Tim Sweeney's sweet podcast Beats in Space hosted Steve Knutson of Audika Records a few weeks ago. Audika is the label that put out Love is Overtaking Me. So you know he's got access to those rare and juicy Arthur Russell cuts that nobody else can find. Shit is insane, the first 15 minutes is completely unheard stuff. A remix of a high-school group, some bizarre experimental electronic stuff, an a few alternate takes of the dance stuff. The podcast ranks pretty high on the nerd-meter. The "unreleased" version of "Is It All Over My Face?" is played later in the show (this version was actually released on one of The Loft compilations, it's 12 minutes long). Also there is a short segment from a live radio recording of Arthur, but the sound quality makes it nearly unlistenable.
Beats in Space podcast - Special Arthur Russell edition
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face? (unreleased original full length version)
(divshare)
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Rarest Arthur Russell Jams
No News is Good News?
and I'm sure this is Old News for all of yall, but I just thought as long as we are posting how web-media covers certain things, I would share with you the headlines on cnn.com's website for today, November 24th, 2008, with commentary. Also, in case you had forgotten, we are currently amidst the worst economic crisis in history, which was started in our country, and we are fighting 2 wars.
Obama: Not a minute to waste on economy fix (ed: oh sweet that sounds important!)
Players emerge in Obama national security team (ed: hmm, this smells like news)
CNNMoney: Bush: More bank rescues possible (CNNMoney says Bush says that its possible more banks will be resuced? whoa, thats crazy!!!)
Commentary: Bush, stop running out the clock (ed: yeah, Bush!)
LBJ's daughter: Father opened door for Obama (ed: oh snap, the personal story line)
Ticker: New pro-Palin ad hits airwaves (ed: wtf?)
Boy charged with killing father 'loved his dad' (ed: wtf?)
China's richest man 'under investigation' (ed: oh snap)
UFO in sight, then 'pfft -- it was gone' (ed: wtf?)
No charges in death of man missing 30 years (ed: who the fuck cares)
Racer barrel-rolls boat at 240 mph (ed: who the fuck cares)
KITV: Woman, 90, trains for 5th marathon (ed: who the fuck cares)
One-armed girl, 9, swims on team (ed: maybe would constitute news for a middle-school newspaper)
Minister 'too tired' for 7 days of sex (ed: what the fuck)
Tips from America's thriftiest families (ed: aka Rancho Relaxo)
iReport.com: Economy driving some to church (ed: snap)
Christina Aguilera pays tribute to CNN Heroes (ed: snap)
CNN Wire: British Marine dies in southern... (ed: southern....southern...southern...iraq?)
And yes, this is what i read at work when I'm not working and yes, it makes me way stupider.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Sweet DJG Mix
A mix I made! All the songs are fun songs.
28minutes55seconds
Jungle Brothers - What U Waitin’ 4? (Jungle Fever Mix)
David Bowie – Fashion
Donald Byrd – Love Has Come Around (Discolexic Dub Edit)
Dark Meat – Success (Diplo’s Unsuccessful Space Dub)
Gwen Guthrie – Peanut Butter (Larry Levan Mix)
Fatback Band – Street Dance (Todd Terje Rekutt)
Talking Heads – Blind (Deaf Dub & Blind Mix)
Candido – Jingo
Elvis Presley – Crawfish (Pilooski Edit)
The Bar-Kays – Do It (Romeo Erotic Remix)
Wynd Chymes – Baby You’re The One
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pete Drake - Forever
im sure this is all over the blogging world but in case you missed it.
i love pedal steel guitar. if yer on a mac, dig the virtual implementation i wrote over at
http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jeffcoop/220c/. not so much the sound but more the style of playing is recreated pretty faitfhully.
and the talkbox is making a HUGE revival right now, i think due to the fact that is kind of a poor mans autotune...which is hard to say because with piracy, the ACTUAL autotune is kind of the poor (but tech-savvy!) man's autotune.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Midas Touch Remix
This is the sequel to Chris's Midnight Star video post from about an hour ago. DJ Mel made this remix that's pretty bumpin'.
