Folk ~ Rock - Bon Iver

Sounding like Bon Hiver (good winter), this is a solo effort of Justin Vernon. Recorded in a cabin in remote Wisconson over the winter of 06-07. Its a very nice quiet acoustic record.

LISTEN

Flume

Lump Sum

buy

Happy Anniversary!

It's hard to believe that it's been two years already. I think I've made it past the milestone that seems to stop most weblogs. Hopefully this year I will be adding a couple of new contributors and we can bring you even more of the music we love.

Cheers,

Eric

Are you up for the challenge? Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti

If I worked in a coffee shop, I would probably play this record over and over. Separates the men from the boys it does.

Sounds like: Wham!, Guided by Voices, Ween, Beefheart, Hall & Oats, Mantler

LISTEN

Howling at the Moon

buy at iTunes

I Love This Song...

My Morning Jacket - Golden

buy

Echo Rock - Beach House

I'm totally in love with this record. A mix of Yo La Tengo and Nico with lots of great echo-y guitars, organ and drum machine. It's beautiful. Victoria Legrand's vocals take you on a trip to far-off fairy tale lands. 

LISTEN

Wedding Bells

Gila

buy it at iTunes store

California Post-Rock - Fleet Foxes

Actually, they're from Seattle. Riding the seemingly unending wave of bands sounding like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Zombies etc.., Fleet Foxes have made a record that is really really interesting to listen to. Especially the first half of the record. You hear all of the influences, but are still pleasantly surprised at each new turn of melody. Interesting arrangement. Produced by Seattle's Phil Ek (The Shins, Built To Spill, Mudhoney LP's) It's a really good record. 

It also got me to go back and listen to Bundy K Browns 'Directions In Music' - a classic. Thanks to Kev for tipping me to the FF record.

UPDATE

wtf, FF cancel Toronto show July 16th to drive to Chicago to do pre-Pitchfork party. Bummer.

LISTEN

Ragged Wood

edited - please buy it

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

edited - please buy it

Oliver James

buy it at iTunes or go to your local record store for fucks sake.

Montreal Rock - The Besnards Lakes

Running in the same circles as fellow Montreal bands like Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade, this BL record came out last year but I only just heard it on CBC late night radio and went right out and bought it.

Falling right smack dab in the middle of my current Beach Boys/Cali Rock obsession, this is a beautiful and quite experimental record. Reminds me also of The Flaming Lips, and at times Yo La Tengo.

LISTEN

For Agent 13

also listen to Rides The Rails

buy on iTunes

Rock - Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains

Sebastien is former of Death From Above 1979. His EP came out yesterday. Only $3.99! Looks like the album will have quite a few treats on it. I love this Way To Come Home track. Once you dig it, you should buy it, then listen to the demo which is fucking great too.

LISTEN

Ways To Come Home

buy on iTunes

I also liked the hot little funk track SG released last year "When You Go Out"

On The Way To Come Home (demo)

Also, go buy this lovely track on a record dedicated to Bellwoods Park. Young Mothers

If you like the heavy sounds of DFA 1979 more, try this one: Let's Make Out

Bootleg - Zakir Hussain show feat Niladri Kumar on Sitar

I told a few of you about Zakir Hussain coming to town. I managed to catch up with his tour in Vancouver when I was out there shooting. I was really taken by his sitar player. Here is a clip taken from my stills camera. It's poor quality but really worth a listen. Reminds me of 'Brothers' from the Paris, Texas soundtrack by Ry Cooder.

LISTEN

bootleg

READ

nice review by the Toronto Show

More Beach Rock - Grizzly Bear

I'm still liking this Beach Boys influenced post-rock, done very nicely by indie darlings Grizzly Bear.

UPDATE: See them on Letterman July 23rd.

LISTEN

Knife

buy @ iTunes

African Funk - Nigeria Special

With nary a Fela Kuti song in sight, Soundway Records has brought out another astounding collection of Afro-Funk and Highlife. I'm speechless.

Go buy a copy in your local record store - it's a great looking package.

LISTEN

Amalinja

Okwukwe Na Nchekwube

or buy on iTunes

Rock - The Kills

This record is a new direction for duo The Kills and sadly I'm not a fan. But I like these tracks:

LISTEN:

Last Day Of Magic - buy

U.R.A. Fever - buy

i love this...

Edith Piaf - Les Trois Cloches

buy

i love this...

Animal Collective - Grass

buy

Reggae - Bim Sherman

One of my favourite vocalists, he sang on some seriously deep rhythms.

