, but a person who occupies a position ripe for motivation and encouragement. A crafter of our message as a people and what we want to stand for. Some one who will motivate and challenge us. We have not had a person like this in my time and I am excited to have been a part of this amazing journey. To have been in Springfield when he selected Biden as his Vice President, to have been in Grant Park win he claimed his victory. It is a journey that is no where close to ending and it will be a struggle to get this country back to where it needs to be in the world. A “new era of responsibility” as President Obama said. It is always better as a people to have a great leader to head that struggle for unity, peace and prosperity and now we have one.
Congratulations to the Obama family, all his friends and all of us who voted for him.
Watch: See the Frontline special Dreams of Obama here.
Would have been 80 today. I enjoyed reading what O.W. at Pop Licks had to say regarding the topic of Dr. King. I think we still have a long way to go to realize Dr. King's vision of justice for all. But its important that we keep working towards that vision.
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."
"The Mission" is an exclusive track featured on and only available on Reggae Gold 2008 from VP Records. The track takes its name from The Mission riddim produced by Baby G. Video was shot on location in NYC.
Buy: Get it here.
Two new mixes from my friends over at Fragrant Fowl records. First is Pocketknife and Cousin Cole on the Beats in Space show. Listened to it today top notch stuff. Go get that here.
Here is another group building on that whole Scandanavian downtempo/synth sound. Rubies is Simone Rubi and Terri Loewenthal and they released their first album in May of 2008. Explode From The Center is in the Lindstrom, Air France and Quiet Village vein with spaced out synths and vocals. Truly amazing stuff. Their track "I Feel Electric" features vocals from the lovely Feist. Check it out.
As you have probably realized I am a very hot/cold type music listener. One month its dub reggae, the next its hip hop, this month seems I am on this electro kick. I will try and vary my music disussions a bit more in the future.
Mp3: Rubies feat. Feist - "I Feel Electric" (Tiedye Remix)
Buy: Get Explode From The Center here.
Here is a great little edit of Steely Dan's "Green Earings" that was originally on their 1985 album the Royal Scam. I found this on one of my favorite DJ blogs. I can't remember which off the top of my head at the moment (I'm thinking One Day Later or American Athlete). Endulge your 80's 70's love.
One of my favorite producers in the end of 2008 and somebody I am all about in 2009 is French dude Breakbot. He did a host of fantastic remixes for Sebastian Tellier, Fatlip, PNAU and Van She (the Van She is particularly good if you can get your hands on it). His Happy Rabbit EP was released last year on Timberyard Records with his original funky electro sound. Check out a track and keep tabs on him in 2009.
Neglected to add "Squeeze Me" by Kraak and Smaak to my best tracks of 2008. Certainly needs to be there. Check out the video if you haven't had a chance to hear this amazing song.
New track from Analog Giant favorite Blu out of LA. To be honest I am not sure the story behind it. Hopefully off a new upcoming record but I haven't heard anything. Took a ton of work for Sound In Color to finally be released. Love to see a new Blu record in 2009.
Mp3: Blu - "TilWeDie"
photo by Muskito.
Great track by much loved Ghislain Poirier. Comes with a nice, clean, innovative video and website as well.
Here is the last part of the best of 2008. A collection of great tracks by two dudes that actually know what they are doing. DJ Cosmo Baker and DJ Ayers of The Rub party in NY. If there was ever a duo of two dudes who could put together a best of list its these two.
Kanye West, MGMT, Estelle, Movado, Hercules and Love Affair and so much more! Do not miss this. Check it out!
Mp3: Download Part 1
Mp3: Download Part 2
Follow up to the best tracks of 2008 here is the promised best albums of 2008. Let me know what you think. Hope everyone had a very happy New Year. Peace in 2009.
1. Estelle "Shine"
R&B giant hits it big with this record. She dominates the R&B sound in 2008 in my opinion. Should be no secret this is my favorite.
1a. Lindstrom "Where You Go I Go Too"
This and the Estelle record were my favorite in 2008. Need to commit to listening to the whole thing. Flawless execution by a fellow Norwegian.
3. TV on the Radio "Dear Science"
Again shows they are the best in rock right now. Another fantastic record under their belt and my favorite record by the band so far.
4. Q-Tip "The Renaissance"
Best hip hop record of 2008. Some great records out there as well.
5. Hercules and Love Affair "Hercules and Love Affair"
Took me awhile to get around listening to this record but its really unreal. Flashback to the electro-disco and early Chicago house music. Awesome record.
6. Kanye West "808s and Heartbreaks"
Autotune and 808s are perfect for this album of conflicting emotions. Nice to see him taking chances in his music.
7. Benga "Diary of an Afro Warrior"
Dubstep album of the year. Guess everyone else forgot their are others in the dubstep game if Burial doesn't release an album.
8. Air France "Long Way Down"
The tropical/pop genre of music lives in 2008. Didn't get as much press as Quiet Village. Not sure why I thought the record was better.
9. The Roots "Rising Down"
Not their best but not their best is better than pretty much everyone in hip hop.
10. Kidz in the Hall "The In Crowd"
Fun hip hop lives in 2008. Nice album.
11. Cool Kids "Bake Sale"
See above. Not sure which was better.
12. Ratatat "LP3"
Best Ratatat record to date. Love their production.
13. The Knux "Remind Me in 3 Days..."
Another great hip hop offering in 2008. They do the whole show too! Instrumentation, production, rapping...one stop shop. Impressive debut.
14. DJ/rupture "Uproot"
DJ record of the year. Awesome stuff.
15. Black Milk "Tronic"
Production album of the year. Dude from Detroit doing his late friend J Dilla proud.
Couple more that were very good:
Cut Copy "In Ghost Colours"
El Guincho "Alegranza"
MGMT "Oracular Spectacular"
Bill Frisell "History, Mystery"
photo by ovieh.