Midnight Star - Midas Touch (DJ Mel Remix)
Retro Posters
anyone know who is putting up all the Big Boys, etc retro fliers around town?
keepin austin weird homies....but i dont know how i feel about it...
on one hand, it sort of makes you think about stuff and there is almost certainly no financial motive. +1 for that.
on the other hand its nostalgic which i cant really get behind. -1 for that.
so i guess we are back at 0. See you guys at Raul's tonight...
Mancrush
This Arthur Russell "Love is Overtaking Me" is so ridonkulous. I can already tell you it's going to be number one on my "albums of 2008." I consider it a new release...these songs were never released before, right? Arthur Russell is the gift that just keeps on giving---like Tupac was supposed to be. Seriously...and whoever is releasing his shit has really got it together as far as timing is concerned. When "The World of Arthur Russell" came out on Soul Jazz, (what I think 4 years ago now???) it really catalyzed this AR revival thing, but even if you feel like that whole thing played out (the dance track thing--->LCD Soundsystem), "Love is Overtaking Me" being released this year feels like that all over again, but bigger. If you had released these 2 CDs in the opposite order, maybe no one would give a shit about this guy at all, and that would be tragic. I'm tired of serious music right now. Give me Satie to your Wagner (Trip). Maybe its an ebb and flow/personal zeitgeist thing, and in 4 years I will be like "I'm tired of pop songs right now, give me something serious." But that's where I am in, and right now, gotta say, I'm mancrushing all over this shit.
Read More......Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Favorite Song Wednesday
All week I had been thinking that my favorite song was "Love Has Come Around" by Donald Byrd, but American Athlete went and stole my thunder and posted it yesterday. In an effort to not looking like a piggyback blogger, I am revising my favorite song for the week. Go download the Donald Byrd track from American Athlete, it is amazing.
So since my favorite song was co-opted by another blog, I thought back to what my favorite song was when I was in sixth grade. It was Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden. I used to jam this song over and over in my discman, along with other popular singles "Spoonman" and "Fell on Black Days".
This version is a reworking by French producer/remixer Pilooski. He has been killing it for a few years now. I first caught wind of his edits when his remix of Franki Valli's Beggin' hit big last year. He flips some of the oddest sources (Amon Duul II, Alan Parsons Project, Cat Stevens) to make really catchy dance tracks. This isn't a dance track, but it might make you waltz. The version makes you realize the excessively formal tone of the lyrics. I don't want to say anymore and ruin the surprise. Stream it!
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun (Pilooski Version)
BONUS:
Pilooski's two latest remixes:
Elvis Presley - Crawfish (Pilooski Edit)
Findlay Brown - Promised Land (Pilooski Edit)
DOUBLE BONUS:
The Black Hole Sun video is weird as hell.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Loungin like a Mellow Owl Bro!!!!
Welcome home RED!!!! I dunno if I even know you bro, but my bro Ethan does, and he's totally stoked you're back. So I guess that's pretty awesome n shit!
And I'm totally Stoked about this show grip it n rip it yessssss!
Hot off the presses:
Stay tuned bro
hos and chains and swangin thangs
there's really only one problem with riding my bike around all the time instead of driving my car. that crucial window of time between chilling at home getting ready to go out and arriving at my destination is now filled only with the sounds of wind and my own curses at various driving/walking idiots and my random and unquietable thoughts. that window is especially important when you're kinda fucked up and going somewhere to get more fucked up...it's so so good to be able to just get in a car and let the music really get you to that level that you need to be at when or before you arrive. the bike ride just can't do that for me (yet). so at a rare moment this past weekend i was able to savor the beauty of operating a motor vehicle and letting the music (specifically this music) take me to that special level. i had the pleasure of sharing it with passengers who i believe were transported somewhere similar. so i'm passing the pleasure onto you.