Slummy Ghetto + version - 1982 (10,000 Ethiopians Rhythm)

10,000 Ethiopians

Fit To Survive


buy

Experimental Pop - Panda Bear

I love this new track from Panda Bear, a NYC'r transplanted to Lisbon, Portugal. Dreamy Beach Boys melodies. Love it.

LISTEN

Panda Bear - Comfy In Nautica

buy at iTunes store

Hip Hop - Cool Kids

Though I've long felt like hip hop is so ten years ago along comes this pair of killer beat makers from Chicago: Cool Kids. I heard this song in a store and tracked it down as soon as got home. Get this: they don't have a record and although the hype on them has been HUGE since last summer, you can barely buy any of their stuff. This track is supposedly coming from their new EP, but up until now there is only one track for sale at iTunes called Black Mags, but this one is the shit.

LISTEN

Mikey Rocks

Losing My Edge - Exploded!

You might know the song from two summers back, but admit it, are you really hip enough to get all of the references to obscure bands listed in this song? I had really only heard of half of those bands so I have taken on the task of looking up the ones I don't know and linking to them here. This will be an ongoing series so let's start with the full version of the original track (please buy it if you like it). I will post the lyrics and link a band each month to its post on this blog.

LISTEN

Losing My Edge - LCD Soundsystem



LYRICS (and links - updated monthly)

Yeah, I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
The kids are coming up from behind.
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids from France and from London.
But I was there.

I was there in 1968.
I was there at the first Can show in Cologne. (post)
I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge to the kids whose footsteps I hear when they get on the decks.
I'm losing my edge to the Internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1962 to 1978.
I'm losing my edge.

To all the kids in Tokyo and Berlin.
I'm losing my edge to the art-school Brooklynites in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered eighties.

But I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge, but I was there.
I was there.
But I was there.

I'm losing my edge.
I'm losing my edge.
I can hear the footsteps every night on the decks.
But I was there.
I was there in 1974 at the first Suicide practices in a loft in New York City. (post)
I was working on the organ sounds with much patience.
I was there when Captain Beefheart (post) started up his first band.
I told him, "Don't do it that way. You'll never make a dime."
I was there.
I was the first guy playing Daft Punk (link) to the rock kids.
I played it at CBGB's.
Everybody thought I was crazy.
We all know.
I was there.
I was there.
I've never been wrong.

I used to work in the record store.
I had everything before anyone.
I was there in the Paradise Garage DJ booth with Larry Levan. (link)
I was there in Jamaica during the great sound clashes.
I woke up naked on the beach in Ibiza in 1988.

But I'm losing my edge to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent.
And they're actually really, really nice.

I'm losing my edge.

I heard you have a compilation of every good song ever done by anybody. Every great song by the Beach Boys (post). All the underground hits. All the Modern Lovers tracks. I heard you have a vinyl of every Niagara record on German import. I heard that you have a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit - 1985, '86, '87. I heard that you have a CD compilation of every good '60s cut and another box set from the '70s.

I hear you're buying a synthesizer and an arpeggiator and are throwing your computer out the window because you want to make something real. You want to make a Yaz record.

I hear that you and your band have sold your guitars and bought turntables.
I hear that you and your band have sold your turntables and bought guitars.

I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know.

But have you seen my records? This Heat, Pere Ubu, Outsiders, Nation of Ulysses, Mars, The Trojans, The Black Dice, Todd Terry, the Germs, Section 25, Althea and Donna, Sexual Harrassment, a-ha, Pere Ubu, Dorothy Ashby, PIL, the Fania All-Stars, the Bar-Kays, the Human League, the Normal, Lou Reed, Scott Walker, Monks, Niagara,

Joy Division, Lower 48, the Association, Sun Ra,
Scientists, Royal Trux, 10cc,

Eric B. and Rakim, Index, Basic Channel, Soulsonic Force ("just hit me"!), Juan Atkins, David Axelrod, Electric Prunes, Gil! Scott! Heron!, the Slits, Faust, Mantronix, Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines, the Swans, the Soft Cell, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics.

I know what you really want. (x15)

Losing My Edge - The Modern Lovers

Recoring their first album in 1972, it didn't hit stores until 1976 but it was perfect timing. A huge influence on the emerging punk movement, it's worth noting that the Sex Pistols first single was a cover of 'Roadrunner'. You can also here a similar vocal style in 'She Cracked'. I personally really love the Velvet Underground influence on their music. In fact, it was recorded by VU's John Cale. It also featured Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads on organ. Very cool.


LISTEN

Roadrunner (alt version)
She Cracked

buy at iTunes store



Check out this interesting article

Losing My Edge - The Beach Boys

Most people don't knw that the Beach Boys were actually an experimental group because they were so hugely popular, but the rest of us know that they were really cool and far out when you dig a little deeper than the radio hits we all know (and sometimes cringe at). I'm not going to go to far with this post because there is way too much out there already about this band. I'm posting a few of the more unheard tracks for you to enjoy.

LISTEN

Little Bird
All I Wanna Do
Wild Honey
Meant For You

buy at iTunes

Losing My Edge - Captain Beefheart

Zappa-esque. Too far out for most people but you can understand its importance.

The best available record on iTunes

Wiki

Losing My Edge - Suicide

The first album from Suicide sounds a lot like the Silver Apples. Sounds pretty cool now in a early-punk nyc grungy way.

Rocket USA
Ghost Rider

open in iTunes


Wiki

Losing My Edge - Can

Can are one of my favourite bands. Hailing from Germany in the late 60's and with their best work in the early to mid 70's they are probably one of the most influential bands on indie rock and electronica. They inspired everyone from Sonic Youth to Kraftwerk. Mad drummer. I'm not a prog-rock fan whatsoever, but Can definately rocks my world. Please just go buy Ege Bamysi.


LISTEN

One More Night - buy
Vitamin C - buy


Future Days - buy


Can Wiki

Ike Turner meets Papa Legba

Here's a great article on Ike Turner written by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen. While reading, I opened up iTunes and searched for the track that is mentioned to help put it in context. Good stuff. Did you know that Ike was one of the first people to hire Jimi Hendrix?

http://www.slate.com/id/2180162/nav/tap3/

Robot Rock - Teenage Bad Girl - Cocotte

Fuzzy electro-rock from Paris in the Ed Banger style (Sebastian, Justice, Mr Oizo etc) this is a great record.

LISTEN - buy

Cocotte
Vaccum
Beel

Electro/Hip-Hop - Spank Rock's YoYoYoYoYoYoYo

Loving this dirty dirty record. If you feel there is not enought 2 Live Crew in your life, (and I'm sure there isn't) then head over to iTunes and pick this mofo up. Solid Maimi bass beats with fuzzy electro production. It's great. Good party record because it's not so dirty that it will put anyone off in a 'mixed company' situation.

LISTEN - buy

Touch Me

Backyard Betty

Sweet Talk

Hip-Hop - Kids In Tracksuits

Heavy heavy heavy distorted beats, this is old school meets new school - worth checking out.

LISTEN - buy

Uprock Theme

We Make It Rock

Rock Single - No Love Lost

Another rock gem from a LCD Soundsystem single. Late 70's/Early 80's brash UK rock.

(also...if you like John Cale's contributions to the Velvet Underground, check his version of 'All My Friends' on this EP)





LISTEN


LCD Soundsystem - No Love Lost (buy)

Rock Single - Yr City's A Sucker

Sounding like Brian Eno/Talking Heads on the incredible Remain In Light LP (buy), James Murphy yet again rocks my world with this brilliant jam that sounds like he did it on his 4-track, and mixed it in his pyjamas at home. Amazing.

LISTEN

LCD Soundsystem - Yr City's A Sucker (buy)

Virgin Music Festival

I was the DJ on the main stage of VFest last weekend, playing tunes between bands for more than 40,000 people. Here are some of what I was spinning:

LISTEN

Hot Chip - Over and Over -

Justice - Phantom Part II -

N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move (DFA Mix)
Muse - Supermassive Black Hole -
Spoon - I Turn My Camera On -
The Go! Team - Panther Dash -

Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen - buy

Electro - Mr. Oizo Remix

I dropped this insanely heavy remix during my set at VFest and WOW, it sounded amazing that loud. New New Super crunch electro out of Paris from Mr Oizo (he is on 'Ed Banger Records' - Daft Punk's record label). This new sound makes all other dance music sound so lame and weak by comparison.

Oh yeah, it is a remix of one of the darling bands/tracks of the last decade: Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name Of...'

LISTEN

Killing In The Name Of...

RIP Joe Zawinul

Legendary Keyboardist Joe Zawinul past on today so here are a couple of my favourite tracks of his, the first he wrote and recorded with Canonball Adderly, the second is his performance with Miles Davis on the In A Silent Way album.

Listen:

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (almost whole track)

Buy It

Shhhh, Peaceful (part 2)

Buy It

Indian Music - Gulfam Sabri

Last night Mona and I had the privilage of hosting Gulfam Sabri for an intimate concert in our home for a few lucky people. The evening was to celebrate the birthday of my favourite father-in-law Abbas who turned 5 years old ;)

This show was truly fantastic and inspiring and I am posting an mp3 for those who missed it. I'm hoping for the opportunity to do a proper recording with Mr Sabri in the coming days.