chopped/screwed by dj screw, noted the artists and albums if known
1- leave me alone (greatest hits)
2- ride my car (playaz nite)
3- no time for fake ones (ft puff daddy) - lil kim (100% business)
4- let's go dippin - king tee (9 fo shit)
5- what you want - mc breed (9 fo shit)
6- recognize (ft the twins) - warren g (9 fo shit)
7- havin thangs - big mike (9 fo shit)
8- hypnotize (biggie vs pac)
9- respect (biggie vs pac)
10- g's perspective - mr. mike (blowin big behind tint)
11- house wife (the legend)
12- cds and lps (all work, no play)
13- playaz nite (playaz nite)
i'm pretty sure the track by lil kim is one of the dirtiest i've ever heard, however i think it's fantastic. it's one of the songs i try to sing while i'm on my bike to emulate what it would be like if i was listening in my car. needless to say i've had little luck. "nuthin make a woman feel betta than barettas and amarettas, butta leathers and mad cheddaz"
the warren g track is chopped so well, i love finding out which lyrics dj screw chooses to rewind and play over again, like he just loves those flows so much that he had to hear it again (and he thinks you should too). and again. and sometimes like 4 times in a row. but it sounds so good. i also like finding out where the rappers hail from, like warren g says "east side til i die" and even though i don't know what east side he's talking about, i like hearing all the various 'sides' of the country/city that are given shoutouts.
bangin screw mix part one, part two
p.s. david banner, bun b and z-ro at austin music hall on tue dec 9 for (cheapest) $37 or as much at $147
and
ice cube at mohawk on sun dec 14
Monday, November 17, 2008
Gary Davis and His Professor
Gary Davis and His Professor - Last Night
I'm not sure who the female vocalist on this track is, but I'm totally in love with her. The bass-line is totally casual, letting the vocals take center stage. A particularly poignant snare tone accents and embellishes the vocal patterns. The organ is a nice touch and the reverbed Rhodes that's panned left adds a subtle cosmic feel to an otherwise straight-forward RnB number.
Gary Davis and His Proffesor - The Professor Here
BONUS: Mixable Edit
This is the funkiest number on the Gary Davis compilation. The drums are dirty as all hell, particularly the hi-hats and synth hand claps (?). The Professor, the guy rapping, sounds like a weasel or a fox, all nasal and villainous rasp. When the fuzzed out Casio is mimicking the bass-line is when the groove really hits me hardest.
I also posted a shorter mixable edit I made for any DJing. Are there DJs out there? I'm just realizing that people *might* actually read this blog.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull
I was playing poker at my buddy's house (aka my buddy's parents house), when my buddy's dad comes down the stairs with 4 pieces of paper in his hand. "You want some big boy lyrics, you gotta read this." "Oh The Big Boys?" I said, "I love those guys. You're talking about The Big Boys right?" He wasn't. He plopped down the lyrics to "Thick as a Brick" by Jethro Tull in my hands. I immediately went on allmusic.com and looked up how they reviewed the first four Emerson, Lake, and Palmer records, then got bored.
The first thing that cued me off that Thick as a Brick was bogus was the first couple lines.
"Really don't mind if you sit this one out/ My words but a whisper -- your deafness a SHOUT."
Shout was capitalized in the copy i was handed. It made me really respect Jethro Tull in a "you guys are boneheads" sort of way. Also there was a lot of oceanic imagery which is codeword for rockers trying to be deep. Ocean = vagina, unconscious, graduate school, etc. Everybody knows that, I think. Anyways, obviously I didn't read the whole thing.
Instead i went back to the internet and read what wikipedia had to say about the whole affair. Call me a lazy journalist, or better yet don't call me a journalist at all, but it turns out I was smelling something out, because it turns out that "Thick as a Brick" is a parody of other giant prog works. Ian Anderson said that (courtesy wikipedia) "the album was a spoof to the albums of Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer much like what the movie Airplane had been to Airport."
Now, on one hand it's really heartening to know all the prog rockers were watching "Airplane" in 1972, but was it really necessary to create the "Airplane" of prog records? I'm not convinced.
"Fragile" and "Tarkus" were Yes and ELPs most recent records and for me, I just can't quite say I feel Jethro Tull was the most obvious band to "parody" these offerings at that time. I mean, these are the guys just coming off of "Aqualung" and I'm pretty sure that wasn't supposed to be a parody of a goddamn thing. Do you put your flute down, quit your prancing, and change out of your tights before you say "you've gone too far!" or do you just chill? That's why you can't leave being punk up to prog rockers, cause it all comes out the same. Ian Anderson in 1972: "Oh yeah? you guys are over the top! watch how ridiculous you look when we release a 42 minute coming-of-age story concept album!!! It's gonna totally make fun of your concept albums with the 21 minute track about the military-industrial complex on it!! Booyah!"
Anyways, this post is obviously is completely ridiculous so maybe I'll just give up on it...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Favorite Song Wednesday
Last week I was so caught up in election hoop-la that I forgot to post a new favorite song. Well, this is it. The big one. Nothing better. This is my favorite song.
Cerrone - Give Me Love
Jean-Marc Cerrone has some real serious jams. From Love in C Minor to Supernature, he produced some of the most foot-stomping disco of the late 70's and early 80's. Give Me Love is my favorite song of his to play out. Starting with a double-time stereo bongo beat, the song builds with a phaser/wah-wah guitar and slap and pop bassline. The horns and orchestral stabs keep things moving along, while a synthesizer solos in the background. It builds for about 3 minutes before hitting you with the songs vocals. The female singers croon in sexy whimpers. While the bass-line might be what keeps hips shaking, the vocals are what get the ladies on the dance-floor.
BONUS:
My second favorite Cerrone song, Africanism, was actually done under the short-lived Kongas moniker. It is a cover of the classic "Gimme Some Loving".
Kongas - Africanism (Original Mix)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Belaire Video
You Really Got Me Goin' from Belaire on Vimeo.
Christine produced most, if not all, of this video. It looks stellar.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Presidential Tunes
Ethan and I watched the election coverage at my house and had victory tacos. A few small points to make:
At Barack Obama's Grant Park rally, the song played before he took the stage was "Higher and Higher". I believe that the version they played was the Howard Huntsberry version featured in the statue of liberty scene in Ghostbusters 2.
The original version was by Jackie Wilson
On another note, he envoked "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke in his speech with the phrase, "It's been a long time coming... but a change is gonna come."
Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come (Ain't That Good News, 1964)
And lastly, I was really curious the whole time what music would be played when Obama finished his speech. I really wanted to hear "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder, but thought it would just be too funky and that a song with a really triumphant electric guitar would be necessary. But Barack kept it understated and hit us with some sweeping classical music that I know absolutely nothing about.
And lastly, I posted this video before but I've had the song in my head all day so here it is again, Cocoa Tea's "Barack Obama".
Monday, November 3, 2008
Drudge Report
Saw this posted on Drudge and was a bit disturbed
"THANKS FOR MAKING OCTOBER 2008 THE BIGGEST MONTH IN DRUDGEREPORT'S 13 YEAR HISTORY! THE PAGE WAS VIEWED 798,524,935 TIMES FROM 153,563,619 VISITS FOR MONTH, NEARLY 6X SITE'S TRAFFIC IN OCTOBER '04... AND SOMEHOW IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ONLY JUST STARTING..."
"And somehow it feels like it's only just starting?" That may be true, that may not be true, but clearly people we have a megalomaniac on our hands. Beware the Drudge... 
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Jay-Z BBC Documentary
Firstly, I thought I'd note that this is the 302 post on the blog. Longevity.
This BBC documentary is pretty endearing. The British focus is interesting as I think we take for granted how pervasive hip-hop culture is in America, it's cute to see it all spelled out for the Brits. It's fairly all-access, including some segments of Jay partying with Puffy in his apartment. The documentary is maybe 45 minutes long in 7 parts, it's all really entertaining and paints Jay-Z as a real man of the people.
I'll just post one of the segments, you can find the rest on youtube from the link. This segment focuses on Jay as the mogul, from commissioning Frank Gehry to design the new Nets stadium, to his non-profit work, to reppin' Casa Vista endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama. Also check out a nice spoken word segment on Katrina that I hadn't heard before.
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