-------

So in addition to this great music I am also turning you onto a series of my favourite Classical Indian music tracks starting with Ravi Shankar's live performance at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971



Bangla Dhun is a light Raga (a predetermined set of notes or 'scale') based on a Bengali Folk tune.



LISTEN



Bangla Dhun

sitar – Ravi Shankar

sarod – Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

tabla – Ustad Alla Rakha

tamboura – Kamala Chakravarty

2005's LCD Soundsystem

Even though there is a good new record from James Murphy aka LCD, I've been listening non-stop to the first album from '05. This is one of the classics. It is a collage of influences that range from Can to Bowie/Eno to Stooges to Talking Heads to The Fall to David Gilmour and is then mixed up and poured into a tall cool glass in NYC. Buy this record now.


Listen

Disco Infiltrator
Losing My Edge
Too Much Love

Single - Kevin Drew - T.B.T.F.

Bringing you the first listen of the new K.D. solo album (Broken Social Scene). Great album that continues the great melodies and lyrics of BSS and just builds on it. Brilliant.

Also, you get the whole track here kiddo... No 2 minute limit...

LISTEN

To Beautiful To Fuck

Postmodern R&B - D'Angelo

The first, second and third time you listen to this record, you will probably like it ok, but most likely won't be blown away. Then after the fourth and fifth listen, you will say "Um... this is one of the greatest records of all time." It happened to me. It will happen to you. This LP is a mash up of sex, funk, and 70's R&B which takes you back to Sly Stone, Al Green, Hendrix and Prince. Not every track is perfect, and frankly some of the rap is cringe worthy but hey, the rest shines. Unparalelled production.

Sounds like: Smooth R&B, Marvin Gaye, Prince

LISTEN

The Line

One Mo' Gin

The Root

Feel Like Makin Love

Postmodern R&B - D'Angelo Part 2 - New Shit

There is a new D'Angelo track floating around the Net. ?uestlove from The Roots plays on it and also seemed to have leaked it.

LISTEN


Really Love

Jazz - Alice Coltrane

Now that the spring is here, it's time to open the windows and doors on a warm Saturday and put on a great album. This is my record this month, and it's also yours if you like John Coltrane, coherent late 60's Jazz (especially Miles), or contemporary bands like Cinematic Orchestra. F'ing wicked.

Listen

Journey in Satchidanand

Shiva Loka

Stopover Bombay

African Gems - May

This month is all about the Carribean/Tropicalia influence on African music. Though most say that all music comes from Africa, it's fortunate that the influence went the other way as well. No-one can lay down heavy Cuban rhythms like Africans, and dirty funk never sounded so tight.(Next month will be about the James Brown influence of the early-mid 70s' - A Funk Explosion!)


From Joe Tangari's great article on African music:

"Cuban music had more of an impact on Africa's far western coast than it did along the southern coast of West Africa, but it shows up now and then. K. Frimpong was one of Ghana's most innovative guitar players, slyly funky and a skilled, fluid soloist. His "Cubano Fiestas", as they're credited here, were actually Vis-à-vis, a prolific and quite capable band in their own right. The song's Cuban feel comes mostly in the vocals and chord progression, while the bounding, anti-gravity rhythms are all Ghanaian Afrobeat."


Listen


K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas: Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena

(Ghana, 1977) Available on Ghana Soundz: Afrobeat, Funk & Fusion in 70's Ghana (Sound Way) (Amazon.ca)



The Black Star Sound - Nite Safarie

Great tropical sounds with blaring Mexican horns. Fantstic sound quality, I love the way this was recorded.

Available on Ghana Soundz: Afrobeat, Funk & Fusion in 70's Ghana (Sound Way) (Amazon.ca)




T.P. Orchestre - Gendamou Na Wii We Gnannin

Twangy Cuban guitar riffs merge with a sexy laid-back Afrobeat rhythm. Hot hot hot!

Available on Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-1980 (Amazon.ca)

Rock - Deerhunter

Cryptograms. So far the most talked about record this year. Great experimentation, solid hooks. Pure street cred.

Listen


Cryptograms
Lake Somerset
Octet
Strange Lights

African Gems - April

This is the first in a series of posts to highlight the riches of African music from the 50's to the present. If you think that African music is 'world' music, you will be surprised to find heavy funk, dirty cuban rhythms, psychedelic rock, ry cooder soundtracks, and gospel music.

Listen

Kelen Ati Len - Orchestre du Bawobab - not available on iTunes

A Funk classic, one of my favourite tracks of all time.

-

Emnete - Mulatu Astatke - link

Mulatu is the father of modern music in Ethiopia. He played the vibes and was a bandlead